I Am Being Raised by a Cat - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

That evening, Cheng Yue took on the arduous task of being responsible for the man’s medication.

He stared intently at Cheng Shang, watching the man drink every drop of the medicine, and then quickly asked, “When will it take effect?”

The man wanted to laugh, but he maintained a deep, serious expression. “I can already feel something. I feel a bit hot.”

Startled, the youth reached out to feel the man’s forehead. “So fast? Does this medicine cause a fever?”

Cheng Shang pulled at his collar and let out a heavy breath. “Baby, can I hold you?”

Compared to the man’s actions over the past two days, a simple hug really didn’t seem like much. Cheng Yue hesitated for a brief moment before shuffling over in small steps.

As soon as he reached the man’s side, he was scooped up by a powerful force into a scorching embrace. The man held him so tightly it felt as if he wanted to press the boy into his very bones and blood.

The youth felt a bit breathless. “Gently… more gently.”

Hearing this, the man’s eyes darkened. He directly supported the boy’s bottom, lifting him up and walking out. “I can’t be gentle.”

“What… what are you doing!”

“Taking you to see something.”

Cheng Yue was being held face-to-face. Fearing he might fall, he wrapped his legs tightly around the man’s waist, which only caused the man’s hands on his bottom to tighten further; his fingers were almost sinking into the flesh through the thin layer of fabric.

The youth’s entire ears turned red. He felt something was wrong but didn’t dare move, so he could only grip the man’s clothes tightly.

The man carried him to the study and sat in the chair in front of the desk. Just as Cheng Yue wanted to jump down, the man gave his inner thigh a light but firm squeeze.

That spot was too sensitive, almost touching there. The youth’s waist went soft, and a soft moan escaped from his nose.

Cheng Yue was about to lose his temper when he heard the man say, “Look in front of you.”

The computer screen displayed an introductory page, and the pictures on it looked somewhat familiar.

Cheng Yue’s attention was caught, and he let out a soft “Eh—”

“Isn’t this… the Academy of Arts we saw during the day?”

The man gave a faint “Mm.” His hands were never well-behaved; at that moment, he was kneading the youth’s soft earlobe as if playing with something extremely interesting, staring as the pale skin turned pink under his touch.

“I remember Yue-Yue’s university studies aren’t finished yet. How about it? Do you want to continue your schooling?”

This casual sentence from Cheng Shang made Cheng Yue’s eyes widen with pleasant surprise. “Can I? I can still go to school? But… but is my student record still there? It’s been twenty years.”

The youth was like a chirping bird, tossing out a string of questions.

“Don’t worry about all that. Just tell me if you want to go.”

The man’s hand moved down from the earlobe to the youth’s collarbone, then tried to slip under the collar, but Cheng Yue caught his hand.

The youth turned his body to look at him, his eyes sparkling. “Then I want to go.”

But after saying that, he paused. “But your illness…”

Cheng Shang smiled. “When the time comes, send me your class schedule. I’ll pick you up when you don’t have classes. I’ll have the school arrange for you to be a commuter student so you still live at home.”

“Wow!”

Since traveling to this time, the youth laughed happily for the first time. He hugged the man tightly, wrapping his arms around his neck.

“Cheng Shang, thank you.”

The man was very satisfied with Cheng Yue throwing himself into his arms, but he still feigned coldness by patting the youth’s bottom. “Didn’t I say not to thank me?”

“Don’t worry.”

Cheng Yue raised his head, staring at him with bright eyes, and spoke very seriously. “Even when I’m at school, I’ll help you treat your illness. I’ll come back as soon as class is over.”

Cheng Shang chuckled low. “Yes, fortunately, we have Doctor Yue-Yue.”

“Are you still hot now?”

Cheng Yue raised his hand to touch the man’s forehead. “It seems okay.”

The man didn’t speak; he just held him tight and buried his head in the youth’s neck, taking a very deep breath.

Cheng Yue couldn’t help but want to laugh. “You’re like someone ‘huffing’ a cat.”

The man gave a muffled “Mm.” “Yue-Yue doesn’t huff me anymore. Didn’t you used to love burying your face in my belly?”

Cheng Yue’s face turned red.

What was the difference between this and someone helping you recall your drunken antics the next day?

He tried to defend himself. “How is that the same? You were a cat before, your belly was soft. Now you’ve grown so big and you’re all rock-hard.”

The youth used a finger to poke the man’s chest.

Hearing this, Cheng Shang narrowed his eyes.

He knew the boy was talking about his chest.

But someone who didn’t know…

“I’m hot again, baby.” The man spoke sincerely. “Can I take off my clothes?”

Cheng Yue was stunned. “Ah?”

He even forgot to correct the man’s nickname for him. He knit his brows. “Why does this medicine come in waves? Should we ask the doctor?”

“No need, what does he know?”

Cheng Shang moved quickly, and his black loungewear was soon tossed aside.

The youth was still sitting on his lap, almost pressed against that scorching chest.

It seemed the man really was hot; even Cheng Yue was somewhat affected, feeling the heat surging up. He licked his lips and forced his gaze away from the honey-colored chest in front of him. “Put me down.”

“Didn’t the doctor say we should be close?”

Cheng Shang used the doctor as a shield again, refusing to let go.

The man usually worked in an office, so how was his physique still so good? His pectoral muscles were bulging and looked like they would feel great to the touch. Whether intentional or not, when he took off his shirt, he had pulled his waistband a bit lower, revealing the faint lines of his obliques leading downward.

Cheng Yue felt he was about to start heating up too. He didn’t know where to look and even stammered a bit. “You… don’t catch a cold. Maybe put it back on.”

“Actually, it’s not that hard.”

The man answered a completely different question, saying in an enticing tone, “You can treat me like a cat and bury your face here.”

“!!!!”

Listen to this!!! Is this appropriate!!!

This is cheating!!!

“No… no need.” Cheng Yue tried to support himself by standing up. If he kept sitting on the man’s lap, he would definitely catch fire.

But his body felt weak and lacked strength. He tried to brace his hand against something but didn’t notice that he had suddenly pressed down right between the man’s legs.

Both of their expressions changed simultaneously.

The man was stimulated; he let out a muffled groan, and his gaze on the youth became increasingly dark. Cheng Yue, on the other hand, was purely frightened.

He had seen this part of the man before; it was quite majestic and impressive.

But seeing it and touching it were two different sensations.

The youth’s hand could barely wrap around it, and because of this touch, it began to stir and rise bit by bit under the youth’s shocked gaze.

He trembled. “You… what are you doing?”

Cheng Shang’s voice was deep and husky. “Baby, you provoked it first.”

Cheng Yue’s entire face turned completely red. He stammered, not knowing what to say, and could only quickly withdraw his hand as if burned by a flame. Then, regardless of whether he might fall, he scrambled off the man in a panic.

“How could you be like this?” The youth puffed out his cheeks, criticizing him in a very serious tone. “This is… this is really too improper.”

The man wanted to laugh at his antics.

Cheng Shang stood up slowly, a posture that made the situation down there even more obvious. “Let’s be reasonable, baby. It’s very hard for me to restrain myself.”

Cheng Yue felt as if his face were on fire. Facing the man felt extremely awkward. “Then… then I’m going out first.”

Staring at the youth’s retreating back, which looked almost like he was fleeing for his life, the man lowered his gaze. But he didn’t get up to stop him.

He didn’t want to push too hard yet.

Cheng Shang looked down at himself again.

Tsk.

Useless.

…

Cheng Shang moved very quickly—or rather, the title of Governor Cheng was very powerful. A single phone call was all it took to smoothly resolve the enrollment issue.

Cheng Yue didn’t say it out loud, but he was actually a bit surprised.

After all, when he wanted to go out to work before, the man had tried his best to stop him. This time, he actually agreed to let him go to school.

On the first day of reporting, Cheng Shang drove him there.

While in the car, the man grabbed his wrist and put a watch on him. “The button on the side of the watch presses it once to activate it, and I’ll receive the signal here.”

Cheng Yue smiled. “What kind of things would I need to find you for?”

Cheng Shang looked up at him, his eyes turning very tender. “Anything. You can call me anytime.”

Cheng Yue looked down to fiddle with the watch, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “Why was there money when I went to get coffee last time and scanned my fingerprint?”

“Did you put money into my finger?”

The youth held up his finger, looking very serious.

Seeing him like this, Cheng Shang’s heart itched with unbearable desire. His heart felt like a gap had been opened, and countless greeds and desires were uncontrollably surging out.

In the face of Cheng Yue, he always found it hard to remain rational.

Just like now, simply staring at the youth’s fair, tender finger, his gaze was immediately drawn to it. Adam’s apple rolled, and he leaned over to take a bite.

Cheng Yue’s eyes widened.

He never expected the man to do this.

The driver was still sitting in the front.

And besides, he hadn’t said anything wrong; he was just asking a question.

His fingertip was held in the man’s mouth, nipped by his teeth. The man looked up at him, his eyes devoid of warmth dark and full of aggression.

Cheng Shang had never looked at the youth with such an expression.

Cheng Yue’s heart seemed to skip a beat, giving him the illusion that he was prey being stared down by a predator.

“You…” The youth spoke with a distinct lack of confidence. “Let go.”

To his surprise, the man raised an eyebrow and actually let go. There were clear tooth marks on the pale fingertip, displaying the man’s wickedness.

Cheng Yue felt embarrassed and a bit ashamed, staring at the man with round eyes. “Why did you bite me?”

The man said sincerely, “You were the one waving it in front of me first.”

Cheng Yue: “…”

I’ve never seen someone so good at twisting the truth.

“I transferred a bit of my funds into your name,” the man said half-jokingly. “It is my responsibility to provide for my little master.”

Though his “bit” was obviously quite different from what others would understand.

Over the past two days, Cheng Yue seemed to have adjusted his mindset; he wasn’t as conflicted as before.

He didn’t say anything about returning the money, but simply urged the man, “Let’s go.”

The Academy of Arts covered many categories, but Cheng Yue still chose to study painting. The process wasn’t actually very complicated; he just needed to record some basic information.

But Cheng Shang still pushed back a meeting to personally see him off.

Because they had called ahead, the Dean of the academy came personally to receive them. The usually serious Dean was now all smiles.

“Actually, Governor Cheng, you are a busy man; there was no need to make this trip personally. We will take good care of student Cheng Yue.”

To outsiders, Cheng Shang’s face was expressionless. He gave a faint nod. “I happened to be free, so I brought him over.”

Standing to the side, Cheng Yue felt a very subtle sensation.

He had always been quite withdrawn with very average social skills. Standing next to Cheng Shang now, he felt like his own cat was socializing while he stood behind him, cowering in social anxiety.

Afterward, the man held his hand and led him to register his fingerprints and take photos.

The Dean, watching from behind, clicked his tongue in wonder.

It was rare to see the cold and lethal Cheng Shang of the rumors being so gentle.

When everything was finished, Cheng Yue looked at his schedule. “If I go now, I can still make it for this class.”

“Mm.” The man helped him straighten his collar. “Go on. I’ll come to pick you up for lunch at noon.”

“Since it’s the first day, I want to eat at the cafeteria here. Besides, I have classes in the afternoon; traveling back and forth is such a hassle.”

The youth looked up, making a very obedient, pleading face.

Cheng Shang was so annoyed he wanted to laugh.

Just as expected. Before coming, he was full of vows, promising to come home right after class, saying he would watch him take his medicine and help treat his illness.

And the result? He was already being disobedient on the very first day.

But he still didn’t refuse. He raised his hand to gently pinch the youth’s earlobe and said softly, “Just this once. Your stomach isn’t great; you should eat less outside food.”

“Yes, yes, yes.” Cheng Yue nodded repeatedly. The tuft of hair sticking out on his head swayed with his movements and was patted down by the man’s hand.

“Remember to message me.”

Fang Cheng called again; there was likely something urgent. Cheng Shang didn’t linger; he gave Cheng Yue a few more reminders and left.

After Cheng Shang left, the Dean personally led him to his classroom.

“Are you and Governor Cheng relatives?” the Dean asked seemingly casually.

Although they both had the surname Cheng, they didn’t look much alike. However, seeing how doting Cheng Shang was, perhaps he was a junior of the family.

Cheng Yue answered vaguely, “Not exactly.”

The Dean said with a chuckle, “I see that Governor Cheng takes great care of you.”

More than just “taking care” he practically wanted to hold him up to the heavens.

Cheng Yue pursed his lips and didn’t respond further.

Seeing this, the Dean didn’t ask more and walked him all the way to the classroom door. “Go to class. Feel free to find me if you have any problems.”

“Thank you for the trouble, Dean.”

Cheng Yue walked in quietly. Even though he wanted to minimize his presence, he still attracted many gazes.

This was a large lecture class, and many students in the back rows were sleeping.

Just as Cheng Yue found an empty seat and sat down, someone next to him tapped his shoulder.

“Which department are you from? I haven’t seen you before.”

The speaker had a wolf-cut hairstyle and a rather flashy earring. He was quite handsome, but Cheng Yue thought he looked a bit like a delinquent from an anime.

“Fine Arts Department.” Cheng Yue paused. “I’m a new student, just reporting in.”

The boy nodded. “Came in through the back door, I guess? What kind of new student shows up at this time?”

Being pointed out so bluntly made Cheng Yue a bit embarrassed, but he had no way to explain, because he indeed…

Seeing Cheng Yue stammering, the boy laughed. “My name is Yuan Dong, I’m from the Music Department. I’m just here to accompany a friend for this class.”

Cheng Yue gave an “Oh” and quickly stated his own name.

He wasn’t used to chatting with strangers and was too embarrassed to refuse, so he could only pretend to take out his water bottle, book, and pen from his bag, hoping Yuan Dong would take the hint and shut up.

But clearly, Yuan Dong lacked that discernment, and appearing quite interested in Cheng Yue, he continued to pester him.

“I saw the Dean personally bringing you over just now. You’re quite something.” Yuan Dong curled his lip. “Let’s be friends. You can cover for me if anything happens in the future.”

Cheng Yue spoke slowly, “I’m not ‘something.’ I just bumped into the Dean at the entrance.”

Yuan Dong stared at him for a few moments and asked, “What’s your original form? It couldn’t be a rabbit, could it?”

He looked quite like one with that timid nature.

Cheng Yue gripped his pen, endured it, then turned to look at Yuan Dong very seriously. “I want to listen to the lecture.”

Yuan Dong was stunned, then seemed unable to help but laugh. He sized Cheng Yue up, nodded, and turned back around to lie down.

Cheng Yue quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Once the class was over, Cheng Yue opened his phone, wanting to check his schedule, but a hand reached over to block his screen.

“Class is over now. Can we talk?”

Cheng Yue frowned. “Have we met?”

“No.”

Yuan Dong said very bluntly, “I think you’re good-looking and wanted to get to know you.”

“…”

In the past, Cheng Yue had encountered people stuffing love letters or chocolates at him, but this was the first time he had seen someone so direct and bold.

“Sorry.” He didn’t want to talk more, so he simply grabbed his bag, stood up, and walked quickly out of the classroom.

Just as he stepped out, Cheng Shang’s call came through.

“Class is over?” The man’s end was very quiet; he was likely in his office.

“Mm.” Cheng Yue said obediently, “I’m getting ready for the second class.”

“Is there anything you’re not used to? Did anyone bully you?”

The youth curved his lips. “Please, it’s not like I’ve never been to school. I’m not a child anymore, Governor Cheng, you can rest easy.”

It wasn’t that he was uneasy; it was that he was too worried.

From the moment Cheng Yue left his sight, the man’s irritability and anxiety had surged again. He had checked the time countless times, restraining himself until the youth finished class before calling.

He looked down at the medicine bottle in his hand, his voice slightly low.

“Baby, I’ve taken my medicine.”

“Can you come back to accompany me at noon?”