Chapter 69: I Love You
What should he say?
He really wanted to run…
Chen Jiamu looked down at his hand clutching the lantern, rejoicing that he wasn’t holding hands with Li Xi while walking.
Otherwise, even a hundred mouths couldn’t explain this clearly.
“So you were with Li Xi; no wonder you didn’t come over.”
Chen Cheng had been wondering why he hadn’t shown up for so long; turns out he had run into Li Xi.
“Oh, met on the road and chatted a bit. Didn’t he just return to the country? Showing him around.”
Chen Jiamu lied without blushing in the slightest, but the twitching at the corner of his eye amused Li Xi, who stood beside him.
“Is that so? Makes sense.”
Before Li Xi went abroad, Chen Jiamu had clung to him, and after Li Xi left, Jiamu had been depressed for a long time. At the birthday banquet two days ago, people thought their relationship had fractured.
Chen Cheng’s words drew everyone’s eyes to the two men, making Chen Jiamu feel uncomfortable all over.
At this moment, Chen Jiamu also noticed Bai Jing behind Chen Cheng. His eyes widened instantly, and he pointed at him in surprise. “Little Bai, why are you here?”
“Heard there was a lantern festival here, so I came. Didn’t expect to bump into you guys, what a coincidence.”
But who was Chen Jiamu? He keenly sniffed out something wrong.
In two years of college, Bai Jing had never been one to join the fun. Even if Jiamu invited him, he wouldn’t go.
How come after returning to the country, he suddenly liked joining the excitement?
Chen Jiamu stared at him with a burning gaze, causing Bai Jing’s back to break out in a cold sweat.
“Alright, since we’re all here, let’s watch the fireworks together.”
“It’s rare that everyone is here.”
Seeing the group of young people, Song Jin hurriedly spoke up to stop them from agonizing over why they were there.
After her divorce, Song Jin seemed much younger. Her brows and eyes carried a sense of happiness. Chen Jiamu couldn’t help but lament that a good relationship was better than any beauty treatment.
Since Song Jin had spoken, everyone tacitly stood together, looking toward the lights brightening in the distance.
“Five!”
“Four!”
“Three!”
“Two!”
“One!”
As the countdown ended, with a booming sound, colorful and brilliant fireworks bloomed in the sky above them.
“Wow! So beautiful!”
“This lantern festival is great!”
The fireworks continued. Some couples even excitedly embraced and kissed under the display, taking photos. Leaving vows of loyalty for their love!
Chen Jiamu was mesmerized by the fireworks when he suddenly felt warmth on his hand; someone was holding it.
Turning his head sideways, he saw Li Xi grasping his hand without changing his expression, his mouth moving soundlessly…
The noise at the scene was immense; people’s laughter and cheers added a touch of warmth to the fireworks.
The moment the final firework bloomed, Chen Jiamu read his lips.
He said: I love you.
While all the lovers were unscrupulously expressing their affection for their partners, Li Xi also gave him enough love. Even if everyone stood beside them, even if their relationship couldn’t be seen by others yet.
Fireworks are fleeting, but love is not. The person who loves you will cross mountains and seas just to wait for your return in this mortal world.
Standing next to Chen Cheng, An Yiyi silently linked arms with her, sticking closely, using her body to separate the distance between Bai Jing and Chen Cheng.
Feeling the shaking of her arm, Chen Cheng subconsciously turned to check and met An Yiyi’s wet eyes. Her small mouth pursed, and seeing Chen Cheng looking at her, An Yiyi timidly leaned her head on Cheng’s shoulder, whispering, “Sister, I’m scared.”
Scared of fireworks?
Or scared of something else?
Chen Cheng looked puzzled, but thinking that she lived abroad year-round, she guessed she was scared of the sound of explosions.
After all, abroad, people were free to own “peanuts”—bullets—which were far too common…
Frowning, she turned her head to look for Chen Jiamu. Seeing he was completely focused on the fireworks, she could only sigh helplessly.
Sure enough, since Chen Jiamu didn’t like her, her being scared of anything was useless.
“Don’t be scared, it’s just the sound of fireworks.”
Chen Cheng patted her head like she was comforting a little sister. Her gentle voice caused An Yiyi to lose focus for a moment.
Sister… is so gentle.
She… likes it so much…
Comforted like this, An Yiyi wished she could run straight into Chen Cheng’s arms, but she couldn’t…
While the lovers cheered, Murong Che, beside Song Jin, also pulled her into his embrace. With a fulfilled smile on his lips, his ten-year unrequited love was finally no longer a one-man show.
After the fireworks ended, everyone went to their respective homes. Bai Jing said goodbye to the group and drove away alone.
Li Xi had to go back with Song Jin and the others first. Once everyone left, Chen Jiamu and his group slowly headed back.
On the way, Chen Cheng kept glaring at Chen Jiamu, but out of consideration for An Yiyi’s presence, she endured it.
After dropping An Yiyi home, Chen Cheng couldn’t hold back anymore. “Can you be a bit more reliable, kid!”
“The girl invited you to see the lanterns, and you ditching her—what does that mean?”
“Leaving me to accompany her while you went off to play yourself.”
“If you don’t like her, reject her cleanly. She’s a girl in her early twenties who doesn’t know better; do you not know better either?”
Facing Chen Cheng’s accusation, Chen Jiamu touched his nose awkwardly. After a long silence, he said faintly, “I saw she was quite happy staying with you.”
“Besides, if my rejection was effective, she wouldn’t have come looking for me.”
“You!” Chen Cheng was blocked into speechlessness. In the end, she simply dropped the subject.
“Forget it, not talking about this. Handle this matter yourself.”
“Don’t be late for work tomorrow. It’s going to be busy, so you need to adapt quickly.”
Mentioning work, Chen Jiamu immediately put away his slacker attitude. Glancing at his vibrating phone, he cleared his throat and said seriously, “I know.”
“I won’t cause you trouble.”
After the two returned home, Chen Jiamu flew upstairs. Seeing him in such a rush, Chen Cheng could only shake her head helplessly.
Deep in the night, a dark figure secretly slipped out over the Chen family wall…
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