Chapter 28, Intentions
"Of course not."
"That's good," Ji Linxue said expressionlessly. "I thought he was sincerely apologizing to me this time. I didn't expect him to be playing a trick on me again."
Gu Hengzhi's lips were terribly dry, "...Playing a trick on you?"
"Mm," Ji Linxue tore up the greeting card filled with corny love confessions and threw it into the trash. "The same old routine as in junior high, it's truly boring."
Logically, Gu Hengzhi should have been happy to see Zhao Xinye embarrassed, but he couldn't bring himself to smile.
He vaguely understood the source of his inexplicable emotions during this time and hesitated for a few seconds, "Could it be... that he genuinely likes you?"
Ji Linxue's eyes slightly narrowed, staring straight at him. Just as Gu Hengzhi thought he might have figured something out, Ji Linxue suddenly laughed, leaned over, and checked his forehead with the back of his hand,
"You don't have a fever. Why are you talking nonsense?"
"Did you forget he's a guy? I'm also a guy. How could he like me?"
Looking at his serious expression, Gu Hengzhi knew he wasn't lying.
Ji Linxue genuinely believed that liking the same gender was an impossible thing.
His heart felt as if it had plunged into an ice cellar. Gu Hengzhi quickly stood up, interrupting the topic, "I'm going to take a shower."
"Go ahead," Ji Linxue propped his chin with one hand, reminding him from behind, "Aren't you going to change into slippers?"
Gu Hengzhi only then noticed he was still wearing sneakers. He walked back, but didn't dare to look up at Ji Linxue's face, "I forgot."
He changed his shoes, then entered the bathroom.
Ji Linxue watched him close the bathroom door and decided to ask Lu Yu what was going on. Gu Hengzhi had been absent-minded recently, like he'd lost his soul. Had something happened in the Gu family again?
He put the peach blossom bracelet back into its box, intending to have the girl hand it over to Zhao Xinye later.
Not to mention it was a women's bracelet, even if it were a men's, he wouldn't wear it. It was better to return it to its rightful owner.
After tidying up the items, Ji Linxue found Lu Yu's WeChat and explained what happened today. Although Lu Yu was immersed in medicine, he had a clear understanding of such matters. Every time Gu Hengzhi got inexplicably angry, Ji Linxue would ask him.
With his guidance, Ji Linxue would always have an epiphany and manage to appease Gu Hengzhi.
The other side was silent for a long time, then sent six dots.
[X : What does this mean?]
Lu Yu was utterly exasperated. He thought these two had finally figured things out, but now, only one of them had.
Lu Yu usually enjoyed reading strange books, so he had some understanding of homosexuality.
In the current situation, they could only rely on themselves.
So he composed a sentence and sent it.
[Little Fish Eats Big Fish : His thoughts are a bit confused lately. You don't need to worry about him.]
Ji Linxue trusted him greatly. Hearing this, he felt relieved.
Meanwhile, in the bathroom, separated by a wall, Gu Hengzhi was leaning against the sink with a cold expression, sending a message to Zhao Xinye.
Although there were many things he hadn't figured out yet, one thing he could confirm, Zhao Xinye was no longer a threat.
[zzz : He doesn't want to add you. Just give up. If there's nothing else, let's just unfriend each other now.]
Zhao Xinye seemed to be constantly glued to his phone. Almost immediately after the message was sent, he replied, "Wait, why isn't he willing to add me? Wasn't it agreed?"
"Did he open the gift I gave him?"
Gu Hengzhi felt a pang of sadness. His dislike for Zhao Xinye lessened somewhat, he even felt a sense of shared suffering.
He hesitated for a few seconds, then started typing.
[zzz : He opened it. He saw everything.]
[Zhao Xinye : No wonder. I knew I shouldn't have been so eager.]
[Zhao Xinye : [sigh.gif]]
[zzz : How did you know you fell for him?]
Zhao Xinye was very wary, "Why are you asking that? What kind of trick are you up to now? Is it because you said something in front of him that he refused me?"
He still remembered that it was because of the person in front of him that he couldn't get Ji Linxue's WeChat ID.
Moreover, in the stairwell, Gu Hengzhi had interrupted his confession, even though his words were already on the tip of his tongue.
At this moment, a thought simultaneously popped into both their minds – rivals are indeed still so annoying.
[zzz : Don't say it then.]
After sending this message, Gu Hengzhi swiftly unfriended him.
By the time he came out of the shower, it was half an hour later. Ji Linxue was lying on the sofa, seemingly asleep.
Gu Hengzhi walked over quietly, but he still managed to wake the other person up just as he got close.
Ji Linxue's eyes were blurry, his face weary, "Why did you take so long to shower?"
They had arrived at the hotel very late, and after each of them showered, it was already almost four o'clock.
Ji Linxue looked at his wet hair and said, "Come here, I'll blow-dry your hair. We can sleep once it's dry."
Normally, he would have shamelessly leaned over, but today, perhaps because he understood his own feelings, what used to be casual movements now felt somewhat difficult.
"No need, I can do it myself."
Ji Linxue yawned, not really hearing what he said. He wiped the physiological tears from the corners of his eyes and, seeing him still standing there, said inexplicably, "Aren't you coming over?"
Meeting his gaze, Gu Hengzhi could only grudgingly walk over.
He sat on the sofa. Ji Linxue turned on the hairdryer, set it to hot air, and his slender fingers ran through Gu Hengzhi's thick black hair.
The hot air made him a little sleepy. Gu Hengzhi felt the softness of the fingertips, his heart pounding, and his cheeks gradually turned red.
Fortunately, he was facing away from Ji Linxue, so the other person didn't notice.
Boys' hair was short, and it dried quickly. Ji Linxue put away the hairdryer, "All done."
Gu Hengzhi pursed his lips, "Thank you."
"Since when have you been so polite with me?" Ji Linxue laughed. "It's time to sleep."
"Mm."
When the lights were turned off, the room instantly became dim.
Ji Linxue was truly too tired. He fell asleep as soon as he touched the bed. Listening to the steady breathing coming from beside him, Gu Hengzhi lay in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.
The next day was a bright, sunny day. The sunlight streamed early through the floor-to-ceiling window, illuminating the white duvet.
When Ji Linxue woke up, Gu Hengzhi was already gone. He got up, washed up, and was about to go out when the door opened from the outside. Gu Hengzhi held a bag of breakfast in his hand, his eyes a little dark, "You're up?"
Ji Linxue glanced at the time, it was only seven, "Didn't sleep well last night?"
Gu Hengzhi nodded.
Last night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep, thinking about a lot of chaotic things, and even searched for related information online.
Only then did he realize there was such a group as homosexuals, and their numbers were quite significant, more than he had imagined.
Gu Hengzhi didn't feel sick like some people did, he just found it very strange.
Towards other men, he would only feel disgusted or look down on them, but towards Ji Linxue, he always couldn't help but want to stick close, feeling that he was clean all over and exuded a fragrance.
Is this also considered homosexuality?
Gu Hengzhi pondered for a long time but still had no clue.
After breakfast, the group went to the mall. Shen Shaoyan said he wanted to buy some local specialties to take back to his parents.
Ji Linxue didn't know much about these things. He had lived in A City for three years, and if he hadn't asked his mom, he wouldn't even know what the local specialties were.
Shen Shaoyan wanted to buy everything he saw. When they finally came out, he was laden with so many bags that he could barely carry them all.
He threw his newly bought backpack to Ji Linxue, "Xiaoxue, can you carry this for me first?"
Gu Hengzhi and Lu Yu, rarely, didn't scold him. Ji Linxue took the bag, "You bought so much. Will it be convenient when you board the plane later?"
Shen Shaoyan grinned, "It's okay, I can check it in."
They had an afternoon flight. They ate lunch at the mall, and then Ji Linxue sent them to the airport. They arrived just about on time. Ji Linxue stood by the security check, watching them go in.
Suddenly remembering something, Ji Linxue took off the backpack he was wearing. Seeing Shen Shaoyan had just passed security, he quickly called out to him, "You didn't take your bag."
Shen Shaoyan waved at him, his smile bright, "Bye, Xiaoxue! This is from us. See you in two months!"
Lu Yu also waved. Gu Hengzhi looked deeply at him, "Goodbye."
Ji Linxue could only accept the bag, smiling helplessly, "Goodbye."
In a little while, the three figures disappeared from sight.
After Ji Linxue returned home, he opened the bag. Inside were several gift boxes, no wonder he felt something poking him when he carried it.
Shen Shaoyan gave him a bottle of men's cologne, beautifully packaged, with a logo on it that Ji Linxue remembered seeing in TV commercials.
Lu Yu gave him a watch, a very simple style.
Soon, he reached the last gift box. Ji Linxue opened the lid, and inside was actually an SLR camera.
He remembered only mentioning that he wanted to learn photography, and he didn't expect Gu Hengzhi to actually remember it. Next to the camera was a pure gold safety charm. After taking the items out, at the very bottom was a card with four large characters written in fluid calligraphy—
Happy Birthday.
Estimating the value of these items, Ji Linxue finally understood why they didn't present them on his birthday itself, but chose to do so just before leaving.
They all knew that if he knew what was inside, he would definitely refuse.
Ji Linxue closed the box and carefully put it back.
A few minutes later, a new message appeared in their four-person group chat.
[X : Thank you all. I've received the gifts and I really like them.]
Comments Box