My Ex-Boyfriend is Obsessed with Getting Back Together - Chapter 12

At the end of the year, during that transitional period between the old and the new, the festive spirit of Christmas had yet to fade before the streets were already busy with New Year decorations.

Pei Ran woke up early. Seeing the world outside still shrouded in a thick mist, he knew it would be another beautiful day with warm sunshine once the fog lifted.

Leo got up after him. Once he finished washing up, he crouched in the living room for one final check of his luggage. After finally zipping it shut, he stayed crouched on the floor pitifully, refusing to get up.

Pei Ran came out of the kitchen carrying sandwiches and milk, walking over with a smile to pull him up. “Why are you acting like a child?”

Leo’s dependency on Pei Ran reached its peak at that moment. His nose wrinkled, and he looked ready to cry. “Ran, I don’t want to leave.”

Pei Ran had to use logic, mentioning Leo’s graduation thesis and his supervisor, adding that he was a grown man now. Only after promising to visit the UK as soon as possible did Leo finally give in.

Pei Ran’s flight to Suzhou was scheduled shortly after Leo’s, so he brought his own luggage along when he went to see Leo off.

At the airport, Gu Chen arrived to see them both off. Seeing an old friend made Leo’s sadness resurface, and he ended up in a tearful embrace with Gu Chen in the terminal. Pei Ran, nursing a growing headache, stepped forward to pull them apart.

Leo gave Pei Ran one last gentle hug, sniffed, and waved reluctantly as he headed toward the boarding gate. “Ran, you have to come quickly. I’ll miss you!”

Pei Ran patted his head and watched him disappear into the gate. The mist had scattered, and the sky was bright. Leo had arrived in the sunshine, and he was leaving in it too.

Squinting against the glare, Pei Ran felt the weather suited Leo perfectly, a bright, youthful soul who belonged under the free and easy sun.

Gu Chen held Pei Ran’s suitcase as they moved toward a different gate. He couldn’t help but feel reluctant as well. “Why the rush? Can’t you go after the New Year?”

“I want to go early to get settled. I’ll start studying with the embroiderers once they return to work after the holiday,” Pei Ran replied. To him, New Year’s Eve was just a change of date. He reached out to take his suitcase. “A month at most, then I’ll be back.”

Gu Chen nodded and stood his ground, watching Pei Ran enter the boarding gate.

Not long after, the plane slowly taxied onto the runway. The roar of the engines grew louder as the massive craft lifted off the ground, soaring into the deep blue sky.

Landing in Suzhou, however, meant leaving the good weather behind. The entire city was blanketed in gloomy clouds, with a fine, misty rain falling intermittently.

Pei Ran was still dressed in the same outfit he wore in Nancheng, a black jacket paired with a turtleneck sweater, choosing style over warmth. The moment he stepped off the plane, the damp, biting cold hit him hard, causing him to sneeze several times.

He took a taxi straight to the guesthouse he had booked. During the ride, the driver realized he wasn’t a local and asked with a smile if he was there for a trip.

The dialect in Suzhou was soft, melodic, and gentle, carrying the unique charm of the Jiangnan water towns. Unfortunately, Pei Ran only understood about half of it, so he simply smiled and nodded.

As he got out, the driver said in broken Mandarin, “On behalf of the people of Suzhou, I welcome you. I hope you have a great time.”

Pei Ran understood that perfectly. “Thank you.”

It was still drizzling outside. Even with the air conditioner on, Pei Ran couldn’t get warm. Finally, he gave in, dug through the bottom of his suitcase for his thermal leggings, and put them on. Slowly, the warmth returned to his body.

Since he was planning a long stay, Pei Ran spent some time tidying up. The misty rain continued to fall. He had only eaten breakfast that day, and after all the busywork, he was famished.

Borrowing a large umbrella from the guesthouse, he stood at the entrance for a moment. Still feeling the chill, he turned back to grab a scarf and gloves.

This kind of rain completely ignored umbrellas, drifting in with the wind through every possible gap.

Pei Ran found a nearby noodle shop. It was a busy place, but he got lucky and found a seat in the corner. He ordered a bowl of plain noodles, which were fresh, light, and delicious.

As he was slurping his noodles, a shadow suddenly fell over him.

Pei Ran’s hand paused. He tilted his head back to see who it was, and in the next second, his pupils constricted.

Gu Lincuan was looking down at him. Seeing Pei Ran with a noodle still hanging from his mouth and a dazed expression, he found it quite amusing.

A low chuckle snapped Pei Ran back to reality. He quickly finished the mouthful and wiped his mouth with a tissue. “Mr. Gu, what a coincidence.”

Gu Lincuan didn’t acknowledge the greeting. Instead, he sat down across from him in a slow, deliberate manner, pulling out a pair of chopsticks and wiping them carefully.

At that moment, a waiter ran over with a bowl of noodles and placed it in front of Gu Lincuan. “Sir, your noodles. Please enjoy.”

Not getting a response didn’t make Pei Ran feel awkward. He pushed the vinegar bottle across the table, recommending, “It tastes better with a bit of vinegar. Do you want to try some?”

Gu Lincuan frowned slightly, seemingly annoyed by the very mention of vinegar. “I never take vinegar.”

“Alright then.” Pei Ran withdrew his hand and took the opportunity to pour a bit more into his own bowl.

Vinegar was like salt; it felt right until you added just a bit too much, and then the flavor changed completely. Pei Ran’s bowl was now very sour, causing him to wince as he finished the last few bites.

Seeing Gu Lincuan start eating, Pei Ran let his mind wander as he secretly observed him. Gu Lincuan ate with such refined movements that it didn’t look like he was in a cramped back-alley shop, but rather a Michelin-starred restaurant. He was clearly a cold, ethereal figure who didn’t belong in the mundane world, yet here he was, touched by the mundane atmosphere.

As Pei Ran stared, the man across from him finished his meal, stood up, and prepared to leave.

Pei Ran quickly got up to follow. Noticing that Gu Lincuan didn’t have an umbrella, he stepped forward to offer his. “Where are you staying? I’ll walk you back.”

They were standing very close now, their warm breath mingling in the cold air.

Gu Lincuan looked down at him for a long moment before saying, “No need. I called a driver.”

Pei Ran could only nod, but he kept the umbrella over both of them as he stood by his side.

A moment later, Gu Lincuan’s phone rang. Pei Ran instinctively took a step back, maintaining a distance that still blocked the rain but wasn’t intrusive. Even from a distance, he could hear muffled words like “too narrow” and “can’t get in” from the other end of the line.

Once the call ended, Pei Ran worked up the courage to ask, “Is it because the car can’t get through?”

Gu Lincuan tilted his head. “Your ears are that good?”

Pei Ran quickly tried to prove his innocence. “I wasn’t eavesdropping! Your phone was just loud, and I overheard by accident.”

Gu Lincuan looked annoyed, but at least he wasn’t ignoring him. “I didn’t say anything.”

Pei Ran smiled and held the umbrella up. “So, can I walk you?”

This time, Gu Lincuan didn’t refuse. He took the umbrella from Pei Ran’s hand and stepped closer. “Let’s go.”

Pei Ran had borrowed a large umbrella, but it was still a bit small for two grown men. They had to walk closer and closer until they were almost brushing against each other.

Gu Lincuan held the umbrella with a clear bias, tilting most of it toward Pei Ran. He seemed completely unaware of the fine rain soaking his own shoulder as he kept his eyes on the person beside him.

Pei Ran was wearing a burgundy hoodie under a black cotton coat today, with gloves shaped like puppy paws. Standing next to Gu Lincuan, he looked like a youthful student. Seven years had passed, but time hadn’t left many marks on him. When he smiled, he still blinked unconsciously.

Pei Ran tugged at his sleeve, asking if he was listening.

Gu Lincuan snapped out of his thoughts, staring at Pei Ran’s rosy lips for a few seconds before looking away. “Say that again. I didn’t hear you clearly.”

They were in a busy area, the air filled with the soft sounds of the local dialect.

Pei Ran repeated himself, “Don’t tilt the umbrella so far toward me. The wind is blowing your way, and your shoulder is getting wet.”

As he spoke, Pei Ran grabbed the handle, avoiding Gu Lincuan’s hand, and used a bit of force to tilt it back toward Gu Lincuan.

Gu Lincuan raised an eyebrow but didn’t object, letting Pei Ran share the task.

By the side of the road, a young woman in a floral blouse began calling out her wares, “Don’t miss out! Hand-stitched pouches. They can hold fragrant powder and hide your true feelings. Sir, Madam, won’t you pick one?”

The woman had a sharp eye. Seeing that Gu Lincuan’s outfit was expensive, her voice grew even sweeter. “Sir, would you like to take a look? Take some back for the ladies in your family, it will surely make them happy.”

Just as Gu Lincuan was about to refuse, Pei Ran noticed that the pouches were embroidered with lotus vines and became interested.

Pei Ran stood before the stall, the faint scent of lotus lingering in the air. “Miss, are these pouches all made with Suzhou embroidery techniques?”

“This young man has a good eye!” The woman’s eyes lit up as she pointed to the stitching. “Feel them for yourself. Every stitch is done by hand. The texture is nothing like machine-made ones.”

Pei Ran touched them and confirmed the handiwork was indeed genuine. He flashed a smile. “Miss, I’ll take one. The one with the lotus vine pattern.”

The woman complied, pulling a brand-new pouch from her display. As she packaged it, she asked in the soft local dialect, “Is this for your sweetheart, young man?”

Pei Ran didn’t understand a word. He just blinked and smiled at her, then nudged Gu Lincuan’s waist, glancing at him as if pleading for help.

Gu Lincuan gave him a look and placed a large hand on the back of Pei Ran’s neck, giving it a light squeeze. Pei Ran, understanding the hint, smiled and said, “Yes, yes.”

The woman sighed with emotion as she handed him the pouch, offering a sincere blessing. “Take care, you two.”

This sentence was in Mandarin, but Gu Lincuan gave him another squeeze. Pei Ran, acting like a puppet, replied, “Mhm, thank you, Miss.”

On the walk back, Pei Ran played with the pouch in his hand and asked what those two sentences meant.

Gu Lincuan answered without hesitation, “She asked if you were going to give that pouch to the gentleman beside you.”

“Really?” Pei Ran felt something was off, but since he didn’t understand the dialect, he had no choice. “Then why did you make me nod?”

Gu Lincuan’s eyes were dark as he stared at him. After a long while, he asked, “Then who are you giving it to?”

“I’m not giving it to anyone. It’s for myself,” Pei Ran said, his hand stopping mid-swing. He tried to keep his voice natural. “Besides, aren’t you getting engaged soon? It wouldn’t be appropriate for you to accept it.”

Gu Lincuan stopped in his tracks, still holding the umbrella. “Do you care that much?”

“I don’t,” Pei Ran lied, a flash of pain crossing his face.

“We are just ordinary friends. Why is there no reason to accept this pouch?” Gu Lincuan’s tone was calm, but every word cut deep. “Yanyi isn’t the jealous type.”

Pei Ran stopped walking, his voice very soft. “It seems your relationship is very stable.”

“I’m asking you, why can’t you give it to me?” Gu Lincuan pressed on, seemingly confused. “What are you feeling guilty about?”

Pei Ran shook his head frantically in his mind, praying that Gu Lincuan would stop asking. He couldn’t lie to his face anymore, and he couldn’t answer the question either.

Without realizing it, they had walked out of the busy market. The crowds thinned out, and the cold wind howled in their ears. Pei Ran kept his head down while Gu Lincuan stood before him, his gaze fixed on the top of Pei Ran’s head.

Neither of them spoke. They stood at the side of the road in a stalemate, as if neither would move an inch until the question was answered.

“I’m not… I’m not guilty,” Pei Ran whispered, pushing the umbrella further toward Gu Lincuan. He swallowed hard, his throat tight. “If you like it, I’ll give it to you.”

Without waiting for a reaction, he shoved the pouch into Gu Lincuan’s hand and quickly pulled his own back, stuffing them into his pockets as if he were cold.

“I never said I liked it,” Gu Lincuan said, staring at the pouch in his palm.

Pei Ran’s eyes widened, his face flushing with the feeling of being teased. He gasped, “If you don’t like it, give it back!”

Gu Lincuan expertly dodged him, hiding the pouch behind his back with stubborn confidence. “You already gave it to me.”

Pei Ran turned his head away in a huff and began walking fast, not wanting to speak to him anymore.

The rain began to let up. Pei Ran closed the umbrella as they reached the vicinity of the guesthouse. He broke into a small run, entering a narrow alleyway before turning back to wave goodbye.

Gu Lincuan stood there for a long time, rubbing his fingers over the pouch. Only when the warmth on his fingertips had completely faded did he brush the moisture from his shoulder and turn to leave.

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