Chapter 74
Lin Zheng stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, watching the snowflakes drift down.
Christmas was several days past, but the scene in the courtyard made it feel like only yesterday.
He was the only one left in the spacious house.
Gu Lin had left for a business trip in the neighboring city early that morning and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.
Tomorrow…
Lin Zheng’s gaze slowly drifted downward.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw Zhao Yi’s name.
He paused for a moment before slowly answering.
“Hello?”
“Brother Lin Zheng, you haven’t forgotten the time, have you?”
Lin Zheng knew exactly what “time” Zhao Yi was talking about.
Zhao Yi was silent for a few seconds on the other end before saying, “…If you miss this chance, you might not get another one.”
“…I know.”
Lin Zheng hung up and stood alone by the window for a while longer.
Time passed slowly. He didn’t know how long it had been before he finally turned and walked away.
The next day.
Evening.
Just as Gu Lin pushed open the door, the last rays of the setting sun slipped through the crack, casting a tall, long shadow on the floor.
The warm glow of the sunset stood in stark contrast to the empty house. Gu Lin stood in the doorway for a few seconds before stepping inside.
Assistant Shen’s call came through right on schedule, as if an alarm had been set.
Gu Lin hung up his coat, answered the phone, and walked further into the house, handling business matters as he went.
The sunset slipped through the gap in the curtains, the light in the house shifting from bright to dim. After the sky outside had completely darkened, the house remained unlit.
The phone on the table rang. Gu Lin, with a headache, sat up from the sofa and picked it up, his voice heavy with undisguised fatigue. “Yeah?”
“Gu Lin? I don’t see any lights on at your place. Where’d you run off to?”
“Where could I run off to? I’m home.”
“Don’t lie to me, your lights are all off.”
Gu Lin didn’t want to argue with Yan Yang about whether he was home or not. “Something you need?” he asked succinctly.
“It’s because I don’t have anything to do that I’m calling you. Since you’re just sitting at home, a friend of mine is opening a new bar. Come on, let’s go for a drink!”
Gu Lin rubbed his temples. “Not going. It’s my mother’s birthday today.”
“Auntie’s birthday?” Yan Yang teased. “Come on, do you think my memory is failing? I remember it crystal clear, Auntie’s birthday is tomorrow, okay?”
Gu Lin said nothing.
“Since you’re home, you just wait. I’m coming to pick you up now.”
“Go by yourself.”
“Stop talking nonsense. Get ready to open the door, I’m on my way.”
“…”
In the end, Gu Lin was dragged by Yan Yang to the new bar opened by his friend.
In Yan Yang’s words, his friend’s bar was opening, and as a friend, he had to be there. And Gu Lin, as his friend, had to do him the favor of coming along to help draw a crowd.
“There aren’t many men like you who could be called a national treasure. You don’t even have to dress up; just sitting there quietly is a sight to behold. It’s a huge boost to my reputation to bring you here.”
Gu Lin was in no mood to reply to Yan Yang.
It was still early in the evening, so the bar wasn’t very crowded. Yan Yang and Gu Lin sat at the bar.
Yan Yang ordered two drinks and began to show Gu Lin the various decorations. Before long, a handsome man walked over and greeted them.
Yan Yang stood up and introduced him to Gu Lin.
This was the owner of the bar, a man of remarkable talent and a promising young entrepreneur.
The man extended his hand to Gu Lin. “Mr. Gu, hello. My name is Yan Shuai. The bar just opened today. Thank you so much for coming.”
Gu Lin offered a few polite words of congratulation and then paid him no more mind, leaving Yan Yang to handle the conversation.
After the owner left, Yan Yang leaned in. “Gu Lin, President Gu, Mr. Gu, we’re out to have fun. Don’t be so quiet. Liven up, will you?”
Gu Lin shot him a speechless glance. “Not in the mood.”
“How are you not in the mood? Is it because little chicken-coop head isn’t here that you’re not in the mood?”
Gu Lin froze for a moment, then let out a laugh.
Yan Yang couldn’t see Gu Lin’s expression, only his shoulders trembling slightly with laughter.
Yan Yang was puzzled.
After a while, Gu Lin looked up, lifted his glass with the hand closer to Yan Yang, and glanced at the person beside him. “Are you treating tonight?”
Yan Yang smiled. “No problem.” The two clinked their glasses.
People started trickling in. The bar seats were limited, but as more guests arrived, the bar became more crowded. Most of them gathered around Gu Lin, and there were quite a few who came to hit on him, but he rejected them all.
As more people came over, Yan Yang helped out by adding, “He’s seeing someone, but he can still have a drink.”
Gu Lin glanced sideways at Yan Yang, put down his glass, and said, “Not anymore.”
The music was a bit loud, and Yan Yang didn’t hear clearly. “Huh?”
Gu Lin didn’t repeat himself. “Forget it. Just drink your drink.”
Yan Yang heard that part. “No, what did you just say? What’s going on?”
Gu Lin: “More drinks.”
Yan Yang pestered him relentlessly, but after a long time, Gu Lin still wouldn’t say anything, so he had to give up.
A few more people came to hit on him, both men and women. Knowing Gu Lin was tired of dealing with them, Yan Yang took the initiative to block them.
After dealing with one group, Yan Yang leaned close to Gu Lin, pointed to a large area behind them decorated with flowers, and said, “See that? I heard someone’s going to confess to his girlfriend here tonight.”
Gu Lin glanced back and saw the large clusters of colorful flowers around the booths, along with various “elaborate” decorations. He scoffed, “Tasteless.”
Yan Yang looked baffled.
Yan Yang rested one hand on the bar, facing Gu Lin. “No, this is pretty good. How is it tasteless?”
Gu Lin: “If this confession succeeds, I’ll write my last name backward.”
The mention of a bet piqued Yan Yang’s interest. He smiled and said, “What’s so hard about writing ‘Gu’ backward? Let’s make a bet. I bet he succeeds, you bet he fails. Whoever loses wires two million into the other’s account. Deal?”
Gu Lin glanced at Yan Yang and threw his card on the counter. “Five million.”
Yan Yang raised an eyebrow. “Deal.”
Halfway through their drinks, the atmosphere in the venue changed.
They exchanged a look, knowing the show was about to begin.
The music in the bar changed to a soft, soothing jazz tune, and the lighting shifted from dark to a slightly softer color.
Yan Yang said to Gu Lin, “You can still back out now. Want to?”
Gu Lin crossed his arms and looked at the gaudy decorations in front of them. “Get lost.”
Yan Yang was curious. “You’re that sure this guy won’t succeed?”
Gu Lin gestured with his chin toward the gaudy decorations. “To describe it in one word: chaotic. See that heart made of flowers over there? There’s a gap in it. Girls are generally very detail-oriented and care about these things. There are problems in many other places too. With such a lack of effort, do you think he can win his girlfriend over?”
Yan Yang hesitated for a moment. “What you’re saying seems to make a bit of sense.”
Gu Lin: “Well? Want to back out? I can still give you a chance.”
Yan Yang thought for a moment and said firmly, “No. Although what you’re saying seems to make a lot of sense, as a man, I’m sticking to my original idea.”
Gu Lin’s tone was as calm as ever. “Just watch. It won’t work.”
As soon as they finished speaking, the sound of a microphone being tapped came from the high-up speakers.
The surroundings quieted down a bit, but because there were so many people, you could still hear conversations.
Gu Lin saw that the decorated area was still empty and said to Yan Yang, “It’s already this late and he still doesn’t dare to show his face, only daring to hide behind the speakers. A lack of courage is a man’s greatest enemy. If it were me, I would definitely…”
Before Gu Lin could finish, a clear male voice came from the speakers.
“Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?”
Gu Lin froze.
“Hello, hello, this isn’t a soundcheck, it’s not a soundcheck. Um, is there perhaps a man here who is 190 cm tall and of average looks? I’m looking for this person.”
Gu Lin lowered his voice and asked, “Yan Yang, where is the person confessing?”
Yan Yang said, “Ah, this, I don’t know either.”
Gu Lin left his seat.
Yan Yang looked at Gu Lin’s retreating back, a smile on his face.
The voice from the speakers continued.
“This 190 cm man used to be my partner. Later, we had a misunderstanding and broke up. He’s always trying to find ways to get back together with me, but I’m not an easy man to win over. I said I had no feelings, and he said, ‘Alright, then let’s cultivate them’…”
Gu Lin searched everywhere, accidentally bumping into someone. “Sorry.”
“So we cultivated them, but whose idea of cultivating feelings starts with touching hands and faces? But I have to admit, feelings were indeed cultivated. It was actually quite efficient. But the bigger factor was that the gentleman was too handsome. Let me clarify, I’m not a shallow person, but that gentleman’s looks and figure have completely surpassed my imagination. To be honest, that gentleman always thought he liked me more than I liked him, but actually, you’re mistaken. My feelings are no less than yours; you just didn’t know. Well, it’s a long story, I won’t go into too much detail. In short, I admit that before, you were always the active one—active in showing concern, active in getting closer. When I said I might leave, you didn’t insist that I stay; you just told me to make a choice I wouldn’t regret. I did, and I made a choice I will absolutely never regret. At this point, I think you should already know my choice. Ahem, I don’t want to say something cliché like ‘I choose you,’ so let me say it in a cooler way…”
Gu Lin, panting, pushed through the crowd and saw the person standing in the innermost circle, holding a microphone, about to speak but interrupted by his appearance.
In the quiet air, only a feedback screech from the speakers could be heard.
The person froze for a few seconds, then a brilliant smile spread across his face. He took out the ring and the bouquet of pure white platycodon grandiflorus he had prepared in advance, walked in front of him, and knelt on one knee. “This 190 cm gentleman, I would like to invite you to a grand banquet called ‘The Rest of Our Lives.’ The banquet will be very long, and you may find it tedious, but I was wondering, are you willing to be tedious with me?”
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