Chapter 20: Insomnia until one or two in the morning.

Chapter 20: Insomnia until one or two in the morning.

Shen Jin took Ye Tingtong to the nearest hospital, where they took X-rays. There was no fracture, but there was a severe sprain in the ankle, which had swollen significantly and required a partial cast for immobilization.

Ye Tingtong also had abrasions on his hand, with small stones even embedded in the wounds. When the doctor used tweezers to clean them, Ye Tingtong kept his head down, clutching his pants tightly with his uninjured hand, and didn’t make a sound.

The doctor was an acquaintance; he had also treated Ye Tingtong’s facial injury last time.

"If it hurts, go ahead and yell. No one’s going to laugh at you," the doctor couldn’t help but say. "There are quite a few small stones, so it’s going to take some time to clean them. If it’s too painful, I can wait for you to take a break before continuing."

Last time, even with such a minor facial abrasion, this patient had been extremely nervous, his eyes reddening from the pain when alcohol was applied, clearly indicating he was very sensitive to pain.

Unexpectedly, after nearly ten minutes this time, Ye Tingtong didn’t make a sound, though the veins bulging on his other hand revealed that he wasn’t pain-free but was enduring it forcefully.

This wasn’t helpful; overly tense muscles would only make the stones embed more firmly.

Ye Tingtong could feel the gaze of the person behind him. He inhaled deeply and said, "It’s fine, please continue."

On the way to the hospital, Shen Jin drove quickly, asking no questions, quietly arranging a comprehensive check-up and staying with him the whole time.

At A University, Ye Tingtong had undoubtedly been delighted to see Shen Jin, but soon after, he grew uneasy.

He felt he was causing too much trouble. Shen Jin marrying him was already a boon to him, yet he was still involved with Shen Jin’s nephew.

Even though it wasn’t his intention, he’d been trailing Shen Minghuai for two years, and now Shen Jin had caught them in a tangled situation. He wasn’t even sure how to explain it.

Moreover, Shen Minghuai’s words were like thorns piercing his already vulnerable heart.

"Shen Jin doesn’t have to be with you; I can introduce him to someone more suitable."

He could only do his best not to burden Shen Jin further and not to upset him at this time.

After the wound was treated, Ye Tingtong followed Shen Jin, limping towards the parking lot.

Fortunately, the hospital was well-designed, with handrails along the walls to support him as he walked.

But for Ye Tingtong with a sprained ankle, it was still a significant burden. By the time he got into the car, his forehead was beaded with sweat from the pain.

He fastened his seatbelt and said, "Could you take me back to A University? My roommate said he’d meet me at the school gate."

Ye Tingtong then quickly added, "It’s not Shen Minghuai; it’s our dorm leader, Yu Hui."

But Shen Jin, holding the steering wheel, didn’t start the car. His profile was shadowy in the dim light of the hospital parking lot.

"What did Shen Minghuai say to you?"

Even the doctor could tell something was off with Ye Tingtong.

When he had carried him out, Ye Tingtong had been so upset he almost buried his head in Shen Jin’s shoulder. But at the hospital, all that emotion was hidden away. Even when Shen Jin tried to help him, Ye Tingtong softly refused, saying he could manage.

Shen Jin’s voice was very clear in the enclosed car, his cold tone weighing heavily on Ye Tingtong’s heart.

His face turned even paler, his wide eyes betraying obvious anxiety and fear, "Huh? Why do you ask that? We were just in the same exam hall since we’re in the same major. Nothing happened between us..."

Previously, he had been glad to be in the same major as Shen Minghuai, as it made it easier to interact with him. Now, he felt nothing but deep frustration. Being in the same major and dorm made it impossible to avoid Shen Minghuai, and they even occasionally shared the same dorm...

Ye Tingtong lowered his head deeply again. If he were Shen Jin, he would feel uncomfortable too.

"I don’t want to repeat myself," Shen Jin looked at the shrinking Ye Tingtong, his eyes dark, "What did Shen Minghuai say to you?"

The somewhat coercive tone made Ye Tingtong both nervous and uneasy. Shen Jin’s presence was overwhelming, making his heart pound rapidly. His pale fingers clenched the seatbelt tightly, as if it could give him strength.

"He said he could suggest a more suitable marriage partner for you, and if needed, he’s willing to give up some benefits in exchange."

The car went quiet for a moment. As time passed, Ye Tingtong’s feigned calm began to unravel. Looking at his hand, wrapped in bandages like a white bundle, he spoke in a very soft voice, "Shen Jin, please don’t leave me. I’ll do my best to meet your demands."

He knew he wasn’t special. For someone like Shen Jin, finding a replacement would be a breeze.

"Who said anything about replacing you?" Shen Jin's tone was as cold as ever. "If you take everything Shen Minghuai says at face value, why didn’t you let him take you to the hospital?"

His tone carried a faint hint of anger, and Shen Jin paused slightly after speaking.

"Shen Minghuai’s biggest claim is his parents’ 5% stake, but that’s his family’s main leverage, and it’s not up to him to decide." Shen Jin adjusted his tone, returning to his usual indifference. "If I actually cared about those shares, I would have followed my mother’s wishes and married the person she arranged for me."

Qin Qiong holds 10% of the shares and once used this as leverage to arrange his marriage, which he flat-out refused.

He wasn’t that short-sighted.

Ye Tingtong didn’t expect to hear such words. His head, which had been lowered, quickly lifted, his face lit up with surprise and joy. "So, you won’t listen to Shen Minghuai, right?"

Shen Jin’s face darkened. He wanted to emphasize the gap in status between him and Shen Minghuai, but seeing Ye Tingtong’s expectant expression, he finally turned his head and gave a cold, brief nod.

Ye Tingtong let out a heavy sigh, the tension on his face completely vanished.

Shen Jin had no reason to lie to him.

Shen Jin wouldn’t ditch him for Shen Minghuai’s trivial offers.

With this conclusion, Ye Tingtong’s mood lightened completely. He even felt like crossing his legs, but the car was too tight. As he moved, his injured right leg slammed into the front wall, making him wince in pain.

Shen Jin shot him a glance but stayed silent, starting the car and driving out of the hospital.

Seeing that Shen Jin wasn’t speaking, Ye Tingtong pursed his lips and toned down his exaggerated expression.

Shen Jin seemed angry. Earlier, while picking out the stones, he had been watching Ye Tingtong intently, but now he didn’t even spare him a glance.

Ye Tingtong wilted for a moment, then suddenly realized they were on the way back to school. He hesitantly asked, "Aren’t we going to eat?"

Shen Jin kept his eyes on the road ahead, not glancing sideways. "It’s already after eleven."

Ye Tingtong reluctantly fell silent. Shen Jin must have made some arrangements, as the car drove straight to his dormitory building.

Just as he unbuckled his seatbelt and was about to make a quick exit, he heard the sound of the car doors locking.

Ye Tingtong: "?"

Shen Jin spoke, "Have your roommate bring your things down."

Ye Tingtong was a little puzzled by his reasoning, "What things?"

"Your luggage." Shen Jin glanced at his leg in a cast. "You can’t stay in the dorm like this."

Ye Tingtong thought it made sense. His dorm was on the 4th floor, and with his leg like this, not only would he be unable to go to the library to study, but even getting meals would be difficult. Even if he ordered takeout, delivery riders weren’t allowed upstairs.

Originally, he had planned to ask his dorm leader, Yu Hui, to bring him meals during this period. He hadn’t expected Shen Jin to suggest moving out.

He nodded meekly, "But I should pack my own luggage. Let’s not trouble them."

Just as Ye Tingtong was about to signal Shen Jin to unlock the doors, his phone rang in his pocket. It was Yu Hui.

"Tong, where are you? Minghuai and I are on our way to pick you up."

Ye Tingtong knew he wasn’t very mobile and thought Shen Jin could only drop him off at the school gate, so he had informed Yu Hui in advance, hoping they could pick him up.

But he hadn’t expected Shen Minghuai to get involved.

The enclosed space made his conversation with Yu Hui perfectly clear.

Ye Tingtong instinctively glanced at Shen Jin, only to see his cold profile.

Shen Minghuai stood beside Yu Hui, waiting. Seeing Ye Tingtong not responding, he grew anxious: "Tong, where are you? I'll come get you."

Ye Tingtong hadn’t been replying to his messages or answering his calls, so he had to rely on Yu Hui.

"No need," Ye Tingtong hastily refused, "I'll be up soon."

He really didn’t want Shen Jin and Shen Minghuai to meet.

After hanging up the phone, he hesitated, looking at Shen Jin, struggling with his words, when Shen Jin asked him: "Fourth floor, how are you going up?"

Ye Tingtong blinked, testing the waters: "Jump up?"

That’s how he had left the hospital.

Shen Jin: "..."

Eventually, Yu Hui helped Ye Tingtong pack his luggage and brought it down, which Shen Jin then placed in the trunk.

Ye Tingtong didn’t get out of the car and, due to the angle, missed seeing Shen Minghuai standing at the dormitory entrance, naturally also missing the glance exchanged between Shen Minghuai and Shen Jin.

One clenched his fists, his eyes filled with resentment, the other with a calm expression, just glanced lightly before shifting his gaze away.

Shen Jin’s attitude towards Shen Minghuai had always been like this.

After getting in the car, Shen Jin handed the backpack to Ye Tingtong, "Your dormitory head said he put all your study materials in there, told you to take care of your leg, and to call him on video if you don’t understand anything."

Feeling the weight in his arms, Ye Tingtong unzipped the bag and quickly skimmed through it. Most of it was filled with calculus workbooks, feeling both grateful and burdened.

Damn calculus!

Shen Jin dropped him off at Prince Bay Community, "I have some business to attend to at the company."

Without waiting for Ye Tingtong’s response, he drove away.

The facilities at Prince Bay Community were very convenient, and with the help of a friendly security guard, Ye Tingtong got into the house without any trouble.

As soon as he stepped in, he shivered; the spacious apartment felt cold and empty.

He had been staying there for three days, and Shen Jin hadn’t returned once. Only the housekeeper came to cook meals and make soup three times a day, and the doctor came for routine check-ups.

Living alone in the large room, even though it was quieter and more comfortable than the library, Ye Tingtong often found himself distracted, frequently remembering Shen Jin’s cold profile from the night he left.

He was certain Shen Jin was angry.

But too much had happened that day, and he didn’t know which incident Shen Jin was angry about.

When Yu Huanhuan received Ye Tingtong’s call for help, she was busy with a new project in collaboration with Shen Jin, "You’ve been worrying over such a small matter for three days?"

"Don’t worry, he’s definitely not really mad at you."

If Shen Jin had really gotten angry, her project with others wouldn't have progressed so smoothly. Shen Jin even sent his personal assistant to coordinate, which showed his genuine intention.

Ye Tingtong noted her offhand tone and whispered under his breath, "Shen Jin hasn't come back for three days."

He hadn't stayed at Prince Bay often, but almost every time Shen Jin had stayed overnight. Now, avoiding him like this, isn't it clear he's upset?

Yu Huanhuan, seeing how down he was, signaled her team to stop their updates, "If you're really worried, just sweet-talk him into coming back!"

Ye Tingtong was stunned, "How?"

This made Yu Huanhuan at a loss for words, "You're really not using your looks to your advantage."

"Can't you play the helpless card?" Yu Huanhuan broke it down for him, "Say you're scared living alone, want someone to accompany you, make your voice sound a bit more pitiful, and that's it."

Ye Tingtong was actually pretty adept at playing the victim, but only when he was in real trouble and genuinely needed help. Previously, Shen Minghuai had various female companions, so Ye Tingtong never had to charm anyone back, leaving him completely at a loss now.

"But, we don't sleep together, what's the difference between living alone or with someone, why would I be scared?"

Right after he asked, Yu Huanhuan hung up the phone, clearly too lazy to explain.

At 10 PM, Ye Tingtong tossed and turned in bed over a dozen times, gathering his courage to text.

"Ye Tingtong: The rib soup that Auntie cooked today was really good, I kept some aside for you, are you coming back to drink it today?"

No reply.

"Ye Tingtong: The doctor mentioned my foot is healing nicely, I can get the cast off in another week~~~"

"Ye Tingtong: A cat spinning on one paw.jpg"

Still no response. Ye Tingtong bit his lip, deciding to try out Yu Huanhuan's advice.

"Ye Tingtong: Shen Jin, it feels so cold at home, can you come back and keep me company?"

Ten minutes later, Ye Tingtong's phone rang, the unique ringtone made his eyes brighten.

"Shen Jin: I checked; the AC is running at home, it's 28℃ now."

Ye Tingtong: "???"

He even subconsciously turned to look at the bedroom air conditioner, it really was 28℃!

Ye Tingtong could only blush and come up with excuses.

"Ye Tingtong: Not that kind of cold, it's the emptiness of being alone at home, I can't sleep until one or two at night, sometimes I even wake up freezing in the middle of the night."

"Ye Tingtong: But the days you were here, I slept really well."

After sending these, Ye Tingtong buried his face in the pillow to calm down for a while.

However, perhaps his lie was too clumsy, Shen Jin didn't reply, probably too lazy to bother.

But he still held onto hope, hugging his pillow, forcing his eyes open until 11 PM.

Shen Jin still hadn't come back.

He yawned, thinking to himself, I should've just had that bowl of rib soup in the kitchen.

Half an hour later, the sound of the lock beeping came from the living room.

Since Shen Jin had pointed out how cold it was at home during the day, Ye Tingtong had not turned on the air conditioner. The temperature dropped, and he still habitually left the bedroom door open, so no warmth stayed in the room, making him so cold that he buried his head under the blanket.

With his ears covered, Ye Tingtong was in a deep sleep, not hearing any sounds, including the footsteps of the other person approaching the bedroom door.

Shen Jin stood at the doorway, looking at the motionless bundle on the bed, and glanced at his watch.

It was now 11:27 PM, and Ye Tingtong was already sound asleep.

Shen Jin stood there for a while, took out his phone, and quietly turned on the AC.