Pregnant With The Pup Of A Wealthy Old Man - Chapter 108

Chapter 108: Shen Xingting vs. Cen Jing

 

Shen Xingting signed himself up for the high jump, registered Cen Jing for the long-distance run in his place, and also signed up for a relay sprint to replace a girl in their class who wasn’t feeling well.

 

The high jump was finished in the morning, and the long-distance run was scheduled for the afternoon.

 

On the track, Shen Xingting stood at the starting line wearing a sports uniform with a large “1” printed on the back.

 

Before the race began, he looked up toward the announcers’ station and immediately spotted Cen Jing, who was reading the script.

 

It seemed that Cen Jing could sense his gaze, as he looked back at him.

 

“Good luck.”

 

Shen Xingting saw Cen Jing wave at him and then mouth the words “Good luck.”

 

A minute later, when he heard Cen Jing reading out a personalized cheer for him, he suddenly felt filled with energy. Not just 3,000 meters—he felt like he could run 5,000 meters in one go!

 

“Bang—”

 

Three seconds later, the starting gun fired, and a dozen runners took off like arrows.

 

“Go, class monitor!”

 

“Master, charge! You’re the best!”

 

When Shen Xingting ran past Class Three, his classmates’ cheers were so loud that his ears buzzed.

 

After completing one lap, he glanced at Cen Jing while passing the announcers’ station.

 

“Shen Xingting, good luck!”

 

He heard Cen Jing call out to him with a smile.

 

Shen Xingting grinned and made an “OK” gesture. Then he sped up, overtaking the leader by more than half a lap in less than two minutes.

 

Five minutes later, the referee announced it was the final lap. Shen Xingting lengthened his stride and sped up even more, ultimately breaking the school record with an excellent time of nine minutes!

 

As soon as he stepped off the track, the entire Class Three swarmed him.

 

“Class monitor, you’re amazing!”

 

“Master, you’re awesome!”

 

“It was okay,” Shen Xingting said with a smile, patting Li Jue on the shoulder. “Stop disrupting everyone else’s competitions. Get back to your seats!”

 

“Yes, master!” the group responded, laughing.

 

Since he couldn’t sit down to rest immediately after a long run, Shen Xingting wandered around the outer ring of the field to recover. As he walked, he ended up near the announcers’ station.

 

Cen Jing’s delicate features and fair skin made him stand out among the crowd. Shen Xingting immediately spotted him, with his hair tied back in a ponytail, looking so serene and beautiful that it made his heart race.

 

“Thump—thump—”

 

A heartbeat doesn’t lie. Shen Xingting kept telling others—and himself—that he didn’t like Cen Jing, that they were just classmates.

 

But his wildly beating heart told the truth: he liked Cen Jing. He liked him so much it was overwhelming. Just standing nearby and watching him brought an inexplicable joy and fulfillment.

 

That day, Shen Xingting stood there watching Cen Jing for a long time. Even after the competition ended, he couldn’t look away.

 

“Shen Xingting?” Cen Jing finished his work as an announcer and looked up, noticing Shen Xingting standing not far away, staring at him.

 

Thinking he had just arrived, Cen Jing waved and said, “Wait for me a bit longer. I’ll finish tidying up and then we can go eat.”

 

“Okay,” Shen Xingting nodded.

 

Cen Jing felt something was off. Usually, Shen Xingting would rush over to help him clean up, but today, he stayed put. Cen Jing wasn’t used to this uncharacteristic behavior.

 

After tidying up, Cen Jing said goodbye to a few junior classmates and walked over to Shen Xingting with his bag.

 

“Let’s go eat dinner.”

 

“Wait.” Shen Xingting leaned against a nearby tree, looking awkward. “My leg’s numb. Let me rest for a bit.”

 

Hearing this, Cen Jing froze, then burst out laughing.

 

“How long have you been standing there?”

 

“Not long.” Shen Xingting rubbed his nose, looking uncomfortable. “Just about half an hour or so.”

 

Liar. He had been standing there for over an hour.

 

Cen Jing could tell he was lying but didn’t expose him. He sat on the steps nearby, waiting for Shen Xingting to recover before they headed to the cafeteria together.

 

At the cafeteria, Shen Xingting made sure Cen Jing was seated comfortably before joining the line to get their food.

 

Watching Shen Xingting’s slightly taller-than-average figure, Cen Jing smiled faintly.

 

Since it was sports day, there were no evening self-study sessions. After dinner, Shen Xingting made sure Cen Jing took his medication and then escorted him back to the dormitory to rest.

 

When he noticed a strand of hair slipping into Cen Jing’s collar, he wanted to help pull it out. But after rubbing his fingers together, he didn’t muster the courage.

 

“Get some rest. I’m heading upstairs.”

 

Cen Jing nodded. “Goodbye.”

 

Back in his dormitory, Shen Xingting was immediately pulled aside by Li Jue.

 

“Master, you know Wan Jiaming, the guy from the next class who’s liked Cen Jing for several semesters?” Li Jue asked.

 

Shen Xingting frowned. “Why are you bringing him up?”

 

“I heard he got beaten up!” Li Jue smirked. “Did you do it?”

 

“What does it have to do with me? I’m a model student. Why would I harm a classmate?” Shen Xingting said innocently.

 

Li Jue folded his arms and gave him a sidelong glance. “Keep pretending. Wan Jiaming went to the principal and accused you by name of bullying him, and you’re still trying to play dumb?”

 

Shen Xingting looked up at him. “Wan Jiaming went to the principal?”

 

“Yeah, Sun Yuan overheard him in the principal’s office.”

 

“What did he say?” Shen Xingting asked.

 

“He claimed you beat him up for no reason. Said he was just joking with Cen Jing, and then you hired some thugs to rough him up, almost breaking his leg. But I saw him the other day, perfectly fine, with a new phone in one hand and a junior girl in the other. He didn’t look injured at all,” Li Jue scoffed.

 

When Shen Xingting didn’t respond, Li Jue thought he was scared and draped an arm over his shoulder. “Regretting it now? What were you thinking when you sent people after him? But honestly, it was satisfying. That guy acts like he owns the place just because his family has money, constantly harassing girls and mocking students from poorer backgrounds. He deserved it!”

 

“Me, scared?” Shen Xingting glanced at him, his tone arrogant. “Even if I’m called to the principal’s office, I wouldn’t back down.”

 

Li Jue gave him a thumbs-up. “No wonder you’re the master. Such confidence!”

 

Ignoring him, Shen Xingting checked the time and sent Cen Jing a WeChat message.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Are you asleep yet? [Cat peeking emoji]

 

[The sun is so warm]: Not yet. It’s too early to sleep. [Cat rolling emoji]

 

Staring at the cute emojis Cen Jing sent, Shen Xingting couldn’t help but think how similar they were to Cen Jing himself—adorable and well-behaved, making people want to hold him close and ruffle his hair.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Want to play a game?

 

[The sun is so warm]: What game?

 

Shen Xingting sent a mini-program for a two-player Go game. “Let’s play Go. Best of three. The winner can ask the loser for one request. Dare to try?”

 

In dormitory 101, Cen Jing smiled as he read the message.

 

[The sun is so warm]: Let’s do it.

 

Ten minutes later, the opponent, who had already lost one round, noticeably slowed down his pace of play. Holding his phone, he deliberately placed a wrong move. As soon as his white piece landed, it was immediately blocked by Shen Xingting’s black piece.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: You’ve lost this round!

 

He looked down and typed: “Mm, next round will be the deciding game. Good luck!”

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Sure! My chess skills were specially taught by my great-grandfather. If you lose, no take-backs!

 

[The sun is so warm]: Mm, no take-backs.

 

This round lasted significantly longer. Every time Cen Jing made a move, the opponent would think for ten seconds or so. It was clear he really wanted to win.

 

Fifteen minutes later, after intentionally going easy three times, Cen Jing made his fourth move. This time, the black piece quickly sealed off the white pieces, forming a row of five.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: I won! [Victory pose~]

 

[The sun is so warm]: Mm, what do you want me to do?

 

A smile spread across Cen Jing’s face. Shen Xingting, this fool, was so bad at chess that it was exhausting to let him win.

 

In Dorm 306, Shen Xingting wiped the sweat off his palms with a tissue, his cheeks slightly red as he typed: “My dad and Liao, the film emperor, have a movie called City of the Future premiering this weekend. Want to watch it together?”

 

After hitting send, he nervously waited for Cen Jing’s response while clutching his phone.

 

After a brief silence, the phone finally buzzed.

 

[The sun is so warm]: Your dad is Shen Yunxing? [Spinning in excitement]

 

Seeing the sticker Cen Jing sent, Shen Xingting smiled and typed: “Mm, you like my dad?”

 

[The sun is so warm]: Love him! I grew up watching his shows!

 

Shen Xingting replied: “Just don’t say that in front of my dad. He gets anxious about his age, even though he’s only in his thirties and not old at all. [Chin resting pose]”

 

As soon as he finished typing, Cen Jing sent several messages in quick succession.

 

[The sun is so warm]: Can you get me an autograph from Uncle Shen?

 

[The sun is so warm]: I really love Uncle Shen! [Starry eyes]

 

[The sun is so warm]: I’ll definitely go watch any movie Uncle Shen stars in. I’m busy on Saturday, though. How about Sunday at 10 a.m.?

 

Shen Xingting pouted, feeling a little jealous.

 

He had put so much effort into making Cen Jing warm up to him—bringing food, gifting plushies and snacks—only to find that his dad’s autograph worked better.

 

“Of course, my dad loves signing autographs.”

 

He typed back.

 

[The sun is so warm]: It’s settled then. See you at 10 a.m. on Sunday!

 

[The sun is so warm]: Great! [Happy face]

 

Shen Xingting was happy too. It was the first time he’d seen Cen Jing so excited. Every message was followed by a sticker. Scrolling through their chat history, he saved all of Cen Jing’s stickers one by one, smiling as he did.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Did you take your medicine?

 

[The sun is so warm]: Mm, I did. [Under the blanket]

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Good, rest early. [Pat head]

 

Cen Jing smiled. Was he being treated like a child?

 

He lowered his gaze and typed: “You too, see you tomorrow. [Piggy sticker]”

 

Shen Xingting looked at the little pig with its nose up in the air on his screen and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

 

“Calling me a pig? Have you ever seen a pig as handsome as me?”

 

He put down his phone and lay on his bed, thinking about Sunday’s outing with Cen Jing.

 

He was nervous. It was his first date with a girl. Should he buy flowers?

 

No, no, they weren’t a couple. Flowers might be too much.

 

Cen Jing liked snacks. He could bring some and maybe get an ice cream.

 

Wait, can people with heart conditions eat cold things?

 

His expression froze, and he quickly grabbed his phone to bother his godfather.

 

[Godfather]: I was just about to go into surgery when your message came. Any later, and you’d have to wait until tomorrow.

 

Liu Huaijin, about to perform surgery, quickly sent a voice note explaining some basics to his godson before locking his phone and heading into the operating room.

 

After listening to the voice message, Shen Xingting felt more at ease. He jotted down the things to do on Sunday in his notes app, excitedly tossing and turning until 1 or 2 a.m. before falling asleep.

 

…

 

The next day, Shen Xingting dropped Cen Jing off at the broadcast station, handing him the snacks and drinks he had prepared before leaving.

 

He only had one event that day—a 4x100m relay in the afternoon.

 

With nothing to do in the morning, Shen Xingting sat in the stands, cheering for his classmates and occasionally watching Cen Jing read scripts. The morning flew by.

 

“Good luck in the relay this afternoon,” Cen Jing said after lunch.

 

Shen Xingting nodded with a smile. By the time the relay ended and he had spent half an hour helping the referees move sports equipment, he was still brimming with energy, much to the envy of Li Jue, who was utterly exhausted after running 200 meters.

 

By around 4 p.m., the sports meet concluded successfully. The third class of ninth grade didn’t have any sports specialists but still managed to secure third place, a remarkable achievement that had everyone thrilled. Even their teacher, Zheng Limin, was delighted and bought cold drinks for the class to celebrate.

 

“All right, class, enjoy your drinks, but it’s time to refocus and put your minds back into studying,” Zheng Limin said sternly from the podium. “I hope to see you all in Lin’an High School’s senior division next July.”

 

“Don’t worry, teacher, we’ll do our best!” the students responded in unison.

 

…

 

Time flew by, and soon it was Friday, the day before their weekend break.

 

Shen Xingting escorted Cen Jing out of the school gates, his ears red as he reminded him not to forget their 10 a.m. meeting at Lin’an Cinema on Sunday.

 

“Don’t worry, I won’t forget.” Cen Jing clutched his backpack straps and waved. “See you Sunday.”

 

“See you Sunday.”

 

Shen Xingting watched Cen Jing’s figure disappear into the car before turning around to leave.

 

When he reached his family car, he opened the door and had just sat down when he heard his dad teasingly ask, “Was that ponytailed girl the one you accidentally took advantage of?”

 

His older brother, Fu Xingzhou, and Qin Yanjun, who were sitting in the back seat, also turned their gazes toward him upon hearing this.

 

Shen Xingting scratched his head, his expression a bit unnatural. “Dad, since when did you become so gossipy?”

 

Seeing his youngest son’s awkward expression, Shen Yunxing nodded knowingly. “So it is her. She’s quite pretty.”

 

“Right?” Shen Xingting grinned but immediately realized what he had just said. He quickly pursed his lips and stayed silent.

 

“Chuan Chuan, are you dating?” Fu Xingzhou leaned forward, resting on the back of the passenger seat.

 

“No.” Shen Xingting sighed. “Brother, why are you teasing me along with Dad?”

 

Fu Xingzhou stuck out his tongue. “I’m just curious, that’s all. Fine, I won’t ask anymore. When you want to tell me, you can do it yourself.”

 

Shen Xingting nodded.

 

When they got home, he remembered the autograph and immediately became more obsequious.

 

“Dad, filming must be so tiring. Let me massage your shoulders,” he said with a smile.

 

Shen Yunxing, who was reading a script, looked up and suspiciously glanced at his youngest son. “Spit it out. What do you want this time?”

 

“Hehe, Dad, can I have your autograph?” Shen Xingting asked while massaging his father’s shoulders. “I have a classmate who’s a big fan of yours. She’s watched every show and movie you’ve been in. She’s your loyal fan. But because of her health, she can’t attend the premiere or meet you at the airport. She even got scammed out of thousands by scalpers and dishonest fans while trying to get your autograph.”

 

“Sounds pitiful.” Shen Yunxing nodded but then changed the tone. “That classmate of yours wouldn’t happen to be the ponytailed girl, would it?”

 

Shen Xingting: “…”

 

“Ha! Dad is just too smart. Nothing escapes you,” he said, swallowing his embarrassment and praising his father. “No wonder you’ve been a top star in the entertainment industry for over a decade. Your acting is unmatched worldwide…”

 

“Enough. Bring me the pen,” Shen Yunxing interrupted, afraid he might lose his temper if he listened any longer.

 

Hearing this, Shen Xingting immediately handed over the poster and pen he had prepared.

 

“Thanks, Dad!”

 

After signing the autograph, Shen Yunxing asked, “What’s the girl’s name?”

 

“Cen Jing. ‘Cen’ as in the mountain radical, and ‘Jing’ as in scenery.”

 

“So her name is Cen Jing.” Shen Yunxing glanced at his youngest son. “It’s a nice name.”

 

Shen Xingting: “…”

 

Another day of being outsmarted by his dad.

 

A half-minute later, he bounded upstairs, holding the signed poster.

 

On Saturday, he had to visit his grandmother. When he returned from Seine-et-Marne Province that evening, it was nearly 10 p.m. After washing up, he hurried to his room to prepare for the next day’s outing.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Are you asleep yet? [Curious cat emoji]

 

Half an hour later, lying in bed, he messaged Cen Jing.

 

[The sun is so warm]: About to sleep soon. Did you get home?

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Yep. By the way, check this out.

 

Shen Xingting sat up abruptly and sent a photo of the signed poster to Cen Jing.

 

[The sun is so warm]: A signed poster! [Excited scream emoji]

 

Cen Jing opened the photo, noticing not only the signature but also the words “Wishing Cen Jing a bright future.” His face immediately flushed with excitement.

 

[The sun is so warm]: Shen Xingting, thank you so much! I’m so happy! [Dancing emoji]

 

Shen Xingting laughed as he read the message.

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: No need to thank me. I didn’t do much.

 

He paused before typing again: In the future, if you have the chance, you can come over to my house to meet your idol up close.

 

[The sun is so warm]: Really? Thank you! [Excited emojis]

 

[Let’s bask in the sun together]: Really. It’s late now, so get some rest. See you tomorrow at the theater. [Waving emoji]

 

[The sun is so warm]: Okay, good night! [Tucked in emoji]

 

That night, neither of them slept well.

 

…

 

The next morning, Shen Xingting woke up with prominent dark circles under his eyes. When his dad learned he was going out on a date, he insisted on using concealer to cover them up.

 

Seated at the vanity, Shen Xingting allowed his dad to tilt his chin and apply makeup on his face.

 

Moments later, he looked at his newly refreshed reflection in the mirror and swallowed his words about “real men not using makeup.”

 

To be fair, the dark circles had completely disappeared!

 

“Done.” Shen Yunxing patted his youngest son on the head. “For a first date, you have to leave a good impression.”

 

Feeling awkward, Shen Xingting ran a hand through his hair, his ears turning red. “I’ve already told you, it’s not a date—just going to the movies with a classmate.”

 

“Okay, I believe you.” Shen Yunxing smirked. “It’s already past nine. If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”

 

Hearing this, Shen Xingting grabbed his backpack, shouted a quick goodbye, and ran out the door.

 

It was Sunday, and the Lin’an Cinema was bustling with people.

 

Cen Jing clutched his phone nervously near the entrance, fending off a third guy trying to hit on him. When he finally saw Shen Xingting approaching, he waved enthusiastically.

 

“Here!”

 

When they met, Shen Xingting pulled out the carefully wrapped signed poster and handed it to Cen Jing.

 

Seeing the poster, Cen Jing’s eyes lit up immediately.

 

Watching his delighted expression, Shen Xingting couldn’t help but smile too. “Let’s go watch the movie.”

 

Cen Jing nodded, holding the poster carefully as he followed Shen Xingting.

 

Future City was a profound sci-fi film. A third of the way in, many in the audience were moved to tears, including Cen Jing.

 

Shen Xingting handed him a tissue and leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them.

 

As he smiled at the screen, his peripheral vision caught Cen Jing’s hand resting on his lap. Hesitating for a moment, Shen Xingting reached out, intending to hold it—only to have his chair back abruptly kicked.

 

Frowning, he decided to let it slide, assuming it wasn’t intentional. But the moment had passed, and he didn’t dare try again.

 

An hour later, the movie ended.

 

Cen Jing, worried someone might crumple the poster, stayed seated until most of the audience had left.

 

“Want some ice cream?” Shen Xingting asked as they exited.

 

Cen Jing’s eyes brightened. “Sure.”

 

“I’ll go buy it. Wait here.”

 

“Okay.” Cen Jing smiled and sat down.

 

“Is that Cen Jing?”

 

Just as Shen Xingting walked off, Cen Jing heard someone call his name. Turning around, he saw an old elementary school classmate and immediately froze.

 

“Wow, it really is you. We almost didn’t recognize you,” Cui Li said, scanning him up and down in surprise. “You’ve gotten even prettier. Honestly, you don’t even look like a guy anymore.”

 

“I heard about a type of gender reassignment surgery in Thailand. You suddenly disappeared for six months in sixth grade and then transferred to Lin’an Middle School. Could it be because you had the surgery and were afraid of being recognized?” said a girl with long hair and earrings, her tone unfriendly.

 

Cen Jing’s face turned pale. Glancing toward Shen Xingting, he clenched his hands nervously.

 

“Actually, there’s nothing wrong with liking guys. But cross-dressing to get close to my friend’s husband—that’s just wrong,” Cui Li said with a smile, stepping closer. “That boy earlier—is he your new boyfriend? Does he know you’re actually a guy?”

 

“I didn’t seduce Xue Kai,” Cen Jing said coldly, meeting Song Xue’s gaze. “He was the one pestering me. What does that have to do with me?”

 

Then, turning to Cui Li, he added, “Instead of wasting time throwing shade at me, maybe you should ask your good friend here about the wonderful things she did with Qin Zhong at a hotel last Valentine’s Day.”

 

Song Xue froze, stealing a glance at Cui Li before quickly denying, “Don’t listen to her, Cui Li! She’s just trying to stir up trouble. Do you think anyone will believe her? Besides, I was with Xue Kai all Valentine’s Day. I never even went to a hotel!”

 

Cen Jing stared at her blankly. “Oh? Then why don’t you call Xue Kai right now and confront him in front of everyone?”

 

Song Xue visibly faltered, and Cui Li turned to her in disbelief.

 

“It’s not like that, Cui Li, listen to me…” Song Xue grabbed Cui Li’s arm, trying to explain, but Cui Li pushed her away.

 

Shen Xinting was walking back with the ice cream when he saw two girls pulling and shoving each other in Cen Jing’s direction. He paused.

 

On the bench, Cen Jing saw Song Xue suddenly stop and walk toward Shen Xinting. His body stiffened.

 

What are they talking about? Did Shen Xinting find out his secret? Would he hate him?

 

If he had known it would come to this, he would have confessed to Shen Xinting earlier. At least things wouldn’t have become so messy.

 

He lowered his head, lost in despair.

 

“Cen Jing?”

 

Hearing Shen Xinting’s voice, he kept his head down, unable to look up.

 

“I got the ice cream. Do you want original flavor or strawberry?” Shen Xinting asked, noticing that Cen Jing kept his head down. “Why are you keeping your head down? Are you sleepy?”

 

Shen Xinting’s attitude showed no sign of change, surprising Cen Jing.

 

Could it be that Song Xue didn’t tell him about him being a boy?

 

Suddenly, he felt a cool sensation on his cheek. Shen Xinting had pressed the ice cream against his face.

 

“Strawberry okay?” Shen Xinting smiled at him as Cen Jing looked up.

 

Cen Jing nodded dazedly, took the ice cream, and carefully took a small lick. Distracted, he didn’t even notice the ice cream dripping onto his fingers.

 

“Give me your hand.”

 

“Huh?” Cen Jing instinctively extended his left hand.

 

“Not your left hand, your right hand.”

 

“Oh.” Cen Jing switched the ice cream to his left hand and extended his right hand.

 

In the next second, his palm was enveloped in warmth.

 

Shen Xinting used a wet wipe to carefully clean the ice cream off his fingers.

 

Thump, thump.

 

His heart began racing, each beat louder than the last, as if it would leap out of his chest.

 

“Shen Xinting,” he whispered.

 

“Yeah?” Shen Xinting looked up at him.

 

“Let’s make a deal. Let’s both aim to get into S University, okay?”

 

“Okay,” Shen Xinting agreed with a smile.

 

“When we’re in college, I can finally be myself. When that time comes and we meet again, don’t pretend not to know me.”

 

Shen Xinting was puzzled. “Be yourself? What do you mean? I don’t quite understand. And why would I pretend not to know you when you’re this good-looking?”

 

“It’s a secret.” Cen Jing smiled at him. “You’ll understand when the time comes.”

 

Shen Xinting sighed. “Fine, I really can’t say no to you.”

 

—

 

Author’s Note:

 

Shen Yunxing: I sure love giving autographs (smile).

 

Shen Xinting: Dad, just bear with it a little for the sake of your future daughter-in-law!