ADTCP Ch3

How could it be him?!

Tao Zhen’s mind buzzed. He felt like a kitten grabbed by the scruff of its neck, unable to push away, unable to obey, frozen stiff and curled in place.

After a long moment, it was Zhu Wensheng who first released him, setting him gently back on the ground.

The boy’s dark eyes carried no emotion. Looking down at him, he simply stated a fact:
“You’re crying.”

…Crying?

Tao Zhen belatedly touched his face. Sure enough, it was damp and cold. Embarrassed, he rubbed at it several times, and when he couldn’t find anywhere to wipe, he was about to smear it on his T-shirt when a neat packet of tissues suddenly appeared in front of him.

Following it upward, he saw a large hand, veins faintly visible, knuckles sharp.

“Use this.” Zhu Wensheng turned his face aside, his voice low and hoarse.

“…Thanks,” Tao Zhen mumbled. He ducked his head, wiping his face while sneaking nervous glances at Zhu Wensheng from the corner of his eyes.

From their earlier scuffle, the buttons of Zhu Wensheng’s white shirt had come undone. From collarbone to chest, a patch of bare skin showed, altering his whole aura.

He looked less like a gentle, thrifty model student, and more like a cold, unruly school tyrant, someone who could easily pin you down and mete out “punishment” from above.

Rough, frightening.

Even his embrace felt like he wanted to devour someone.

But surely it was Tao Zhen’s imagination.

Zhu Wensheng had already rejected his “sponsorship,” even despised him. How could he ever be intimate with him? What had just happened was only an expedient act, to keep him from being discovered by that pair of lovers.

Thinking this, Tao Zhen fidgeted as he tucked the tissue away, then cautiously lifted his head:
“Um… just now, did you see me talking with that girl over there?”

For a fleeting moment, Zhu Wensheng’s body stiffened almost imperceptibly.
He didn’t turn his head, only answered calmly: “Mm.”

“Actually, you misunderstood. I’m not the type to want to sponsor just anyone. That girl and I… we don’t have anything between us.” Tao Zhen hesitated a few seconds, then summoned his courage. “I… I’d much rather sponsor you.”

The hallway was steeped in darkness.

Zhu Wensheng slowly turned his head, faint light from outside reflecting in his eyes, his face cold and beautiful.

Tao Zhen’s heart clenched, but he forced himself to sound calm:
“I know, when I mentioned offering double in front of that woman, it must have embarrassed you. But I wasn’t joking. I promise you, if you’re with me, I won’t force you to do anything you don’t like. I’ll give you financial support, yes, but I’ll also respect your wishes and meet your demands…”

Zhu Wensheng suddenly cut him off: “Any demand?”

Tao Zhen froze, then nodded firmly: “Any demand!”

Zhu Wensheng was silent for two seconds, then stepped closer.

The natural force of his presence was overwhelming. Despite being the “patron” here, Tao Zhen instinctively shrank back, nearly pressing against the wall.

Golden hair shining, his delicate face lifted stubbornly, like a fearless newborn calf.

“You should think carefully. Because working here actually means…”

His eyes were icy cold.

Like a boulder crashing through ice, trembling the whole world. Agitated emotions surged up, chaotic thoughts flashing like snow.

Agree to any demand?
Did Tao Zhen even realize what that meant?

If the person he’d wanted to sponsor hadn’t been him, but someone else, Tao Zhen might already be pressed into the wall like that pair earlier, shirt torn away, pale skin bitten until he cried like a helpless little animal, 

Zhu Wensheng drew in two deep breaths, suppressing the restless storm in his chest. He calmly buttoned his shirt back up, refused to look at Tao Zhen, and turned to leave the hallway.

Tao Zhen should be grateful it was him.
That he had no interest in such debauchery.

“Hey!” Tao Zhen was bewildered. Why, when they’d just been talking, did Zhu Wensheng suddenly walk off?
“So what do you think? Do you agree or not?”

He jogged after him, trailing all the way to the bar, still pestering:

“Are you a student at Nancheng University? Did you apply for scholarships? Is your living allowance not enough, is that why you’re working here? I heard some people at school are awful, they’re rich but still take spots meant for poor students. Totally shameless! My dad said if we ever meet people like that, we should step in and set things right…”

Zhu Wensheng didn’t walk fast, so every word of the boy’s clear, lively voice reached his ears. He was just glad he’d worn jeans today instead of his usual light training shorts.

Just as he was about to push open the bar door and shake off Tao Zhen’s pursuit, a soft, delighted female voice rang out:

“So you’re still here! I thought you’d already left!”

The girl Tao Zhen had rescued earlier ran up, clutching a neatly folded uniform.
“Your clothes got dirty because of me, I wanted to wash them for you… Come with me to the break room, change into this, and give me the dirty one…”

Blushing shyly, the petite waitress, about 1.6 meters, looked tiny beside 1.74-meter Tao Zhen, the height gap adorable.

Tao Zhen tore his gaze away from Zhu Wensheng and looked at her, finally recognizing her face. “Oh! It’s fine. This shirt didn’t cost much. I’ll just change when I get home. No need to wash it, go rest instead.”

The girl shook her head, stepping closer to tug his shirt hem: “It’s alright. You helped me. I can’t repay kindness with ingratitude…”

Tao Zhen had never known what to do with girls. He couldn’t scold her harshly, but he also didn’t dare get too close. At the moment he was at a total loss.

Just as she was about to draw him toward the staff room, a shadow fell over them.

“Men and women should keep their distance.” Zhu Wensheng’s voice was cold. “If he needs to change, he’ll come with me.”

The girl blinked, startled. “…?! ”

Before she could react, the boy who almost never spoke to anyone had already seized Tao Zhen’s wrist firmly, dragging him away around the corner.

And it wasn’t only the girl who was left stunned.

Tao Zhen, stumbling along, felt the scorching heat of that grip burning through his wrist. After a few seconds, he realized what was happening. He pursed his lips, unable to help it.

…Why still not believe him?
Did Zhu Wensheng really think that failing to sponsor him, he’d just go chase after some girl?

He wasn’t like that. Eighteen years of honest, upright living, he’d never even kissed anyone, let alone held hands.

“Don’t go any further!”

Tao Zhen suddenly stopped, jerking his arm hard. He couldn’t break free, but his pretty little face was taut, his puppy-dog eyes lowered.

“I didn’t want her to wash my clothes. I didn’t want to sponsor her either. If you don’t trust me, then just take me straight out the bar door. I want to go home…”

“…Tao Zhen.”

 

Zhu Wensheng turned his head, his cold tone hiding emotions like molten lava beneath.
“How old are you this year?”

Tao Zhen: “…Eighteen.”

Zhu Wensheng nodded, repeating under his breath, “An adult, huh…”

Adult, so what?

Tao Zhen was confused, but unable to break free, he could only be dragged along. Zhu Wensheng pulled him past the lounge and stopped in front of an office with a computer inside.

With a click, Zhu Wensheng locked the door. The bright lights inside made Tao Zhen squint.

Pulling out the keyboard, Zhu Wensheng asked coolly, before Tao Zhen could question him:
“Your phone number and ID number?”

“18988886…”

“Where’s your family home?”

“Xuancheng. I’ve lived there since I was little. My dad owns Xuancheng Tao Chemical, my mom’s a musical actress, she’s amazing, tours all over Asia and worldwide, ”

“Which university do you attend?”

“Nancheng University, International Exchange Department… Why are you asking this?”

Finally realizing something was off, Tao Zhen leaned forward suspiciously to peek at what Zhu Wensheng was typing. But before he could see, his chin was caught in a firm hand.

The touch of his pale little face was exactly as imagined, soft cheeks delicate like mochi sweets. His rosy lips parted slightly, that playful little canine tooth peeking out, tempting.

“One last question.”

Zhu Wensheng stared at the tip of his pink tongue for a few seconds, then asked lightly:
“What you said earlier, was it true?”

Tao Zhen froze, and only after a few beats realized what he meant. 

“If you’re with me, I won’t force you into anything you dislike. I’ll give you financial support, but also respect your wishes and fulfill your requests…” 

“Any request at all…”

“It’s true.” Tao Zhen faltered. “Why… why are you asking this?”

Zhu Wensheng didn’t answer right away. He pressed Enter. With a “ding,” the printer beside the computer hummed and soon spat out two identical agreements.

The bold title on the page drew the eye,
“Romance Contract.”

Party A: Tao Zhen, ID No. 12332… Phone: 18988886… Address: Xuancheng Tao Chemical…

Party B: Zhu Wensheng, ID No. 32121… Phone: 13554321… Address: Nancheng Light Club…

Within the contract term, Party A may not interfere with Party B’s work, nor may Party B neglect his studies…

During the term, neither party may cheat, nor engage in ambiguous or physical relationships with any third party…
…

Both parties must respect each other’s wishes, fulfill each other’s requests, and may terminate the contract at any time.

Party A must provide Party B with a monthly stipend of 100 RMB.

Tao Zhen was dumbfounded, staring at the two identical contracts over and over.

Zhu Wensheng stood, grabbed a pen, and signed his name on both papers.

Modern combat sports divide fighters into weight classes. But in the past, fighting cared nothing for weight or age, stepping into the ring was pure survival of the fittest. That law of the jungle was etched into every fighter’s bones.

Zhu Wensheng had always thought he didn’t carry that cruelty within him.

But today, Tao Zhen had walked right up to him.

“Didn’t you say you’d ‘take care of me’?”
Zhu Wensheng’s handwriting was bold and powerful. After signing, he slid the pen and paper over to Tao Zhen. “Sign.”

Tao Zhen took the pen, silent for a long moment.

The contract was good. It matched his intentions perfectly.
On the surface, there was nothing wrong.

But…

Zhu Wensheng’s voice was calm and frosty. “Still have concerns?”

After hesitating, Tao Zhen bit down and asked: “…Every month, you only want 100 RMB?”

“That woman earlier… she only offered fifty?”

“…”

Tao Zhen’s gaze instantly turned sympathetic.
Even a few kilos of pork ribs at the market cost more than fifty.

How pitiful… Just how poor was he, that even a sponsorship would only ask for so little?!