Chapter 75
Lin Zheng didn’t get the finger he was waiting for. Instead, Gu Lin’s arm pulled him up forcefully, drawing him into a full, warm embrace.
The arm around him was strong, as if afraid that if it loosened even a little, he would fly away.
A smile curved Lin Zheng’s lips. He raised the hand holding the flowers and the ring and wrapped it around Gu Lin’s back, burying his head in Gu Lin’s chest.
With his actions, he was telling Gu Lin that he wouldn’t run, that he wouldn’t leave again.
Witnessing the two protagonists embrace, the surrounding crowd erupted in cheers.
In the midst of them, Yan Yang stood with his arms crossed, a smug look on his face.
A few minutes later, Lin Zheng was seated at a table that had been prepared in advance, with Gu Lin across from him. The crowd had long since dispersed to celebrate with drinks.
Yan Yang sat beside Gu Lin, draping an arm over the back of the sofa, and gloatingly held out a hand to his brother. “President Gu, you lose.”
Lin Zheng looked curious. “Lose what? What were you guys playing?”
Yan Yang said bluntly, “We made a bet just now on whether your confession would succeed.” He shot a glance at Gu Lin, then leaned in closer to Lin Zheng, gloating, “And as it turns out, President Gu predicted that the person confessing looked completely tasteless…”
Lin Zheng was completely bewildered by what he was hearing.
Gu Lin’s voice cut in. “Yan Yang.”
Yan Yang acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing, “Not only tasteless, but he also said that a lack of courage is a man’s… Ouch, damn it, my foot!”
Gu Lin shot Yan Yang a sideways glance and said sternly, “That’s enough. You’re not needed here anymore. Go home.”
Yan Yang looked as if he understood. “Ah… alright, alright. I won’t disturb you two then. I wish you both a pleasant evening~”
After saying that, Yan Yang left with a grin on his face.
Once the chatterbox was gone, Lin Zheng propped his chin on his hands, a smile on his face as he looked at the man across from him.
Gu Lin looked at the person sitting opposite him, and the more he looked, the more unreal it all felt.
When he had returned to an empty house, he had been certain that Lin Zheng had left, left for good.
Some departures can be prevented, but some are forever.
He thought he would never see the person before him again in this lifetime.
He found it hard to describe the feeling he had when he imagined that scenario. Sadness? Disappointment? Anger? Or something else entirely? None of those fit. All his emotions felt like they had been kneaded into a tangled mess, impossible to unravel, impossible to cut, torturing him to the point where he felt he would collapse at any second.
Seeing Gu Lin remain silent for a long time, just staring at him, Lin Zheng waved a hand in front of his eyes. “Mr. Gu?”
Gu Lin snapped back to reality. “Yes.”
Lin Zheng smiled. “Isn’t it amazing? To actually see me here.”
As soon as Lin Zheng finished speaking, Gu Lin lowered his gaze.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Lin Zheng quickly explained, “What I mean is… isn’t it surprising? That I stayed.” After a moment, he added, “For you.”
After a long pause, Gu Lin finally looked up and asked, “Did you set all this up yourself?”
Lin Zheng realized Gu Lin was referring to the seating area they were in. He straightened up from his chin-propped position and said honestly, “I didn’t have enough time, so I had Yan Yang help me set it up.”
Gu Lin: “…”
He knew it.
Lin Zheng pointed to the heart made of roses. “But who knew he’d be so careless and leave a gap in the heart? I really didn’t like it. How could our love have a gap in it? So I changed my mind at the last minute and decided to improvise.”
Gu Lin froze for half a second, then couldn’t help but laugh.
Lin Zheng laughed along with him. “Gu Lin…”
Gu Lin: “Yes.”
Lin Zheng looked at him with an infatuated expression. “You look so handsome when you smile.”
Gu Lin was momentarily stunned, then he looked away, a little unnaturally.
Lin Zheng cupped his face and smiled in satisfaction.
When the two left the bar, the people inside all waved goodbye to them.
Once they were outside, Lin Zheng couldn’t hold it in any longer. He said to the man beside him, “You were way too generous tonight.”
Gu Lin: “Hm?”
Lin Zheng: “You can’t just cover everyone’s drinks for the night just because you’re happy. How much did that cost?”
It was because of Gu Lin’s generosity that everyone had been so friendly to them.
Gu Lin smiled. “You said it yourself—it was because I was happy.”
Lin Zheng: “So you can be willful just because you’re happy?”
Gu Lin: “Just… a little willful this one time?”
Lin Zheng: “…”
They walked side by side down the street.
Lin Zheng looked up at the deep night sky and let out a breath. “Gu Lin, I gave up everything over there.”
Yesterday, Zhao Yi had sent him a text, telling him to be ready, that if he missed this chance, he might never get another one.
Zhao Yi had said he would tell him the details, that he would help him return to his original world, to see his original family.
But he had thought about it for a long time. When Zhao Yi asked to meet, he had refused.
He had refused Zhao Yi before he could tell him the way back.
In the end, he gave up everything over there and chose to stay here.
Letting go wasn’t easy. For him, both sides were hard to give up.
Thinking of the younger brother he would never see again, Lin Zheng’s eyes welled with tears.
The hand hanging by his side was suddenly taken.
Gu Lin stopped, turned to face Lin Zheng, and used the hand still holding the flowers to adjust the scarf around his neck. “Like a little kid. Are your tears going to freeze?”
Warmth spread from the large palm.
Lin Zheng blinked back the moisture in his eyes.
Gu Lin led him to the car, patting his head, and asked gently, “Shall we go home?”
Lin Zheng looked at the familiar car and nodded.
The car pulled into the courtyard.
They entered the house together.
Gu Lin placed the flowers he was holding into a vase in the entryway. Lin Zheng changed his shoes, turned around, and their gazes met in mid-air.
Lin Zheng was the first to look away, embarrassed. Just as he was about to walk away, Gu Lin lifted him from behind.
Lin Zheng: “!??”
Lin Zheng: “Gu Lin? Put me down, I can walk myself.”
Gu Lin ignored Lin Zheng’s protests and carried him towards his bedroom.
Lin Zheng watched as Gu Lin headed toward his destination, and his face turned red.
Although the confession was a success, he hadn’t expected them to progress so quickly.
But seeing as they were already in the bedroom, there was probably no escape.
Lin Zheng closed his eyes, steeled himself, and thought, Fine, the inevitable will happen. Sooner or later makes no difference!
With that thought, he opened his eyes, only to see Gu Lin carrying him past the bed and towards the bathroom.
Lin Zheng: “!?!”
The bathroom…?
Wait, are we going to do something that exciting right away?
This, this seemed a little beyond what he could handle.
Lin Zheng’s voice trembled. “Gu-Gu Lin.”
Lin Zheng said bluntly, “Why don’t we start with something more conventional…”
Before Lin Zheng could finish, he was set down on the floor.
After putting him down, Gu Lin bent over and started running the bath.
When the tub was almost full, he came over to him and said, “Come out when you’re done soaking. I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
After saying that, Gu Lin patted his face, his voice gentle. “Are you hungry? Cheese-baked sweet potatoes, rock sugar pear soup, or do you want something else? I’ll go make it for you.”
Seeing that Lin Zheng hadn’t chosen anything, Gu Lin smiled. “I know, I’ll make them all then.”
Gu Lin was about to leave when the person behind him tugged on his clothes.
Turning back, he saw Lin Zheng with his head down, his face as red as a persimmon. “Um… aren’t… aren’t you joining me?”
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