After My Childhood Friend Misunderstood That I Had a Boyfriend - Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Pulling Back One’s Hand as if Getting an Electric Shock

Chu Xi pulled his hand back as if he had been struck by lightning. Zhou Jinyan had already opened the umbrella, closed the car door, and stepped past Chu Xi to the back seat to pull out the heaviest bag of milk tea.

Chu Xi felt a lingering numbness in his palm where they had touched. His heart gave a heavy thud.

Was Zhou Jinyan… doing that on purpose, or was it an accident?

Chu Xi’s ears were as red as a pair of ripe cherry tomatoes. As if guilty of something, he tilted his umbrella lower to hide his face.

Seeing that Chu Xi wasn’t moving, Zhou Jinyan asked, “What’s wrong?”

Snapping out of his daze, Chu Xi lifted the umbrella. His red ears were hidden by the darkness of the night, but his voice, carrying a slight tremor, betrayed his lack of composure: No, nothing. My hand just got… scratched by the umbrella.

Zhou Jinyan looked at Chu Xi’s eyelashes, which fluttered like raven feathers. He knit his brows slightly: “Scratched?”

Chu Xi’s voice was muffled: “Yeah.”

Then let me carry all the milk tea. Zhou Jinyan handed the long-handled umbrella to Chu Xi. You hold the umbrella. We’ll share one.

Zhou Jinyan’s crisp, cool scent invaded the space under the umbrella. Chu Xi’s already unnatural breathing hitched for a moment. After a pause, he stammered, “No, how could I let you carry everything by yourself?”

Chu Xi adjusted his mindset, his eyes crinkling into a smile: “Besides, a scratch heals in a second. Here, I’ll take this bag!”

With that, Chu Xi grabbed the remaining bag of milk tea. He turned around, tilting his face up slightly to look at Zhou Jinyan, his eyes sparkling: “Let’s go, let’s go!”

Without waiting for Zhou Jinyan to respond, Chu Xi turned and hurried away.

If his hands weren’t full, he would have loved to slap his own cheeks. Heaven help me… the skin on his palm that had been brushed felt itchy and tingly, and his heart was feeling just as soft and tingly along with it.

In this pathetic state, how did he dare to share an umbrella with Zhou Jinyan! He was terrified that the “tingling” would make his legs go weak!

Zhou Jinyan nodded, watching Chu Xi’s retreating back as he fled. He locked the car and followed with long strides.

Chu Xi closed his umbrella and returned to the private room, placing it by the door. Zhou Jinyan followed right behind him, the two of them entering one after the other.

Seeing Chu Xi’s movement, Zhou Jinyan placed his umbrella right next to Chu Xi’s.

Zhou Siyuan, Fu Ling, and the rest were huddled together playing Werewolf. She had just been voted out and revealed as a Werewolf.

Just as Zhou Siyuan was regretting where she had slipped up, she saw the two of them: “Eh? Bro, why did you come in too?”

She had assumed that, given Zhou Jinyan’s personality, he would have left immediately after dropping off the tea. Her intuition told her something was up; Zhou Jinyan definitely wouldn’t have come inside just for her sake.

She fixed her gaze on the two of them. When she saw Zhou Jinyan naturally take the bag of milk tea from Chu Xi’s hand, she couldn’t help but let out a: “Oh.”

It looks like my sister-in-law is a ‘Brother-in-law’!

Zhou Siyuan rubbed her hands: “Bro, you and Chu Xi know each other?”

The game was paused as the group lined up to get their milk tea. Hearing his sister’s question, Zhou Jinyan nodded: “Yeah. Roommates.”

And we’re childhood friends—though I’m the only one who remembers. Zhou Jinyan paused. Since Chu Xi didn’t remember, rather than saying it outright, it was better to slowly guide him to discover it himself.

I bet it’s not just ‘roommates,’ Zhou Siyuan thought, smiling without saying a word. After finding the sugar-free milk tea Chu Xi had ordered, she walked over to him.

Zhou Siyuan: “Wow, Chu Xi, I didn’t know you knew my brother! Even though he looks like he’s always posing, he’s actually a pretty good guy.”

Chu Xi took the tea: “Um… he is.”

Chu Xi stirred his milk tea, his heart seemingly falling into a swirl along with it: “He’s a very good guy.”

Eh? Is this a mutual attraction?

Matching people up was Zhou Siyuan’s favorite thing to do. She blinked: “Chu Xi, you’re Fu Ling’s friend and my brother’s friend—that’s such a coincidence, right? So, I want to invite you to my birthday party. Will you come?”

A birthday party?

Chu Xi immediately remembered seeing Zhou Jinyan buying a bag at the mall, saying it was for his sister. That sister was Zhou Siyuan…

I’m so stupid, ahhh! I knew he didn’t have a girlfriend, yet I was still overthinking things.

Having just told himself not to overthink, Chu Xi was overthinking again. If he attended the birthday party, would he be able to see Zhou Jinyan’s home? What was the phrase? Entering the inner chambers.

The more Chu Xi thought about it, the more tempted he was: Sure! When is your birthday?

Zhou Siyuan: Next Saturday.

Yes, yes, yes! She had successfully tricked her favorite blogger into attending her birthday party. Tonight, she would brag to her girlfriends about “collecting” another beauty.

Zhou Siyuan walked over to Zhou Jinyan with a smug, proud look: “No need to thank me.”

She lowered her voice: “Just be sensible and don’t stop me from chasing my idols. I’ve told you so many times, I’m not ‘playing around’ in the entertainment circle.”

Zhou Jinyan raised an eyebrow: “Is there a difference?”

Both were a waste of time and looked like a headache to manage.

Cheh. If it weren’t for my ‘waste of time,’ nobody would be making opportunities for you right now.

The unfinished game of Werewolf continued. Chu Xi and Zhou Jinyan stayed to play a few rounds. In the final round, Chu Xi and Zhou Jinyan were both Werewolves. Someone played Cupid and linked them as “Lovers.” Zhou Jinyan was voted out by Zhou Siyuan’s maneuver, and the Good side won.

By nearly 9 PM, the rain had stopped. After the first person said goodbye, the rest began to leave one by one. Zhou Siyuan didn’t leave with Zhou Jinyan; she and Fu Ling were going to the night market. The once noisy room was now left with only Chu Xi and Zhou Jinyan.

Zhou Jinyan picked up the two umbrellas by the door: “Let’s go. How are you getting back?”

Only then did Chu Xi notice their umbrellas were standing side-by-side. It made him think of how they had stood side-by-side, very close together, under one umbrella earlier.

I took a taxi here,” Chu Xi said, taking the umbrella Zhou Jinyan handed him. “I thought maybe we’d have some wine or something. I didn’t expect everyone to be teetotalers.

Zhou Jinyan helped push the door open: “Mm.” Not drinking is good.

Once Chu Xi was out, Zhou Jinyan let go: “I’ll drive you. Back to school?”

Chu Xi shook his head. Why stay at school on the weekend? “I’m going home.”

They got into the car, and Chu Xi skillfully took the passenger seat of the Cullinan and buckled his seatbelt. The car started, and Zhou Jinyan said: “Send me your home’s location, I’ll drop you off first.”

Chu Xi had originally wanted to go back to live with Ms. Meng and Director Chu, but then he remembered he had a place in the same neighborhood as Zhou Jinyan, so he sent the location for the “Haisheng Garden” complex.

Chu Xi tapped his phone: “Sent.”

After checking it, Zhou Jinyan said: “It’s quite on the way.”

Of course it is, the destination is the same place.

Chu Xi felt a momentary pang of guilt, then feigned surprise: “What a coincidence! But that’s great, it won’t be too much trouble for you.”

Zhou Jinyan glanced at him: “Mm.”

Chu Xi tilted his head. Is it a delusion? Why do I feel like Zhou Jinyan is laughing at me!

Arriving at Haisheng Garden, the villa area was in a different section, so their paths diverged. Chu Xi got out at the complex entrance and said goodbye to Zhou Jinyan.

He entered his passcode, and as the door opened, a snow-white figure rushed to his feet and crouched on the entryway cabinet, meowing.

Chu Xi reached out, and the snow-white Persian-mix cat affectionately rubbed its head against his palm: What’s wrong, Little Fairy?

“Fairy” turned around, gesturing for Chu Xi to follow, then patted the water bowl with a paw: “Meow.”

Ah, out of water.

Chu Xi dutifully refilled the water. After Fairy finished drinking, he hugged the cat and flopped onto the sofa, sending a photo of the cat to Ms. Meng.

— Meng Qingling: Oh, my little darling! — Meng Qingling: Let’s video call, I want to talk to Fairy. [Video Call]

Chu Xi: “Okay, okay.”

Chu Xi accepted the video call, propping it up at an angle so Ms. Meng could chat with the cat, while he used his spare phone to log into his WeChat alt account.

Fairy was the kitten of a cat belonging to Ms. Meng’s friend, Zhou Qi. There were three in the litter, and Fairy was the prettiest, so Ms. Meng had taken her home.

The water had just boiled. After pouring it into a cup, Chu Xi added an ice cube: “Jian Yu, when is your match ending? Pull me in later.”

Jian Yu was in the middle of a killing spree: “Soon, soon! Oh, by the way, how are things going with Zhou Jinyan?”

Fairy was meowing in the background. Chu Xi lowered his voice: “Um… I suspect he likes me now.”

Jian Yu paused, his voice rising: “What! Such fast progress?”

Chu Xi: “Just a little bit. I feel like he definitely has a good impression of me.”

Hearing the sound effects on Jian Yu’s end, Chu Xi knew his game was over, but Jian Yu didn’t start another one. Instead, he focused on listening to Chu Xi’s story.

Jian Yu: “Tell me.”

Chu Xi recounted the experiences of the past few days to Jian Yu, sounding excited: “He took the initiative to ask what I like! He wants to know my preferences. Oh, and we’re going to a movie tomorrow.”

Zhou Jinyan had a desire to explore and a curiosity about him; you only focus your attention on someone when you like them—just like Chu Xi had done with Zhou Jinyan a year ago.

Jian Yu: “Aiya, that’s great! In that case, it’s time for you to enter the next stage.”

Chu Xi was all ears: “What stage?”

Counselor Jian Yu was online: “You can start having some appropriate physical contact. Like holding hands, hugging, or touching a shoulder or arm.”

Chu Xi immediately thought of their touch when getting the milk tea. He looked at the palm of his right hand; the sensation that had long since faded seemed to resurface at this moment.

Chu Xi’s ears turned red: “Ah, is that… too fast?”

Jian Yu: “Not fast at all! The ‘ambiguous phase’ is always like this. Go for it, Baby Chu Xi!”

Jian Yu: Oh, right! Didn’t you want to send photos to Zhou Jinyan last time? Send one over now for him to see.

Just as Jian Yu finished speaking, Song Shiyu sent the edited final photos via a cloud drive link.

— Song Shiyu: Edited. Check them out! Cat with toast tapping the screen.jpg — Chu Xi: Got it! Cat received.jpg

Chu Xi clicked the link. He and Jian Yu spent ages trying to pick the best one but couldn’t decide. Jian Yu had an idea: “Send them all to Zhou Jinyan and let him pick the best one.”

Chu Xi: “!!?” Chu Xi: “…I don’t dare.”

Jian Yu tapped his head: “Stupid. You said you feel like Zhou Jinyan likes you. Send some photos to ‘bait’ him! After sending them, just say you sent them to the wrong person and see how he reacts.”

Jian Yu: “I’ve even found an excuse for you. If he asks, say you were sending them to ‘File Transfer Assistant’.”

Chu Xi felt Jian Yu’s method could work: “Jian Yuyu, you really are a little genius.”

Jian Yu sent a “Cat leaving” emoji: “I’m out. Good luck. My senior invited me to karaoke. Bye!”

The call with Jian Yu ended. Having done several “tests” before, Chu Xi felt bolder. He opened the chat with Zhou Jinyan and sent the photos over.

That night, the Border Collie was patrolling the third floor. It skillfully pushed open Zhou Jinyan’s bedroom door. Zhou Jinyan had just come out of the shower; the towel around his waist reached his calves, and droplets of water were still sliding down his abdominal muscles.

His phone kept buzzing with notifications. Zhou Jinyan picked it up and saw it was a message from Chu Xi, so he clicked in.

Before he could look closely, the Border Collie kept jumping up at his legs.

Zhou Jinyan: “Stop it, Tangdou. Didn’t someone already take you for several walks today?”

Tangdou: “Woof woof woof!”

The dog seemed to say it wasn’t enough, pestering Zhou Jinyan until he accidentally dropped the phone on the floor. Coincidentally, Tangdou stepped right on the screen with a paw.

The familiar ringtone of a WeChat video call invitation rang out.

Both man and dog froze. The clever Tangdou realized he’d done something wrong and guiltily slunk to the side, peering at Zhou Jinyan with his doggy eyes.

Zhou Jinyan felt a headache coming on: “I told you to stop playing.”

He crouched down, picked up the phone Tangdou had knocked over, and looked at it. Tangdou had dialed a video call to Chu Xi.

It was 11 PM. Calling in the middle of the night… he wasn’t afraid of being misunderstood.

Zhou Jinyan raised an eyebrow and said to Tangdou: “Next time the police academy recruits, maybe I should send you over to see if you can become a police dog.”

Tangdou: “Woof.” (I’m not listening!)

Zhou Jinyan: “Get a government job and support yourself.”

While talking, Zhou Jinyan intended to cancel the call and tell Chu Xi later that it was an accident. But just as he was about to hit cancel, the video call was answered.