CM - 68

On the way home, Shen Ting-wen’s face hadn’t returned to normal. It was clear that he was very angry.

Zhou Shu-rong was capable of handling that kind of situation herself, but the feeling of being pulled behind Shen Ting-wen was strange. It made her mind go blank at the time, and she could only watch him handle it like an idiot.

She was starting to feel what it was like to be protected by a man more and more.

This man wasn’t her dad, nor was he some law enforcement official. He was a man who belonged only to her and would only protect her.

As they walked, Shen Ting-wen reached out for her hand, “Rongrong, I want to hold your hand.”

Zhou Shu-rong looked at him again. How was this the same man with a two-meter aura from just a moment ago? He was just a big softie, a pathetic guy who was always pretending. She didn’t let him hold her hand, “I don’t want to.”

When Shen Ting-wen wanted to act, he would act. When he didn’t, he would just grab her hand and start walking, not letting go no matter how much Zhou Shu-rong struggled.

Zhou Shu-rong cursed him, “Are you a hooligan?”

Shen Ting-wen still wanted to hold her hand, “I’m your husband.”

Zhou Shu-rong felt a bit helpless and let him hold her hand. She couldn’t help it. He was too shameless. She couldn’t win against him. So she gave in. If he wanted it, she’d give it to him.

Shen Ting-wen pushed his luck, “Can I hug you when we get home?”

Zhou Shu-rong glared at him, “That’s enough.”

Shen Ting-wen sighed, “Other people’s husbands can hug and kiss whenever they want. I have to ask you for permission. Maybe it’s because I’m not loved as much. I’m never your first choice, so I’m not worthy of all your permissions.”

Zhou Shu-rong was so annoyed by his emotional manipulation, “Fine! You can hug me! But only once!”

“Since you’ve already given me a hug, can I also get a kiss...”

“Shen Ting-wen!”

“Okay, no kiss.”

Zhou Shu-rong changed the subject, not wanting to talk about it anymore since he would get addicted, “Zhou Xi-you wants to go to the Shanghai music festival in a few days.”

Did that have anything to do with Shen Ting-wen? “So?”

“So she wants me to go.”

“Doesn’t she have a boyfriend? Why does she always pester my girlfriend?” Shen Ting-wen was starting to have a problem with Zhou Xi-you.

“I said I would go.”

Shen Ting-wen let go of Zhou Shu-rong’s hand and walked ahead by himself.

Zhou Shu-rong followed behind him without calling out to him, knowing he would definitely turn back.

After walking for less than half a minute, Shen Ting-wen indeed turned around, looking incredibly hurt, “She tells you to go, and you just go. I have to ask for permission just to kiss you. Who’s your boyfriend, me or her?”

Zhou Shu-rong walked over, extended her hand to him, and initiated holding hands, “But she’s sick. Are you sick?”

“Yes! I have a terminal illness!” No matter how much Shen Ting-wen complained, he still held her hand.

Zhou Shu-rong squeezed his hand hard, hurting him, “Don’t say that again.”

Shen Ting-wen cried out in pain, but after he was done, he asked her, “Am I your boyfriend?”

He had been brainwashing her since yesterday, and Zhou Shu-rong had already been deeply affected. She couldn’t forget it, “Yes.”

“Then can you stop bullying me?”

“I’m not bullying you.”

“You’re not? Why do you always care about Zhou Xi-you? Her illness is fine. She has a bone marrow match, and she has money.”

“Is Zhou Xi-you cuter than you?”

Shen Ting-wen fell silent. He didn’t say another word until they reached her doorstep. He just dropped her off and left, not even hugging her.

Zhou Shu-rong had never met such an immature person. She reached out and grabbed his hand.

Shen Ting-wen didn’t turn back, “Don’t pull me. Go find someone cute.”

Zhou Shu-rong tugged on his shirt, forcing herself to say something she had never said before to coax him, “You’re not cute, but you’re handsome, and you have a good body, and muscles, and you have light skin. Other people are attracted to you.”

Shen Ting-wen slowly turned around and asked suspiciously, “Really?”

Zhou Shu-rong held onto his sleeve and nodded, “Really.”

Shen Ting-wen moved closer to her and whispered, “Then can I...”

Zhou Shu-rong knew what he wanted. She reached out, wrapped her arms around his waist, and hugged him gently.

Shen Ting-wen was about to do something else when the second elder walked over and exclaimed, “Oh, what do I see here?”

Zhou Shu-rong immediately let go of Shen Ting-wen, feeling mortified.

Shen Ting-wen, on the other hand, was unfazed and greeted the second elder.

The second elder walked closer and teased Zhou Shu-rong, “Didn’t you say you weren’t into him? What was that all about?”

“What wasn’t she into?” Shen Ting-wen asked.

The second elder waved his hand, “Nothing. Just a girl who said she wasn’t into a certain someone, oh, and she said it so convincingly, gnashing her teeth and everything. But here she is, hugging him. Are all young people like this?”

Zhou Shu-rong couldn’t stand it anymore, “Does the second elder play chess with his mouth?”

The second elder wasn’t offended, “Sometimes you need a little verbal tactic.”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t want to be with them anymore and went upstairs.

The second elder turned to Shen Ting-wen, “This girl is not ordinary. Can you handle her?”

Shen Ting-wen smiled faintly, “Haven’t you already seen for yourself?”

The second elder just smiled without saying anything. The Shen family men were all romantics. From the time of their great-grandfather, they were arrogant towards everyone but humbled themselves for their women. It was probably the same for this younger generation.

The two chatted for a bit before parting ways.

At home, Zhou Shu-rong received a call from Zhou Si-yuan, who asked about her situation at school. Zhou Shu-rong felt a little guilty thinking about having a boyfriend and wanted to get off the phone quickly. Zhou Si-yuan sensed something was wrong, “What’s the rush?”

“Nothing, I have homework to do.”

“You better be doing homework. If I find out you’re keeping something from me, I’ll tell your mom.”

Zhou Shu-rong sat on the swing chair, “Uncle, didn’t you say you were on my side?”

“I am, but you don’t listen to me. Why should I be on your side?”

Zhou Shu-rong didn’t want to talk anymore, “I have to do my homework now.”

Before hanging up, Zhou Si-yuan told her, “Xu Su is on a mission and can’t come to see you. You be a good girl and don’t cause any trouble.”

“Okay, I know.”

After hanging up, Shen Ting-wen’s voice call came in. Zhou Shu-rong pursed her lips, hid her automatic smile, and answered coldly, “What do you want?”

“Why was your line busy? Who were you talking to?”

“Why should I tell you?”

Shen Ting-wen was annoyed by her, “Zhou Shu-rong, are you trying to kill me? Why do you only annoy me and not anyone else? Do I owe you something?”

Zhou Shu-rong’s eyes crinkled in a smile, “You’re the one who chose to get angry.”

“When you get me angry, can’t you just console me like other girlfriends do?”

“When you get angry, can’t you just self-soothe like other boyfriends do?”

Zhou Shu-rong’s words made him laugh, “Fine, you win. I’ll fucking self-soothe!”

See? It works. Zhou Shu-rong wanted to shower and do her homework, “Do you need anything else? If not, I’m hanging up.”

Shen Ting-wen said, “I bought tickets for the music festival, two of them. I’m going with you.”

Zhou Shu-rong’s heart raced again, “I thought you didn’t want me to go?”

“Can you not go?”

“No.”

“Well, there you have it. Can I trust you to go alone? You’re so pretty, won’t you be eaten by those starving wolves if I’m not with you?”

Zhou Shu-rong understood, “Oh.”

“The day I die, it’ll be because of this,” Shen Ting-wen couldn’t help but say.

Zhou Shu-rong understood, “If I tell you that I’m very happy you’re coming with me, does that count as me comforting you?”

There was no sound on Shen Ting-wen’s end.

Zhou Shu-rong checked her phone; it hadn’t hung up, “Hello?”

Shen Ting-wen’s voice was low, “Yes, it counts.”

Zhou Shu-rong’s heart beat even faster, “Oh.”

Shen Ting-wen’s low voice was so nice to listen to. In fact, his high voice was also nice. Zhou Shu-rong hadn’t thought so before, but now she found every tone of his voice pleasing. She couldn’t listen anymore and quickly hung up the phone.

She held her phone to her chest, lay flat on the sofa, and curled her legs up. Thinking about Shen Ting-wen’s actions at the gym, pulling her behind him, she thought it was a little cool. He was just a little bit away from being as cool as Si Wen. No, just a tiny bit.