Chapter Twenty-Two: You Are Very Adorable

Upon seeing the person behind her, Yu Sheng's wide-open pupils returned to normal.

"Why did you come out too?"

Chen Ke'an was out of breath. "I don't want to play."

Yu Sheng nodded and continued walking forward. Chen Ke'an jogged alongside her.

Suddenly, Yu Sheng found the scene a little amusing.

"How long has it been since we went home together?" Yu Sheng asked. Her words seemed directed at Chen Ke'an, yet also sounded like she was talking to herself.

Chen Ke'an thought for a moment, realizing she was asking him. "Since we graduated from middle school, right?"

Yu Sheng and Chen Ke'an had been classmates in middle school, and their families lived in the same neighborhood. So, every day, they would walk home together.

Yu Sheng grew quiet, and the conversation stalled.

Chen Ke'an opened his mouth, about to say something, but Yu Sheng interrupted, "Are they doing well now?"

"I heard they're not together anymore."

Chen Ke'an glanced sideways at Yu Sheng. "You haven't been in touch?"

Yu Sheng gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "Maybe we both feel awkward."

"Someone from our class mentioned in the group that we should visit the homeroom teacher during winter break. Are you going? She might go too, so you could..."

"We'll see when the time comes."

Gu Yan had joined the basketball game entirely to impress Yu Sheng, never expecting things to turn out like this. Now he was deeply frustrated.

After Chen Ke'an left, Gu Yan quickly grabbed his backpack and hurried out, but he hadn't anticipated Chen Ke'an would move so fast—just a few minutes and he was already gone.

When Gu Yan was near the entrance of the neighborhood, he finally saw Yu Sheng and Chen Ke'an walking side by side. Seeing this, jealousy surged in Gu Yan, and he immediately ran over, pulling Yu Sheng to his side.

Yu Sheng was startled by the sudden gesture.

"Gu Yan? What are you doing?" Yu Sheng pulled her hand away from Gu Yan's grip, her face flushing, unsure if it was from anger or embarrassment.

"Yu Sheng, I need to talk to you."

Then Gu Yan turned to Chen Ke'an. "I have something private to say to her. Could you go home ahead?"

Chen Ke'an looked at Yu Sheng, hesitated, but eventually nodded and walked away reluctantly.

"Alright, say what you want to say."

Gu Yan watched Yu Sheng, whose expression was unreadable, making his emotions even more complicated.

"I—I don't have any relationship with any other girl."

Yu Sheng hadn't expected him to say this and was momentarily confused. "Oh."

Gu Yan saw Yu Sheng's lack of reaction and grew anxious. "Are you still angry with me?"

"Angry? I'm not angry with you. Why would I be?"

Gu Yan was speechless. Right, why would she be angry?

"Because—because I thought you were..." I thought you were jealous of me.

Before he finished, a familiar voice sounded from behind. "Sheng Sheng? Yan Yan? Why are you standing here instead of going upstairs?" Wei Yabai had returned from work.

"Mom!" Yu Sheng, as if grabbing a lifeline, dashed to Wei Yabai's side and hugged her arm.

"Why are you home so early today?"

"There was a basketball game this afternoon, so school ended after it finished."

"I see. It's good you're together. Come on, Yan Yan, let's go upstairs and have dinner."

Wei Yabai didn't notice the odd atmosphere between the two and patted Gu Yan's back, signaling him to join them.

Gu Yan quickly took the groceries from Wei Yabai and followed her upstairs, but he left the groceries at Yu Sheng's door and looked at Yu Sheng. "Auntie, I have something to do. I'll come back later for dinner."

He dashed downstairs without waiting for Wei Yabai's reply.

Wei Yabai glanced at Gu Yan. "What's with that boy today?"

Gu Yan returned home, flung his backpack onto the sofa, and hurriedly opened his phone.

Gu Yan: Song He! Emergency! Urgent situation!

After sending the message and receiving no reply, he dialed Song He's number.

After a long wait, Song He finally answered, his voice tinged with annoyance. "Hello!"

"Yu Sheng seems angry with me, but she doesn't admit it. What should I do?"

Song He yawned. "Bro, could you check the time before calling? I'm still sleeping!"

"Sorry, I forgot. But since you're awake, tell me what to do?"

Gu Yan's apology was perfunctory at best.

Song He had no choice but to sit up in bed. "How did she suddenly get angry with you? Tell me what happened."

"During today's basketball game, a girl brought me water. Yu Sheng seemed to think there was something between us, but I explained it to her. She didn't react at all, as if she didn't care."

"Why do you think she doesn't care?"

"I asked if she was angry; she replied, why should she be angry, and said she wasn't."

Song He was speechless. Isn't that exactly what being angry looks like?

"Does she know you like her?"

"I'm not sure, but I've been hinting at it. She should know, right?" Gu Yan suddenly felt uncertain.

Song He sighed on the other end. "See? I've told you before, give the girl some security. If you don't say it, how will she know? Go confess to her tonight!"

With that, Song He prepared to hang up. He wanted to go back to sleep.

"Hey, wait, don't hang up yet. What if she rejects me?"

Song He's patience was at its limit. "You already know the answer, don't you? If she rejects you now, she'll definitely accept you later! Hanging up—call me when the sun's up next time."

Gu Yan wanted to say more, but the dial tone was already sounding.

He hung up, staring ahead in a daze. Suddenly, he sensed something and turned to look at the opposite building. In the same window as last time, a figure flashed by.

It seemed someone was watching him.

Gu Yan hung up and headed to Yu Sheng's home. As he opened the door, he ran into Yu Chen coming upstairs.

"Just got out of school?"

Yu Chen didn't seem surprised to see Gu Yan. "Yeah, no evening self-study on Fridays."

"You mentioned before how you met that senior—your wild friend?"

Yu Chen hadn't expected Gu Yan to bring him up. "Him? The first time I got into a fight with Liu Quan, he was the one who brought me over."

Gu Yan suddenly understood. "No wonder you fought him by the seaside last time."

Yu Chen curled his lips. "That was his own choice."

Gu Yan nodded thoughtfully. "So he really regrets it now."

Yu Chen chuckled but said nothing.

During dinner, Gu Yan felt Yu Sheng was avoiding his gaze, whether intentionally or not.

After eating, Gu Yan suggested they go for a walk. "Yu Chen, want to come? And Yu Sheng."

Yu Sheng was about to refuse when Wei Yabai spoke up, "Yes, you finished eating early. Go out with Gu Yan for a walk. I won't go; I'm too tired today and need some rest."

Yu Chen didn't object, put away his phone, and went to put on his shoes. Yu Sheng, though she wanted to refuse, didn't want to dampen their spirits. Under Gu Yan's concerned gaze, she picked up her coat.

Gu Yan breathed a sigh of relief. Upon reaching downstairs, Gu Yan signaled Yu Chen with a glance, and Yu Chen obligingly went to buy water for them.

"I'll go with you!" Yu Sheng started to say, but Yu Chen had already dashed off, giving her no chance to follow.

"Let him go," Gu Yan said.

Yu Sheng nodded in silence.

They walked slowly to the small park in the neighborhood. Yu Sheng stopped and sat on a bench.

"Let's wait for Yu Chen here."

Gu Yan nodded and sat beside her. Yu Sheng blew on her hands and rubbed them together.

"Cold?" Gu Yan searched for something to say.

Yu Sheng shook her head.

Gu Yan took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. Tonight's stars were unusually beautiful; the sky was clear, and the stars were visible. Thinking of Song He's words, Gu Yan made up his mind.

He suddenly took Yu Sheng's hands, still rubbing together, and slipped them into his coat pocket.

Yu Sheng was startled and tried to pull her hands out.

"Yu Sheng, you know there's nothing between me and her." Under the streetlight, Gu Yan gazed into Yu Sheng's eyes, his eyes shining.

Yu Sheng looked at his earnest expression, sensing he was about to say something important.

"Do you—do you know I like you?"

Seeing Yu Sheng remain silent, Gu Yan added, "If you didn't know, do you know now? I like you, so, could you please stop ignoring me?"

The last sentence sounded a bit like a plea, a bit like grievance.

Yu Sheng blinked, her breathing growing rapid.

She had once hoped for a moment like this, yet also feared it. But hearing it said aloud, Yu Sheng suddenly felt lost.

She stayed silent for so long that Gu Yan, holding his breath, began to feel suffocated.

"I..."

"It's alright, you can think about it. No rush."

"I'd rather answer now." Yu Sheng didn't hesitate. "I don't really want... to date right now. But I truly didn't expect you... to like me." Yu Sheng smiled self-deprecatingly.

Someone like her, so ordinary, could actually be liked? And by someone so dazzling, so far beyond her reach.

Though Gu Yan had anticipated this, it still hurt to hear it for real.

It's alright, it's alright. She'll be my wife in the end; a little hardship along the way is normal.

"You're wonderful—cute and hardworking. Of course I like you."

"But even if I study hard, I'm still not good. They say I'm old-fashioned."

Gu Yan grew angry at this. "Who said you're old-fashioned? Who dares say it? I'll teach them a lesson! As for studying, I'll help you—free tutoring right here, why not use it?"

Gu Yan's words made Yu Sheng laugh. "Even so, I still..."

"I know, you have your reasons. But I won't give up." Gu Yan squeezed Yu Sheng's hand, and she realized her hand was still in his.

Yu Sheng pulled her hand back, feeling the cold return immediately. She missed the warmth from before.

"Mm."

Yu Sheng was grateful for Gu Yan's understanding. In fact, Gu Yan's confession gave her a bit of confidence.

It gave her the courage to chase after him, to stand by his side with enough strength that others couldn't gossip.

And most importantly, the matter of being liked by someone was something she had always struggled with.