Secretly Liking Him - Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Gu Xun felt that he had well and truly exhausted all the dignity he had for this lifetime. Not only had he broken into someone’s house for no clear reason, but he had also cried like a baby right in front of them and the other person hadn’t even shed a tear!

But the tears were like an open floodgate; he simply couldn’t stop them, no matter how much he blinked.

Finally, Gu Xun just gave up. Regardless of what Shen Yanzhi might think, he started talking to himself: “I didn’t mean anything by it. My head just got hot for a second and I came over. I know I’m being pretty annoying like this…”

His voice carried a heavy nasal tone, making it not very clear.

Shen Yanzhi just watched as he continued to ramble through his sobs: “But I couldn’t help it…”

Gu Xun raised a hand to wipe his face. He didn’t know where his hand had picked up some dust, but now there was a black streak across his face, making him look utterly ridiculous.

But Shen Yanzhi didn’t laugh. He just watched quietly, with a bit of novelty and a bit of confusion.

Gu Xun said stiltedly: “How about… how about you pretend I never came today, okay?”

Shen Yanzhi didn’t say a word, still watching him.

Gu Xun felt that since he had already embarrassed himself to this extent, it would be a disservice to himself not to push through to the end.

He looked at Shen Yanzhi, exceptionally determined to wait for an answer: “Just pretend that today’s time stopped right after we finished the phone call, okay?”

Meeting Gu Xun’s gaze, Shen Yanzhi suddenly felt a sensation of being burned.

The searing, unknown emotion contained in those eyes made Shen Yanzhi a bit unable to hold his ground; unconsciously, his brow furrowed.

Gu Xun thought this meant he didn’t agree with what he’d said and became even more miserable. His lips trembled, and he couldn’t even get out a complete sentence.

Looking at Gu Xun like this, the feeling that he had bullied him grew even stronger in Shen Yanzhi’s heart, even though he clearly hadn’t.

He pursed his lips and finally spoke: “Stop crying.”

Gu Xun happened to sniffle right then and didn’t hear clearly what he said, let out a stupid “Huh?”

Shen Yanzhi almost laughed. He said softly: “I said stop crying.”

Gu Xun just looked at him blankly: “Then you…”

Then will you still be brothers with me? Will you hate me? Can we still be like we were during the day today?

Will you come to my house to eat in the future? Lunch and dinner together? Will we live together?

Gu Xun had too many questions, but he didn’t dare ask a single one, for fear that one wrong move would mess things up again.

Shen Yanzhi said gently: “You’re cheating. I haven’t even cried, yet you have—it makes it look like I’m bullying you.”

Gu Xun’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly shook his head vigorously: “I’m not! I didn’t mean that!”

Gu Xun was afraid Shen Yanzhi would think he was crying because he was in the wrong and was trying to force a pardon. He really didn’t dare to cry anymore, but emotions are truly not that easy to control.

So Shen Yanzhi watched as Gu Xun shouted “I’m not!” while frantically wiping away tears, all while trying his best to force a smile for him.

It was truly clumsy, truly ridiculous, and truly…

Shen Yanzhi let out a sigh and used the sleeve of the hand Gu Xun wasn’t grabbing to wipe his face: “Where did you get this dirt? Your face is all black.”

Gu Xun went numb the moment the sleeve touched him. Whatever Shen Yanzhi asked, he answered: “I… I don’t know, maybe I rubbed it off when I hit the wall just now…”

Shen Yanzhi’s movements paused before he asked again: “Why did you hit a wall?”

Gu Xun became a bit bashful at this question. He stole a careful glance at Shen Yanzhi’s expression before saying, like a mosquito’s hum: “I thought about you being home alone…”

Shen Yanzhi’s movements didn’t stop, but his heart was completely blank.

Is this guy an idiot? Because he thought about me being home alone, a guy that big could actually walk into a wall?

Gu Xun also felt this matter was embarrassing, so after saying that one sentence, he kept his mouth shut.

Shen Yanzhi said: “Let go of your hand.”

It took a moment for Gu Xun to realize Shen Yanzhi was talking about the hand he was using to grab his arm. He let go instantly as if he’d been electrocuted, even saying something stupid: “I got a bit used to grabbing it… I forgot…”

While saying this, Gu Xun was actually a bit afraid that Shen Yanzhi would ditch him and head upstairs.

Fortunately, Shen Yanzhi didn’t. He proactively reached out a hand toward Gu Xun.

Before Gu Xun could react, his arm was pulled up by Shen Yanzhi. Shen Yanzhi’s handsome brow furrowed once more: “Are you stupid?”

Gu Xun thought to himself: Isn’t that obvious? Otherwise, why would I be crying here!

Then, following Shen Yanzhi’s gaze, he saw that the outside of one of his arms had been scraped by a long gash. Although it wasn’t bleeding, the skin was torn.

Gu Xun didn’t know if the wound really hurt that much or if his brain filled in the blanks after he noticed it, but in an instant, he felt like his arm was at risk of being crippled.

To make matters worse, Shen Yanzhi poked it with his fingertip and asked: “Does it hurt?”

Gu Xun’s face contorted, and for a second he almost wailed. But as a fine “male lead number two” who had just cried like a dumbass, Gu Xun decided he had to act cool to regain his image.

So Gu Xun said: “It doesn’t hurt! Doesn’t hurt at all!”

Shen Yanzhi nodded, withdrew his hand, and said: “Mm, it’s good that it doesn’t hurt.”

Gu Xun instantly felt the pleasure of a successful “act,” but then for some reason felt a faint sense of loss. Anyway, his mood was quite complicated and hard to explain.

Then, at the exact moment Gu Xun let his guard down, Shen Yanzhi quickly reached out and poked the wound again.

“OW!”

Gu Xun shot up like a skyrocket, leaping a great distance away. He looked at Shen Yanzhi with a shocked, incredulous, “wounded puppy” gaze.

Shen Yanzhi’s expression was very calm as he said: “It doesn’t hurt?”

Gu Xun knew his attempt to act cool was officially a failure.

But he still had the determination to hold on. He said: “Just… a little bit.”

Then he took a wary step back, nearly tripping over the stairs: “A little bit of pain. If you don’t touch it, it doesn’t hurt…”

Shen Yanzhi sighed and stepped up the stairs: “Follow me.”

Gu Xun followed Shen Yanzhi upstairs.

Walking all the way up, Gu Xun’s eyes never stopped moving. His eyes weren’t enough to take it all in. Needless to say, the interior decor was beautiful, but the key was that it had taste—and it was “old money” level rich.

But there was just one thing: it seemed to lack the “breath of life.” It was a bit like those model homes shown on TV.

Shen Yanzhi brought Gu Xun to his bedroom and pointed at the bed: “Sit.”

Gu Xun looked at the snow-white bedsheet, then looked at himself, and finally chose to sit on the floor.

When Shen Yanzhi came back with the medical kit and saw Gu Xun sitting on the floor, he was stunned. Subconsciously, he asked: “What are you sitting on the floor for?”

Gu Xun: “…My body is a bit dirty, and your bed is too clean.”

It was so clean it didn’t look like a boy’s bed at all. Gu Xun had taken a few looks while Shen Yanzhi was getting the kit and found that the quilt barely had a single wrinkle.

A bed like that Gu Xun wouldn’t dare sit on it!

Especially after having just offended the host, you could lend Gu Xun all the courage in the world and he still wouldn’t dare.

Luckily the carpet was light gray; otherwise, Gu Xun guessed he might have to stay standing.

Shen Yanzhi was a bit speechless at Gu Xun’s explanation. He sat on the bed himself and signaled Gu Xun to sit a bit closer.

Gu Xun shifted on the carpet, moving in front of Shen Yanzhi.

Shen Yanzhi dipped a medical cotton swab in alcohol and signaled for him to stretch out his arm.

Gu Xun was actually quite scared, but he felt he couldn’t be ungrateful. The other guy was already doing this; if he said he was afraid of the pain and skipped it, he guessed Shen Yanzhi might just kick him out.

So Gu Xun swallowed his saliva and stretched out his arm.

Shen Yanzhi began to disinfect Gu Xun’s wound with the swab, successfully making Gu Xun howl again.

Gu Xun didn’t dare move, he could only bluster: “Aiyaiyai! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! Gentler, gentler!”

Afraid he would run, Shen Yanzhi held him by the shoulder to keep him still: “Don’t move.”

Gu Xun wanted to say: I’m not moving!

But before he could speak, he felt Shen Yanzhi’s breath puff against his neck.

Gu Xun instantly thought of the sour, spoiled smell he’d caught on himself back home and immediately wanted to dodge.

Shen Yanzhi held him: “Didn’t I tell you not to move?”

Gu Xun: “…I’m just afraid I’ll stink you out.”

Shen Yanzhi didn’t say a word, changed to a new cotton swab, and continued to disinfect him. When he was done, he finally said: “It is a little.”

Gu Xun: “…”

It seems the smell is quite strong. He wasn’t talking just now probably because he was holding his breath…

Shen Yanzhi asked him: “Are you still going back?”

Gu Xun was stunned for a moment and asked: “Huh?”

Shen Yanzhi thought Gu Xun might have cried his brain into mush earlier, or maybe he’d broken it in the crash, so he could only repeat: “Are you still going back?”

Gu Xun asked back stupidly: “Can I not go back?”

Shen Yanzhi looked at him without a word.

Gu Xun mulled over their conversation himself, then his eyes widened. He looked at Shen Yanzhi, then looked down to think, looked at Shen Yanzhi, and then looked down to think again.

Repeatedly pondering: Is this really what I think it means?

Shen Yanzhi: “…Are you finished looking?”

Gu Xun instantly became like a revived being, asking with radiant spirits: “Are you asking me to stay the night?!”

Shen Yanzhi felt he might have just asked a stupid question, so he didn’t say anything.

Gu Xun leaned in: “Is it? Is it?”

Shen Yanzhi backed up, almost crawling entirely onto the bed, before finally giving a forced grunt: “Mm. The room next door has been tidied up. If you don’t go back, stay there.”

Gu Xun instantly became like a frost-bitten eggplant: “Ah… the room next door…”

Suddenly, it didn’t seem so exciting anymore…

Shen Yanzhi kicked him gently with his foot: “To sleep with me, you have to shower. You can’t shower.”

Gu Xun was unhappy: “Why can’t I shower!”

Shen Yanzhi gestured toward his arm: “How will you wash?”

Gu Xun: “…Does your house have plastic wrap?”

There was no plastic wrap in Shen Yanzhi’s house. Gu Xun searched all over and couldn’t find anything useful. Furthermore, he discovered that in Shen Yanzhi’s refrigerator, there was nothing besides mineral water!

Gu Xun pointed at the empty fridge: “What did you eat for dinner!”

Gu Xun’s head was full of his mother’s roars: How can you not eat! Do you want your health or not! Do you want to get better or not!

In response, Shen Yanzhi said calmly: “Takeout.”

Gu Xun: “…”

He had completely forgotten that there was a thing in the world called takeout…