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After the exhaustion from running and the extreme fear, Ye Tingtong's body suddenly went limp. Just as he was about to fall to the ground, Shen Jin bent down and lifted him up in a classic bridal-style carry.
His arms around Ye Tingtong's waist were firm. With the little strength he had left, Ye Tingtong hesitantly wrapped his arms around Shen Jin's neck.
Shen Jin gave him a quick look but stayed silent.
So, Ye Tingtong held on tighter, pressing his face into Shen Jin's shoulder. Then, the sobs he had been desperately suppressing gradually grew louder until they turned into uncontrollable sobs.
All he knew was that Shen Jin kept walking forward with him in his arms. The waiter who had been blocking the way earlier said nothing and even pressed the elevator button for them.
When they reached the underground parking lot, Yu Mo looked at the person in Shen Jin's arms, who was crying uncontrollably, and felt a bit exasperated. "Who brought him here? He's terrified…"
Shen Jin said, "It's probably Ye Guodong who brought him here."
When he took Ye Tingtong away, he saw Ye Guodong and Hu Cheng.
Opening the car door, Shen Jin placed Ye Tingtong in the back seat. Just as he was about to stand up, Ye Tingtong still clung to his neck, refusing to let go.
Shen Jin looked down and noticed that Ye Tingtong's face was unnaturally flushed, his tear-soaked eyelashes tightly shut, and his lips pale.
Shen Jin touched his forehead—it was burning.
Even though his consciousness was already hazy, he still clung to Shen Jin as if he were a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.
However, Ye Tingtong's strength was still too weak. Shen Jin grabbed his wrist, and after a second of resistance, he managed to pull him away.
Once released, Ye Tingtong's sobs gradually subsided, and he curled into a tight ball in the back seat.
Shen Jin looked down at him, then took off his coat and covered him with it.
When Ye Tingtong opened his eyes again, he found himself lying in an unfamiliar bed.
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The room's overall decor was minimalist and cold, with nothing but white and gray. Even the blanket covering him was a plain gray checkered pattern.
However, the room's heating was set high, and he felt warm all over.
As Ye Tingtong tried to sit up, a sharp pain ran through the back of his hand.
He turned his head and saw that he was connected to an IV, with an IV stand beside him. The medicine bottle was already halfway empty.
Was he sick?
His body had been weak lately, making it hard for him to gauge his own health.
While Ye Tingtong was lost in his thoughts, murmurs of conversation could be heard outside the door.
"There's nothing seriously wrong with his body. He just suffered from excessive stimulation, and since he's just recovered from a serious illness, his immune system is weak, which caused him to faint."
"Keep his diet light recently, avoid spicy and greasy foods, and don't engage in strenuous exercise. Just let him rest."
"Understood."
Just as Ye Tingtong was eavesdropping, the door suddenly opened, and he quickly hid under the covers.
When Shen Jin entered, he saw a small lump under the blanket. However, Ye Tingtong hadn't hidden himself very well—a tuft of soft, fluffy hair stuck out from the top, and one arm remained obediently extended outside, still receiving the IV.
"It's me," Shen Jin said.
Only then did Ye Tingtong feel confident enough to confirm Shen Jin's identity. Just as he was about to emerge from the covers, he heard Shen Jin take a call.
"I've got something to handle, so I'm skipping the Crescent Hall."
Hearing the familiar words, Ye Tingtong's heart skipped a beat. He quietly lifted a corner of the blanket with his right hand and strained to listen.
"Shen Jin, you're really ditching me here? Not cool," Yu Mo's voice was full of complaint. "I knew that old jerk inviting us there for business was shady, just trying to mess with us. I should have run away with you."
Ye Tingtong's tension eased a little.
So Shen Jin was there to talk business...
"So, how's that crybaby doing?" Yu Mo's voice was exaggerated. "Man, I've never seen someone cry so hard—they practically dyed your suit with tears and then passed out. Unreal."
At those words, Ye Tingtong, who had half-emerged, ducked back under the covers.
Ye Tingtong was so embarrassed he wished the ground would swallow him.
He had cried uncontrollably, clutching Shen Jin's collar, sobbing his heart out.
In front of everyone, he'd completely lost his composure.
As Yu Mo teased, Shen Jin held Ye Tingtong's wrist to stop him from pulling away. "Keep the hand with the IV still."
When their hands brushed, Ye Tingtong shivered.
He was warm, and Shen Jin's cooler touch made him shiver involuntarily.
Ye Tingtong didn't pull away. Instead, he slowly emerged from the covers, his big eyes meeting Shen Jin's.
Whether from the covers or embarrassment, Ye Tingtong's face was flushed, his lips rosier than before. He murmured, "Thank you."
He was deeply grateful Shen Jin had rescued him from that mess.
Yu Mo had been talking on the phone for a while, but noticed that Shen Jin hadn't responded for a long time. "What, you've got a new favorite now? Did you take him home? Planning to make your move?"
As he rambled on, the call abruptly ended with a beep.
"It's closer to the Crescent Hall, so I brought you here," Shen Jin said, checking his watch. "I've got a video call in 30 minutes. If you need the hospital, I'll arrange a driver."
Ye Tingtong didn't object. "I'm fine here," he said.
He'd been snatched at the school gate; the hospital would only give the Ye family more chances.
He didn't know if Shen Jin saved him on a whim or for some other reason, but he clearly understood that right now, there was no safer place than being with Shen Jin.
Ye Tingtong thoughtfully said, "You go ahead and take care of your business, don't worry about me."
People with too many matters can be annoying, and this principle especially applies to big shots like Shen Jin.
Shen Jin hummed in acknowledgment, and just as he turned around, a few abrupt "gurgling" sounds suddenly came from behind.
Ye Tingtong covered his stomach, pretending to be calm and coughing, trying to cover it up with the sound of coughing. "My throat's a little scratchy."
As soon as he finished speaking, his stomach growled in protest, this time much louder than before.
They exchanged a glance, Ye Tingtong speechless, his neck flushing with embarrassment.
He had been aware of his hunger since waking up, but he had been holding it in, never expecting it to come out in such an embarrassing way.
Just as Ye Tingtong was considering making an excuse, Shen Jin opened the door and walked out.
A few minutes later, he came back with a bowl of porridge.
"The aunt had prepared it earlier."
The starving Ye Tingtong didn't hesitate any longer, sat up, took the spoon from Shen Jin's hand, and was about to grab the bowl when his left hand accidentally pulled on the IV tube.
The slight pain made him instinctively release it.
As Ye Tingtong hesitated about switching hands, Shen Jin directly picked up the bowl and handed it to him, "This should be easier."
Shen Jin had large hands, with long, strong fingers, easily holding the bowl without spilling a drop of the clear porridge.
Ye Tingtong thought, no wonder the princess carry was so stable.
"It's too far," Ye Tingtong said, blinking nervously, "I'm worried it might spill on the bed."
At this, Shen Jin moved the bowl closer.
Ye Tingtong stared at the bowl, now almost touching his chin, and was momentarily stunned.
After a moment's hesitation, he skipped the spoon, obediently lowered his head, and sipped from the edge of the bowl.
Shen Jin likely had no experience taking care of someone, but drinking this way would be quicker, so as not to waste the big shot's time.
But Shen Jin remained still for a moment. Ye Tingtong raised his eyes, making a muffled 'mm' sound, urging him to continue.
Shen Jin hadn't anticipated things going this way, but seeing Ye Tingtong eagerly waiting, he stiffly tilted the bowl bit by bit.
Perhaps wary of burning his mouth, Ye Tingtong sipped slowly, first testing the temperature with his upper lip, and only after confirming it was safe, did he sip by sip, finishing the bowl of porridge.
Like a small animal being fed by its caretaker.
After eating, Ye Tingtong fell asleep. The IV bottle was changed by the family doctor midway, but before leaving, the doctor specifically came to find Shen Jin.
"This patient seems very afraid of me. When I pulled out the needle, his whole body tensed up. If I hadn't noticed quickly, the needle would have backflowed."
"I'm worried if he has some psychological issues. He seems like he hasn't left this room, right?"
To be precise, Ye Tingtong had been staying in bed, hadn't even gone out to use the bathroom, nor had he made any requests to Shen Jin.
By the time Shen Jin finished the video conference, it was already completely dark, and there was still no movement from Ye Tingtong's side.
If it weren't for the faint light seeping through the crack of the door, he might have forgotten there was another person in the room.
Shen Jin approached the closed door, curled his fingers, and knocked, "Are you asleep?"
The next second, Ye Tingtong's voice came from inside, "No."
Soon, the door opened, Ye Tingtong looking nervous, "Is there something you need?"
Shen Jin was about to speak when he suddenly noticed a pair of pale feet on the floor.
Ye Tingtong finally noticed and looked down, "Oh, I forgot to put on shoes."
Then he ran back to put on his shoes before returning.
He stood stiffly, legs tightly together, his large, expressive eyes filled with tension and a faint trace of anxiety, as if awaiting a harsh verdict.
"It's nothing serious," Shen Jin spoke up, "I just wanted to ask if you're hungry and want to eat."
The food, delivered from outside, consisted of light, home-cooked dishes.
Ye Tingtong kept glancing at the person across from him every few bites.
However, Shen Jin didn't seem inclined to chat during the meal, making the meal proceed slowly and quietly.
Ye Tingtong ate until he was stuffed, and only put down his bowl after seeing the other person stop eating.
Shen Jin, seeing him sitting stiffly at the table, said, "Go take a warm shower, there are clean clothes in the guest room's wardrobe."
Ye Tingtong stared at him blankly, backlit, he couldn't make out any emotion.
He looked down at his empty rice bowl and whispered, "Okay."
It was the same old stiff checkered pajamas, but in his size.
Ye Tingtong stood in the bathroom, gazing at the mirror for a moment, then gathered his courage and left.
Shen Jin was still in the living room, a computer in front of him, seemingly working.
Ye Tingtong thought, being a big shot isn't so easy.
He stood silently to the side, and within minutes, his warm hands and feet turned cold.
The pajamas were too thin for prolonged exposure.
And Shen Jin didn't seem to favor using the air conditioner.
Ye Tingtong couldn't help but rub his hands together.
"If you're cold, why don't you go back?" Shen Jin finally moved his gaze from the computer, his tone as chilling as the room's temperature.
Ye Tingtong was startled, "I thought you had something to tell me..."
"I didn't call for you," Shen Jin said, "You could have just gone to bed."
Ye Tingtong bit his lip, "But..."
"No buts," Shen Jin cut him off, "I just happened to bring you out from Crescent Hall. In my view, you won the bet for me on the cruise last time, this time, I'm just repaying a favor."
Shen Jin sat on the sofa, looking up at him expressionlessly, his tone cold and direct, "I don't need you to be my slave."
The word [slave] made Ye Tingtong's eyes redden instantly, he turned his face away in shame, "But, that's what my father thinks."
In Ye Guodong's eyes, his greatest use was to be sold without dignity to someone with peculiar tastes, to maximize his value.
"What he thinks is none of my concern," Shen Jin frowned, "And, don't cry."
Ye Tingtong's tears were forced back, his voice a bit choked, "I'm not someone who cries easily."
It's just that when one is at their wit's end, emotions are very prone to collapse.
Shen Jin watched as Ye Tingtong lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly. Shen Jin struggled to keep his usual cold expression, so he took out a box from the side and handed it to Ye Tingtong.
Ye Tingtong took it, and upon seeing what it was, a tear dropped onto it. But he didn't cry any more after that.
Because Shen Jin had given him a new phone.
Ye Tingtong's red, swollen eyes widened, "For me to use?"
He had been isolated from the outside world for a long time. Ye Guodong's most effective way to torment him was to lock him in a dark room, cutting off all contact with others.
Shen Jin also handed him a SIM card.
Ye Tingtong gripped the phone tightly, "Thank you."
His face still showed clear traces of tears, but his expression was no longer sad. His eyes sparkled with surprise, and he smiled.
Shen Jin was baffled by how quickly Ye Tingtong's mood had shifted. Meanwhile, Ye Tingtong was already eagerly setting up the phone and inserting the SIM card, without even glancing at Shen Jin.
Shen Jin heard the rustling sounds beside him, like a little mouse, and frowned, "Go back to your room."
Without a second thought, Ye Tingtong dashed off, not even saying goodbye.
The moment Ye Tingtong got the phone, he reached out to Yu Huanhuan to let her know he was safe and explained his situation. They chatted for half an hour, and finally, Yu Huanhuan asked, "What is Shen Jin after?"
Not for the person or for lust?
Ye Tingtong mumbled, "I have no idea."
After chatting with Yu Huanhuan, he texted his roommates. However, they didn't pick up on anything strange, just checking if he was feeling better, as Ye Guodong had used that as an excuse for his absence.
Ye Tingtong kept the truth from them, just saying he needed more time to get better and asked them to take good notes for him to catch up on when he returned.
Shen Jin sat in the living room, listening to Ye Tingtong talk non-stop for nearly half an hour.
At last, it was quiet. Just as Shen Jin was about to finish reading the last document, a click came from the room.
The closed door was turned open, but Ye Tingtong didn't come out.
In less than three minutes, the door closed, opened again, and then closed once more.
This happened several times, like some kind of signal.
When Ye Tingtong opened the door again and saw Shen Jin standing like a ghost outside, he was so scared that he fell to the ground.
Luckily, there was a thick carpet cushioning the fall, so he wasn't hurt.
Shen Jin flipped on the light in his room, "What are you doing?"
Ye Tingtong awkwardly put his shoes back on, "After closing the door, I'm afraid of the dark."
Being locked in the dark room for those days had blurred the line between reality and dreams for him. Every time he closed his eyes, he felt like he was back in the Ye family.
Shen Jin looked at his pale face and his expression softened slightly, "Then leave the light on."
Ye Tingtong blinked, honestly saying, "It's too bright to sleep."
Shen Jin: "..."
"But I'll get used to it quickly," Ye Tingtong looked up at Shen Jin, raising three fingers to swear, "It's just a temporary thing. I've been through this before, and it was better within a week."
What I mean is, I promise not to be a bother.
"Was I bothering you? Sorry about that."
Since he was sitting on the floor, Ye Tingtong bent his legs, making his pants ride up, revealing half of his slender calves, which were dazzlingly white under the light.
The apology suddenly felt a bit off.
Shen Jin looked away, his voice slightly deeper, "Get off the floor."
Ye Tingtong obediently and quickly climbed onto the bed.
Shen Jin rubbed his temples, "So, are you turning the light off or what? And what were you doing opening and closing the door earlier?"
Ye Tingtong looked at the person at the door, hesitating, "I feel less scared with the door open, but—"
Shen Jin said expressionlessly, "Speak."
"Opening the door wastes heat and electricity," Ye Tingtong said, "I was trying to figure out the best way to keep the door open without wasting energy."
Shen Jin was silent for a while, then clicked off the light in Ye Tingtong's room and opened the door wide, "I can afford the electricity."
Not long after, Ye Tingtong heard a few beeps coming from the living room.
Then, the air conditioner outside kicked on.
Shen Jin cranked up the heat all over the house.
His chilly room started to warm up.
Ye Tingtong blinked in the dark, quickly pulled out his phone from under the pillow, and sent a message to Yu Huanhuan.
"I finally figured out what Shen Jin is doing!"
"He's doing charity!!!"
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