After My Childhood Friend Misunderstood That I Had a Boyfriend - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Taking care of you is more important

Especially when he thought about how Chu Xi might have acted spoiled and called that man “Gége” the moment he stepped into the car yesterday, Zhou Jinyan’s violent emotions became uncontrollable, churning like a stormy sea in his heart.

An inexplicable irritability surged within him, showing on his face, but Chu Xi didn’t notice a thing. After taking the plush sheep, he didn’t forget to thank Zhou Jinyan.

“Thank you.” Chu Xi buried his cheek against the side of the sheep’s face, huddled in his blanket, and narrowed his eyes comfortably. “You’re so kind.”

Chu Xi currently looked like a contented little animal. Having received what he wanted, all his defenses vanished. His cheeks and the tip of his nose were still red, and he looked at Zhou Jinyan with a defenseless, innocent gaze.

Zhou Jinyan’s heavy gaze moved from the tip of Chu Xi’s nose to his lips, which were slightly moistened from drinking water, and then he quickly looked away.

Giving me a “good person” card again.

Was “Thank you” and “You’re so kind” all Chu Xi knew how to say?

It was bad enough that Chu Xi loved two people at once, but why couldn’t he be impartial and call him “Gége” too?

Just like those two sentences if he replaced “you” with “Gége” and said, “Thank you, Gége,” or “Gége, you’re so kind,” with that innocent and naive expression…

Zhou Jinyan felt his very breath turn hot.

Chu Xi looked at his phone for a while as the medicine began to take effect. After a bit, he spoke up restlessly: “I want to sleep.”

Seeing that he seemed ready to sleep right where he sat, Zhou Jinyan felt a bit helpless: “Go sleep in your bed.”

Sleeping curled up in a chair like that wasn’t he afraid of waking up with a stiff neck?

“I already said I don’t have any strength!” Being pampered usually made Chu Xi a bit temperamental. He tried to negotiate with Zhou Jinyan: “And it’s more convenient to sleep right here for the next time I have to take medicine.”

Zhou Jinyan remained silent.

Chu Xi was dazed from the fever, but he still knew how to please people. Seeing Zhou Jinyan’s disapproval, he took a step back: “Okay then, I’ll go up to bed. But I really don’t have any strength…”

Acting spoiled again, Zhou Jinyan thought.

To convince Zhou Jinyan, Chu Xi his cheeks flushed from the fever clumsily reached out his hands and looked at him expectantly: “I just feel really tired, no energy at all.”

So, can you hold me like you did just now?

Zhou Jinyan stared at the sliver of fair waist exposed by the movement. It was so white, so slender. He quickly averted his eyes with restraint: “I’ll help you up.”

Huh? No hug?

Chu Xi froze, feeling a bit disappointed. He slowly withdrew his outstretched hands. He had reached out to hint so obviously!

Zhou Jinyan was so dense!

Fine, no hug then.

Chu Xi felt a bit depressed as he walked over and grabbed the ladder to the upper bunk with both hands. “Fine.”

Just as he stepped onto the first rung, a broad, powerful hand supported his back. Chu Xi’s body stiffened; the momentary distraction caused his right foot to slip. Before he could cry out, Zhou Jinyan firmly caught him by the waist.

Chu Xi’s heart thundered from the fright: “That scared me to death.”

With Zhou Jinyan’s strength assisting him, Chu Xi successfully made it onto the bed. Just as he lay down and tucked himself in, he realized his sheep plushie was still below. He rolled over to face the edge of the bed.

Before Chu Xi could say anything, the sheep plushie suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Zhou Jinyan held the sheep with one hand, and one of the plushie’s paws was sticking up as if it were waving hello to Chu Xi.

So cute.

Chu Xi couldn’t help but chuckle. He took the sheep, grabbed that waving paw, and said in a soft tone: “Thank you. Is this too much trouble for you?”

“No.” Zhou Jinyan stared at the sheep being held, paused for a moment, and added, “I don’t find it troublesome.”

More than just not troublesome. He wished Chu Xi would trouble him and depend on him even more.

Chu Xi hugged his sheep, curled up in his quilt, and soon fell asleep.

He didn’t sleep very deeply, drifting in a half-awake state. After an unknown amount of time, a cool palm touched his forehead again. He couldn’t help but linger in that temperature, nuzzling against the palm.

Chu Xi woke up groggily. He opened his eyes and indeed saw Zhou Jinyan’s face. He felt an unconscious sense of peace, and his post-sleep voice was sticky and sweet: “Is it time for medicine again?”

“Mm. How are you feeling now?” Zhou Jinyan held a thermometer. “Let’s take your temperature first.”

Chu Xi checked his internal state; he didn’t feel great, just less dizzy. He obediently tucked the thermometer under his arm: “Better than before.”

That meant the fever was slowly coming down. Zhou Jinyan lowered his eyes and tidied Chu Xi’s messy stray hairs: “Mm.”

The slightly rough pads of Zhou Jinyan’s fingers stroked his forehead, making Chu Xi’s heart beat wildly.

So… so ambiguous.

Chu Xi’s breathing became a bit erratic, and his ears turned traitorously red again.

Ahhh, aren’t we in a cold war right now! Stay cold! Why does my heart keep fluttering so pathetically!

It’s all Zhou Jinyan’s fault! Always being so mysterious!

And he was just as pathetic when he tried to flirt with Zhou Jinyan, it always backfired with no reaction, yet a tiny gesture from Zhou Jinyan sent his heart racing!

How annoying! Zhou Jinyan really was a nuisance!

The hand stroking his forehead pulled away, leaving a tingling sensation behind.

Chu Xi’s face was burning hot. After a while, he asked haltingly: “It should be fine now, right?”

Chu Xi took out the thermometer: “Look, has my fever broken?”

Zhou Jinyan took it to check; it read 37.9°C (100.2°F).

Zhou Jinyan flicked the thermometer: “Yes. Rest for another day and see if it recurs.”

Rest for another day? What did that mean? Chu Xi wondered: Does this mean Zhou Jinyan will take care of me for another whole day?

Probably not. Besides parents, who has the time to sacrifice their own schedule to care for someone else?

But their relationship was currently in limbo. They definitely weren’t just “ordinary friends,” yet they weren’t quite “intimate” either. He couldn’t read Zhou Jinyan’s mind.

Hugging his sheep, Chu Xi thought about it and decided to ask: “Will you…”

Zhou Jinyan looked up: “Hmm?”

Chu Xi was a bit timid but asked bravely: “Will you stay with me all day?”

“I mean This sounded like he was overstepping, so Chu Xi hurriedly built a graceful exit for himself, “Aren’t you busy? Do you have class this afternoon?”

Chu Xi’s long lashes trembled as he thought of Zhou Jinyan’s sudden coldness from before: “…You have work to do, right?”

Having listed all those possibilities, Chu Xi’s confidence instantly waned. Zhou Jinyan was very busy; how could he sacrifice a whole day just to take care of him?

How embarrassing, Chu Xi!!

Thinking these self-indulgent thoughts was one thing, but why did he say them out loud! Are you an idiot!!

It’s over, how do I fix this situation?

Chu Xi became flustered and wanted to say something to save face, but then he heard Zhou Jinyan say: “I will.”

Huh?

Chu Xi looked up and met Zhou Jinyan’s eyes, scalded by his unreadable gaze.

Chu Xi’s heart sped up again. He began to instinctively and unconsciously test the waters: “Ah? Why? Isn’t work more important?”

“No,” Zhou Jinyan said.

Zhou Jinyan looked at Chu Xi’s still-flushed cheeks and said seriously: “Taking care of you is more important.”

Ahhhhhhh!!

Can you stop saying such misleading things!!

What do you mean “taking care of you is more important”?!!

Actually, Zhou Jinyan definitely likes me! Chu Xi cupped his burning face with both hands. Right! It has to be!

Chu Xi felt like he had hit the jackpot. All the grievances from getting soaked in the rain and being left on “read” yesterday vanished.

He admitted it! He was just that pathetic! Being coaxed by the person he liked made him so happy he couldn’t find his bearings.

No matter how excited he was inside, Chu Xi remained calm on the surface: “Oh. I want to sleep.”

So excited, need to calm down first.

Chu Xi shrank back into his quilt and curled up. His quilt was a fresh light-yellow and white pattern; when he curled up, he looked like a custard bun.

It made one want to take a bite. To see if the filling inside was exceptionally sweet.

Zhou Jinyan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he made a visible swallowing motion, as if he had already tasted the custard bun.

His heavy gaze rested on Chu Xi. Thinking of Chu Xi’s somewhat indifferent reaction just now, that inexplicable restlessness surged up again.

Such a flat reaction.

Has he been coaxed by other men’s sweet talk for so long that his threshold is high?

That makes sense. After all, he wasn’t Chu Xi’s first man.

But he didn’t want to be the “other man” for the rest of his life. He had to endure. Even married people could divorce, and Chu Xi wasn’t even married to his boyfriend. Breaking up was much simpler than divorce. If he worked hard enough, he would eventually transition from the “third party” to the main partner.

After a while, Zhou Jinyan’s voice sounded a bit strained: “Okay, go to sleep. What do you want for lunch?”

Chu Xi didn’t have any ideas: “You order it.”

“Mm. I’ll call you when it’s time to eat.”

Chu Xi closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, responding with a muffled “Mm-mm-mm.”

The bed curtains were pulled shut, hiding him from prying eyes. Chu Xi couldn’t pretend to sleep any longer; he grabbed his phone to express his excitement to Jian Yu.

Chu Xi: I’m so happy! Chu Xi: Ahhhh, I think he definitely likes me! Jian Yu: (replies instantly) A blessing in disguise.

After chatting on the bed for what felt like a short time, a delicious aroma drifted in through the curtains.

Wait? Is it already lunchtime?

It smelled so good. Chu Xi sat up abruptly. He really was hungry. Without waiting for Zhou Jinyan to call him, he reflexively started to get out of bed.

“Good afternoon.” Zhou Jinyan’s tone had returned to its usual calm. Seeing Chu Xi getting down, he asked: “Do your arms and legs have strength now?”

Chu Xi nodded. Thinking about how he had begged for a hug while dazed from the fever earlier made him a bit embarrassed, but the aroma gave him a quick excuse: “It smells so good. What did you order?”

Chu Xi got down and stood side-by-side with Zhou Jinyan, then heard the reply: “Seaweed, shrimp, and lean pork porridge.”

Zhou Jinyan helped him unpack the food: “You’re still recovering, eat something light.”

“Mm-mm.” Chu Xi took a spoonful, blew on it, and narrowed his eyes because it was so delicious. After a moment, he gave Zhou Jinyan a faint smile: “It’s so good. Zhou Jinyan, why are you so kind?”

Why is he so kind?

He was always saying that did Chu Xi still hate him? Zhou Jinyan’s gaze was dark. In a place Chu Xi didn’t notice, this gaze felt almost physical, sweeping over every inch of Chu Xi from his two hair whorls to his slightly red nose, and finally his moist lips.

He wanted to kiss him.

He wanted to kiss him until those words about “hating him” were swallowed back down, or until they turned into broken moans and gasps from being kissed breathless.

But that might make Chu Xi hate him even more. He didn’t want to be a villain in Chu Xi’s heart.

When Chu Xi was almost finished eating, Zhou Jinyan stared at him and asked somewhat stiffly: “Do you still hate me?”

Chu Xi looked up in confusion: “Huh?”

Zhou Jinyan met his eyes: “Can you,  please not hate me?”