Chapter 34
In the crowded crowd, just as Lin Zheng was about to be swept along, Gu Lin pulled him aside, supporting his shoulders and placing him in front, using his body to shield him from the crowd, creating space for Lin Zheng.
Although the surrounding chatter was still chaotic, the feeling of being crammed together was gone.
They were nearing the venue. The host’s voice came clearly from the speakers, everyone’s attention drawn to the flowers on display and the invited celebrities.
Lin Zheng glanced back, only to find Gu Lin looking at him. Their eyes met. Lin Zheng was about to say something when Gu Lin said, “Watch your step.”
Lin Zheng nodded, turning back to the road while occasionally glancing at the stage.
Gu Lin watched the head bobbing up and down, a smile playing on his lips.
Adorable.
Lin Zheng looked at the invited guests on stage. There weren’t many, but each was a big name. He heard the local government funded it, and because there were no tickets, everyone could watch for free, offering a benefit to the locals and tourists.
As the event neared its end, Lin Zheng felt unsatisfied. He queued up to photograph all the flowers on display. Afterwards, he remembered the small flowerpots at Gu Lin’s house; he had watered them before leaving.
He suddenly wondered who would water them now that he and Gu Lin were gone!
He asked Gu Lin and learned that a cleaning lady regularly took care of them, and a neighbor also helped occasionally.
Lin Zheng was relieved. Gu Lin had many flowers on his second-floor balcony, including one Lin Zheng had bought himself.
He had almost taken that pot with him, thinking it could keep him company on the trip, but seeing its companions, he decided leaving it there was better.
Moreover, he realized that while traveling with a plant might be unique and artistic, it would likely die if he went somewhere cold and desolate. So he abandoned the idea.
A heavenly female voice filled the air, amplifying the festive atmosphere. It was like angels descending after a rain into a flower-filled garden, their voices rising in admiration. The wind carried the song far and wide, reaching every listener’s heart.
Lin Zheng was captivated, only returning to reality as the event ended and the crowd dispersed. He called to Gu Lin behind him, ready to go home.
Lin Zheng expected Gu Lin to take him back to the hotel from the previous night, but instead, he was taken to the hotel Zhao Yi booked for him – closer to the festival venue.
Lin Zheng thought Gu Lin was finally being normal, but Gu Lin got out of the car behind him.
He looked warily at Gu Lin, “Why did you get out of the car with me?”
Gu Lin handed the keys to the valet, saying matter-of-factly, “We’re staying here. It’s too much trouble to drive another twenty minutes to the other hotel.”
The festival venue was indeed much closer to this hotel.
But Lin Zheng still found it unbelievable, “Staying here?”
Five minutes later, the receptionist returned Gu Lin’s passport, “I’m very sorry, sir, but due to the Flower Festival, all rooms are full.”
Gu Lin leaned on the counter, looking at Lin Zheng.
Lin Zheng understood Gu Lin’s intentions, warily saying, “Don’t even think about it, impossible, I don’t agree, absolutely not!”
Gu Lin looked at his watch, sighing, “It’s 1 AM, the driver’s gone. Driving from here will take at least 20 minutes, with a 10-minute stretch of road without streetlights, stray cats, and bad road conditions. I also drank today; the probability of encountering obstacles is 66%, an accident is 36.9%, safe arrival is…”
Before Gu Lin finished, Lin Zheng interrupted, “Stop!!”
Lin Zheng snatched Gu Lin’s passport, handing it back to the receptionist, “Please arrange him in room 1205 with me, thank you.”
They checked in.
Gu Lin smiled and took back his passport.
In the elevator, Lin Zheng started arranging sleeping arrangements, “First, my room is not a suite, only a large bed and a small sofa. We can’t sleep on the bed together. The sofa might be too small for you, but I can request an extra blanket for you to sleep on the floor. Don’t worry, the carpet is soft, and if it’s too hard, we can get a mattress.”
Half an hour later, Lin Zheng was sleeping on the floor with the extra blanket.
Lin Zheng: …
Gu Lin sat on the bed, laughing, “Didn’t you say I’d sleep on the floor and you on the bed? Why has it changed?”
Lin Zheng placed his hands on his stomach, breathing deeply, “Don’t talk, be quiet.”
Gu Lin put down his book, leaning over to look at Lin Zheng, confirming, “You really won’t sleep on the bed?”
Lin Zheng couldn’t take it anymore. He pulled the blanket over his head, turning over on the carpet, “Aaaah, no, never! Why are there bugs on the bed?! Aaaah!”
A few minutes ago, Lin Zheng had seen something black on the bed – a bug! He hated crawling insects; the thought alone gave him goosebumps, let alone seeing one on his bed.
Gu Lin looked at the huddled Lin Zheng, although he had explained that it wasn’t a bug, and that such a place shouldn’t have bugs, it was just Lin Zheng’s imagination, but Lin Zheng wouldn’t believe him.
Lin Zheng was too cute. Gu Lin decided to tease him, “Aren’t you scared the bug will crawl onto the floor and into your blanket?”
Lin Zheng didn’t move.
Gu Lin pulled down the blanket, seeing Lin Zheng’s pale, terrified face.
Gu Lin smiled, touching Lin Zheng’s face, “Alright, I’m kidding. I flushed the bug down the toilet.”
Since Lin Zheng didn’t believe there were no bugs, he played along.
Lin Zheng revived, “Really? You’re not lying?”
“I’m not lying.”
“If you are, you’ll take my last name.”
“Okay.”
Lin Zheng rearranged the blanket, turning his back to Gu Lin, “I’m going to sleep.”
Gu Lin smiled, softly saying, “Sleep.”
R City had a large temperature difference between day and night. It got cold at night.
In the middle of the night, Lin Zheng huddled in the thin blanket. A moment later, a source of warmth appeared behind him, spreading to his entire body.
He turned and snuggled closer.
Gu Lin put his arm around Lin Zheng’s head, letting him cuddle closer. Once Lin Zheng was still, he stroked his hair, pulling him closer.
In the morning, Lin Zheng stretched on the carpet, yawning and looking at the empty bed.
He walked barefoot and met Gu Lin, hair wet.
He greeted Gu Lin sleepily, then went into the bathroom.
Lin Zheng had breakfast and lunch at the hotel. Tired from the past two days, he decided to rest. But Gu Lin…
Lin Zheng looked at Gu Lin, who was still there at noon. The beer from yesterday was long gone; driving during the day was safe.
“I’ve reviewed the proposal; a few points need confirmation.” Gu Lin was in a video conference.
Lin Zheng looked and looked away. Gu Lin was in a meeting; he could step back.
“This meeting is adjourned.” Gu Lin ended the video call. After a few minutes, he called Shen, his assistant, instructing him on a few things.
Lin Zheng continued to eat and drink.
Near the end of the call, Shen said something, and Gu Lin looked at Lin Zheng, saying, “I understand.”
Lin Zheng sat cross-legged on the sofa, munching on chips, muttering, “So busy, and still here.”
Gu Lin closed his laptop, “Yeah, I don’t know who’s making me so worried.”
Lin Zheng ate a chip, inwardly scoffing. He wanted to say Gu Lin was too persistent.
For dinner, Lin Zheng planned to eat at the hotel, but when Gu Lin mentioned a nearby restaurant, he changed his clothes and shoes, saying, “Let’s go, what are you waiting for?”
The mention of delicious food brightened his eyes.
After a satisfying meal, Lin Zheng stepped back onto the bustling street. Many flower vendors remained from yesterday’s festival. One offered them flowers.
Remembering the flowers he hadn’t finished arranging, Lin Zheng refused. But Gu Lin knelt down and started choosing.
He knelt beside him, whispering, “Don’t buy any, I have plenty. You can just take some of mine.”
Gu Lin said, “It’s different.”
Gu Lin chose a pink flower and gave it to the vendor, “Please wrap this.”
The vendor smiled, wrapping it and handing it to Gu Lin, “Wishing you and your partner a loving life.”
Gu Lin smiled.
The evening buildings were bathed in sunset. They walked side by side.
Lin Zheng had his hands in his pockets, humming happily.
Gu Lin suddenly spoke, “Tomorrow, we’re going home.”
Lin Zheng stopped. He looked at Gu Lin, “…Us?”
He hesitated, asking, “I…am I going back with you?”
Gu Lin looked at him, “You’re my lover.”
Lin Zheng was stunned, “But we… didn’t we break up?”
He had left Gu Lin a note stating his decision, and he had already taken the breakup fee. Gu Lin hadn’t mentioned it or asked for the money back; he thought Gu Lin had accepted it.
Gu Lin chuckled, “Your unilateral breakup isn’t a breakup. Both people need to agree.”
Lin Zheng: “?!”
No way, he had been acting single.
And he took the breakup fee!
Going back… If he went back with Gu Lin, what was this time? He wasn’t sure about Gu Lin’s state now, or if the plot would affect Gu Lin. If going back meant repeating the messy plot, he didn’t want to waste his time.
Lin Zheng firmly said, “No, I won’t go back.”
He looked at Gu Lin seriously, “Gu Lin, I’m sure we’ve broken up. Whether it’s unilateral or requires mutual agreement, I know we can’t go on.”
Gu Lin remained silent.
Lin Zheng clenched his hands.
Even if Gu Lin truly liked him, who did he like?
He didn’t want to be someone else again.
Lin Zheng said seriously, “You might find this unbelievable, but I’m not the person who confessed to you, nor the person you think I am. I’m not even from this world. It sounds like a joke, but it’s true.”
He said, “My name is Lin Zheng, male, 171 cm tall, I look like this. Two months ago, I had an accident and woke up here. I’m not the Lin Zheng you knew.”
Lin Zheng heard Gu Lin laugh.
Gu Lin laughed, “You’re making up unbelievable lies to break up with me?”
Lin Zheng bit his lip. He knew Gu Lin wouldn’t believe him.
Gu Lin asked, “You really want to break up with me?”
Lin Zheng tightened his grip. It wasn’t so much wanting to break up as not wanting this unclear relationship.
Although he knew Gu Lin might not agree easily, but if he didn’t even have this courage…
“Okay.”
Lin Zheng was stunned.
“I see how much you want to end this. As you wish…” Gu Lin stepped back, spreading his hands, “You’re free.”
His tone was calm.
Lin Zheng was shocked. He didn’t expect it to be so easy to leave Gu Lin.
Based on Gu Lin’s behavior, it seemed impossible.
Lin Zheng was stunned, then said, “Oh.”
He turned, glanced at Gu Lin, then walked towards the hotel.
Gu Lin’s car was outside. He wouldn’t go back with him; he would return to his original place.
Honestly, Lin Zheng thought he’d be excited, but he felt calm, like a still sea.
It should have been like this. He and Gu Lin’s torturous relationship was finally over.
He could finally be himself.
“Sir.”
“Sir with hands in pockets.”
Lin Zheng looked down at his hands and stopped.
He looked back and saw Gu Lin standing a meter behind him.
Gu Lin smiled politely, extending his hand, “Hello, I’m Gu Lin, 190 cm tall, average looks. It’s our first meeting, and unbelievably, I’ve fallen for you at first sight.”
Author’s Note: Thanks to those who gave me rewards!
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