Chapter 51 - Together
The plan for the morning was to go fishing offshore. Assistant Liu had already prepared the boat and fishing gear, they didn't need to worry about anything.
Shen Shaoyan was still angry, but his temper wasn't as bad anymore. He sat close to Ji Linxue, looking awkward, pretending to gaze at the sea.
They reached the spot shortly. Under the captain's guidance, Ji Linxue quickly caught a Yellowfin Tuna.
Shen Shaoyan watched enviously, "I want to try too!"
Seeing him jumping around on the side, Lu Yu warned, "Be careful not to fall in."
"None of your business," Shen Shaoyan rolled his eyes.
It was a fruitful morning. The boat was piled high with fish. Ji Linxue didn't like fishing, so he sat in the cabin, watching them fish.
Seeing him idle, the captain took a fish they had just caught and made sashimi for him on the spot.
It wasn't until the sun gradually intensified that the other three put away their rods and asked the captain to return.
"Fishing really isn't for me, it's boring," Shen Shaoyan remarked.
Ji Linxue asked, "What are the plans after we get back?"
"Nurse shark snorkeling, dolphin watching, beach volleyball, or just basking in the sun on the beach. Whatever you guys want to play," Lu Yu said, "The weather's nice today, how about snorkeling?"
Gu Hengzhi suddenly turned to look at Ji Linxue, "Can you?"
Ji Linxue was startled. He didn't expect Gu Hengzhi to still remember the incident from high school. He had choked on water during swimming class that time, and Gu Hengzhi was the one who saved him. Since then, he never had to attend swimming classes anymore.
He shook his head, smiling, "You guys go ahead, I'll just wait for you on the island."
Shen Shaoyan quickly said, "If Xiao Xue isn't going, then I'm not going either."
Lu Yu nudged him with his elbow. Shen Shaoyan glared, expressing his anger silently, "What are you doing!"
Lu Yu lifted his chin. Following his gaze, Shen Shaoyan saw Ji Linxue looking out at the sea with his face turned sideways, lost in thought. Behind him, Gu Hengzhi was staring intensely at his profile, his gaze heavy.
Lu Yu's lips moved, lowering his voice, "Don't be a third wheel."
Shen Shaoyan gave him the middle finger but obediently said, "Then Lu Yu and I will go play. You two just stay on the island and sunbathe."
Ji Linxue looked at Gu Hengzhi, "Aren't you going?"
Gu Hengzhi said, "I'll stay and keep you company."
"You don't need to keep me company," realizing this might be misinterpreted, Ji Linxue added, "I can be by myself."
After the boat docked, the butler had someone carry the caught fish back. Shen Shaoyan and Lu Yu planned to continue their trip offshore.
After they left, only Gu Hengzhi and Ji Linxue remained on the shore.
Ji Linxue pursed his lips, "Why didn't you go with them?"
Gu Hengzhi let out a light laugh.
"Asking even though you know why."
The heat on Ji Linxue's face rose, "I'm going back to my room first."
He walked back in a hurry. As he passed by Gu Hengzhi, the man grabbed his wrist, "After finally coming all this way, not going to play by the sea?"
"I'm not very interested. I'd rather go back to my room to rest..."
Gu Hengzhi suddenly interrupted him, "Why are you avoiding me?"
Ji Linxue's eyes widened slightly, and he subconsciously retorted, "What?"
"Is it because of the confession that day?" Gu Hengzhi's face was expressionless as he approached him step by step.
The man's aura was close, extremely invasive, making him feel hot all over.
Ji Linxue kept retreating until his back hit the wall with a thump. Gu Hengzhi had cushioned his head with his hand.
Ji Linxue's Adam's apple bobbed. He lowered his eyes. It felt like he could touch the other person's nose if he looked up.
"Hmm?" The low voice was neither hurried nor slow, "Why aren't you speaking?"
Seeing the atmosphere becoming increasingly ambiguous, Ji Linxue grit his teeth, "You said before, you're not gay."
The person opposite fell silent.
After a long while, a voice laced with a smile came through, "Can I apply to retract that statement now?"
Gu Hengzhi bent down, tilting his head to look at him from the side, "Still holding a grudge, huh."
He straightened up and also released the hand that was propped beside Ji Linxue, "I genuinely believed I wasn't gay at the time, because I was sure I didn't like boys, I only liked you."
All the words Ji Linxue wanted to say were stuck in his throat.
After a while, he licked his lips and said hoarsely, "How can you be so sure..."
“I just know.” Gu Hengzhi’s tone was firm, like he could read Ji Linxue’s thoughts. “From beginning to end, I’ve only ever liked you. And I always will.”
"Ji Linxue, try being with me, okay?"
Ji Linxue lowered his head, completely unresponsive. Just as Gu Hengzhi's heart felt anxious and he wanted to look down at his expression, he suddenly started smiling, looking at Gu Hengzhi with a very gentle gaze.
"What are you smiling at?" Gu Hengzhi was puzzled.
Ji Linxue gently exhaled, "I only just realized now that the unshakable President Gu isn’t all that composed after all."
"Your hand has been trembling," he lifted Gu Hengzhi's right palm and gently clasped it, "You always do this whenever you get emotional."
Gu Hengzhi tightened his fingers, "Is that so? I didn't notice."
Ji Linxue curved his lips, "Well, now you know."
Their hands were tightly clasped together, neither was willing to let go.
They walked slowly along the beach, watching the clear, jelly-like water and enjoying the gentle sea breeze.
It wasn't until almost noon that Shen Shaoyan and Lu Yu returned.
Shen Shaoyan was holding a white stone in his hand, carefully wiping it.
Ji Linxue smiled, "What's this? It's quite nice. Where did you pick it up?"
Shen Shaoyan chuckled proudly, "This is coral stone. Lu Yu gave it to me. Since he's apologized to me, I'm so magnanimous, of course I chose to forgive him."
"Lunch is ready," Lu Yu called out, “Shen Shaoyan, what nonsense are you talking about now?”
Shen Shaoyan put the stone in his pocket and hummed a tune, "What's for lunch today?"
"The fish we caught this morning."
The two started bickering again as they spoke. It wasn't until everyone sat down at the dining table that it finally stopped.
"Today's fish is so delicious! Did your skills improve overnight?" Shen Shaoyan said in surprise.
Lu Yu said, “I had the butler bring in a chef,”
"But I just wanted to eat what you made."
"It's easy to talk when you're not the one doing the work," Lu Yu said coolly, "I don't have time to cater to you."
Gu Hengzhi put a piece of steamed fish in Ji Linxue's bowl, acting as if he hadn't noticed the commotion there. His tone was so gentle it seemed to hide honey, "This is leopard coral grouper. The meat is quite tender. Try it."
Ji Linxue took a small bite and his eyes lit up, "It's really delicious!"
"Then eat more," Gu Hengzhi pushed aside the condiments, picked up a few more pieces of fish, dipped them in the sauce, and put them in Ji Linxue's bowl.
It wasn't that they hadn't given each other food before, but now, with the added status of boyfriend, the feeling was completely different.
Ji Linxue ate silently, lowering his head. Gu Hengzhi occasionally put a few pieces of food into his bowl. The other two acted as if they didn't see it at all, not finding anything strange.
Not until the end of lunch did a warm large hand suddenly reach out from under the table, firmly grasping Ji Linxue's hand, their fingers naturally interlocking.
Ji Linxue was startled. His subconscious reaction was to pull his hand away, but he quickly relaxed and looked at Gu Hengzhi.
The latter still wore a calm expression, but his little finger under the table quietly hooked his.
Ji Linxue cleared his throat slightly.
Gu Hengzhi pretended not to hear.
For the next few days, they maintained this "secretive" relationship.
Shen Shaoyan watched the two going upstairs one after another with a speechless expression, propping his face in his hands and looking at Lu Yu, "What are they doing? Playing cosplay?"
"'Cosplay' refers to costume play. In Chinese, it means role-playing. Clearly, their actions don't fall into this category," Lu Yu patted his shoulder, "You should study English properly."
Shen Shaoyan, "...Don't talk about English or whatever, I'm talking about serious matters!"
The ten-plus day trip ended quickly. Before leaving, Shen Shaoyan was informed by the butler that the coral stone Lu Yu gave him couldn't be taken back. He rolled around on the sofa in sadness.
Lu Yu pulled his suitcase, frowning, "I'll give you another one when we get back."
"That's not the same!"
Gu Hengzhi checked his watch, "We're running out of time, let's go first."
So the three of them left with their suitcases. Shen Shaoyan was stunned for a moment. Seeing that they had already left the courtyard gate, he quickly grabbed his suitcase and followed, "Hey! Wait for me!"
***
After flying for a few hours, they finally arrived in C City.
Shen Shaoyan stretched, “I’m all soft from that nap. It’s been so long, it feels like a different world.”
“It’s ‘feels like a lifetime ago,’” Ji Linxue corrected with a smile.
"I know, I said that on purpose just now," Shen Shaoyan was quite cheeky. He winked at him, "Xiao Xue, you seem to be in a great mood these past few days. Did something wonderful happen? You keep smiling."
"Yeah, you could say that," Ji Linxue said, glancing in Gu Hengzhi's direction. The latter understood implicitly and walked over, interlocking his fingers with his, "We're together."
Shen Shaoyan's expression was calm, "I thought you'd wait a while longer to tell us."
Ji Linxue, "We weren't hiding anything anyway. We didn't say anything before because you didn't ask."
Since they had already confessed, they didn't hide it anymore. They held hands openly in the car, almost blinding Shen Shaoyan with their pink bubble.
When it was time to sleep that night, seeing them go back to their separate rooms, he even asked in surprise, "Huh, why aren't you guys sleeping together?"
Lu Yu quickly pulled him away, "Can you control your foul mouth?"
Gu Hengzhi and Ji Linxue exchanged glances, tacitly turning their heads away without speaking.
Gu Hengzhi thought about it, walked over, took his hand, and without further ado, led him back to his own room.
Ji Linxue pretended to look at the furnishings in the room. Seeing Gu Hengzhi close the door, his heart tightened slightly.
"What are you nervous about? I won't eat you," Gu Hengzhi said, a little amused, and pinched his face.
Ji Linxue's expression instantly relaxed, "Then what did you want to see me for?"
"Close your eyes first."
Ji Linxue was completely bewildered but obediently closed his eyes.
His finger was gently held, and then cool metal touched his skin.
"All done."
Ji Linxue opened his eyes. What he saw was Gu Hengzhi's smiling eyes, "See if you like it."
He raised his hand. There was now a silver ring on his previously empty finger. It was a very simple design, making his finger look even more slender.
Ji Linxue curved his lips, "It's beautiful, I really like it."
A moment later, he suddenly frowned, "I forgot to buy you one."
"You don't need to buy one, I already have one," Gu Hengzhi opened his palm. A ring identical to his, but with a larger band, lay there.
He beckoned with his hand, gesturing for Ji Linxue to put it on him.
Ji Linxue picked up the ring and looked at it, finding that it was engraved on the inside.
It was the English initials of his name.
Ji Linxue asked curiously, "When did you get them custom-made?"
"Last year."
Ji Linxue was startled. Gu Hengzhi automatically finished the rest of the sentence.
"These two rings were just finished a few days before you left."
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