Secretly Liking Him - Chapter 15

Chapter 15

After finishing dinner, Shen Yanzhi prepared to head back.

Gu Xun volunteered to walk him home, and even Shen Lan considered having Gu Jingyuan drive him.

Shen Yanzhi declined with a smile: “No need, it’s just a few steps. We’ll be seeing each other often from now on; if we’re always this formal, I won’t dare to come over.”

Since he put it that way, Gu Xun and Shen Lan didn’t insist further.

Gu Xun leaned against the doorframe, watching Shen Yanzhi gradually walk into the distance. When he turned back, he heard his mother saying to his father: “Should we change Xunxun’s bed? That bed of his is too cramped for two boys to sleep in.”

Gu Jingyuan had no objection: “Shall we go pick one out together another day?”

Gu Xun immediately cut in with his opinion: “Buy a big one!”

Gu Jingyuan thought about it: “It probably won’t be much bigger. How about we buy one of those bunk beds? The kind with an upper and lower berth.”

As soon as Shen Lan heard this, she thought it was a great idea: “Hey! Right! That’s good!”

That way, the two kids wouldn’t bother each other while sleeping—wouldn’t that be better than a single bed!

Gu Xun couldn’t even begin to describe his disappointment. Why sleep in two separate beds?!!

But in this matter, the ones paying the money had the final say; Gu Xun didn’t have much right to voice an opinion.

Finally, he remembered something. He reached into his pocket and gave the savings card Shen Yanzhi had given him to his mother.

Shen Lan froze for a moment when she saw the card: “Where did this come from?”

Gu Xun curled his lip and blurted everything out at once: “Ah Yan gave it. He said it’s for the meals. The PIN is 123456. He told me to tell you that if you don’t accept it, he won’t dare come back next time!”

Shen Lan’s expression flickered, and finally she let out a sigh: “That child, really…”

Gu Jingyuan thought for a moment and said: “Since he’s said that, just keep it. If Xiao Shen needs it later, we can give it back to him.”

The couple weren’t the type to fuss over money. Regarding Shen Yanzhi, they had already agreed long ago that, let alone meal money, they wanted to help him out financially whenever they could.

Although Shen Lan knew the boy had money in his hands, a mother is just like that—always afraid a child is suffering.

Furthermore, she was afraid that because Shen Yanzhi was young, he might be too loose with his spending, not to mention those people in his family…

Shen Lan couldn’t help but sigh again. Gu Jingyuan reached out and put his arm around her shoulder: “Don’t keep sighing. Let’s just treat him well, as if we have another son.”

Gu Xun, the biological son, listened from the side, and his internal feelings were quite complicated. He said pitifully: “…The biological one is right here!”

Shen Lan reached out and pulled her son into her arms, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion: “Our Xunxun has grown up too, he’s even taller than Mom…”

Gu Xun didn’t really like this atmosphere and couldn’t help squirming twice in his mother’s arms: “Mom…”

As a result, his mother’s tone took a sharp turn: “You’ve grown so tall, yet you still don’t know how to give me some peace of mind!”

Gu Xun: “…”

I was switched at birth with Shen Yanzhi, wasn’t I!

Before Gu Xun could ponder this question deeply, he was chased off to take a bath by his mother, who said he smelled sour like spoiled food.

Gu Xun made a face and scurried away.

When he got to the bathroom to brush his teeth, Gu Xun finally saw himself in the mirror wearing the school uniform.

This… is Ah Yan’s school uniform…

Gu Xun’s movements while squeezing the toothpaste paused. He couldn’t help thinking that this uniform was something Shen Yanzhi had stripped off his own body to give to him.

By some strange impulse, Gu Xun put down the toothbrush and toothpaste, grabbed the collar of the uniform he was wearing, and sniffed it cautiously.

Gu Xun: “…”

What a huge sour smell!

Gu Xun was choked by his own scent. He let go with disdain and hurried to brush his teeth first.

After brushing his teeth, he stripped naked and started to duck into the shower, but after stepping in, he ran back out and placed the uniform—which had been thrown on the floor—onto the sink counter.

Gu Xun felt satisfied, and only then went back to shower.

After coming out from the shower, Gu Xun changed into his own large T-shirt and boxers, then grabbed the discarded school uniform and ran toward the washing machine.

Shen Lan saw him crouching in front of the washing machine studying the laundry detergent and said: “Just leave the clothes there. When your dad finishes his, we’ll wash them all together.”

Gu Xun turned to look at his mother: “Uh, this uniform belongs to Ah Yan. How about we wash it separately for him first?”

It would have been fine if he hadn’t mentioned it, but as soon as he did, Shen Lan remembered the fact that he hadn’t come home last night.

Shen Lan walked over and twisted his ear: “If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have forgotten! You’ve grown quite a nerve! You even dared to not come back at night!”

Gu Xun didn’t care if it actually hurt; experience told him that at times like this, the right thing to do was to immediately open his throat and howl: “Ow!! Mom! Gentle! It hurts!!”

Shen Lan: “Will you dare to do it again next time!”

Gu Xun wanted to say he wouldn’t dare, but then he thought that maybe he could sleep over at Shen Yanzhi’s again in the future, so for a moment, he didn’t say it.

Seeing him stay silent, Shen Lan spoke again: “Have you gone mute! I’m asking you a question!”

Gu Xun shrieked like a ghost, “Aiyoyo,” and finally managed to say: “Wasn’t I afraid Ah Yan would feel bad being at home by himself!”

Shen Lan’s hand loosened. She murmured: “That’s true…”

Gu Xun grimaced and rubbed his ear, complaining: “Mom! You almost twisted it into a flaring ear!”

Shen Lan raised her hand and gave his arm a light slap: “You didn’t even think to tell me first!”

Gu Xun immediately gave a silly grin: “I’ll definitely tell you next time! Definitely!”

Then, mother and son together washed Shen Yanzhi’s school uniform separately.

When Gu Xun was lying in bed alone that night, he couldn’t quite fall asleep. He couldn’t help wondering if Shen Yanzhi was asleep yet.

If only he had a cell phone, then he could send text messages to Ah Yan…

Gu Xun thought aimlessly like this, tossing and turning for nearly half the night before finally falling into a muddled sleep.

The next day when Gu Xun climbed out of bed, he was inevitably a bit drowsy. But the thought that he would see Shen Yanzhi again soon made his mood leap with joy again; while eating breakfast, he almost wanted to hum a little tune.

Shen Lan and Gu Jingyuan were both helpless, thinking that this son of theirs could be so silly-happy over a bowl of porridge—he truly was something else.

When leaving the house, Gu Xun carried the tote bag containing Shen Yanzhi’s school uniform, his steps very light.

Originally, he wanted to head straight toward the small Western-style house, but after thinking about it, he ultimately walked toward Wang Xiaosong’s house first.

Before Ah Yan, he and Xiaosong were best friends; he couldn’t exactly value romance over friendship, could he?

Gu Xun’s footsteps paused. He pondered to himself, feeling that those words were a bit strange.

Just then, he saw Wang Xiaosong slowly ambling this way from the opposite direction. Gu Xun immediately cast those thoughts aside and waved at him: “Hey! Xiaosong!”

Wang Xiaosong had a bun dangling from his mouth and was carrying two more in a small plastic bag. After seeing it was Gu Xun, he jogged a few steps and asked as soon as he arrived: “What are you carrying?”

There was a hint of expectation in his tone; clearly, he was hoping it was food.

Gu Xun wanted to laugh seeing his expression: “Forget it. It’s Ah Yan’s school uniform, washed and ready to be returned to him.”

Wang Xiaosong was instantly disappointed and began complaining about how he was sick of eating buns in the morning.

Gu Xun responded with various “mhm”s and “ah”s, and before long, the two reached the fork.

Gu Xun’s footsteps stopped almost immediately. As it turned out—whether by coincidence or something else—Shen Yanzhi also turned out from the corner of the small path, carrying a bag in his hand as well.

Gu Xun’s face immediately bloomed into a smile: “Ah Yan!”

Shen Yanzhi saw the bag in his hand, walked over, and reached out toward him.

Gu Xun gave him the bag and kept his hand extended, waiting for Shen Yanzhi to give him his bag; for some reason, he felt a sense of ceremony in this back-and-forth.

Shen Yanzhi, however, didn’t give him the bag. He said: “I’ll put this back first. We’ll come back and get it together after school.”

Only then did Gu Xun give an “Oh” and lower his hand.

After Shen Yanzhi came back out again, Gu Xun started getting talkative again: “Ah Yan, it was such a coincidence that you just happened to come out.”

Shen Yanzhi shook his head: “It wasn’t a coincidence. I could see from the balcony upstairs.”

Gu Xun was stunned for a moment: “You were waiting for me?”

Shen Yanzhi gave an “Mhm.”

Gu Xun felt his heart thumping. Ah Yan was waiting for him in the morning so they could walk together…

How could just thinking about it make him so happy!

Wang Xiaosong finally finished his buns and asked Gu Xun somewhat indistinctly: “What are you so silly-happy about all day long?”

Gu Xun swayed his head: “I’m just an optimist!”

Wang Xiaosong complained: “I think you’re a lunatic.”

Gu Xun flipped him the bird; Wang Xiaosong, not to be outdone, flipped him two.

Then Gu Xun burst out laughing again, leaning on Shen Yanzhi to steady himself: “Hahaha, Xiaosong, your fingers really look like little radishes!”

Wang Xiaosong: “…”

Shen Yanzhi supported him: “Stop laughing.”

Gu Xun: “Pfft, I can’t help it…”

Wang Xiaosong shouted: “Ah Yan! Lend a hand! Hold him down for me!”

Gu Xun quickly hid behind Shen Yanzhi, and the three of them fooled around all the way to school.

As soon as they entered the classroom, without anyone needing to say anything, Gu Xun felt the atmosphere was wrong.

Gu Xun: “What are you all looking at?”

A guy gestured toward their desk with his chin: “Look! Look!”

The three of them looked over, and they were all startled.

On top of the two desks pushed together, there was a colorful, messy pile of who-knows-what.

Gu Xun: “Holy… is that our desk?”

Wang Xiaosong: “…I think so?”

Shen Yanzhi said: “Yes.”

Everyone turned to look at Shen Yanzhi, feeling that he was truly someone who could keep his cool.

Shen Yanzhi walked over with a slight frown, looked at the desk for a few moments, then turned to ask the classmates: “Who wants to eat? Come and take it yourselves.”