novelraw Chapter 625 - 562: I Don’t Like Him
Chapter 625 - 562: I Don’t Like Him
Shen Tang was enjoying her meal, a bit of soup clinging to her lips, and Xiao Jin immediately took out a napkin to wipe it off, considerately asking, "Slow down, no rush. Are you full? Should we have the owner cook another bowl for you?"
After a bowl of hot noodle soup, Shen Tang already felt full. "No need, you should eat more, we have to rest for a while anyway."
Male beastmen have a large physical expenditure, and their appetite is bigger too. Xiao Jin ordered two more baskets of fresh meat buns, barely reaching seventy percent full.
The boy quietly watched the harmonious interaction between the two, seeming like no one could intervene. His long eyelashes lowered, gently stirring the noodle soup in his bowl, creating rings of ripples.
Clearly a starving stray child, but facing the food in front of him, he seemed to have no appetite.
Shen Tang noticed his anomaly and asked with concern, "Is the food here not to your taste?"
The boy shook his head and quickly finished his bowl of noodles, soup and all, in one go. As he stood up, his steps were unsteady, and he collapsed heavily to the ground after just two steps.
"Ah Lian!" Shen Tang hurriedly rushed forward to support him, and upon checking closely, she found his face getting paler and his body as light as if without bones.
Xiao Jin was also startled by the sudden situation, quickly stuffing the last half of a meat bun into his mouth, striding over, frowning enough to squash a fly. "What’s going on? Why does this person faint at the drop of a hat?"
"Stop with the cold jokes, help me hold him, I’ll check again." Shen Tang urgently said.
Although the boy was thin, he was still a half-grown beastman, and holding him was quite strenuous, nearly causing her to fall together.
Xiao Jin felt a bit jealous; anyone would be upset seeing their partner caring so much for another male, even if he was just an underage boy. A male’s jealousy doesn’t care about those details; isn’t it just a few years before he grows up?
Along the way, he had been hoping to spend a few days of sweet couple time with Tangtang, but unexpectedly a burden that faints at every turn joined halfway, how annoying!
Despite feeling displeased, Xiao Jin didn’t show it. He obediently took the boy from Shen Tang’s arms, making it easier for her to use her healing ability, yet he saw her brows knitting tighter and tighter.
After all, a pitiful beastman, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but feel worried. "How is it? Did you find out anything?"
Shen Tang shook her head. "It’s too strange..."
She pondered, "I’m not sure what this child has been through, but his constitution is extremely weak. To put it bluntly, his current condition is... like wandering on the brink of life and death, hanging on by a thread."
She couldn’t bear to say more and released him, saying to Xiao Jin, "Take him back to the car to rest first, I’ll slowly help him recuperate."
Xiao Jin nodded, carrying the boy back to the car’s resting room.
The beastmen in the team had also finished dining, and he disembarked to organize the team for departure.
Shen Tang sat by the bedside, patiently healing Ah Lian. After a while, the boy gradually came to life, his complexion a bit rosier, not so pale anymore. "Sister..."
Shen Tang held his hand and softly asked, "Feeling better now?"
Ah Lian was momentarily dazed, realizing he had fainted again, he said shamefully, "Thank you, sister, I’ve troubled you again."
"It’s okay, your body is too weak, recovery takes time, there’s no rush in this short moment, it will get better little by little." Shen Tang gently stroked his hair comfortingly, "You rest well first, I won’t disturb you anymore."
As she was about to get up to leave, Ah Lian lightly tugged at the corner of her clothes, "I-I’m scared... Sister, can you stay with me a bit longer?"
These soft calls of "sister" made Shen Tang’s heart melt. She was also worried that Ah Lian’s body was too weak and might have more problems, so she nodded in agreement, pulled a chair to sit by the bed, "Sleep well, sister is here with you."
"Hmm."
Smelling the faint fragrance emanating from the female, the boy seemed much more at ease. He buried half his face into the pillow, gradually sinking into slumber.
Time quietly passed, and Shen Tang couldn’t help but yawn, closing her eyes for a nap.
Suddenly, the boy on the bed opened his eyes, those eyes black as an abyss. He quietly watched the sleepy female, fingers hanging on the side slightly moving.
At that moment, urgent footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Tangtang, are you here?"
A hint of darkness flashed across the boy’s eyes, he closed them again, pretending to be still in sleep.
Xiao Jin pushed the door open, saw Shen Tang asleep in the chair, and quickly stride in, holding her in his arms, chiding gently, "Why did you fall asleep here?"
Shen Tang rubbed her eyes awake, subconsciously looked towards the bed and lowered her voice to say softly, "Ah Lian, he..."
Xiao Jin felt even more jealous, "What could happen to him? He’s sleeping well, it’s early, we won’t reach the next stop until afternoon, you should go back and catch some sleep."
Shen Tang glanced back and saw the boy sleeping soundly with peaceful and steady breaths, then she yawned wearily and wrapped her arms around Xiao Jin’s neck, snuggling into his embrace and closing her eyes to sleep.
As they reached the door, Xiao Jin paused, turned back to glance over, and a hint of displeasure flashed through his deep golden eyes.
Male knows male best, this half-grown kid’s constant thoughts, Xiao Jin, who lived through that age, knows it all too well.
In a female’s eyes, perhaps just a child needing care, but he doesn’t think so.
The way this kid looks at Shen Tang, there’s undoubtedly more than just gratitude.
Xiao Jin pressed his tongue against his molars, his cheeks slightly puffing.
He definitely doesn’t want to inadvertently enroll a rival.
Damn, if only he could just throw him out.
Unfortunately, in just a short time, this kid successfully attracted Shen Tang’s attention. Even if he concocted a reason to throw him out, she’d certainly look for him upon waking, making it even more troublesome then.
Forget it, carry on for now, discuss further when we reach the Imperial City.
Xiao Jin closed the door with a reverse hand, directing a nod toward the approaching soldier, "Keep a close watch on this kid, report any situation to me immediately."
"Yes, General."
After several days of walking and stopping, the troops successfully reached the Imperial City, with no losses, the mission successfully completed.
When Lu Xiao and Xue Yinzhou came to meet them, they saw a slender, unfamiliar figure beside Shen Tang and hesitated, alarm bells ringing in their hearts.
"Who is this..." Lu Xiao looked questioningly at Shen Tang.
Shen Tang detailed the occurrences along the way, then asked Lu Xiao to first take Ah Lian to process household registration and find a residence.
The boy timidly tugged her sleeve, looking at the unfamiliar crowd in front of him, shaking his head, "I-I don’t want to go elsewhere... Can I stay with you?"
He seemed to have fear towards others, only trusting Shen Tang.
Perhaps once suffered malicious harm from others, making it difficult to establish normal social relationships in the short term.
Shen Tang thought about it and felt it was fine, "After all, the palace has many vacant rooms, let someone clean one for you first, and when you slowly adapt, then arrange another residence for you."
"Thank you, sister." The boy said happily.
Shen Tang smiled, "Then I’ll take you to choose a room first, see which one you like."
"Alright."
The boy obediently followed her steps.
Xue Yinzhou watched the two leave, and his slender eyebrows furrowed slightly, a strange feeling rising in his heart that he couldn’t quite place. The conjured snake tail lightly struck the ground, revealing his current agitation.
He stated straightforwardly, "I don’t like him."
No need for a reason.
Don’t like is don’t like.
Although Lu Xiao didn’t oppose adding newcomers to the palace, the person’s unknown origins made it ultimately not a perfect plan to keep him so close.
But the boy seems to just be an ordinary person, should pose no threat.
However, to be cautious, it’s still necessary to investigate his background thoroughly.
Lu Xiao pondered, "I’ll send someone to investigate his background."
Xue Yinzhou sneered, "Why bother with such trouble."
In the evening, as Ah Lian chose a room and just pushed the door out, a white shadow charged at him with fierce murderous intent!
A full-force blow from a Tenth Rank Beastman, if it lands on him, would be enough to kill him instantly!
The boy was so frightened that he stood frozen in place, petrified.