Chapter 111

Chapter 111

Chi Ya was startled into a sob at the sight, swiftly turning over and looking up to see Gu Huai Zhang standing by the bed, leaning slightly forward with a complex and tender expression.

Chi Ya was dumbfounded for a good half minute before belatedly realizing his current disheveled state. Panicked, he instinctively wiped away his tears and his face, hands flailing in a rush, and forced a casual smile at Gu Huai Zhang: "Did you, uh, drop something...?"

"Stop laughing," Gu Huai Zhang said with a slightly stern look, leaning down and pressing his thumb against Chi Ya's lips, bluntly adding, "It's unattractive."

Chi Ya stopped smiling, his tear-soaked eyelashes fluttering uncertainly, and suddenly choked on a sob, burying his face in the pillow.

The mattress sank beside him as Gu Huai Zhang knelt down, propping himself on one hand on the bed and gently rubbing Chi Ya's head with the other, softly saying, "…stop crying."

Chi Ya abruptly sat up, his face streaked with tears, shouting at him, "You tell me not to laugh, not to cry, what do you want from me!"

Gu Huai Zhang silently watched him.

Chi Ya managed to glare at him through his tears for two seconds before he couldn't hold back any longer, throwing himself onto Gu Huai Zhang, grabbing his clothes and sobbing, "You were supposed to be gone! Why did you come back, why...?"

Gu Huai Zhang felt a deep ache in his heart, wrapping his arms tightly around Chi Ya: "I'm sorry... It's my fault."

Tears streamed down Chi Ya's face non-stop, his voice broken and hoarse as he cried, "Gu, Gu Huai Zhang, do you think I'm being dramatic, do you find me pretentious? You must only like the cheerful Chi Ya, but the real me isn't optimistic at all! Not at all proactive! Seeing me like this, aren't you disappointed? You must not like, this version of Chi Ya..."

He looked at him, his voice filled with self-loathing and despair, his tear-filled eyes seemingly pleading silently.

Gu Huai Zhang also gazed at him, his Adam's apple moving with restrained emotion, holding the fragile boy in his arms even tighter, his lips brushing against his damp face, saying, "I know, I know, I like you, no matter what kind of Chi Ya you are."

Whether it's the beautiful and delicate Chi Ya, the lively and optimistic Chi Ya, the unrestrained Chi Ya when drunk, or the ugly-crying Chi Ya... he liked them all, incredibly so.

His lips moved slightly, unsure how to accurately express his intense and fervent emotions, so he just pursed them and held Chi Ya tightly, very tightly.

Chi Ya, with his wet face, looked up, his chin resting on Gu Huai Zhang's shoulder, his slender shoulders trembling slightly with each sob. Gu Huai Zhang's ear caught Chi Ya's cold tears as he continuously stroked Chi Ya's fluffy hair and smooth, slender nape, comforting him like a wronged Persian cat.

[This line seems to be a navigation instruction and not part of the narrative.]

Chi Ya, with tearful eyes, watched their closely huddled shadows cast in the corner by the light, whimpering, "Is it... really true?"

Gu Huai Zhang touched his ear: "It's true."

Chi Ya said, "You're lying!"

Gu Huai Zhang with a serious expression: "I'm not."

“You’re just, lying!” Chi Ya sobbed, grabbing Gu HuaiZhang’s collar to wipe his tears, choking out an accusation, “You say you like, like me now, but what about the future, it’s so long, one day you, you will surely stop, liking me…”

“...” Gu HuaiZhang asked, “Are you afraid of that?”

He raised his hand to hold Chi Ya’s shoulders, slightly distancing them, then fixed his eyes sternly on Chi Ya, his expression and tone very serious, “Is this what you’ve always been afraid of?”

“...Yes! That's exactly what I’m afraid of! So what?!” Chi Ya shouted defiantly, his bravado masking his vulnerability, “Go ahead, laugh at me in your heart, mock my sentimentality! Maybe you also think, also feel that you can’t love me forever. Then leave now, it’s not too late!”

Gu HuaiZhang fell silent for a moment.

Chi Ya’s heart turned ice cold. Biting his lip unconsciously, he paused and then gave a wry smile, “Right, I forgot, this is your house. If anyone should leave, it should be me…”

As he tried to crawl off the bed, Gu HuaiZhang caught him by the waist and pressed him back down.

Chi Ya looked at him with wide eyes.

“So you run away from home at the slightest disagreement?” Gu HuaiZhang sighed softly, looking at him, “...Keep tormenting me, then.”

Chi Ya bit his lip, turning his face away.

But Gu HuaiZhang gently turned his face back towards him. Their eyes met, Gu HuaiZhang's expression serious, his amber eyes focused and earnest, “Chi Ya, I'm not good with words, and you wouldn’t want to hear any flowery language. I just want to tell you, Chi Ya—”

He said his name, deep and solemn, “Do you know? To me, Nanhu is like a cage, or a garden eternally encased in ice. I detest uninvited guests, and I never thought of leaving Nanhu. My life was dull and gloomy, going to work and coming back. Sometimes I thought, if I died one day, it wouldn’t matter. So many hate and fear me, and there are few who love me. If I died, probably no one would care.”

Chi Ya frowned, not wanting to hear him speak so indifferently about such things.

Gu HuaiZhang’s warm fingertips smoothed his furrowed brow, a hint of a smile in his somber eyes, whispering, “But then you came.”

Chi Ya pondered, hesitantly saying, “I, I don’t think I did anything special…?”

But why did it sound like he was part of some redemption story?

“I’m telling you, don’t be angry,” Gu HuaiZhang looked at him.

No one could resist such a gaze from a man. Chi Ya blinked, stumbling over his words, “Oh, I’m not, I’m not angry.”

“Chi Ya... What kind of parents would name their child such a name?” Gu HuaiZhang gently wiped away the lingering tears at the corner of Chi Ya’s eyes, sighing softly, “I actually admire you, Chi Ya. A little crow who stutters, yet there's no sign of the unfairness and scars it has marked on you. You're always so cheerful, flapping your wings and flying about, making my gloom and despondency seem like a self-pitying joke.”

His gaze was gentle yet peculiarly vulnerable. Chi Ya, seeing Gu Huai Zhang like this for the first time, pursed his lips, awkwardly touching Gu Huai Zhang's ear.

As Gu HuaiZhang gazed at him, Chi Ya began to feel uneasy, his fingertips curling up, and as he tried to retract his hand, Gu HuaiZhang caught it.

Gu Huai Zhang pressed his hand against his own cheek, tilting his head for a gentle kiss, chuckling lowly, "Do you feel sorry for me?"

Chi Ya, his ears red, stammered, "It's only fair to reciprocate..."

A man not prone to revealing his feelings easily, Gu Huai Zhang fell silent for a moment, then bypassing the earlier conversation, holding Chi Ya's hand, he said softly, "Anyway, you're just different."

Chi Ya pressed his lips together, silent, his heart quivering slightly.

The warmth in Gu Huai Zhang's palm soon thawed his cold fingertips. The breeze stirred their hair as Gu Huai Zhang's voice, like gentle spring rain, said, "Chi Ya, if I hadn't made up my mind, I wouldn't have let you know. But since I've let you know, it means I've decided to have you in my life forever."

"Trust me, will you?"

"I'm better than the rest, better than anyone else, I won't disappoint you."

His amber eyes, like gently surging seas, Chi Ya knew there were steadfast rocks beneath.

He gazed at the man before him, his face a mix of bewilderment and hesitation.

Knowing what kind of man Gu Huai Zhang is, he believed him.

If this man hadn't made up his mind, Chi Ya had no doubt that after leaving Nanhu Manor, Gu Huai Zhang might never see him again.

Just as he loved scallion pancakes but hadn't eaten them for over a decade.

Gu Huai Zhang had been silently watching him, waiting for his response.

Chi Ya bit his lip, locking eyes with the man's serene yet firm gaze.

Then, an impulse, gradually rising from the depths of his heart.

—Why not agree? Why still hesitate here, looking back and forth?

The man before him, quietly waiting for his nod, was clearly the most reliable man in the world.

Don't you want to be loved, don't you want love, Chi Ya? You know that bravery might not guarantee results, but cowardice will definitely be futile.

Why not take a chance?

The worst-case scenario would be just like before, living the rest of my life alone.

It's frightening, but...

"Chi Ya," Gu Huai Zhang called his name, his eyebrows and eyes slightly tense.

Chi Ya: "Huh?"

"I just want to remind you," Gu Huai Zhang spoke with a heavy tone, his eyes firmly fixed on him, "that your refusal won't make a difference."

[This line appears to be a navigational instruction and not part of the narrative.]

Chi Ya: "..."

He pursed his lips, then said, "Okay, okay then."

Gu Huai Zhang's breath hitched: "What?"

"Since you're so, so domineering." Chi Ya glanced quickly at him, then lowered his head, cheeks slightly flushed, his voice soft, "Then, then... whatever you say."

The last few words were almost inaudible.

But... he believed in the man before him, worth taking a gamble on.

The stake was merely the rest of his life.

Gu Huai Zhang stared intently at him, then suddenly laughed, his smile growing wider, his pale lips parting to reveal neat white teeth, the corners of his long eyes crinkling attractively.

He kept laughing, as if extremely pleased, holding Chi Ya's hand tightly, his thumb ceaselessly caressing the back of his hand, the pressure somewhat unrestrained and heavy, turning Chi Ya's hand gradually red.

Chi Ya pursed his lips, tried to pull away his hand, but couldn't. Gu Huai Zhang drew it to his lips, kissing it passionately.

Chi Ya felt a bit shy, yet couldn't help stealing glances at him.

He had never seen Gu Huai Zhang laugh like this, so self-satisfied. The eyes that were usually cold and deep had shed all gloominess, shining brightly, almost childlike in their pure happiness, almost naively innocent.

So beautiful, so mesmerizing...

"Chi Ya, is what you said true?" Gu Huai Zhang asked with a laugh, his eyes brimming with pure joy, "Is it really true?"

Chi Ya, his neck flushing pink, stammered: "Good things, don’t need to be said twice."

Gu Huai Zhang smiled, knelt on the bed, and caressed his face, saying, "I feel uneasy. Tell me again."

Chi Ya tried to turn his head away, but Gu Huai Zhang held his face steady, leaning in to gently kiss his lips. The man's voice was low and magnetic, like a spell that beguiles the heart, kissing and asking over and over, "Say it one more time, will you?"

Their lips barely touched, doubling the sweet scent of plum wine, with a familiar hint of light agarwood in the background. Gu Huai Zhang quickly mastered a few kissing techniques, like gently grazing with the tips of his teeth over soft lips, teasingly, neither too light nor too heavy.

Chi Ya was dizzy and disoriented: "No... mm..."

"You little tease, you little troublemaker, just torment me," Gu Huai Zhang sighed with a joy-filled smile, "Behave, say it nicely, just one more time."

Chi Ya awkwardly tried to escape, covering his mouth to prevent further kisses, stammering, "No, it's not right... we, we haven't officially... been together yet..."

Gu Huai Zhang paused, the smile in his eyes slightly fading: "We're not together?"

"Ah... right," Chi Ya nodded guiltily, "Not... not yet..."

Gu Huai Zhang propped himself up and moved back slightly, frowning slightly: "Why?"

Chi Ya looked at him with wide eyes: "Men, if they get it too easily, won't... won't cherish it!"

"What nonsense," Gu Huai Zhang said sternly, "Who told you that?"

Chi Ya avoided his gaze: "I'm not... telling you..."

Gu Huai Zhang sneered: "Was it the third son of the Qin family, or that Mr. Xu?"

He clearly caught a moment of guilt flashing in Chi Ya's eyes.

Those eyes were so clear and pure, unable to hide any emotion.

"...Very well," Gu Huai Zhang said with a slightly somber expression, "Then you can tell Mr. Xu not to be too anxious about the Gu family's investment."

Chi Ya: "Huh?"

Gu Huai Zhang gently stroked his head with infinite tenderness, a cold smile on his lips: "After all, men who get things too easily never learn to cherish them."

Chi Ya: "..."

Chi Ya pointed angrily: "How can you... do this!"

Gu Huai Zhang pursed his lips: "What about me?"

"You... you're mixing personal grudges with public duties!"

"I don't care." Gu Huai Zhang, with a stern and handsome face, said something utterly unprincipled, "It's his fault for getting in the way of me pursuing my wife."

Chi Ya: "…………"

Chi Ya’s face flushed crimson, the redness spreading to his collarbone.

Gu Huai Zhang's eyes twinkled with mirth, his fingertips caressing the pink of Chi Ya's neck, saying, "Do whatever you want with me, Chi Ya."

"But..." he lifted Chi Ya's chin, raising his head with a focused and serious expression, "You are my first love. Be a bit gentle with me, okay?"

Oh, this, this.

"You are my first love"... A man saying such words with a serious face, how can it be so damn innocent!

This old man!

Chi Ya felt as if his heart was pierced, bursting into a shower of pink petals.

Blinking, he looked at Gu Huai Zhang, suddenly seized by an impulse, reached up to grab the man's arm, and gently kissed Gu Huai Zhang's face.

"Don't worry." Chi Ya's voice, laced with uncontrollable shyness, was almost inaudible, "You are... my, my first love too..."

Gu Huai Zhang stared at him, then suddenly pressed him down into the bed, following closely, pressing his whole body down. Chi Ya, now wiser, quickly covered his mouth, panicking: "No, no kissing!"

Gu Huai Zhang held down his shoulders, his eyes shifting uncertainly, and after a long moment, he lowered his head and bit his finger resentfully, holding back his strength, grinding his teeth: "I'll delay the investment for another week!"

Chi Ya's eyes widened, looking at him accusingly.

"...Fine, I'll delay it until this Wednesday." Gu Huai Zhang, unable to bear it, like a frustrated lion in heat, "Since you won't let me kiss, then don't look at me like that anymore!"

Chi Ya blinked, unable to suppress a sly smile.

Every family head is a paper tiger!

·

The next day was a bright, sunny day.

The first rays of the morning sun, clear and bright, lazily wandered through the undrawn glass windows into the quiet room, curiously peering at the two people embracing in sleep on the bed.

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Gu Huai Zhang was awakened by the warm heat of the sunlight, his long eyelashes fluttering, slowly opening his eyes.

The air conditioning still quietly blew, the air slightly cool, making the warm body in his arms feel so comfortable and cozy, filling him with contentment. Gu Huai Zhang's initially bewildered expression softened instantly upon seeing the young man in his embrace.

For the first time in decades, he felt the urge to linger in bed, watching Chi Ya's face intently, even breathing softly for fear of disturbing the sleeping youth in his arms.

Chi Ya lay facing him, curled up like a cat, his cheeks flushed with sleep, his lips plump and soft. One hand was loosely clenched near his cheek, while the other arm stretched out, resting on the man's waist.

The sunlight fell just right on his wrist, the bright red agate beads reflecting crystal-like bright light. Chi Ya's hands, under the sunlight, were slender and pale, delicately fragile.

Gu Huai Zhang watched silently, with unwavering gaze, his eyes tender and devout, tracing over Chi Ya's delicate and beautiful features and face over and over without a word.

A strange emotion quietly surfaced, slightly swelling, slightly aching, like a hot steaming soup, bubbles of emotions slowly rising and falling, emanating a warm fragrance that made one involuntarily tear up.

Gu Huai Zhang had never experienced this before, yet he knew, without having felt it before, this was what happiness felt like.

How wonderful.

How wonderful.

After walking alone in solitude and silence for so long, finally, one day, a stuttering little crow fluttered its wings and plunged into his embrace.

He was a child cursed by his parents, and so was he. By such fate, the little crow was destined to be his.

Holding Chi Ya, his chest was full, brimming with unfamiliar yet sweet happiness and satisfaction.

Chi Ya hummed softly in his sweet deep sleep, draping a leg over Gu Huai Zhang, his toes cute and rosy against the white, unconsciously rubbing against his calf.

The urge to cry vanished in an instant, and Gu Huai Zhang's abdominal muscles tensed, staring expressionlessly at the ceiling.

He thought of nothing, except how to plan to toss Mr. Xu into outer space.

·

"Mr. Xu" sneezed hard.

Mo Shi nonchalantly tossed over a pack of tissues. Guan Jing adjusted his glasses and asked with concern, "Who insulted you again? I'd like to befriend them."

"To hell with that," the boss grumbled, blowing his nose fiercely into the tissue, "I'm just overburdened with worries! The investment from Gu's company hasn't materialized yet, and it's driving me crazy! And you lot are so heartless, always making snide remarks, skiving off work to chase men! — Chi Ya, I'm talking about you! Why are you lurking at the door? Hurry up and come in!"

"Good morning..." Chi Ya nonchalantly adjusted his shirt collar, entered, and placed a pile of egg-filled pancakes and soy milk on the table, "I brought breakfast for everyone..."

The boss kept staring at him.

Chi Ya, feeling somewhat guilty, avoided his scrutinizing gaze and coughed lightly, "Eat it while it's still warm..."

"Chi Ya," the boss suddenly asked, "where did you sleep last night?"

Mo Shi picked up an egg-filled pancake and said indifferently, "Didn't come home all night."

Chi Ya: "I..."

The boss noted, "And you changed clothes."

Mo Shi sipped the soy milk: "X brand's summer collection."

Guan Jing adjusted his glasses: "Worth tens of thousands, and you're wearing it head to toe."

Chi Ya: "Uh..."

The boss walked over and sniffed him: "The scent of date cake."

Mo Shi: "Fresh and warm, just out of the oven."

Guan Jing's expression was subtle: "Within a ten-mile radius, the date cakes from the store across the residential complex are the only ones."

Chi Ya defensively paled: "It's not..."

Rapid footsteps echoed as Liu Xia rushed in, wrapped in a pleasant perfume: "Why is Gu's father here so early? I saw his car!"

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—three pairs of eyes simultaneously fixated on a certain young man with white hair, then meaningfully: "Oh—"

The young man with white hair blushed, stammering, "We... we didn't do anything! Don't you dare... make wild guesses!"

Liu Xia nodded: "Right, even though there's a hickey on your neck, you did nothing."

Chi Ya hastily covered his neck. That morning, for some unknown reason, the man was particularly fierce; just as he sleepily opened his eyes, Gu Huai Zhang had bitten him on the neck.

Guan Jing adjusted his glasses. "Yes, even though your eyes are a bit red and swollen, clearly from crying last night, you guys didn't do anything."

Chi Ya quickly covered his eyes, then moved his hand away, stammering in defense, "I—I was swimming yesterday! Water got in my eyes!"

Mo Shi commented quietly, "Hmm, so you went swimming too."

"Wow, tell me about Mr. Gu's physique!" The boss digressed for a moment, then coughed softly and added, "Wow, you really didn't do anything, huh..."

Chi Ya: "…………"

Finally realizing his secret was out, he gave up, "Alright, fine, I was with him yesterday!"

Liu Xia screamed excitedly, stomping her feet, "Ahh, are you guys together now, are you?!"

Chi Ya's cheeks turned slightly red. "No, not yet..."

"Why not?" Guan Jing kept adjusting his glasses, his eyes gleaming, "Can't his carrot fit in your hole?"

Chi Ya, bewildered: "Huh?"

Liu Xia hit him playfully, laughing and scolding, "Get lost, do you want your police uncle to lock you up again for those adult comics?!"

Chi Ya was stunned, his face turning red to the root of his neck, silently bending down to pick up a pillow, and then threw it at Guan Jing's face.

Guan Jing's glasses were knocked askew, and he fell onto the carpet laughing, "Occupational hazard, occupational hazard, okay, okay, I'll stop..."

The boss leaned in with a gossip-hungry expression, "Hey, seriously, if you guys are like this and that, why aren't you together yet?"

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Chi Ya wanted to say that they hadn't gone "this and that" yet, but instead, blushing, gave up. Glancing at the eager boss, he suddenly felt a surge of mischief: "Do you really want to know?"

The boss nodded eagerly, "Of course!"

"Alright, then... I'll tell you..." Chi Ya backed away silently, then looked at the boss with an innocent and naive smile, "Because I told him what you said, that if a man gets something too easily, he won’t learn to cherish it!"

"…Damn it?" The boss realized and exclaimed sharply, "Damn it!!"

"Ahh, Chi Ya! You traitor! I'm going to get you!!!"

Chi Ya burst into laughter, his embarrassment from the boss's interrogation vanishing. His phone rang in his pocket, and as he dodged the boss's mock fury, he pulled it out to see a message from Gu Huai Zhang—

[I've started missing you again.]

[Chi Ya, shall we have lunch together?]

Chi Ya smiled, his lips curling up, then burst into laughter again, his eyes crinkling with joy. He turned back to his friends, now a boisterous bunch, and shouted, "Do you guys know any good doctors?!"

"I want to cure my stuttering!"

The bright and clear morning sun at eight o'clock shone on his face. Chi Ya's long eyelashes and fluffy hair danced in the sunlight, and the lively chatter and crisp laughter of the youth were utterly enchanting.

Meeting the person worth taking a risk to love in the most unrestrained years of youth – what could be more joyful than this?

One must be brave, one must love!

——Ya Ya has decided!

[End of Main Text]

Author's Note:

Sorry, I got drunk again, and slept the whole day before getting up.

Another story finished. It feels somewhat relieving, but mostly I'm sorry. Due to some real-life events and a period of tumultuous emotions, the story drifted off course, leading to issues like pacing problems and fragmented storylines... My fault, I apologize.

So, I'm truly grateful to the sisters who stuck with it to the end. Typing the words [End of Main Text] was nerve-wracking because I feared some readers might feel their subscription wasn't worth it. Please feel free to criticize, as even this silly author knows it's not perfect〒▽〒.

Of course, I remember readers who wrote long comments for this story. Whether praises or serious criticisms, I'm very thankful and moved. I've read them several times, feeling ashamed of my clumsy writing, and I apologize again.

Well... Anyway, we've reached the end! The conclusion of a heartwarming journey marks the beginning of an even more exciting one. Whether we meet again through another story or not, I sincerely wish us both well.

I'll take a short break for a day or two, then start writing the extras. Many small segments that couldn't be fitted into the main text will be included there.

Well, that's it.

Goodbye for now.

Thank you so much for your support. I will continue to work hard!

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