Chasing My Husband! The "Crown Prince" of the Beijing Circle Is Wildly Unruly! - Chapter 53

He Zheng took out a wooden box carved from pear blossom wood from the cabinet beneath the desk.

The wooden box had a lock on it.

He Zheng pulled a key from his pocket.

“Click—”

The sound of the lock opening.

Zhao Yan stepped forward and, as the box was opened, he saw a gilt-edged invitation to a party on top.

He looked at it, confused.

He Zheng took a deep breath, making a firm decision.

He inverted the half-meter square wooden box.

“Clatter…”

Photos, love letters, a brooch, a handkerchief, an invitation, a boutonniere, scissors, a contract, a half-sleeve of a shirt, an inkpad, a graduation photo, a pencil, an eraser, notebooks, ointment, bandages, eye drops, stickers…

They spilled out onto the floor.

Zhao Yan couldn’t describe his feelings at the moment.

He felt his mind go blank.

He even entertained the thought of running away.

“Grrrrrrr—” Xiao Nian’s purring slightly brought him back to his senses.

“What is all this…” Zhao Yan looked at the pile of items scattered on the floor like ‘treasures’ and ‘rarities.’

“They are all things you have touched,” He Zheng said, looking at him with burning eyes.

He picked up the invitation.

Zhao Yan’s name was written on it.

Then he picked up a yellow workbook. The cover bore Zhao Yan’s name. This English assignment notebook belonged to Zhao Yan.

There were also many photos, taken from different angles.

Even the posts Zhao Yan had shared on his social media during his study abroad were printed into photos.

Some papers had already yellowed, and the notebooks and eraser looked old.

This wasn’t something that could be collected in just a day or two.

Zhao Yan now completely believed his words.

He was moved, yet also felt a sense of bewilderment.

He truly couldn’t believe that someone could secretly love him for so many years.

He Zheng crouched down and silently began to carefully organize these ‘treasures,’ piece by piece.

The pear blossom wooden box beside them was quite valuable, like an antique. Who would have thought it contained such things?

Zhao Yan stood rooted to the spot, holding the cat.

He waited until He Zheng held the last love letter in his hand. It was a yellowed letter with a smiling Spongebob sticker on it.

“This was unsent ten years ago. I’m giving it to you now.” He Zheng knelt on one knee, his eyes devoid of his usual flamboyance.

This time, his eyes were deep, filled with sincerity.

Zhao Yan put down Xiao Nian and solemnly accepted the love letter.

He had received many love letters, but this one shocked him so much that he was unable to recover for a long time.

The Spongebob sticker was no longer firmly attached, having lost its stickiness over time.

A slight touch peeled it off, leaving a yellowed residue.

The letter paper inside, however, hadn’t yellowed.

Opening the envelope, inside were three sheets of paper folded in thirds, feeling substantial in his hand.

[Zhao Yan:

Greetings.

Forgive my cowardice for not being able to tell you my feelings in person.

Perhaps this love letter will never be sent.

But I feel it needs to exist.

I am your deskmate behind you, Chen Zheng.

I like you, I like you very, very much.

I like when you gently turn around to hand out papers to me. I like when you tell me it’s time to collect the notebooks. I like that you always look more mature than all our peers.

I don’t know when this feeling started, but once I noticed it, my eyes could never leave you.

But I also feel very inferior because I’m very fat, not handsome enough, and even have acne on my face.

The few boys who are close to you are overly handsome, and there’s the sports class monitor. When he plays basketball, his abs are faintly visible.

I am so jealous, like a pathetic clown, only able to hide in the corner and watch you all laughing and playing.

Zhao Yan, I know you like boys.

Because your gaze never lingers on girls. You always, subtly, look at the sports monitor’s abs, his sweaty cheeks, and his slender yet strong calves.

You are always exceptionally nice to him.

I am very jealous, yet I have no right to be jealous.

I wish I could also be someone like the sports monitor, who could be looked at and noticed by you.

If I can, if I can, I can lose weight! I can become handsome! Zhao Yan, I like you, wait for me!]

The first page ended.

Zhao Yan was struck by the youthful innocence of the writing and felt completely rigid.

He continued to the second page.

[A’Yan:

I only dare to call you this in the letter. I really am a coward.

I don’t dare to give you a love letter, nor do I dare to say hello.

Today, you threw the English assignment notebook you finished into the trash can. I secretly retrieved it when I went to empty the trash.

Your handwriting is beautiful, like a lazy cat stretching its tail and leisurely strolling.

I hold it close, fantasizing about the day I can hold you just like I hold your assignment notebook.

It must be so fragrant, so soft, so fragrant, right? Because sitting behind you, I always unintentionally catch the faint, clean scent radiating from you.

Today, three girls gave you love letters, and you rejected every single one.

And I dare even less to send mine, because I know that your gaze will not linger on me.

But Zhao Yan, I really like you so much. My eyes are always fixed on you, and my heart pounds whenever I hear you speak. When you accidentally lean back against the chair.

I intentionally lean forward.

The shadow on the wall looks like I am kissing your forehead.

If I can, I must become handsome and get abs, to be worthy of you, and to make your gaze stay on me.]

Zhao Yan’s hands were trembling. In junior high, how old was he back then…

He truly hadn’t noticed He Zheng’s feelings at all.

He Zheng, who was called Chen Zheng (meaning ‘upright’) back then, had such an honest name, yet harbored such turbulent feelings.

Zhao Yan opened the third sheet of paper.

It was a pencil drawing composed of the characters of his name, Zhao Yan.

In junior high, his hair was a bit long. The portrait in the drawing was exactly what he looked like back then.

The moment he closed the love letter, He Zheng looked away. He lowered his head to look for the cat, trying to diffuse the awkwardness of the moment.

In truth, he hadn’t planned on telling him about this humble secret crush.

But having gone through many ups and downs and seen all kinds of people, He Zheng had learned to observe hearts.

He felt compelled to tell him about his feelings from junior high because he couldn’t afford to gamble.

He wasn’t sure if continuously forcing Zhao Yan would yield the result he wanted.

Zhao Yan was actually quite embarrassed too.

He dared to follow him because he was certain He Zheng couldn’t produce genuine evidence of his love.

He had prepared himself to completely cut ties with He Zheng.

He never expected this guy, who seemed so worldly, smooth-talking, scheming, and goal-oriented, to actually be a pure-hearted…

Now, Zhao Yan was completely cornered.

If he agreed, he felt it wouldn’t be fair to anyone.

But if he didn’t agree, it would be a deep letdown to He Zheng’s profound affection.

He had also intensely loved Wang Xinghe, even remaining celibate for him for years, caring little about being labeled ‘old virgin’ or ‘pure love warrior’ in their circle.

So, in that moment, he understood exactly how much He Zheng loved him.

“He Zheng…” Zhao Yan called out to the person who was fumbling awkwardly, crouched on the floor ‘looking for the cat.’

He Zheng kept his head down, not daring to look up.

Seeing his appearance, Zhao Yan’s heart softened again.

“Give me some time. Once I let go of Wang Xinghe, we can give it a try, okay?” As soon as Zhao Yan’s words fell.

The person who had been squatting on the floor suddenly stood up.

He immediately lifted Zhao Yan into a bridal carry.

Before Zhao Yan could even react, he was already pinned down on the bed by He Zheng, and a flurry of kisses rained down on him.

He Zheng’s inner thoughts: Haha~

He Zheng’s inner thoughts: He said he’d try~

He Zheng’s inner thoughts: Yay~