Secretly Liking Him - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The car ride back only took a few minutes, and in no time, they arrived at the entrance of Gu Xun’s home.

When Gu Xun stepped out of the car, he felt that the world was truly full of malice. How could there be a season as evil as summer! How could it be so hot!

He turned his head to look at Shen Yanzhi and found the other person composed and at ease, looking as if he were completely unaffected.

Shen Lan had been looking forward to the two children from inside the house. As soon as she saw them get out of the car, she immediately called out to them: “Quick, both of you come in, it’s hot outside!”

Gu Xun noticed that although his mother said “both,” her eyes were fixed on Shen Yanzhi. He couldn’t help but feel a little jealous, huffing inwardly: I’m the one who’s biological!

Gu Xun sourly ran to the front of the floor-standing air conditioner in the room, shoving his face which had started sweating again from the brief moment of getting out of the car directly in front of the cold air vent.

Shen Lan was smiling as she greeted Shen Yanzhi. Looking at this child truly made her heart swell with joy. How could there be such a good child in this world!

Then, Gu Xun, who had only been blowing in the wind for a few seconds, heard his mother roar: “Gu Xun, you brat! Why are you blowing against the air conditioner again! How many times have I told you! Are you looking for a beating!”

Gu Xun instantly felt his neck tighten and hurriedly hopped away, but before hopping off, he pressed a few buttons on the air conditioner unit.

Shen Lan thought he had lowered the temperature again. She walked over, prepared to adjust it back, the words to lecture her son already on the tip of her tongue.

But upon looking, she found that the temperature on the control display was actually 29°C!

Shen Lan thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. Gu Xun usually loved to set the air conditioner to 24°C or 25°C to feel cool; every time, he would sneakily lower it, only for her to find out and adjust it back to 27°C or 28°C.

What “wrong medicine” had he taken this time? He actually adjusted the temperature higher? Or did he adjust it incorrectly?

Shen Lan muttered to herself and glanced back at her son, who was already preparing to start eating; in the end, she didn’t say anything more.

On the other side, Gu Xun, who had picked up his rice bowl, felt a sense of satisfaction like a hero “hiding his achievements and fame.” He couldn’t help but look at Shen Yanzhi over and over.

Shen Yanzhi was a bit baffled by his staring and cast a questioning look back at him.

Gu Xun: “Uh, that… that thing… My mom’s cooking is really good! Better than any takeout! Take a bite quickly, I guarantee you’ll like it!”

Gu Xun kicked himself in his heart. Guarantee he’ll like it, my ass! You should ask him if he thinks this temperature is okay! Tell him you raised the temperature!

Gu Xun was itching to speak, and then he saw Shen Yanzhi, under his watch, let his gaze circle the overly-abundant dishes on the table before reaching out his chopsticks to pick up a piece of fried tofu and take a bite.

Shen Yanzhi slowly chewed that mouthful of tofu and then let out a smile: “It’s delicious.”

Gu Xun’s heart suddenly exploded into a firework.

Ahhh! He likes fried tofu! My mom’s fried tofu is so good! He can eat as much as he wants! From now on, I’ll spend all my pocket money on tofu!!

Shen Lan also heard Shen Yanzhi say it was delicious and beamed instantly: “If it’s good, eat more. Come, come, don’t just eat vegetables, eat meat too. You’re at the age where you’re growing, you need to replenish your nutrition.”

After Gu Jingyuan came in from parking the car outside, he reminded Shen Lan: “Wife, it’s almost time.”

Hearing this, Shen Lan turned to look at the clock on the dining room wall and immediately let out an “Oh no.” She quickly took off her apron and prepared to head back to her workplace. Before leaving, she was still uneasy and urged: “Little Shen, don’t be a stranger, eat more—these were specifically made for you. Don’t worry either; once you’re done eating, your Uncle Gu will drive you both back.”

Shen Lan then turned her face to her dazed-looking son: “Take more care of him, do you hear me!”

Gu Xun looked at his mom, then at Shen Yanzhi: “Oh…”

Actually, he hadn’t really listened to what his mother said; anyway, experience told him that in this kind of situation, just agreeing was the right way to go.

Gu Jingyuan laughed from the side and said: “Alright, I’m watching. I definitely won’t let them start a fight over grabbing food. You can leave with a peace of mind.”

Shen Lan slapped his arm as she passed him: “What nonsense are you talking!”

Gu Xun saw this quite clearly this time. He leaned toward Shen Yanzhi and whispered: “My house doesn’t have much of anything else, but we have plenty of ‘dog food’.”

For a split second, Shen Yanzhi didn’t react, so Gu Xun pouted his lips toward his parents: “There, fresh and hot dog food.”

Shen Yanzhi watched the interaction between the couple, Gu Jingyuan and his wife, and was momentarily lost in thought.

There were no actions like hugging or clinging, yet one could see from the subtle details of their expressions that they truly, truly loved each other.

Even for those few steps at the doorstep, Gu Jingyuan insisted on seeing Shen Lan out the door, watching her leave before turning back to say he was going to the living room to watch TV and they could just call him when they were finished.

Gu Xun was still muttering in Shen Yanzhi’s ear: “If you weren’t here, my dad would definitely have gone to drop her off. The two of them are so clingy…”

Shen Yanzhi withdrew his gaze and said softly: “It’s very nice.”

Gu Xun didn’t hear clearly: “Huh? What?”

Shen Yanzhi turned to look at him: “I said your parents being like this is very nice.”

Gu Xun reflexively wanted to say “what’s so nice about it,” as he didn’t want to eat “dog food,” but looking at the expression on Shen Yanzhi’s face, he couldn’t say it.

He seemed to truly think this was good, so… so that’s why that expression appeared…

Somewhat warm, somewhat envious, and also if one didn’t look closely an unnoticeable sadness.

In an instant, Gu Xun thought of Shen Yanzhi’s parents and remembered him saying their relationship wasn’t deep; the words at the tip of his tongue couldn’t be spoken.

He took a deep breath and said in a cheerful tone: “As long as you don’t find it cheesy. Come, come, eat! I didn’t eat this morning, I’m starving!”

Gu Xun thought in his heart: Please don’t think about those things, please be a bit happier, I beg you…

He picked up a piece of spicy chicken and shoveled rice into his mouth, swallowing back the lump that had almost reached his throat, then jumped up and shouted: “Spicy!”

Gu Xun then dashed toward the kitchen, turned on the faucet, and used his cupped hands to splash water onto his face.

Feeling his eye sockets grow hot, Gu Xun’s hand movements couldn’t help but pause.

He himself was puzzled as to why he felt so distressed.

But he couldn’t control it. As long as he thought of Shen Yanzhi being sad, as if he thought of that “as if nothing were wrong” expression, Gu Xun’s heart felt unbearable, as if he wished he could cry in his place.

Shen Yanzhi called to him from the kitchen doorway: “A-Xun, are you okay?”

Gu Xun turned off the tap and wiped his face, adjusting his expression before turning to look at him: “I’m fine, I accidentally ate a chili seed just now…”

Seeing that Gu Xun’s eyes were red, Shen Yanzhi figured he was quite burned by the spice, so he said: “Is it still spicy? I heard drinking milk can relieve the heat.”

Gu Xun thought he should finish the act, so he actually pulled two cartons of milk out of the fridge. However, before handing one to Shen Yanzhi, he asked hesitantly: “…Do you need your milk warmed?”

Shen Yanzhi took it directly and said: “I like what I drink to be cold.”

Gu Xun nodded, thinking that was probably why his fridge at home was full of mineral water.

Then, as he walked back, he pondered and turned to ask Shen Yanzhi again: “Isn’t this not very good? Is the reason you’re afraid of the cold because you drink too many cold things? My mom says drinking too many iced things leads to weakened memory, kidney deficiency, and a cold body…”

Reaching this point, Gu Xun stopped himself. He swiped back the milk that Shen Yanzhi had already opened and was preparing to drink: “No! It must be warmed!”

Shen Yanzhi: “…”

Gu Xun turned his face and went back to the kitchen to warm the milk. After standing there for a while, Shen Yanzhi could only assume that Gu Xun’s spicy sensation had passed.

Then the two of them sat opposite each other to continue eating. Neither of them drank the milk because it was simply too hot!

Gu Xun: “…I didn’t expect it to get this hot either.”