Secretly Liking Him - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

So the four of them really went to the bookstore.

The expressions on Wang Xiaosong and Shi Juntao’s faces were somewhat crumbling. Wang Xiaosong directly asked: “Why are we coming to a bookstore during the holiday?”

And they were in the extremely serious study materials section, not the novel or manga section!

Gu Xun looked numbly at Shen Yanzhi, who was currently picking out a book of “good phrases and sentences” for him, and said in a drifting tone: “It’s probably the same kind of relationship as you—who are ranked outside the top two hundred—liking the vice monitor who is in second place…”

Wang Xiaosong was instantly powerless to refute. He stiffened his neck in silence for a good while before finally asking: “…Then should I buy one too?”

Then he dragged someone else down with him, saying to Shi Juntao: “You buy one too! Song Xinxin’s grades are good as well!”

Gu Xun looked at the two of them and asked sincerely: “Can’t you guys just like girls whose academic levels are a bit closer to yours? Why bother?”

Wang Xiaosong felt this question was particularly condescending: “What’s wrong with liking someone with good grades! Aren’t you about to read ‘good phrases and sentences’ and essay collections too!”

Gu Xun: “I’m doing this to pursue progress! Not to pursue a girl!”

The two opposite him said in unison: “We are also mainly pursuing progress! And pursuing girls on the side!”

Gu Xun: “…”

Gu Xun felt that the two opposite him were truly shameless. How could they twist black and white like that!

They clearly wanted to use the opportunity of “progress” to chase girls!

When Shen Yanzhi returned with the selected books, he saw the three of them standing there staring at each other, so he asked: “What’s wrong?”

Gu Xun: “…We are discussing how to progress together.”

Wang Xiaosong: “Uh… Juntao and I will buy a set of these books too!”

Shen Yanzhi looked at the three of them thoughtfully and said: “I picked these for A-Xun; they might not be quite suitable for you.”

Wang Xiaosong and Shi Juntao various expressed that they had recently developed a strong interest in studying and hoped the “God of Learning” could give them some guidance.

Shen Yanzhi looked at Gu Xun; Gu Xun looked at the ceiling.

In the end, the four of them could be said to have reaped a rich harvest—so rich that they could barely carry it with both hands.

Gu Xun: “If my mom finds out I bought reference books while out playing, she’ll definitely be moved to tears.”

Wang Xiaosong and Shi Juntao echoed: “You can say that again…”

Then, unable to understand it at all, Gu Xun pointed to a thick, hardbound book and asked: “What’s this?”

Shen Yanzhi glanced at it and answered: “A diary.”

Gu Xun: “And?”

Shen Yanzhi said slowly: “You need to write and practice more to improve. This is the latest model with a double combination lock. Without the key—unless you split the whole thing open—no one can read it. No one will laugh at you if you write poorly.”

Gu Xun said sincerely: “…I really thank you.”

Gu Xun only wished his hands weren’t full; otherwise, he would definitely give Shen Yanzhi the middle finger. Since when did he write that poorly!

Shen Yanzhi just looked at him and smiled, his features clear and bright, so handsome it could take a person’s life.

Gu Xun puckered his lips, thinking to himself: This is freaking cheating…

By the time they lingered until after nine in the evening, it was about time to head toward New City Square.

Gu Xun muttered to himself as he walked: “I can’t believe that on the first day of the holiday, I actually read an essay collection and listened to you lecture on how to write essays for an entire afternoon…”

the two over there found it even harder to believe; they were both dazed right now, feeling like the world wasn’t real.

Shen Yanzhi said: “The power of knowledge.”

Gu Xun: “You might as well say the power of beauty.”

Shen Yanzhi: “If you want to insist on that, that works too.”

Gu Xun: “…Even though my hands are full, don’t force me to spit on you.”

Shen Yanzhi laughed and reached out to take a few books from him, considering it a way to lighten the load.

Only then did Gu Xun hum twice in satisfaction.

Shi Juntao had long since spaced out; he just followed them anyway. Moreover, his attention was mainly on the glass items he had bought, fearing he might accidentally bump into something and break it.

On the contrary, Wang Xiaosong was very energetic now, looking all along the way for the legendary ice cream shop where they could meet Xu Meng.

Then they spotted a group of girls they knew, queuing up in front of that ice cream shop to claim their ice cream.

Seeing them, Xu Meng waved her hand: “Hey! Over here!”

The crowd was a bit larger than Gu Xun and the others had imagined. He poked Wang Xiaosong: “Seems like it’s not quite what you expected.”

Wang Xiaosong was stubborn: “I… I wasn’t expecting anything…”

Then Gu Xun’s eyes flickered, and he spotted a very eye-catching presence among the group of girls who had already received their ice cream.

She wasn’t eye-catching because of how beautiful she was—well, she was quite pretty—but the main reason was that the girl’s name was Song Xinxin.

Gu Xun said: “Well… I’ll avoid this… you guys have fun…”

This situation was truly a bit of a blunder. The group of girls opposite them spanned a range of Gu Xun’s classmates from kindergarten through middle and high school, which was how Song Xinxin ended up there.

And as for the matter between Gu Xun and Song Xinxin, quite a few people knew about it, but not too many.

It’s just that those in the know were basically boys who were good friends with Gu Xun, which led to the fact that news didn’t really circulate between the two sides.

They were awkward before, and now that Shi Juntao liked Song Xinxin, wouldn’t it be even more awkward for him to be caught in the middle?

So Gu Xun didn’t even get his ice cream; he slunk away, dragging Shen Yanzhi with him.

the other two indicated that it was quite nice here and they wanted to stay.

Before leaving, Gu Xun told them: “I despise you two!”

Wang Xiaosong and Shi Juntao just acted like they didn’t hear it.

Shen Yanzhi asked him: “Going back?”

Gu Xun: “Since we’re already here, and we’ve been tossing about all day just for this moment, I’d feel cheated if I went back.”

So the two of them found a spot they thought was okay and prepared to watch the fireworks together.

Gu Xun even laughed: “Heh, buying so many books is perfect for cushioning our butts!”

Speaking of which, doing it this way was much more relaxed; otherwise, he’d have to worry about his brothers’ relationship problems. Just thinking about it was a headache.

Seeing him seated, Shen Yanzhi said: “Wait for me a moment.”

Gu Xun asked him: “What are you doing? Going to the bathroom? I’ll go too!”

Shen Yanzhi: “…Fine, let’s go to the bathroom together first.”

Gu Xun: “…”

So the two of them teamed up to go to the bathroom first.

After coming out and washing their hands, Gu Xun realized that Shen Yanzhi probably hadn’t intended to go to the bathroom, so he asked again: “What were you trying to do just now?”

Shen Yanzhi said: “Don’t talk while standing at the bathroom entrance.”

Gu Xun: “Oh…”

After walking a distance away, Shen Yanzhi didn’t wait for him to ask and said: “Buying food.”

It was fine until he mentioned it, but once he did, Gu Xun felt hungry. So they went to buy food. By the time they were sitting down again with food in hand and books cushioning their butts, it was nearly ten o’clock.

He didn’t know what language the songs being played at the musical fountain were in; Gu Xun couldn’t understand them, but he thought they sounded quite nice.

While eating, Gu Xun asked casually: “What song is this?”

Anyway, for some reason, he just felt that Shen Yanzhi should know.

Shen Yanzhi indeed knew, replying: “A Spanish love song.”

Gu Xun smacked his lips without any decorum and complained: “It’s National Day, why are they playing Spanish love songs? Shouldn’t they play something passionate to inspire some sentiment!”

Shen Yanzhi was very rational: “This is an entertainment activity.”

Gu Xun was just asking casually anyway; he just couldn’t keep his mouth still. While eating, he had to keep talking: “It really does sound quite good, though. By the way, can you understand it?”

Shen Yanzhi didn’t find him annoying and replied good-naturedly: “I can. But I’ve heard this song before, so I know the general meaning.”

Gu Xun gave him a thumbs up with an oily finger and praised: “Handsome, you’re truly amazing. Your foreign language level is top-notch.”

Shen Yanzhi laughed: “Are you insulting me or praising me?”

Gu Xun also laughed loudly, saying unclearly while biting a chicken wing: “Just take it as a compliment!”

Shen Yanzhi just looked at him with a smile and didn’t speak.

Gu Xun asked him again: “What does this lyric mean? The one that keeps repeating?”

The fireworks display was about to start, and the entire square was noisy. Shen Yanzhi listened carefully and asked: “Te amo?”

Gu Xun nodded vaguely: “Yes! That one!”

Shen Yanzhi said: “I love you.”

Just as his words fell, a firework suddenly exploded in the sky, followed by one after another, competing to bloom in various colors. The fountain became more varied as it coordinated with the fireworks display.

The entire New City Square was filled with the happy cheers of people for the beautiful scenery before them.

Everything seemed to harmonize with Gu Xun’s current mood; it felt as if such a brilliant and beautiful scene would never stop.

His gaze, however, could not move from Shen Yanzhi’s face. The light from the fireworks also flickered in Shen Yanzhi’s eyes, like stars falling into them.

Gu Xun felt that his vocabulary was indeed too small; otherwise, why was he completely unable to use words to describe how he felt at this moment?

He felt a powerful emotion flooding his body, so full it felt as if it would overflow from his chest.

This emotion was so hot it felt as if it would burn his entire internal organs.

Yet, paradoxically, when he felt this burning heat carefully, it was both strange and sweet.

It was so sweet that Gu Xun felt at a loss.

It was a bit like secretly eating a piece of delicious candy behind everyone’s back; that hidden joy made him leap with excitement, yet he didn’t know who to share it with.

Shen Yanzhi was clearly distracted for a moment by the sudden start of the fireworks. He turned his eyes slightly toward the sky, then smiled and looked back at Gu Xun, raising his voice above the noisy crowd to tell him: “That phrase is Latin. In Portuguese and Spanish, it both means ‘I love you,’ though Latin is used very rarely now.”

Shen Yanzhi noticed Gu Xun was dazing out, so he asked again: “What are you thinking about?”

Gu Xun shook his head, his eyes curving into a smile, but he didn’t say a word.

The fireworks that day were beautiful, the fountain was beautiful, and the music sang that phrase “Te amo” over and over.

He didn’t know if the music theme for the night was simply love, or if Gu Xun was too sensitive to the word, but he felt he heard it an extraordinary number of times.

That day, without Shen Yanzhi knowing, Gu Xun secretly wrote down a name in the diary he had chosen.

Just looking at those three characters, he felt sweetness from the bottom of his heart.

Gu Xun knew that he had fallen in love with someone.

That person was named Shen Yanzhi.