Chapter 111.2
Editor: Sahloknir
To put the scene into perspective, Cheng Yunling and her boyfriend were sitting facing each other. Same with Shi Qing and Tan Mingjin. From Cheng Yunling’s point of view, she could just see Shi Qing.
When Tan Mingjin sat down, he noticed that the originally pacified youth became p.r.i.c.kly again. He was radiating killing intent. Even little Shi Qing stopped lounging around lazily and got up, viciously waving his little fists at something behind the man.
What’s going on here?
The man subconsciously tried to turn around, but Shi Qing suddenly said. “Uncle, this watermelon looks delicious. I’ll feed you.”
Tan Mingjin’s body stiffened.
He couldn’t explain why he subconsciously froze when he thought about Shi Qing feeding him.
Because Tan Mingjin didn’t say anything, Shi Qing took that as agreement.
He was quite pleased with himself as he picked up a piece of watermelon with a toothpick in it and delivered it to the man’s mouth, “Uncle, say ah.”
Tan Mingjin felt like his body was anesthetized. He just sat there stiffly and slowly opened his lips a sliver.
The watermelon was delivered to his mouth.
The young man in front of him was happy again. He seemed quite pleased with himself. If he had a tail, it would probably be raised very high in the air.
But Tan Mingjin wasn’t paying any attention to that. His eyes have always been on Shi Qing’s ruby red lips and his white, slender hands.
The young man’s moist red lips opened and closed as he spoke.
“Uncle, I remember you like strawberries. Have some of these.”
The youth looked down and diligently picked the biggest and reddest strawberry on the plate. After careful consideration, he looked up and smiled softly at Tan Mingjin.
“Uncle, how about this strawberry?”
Tan Mingjin inexplicably felt his throat dry again.
His voice also seemed a little hoa.r.s.e. “Sure.”
The youth was even happier now. He eagerly picked up the strawberry with his long, white fingers and brought it all the way to the man’s lips.
When Tan Mingjin bit down on the strawberry, his lips inadvertently touched those white fingertips.
Little Shi Qing had a smug expression with his hands on his hips. He didn’t seem to notice the unintentional contact against his fingers.
But the man’s body stiffened immediately.
The only thing remaining in his mind was that soft, tender feeling.
He numbly chewed on the strawberry from Shi Qing. The youth across from him continued to carefully pick out the fruits he thought were the best from the fruit plate for Tan Mingjin.
As he fed the man, he asked, “Uncle, is it good? Isn’t the fruit extra delicious when I feed it to you?”
When Tan Mingjin looked at Shi Qing’s glittering eyes and his innocent smile, a thousand wild horses seemed to trample his heart. It was a real mess.
His tone was complicated: “Yes, it’s delicious.”
As he expected, his words pleased Shi Qing. Like he was looking for a promise, the youth asked again, “I’m the only one who’s fed you like this right? We’re the closest to each other in the whole world, so you won’t let anyone else feed you, right?”
These words…
They didn’t seem to come from a nephew to his uncle.
They were more like words between lovers…
The man’s heart skipped a beat. He looked at the youth across from him with a complicated expression.
Shi Qing was eagerly awaiting his answer.
Similarly, little Shi Qing was also a ball of antic.i.p.ation and nerves, clenching his small fists and looking at Tan Mingjin impatiently.
Tan Mingjin could almost feel the blood circulating in his body at this moment. He rigidly sat in place, even as herds of wild horses ran across his heart.
Even though he knew clearly that this kind of promise couldn’t be given to the child he had raisedk2026;
But with his heart thudding with excitement, the man nodded.
“Alright.”
“Yaaaaaa!!!”
Little Shi Qing instantly threw his hands up as he started celebrating, as happy as could be.
Watching him cheer and jump around, a sliver of hope rose in Tan Mingjin’s heart. He didn’t know if he should let it.
Over the past few days, he had become increasingly aware that something was wrong with his feelings.
In the past, when he dreamed at night, he always dreamt of the cold cemetery where he had confirmed his mother’s death as a child, time and time again.
Lately, however, he had been dreaming of Shi Qing all the time.
At first, it was when he was a very lively little teenager.
Later, it was when he was a conceited young man who showed no repentance for always getting into trouble.
But then, the dreams gradually changed.
The Shi Qing in his dreams smiled gently at him like little Shi Qing. Other times, he would cry and throw himself into Tan Mingjin’s arms.
In between his sobs, the youth would plead in a pitiful, wavering voice:
“Uncle, don’t abandon me.”
Tan Minjin thought, “Why would I do such a thing? How could I abandon you? I know how cute and soft you are under that p.r.i.c.kly exterior of yours.”
But the Tan Mingjin in his dreams would circle his arms around the youth’s waist and carry him to bed.
Tan Mingjin knew this dream was immoral.
It shouldn’t be like this.
How could he…
How could he have such wicked feelings for the child he had raised by his side?
But no matter how he made up his mind to distance himself from Shi Qing, Tan Mingjin was unable to reject the youth when he proudly sent a request to video chat.
He could only hide the part of him with bad intentions inside Shi Qing’s arrogant smile.
Again and again, he told himself that this feeling didn’t exist, that he could control himself.
He could forever be Shi Qing’s good uncle.
He could forever watch over Shi Qing, watching him settle down and start a family of his own.
But now, this child was asking him to make such a promise.
Shi Qing was so happy that he agreed. Could this mean…
This was one of the rare times when Tan Mingjin panicked.
The man looked normal on the outside. He even casually shifted his body.
But his left hand shook slightly out of excitement under the table as he uncontrollably immersed himself in speculations.
Shi Qing asked him for a promise, which he gave.
Then would Shi Qing accept it?
Shi Qing shot Cheng Yunling a smug smirk. The girl watching him with a grimace roughly interpreted the look.
That smirk meant: Keke, my uncle only wants to eat the fruits that I feed him. You’re out of luck.
She was about ready to die without saying a word.
Why was this young master still so focused on driving apart her and President Tan?
No, wait. No, no, no!
She and President Tan have never been together, okay? It’s been such a long time, but they’ve barely spoken two sentences back when she asked the president for help.
Alas, for some reason, Shi Qing fixated on that encounter.
Although it’s been less than a month…
But we’ve pa.s.sed the halfway mark!
We’re way, way past the halfway mark!!
She’s already five pounds heavier thanks to him. She even had to find a boyfriend just to avoid putting on more weight, ah!!
Just when she was confident that Shi Qing would let her off now, he does something like this.
Wasn’t this young master way too against having an aunt?
Cheng Yunling: …This can’t go on. I have to save myself.
Her gaze landed on the steak on the table.
She was a woman of her word. Cheng Yunling cut a slice and softened her voice, bringing the morsel to her boyfriend’s lips.
“A-Zhi, let me feed you.”
Her boyfriend was surprised by her sudden affection. He hurriedly opened his mouth to accept. Directing a loving gaze back, he too cut some steak for Cheng Yunling.
“It’s delicious. You should have some too. I cut it pretty thin.”
Cheng Yunling smiled and ate it.
She was smiling both because of her boyfriend’s attentiveness and because she was sure Shi Qing would be rea.s.sured now.
After she swallowed, Cheng Yunling casually looked up.
She immediately saw Young Master Shi glaring daggers at her.
Cheng Yunling: “???”
She could only watch as Shi Qing self-righteously demand of Tan Mingjin:
“Uncle, since I’ve fed you, you also have to feed me.”
Cheng Yunling: “???”
Huh???
As expected, Tan Mingjin obediently fed him a slice of apple. His voice was as soft and smooth as water.
“If you like the fruit here, I’ll have someone stock up on them back home.” he said as he dabbed around the youth’s mouth with a handkerchief. His motions could not be more gentle and caring.
After being fed and having his mouth wiped, the young master grew more and more pleased. He raised his chin arrogantly at Cheng Yunling, like he was wordlessly saying, ‘I’m so much stronger than you’.
Cheng Yunling: “…”
On the bright side, she finally figured out what was going on in the head of this apparently not so smart young master for once.
Obviously, her ploy just now to lower her ‘aunt rating’ by feeding her boyfriend steak backfired. Shi Qing thought she was showing off.
This young master has always been compet.i.tive.
Thus leading to the events that followed.
After realizing this, there was a giant question mark on Cheng Yunling’s face.
Wait, what are you competing with me for??
I have a boyfriend here!!!
You have an uncle there!!!
Shouldn’t you immediately drop all suspicions after seeing how lovey-dovey we are? Aren’t you going to drop that butcher’s knife and spare my dog life??
This compet.i.tion is way too childish, okay? Even kindergarteners are better than this.
Coming out of her thoughts, Cheng Yunling was met with the unhappy face of the youth again.
His eyes and att.i.tude were practically screaming ‘you’re trash’.
When Tan Mingjin handed over another strawberry, Shi Qing didn’t eat it immediately. Instead, he played with it like a toy and maliciously placed it down right where Cheng Yunling could see it.
Cheng Yunling: “…”
There’s a limit to my patience, okay?!
She sucked in a deep breath and softened her voice again, looking coquettishly at her boyfriend. “I want more. Won’t you cut me another slice?”
As expected, Shi Qing followed suit. He too softened his voice, but his words were more demanding than coquettish.
“I want more. Uncle, feed me again.”
Tan Mingjin took in the youth’s natural expression, as well as the cute sight of little Shi Qing putting his hand on his waist with a strangely pleased expression. His gaze warmed several degrees again.
This child.
Was Shi Qing so happy after being fed a few times?
Well it made sense considering how sticky little Shi Qing was.
“Alright. Uncle will give you whatever you want.”
The youth happily ate the fruit he offered. Shi Qing even opened his mouth in a clear demand for more.
Tan Mingjin suspected for a second that he was dreaming.
Finally, Shi Qing burped after having his fill of fruit. As he lazily laid back in his chair, the man couldn’t help but ask him: “Shi Qing, you seem different than usual today.”
“That’s right.”
The youth admitted it right away.
Tan Mingjin’s hand, which was on the table, suddenly clenched. His heart beat particularly hard as he hopefully looked at the person in front of him.
“Uncle, look behind you. Cheng Yunling’s there. There’s no way I’m losing to her.”
Tan Mingjin: “…”
He felt like his heart might stop beating any second now.
Cheng Yunling, who was stuffed to the brim while regretting lowering herself to Shi Qing’s elementary school chicken level of childishness, suddenly heard her name being called and looked up.
Then she met Tan Mingjin’s death glare.
It was cold and really scary.
Cheng Yunling: “???”
Huh???