Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Chi Ya holed up in the bathroom for a long time, struggling to suppress the intense awkwardness he felt.

Patting his face, now cold from the wash with cold water, he consoled himself: It’s okay, everyone has moments when they can’t help but cry, right? His tear ducts were fine, and he hadn’t used Gu Huai Zhang’s shirt to wipe his nose!

So why should he feel so awkward?!

Face it with composure~

Chi Ya took a deep breath, looking at himself in the mirror, then turned around, opening the door with a calm expression.

Chi Ya: "…………"

Gu Huai An: "…………"

Qin Yu Ze: "…………"

Gu Huai An, expressionless: "If I say we were just in a rush to use the bathroom and didn't overhear anything, would you believe me?"

·

That day, the lunch in the main hall of Nanhu Manor was unprecedentedly silent, and the atmosphere at the table was eerily peculiar.

Chi Ya, hugging his bowl, buried himself in eating, his head never lifting throughout. Still, one could notice his wet, tangled eyelashes and almost bleeding red ear tips.

Across and diagonally from him, Gu Huai An sporadically picked at his food, while Qin Yu Ze counted his rice grains, their gazes darting to each other's ear tips and eyelashes about eight hundred times in half a minute.

At the head of the table, Gu Huai Zhang observed everyone's subtle movements, casting occasional glances towards his left.

As the young man finished off half a plate of boiled shrimps without once lifting his head, preferring to gulp down plain rice instead of reaching for the distant dishes.

Gu Huai Zhang opened his mouth, then remembering his own rules, closed it silently.

The formidable Gu Huai Zhang, for the first time in his life, hesitated to speak at his own dining table.

The three men watched as Chi Ya hurriedly finished a small bowl of white rice. As he set down his chopsticks and finally looked up, the two opposite him were caught off guard, making eye contact with Chi Ya.

Chi Ya, bewildered, glanced at Gu Huai An and then at Qin Yu Ze, mumbling subconsciously, "I, I'm full..."

Only after speaking did he realize, becoming nervous and quickly glancing at the man at the head of the table.

Gu Huai Zhang slowly swallowed a mouthful of rice, then slightly lifted his eyelids, nodding reservedly: "Hmm."

Gu Huai An and Qin Yu Ze wore identical expressions of disbelief.

Finally! Someone spoke at the Gu family's dining table!

And it was Gu Huai Zhang, the transgressor!

Qin Yu Ze immediately blurted out excitedly, "Chi Xiao Ya, you have such a small appetite, why not have some more—damn!"

He turned around: "Old Gu, why did you kick me?!"

Gu Huai An glared at him with a "you're asking for it" look. Only then did Qin Yu Ze realize, his smile vanishing instantly, quickly turning to Gu Huai Zhang.

Gu Huai Zhang's gaze was icy, his amber eyes like inorganic glass beads, glancing at him indifferently.

Qin Yu Ze: "…………"

Qin Yuze quietly shut his mouth, bowing his head to stuff a large mouthful of rice.

Understanding, "Even eating can't shut you up," he gets it.

The chair opposite him made a soft sound as Chi Ya picked up the cane leaning against the table and hopped away.

Qin Yuze hastily finished eating, gently placed his chopsticks down, glanced at Gu Huai Zhang's expression, and quietly got up to leave as well.

·

"Little Stutter..."

"Chi Little Crow..."

"Chi Ya!"

Qin Yuze quickly caught up, grabbing Chi Ya's collar from behind: "Why are you hopping away so fast? Where are you going?"

Chi Ya stumbled from his grasp, quickly steadying himself with his cane, and looked up coldly, begrudgingly uttering, "I have an emergency."

Qin Yuze: "…………"

He awkwardly rubbed his nose: "If it's an emergency, why run outside? Aren't you afraid of mosquitoes biting you?"

Chi Ya: "…………"

If one day this guy could spit out ivory from his mouth, he'd definitely apply for it to be the world's ninth wonder!

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He walked away expressionlessly and silently, limping along the shaded path in front of the courtyard.

"Hey, I'm talking to you," Qin Yuze followed, matching his pace, "Your car accident was sudden, and Old Gu asked me to request leave for you at school. There's not much class left in senior year, it doesn't matter if you go or not, but you also missed the recent defense—"

"De-Defense?" Chi Ya's steps faltered, forgetting everything else, he suddenly turned to look at him, "I—I haven’t done my defense?"

Could his luck get any worse!!

Qin Yuze was taken aback: "Don't you know whether you've done your defense or not?"

"There's... just too much going on, I forgot," Chi Ya's expression stiffened, quickly changing the subject, "What did you want to say?"

Considering the young man's recent troubles, Qin Yuze empathized and continued, "Nothing much, just that your advisor couldn't reach you and asked me to inform you to return to school for a separate defense this weekend. The rest is just minor stuff like taking graduation photos—that's all I wanted to say."

Chi Ya nodded: "I understand."

His mood instantly grew even more despondent.

For him, a socialite who neither wrote his thesis nor attended classes, to defend it was like asking for death.

Qin Yuze approached with a teasing smile: "Look, I made a special trip for this, nearly choked to death eating with Brother Gu... don't be mad, alright!"

Chi Ya expressionless: "I'm not... not angry."

"Then give me a smile," Qin Yuze grinned, "Just like you usually do, a happy smile, and I'll believe you're not angry."

Chi Ya gave him a strange look, stumbling over his words: "Why... why do you care if I'm... angry or not?"

"We're friends, aren't we!" Qin Yuze boasted, "A buddy's wife is also my... bah! Also my buddy!"

He chuckled: "I thought we were already friends!"

Chi Ya: "…………"

He silently looked at him, too tired to argue with this rogue, and simply nodded: "Fine."

Qin Yuze looked at him expectantly.

Chi Ya hesitated, then forced a perfunctory smile.

Not far away, Gu Huai An, coming out to look for someone, caught a glimpse of his smile and paused in his steps.