Doctor Gu’s Orange Cat Boyfriend - Chapter 11

【Oh no, oh no, oh no!】

【He misunderstood! He absolutely misunderstood!】

【I’m a “patient” claiming stomach pain to rest at home, yet a disheveled stranger shows up at my place first thing in the morning… This scene just feels so wrong!】

【That bastard Zhou Yang! Why isn’t he dressed properly! Why is his hair a mess like a bird’s nest! Why is he barefoot! This looks exactly like a post-coital scene!】

Lin Mucí felt like he was suffocating.

He wanted to explain, but his throat felt blocked, unable to utter a single word.

Behind him, Zhou Yang clearly hadn’t grasped the situation yet. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he saw a man standing at the door who was so handsome it was almost unfair, holding a takeout insulated box. Instinctively, he asked in a “Who are you?” tone: “Ci-zi, who’s this? A delivery guy this early in the morning?”

……

【You useless teammate! I’ll kill you, Zhou Yang!】 Lin Mucí screamed inside his head like a groundhog.

Gu Chaoyu:

【My husband’s face went pale in front of another man first thing in the morning, and she’s stammering to defend him.】

【Unhappy. Very unhappy.】

Hearing Lin Mucí mentally berate him as a “useless teammate” slightly improved his mood, but Zhou Yang’s smug expression remained unbearably irritating.

“I’m Mucí’s neighbor. He had stomach trouble yesterday, so I brought him some congee this morning. Looks like I picked the wrong time… Did I interrupt something?”

“No! Not at all! You’re not disturbing me!” Lin Mucí finally found his voice, waving frantically. “Dr. Gu, let me introduce you—he’s… he’s my friend! My college roommate! His name is Zhou Yang!”

As he spoke, he frantically signaled to Zhou Yang, urging him to say something to clear the air.

Zhou Yang finally, belatedly, sensed something was off.

The way this handsome neighbor looked at Lin Mucí… it felt so much like… marking territory? Then he recalled Lin Mucí urgently sending him to deal with the cat last night, claiming it was a matter of lifelong happiness…

The realization hit Zhou Yang like a bolt of lightning.

Oh my! So the real deal was right here!

He instantly switched to a warm, welcoming smile, stepped forward, and playfully slung an arm around Lin Mucí’s shoulder. “Right, right! We’re best buds! Ironclad brothers! I came over last night to drop something off, got too late, so I crashed on the couch. You must be Dr. Gu? Our Ci-zi… I mean, Muci, talks about you all the time! Says you’re handsome, kind, and a great doctor!”

【Nice work, bro! I’ll give you extra credit later!】 Lin Mucí silently gave him a mental thumbs-up.

However, to Gu Chaoyu, Zhou Yang’s hand resting on Lin Mucí’s shoulder was unbearably jarring.

Gu Chaoyu’s gaze lingered on that hand for a split second before lifting to meet Lin Mucí’s eyes, his tone concerned: “You still look so pale. Seems like you didn’t rest well last night. Since your friend is here, it might be awkward for me to stay. I’ll leave the porridge here & make sure to eat it while it’s hot.”

With that, he turned around and left.

Panic seized Lin Mucí. Without a second thought, he grabbed Gu Chaoyu’s wrist.

“It’s fine! It’s fine!” he exclaimed urgently, pulling Gu Chaoyu inside with a firm tug. “Come in and sit! Zhou Yang will be leaving soon!”

Zhou Yang, who had been mentioned: “???”

【I didn’t, I didn’t! I was just speaking up for you! And now you’re using me and discarding me? You really do forget your friends when you see a pretty face!】

Gu Chaoyu, pulled along, stepped inside. He took Lin Mucí’s hand in his own. It felt icy cold. He frowned slightly, warming it with his own body heat while saying aloud, “No need to trouble yourself. I’ll just sit for a moment and then leave.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was loud enough for the other person in the room to hear clearly.

Zhou Yang looked at their clasped hands, then at Lin Mucí, who was so nervous he looked like he might start walking with his hands and feet together. Everything clicked instantly.

This wasn’t just Mucí one-sided crush. This was clearly mutual affection, though one of them hadn’t realized it yet!

He rubbed his nose, feeling like a blindingly bright lightbulb in this room.

“Well then,” Zhou Yang tactfully began putting on his coat, “I just remembered I have an urgent matter at the office. I’ll be off! Ci-zi, you… take good care of yourself!”

With that, he grabbed his phone and keys and made a swift exit, shooting Lin Mucí a “bro, this is all I can do for you” look before leaving.

The door slammed shut.

The room was instantly left with only Lin Mucí and Gu Chaoyu.

An awkward silence spread through the air.

Lin Mucí realized his hand was still being held by Gu Chaoyu. The warm touch on his palm made his heart race wildly, and his cheeks began to heat up uncontrollably.

“Um… he really is just my friend…” he explained again, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I know,” Gu Chaoyu interrupted, his voice returning to its usual warm & smooth tone.

He released Lin Mucí’s hand, set the thermos box on the dining table, ladled out the millet porridge inside, and pushed it toward Lin Mucí.

“Eat first.”

“Oh…” Lin Mucí obediently sat down, picked up the spoon, and with each spoonful, stole a glance at Gu Chaoyu.

【Did he really believe me?】

【He looked so scary just now. Even though he was still smiling, it felt like the air around him had frozen solid.】

【Is he jealous? Is he jealous of me?】

【No way, no way… What am I to him… Why would he be jealous of me…】

【But what if… What if he really does have even the slightest feeling for me?】

Lin Mucí felt like two little people were wrestling inside his head. One shook its head wildly, shouting, “Stop imagining things!” while the other beamed with hope, urging, “Go for it, bro! It’s real!”

Gu Chaoyu sat directly across from him, watching silently.

Mind reading allowed him to hear every chaotic thought racing through the little guy’s mind. One moment in heaven, the next in hell.

“That friend of yours,” Gu Chaoyu began, sounding almost casual, “are you two really close?”

“Ahem!” Lin Mucí choked on his porridge, waving his hands frantically. “Just… just like that! Just a classmate! Best bud and worst friend!“

【He absolutely mustn’t think Zhou Yang and I are close!】

【Even though we really are close… now is not the time to mention that!】

”Is that so?“ Gu Chaoyu drawled, ”He calls you ‘Ci-zi’. Sounds pretty intimate.”