Chapter 253

Chapter 253

Since learning that Tang Ji had feelings for Chu Yi, Jiang Nian had been looking for an opportunity to subtly sound out Chu Yi. But when actually facing Chu Yi, he found himself unable to bring it up.

After leaving the leader’s office together, he tried to seize the moment to ask, but after circling the topic for a while, he still couldn’t find a way to broach it and eventually gave up.

When Chu Yi wasn’t actively joking around, his leadership aura was quite pronounced, commanding respect that made it difficult to bring up such matters without the right timing.

As luck would have it, they ran into Tang Ji in the cafeteria.

After making small talk, they ate together, while Cheng Jing texted his parents to let them know he wouldn’t be back for dinner.

As they chatted over the meal, Jiang Nian discreetly observed Tang Ji’s reactions. If he hadn’t heard it firsthand, he truly wouldn’t have guessed that Tang Ji liked Chu Yi—the man’s cool, collected expression was impeccably controlled.

After the meal, Tang Ji and Chu Yi headed back to their dorm in Building 3 of the lab complex.

Watching them drive off, Jiang Nian could only silently hope in his heart that Tang Ji would be brave enough to achieve his wish.

From the cafeteria to the dorm, Tang Ji spent the entire journey telling Chu Yi about various happenings in the base during his absence.

Chu Yi listened attentively and also shared his own experiences from the S base.

The atmosphere remained pleasant—until they entered the dorm and closed the door. Only then did Tang Ji’s nagging discomfort surface, especially when Chu Yi thanked him for straightening up his room, making him strangely guilty.

Because for the past month or two, he had been sleeping in Chu Yi’s room. Upon learning that Chu Yi was returning, he had washed all the bedding a few days prior, but even after cleaning it, he couldn't resist going back to sleep there…

Just as he was wondering whether Chu Yi would notice, the man came out of the room holding a small sticky note:

"Xiao Ji, is this your to-do list?"

"......"

Tang Ji felt as though his mind had suddenly gone blank with a crash. His lips parted, but it took him a long moment to force out a hoarse reply:

"Maybe... I must’ve dropped it when I went to your room to look for something. No wonder I couldn’t... find it..."

He couldn’t come up with a better excuse because it *was* his—written at bedtime, checked upon waking, and went over after work each day. He usually kept it on the nightstand or under his pillow.

He’d had this habit since his sister was still around. The two siblings had always liked using sticky notes for daily plans or leaving messages for each other. With their parents always away on business trips, it was their way of encouraging one another.

Even after losing his sister, he continued writing little notes to himself—not necessarily important plans, just little reminders.

Chu Yi knew about this habit of his.

If the contents of the sticky note had been normal, this excuse might have passed without issue. But...

"......"

Faced with Tang Ji’s obvious guilt and shock, Chu Yi said nothing. He simply placed the note into the hands of the man whose ears had turned bright red, then grabbed his change of clothes and headed to the bathroom.

By the time he finished showering, Tang Ji had already ducked into his room like an ostrich burying its head in the sand. On the note, the last item read:

*‘Confess to Chu-ge over drinks!!!’*—followed by three exclamation marks, emphasizing the owner’s strong resolve.

Now, exposed right to the very person it concerned, there was no room for pretending ignorance.

Ever since learning the night before that Chu Yi would return today, Tang Ji had been on edge—and sure enough, he’d messed up.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking and Chu Yi's voice came simultaneously:

"Little Ji, I'm here to help you complete the last item on your daily plan. Can I come in?"

"..."

Hearing the man's words, Tang Ji, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, abruptly stood up, crumpling the wrinkled piece of paper in his hand. He stared blankly at the door, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

The carefully laid-out plan had been disrupted by an unexpected turn, yet it somehow felt like a happy accident.

The door opened, and Chu Yi walked quickly in. His expression remained calm, but his eyes held a gentleness Tang Ji had never seen before.

"Great. It seems we share the same plan. Tang Ji, I like you. Will you be my boyfriend?"

Chu Yi pulled the anxious man into a tight embrace. His words weren’t overly sentimental, but they were direct enough to ensure the cautious man understood perfectly.

Over the past period, through their phone conversations, Chu Yi hadn’t been oblivious to Tang Ji’s feelings, nor had he intended to lead him on. He simply believed such matters were better discussed face-to-face—ambiguity was unbearable.

"Brother Chu..."

Breathing in the scent of shower gel mixed with sun-dried clothes, Tang Ji gradually steadied himself. He hugged him back, the crumpled paper falling to the floor. His eyes grew warm, and he nodded with a shaky breath.

"I like you too. I want you to be my boyfriend."

Despite all the carefully prepared thoughts and little schemes he’d devised, everything dissolved into this warm, firm embrace—even his insecurities and reservations were swept away.

It felt like "getting exactly what he wanted without even trying."

By the time his racing heart settled and he confirmed that his wish had truly come true, half an hour had already passed.

Chu Yi took a phone call and left again, leaving Tang Ji unable to follow Jiang Nian’s advice of "striking while the iron is hot" and making more moves.

"..."

The day after they confirmed their relationship, Chu Yi reported to Department Head Wang.

Tang Ji followed quietly the entire time, learning for the first time that dating required reporting to their superior.

Would the department head really need to investigate his background?

Once the report was filed, their relationship became public. Amidst the surprise, everyone offered their blessings.

Jian Cheng, Tang Yi, and Zhou Rongbin were impressed by Tang Ji’s courage—and how quickly he’d acted.

Tang Yi’s expression was a bit odd, recalling the time Tang Ji had called him after getting injured. He’d told his younger brother not to be too polite with Chu Yi since they were "like family."

This guy really ran with that idea!

Still, it was a good thing.

Tang Ji made sure to thank Jiang Nian separately.

With just one look at the new couple’s interactions, Jiang Nian knew that even without his advice, these two would have ended up together.

In the days that followed, Chu Yi remained busy. Their relationship didn’t make any "substantial" progress, and their dynamic stayed much the same as before.

But Tang Ji didn’t feel anxious or uncertain. Suppressing his distracting thoughts, he focused on his work. There was no need to rush—they had plenty of time ahead.