Chapter 40 Shouldn’t Have Let Him Stay

Fu Huan was resting in the guest room. Gu Shiying, with his injured ankle, couldn’t go anywhere, so he logged onto a game with Zhang Zhi.

During summer break, Zhang Zhi was stuck at home watching the shop for his mom, cooped up all day. Now, Gu Shiying joined him in his confinement.

The two chatted on voice in the game.

Zhang Zhi, ever the chatterbox, asked, "Ying Er, how’s your ankle? Is there really no one at home to take care of you?"

Gu Shiying’s hand paused on the controls, nearly getting caught by the enemy jungler.

He didn’t want to tell Zhang Zhi that Fu Huan had rushed over last night—it would sound strange. Hesitating for a moment, he chose to keep it to himself.

Gu Shiying: "I’m fine, there’s someone at home."

Zhang Zhi: "That’s good. I thought you were really alone. Ah, I’m so bored. My mom went out for mahjong and won’t let me leave the shop."

Gu Shiying: "Isn’t that great? You can eat whatever you want!"

Zhang Zhi: "Don’t you feel sorry for me? I’ve been back for over a week, and every day I only see neighbors—either old people or little kids. I haven’t seen a single young person."

Gu Shiying chuckled, "What are you thinking? Feel sorry for you? I’d rather feel bad for my own foot!"

As soon as he said it, he suddenly fell silent.

He couldn’t feel sorry for Zhang Zhi at all, so why did he feel bad for Fu Huan?

After finishing two rounds, someone suddenly sent him a group invite. Gu Shiying added him to the team.

Gu Shiying: "Brother Jian?"

Zhang Zhi: "Who’s that?"

Gu Shiying: "My neighbor."

Chen Jian: "Just call me Brother Jian."

Zhang Zhi: "Great, great! It’s more fun playing together. What do you play, Brother Jian?"

Chen Jian: "I play marksman."

Gu Shiying: "I can play anything."

In the next round, he was a bit distracted and they lost, but he got into the groove afterward.

The three played until noon, with Zhang Zhi and Chen Jian getting along like brothers, chatting happily.

Zhang Zhi logged off for lunch.

Gu Shiying stayed in the room: "Brother Jian, are you going back home?"

Chen Jian: "Not for now. I’ll wait for my dad to chill out for a few days. He just found out I like guys. If I go back now, he’ll break my legs and then force me into an arranged marriage."

Gu Shiying: "Wouldn’t marrying a girl make her a 'tongqi' (a wife unknowingly married to a gay man)?"

Chen Jian: "Exactly, so it’s impossible. I’ll let my mom talk some sense into him first."

Gu Shiying: "I’m sure Uncle Chen will understand. Hey, man, can I ask you something?"

Chen Jian: "Go ahead."

Gu Shiying: "When did you realize you liked boys?"

Chen Jian was straightforward and satisfied Gu Shiying’s curiosity: "In middle school. During puberty, everyone has crushes they fantasize about. I realized I didn’t like girls—I liked boys. That’s how I figured it out."

Gu Shiying: "It was that simple?"

Chen Jian: "What, do you like boys too? What’s your type?"

His tone was calm, without any nosy vibe. Gu Shiying was torn. Should he really be discussing this with Chen Jian? But he had no one else to talk to.

Gu Shiying: "No, I don’t know. There’s a guy who likes me—that’s true—but I’m not sure how I feel about him."

Chen Jian: "Do you dislike him?"

Gu Shiying: "Not really."

Chen Jian: "Do you mind if he touches you?"

Gu Shiying: "I don’t mind that either."

Chen Jian: "Do you have… any thoughts about him?"

Gu Shiying: "Ah, bro, that’s way too forward."

Chen Jian: "You’re so innocent. What’s going on? Tell me about it. I’m not working overtime today anyway."

Gu Shiying: "Well, we used to be pretty close. He knew he liked me, and I thought we could stay friends. Then he confessed to me."

Chen Jian: "And then?"

Gu Shiying: "I didn’t respond, so he started keeping his distance."

Chen Jian: "Got it. He probably thinks you’re straight. After all, straight guys can’t be turned gay—if they can, they’re either bi or gay themselves. So, you don’t want to lose this friend, right?"

Gu Shiying: "Yeah, but he likes me."

Chen Jian: "If you don’t dislike him, is it possible you could consider giving him a chance?"

Gu Shiying had never thought about that before.

Chen Jian: "Have you had a girlfriend before?"

Gu Shiying: "No…"

Chen Jian: "Have you ever liked a girl?"

Gu Shiying: "No…"

Chen Jian: "See? You don’t even know if you like girls. How can you say you’re straight?"

Gu Shiying: "…"

Chen Jian was very enthusiastic: "Let me send you some BL novels. Check them out and see if you can accept it. If you can, I’ll send you more stuff."

Gu Shiying: "Sure."

Chen Jian: "How do you feel about this friend of yours? Have you ever felt your heart race around him?"

Gu Shiying: "I don't know. I don't mind that he likes me, and I don't dislike it either."

Chen Jian: "Oh wow, here, let me send you a few novels to give you some perspective first."

Gu Shiying: "No, one last question."

Chen Jian: "Go ahead."

Gu Shiying: "How do straight guys usually react when they’re confessed to?" Compared to searching online, Chen Jian, as an actual gay guy, would know better.

Chen Jian: "Of course, they’d avoid them completely. There’s no chance of developing into friends."

Gu Shiying: "..."

When he received the BL novels Chen Jian sent him, he covered his face.

Wait, how did we get here?

Why did he need to prove whether he liked men or not?

He just wanted to ask Chen Jian how to politely reject Fu Huan and stay friends with him.

But as Chen Jian had pointed out, he’d never liked girls before. In fact, when girls confessed to him, he even felt a bit scared. As for guys, back when he started college, an upperclassman had subtly asked for his WeChat. At the time, thinking he was straight, he turned him down.

So what did Fu Huan mean to him?

Oh, no—he was being sidetracked. Why should he doubt whether he was straight or not?

It’s not like he… couldn't possibly like Fu Huan…

Even as he thought it, he felt uncertain. Actually, he really enjoyed spending time with Fu Huan. The way he felt around Fu Huan was different from how he felt with Zhang Zhi or Yang Shuhang. How to explain it?

From the moment they started interacting, he knew Fu Huan liked him, and he never really saw Fu Huan as just an ordinary friend. Not once.

It was just that he was stubborn about not wanting Fu Huan to like him.

Now that Chen Jian mentioned it, he realized he truly didn’t dislike Fu Huan—even after the confession, he could still sit behind him on his bicycle.

No way...?

Was it possible he actually liked Fu Huan a little?

*Knock, knock, knock.*

Gu Shiying hurriedly closed the novel window he’d opened and called out to the door, "It’s unlocked."

Fu Huan stood at the doorway: "I’m up. Have you had lunch?"

Gu Shiying: "Not yet, I was just about to order takeout."

Fu Huan: "I’ll cook. No need to go out. Are there ingredients in the fridge?"

Gu Shiying: "Yeah, my grandma has a vegetable patch with plenty of vegetables. We can pick some fresh ones from the garden. The kitchen’s on the first floor."

With that, he stood up and bounded over toward Fu Huan.

"I’ll take you there."

Seeing how energetically he was moving, Fu Huan quickly stepped forward to support him, smiling, "Be careful, don’t fall."

Gu Shiying paused, then rested his hand on Fu Huan’s arm: "Don't worry, I’m fine."

Fu Huan still wasn’t convinced: "I'll carry you downstairs."

Gu Shiying: "Alright then, thanks, Bro Huan."

His mind was filled with everything Chen Jian had said, and for a moment, he felt like testing how much physical contact he could have with Fu Huan.

Fu Huan looked at him, then knelt down in front of him. Gu Shiying had called him Brother Huan before, but this time it felt different.

With Gu Shiying’s guidance, Fu Huan quickly got familiar with the kitchen. Just beyond the back door of the villa was a neatly tended vegetable garden, where he picked some green beans.

Gu Shiying, biting into an apple by the back door, asked, "Do you know how to cook green beans? What if they’re undercooked?"

Fu Huan turned his head from the trellis: "Don’t worry, I’ll taste them first to check. I promise you won't die."

Gu Shiying: "Should I have a banner made for you? Something like, 'Fu Huan, an amazing guy, always in a good mood'?"

Fu Huan finished picking the beans, plucked a few chili peppers, then walked back from the garden and flicked a bean at Gu Shiying’s forehead.

"No way."

Gu Shiying rubbed his forehead, pretending to be annoyed: "The beans aren’t even washed, Fu Huan. How dare you hit me with that!"

Fu Huan laughed and went into the kitchen.

Gu Shiying followed with his crutches, curious to see how Fu Huan would cook.

An hour later, the dining table was set with three dishes and a soup—a much bigger meal than what his grandmother usually prepared.

Gu Shiying ate until he was stuffed, almost passing out on the couch from fullness.

Rubbing his stomach, he sighed to Fu Huan, "Now I believe you really lived alone in high school."

Fu Huan looked directly at him, eyes full of hope: "So you trust my cooking skills now? Does that mean I’ve gotten the chance to stay and take care of you?"

Gu Shiying couldn’t look him in the eye—the hope in Fu Huan’s eyes was too obvious.

His heart softened: "If you’re free, I don’t mind. You can take care of me."

Fu Huan teased: "Yes, Master Gu."

Gu Shiying waved a hand: "Go on then, Steward Fu."

Fu Huan’s eyes crinkled with laughter as he proactively cleared the table and went to wash the dishes, leaving Gu Shiying alone in the living room, pounding the couch, frustrated.

Ugh, why did I agree? He’s already confessed—how are we supposed to interact now?

Maybe it was the food coma, but Gu Shiying grew drowsy as he pondered and soon fell asleep.

Fu Huan dried his hands and walked into the living room to find Gu Shiying asleep, hugging a pillow.

He had never seen Gu Shiying from this angle before.

Fu Huan tugged at his pant legs and slowly crouched beside the sofa, greedily admiring Gu Shiying’s sleeping face.

Asleep, Gu Shiying had let down all his defenses toward him.

He was smart—he knew Fu Huan liked him but had never rejected his advances, giving him all the respect he deserved. It was Fu Huan who was greedy, wanting more.

Sometimes he envied Zhang Zhi, who could fearlessly be friends with him, while he himself couldn't be friends with him—not even pretending to be.

Fu Huan felt that he was greedy, wanting to have his cake and eat it too.

He knew full well that the other was straight, and he knew that he gave without expecting anything in return, yet every day he hoped the other would look his way more often.

Seeing that Gu Shiying was sound asleep, Fu Huan gently took hold of Gu Shiying's hand, which was dangling over the edge of the sofa.

"Gu Shiying, from now on, I'm going to go after you."

Gu Shiying suddenly half-opened his eyes and asked groggily, "What did you just say?"

Fu Huan was startled, almost losing his balance: "..."

"Did I just say what was on my mind out loud?"

Gu Shiying noticed that Fu Huan's mouth wasn't moving. He looked down at his right hand, which was tightly held by Fu Huan. The other's palm was burning hot, as if holding a freshly boiled egg.

Damn, he was wide awake now.

Wait, Fu Huan, why the hell are you secretly touching me?

Shit! I shouldn't have let him stay!

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Author's note: Fu Huan: My hubby agreed to marry me. [kiss][kiss][kiss]