I'd like to thank our new Patreon Diamond member, "melonpan," for sponsoring this novel for translation. I've read up to chapter 50, and it's a truly engaging read. It boasts a 4.4 rating on NovelUpdates. So you know it's going to be good.
Thank you again, Melonpan, for the sponsorship
--------
Fu Shiwu nervously clenched the T-shirt in his hand, managing an awkward smile. "It's fine, I think it's okay for now. What if it gets colder later, though?"
Tang Xuhai, his face pale and uncomprehending, asked, "Why the stubbornness? You said we should openly address any discomfort."
"You said we should speak up if something's wrong, right?" Tang Xuhai's tone turned cold. "You're obviously feeling cold now. Why pretend otherwise when there are clothes available?"
The atmosphere in the driver's seat tensed, making Miao Jia at the back of the car shrink her neck, discreetly observing the argument between the two.
Wen Zhaoming refrained from speaking, understanding the closer bond between Tang Xuhai and Fu Shiwu. He felt it inappropriate to intervene.
Fu Shiwu struggled to explain. He couldn't fathom why he resisted wearing that particular type of clothing. His expression grim, he said, "It's not that I refuse to wear it. I just don't wear this style of clothes."
Tang Xuhai chuckled. "Are you still insisting on wearing shirts and ties? It's this time already, can't you be less particular? Does being less particular kill you?"
Fu Shiwu's face paled. Through gritted teeth, he said, "I'm not being particular; I genuinely can't wear it!"
Tang Xuhai grew angry. "Fine! Then don't wear it! Freeze then!"
A heavy silence fell, the oppressive atmosphere filling the car. No one spoke.
Tang Xuhai, Fu Shiwu, and Wen Zhaoming stayed silent, while Miao Jia observed with interest. This was their first major argument in front of her.
Around noon, they parked their car for lunch on a slope. Still, the two remained silent, piquing the curiosity of others in nearby vehicles.
Wen Zhaoming felt this silence couldn't continue. He attempted to intervene. "Shiwu, there's no need for a fight over something trivial like this."
It seemed an odd reason to argue, merely about clothing.
Fu Shiwu, feeling helpless, adjusted his glasses. "I don't want this either, but I really can't wear that piece of clothing..."
Before he could finish, Tang Xuhai, standing beside him, suddenly grabbed the garment. "I don't believe you can't wear it. Can clothes bite you?"
He attempted to put the shirt around Fu Shiwu's neck.
"Ahh—!" A scream pierced Tang Xuhai's ears. Fu Shiwu turned pale, sweat dripping, collapsing.
"Damn it!" Tang Xuhai stared, shocked to see Fu Shiwu lying there, barely conscious, with the T-shirt around his neck.
Olande's expression changed, swiftly pulling the T-shirt away. He gently patted Fu Shiwu's cheek.
"What's wrong with him?" Wang Dan approached, Liu Zhao and Horn Ting following suit, abandoning their food.
Tang Xuhai felt uneasy. "I just wanted to help him wear the T-shirt, and then this happened!"
"He's fainted," Olande remarked.
"Why would this happen?" Wen Zhaoming furrowed his brows.
Tang Xuhai's expression turned grim. He was frustrated that Fu Shiwu made a big deal about wearing a shirt, but he never intended for this to happen.
He pushed Olande aside, holding Fu Shiwu. "Shiwu! Shiwu! Wake up."
"Try pinching his philtrum," Ma Dong suggested from the side.
Without a word, Tang Xuhai pinched the pressure point. Nearby, Horn Ting said, "His reaction is so intense, even fainting. This seems more than just disliking a T-shirt."
Olande pondered, "Could this be a phobia?"
"A phobia?" Wen Zhaoming looked up, suddenly realizing. "Is it collar phobia?!"
"What?" Miao Jia widened her eyes in surprise. "What kind of illness is that?"
"It's a type of psychological condition. Perhaps he experienced something traumatic before, leading to an aversion to anything around his neck," Olande explained. "Although it's common to avoid necklaces or scarves, it's rare for it to be severe enough to not even tolerate wearing a T-shirt."
Fu Shiwu gradually regained consciousness from the philtrum pinch. Opening his eyes, he found a crowd around him.
"..." Then he slowly remembered what happened, turning pale. He struggled to stand up, Tang Xuhai trying to hold him back but eventually letting go.
Embarrassed!
Fu Shiwu felt extremely uncomfortable, being the center of attention in a confined space, reminiscent of unpleasant memories from elementary school—being bullied, laughed at within a group. All that shame and discomfort flooded back in an instant. It felt like being mocked by a crowd again.
"Shiwu, I'm sorry..." Tang Xuhai felt terribly guilty, drowning in remorse.
"It's okay..." Fu Shiwu's mind was in turmoil, not understanding Tang Xuhai's apology. His lips twitched, eyes fixed on the ground. "I'll be by myself for a while."
After saying this, he quickly fled from the suffocating environment.
"Shiwu!" Tang Xuhai immediately followed.
Fu Shiwu's mind was blank, overwhelmed by the T-shirt incident. He felt like escaping the Earth with such chaotic thoughts spinning in his head.
Might as well let an alien take me away! These crazy thoughts began circulating in his mind.
Despite not being tall, Fu Shiwu had decent legs. During this time, despite not gaining super strength like mutants or Tang Xuhai, his overall health had improved significantly. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to progressively expand his sensory abilities. It was proof of his improving physical condition.
So now, when he ran, he was faster than when he participated in high school physical exams. Yet, his speed was still no match for Tang Xuhai's.
He was caught up to in no time.
"Don't run! Stop!" Tang Xuhai shouted.
Fu Shiwu, breathless, gasped, "I said, let me be alone for a while!"
"No, we need to talk this out!" Tang Xuhai closed in.
"What are we talking about?" Before Fu Shiwu could understand, he was pulled back by Tang Xuhai.
The tremendous force nearly knocked him over. Tang Xuhai held onto his waist, refraining from touching his neck.
They ran for a while, Fu Shiwu's improved physical condition still inferior to Tang Xuhai's. Tang Xuhai regained his breath while Fu Shiwu continued panting.
"Let go of me," Fu Shiwu struggled.
"No, let's clear things up," Tang Xuhai's voice remained firm.
Confused, Fu Shiwu tilted his head. "What needs clearing up?"
"I mean, I didn't mean to." Tang Xuhai awkwardly apologized. "I'm sorry!"
Fu Shiwu's eyes widened, jaw dropping in surprise, looking incredibly bewildered as Tang Xuhai's face turned red.
Then, inexplicably, Fu Shiwu's face started heating up. "What are you apologizing for?"
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have forcibly put the T-shirt on you based on my subjective judgment, thinking you're just picky. I shouldn't have done it without considering your feelings, causing you to suddenly faint!" Tang Xuhai rambled nervously, feeling like he was being chased by ghosts.
Being scared faint by a T-shirt... Too embarrassing to accept!
Fu Shiwu internally screamed, begging him to stop talking and forget this embarrassing incident!
Unfortunately, Tang Xuhai couldn't hear Fu Shiwu's silent plea. He continued sincerely, "I have a bad temper and never accept unreasonable objections from others. Of course, you were right, and it was my misunderstanding! Don't be mad at me! If an apology doesn't resolve it, you can hit me, and I won't resist!"
He accidentally uncovered someone's trauma, not knowing how much psychological damage he had caused. How could he properly apologize for this? Tang Xuhai was distressed, almost tearing his hair out. He had never made such a severe mistake before!
"How could this be your fault?" Fu Shiwu felt awkward and confused. Wasn't it his problem? "It's me... I fainted because of a T-shirt. I didn't know it would be this severe. I've never worn a T-shirt in my life!"
"It's your fault?" Tang Xuhai was surprised. He continued, "Olande and Lao Wen said it might be a type of psychological condition, called collar phobia!"
"What?!" Fu Shiwu widened his eyes in astonishment. "I have a phobia?!"
He truly had no idea!
He had always avoided anything around his neck for no apparent reason.
He used to speculate that Tang Xuhai had agoraphobia, but it turns out, it was himself who had an unknown phobia?
"You didn't know," Tang Xuhai relaxed a bit, realizing Fu Shiwu was unaware. "Your parents never told you?"
"I don't know; my parents never said." Fu Shiwu wasn't sure. He explained, "I was raised by my parents until I started elementary school. That's when I parted ways with them. After that, I had a nanny taking care of me, and I haven't seen them since."
"Weren't your parents in the country?" Tang Xuhai speculated based on what Fu Shiwu said.
"No." Fu Shiwu looked at him, feeling there was nothing he couldn't tell Tang Xuhai. "I grew up with my parents initially; they worked in a secretive field. When I had to start school, I left their unit and had a nanny taking care of me. I haven't seen them since."
"Do you not communicate with them regularly?" Tang Xuhai found it odd. This wasn't the era of China's nuclear research, where researchers couldn't return home and couldn't disclose information to their families. How could any research be this secretive?
"We do communicate regularly." Fu Shiwu clarified about his parents. "We use computers and have special tools for practice to exchange messages."
Thank you for reading this far! You can access more chapters from HERE by joining my Patreon community. You'll gain exclusive early access to the COMPLETE NOVEL.
As a member of my Patreon community, here is what you'll get:
For $5
- Early access to 100s of chapters before they go public.
- You also get access to all the novels I'm translating, you can find them here HERE.
- Your name will be featured on the "Wall of Gratitude".
- The power to vote on which novel I translate next.
- You Get Ad-free Chapters.
For $10
- You get to suggest a Novel for me to translate.
- You get access to Digital art.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in gold).
For $20
- You get to recommend a Novel and I will immediately start translating it.
- Your name featured on the "Wall of Gratitude" (in blue).
Plus, you can Cancel your membership at any time.
Don't let this amazing opportunity slip through your fingers!
