Chapter 35
Lin Zheng looked incredulously at the gentle smile.
Unexpectedly, his nose felt a little sour.
He thought no one would take such an unbelievable statement seriously.
He felt like a wisp of smoke in this world, disappearing without a trace.
Sudden appearance, sudden disappearance.
So insignificant.
But now, his drifting feeling seemed to have found a shore to rest on.
Lin Zheng looked down at the outstretched hand, his fingers in his pockets twitching.
Passersby glanced at them; two cats lightly passed by from the building.
With a breeze from the corner, Lin Zheng’s hand came out of his pocket.
After a few seconds of hesitationā¦
His fingertips touched Gu Lin’s.
A smile played on Gu Lin’s lips. He clasped Lin Zheng’s hand, “Glad to have your approval, sir.”
It was as if they were truly meeting for the first time.
Lin Zheng sniffed, “Iā¦” he stammered, “But I can’t give you an answer right away.”
No one can immediately answer a stranger’s confession.
Gu Lin’s smile didn’t change, as if this was expected, or intended, “I understand. No one can immediately answer a stranger’s confession at first sight. If you’re willingā¦”
Gu Lin moved closer, the distance changing from social to intimate. Gu Lin gently touched Lin Zheng’s head, looking down at him, “If you’re willing, I can wait.”
Gu Lin’s gentle words were like waves washing over Lin Zheng’s slightly turbulent heart. Lin Zheng’s heart skipped a beat.
His stiff fingers were kneaded by Gu Lin.
Lin Zheng lowered his gaze, and after much internal struggle, nodded.
Half an hour later.
Lin Zheng sat on a bench at the airport, holding a pink flower.
He twirled the flower in his hands.
It was the one Gu Lin bought earlier.
The pink petals enveloped the center, resembling a rose but softer.
Lin Zheng was sure Gu Lin liked him.
Honestly, he couldn’t deny being moved.
Lin Zheng sniffed.
Besides, as a serious face-value enthusiast, being confessed to by a perfect handsome man, feeling moved was basic courtesy.
Who wouldn’t be moved by Gu Lin’s handsome looks?
But did Gu Lin just say he was average-looking?
While humility is good, describing himself like thatā¦
He was too modest.
Gu Lin’s versatility extended to his appearance and physique.
If Gu Lin was only average-looking, Lin Zheng thought he must be from the “refugee camp,” and Yan Yangā¦
Yan Yang was even worse.
“Hey, Chicken-Coop Head!”
Speaking of Yan Yang, he arrived.
Yan Yang and Gu Lin were walking from the airport exit.
They came to pick up Yan Yang.
Gu Lin was supposed to return tomorrow. Yan Yang was supposed to leave from the island, but he informed Gu Lin at the last minute and asked Gu Lin to pick him up. So they drove over.
Yan Yang greeted Lin Zheng from afar. Seeing the flower, he exclaimed, “Our Chicken-Coop Head knows how to prepare gifts for his brother! I’m so touched!”
He took the flower, patting Lin Zheng’s shoulder, “Thank you.”
Lin Zheng’s hands were empty. He glanced at Gu Lin.
Gu Lin met his gaze.
Yan Yang admired the flower, commenting on its beauty. Gu Lin took it.
“???” Yan Yang looked at Gu Lin, “What are you doing? Chicken-Coop Head gave it to me, are you jealous of a flower?”
Gu Lin returned the flower to Lin Zheng.
Lin Zheng gripped the stem.
Gu Lin looked at Yan Yang, “I gave it to him, do you want one?”
Yan Yang: ā¦
Wow, blatant dog food.
Yan Yang reached out, “Where’s my pick-up gift?”
Gu Lin handed him car keys, “This.”
They walked outside.
Yan Yang looked at the keys and asked, “So generous? You’re giving me a car?”
He added, “But it’s hard to bring it back home.”
Gu Lin stood by the road, looking at Yan Yang, “Overthinking. Drive.”
Lin Zheng pointed to the car, “The car is over there.”
Yan Yang: ā¦
No pick-up gift, and he had to drive for them?
ā¦Ruthless.
Yan Yang hadn’t had dinner, dragging them to a restaurant.
Seeing the relaxed atmosphere between Lin Zheng and Gu Lin, Yan Yang knew they had resolved their issues, joking with Lin Zheng.
While Gu Lin fetched something from the car.
Yan Yang secretly told Lin Zheng that Gu Lin hadn’t rested for days after Lin Zheng disappeared, searching for him without eating or drinking.
Lin Zheng remembered the night he got drunk and Gu Lin took him back; Gu Lin looked clearly tired. He had kept Gu Lin awake all night.
Lin Zheng felt embarrassed.
Gu Lin had suffered so much because of him.
Yan Yang leaned in, “Seriously, why did you leave?”
Yan Yang didn’t think Lin Zheng would intentionally play with someone’s feelings. His initial thought was that Lin Zheng might have some hardship, like an evil mother-in-law chasing away her daughter-in-law or a heroine discovering a terminal illness.
Yan Yang frowned at Lin Zheng’s dry lips, “Wait, Chicken-Coop Head, you don’t have a terminal illness, do you?”
An incurable disease.
Gu Lin had money; he could cure Lin Zheng.
If it reached that point, money wouldn’t help.
Lin Zheng looked confused, “What terminal illness? I’m fine.”
He was very healthy.
Yan Yang was relieved, “That’s good. If it was a terminal illness, Gu Lin would be devastated.”
Lin Zheng said, “Don’t jinx it.”
Lin Zheng had died once; dying again would be truly fatal.
He aimed to live a long life.
Lin Zheng replied, “I left for a reason, but it’s hard to say.”
He wouldn’t tell Yan Yang that he wasn’t the original Lin Zheng, but someone from another world. Yan Yang would just think it was a childish joke.
Lin Zheng had suffered enough from Yan Yang.
Yan Yang tried to persuade him but gave up.
Changing the subject, Yan Yang asked, “So, you two are back together?”
Lin Zheng looked at Yan Yang, then sipped his juice, saying nothing.
Yan Yang understood. He put down his fork, “You’re not back together?!”
At the airport, they were showing affection.
Lin Zheng nodded.
Their past relationship was over.
Now, Lin Zheng was with Gu Lin under a new identity.
Gu Lin probably believed him.
Others would call him a fool, but not Gu Lin.
He agreed to take things slowly with Gu Lin.
Gu Lin’s confession moved him, but it didn’t solve everything.
He didn’t know if Gu Lin would be controlled by the original plot.
It was a variable.
His situation was like being on a forest path.
Mist filled the path; dangers lurked everywhere.
He couldn’t blindly move forward.
He needed time.
He agreed to go back with Gu Lin, but he might be slower because he needed to see the path ahead.
He needed time to see if Gu Lin’s feelings would change.
So they couldn’t immediately become as close as before.
But he was willing to try and like Gu Lin.
Liking something beautiful and truly liking someone are different. The former is admiration, temporary pleasure, liking many people; the latter is a commitment.
Lin Zheng could like many people, but his attempts with Gu Lin were different.
He wasn’t sure of the outcome, but he would try with a positive attitude.
Lin Zheng sipped his juice.
They agreed to take things slowly.
Their relationship wasā¦ friends?
Hearing “friends,” Yan Yang almost laughed.
Yan Yang mercilessly teased, “Friends? Are you playing a friends-to-lovers game?”
Lin Zheng said, “You’re so vulgar, you don’t understand a long-lasting relationship.”
Yan Yang retorted, “You say you don’t understand your feelings? You’ve lived together for so long, Chicken-Coop Head, honestly, is this an excuse? Did Gu Lin treat you badly? Look at your small frame, did he abuse you so you wanted to run?”
Lin Zheng shook his head.
Gu Lin was good to him.
As they spoke, Gu Lin returned, overhearing Yan Yang’s last sentence.
“Who abused who?” Gu Lin asked.
Yan Yang knocked on the table, seriously asking, “Are you and Chicken-Coop Head friends?”
Lin Zheng: !
Yan Yang’s big mouth!
They agreed to take it slow, but the “friends” part was Lin Zheng’s idea.
Maybe Gu Lin’s first step was just meeting a stranger!
What if Gu Lin thought he was narcissistic and jumped the gun?!
Gu Lin glanced at Yan Yang, “Who told you we’re friends?”
Lin Zheng thought, see? Gu Lin misunderstood!
Lin Zheng drank his juice.
Gu Lin calmly said, “We’re in a friends-with-benefits relationship.”
“Pfft!!”
Lin Zheng spat out his juice.
What kind of advanced thinking was this?
Didn’t they agree to take it slow?!
Oh, right, Gu Lin thought the first step for a couple is kissing.
Don’t expect Gu Lin to think like a normal person.
On the way back, Yan Yang was driving; Lin Zheng and Gu Lin were in the back.
Lin Zheng took pictures of the scenery.
They were leaving tomorrow.
Yan Yang suddenly said, “Gu Lin, I got the painting you asked me to buy. To be honest, it’s average. What did you like about it?”
Before Gu Lin answered, Lin Zheng paused.
He realized Yan Yang was talking about the painting from the original novel’s ML’s perspective that he and Gu Lin saw at the museum.
He suddenly remembered the painting.
He looked at Gu Lin.
He wanted to know Gu Lin’s thoughts about the painting.
They were leaving tomorrow.
Ifā¦ ifā¦
If it was as he thought, he still had a chance.
Author’s Note: Gu Zong’s thoughts are always so advanced.
Lin Xiaozheng: “Let’s take it slow!”
Gu Lin: “What? Waterbed?”
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