Chapter 49 Broken Tenon

Chapter 49: Incomplete Mortise and Tenon

Tan Youming’s once commanding face had lost its usual vigor. The domineering mountain king had become an ailing cat, looking displeased even in sleep, his brow furrowed as if resenting some scoundrel.

Yet, Shen Zongnian’s heart finally found some peace. The lingering fear and dread from his journey by water and road were something he would never forget.

He hadn’t even noticed that Tan Youming had fallen ill.

Shen Zongnian adjusted his blankets and wiped his sweat, quietly watching over him by the bedside. Tan Youming kicked off the blanket and muttered in his sleep.

Shen Zongnian stiffened. What Zhuo Zhixuan couldn’t understand, he did.

“Nianzai.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

Even in his illness, Tan Youming’s only fear was that he could no longer protect Shen Zongnian.

After a moment of silence, Shen Zongnian reached under the blanket and held his hand, saying in a very low voice, “I’m not afraid.”

He was only afraid of Tan Youming getting sick and being unhappy.

That was his greatest fear.

Not long after, Tan Zhongshan and Guan Kezhi arrived, asking Shen Zongnian about the situation.

“The doctor just made rounds and said his vitals are fine, but he might sleep longer.”

Guan Kezhi said with concern, “That’s good. He probably doesn’t get much sleep normally.”

She touched Tan Youming’s forehead. “Nianzai, has the company been so busy lately?” To wear him out like this.

Tan Zhongshan also looked at him.

“It won’t be as busy going forward.” Shen Zongnian’s back was stiff, his head slightly bowed. The Tan family had shown him immense kindness, yet Tan Youming had developed separation anxiety because of him.

“I’m sorry, Auntie Guan, Uncle Tan. I didn’t take good care of him.”

Shen Zongnian was filled with guilt, but he no longer had any thought of leaving. No matter what suffering or punishment awaited him, he would stay by Tan Youming’s side and help him recover.

He had completely resigned, clearly understanding that no matter how much he struggled, no matter how many times he tried to cut ties, it was impossible for him to succeed.

Being friends was fine, being an older brother was fine, watching Tan Youming fall in love and start a family—none of it mattered anymore.

As long as Tan Youming could recover, Shen Zongnian was willing to betray morality, abandon his conscience, and bear any consequence.

He would compensate the Tan family’s interests in full, endure his family's judgment, and accept the betrayal of familial bonds and righteousness.

Everything came second to Tan Youming’s health.

Tan Zhongshan also couldn’t understand these two sons of his and said worriedly, “Don’t say such things. Both of you need to take care of yourselves.”

They stayed until past ten o’clock. It seemed Tan Youming wouldn’t wake up again that night, so Shen Zongnian suggested they head home first, promising to call as soon as he woke up.

If they stayed, Shen Zongnian would have to look after them too. Guan Kezhi couldn’t bear to see her other son exhausted as well. “Alright, then you should rest too.”

“Let us know if anything happens,” Tan Zhongshan said, holding his wife as he instructed him.

Shen Zongnian didn’t rest. Instead, he began to watch that face over and over again, holding his hand as if afraid the person would suddenly disappear. For a moment, it was unclear who really had separation anxiety.

In the early hours of the morning, Tan Youming half-opened his eyes drowsily. Shen Zongnian leaned in and asked, “What do you need?”

Tan Youming stared at him, a faint light gathering in his eyes, but he quickly decided it was a dream. He turned away listlessly and closed his eyes again.

That hopeless glance left Shen Zongnian’s heart feeling hollow, and he waited until dawn.

Sunlight filtered through the green vines on the balcony to the blinds. Tan Youming, having slept soundly, felt refreshed. A figure by the bed leaned over and asked promptly, “You awake?”

Tan Youming was dazed for a moment, confirming that this time it really wasn’t a dream. “Why are you here?” he asked, puzzled.

Shen Zongnian asked, “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Tan Youming asked, “Where are my parents?”

“Uncle Tan and Auntie Guan went back first,” Shen Zongnian said, frowning slightly as he studied his complexion. “How do you feel?”

It seemed his parents had called him over. Tan Youming said, “I’m fine. You can go.”

Shen Zongnian poured half a glass of warm water and handed it to him. “Drink some water.”

“No need,” Tan Youming said, his voice still weak. “You go first. I’ll talk to my parents.”

Tan Youming didn’t take the water. Instead, he got up and looked down for his shoes. Shen Zongnian set the water aside, bent down to pick up his slippers, and then took his socks to put them on for him.

Tan Youming flinched, his face darkening. “What are you doing?”

Shen Zongnian crouched before him, his large hand gripping Tan Youming’s foot firmly. “Put them on first,” he said. With weak resistance, his feet couldn’t afford to get cold.

Tan Youming lost his patience, annoyed. “Get lost.”

Shen Zongnian ignored him, tightening his grip on Tan Youming’s foot until his pale, rounded toes turned pink.

“Let go.” Tan Youming hated this act of pretending nothing had happened the most. Even after their fallout, this man always acted as if nothing had occurred.

“You can’t catch a cold.”

“Can’t you understand human language?” Tan Youming felt a wave of irritation seeing Shen Zongnian wearing the same shirt he had on at Eagle Pool that day. He struggled to kick his legs free.

Shen Zongnian’s hands were large and strong, like iron chains. No matter how much Tan Youming struggled, he couldn’t break free. Finally, unable to bear it, he kicked Shen Zongnian in the chest and shouted, “Shen Zongnian, I’m not even holding you accountable, and you dare come provoke me!”

Shen Zongnian didn’t budge, still gripping his foot, his expression unchanged. “Tan Youming, let’s make up.”

Tan Youming stared wide-eyed, stunned by his audacity. “Get lost.” Did he think he was a fool?

Shen Zongnian repeated firmly, “Let’s make up.”

Tan Youming was furious. The anguish, pain, and resentment suppressed over the past two months erupted like lava. “Do you think you’re some kind of god? You break up when you want and make up when you want? Does the world revolve around you?”

“It revolves around you,” Shen Zongnian said, tightening his grip, his dark eyes like deep pools. “Let’s make up. From now on, whatever you say goes between us.”

“Whatever I say goes?” Tan Youming sneered. “Then get out right now.”

“So we’ve made up?”

Tan Youming had never known this man could be so shameless. He stepped on Shen Zongnian’s palm, looking down at him disdainfully. “Did my parents ask you to take care of me again? I’ll talk to them myself if they ask.”

“If it’s because of my health, this was an accident. I can take care of myself. There’s no need for your pity, Shen Zongnian.”

“And one more thing,” he added, deciding to say it all. “The house on Lefton Road is yours. I’ve found a new place and will have someone pack my things in a couple of days. You can change the passcode.”

Shen Zongnian pretended not to hear the part about the house, his face expressionless but he spoke sincerely, firm and serious: "It has nothing to do with my family, and I don’t pity you. How about pitying me instead?"

"You want me to pity you?" Tan Youming was furious. "Then what were you doing before? What did I do wrong that made you cut ties with me so completely?"

"You did nothing wrong," Shen Zongnian said, shamelessly, openly and frankly stating his own wrongdoings. "I was too eager for success, ungrateful, it was me..." He made up an excuse on the spot. "I didn’t want to be called the Tan family’s dog anymore."

Tan Youming glared. "Who?!" Shen Zongnian had always had extremely strong self-esteem since childhood. Which bastard had a death wish?

Shen Zongnian immediately soothed him: "It’s fine, I don’t even remember." He still wanted Tan Youming to put on his socks first.

Tan Youming, feeling uncomfortable, frustrated, and angry at his own weakness, lifted his foot and stepped on Shen Zongnian’s shoulder, putting on a show of bravado as he sneered, "Then if you come back, wouldn’t you have to be my dog again?"

"Do you want me to?"

Tan Youming was taken aback.

Shen Zongnian’s gaze was gloomy: "Do you want me to?"

Those wolf-like eyes sent chills down Tan Youming’s spine. His heart raced faster than it had the second before he fainted: "If I say yes, you’ll do it?"

"Yes."

Easy for you to say. Since they were kids, he had always been the one leashed and controlled by Shen Zongnian, scolded if he disobeyed. When had it ever been Shen Zongnian playing the dog for him?

"I don’t want it," Tan Youming narrowed his peach-blossom shaped eyes, sharp and imposing. "I don’t want a dog that’s always running off to have fun, coming home dirty and still thinking it can enter my house. Shen Zongnian, was the Knight card fun? Or was Eagle Pond better? Did you have a good time?"

Shen Zongnian seemed slightly puzzled, looking at him as he replied, "I wasn’t playing around."

"Liar!" Tan Youming shouted angrily. "Do you dare say you didn’t stay overnight at Eagle Pond on the 23rd?"

Shen Zongnian caught his kicking foot, his gaze deep and calm as he examined him. In the past, he would have asked Tan Youming why he couldn’t stay at Eagle Pond or why he couldn’t give out Knight cards to others—and what about Tan Youming himself?

But now none of that mattered. Tan Youming had separation anxiety disorder; his emotions were completely out of control.

Whatever Tan Youming wanted, Shen Zongnian would comply. He explained, "I didn’t stay overnight. I left before 1 a.m. that day and stayed in the car until the next morning before leaving."

"What were you doing at Eagle Pond?"

"Getting money from Old Ghost Luo to buy Guangxun."

Tan Youming, caught off guard by this unexpected turn, pressed on aggressively even when he had no ground to stand on, and now that he had the upper hand, he wasn’t about to let it go: "So you’re saying it’s my fault?"

Shen Zongnian said, "I’m not blaming you."

"Then why did you stay in the parking lot all night?"

Shen Zongnian didn’t want to mention that he had kept watch over the Cayenne all night. He averted his gaze and said, "Dealing with Old Ghost Luo was exhausting. I rested in the car and fell asleep."

Tan Youming was about to ask more, but Shen Zongnian didn’t want to dwell on that night any longer. He skipped over the topic and explained another matter: "The Knight card was part of a setup for You Jinrong. The police are investigating the Puliča fraud case, and the hotel is cooperating. I acted as an informant to help the officer lure him in."

"You Jinrong asked for the card himself. He wanted me to work for him."

Tan Youming immediately grew tense: "You Jinrong? What did he want you to do?"

Shen Zongnian quickly reassured him: "It’s fine. He took the bait, and now the police are watching him."

A heavy weight lifted from Tan Youming’s heart, replaced by a faint, indescribable sense of joy. He suddenly felt refreshed and revitalized, as if he could leave the hospital right away.

But he didn’t dare forget the pain once the wound had healed. The suffering and repression of dozens of days and nights still churned inside him.

"Even so, I don’t want it," he said breathlessly, looking at the man before him. "I don’t want a dog like you that can’t be tamed." Always thinking about leaving home.

Shen Zongnian finally managed to put socks on both his feet. Looking up, he suggested softly, "Try taming me again."

His gaze was deep and stubborn. Tan Youming trembled under his stare. He stopped arguing but withdrew his feet, saying seriously, "I don’t want to try anymore." He didn’t have the energy.

Shen Zongnian opened his mouth, rarely showing a hint of helplessness. After a moment, he pleaded quietly, "Try again. If you really find it too annoying, you can kick me out."

Tan Youming frowned, his heart aching. He could say those things about Shen Zongnian, but he couldn’t stand hearing Shen Zongnian say them about himself.

After a moment of silence, Shen Zongnian heard his soft voice: "Shen Zongnian."

"You have no conscience."

Shen Zongnian’s mind exploded as if he’d been shot.

He lifted his head, his throat moving slightly. His voice was still a bit hoarse: "Yes, I have no conscience."

"It’s my fault. I’m sorry."

Shen Zongnian watched as Tan Youming’s brows relaxed and then furrowed again, unsure what he was thinking. Suddenly, Tan Youming said, "Tan Youming."

"I submitted a withdrawal from the position competition to the board."

"What?" Tan Youming’s eyes widened.

"I’m not going to Europe."

Tan Youming was stunned by this bombshell: "Why?"

"No reason." If just these few dozen miles could cause such agony, if something really happened, 8,700 miles would be too far to rush back in time. Shen Zongnian didn’t know what he might do.

"Then who will go?"

"Whoever competes for it can go." For a major multinational project like this, plenty of people would want to go.

Shen Zongnian’s gaze locked onto him, firm, resolute, and unwavering. Tan Youming seemed to finally truly feel his determination to reconcile.

"Then what will you do here?"

Shen Zongnian neatly placed the slippers by his feet, his expression unchanged: "Aren’t I going to be your dog?"

Tan Youming replied with noble and coldly elegant: "I haven’t agreed yet."

Shen Zongnian was patient but firm: "Then take your time to evaluate me."

Tan Youming stayed silent, so Shen Zongnian took it as agreement.

The one who had offered to be a dog immediately started ordering his master around: "Drink the water."

It had been too long since Tan Youming had heard this tone of authority. Instinctively, he almost moved to comply, but for some reason, he reached for the cup himself. Shen Zongnian’s hand tightened slightly.

It turned out that over a decade of habits could change in just a little time.

Tan Youming didn’t notice, but his eyes were like two chains, tempered by fire and ice.

He watched as Shen Zongnian folded clothes, stared as Shen Zongnian peeled fruit, monitored Shen Zongnian on the phone, and when Shen Zongnian was about to go find a doctor, he said he could just press the call button.

Shen Zongnian was on edge because of him, afraid that something would happen again if he disappeared from sight for even a moment. He could only feel at ease when Tan Youming was in his sight at all times.

Both were a little on edge, fearful of losing what they'd just regained. Their gazes locked like a taut rope, neither end willing to slacken first.

Occasionally, when Shen Zongnian turned around, Tan Youming would immediately look up and ask, "Where are you going?"

His sharp, needle-like gaze was undisguised, filled with unconscious tension and distrust. Shen Zongnian’s heart ached, and he soothed, "I’m going to get your coat for you."

Tan Youming was forced to put on the outer garment and instantly felt too warm. He ordered, "Turn the air conditioning down two degrees."

"No," Shen Zongnian frowned. "You can’t catch a draft." Used to being in charge, he said instinctively, "You need to set it higher at night too."

Tan Youming immediately hissed, raising his voice defiantly, "Shen Zongnian, you still think you get to tell me what to do?"

As the words fell, both of them froze, momentarily at a loss.

They had once been like perfectly fitted mortise and tenon joints, a lock made for its key. But after an unprecedented cold war, the tenon had grown moss, the lock had rusted, and both were left badly bruised.

Their overprotectiveness, born from nervousness, grew worse, and the anxiety of having him back, only to potentially lose him again, made everything feel both familiar and strange—more so than even the two years they were forcibly separated at sixteen.

A broken mirror will always show cracks; only time could tell if they could be mended.

Shen Zongnian took out his own phone and handed it to him. "Do you want it?"

Tan Youming looked up at him for a few seconds before saying, "Just remember, you're the one who offered."

"Mm, here." Shen Zongnian bent down and adjusted the pillow for him.