Chapter 70
His heartbeat skipped a beat, and time seemed to freeze.
Yu Chucheng hurriedly averted his gaze, his arm moving subconsciously as if to block the other’s line of sight. “Don’t say things like that. Someone who didn’t know better would think you’re confessing to me.”
The hotpot bubbled away, sending steam upward. Outside the private room, the hurried, cluttered sound of footsteps drifted back and forth.
Duan Huaijin’s gaze traced Yu Chucheng’s eyes, the tip of his nose, and his lips—completely undisguised—before stopping at a certain moment. He leaned back in his chair. “You can think of it that way if you want.”
The sentence left Yu Chucheng completely floored. He blinked his eyes in a daze.
What is the situation?
Is Duan Huaijin drunk and talking nonsense too? That shouldn’t be right… is it?
Yu Chucheng’s mind was a mess. He stole a quick glance at the door; it was only slightly ajar, so people outside couldn’t see in. Ji Zhou and Xu Mengshu weren’t back yet.
“I-I was just talking nonsense. I don’t think that at all,” Yu Chucheng mumbled vaguely.
He admitted that in all his years of being single, this was the first time he’d felt his heart flutter for a guy—he’d even had that indescribable dream. But Duan Huaijin’s answer scared him; things had completely veered off the original plot of the book, and humans are always afraid of the unknown.
Duan Huaijin’s voice was a bit raspy. “Really?”
Yu Chucheng’s earlobes felt tingly. “Uh… well…”
Ji Zhou, feeling refreshed after his trip to the restroom, was heading back for more food. When he reached the dipping sauce station, he saw Xu Mengshu holding two plates, pressed against the wall of their private room with her ear perked up, eavesdropping.
“What are you doing?” Ji Zhou’s voice suddenly rang out from the hallway.
Xu Mengshu, her hands full with two plates, couldn’t cover his mouth. She could only wink frantically, but Ji Zhou didn’t notice and pushed the door straight open. “Are you okay, Xu Mengshu? Did that little bit of alcohol get you drunk? Why are you standing at the door looking like an idiot instead of coming in?”
Xu Mengshu really wanted to use the plates in her hands to give Ji Zhou a “slam dunk” to the head.
In reality, Xu Mengshu had gone out with a clear mission: get a plate of watermelon and a plate of cantaloupe. She’d been back in two minutes, just as Yu Chucheng started questioning Duan Huaijin. She had heard almost everything from start to finish.
Yu Chucheng reflexively pushed Duan Huaijin away, creating a bit of distance between them.
As Xu Mengshu walked in guiltily with her plates, she was worried Yu Chucheng would be upset about her eavesdropping. However, Yu Chucheng was currently using a cardboard menu to fan himself vigorously, far too preoccupied to care about her.
Ji Zhou looked at his best friend. “Are you hot? Should I turn down the AC?”
Yu Chucheng choked. “No need.” Even if the AC was blowing directly on me right now, it probably wouldn’t help.
Ji Zhou was quiet for two seconds, then asked: “Why is your face so red? Do you have a fever?”
Yu Chucheng: “…”
It’s the alcohol’s fault. It must be the alcohol’s fault.
He said irritably, “The alcohol goes to my face when I’m drunk.”
Ji Zhou: “Are you kidding? Last time at the bar, you outdrank three people by yourself. This little bit of beer could get you drunk?”
Yu Chucheng’s face darkened. “Tsk, you have a lot to say tonight.”
Ji Zhou didn’t understand. “I’m complimenting you. You’re unhappy about a compliment?”
Xu Mengshu couldn’t watch any longer. Her eyes darted between Yu Chucheng and Duan Huaijin, and finally, she silently stuffed a piece of watermelon into Ji Zhou’s mouth to shut him up.
After dinner, everyone headed their separate ways. Xu Mengshu hailed a taxi, and Duan Huaijin rode his bike back. Since Yu Chucheng and Ji Zhou lived nearby, they walked home to help digest the meal.
Before leaving, Duan Huaijin suddenly said to Yu Chucheng in front of everyone, “I have to go to Luocheng tomorrow. I’ll probably be there for two days before I’m back.”
Yu Chucheng was slightly stunned. Duan Huaijin could go wherever he wanted; it wasn’t his business. Why tell him this?
Ji Zhou also looked bewildered. He felt Duan Huaijin’s tone and gaze were a bit strange; even though three of them were standing there, it felt like the words were meant only for Yu Chucheng and had nothing to do with the other two.
Xu Mengshu gave a light cough, her eyes clearly having seen through everything.
Yu Chucheng just gave an “Oh.”
It snows every November in Kyoto, and the temperature was already quite cold. People on the streets were in a hurry, and the storefronts on both sides glowed with cool white light. Yu Chucheng walked leisurely toward the apartment with Ji Zhou.
Passing a bakery, two young couples walked past them, arm-in-arm and chatting happily. One pair consisted of two guys. Perhaps because the sudden cold outside was too much, the taller one—who was carrying a large bag of things—bowed his head slightly to let his partner wrap a scarf around his neck.
Yu Chucheng couldn’t help but steal a few glances.
“Hey—” Yu Chucheng kept his hands in his jacket pockets and nudged Ji Zhou with his elbow. “What do you think it feels like to like someone?”
Ji Zhou perked up. “You’ve asked the right person! I think liking someone means feeling like she’s the most beautiful person in the world. After knowing her, you don’t feel anything for anyone else. Like, I used to love ‘Sweet Omegas,’ but now a whole group could stand in front of me and I wouldn’t blink.”
Ji Zhou’s words were actually quite convincing; after all, his current “goddess” was a far cry from his previous ideal type.
Yu Chucheng thought for a bit. Duan Huaijin is pretty handsome.
Ji Zhou’s eyes darted around. “What’s up? Winter is almost here; why are you starting to feel ‘spring’ in your heart?”
Yu Chucheng kept a stiff face. “Can’t I just ask?”
“Sure,” Ji Zhou nodded. “Go right ahead.”
On the way, Yu Chucheng kept pondering what Ji Zhou said. As soon as he got home and finished his shower, before he even dried his hair, he turned on the TV, connected it to the internet, and started searching for photos of “Handsome Alpha Guys.”
There were thousands of handsome guys, but either this one was too muscular or that one was too short. By the end, his eyes were tired, and he hadn’t found a single one he liked. He didn’t know what those Omegas were giggling at their screens for all day.
Buzz buzz buzz…
His phone vibrated. Yu Chucheng’s face was numb. One second he was thinking, Which bastard is hounding me this late? The next second, he saw the name on the screen and sat bolt upright.
Duan Huaijin is actually video-calling him?!
Yu Chucheng’s chest felt full. He hesitated before pressing accept.
“Are you home?”
The first thing he saw was Duan Huaijin’s perfectly handsome face. Yu Chucheng pursed his lips. His heart, which hadn’t flickered once after looking at eight hundred handsome guys, suddenly gave a frantic little shiver.
It’s over. I’m exactly like what Ji Zhou described.
“I’m home.”
Yu Chucheng hadn’t dried his hair, so he was currently in “frizz mode.” He pointed his phone camera at the ceiling, intending to flip it around. But when he did, he accidentally recorded the TV screen, which was currently full of handsome guys.
Duan Huaijin paused, his tone flat. “So you like this type?”
Yu Chucheng hurriedly turned off the TV. “No, it was a TV commercial.”
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