Chapter 30: Anticipation 2

Chapter 30: Anticipation 2

The hotel wasn't far from Yun He's home. The two of them strolled back together on the sidewalk, with piles of cleared snow on either side.

"Intriguing, how much older is Lu Angyu's uncle?" Yun He couldn't resist his curiosity any longer, as he had never encountered such a situation in real life.

"About a dozen years older than Lu Angyu," Gu Jiabei replied.

"Goodness, why would Lu Angyu fall for his uncle?" Yun He leaned closer to Gu Jiabei with a gossiping expression.

Gu Jiabei couldn't help but feel amused as he used one finger to gently press against Yun He's forehead, which was leaning close to his. "Why do you always ask such silly questions?"

"I'm just curious." Yun He tugged at Gu Jiabei's finger, holding it tightly in his palm, his inquisitive gaze still fixated on Gu Jiabei. "Is it because of Lu Angyu that you have a higher tolerance than most people? After all, the people around you are... quite... unique, right? That's why you could accept me so quickly? You used to like girls, didn't you...?"

Gu Jiabei was utterly exasperated. "Your imagination is quite vivid."

"So, is it or not?" Yun He persisted, unwavering in his inquiry.

Gu Jiabei firmly grasped Yun He's hand, his brow knitted as he said, "No, it's not like that. Please refrain from indulging in your imagination."

"So, why do you like me?" Yun He persisted, his tone tinged with a hint of coyness. "Don't call it a silly question anymore!"

"I give up," Gu Jiabei smirked mischievously. "Did I ever say I like you? You're quite confident, aren't you?"

"Ahh?" Yun He's eyes widened in surprise as he blinked. Racking his brain, he realized that Gu Jiabei had never explicitly said he liked him.

Gu Jiabei blinked his almond-shaped eyes at Yun He with a friendly and amiable smile.

"But you confessed to me on Christmas..." Yun He persisted, his voice lacking conviction.

"I only said I was glad to know you," Gu Jiabei's lips curved up almost to his ears. Teasing Yun He brought him immense joy, seeing the boy's innocent expression.

"D*mn it, Gu Jiabei!" Yun He grabbed Gu Jiabei's arm and shook it irritably, like a child demanding candy. "Say it now! Say you like me! Say it right now!"

Gu Jiabei remained silent, merely smiling as Yun He tugged and pulled at his arm. Passersby occasionally glanced their way but dismissed them as two boys playfully interacting, paying no further attention.

"Say it, you have to say it today!" Yun He refused to let go until he got what he wanted.

Gu Jiabei dragged Yun He along as if he were a reluctant companion. "Shall we get the ski equipment?"

"Not buying, I can't skate anyway. Renting is fine. Stop interrupting!" Yun He's lips pouted so much they resembled a duck's bill.

"Your skin is incredibly thick," Gu Jiabei halted his steps, looking at Yun He with a slightly dimmed smile on his face, while the mirth in his eyes intensified. "Little Yun He."

"You're the one with thick skin. You kissed me but won't even admit you like me," Yun He said, slightly agitated. "You're nothing but a filthy ruffian!"

"A filthy ruffian?" Gu Jiabei raised an eyebrow, adopting a playful yet contemplative expression. "Not nearly enough."

"What's not enough?"

"Just being a filthy ruffian isn't enough," Gu Jiabei leaned closer to Yun He and whispered audibly only to him, "I also want to—"

Yun He watched Gu Jiabei's lips as he silently mouthed three words: "Force you."

Suddenly, Yun He's face flushed red, resembling a ripe dragon fruit.

"You…" With his face still flushed, Yun He couldn't bear to look directly at Gu Jiabei.

"What's wrong with me?" Gu Jiabei asked shamelessly, showing no hint of embarrassment. Instead, he exuded a casual laziness that seemed effortlessly mastered.

"Let's head home..." Yun He hurriedly left, discarding any thoughts of affection. At this moment, he felt like he was on a completely different level than Gu Jiabei and could only retreat in defeat.

Gu Jiabei chuckled behind Yun He, "Fool."

The next day, Gu Jiabei, Yun He, Lu Angyu, and Lin Yong met at the designated spot. Gu Jiabei introduced the two newcomers, and they shook hands solemnly as if they were in an official meeting.

"Looks like friends of Gu Shuai," Lin Yong commented seriously.

"What do you mean by that?" Lu Angyu asked with a smile.

"They're both handsome!" Lin Yong replied.

Lu Angyu burst into laughter, slinging his arm around Lin Yong's shoulders with an easy familiarity. "A brother to my brother is a brother to me. From now on, we're all family."

"Brother Lu!"

"Brother Yong!"

"Should we swear an oath of brotherhood and seal it with blood?" Gu Jiabei suggested. "Now, get in the car."

"Don't be jealous, Bei Bei. You'll always be irreplaceable in my heart," Lu Angyu blew a kiss to Gu Jiabei, then boarded the bus with ease under Yun He's watchful gaze.

As soon as Yun He sat down on the bus, Lin Yong followed, wanting to sit beside him. However, Lu Angyu pulled him over. "Brother Yong, come sit with me. Tell me about the magnificent landscapes here."

Without hesitation, Lin Yong agreed and took a seat next to Lu Angyu at the back.

Before leaving, Lu Angyu winked at Yun He, leaving a clear message behind.

Gu Jiabei put his backpack in the overhead compartment and sat beside Yun He. Yun He turned his head, admiring Gu Jiabei's smooth profile, which shifted in the sunlight, looking particularly appealing. A mysterious sense of joy welled up inside him, causing the corners of his lips to curve gradually.

Feeling Yun He's gaze, Gu Jiabei turned to meet his eyes. Their dark brown and light brown irises locked in a gaze that stirred emotions.

"What's going on?" Gu Jiabei asked softly, his voice resonating with a captivating magnetism.

"Just very happy, to be taking this bus trip with you, especially happy," Yun He replied quietly, excitement lacing his tone.

"Never been on a trip before?" Gu Jiabei inquired.

"Mm-hmm," Yun He nodded. "I haven't even left the province. Have you been to many places?"

Gu Jiabei gently patted Yun He's head. "Yes, I'll go out and have fun when I have the time."

"Have you ever been abroad?" Yun He asked with envy.

"Yes," Gu Jiabei nodded, but didn't elaborate.

"How wealthy was your family back then?" Yun He mused, then grinned. "Though it doesn't sound nice to say, if your father's business hadn't run into trouble, would I have ever met you in this lifetime?"

" Fate brings people together eventually," Gu Jiabei smiled, responding.

"How would we cross paths then?" Yun He asked.

"Perhaps I might run into you while traveling here, or maybe we'll end up attending the same university in the future, or perhaps we'll encounter each other at work," Gu Jiabei mused, resting his chin in his hand. "In any case, if fate brings us together, we will eventually meet."

"And when we do meet, would you still like me? Would it be too late, and you'd already have someone else in your life?" Yun He plunged himself into a fictitious dilemma.

"No, it wouldn't," Gu Jiabei assured him.

"Are you saying you won't like me anymore, or that it won't be too late? Be clear about it," Yun He demanded, seeking the reassurance he craved from Gu Jiabei's words.

Gu Jiabei didn't respond, only removing the watch he often wore from his wrist. Its black dial was adorned with tiny diamonds that shimmered under the sunlight through the moving car, and the leather strap gave it an elegant appearance.

As the watch was placed on Yun He's wrist, it still retained Gu Jiabei's warmth.

"This is my favorite watch. It was a birthday gift from my mom last year, and I want to give it to you," Gu Jiabei said.

"Why are you giving it to me?" Yun He looked at the watch on his wrist, its black face contrasting beautifully against his fair skin.

"Because it has a beautiful name."

"What's that?"

"Expectation." Gu Jiabei held Yun He's wrist with the palm of his hand, gazing at the watch as it gleamed with vitality. "In every passing second, as long as you have expectations, you'll meet me again."

Yun He intertwined his fingers with Gu Jiabei's, their palms pressing together firmly. Amidst the chatter in the car, Yun He felt a tranquil warmth within him. He breathed in the scent of Gu Jiabei, sun-kissed and alluring, lost in the moment.

"Is this watch very expensive..." Yun He rather spoilt the mood with his question.

Gu Jiabei couldn't help but chuckle.

"Say it, how much did you pay for it?"

"About 180,000 yuan."

"What?!" Yun He's heart leaped out of his tranquil state, and he incredulously waved his wrist. It was a staggering sum to him.

Gu Jiabei didn't want to dampen Yun He's spirits, for this was indeed not his most expensive watch.

"This is my favorite one," Gu Jiabei said, trying to shift Yun He's focus.

"If I had such an expensive watch, it would definitely be my favorite too..." Yun He's intelligence quotient seemed to be hindered by his poverty.

"By the way, Gu Jiabei, I've always wanted to ask you. Even though your father's business failed, your family could still afford a better place, right? So why do you live next door to me?" As Yun He gazed at the costly timepiece, thoughts of Gu Jiabei's designer bags and clothes came to mind. He imagined that even selling those second-hand would fetch a decent profit.

"It's because of my mother. She lived here when she was young, and she says she likes it here. I'm not entirely sure about the details," Gu Jiabei explained.

"So, will you leave this place someday and return to where you originally came from?"

"I'm not sure. It seems like my father's business didn't fail completely. Perhaps he's waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback," Gu Jiabei replied, his gaze fixed on the snowy landscape outside the window, his expression unreadable.

"Will we... part ways?" Yun He asked.

Gu Jiabei shifted his gaze from the snowy scene outside the window to Yun He's face. "Do you want to stay with me forever?"

"Of course! I like you so much, I naturally want to be with you always. Haven't you thought about it?" Yun He looked anxiously at Gu Jiabei. He had never imagined a day when Gu Jiabei would leave him, but now he realized that might be the case – perhaps Gu Jiabei was only staying temporarily.

Gu Jiabei fell silent.

"Gu Jiabei, when I make money in the future, I..." Yun He hesitated.

Gu Jiabei gazed at Yun He, waiting for him to continue.

But Yun He shook his head, indicating he wouldn't say more.

"Do you plan to support me once you're wealthy?" Gu Jiabei teased.

A hint of bashfulness appeared on Yun He's face, but his tone was earnest. "No, when I earn money in the future, I'll buy a big diamond ring and marry you home... so you can never leave me."

Gu Jiabei smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Alright, then I'll wait for that day."