Harmony of Souls in a Modern World Chapter 8

Marcus Tong declined several times, but failed to persuade Sebastian Zhuo not to pick him up. He should be the one who shot himself in the foot.

If I didn't want to delay the time until the evening, to be honest, if Connor Tong was at home, it would probably take four or five o'clock to send him there. Now Sebastian Zhuo is coming, and he said it would be noon. What time is noon depends on when Sebastian Zhuo finishes meeting with others.

Sebastian Zhuo always gets up early, so he will probably come to pick him up before twelve o'clock.

However, what Marcus Tong was worried about was no longer whether it was too early or too late to go back to Sebastian Zhuo's place. He felt embarrassed that he had to drag Sebastian Zhuo so far to pick him up even though Connor Tong was clearly at home.

Marcus Tong tightened his grip on the phone and whispered, "Okay, I lied."

"Hmm?" Sebastian Zhuo seemed not to have expected him to say that.

"Connor Tong has nothing to do tomorrow, so he can take me there... I originally wanted to leave a little later, and I didn't mean to lie to you on purpose." Marcus Tong paused and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, I won't do this again next time."

Sebastian Zhuo also paused for a moment and did not speak immediately. Marcus Tong waited nervously, but he did not expect him to chuckle softly, without any blame in his tone: "I see, then Connor Tong will send you here tomorrow, and I will not interfere."

Marcus Tong felt even more ashamed: "That's not what I meant...Brother Xiang Ming, I'm sorry."

"You have to apologize for this?" Sebastian Zhuo said, "I was inconsiderate and forgot that it's always hard to let children leave home."

Marcus Tong didn't know how to respond and just wanted to end the call. Sebastian Zhuo said seriously, "Your brother wants you to go, so he will go tomorrow. But it's normal for me to pick you up. You don't have to feel embarrassed or bother me, right?"

After thinking about it, Marcus Tong said seriously: "Yes."

"Okay." Sebastian Zhuo returned to a gentle tone and said to him, "It's late, go to bed."

---

Tong Liqin stayed at home for two days. Except for the dinner with Sebastian Zhuo, he was not at home for the rest of the time. Before leaving the next day, Marcus Tong had been waiting for him. He called him several times, but his assistant answered the phone and said he was in a meeting. It was after five o'clock, and Connor Tong kept urging him, so he finally left.

Tong Liqin called Connor Tong back halfway through the journey. Connor Tong unplugged his headphones and answered the call. His voice came out of the car stereo and he spoke directly to Marcus Tong: "Tongtong, Dad forgot that today is Sunday. I can't get back now. How about letting your brother take you there?"

Marcus Tong didn't want to talk to him, but Tong Liqin didn't get angry either. He kindly reminded him, "The hospital called to talk about your physical condition. You'll start school tomorrow, so you must listen to what the doctor says. Did they ask you to bring a spray, and what brand it is? Remember to check your schoolbag when you get up in the morning. Your physical education class has been cancelled, so you can take the make-up exam next year."

Marcus Tong just lowered his head, and when Connor Tong nudged him with his elbow, he dodged to the side.

Tong Liqin said: "Tongtong, if you don't agree to daddy, daddy will always be worried, Tongtong?"

"I understand." Marcus Tong said.

"Be good." Tong Liqin said with a smile, "Listen to your brother Xiang Ming and study hard. Dad will call you when he has time."

Marcus Tong didn't say anything. Someone seemed to be calling "Mr. Tong" next to him, so Tong Liqin hung up the phone.

There was silence in the car. After driving for a while, Connor Tong freed one hand and reached out to rub Marcus Tong's head vigorously: "Okay."

Marcus Tong dodged his hand: "Don't touch me."

"Did I offend you too?" Connor Tong said, "You are such a heartless kid."

Marcus Tong pretended to look down at his classmates' updates on oukm, while Connor Tong said to himself, "Don't bother with me. I'll be gone for a week and you'll regret it."

Marcus Tong didn't look up and snorted.

---

The way home is always long, and the way away from home always seems short. Marcus Tong was arguing with Connor Tong for no reason, while watching Sebastian Zhuo's house getting closer and closer, and he was getting farther and farther away from home.

It didn't take long before we arrived at the destination.

Connor Tong had an appointment in the evening and was in a hurry to leave, so he didn't drive the car into the courtyard and parked it directly on the side of the road.

He got out of the car first and took out the school supplies prepared for Marcus Tong from the trunk. He took out some half-new pajamas that he was used to wearing at home and a few pairs of sneakers with Marcus Tong's name on them, and packed them into a 20-inch suitcase. Except for the school bag, the water cup, stationery and other things were all newly bought and put in an open paper bag like those provided by supermarkets.

Connor Tong was busy there, and Marcus Tong was sitting in the car, not knowing what he was angry about. After a while, Sebastian Zhuo came out and he got out of the car, but Sebastian Zhuo had already taken all the things. He held the big paper bag in one hand and pulled the suitcase with the other hand, listening to Connor Tong's instructions.

"These are his clothes and stationery. Everything is ready. He can do it himself. I just need to bother you to remind him to wear the warning tag every day. The school also said that he must wear it outside the school uniform. In addition, because he is in the same class as AO, he will not attend the physical education class. I am afraid that he can't stand the smell. We have already applied for it in the system, but you still need to sign it. You have to sign it for every class. Marcus Tong will give it to you. As for the rest...if he is naughty..."

Marcus Tong thought Connor Tong would tell Sebastian Zhuo to teach him a lesson, but he didn't expect him to say, "He's not that naughty. He can listen to you even when he does something wrong. Tell him and he'll understand."

Sebastian Zhuo agreed to each of them, and when he heard this, he continued, "Marcus Tong is very well behaved."

"Yes." Connor Tong was not so serious at once. He smiled with a bit of pride on his face. He turned to look at Marcus Tong, but Marcus Tong turned his face away.

After talking for a while, Connor Tong said, "I have something else to do tonight, so I'll leave first."

"Okay, be careful on the road."

Sebastian Zhuo sent Connor Tong to the car. As he listened to the car starting up and turning around, ready to leave, Marcus Tong felt extremely sad.

But the car stopped again, and Connor Tong stuck his head out of the window: "Tongtong, brother is leaving. I will pick you up at the school gate on Friday afternoon."

Marcus Tong had long forgotten his inexplicable anger and took two steps forward, but Sebastian Zhuo grabbed his arm and he stopped moving towards the car. He stood next to Sebastian Zhuo and nodded obediently at Connor Tong.

"Brother is gone." Connor Tong said again.

Marcus Tong was afraid that he would cry, which was embarrassing, so he lowered his head. But when the car drove a little further, he couldn't stop looking at the back of the car, until Sebastian Zhuo called him, "It's cold outside, go in."

Xuangui had been waiting at the door for a long time. When he saw Marcus Tong, he went up to her and said hello: "Welcome home!"

It followed Marcus Tong, turning around and around: "Have you watched Sailor Moon? I asked you to share your progress with me, did you forget?"

Marcus Tong said: "I forgot. I only watched a few episodes on Friday and haven't watched it since."

The turtle sighed in complaint, then pretended to be nonchalant and said in a businesslike manner: "I heard that you will start school tomorrow, and I need your schedule."

Marcus Tong was about to agree when Sebastian Zhuo said, "Xuangui, be quiet for a while."

The turtle replied "yes" and said nothing more. It walked quietly along the floating passage and went upstairs with them.

The two of them took the things to Marcus Tong's bedroom on the second floor. After Sebastian Zhuo asked Marcus Tong, he opened the suitcase and began to pack.

Marcus Tong was indeed in a low mood, but he didn't treat Sebastian Zhuo coldly.

After putting the paper bag away, he also squatted next to the box, took out the socks and three pairs of sneakers that were placed crosswise, and put them in the shoe cabinet.

"They're pretty." Seeing Marcus Tong looking at him, Sebastian Zhuo added, "I'm talking about your shoes."

Marcus Tong also looked back at his shoes: "They were all bought by Connor Tong." He used his index finger to pick off the sequins that had gotten stuck on the shoelaces of one pair of shoes. By the way, "This pair was bought when he was in college. The team won a game and the sponsor gave each player a pair of shoes with their names embroidered on them."

Sebastian Zhuo asked: "Did he give you a name?"

Marcus Tong nodded: "Yes."

"Your brother loves you very much."

Marcus Tong hummed and whispered, "I love him too."

He arranged his socks, pushed the small drawer inside, turned around and sat on the bed, trying not to hang his head or look depressed.

But he thought distressedly, hasn't Sebastian Zhuo always had a high EQ? Why can't he see that he urgently needs some time alone now?

Fortunately, it didn't take long before Sebastian Zhuo opened the door and walked out.

Marcus Tong could finally throw himself heavily into the mattress. It was already dark, and the lights in the room were not on yet. The temperature in September was not that high. In the dimly lit and slightly cold room, he felt more and more uncomfortable.

But Sebastian Zhuo came back soon, and the mattress next to him sank, and he sat on the edge of the bed next to Marcus Tong.

Marcus Tong felt that he didn't seem to notice his low mood. Although he knew it was rude, Marcus Tong just couldn't sit up immediately.

Then I felt a warm hand on my head: "Marcus Tong?"

"Hmm?" Marcus Tong turned his head, revealing his profile, which was half covered by his messy hair.

Sebastian Zhuo held a bottle of coconut milk in his hand, first helped him to part his hair, and then handed it to him. Marcus Tong whispered: "I don't want to drink it."

Sebastian Zhuo silently took the coconut milk away, but Marcus Tong didn't expect that he would change his hand and hand it to her, which was a cup of mashed potatoes with chicken sauce.

Marcus Tong couldn't help laughing, and turned around completely, facing Sebastian Zhuo sideways: "What do you want to do?"

Sebastian Zhuo was originally sitting very properly, but Marcus Tong's bed was too soft, so his posture was a little distorted. But when he looked down at Marcus Tong, the expression on his face still made people feel convinced and dependent: "I want to make you happier."

Marcus Tong was silent for a while, but did not deny it. He lowered his eyes and said, "Thank you."

Sebastian Zhuo touched his head again: "Then can you tell me why you are unhappy?"

Marcus Tong covered his face with his hands and said in an unclear voice: "I don't know either."

"There are few people here, do you feel lonely?" Sebastian Zhuo tried to guess.

Tong Liqin and Connor Tong are both very busy, so Marcus Tong is often alone at home. So in terms of the number of people, home may not be as good as here.

Marcus Tong shook his head.

"I haven't been to school for a long time. Are you worried that I won't fit in?"

Marcus Tong still shook his head.

Sebastian Zhuo lowered his voice and said with a smile: "Then you are making things difficult for me."

He leaned closer to Marcus Tong and gently poked the isolation patch behind Marcus Tong's neck: "Is it still uncomfortable here?"

"Marcus Tong?" Sebastian Zhuo realized something was wrong, turned Marcus Tong's face, and pulled up his bangs, revealing a pair of tearful eyes, "Why are you crying?"

Sebastian Zhuo was also a little anxious. He pulled Marcus Tong into his arms. Marcus Tong was crying, so she let him do whatever he wanted, resting her chin on Sebastian Zhuo's shoulder. Once the tears started flowing, it was hard to stop them. Later on, she didn't even know what she was sad about. She just kept crying.

Sebastian Zhuo never thought that his coaxing would only make things worse. He had an omega brother, but the two brothers were only one year apart in age. He had never taken care of a child like Marcus Tong, who was neither old nor young. He could only pat Marcus Tong's back in a panic: "Where are you feeling wronged? Tell me, do you want to go home? I'll take you home, okay?"

"But it still has to be like this." Marcus Tong hugged his neck, with tears in his voice.

Sebastian Zhuo understood and immediately said, "It won't take long. I'll pick you up after school and take you home, okay?"

How could Marcus Tong be like this? He burst into tears and now that he had calmed down he felt very embarrassed. How could he really make such an unreasonable request?

But Sebastian Zhuo was obviously still worried: "Then why were you crying just now?" Then he said: "After coming back today, you didn't look very happy."

When it came to the second half of the sentence, Marcus Tong seemed to hear a hint of...grievance? But his tears blurred his eyes and he couldn't see clearly. Sebastian Zhuo spoke quickly, so Marcus Tong quickly rejected this idea.

The most important problem he faced right now was that he was being held face to face by Sebastian Zhuo on his lap. Marcus Tong was not short among his peers, but Sebastian Zhuo was nearly 1.9 meters tall, with long arms and legs. He held Marcus Tong in his arms like an adult holding a child, and it was very easy for him to manipulate him... Marcus Tong didn't realize that he was blushing until Sebastian Zhuo frowned and said, "Your pheromones are coming out again. You must change this isolation patch when you go to school tomorrow. The isolation is too poor."