Pregnant With The Pup Of A Wealthy Old Man - Chapter 106

Chapter 106: Shen Xingting vs. Cen Jing

 

Shen Xingting thought that as long as he had the chance to spend time with Cen Jing, he could show her that he wasn’t just good-looking—he was also cheerful, helpful, and an all-around top student, except for his mediocre drawing skills.

 

But he was wrong. After a slight change in Cen Jing’s attitude on the first day, things quickly returned to normal by the second day.

 

It was as if Cen Jing had forgotten what happened the day before. She refused the milk he bought, ignored the bread he brought, and didn’t even glance at the meals he fetched for her from the cafeteria after class.

 

For three days, Shen Xingting played the fool until Friday, when he finally understood that Cen Jing was deliberately humiliating him!

 

“The bell just rang, aren’t you going to buy Cen Jing lunch?” Li Jue asked in surprise as the bell signaling the end of class rang, noticing that Shen Xingting wasn’t rushing off to the cafeteria.

 

“No,” Shen Xingting replied, slumping over his desk with a frown. “She doesn’t care about me at all. Why should I keep playing this fool? Besides, you only call someone a simp if they get something in return—if not, they’re just a fool staring from afar.”

 

Li Jue gave him a thumbs-up. “Classic Shen Xingting wisdom.”

 

Annoyed, Shen Xingting turned his head away, unwilling to continue the conversation. Li Jue shrugged and left for the cafeteria with the others.

 

Cen Jing hadn’t left yet.

 

Shen Xingting stared at her back in a daze. In the blink of an eye, she was gone.

 

He panicked and stood up abruptly. Rushing out of the classroom, he looked downstairs but couldn’t spot her anywhere.

 

“Wan Jiaming called Cen Jing from the next class out. Could he be confessing to her?”

 

“Probably. Wan Jiaming’s been crushing on her for a few semesters now. It took him long enough to muster the courage. Who knew such a loud guy could be so reserved in love?”

 

“I heard he brought a gift. He bragged about it all morning when the package arrived—apparently, it’s a pink dress. Looks nice and seems expensive, too.”

 

“Yeah, I heard that too. If I were Cen Jing, I’d probably be moved to tears.”

 

Two girls from a neighboring class walked by, chatting.

 

Hearing the word “dress,” Shen Xingting’s expression changed. He stopped them, his brow furrowed as he asked urgently, “Where did Wan Jiaming take Cen Jing?”

 

Startled by his abruptness, the two girls hesitated. Recognizing him, they assumed something serious had happened and pointed towards Building 4.

 

“Toward Building 4,” one of them said.

 

Shen Xingting’s face darkened. He knew exactly what that scumbag was up to.

 

Building 4 housed the junior students, who finished class half an hour later. Wan Jiaming deliberately took Cen Jing there to confess publicly, leaving her no room to refuse!

 

Determined, Shen Xingting quickly ran towards Building 4.

 

By the time he arrived, the junior students were just being dismissed for lunch. The hallway was crowded, making it hard to spot Cen Jing even with his height.

 

“Hey, someone’s confessing over there! Let’s go watch!” someone said nearby.

 

Shen Xingting froze momentarily before hastily following the crowd.

 

Behind Building 4, Cen Jing frowned deeply, surrounded by people.

 

“You said the teacher wanted to see me.”

 

Opposite her, Wan Jiaming, clad in designer clothes, chuckled. “I lied. The teacher didn’t call for you—I did.”

 

Cen Jing pressed her lips together. She disliked crowded places—not because she feared strangers but because the lack of fresh air made her chest feel tight and suffocating.

 

Clenching her fingers, her face turned pale as she said, “I’m going back.”

 

“Wait!” Wan Jiaming grabbed her as she tried to leave and handed her a gift bag in his other hand.

 

“Cen Jing, I like you. Please go out with me!” he shouted loudly.

 

The surrounding crowd immediately erupted into applause and cheers.

 

“Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!”

 

The noise made Cen Jing’s head buzz. In her disorientation, she stumbled back, nearly falling—until someone caught her.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

A familiar voice sounded by her ear. Startled, Cen Jing looked up and saw Shen Xingting.

 

“Shen Xingting?” she asked in surprise.

 

“Yeah.” Supporting her frail shoulders, Shen Xingting glared darkly at Wan Jiaming.

 

“You’re the class monitor from the next class, Shen Xingting?” Wan Jiaming sneered. “What’s with the look? My confession to Cen Jing has nothing to do with you.”

 

Shen Xingting clenched his fists, tempted to punch the insolent guy. But when he heard Cen Jing’s increasingly labored breathing, his focus shifted instantly.

 

“Cen Jing, what’s wrong?” he asked, alarmed.

 

“I… I can’t breathe…” Clutching her chest, Cen Jing’s face turned deathly pale.

 

Panic-stricken, Shen Xingting shot a glare at Wan Jiaming before quickly escorting Cen Jing away.

 

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked anxiously after leading her to a well-ventilated area.

 

Leaning against his shoulder, Cen Jing closed her eyes for a couple of minutes before slowly opening them.

 

“Thank you, Shen Xingting,” she said weakly.

 

Her voice was so soft that Shen Xingting had to lean in close to catch her faint “thank you.”

 

“No need to thank me. As long as you’re okay.” Watching her frail frame, Shen Xingting finally noticed something was off.

 

“Cen Jing, your health…” He hesitated, unsure how to continue.

 

“I have a heart condition,” she said quietly. “I can’t go to crowded places, can’t run or jump, and can’t let my emotions get too intense. I’ve heard this since I was a child.”

 

Shen Xingting’s heart ached. Remembering how he had once yelled at her, accusing her of being “sick,” he felt as if his own heart were being squeezed painfully.

 

Without thinking, he held her close, guilt and self-reproach written all over his face, wishing he could go back in time and beat his past self senseless.

 

“I’m sorry,” he murmured, frowning deeply.

 

Cen Jing laughed and shook her head. “I was actually quite angry at the time, but later, I stopped blaming you.”

 

“If you didn’t blame me, why didn’t you talk to me? The water and bread I bought, you gave them to Chen Yu,” Shen Xingting complained in a low voice. “I spent ten minutes squeezing through the crowd and was two minutes late just to get those.”

 

Cen Jing looked up at him. She had always thought Shen Xingting resembled a big puppy. When he acted pitiful, he would look at you with those wet, earnest eyes. When he was hurt, those beautiful eyes carried a mix of accusation and grievance.

 

Unable to hold back a smile, she reached out and patted Shen Xingting on the head. With a slight curve of her lips, she said, “Good boy. I won’t ignore you anymore.”

 

She had tried, but she couldn’t ignore the kindness he showed her. Since she couldn’t, she decided to accept it.

 

Shen Xingting thought he was hearing things. He stared at Cen Jing in disbelief, repeatedly confirming that the smile on her lips was real. His previously gloomy expression instantly brightened.

 

“Shen Xingting, I’m hungry,” Cen Jing said to the now grinning Shen Xingting.

 

“Okay, I’ll go get food for you right away!” Shen Xingting escorted her back to the classroom before heading off briskly.

 

Lunch hour had long passed, and the cafeteria food was likely already gone. Shen Xingting didn’t bother going there. Instead, he ran toward the school gate while calling his godfather.

 

“Hey, what’s up, kiddo? Why are you calling me now?” Tang Che was at home loosening the soil around his wife’s plants. Hearing from his godson at this time surprised him. “Don’t tell me you skipped class again, Shen Xingting!”

 

“Godfather, I’m still at school,” Shen Xingting said anxiously. “You have a restaurant near our school, don’t you? I feel like eating from there today. Please, best godfather in the world, call them and have them deliver it to me!”

 

Tang Che put down his little shovel and laughed. His godson had always been aloof. Except for his older brother, no one else could expect a single compliment from him—unless he needed something.

 

“Fine, flatter me some more,” Tang Che teased.

 

“Godfather, if you don’t hurry, your beloved godson might starve to death!”

 

Amused by Shen Xingting’s irritation, Tang Che raised an eyebrow. “All right, I already messaged them. Wait at the gate for a few minutes; it’ll be there soon.”

 

“Thanks, godfather! You’re the best! I swear I won’t tell your husband about the stash of cash under the sofa cushion!”

 

“Hey, you little snitch!” Tang Che chuckled through his cigarette.

 

“Bye, godfather!” Shen Xingting hung up with a grin.

 

“Was that Chuanchuancalling?” Yawning, Liu Huaijin shuffled over in his pajamas after just waking up.

 

Tang Che pulled him into a hug and kissed him. “Yeah, the kid’s in a good mood. Could be something good’s happened.”

 

Liu Huaijin smirked, grabbed Tang Che’s hair, and shot him a dangerous look. “Secret cash stash, hmm?”

 

“Wife, you misheard. There’s no stash. I’d never hide money from you,” Tang Che said, pressing him into the couch, showering him with kisses.

 

Liu Huaijin, momentarily distracted, wrapped his arms around Tang Che’s neck and responded lazily.

 

Meanwhile, at Lin’an High School, Shen Xingting waited by the school gate for less than five minutes before a delivery man arrived on a scooter.

 

“Here’s your lunch, young master.” The man recognized Shen Xingting and joked, “Here’s my card. Call me directly if you need anything next time.”

 

“Thanks, Uncle Liu. Safe travels,” Shen Xingting replied, taking the food and card. He strode quickly toward the classroom.

 

Back in class, he found Cen Jing drinking water desperately, which broke his heart.

 

“It’s not what you think. I’m just a little thirsty,” Cen Jing said helplessly, guessing his thoughts.

 

Shen Xingting scratched his nose, then laid out the food neatly on the table.

 

He unwrapped a pair of chopsticks and handed them to her. “These are all low-oil, low-salt dishes. Eat up.”

 

Cen Jing hesitated for a moment, looking at the food that was far better than anything from the cafeteria.

 

“You didn’t have to go out of your way to get this. I can eat cafeteria food just fine.”

 

Shen Xingting frowned. “No way. Cafeteria food is too greasy and salty. Even I have trouble eating their braised pork sometimes.”

 

Understanding his good intentions, Cen Jing accepted the chopsticks and smiled at him. “Thank you.”

 

Her smile was stunning, with small dimples on her cheeks and a mole by the corner of her eye that seemed to sparkle. Shen Xingting found himself momentarily dazed.

 

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Cen Jing asked when she noticed him spacing out.

 

“Ah, yes, of course!” Shen Xingting snapped back to reality, hurriedly shoveling rice into his mouth. In his haste, he nearly choked.

 

“Have some water,” Cen Jing said, pushing her cartoon-printed cup toward him.

 

Shen Xingting glanced at the cup, then at Cen Jing, who was focused on her meal. Realizing it was her cup, his face instantly turned red.

 

He hesitated, fidgeting with his fingers, and ultimately didn’t dare to pick it up. “No, I’m fine,” he stammered, cheeks flushed, before diving back into his food.

 

“Not eating any vegetables? I can’t finish all this,” Cen Jing said, noticing his focus solely on rice.

 

Shen Xingting paused, then quickly grabbed some vegetables with his chopsticks.

 

He reminded her of the dog she used to have, Duoduo.

 

When shy, Duoduo would bury its face between its paws but occasionally peek out to check if anyone was watching. It was adorably timid.

 

But she couldn’t see Duoduo anymore. Her mother had never liked the dog, and when Cen Jing’s health suddenly worsened that year, she was told Duoduo had been given away while she was hospitalized.

 

It wasn’t until two years later that she learned the truth: Duoduo hadn’t been rehomed but sent to a meat shop.

 

Cen Jing’s grip tightened on her chopsticks.

 

Duoduo must have been so helpless… She was the one who let it down.

 

“Cen Jing? Cen Jing?” Shen Xingting called worriedly, noticing her pale face and lightly gripping her arm.

 

“I’m fine,” Cen Jing forced a pale smile. “I’m done eating.”

 

Shen Xingting nodded. “I’ll take out the trash. You rest and have some water.”

 

There was no break after lunch on Fridays; classes resumed at 1 PM and ended at 5 PM.

 

After disposing of the trash, Shen Xingting returned to the classroom, accompanied Cen Jing for a bit, then went back to his desk to prepare for class.

 

By now, most students had returned. Some noticed him sitting in Chen Yu’s seat earlier, chatting with Cen Jing.

 

“Class rep, did you finally win her over?” A few close friends surrounded him, eager for gossip.

 

“Don’t be ridiculous. We’re just classmates,” Shen Xingting said, spinning his pen casually, clearly in a good mood.

 

“Tsk, tsk. That smug look doesn’t say ‘just classmates,'” Li Jue teased, folding his arms.

 

“You’re so nosy,” Shen Xingting retorted, leaning back in his chair, his long legs stretched out under the desk in front of him.

 

“Come on, class rep, just tell us—did you succeed or not?” Zhang Rui pressed.

 

“Tsk, you guys have such dirty minds. I was just taking extra care of Cen Jing because she’s not feeling well,” Shen Xingting warned them with a serious face, worried they might spread rumors in class. “I’m warning you, don’t talk nonsense, or I’ll cut off your scholarship for the next semester.”

 

“Threat! A blatant threat!”

 

Shen Xingting raised an eyebrow. “It is a threat. What can you do about it?”

 

The group of boys chorused, “Young Master, you’re the best!”

 

After that, they clutched their stomachs, laughing uncontrollably.

 

There were only two classes in the afternoon, and the last one was self-study. Since the homeroom teacher was absent, Shen Xingting, as class monitor, naturally became the boss.

 

He sat on the teacher’s desk, spinning a pen and staring at Cen Jing intently.

 

Cen Jing, blushing, glared at him under the inquisitive gaze of Chen Yu.

 

Stop looking!

 

Shen Xingting understood the message in her eyes but, instead of looking away, grinned at her.

 

I’ll keep looking. Who told you to look so pretty?

 

Cen Jing pursed her lips.

 

If you keep looking, I’ll get angry.

 

Shen Xingting gave in.

 

Fine, fine, I won’t look now. I’ll wait until after class.

 

He stopped spinning his pen and buried himself in his math exercises.

 

“Are you two together?” Chen Yu whispered once their silent exchange ended.

 

Cen Jing paused mid-writing, lowered her head, and replied, “No, there’s an exam next semester. Who has time for relationships?”

 

Chen Yu nodded, then asked, “Do you like the class monitor?”

 

Cen Jing glanced at her. “Have you finished your homework?”

 

“…No.”

 

“Then why aren’t you working on it? Didn’t the teacher say we can’t go home until we’ve completed this math worksheet?”

 

Chen Yu clasped her hands together. “Oh, Jing Jing, let me copy your worksheet, please~”

 

“No, and I’ve told you many times, don’t call me Jing Jing. It’s gross.”

 

“Alright, Cen Jing, I was wrong. I promise I won’t do it again!”

 

Chen Yu wanted to say more but suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She looked up at the teacher’s desk and saw Shen Xingting glaring at her with narrowed eyes, his expression dark. Scared stiff, she immediately shut up.

 

They’re not together, yet the class monitor is already so protective of her. What difference does it make if they are? Chen Yu complained silently.

 

Half an hour later—

 

With only five minutes left before dismissal, everyone was packing their bags. Shen Xingting had already returned to his seat.

 

He finished his homework ages ago and packed his bag in under a minute. Then he started staring at Cen Jing’s back.

 

“Still staring at Cen Jing? Are you a wife-staring maniac or something?” Li Jue teased, unable to watch any longer.

 

Shen Xingting ignored him. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the windows were closed and frowned. “Who shut the windows?”

 

Li Jue was puzzled. “Uh, isn’t this about the usual time to close them?”

 

Hearing that, Shen Xingting frowned even deeper.

 

Cen Jing had a heart condition; poor ventilation could make it hard for her to breathe. Plus, with so many people in the room, sitting in the middle must be even worse for her.

 

As he mulled this over, he realized the classroom had emptied out, leaving only him and Cen Jing.

 

“Are you ready?” he asked, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he approached her.

 

“Yeah, but there are too many people outside. I’ll wait a bit before leaving,” Cen Jing replied, looking up at him. “Are you heading out?”

 

Shen Xingting shook his head. “No, I’ll stay with you.”

 

And then he saw Cen Jing’s lips curve into a smile.

 

Neither of them said anything else. One leaned against the desk while the other sat quietly in a chair. After about ten minutes, they left the classroom together.

 

Shen Xingting watched Cen Jing get into her car before walking over to his dad’s car.

 

“You seem happy. Did you start dating?” Shen Yunxing, there to pick up his son, joked when he saw the wide grin on the boy’s face.

 

Startled, Shen Xingting blurted out, “No!”

 

It was just a joke, but his son’s overreaction caught Shen Yunxing’s attention. He glanced at the boy through the rearview mirror and noted his guilty expression.

 

He had a feeling he knew what was going on.

 

[To Fu Xiansheng]: Your youngest son seems to be in a relationship.

 

[Mon Amour]: Don’t worry, he knows his limits.

 

After receiving the reply, Shen Yunxing glanced at his son, still grinning like an idiot.

 

He sighed, “He really looks like the foolish young master of a landlord’s family…”

 

—

 

Author’s Note:

 

Shen Xingting: Staring intently—

 

Cen Jing: …