Chapter 82
The next morning, after the Student Union meeting ended, Meng Huaiqing came out to see Chi Aibei squatting at the entrance. He chuckled, “Oh? Whose kid ran all the way over here?”
Chi Aibei was tapping on his phone. Hearing Meng Huaiqing’s teasing, he looked up, stood up, and handed him a cup of milk tea. “Brother Wheelchair, hard work at the meeting.”
Meng Huaiqing said, pleasantly surprised, “Was this bought specifically for me?”
Seeing Lin Xiu come out behind him, Chi Aibei smiled and said “No,” before quickly slipping to Lin Xiu’s side.
He didn’t just hand the milk tea to Lin Xiu like he did with Meng Huaiqing. Instead, after inserting the straw, he held it with both hands and brought it to Lin Xiu’s lips. “Brother, drink. It’s still cold.”
Lin Xiu was a bit baffled by his sudden attentiveness. Last night, this kid was still acting awkward and stiff. What happened today?
Lin Xiu took a sip from his hand. “Why did you run over?”
Chi Aibei had spent the whole night making up his mind. After all, this was his first time pursuing someone, and that person was Lin Xiu. He beamed at Lin Xiu. “To bring you milk tea.”
Seeing him smile like a blooming flower, Li Chun winced and let out a “tsk.” Before she could speak, Chi Aibei handed her another cup. “Senior, have some milk tea.”
Li Chun took it and said “Thank you” to Lin Xiu.
Lin Xiu glanced at Aibei, only to hear Li Chun say snidely, “It’s thanks to you that I get to drink milk tea.”
Normally, Chi Aibei would have loudly denied such a statement. This time he didn’t. He just smiled at Li Chun and said nothing, as if silently acknowledging her words.
Lin Xiu looked at Chi Aibei. Although he didn’t know what was going on, since the kid didn’t object, he would accept the thanks.
Lin Xiu still had to check the arrangements for the school anniversary, and Chi Aibei didn’t leave, following him the whole time.
The October weather wasn’t cool; on the contrary, it was exceptionally humid and hot. Lin Xiu was talking to the people setting up the venue when a sudden breeze blew over. He turned his head and saw Chi Aibei holding a small handheld fan, blowing it toward him.
Chi Aibei had been wandering around outside with him for half the day, his face flushed red from the sun. Lin Xiu turned the small fan in Chi Aibei’s hand around. “Blow it on yourself.”
Chi Aibei turned it back again. “I’m not hot.”
Just as Lin Xiu was about to say something, the girl discussing the layout with him couldn’t help but giggle. Chi Aibei looked at her, and instead of being embarrassed, he followed suit with a smile.
Fearing he would get heatstroke, Lin Xiu gave a few brief instructions and took Chi Aibei away.
Looking at the unusually enthusiastic Chi Aibei, Lin Xiu asked, “No rehearsal today?”
As they walked, Chi Aibei pressed close to Lin Xiu, their arms constantly brushing. “I can go in the afternoon.”
It wasn’t the first day Aibei had been clingy, but today Lin Xiu felt he was being somewhat deliberate, especially in front of others.
Seeing him looking left and right, Lin Xiu asked, “What are you looking at?”
Chi Aibei pouted. “There are so few people at school.”
Lin Xiu said, “Because it’s still the holiday.”
That was exactly what Chi Aibei regretted. Those people had spread rumors about him so quickly before; yet, just when he decided to actually pursue someone, there was hardly anyone around.
Chi Aibei: “Brother, do you think people will think we look good together if they see us walking like this?”
Lin Xiu was stunned. “What did you say?”
Chi Aibei smiled and changed the subject. “Brother, you’re so handsome.”
Lin Xiu stopped in his tracks. “Chi Aibei…”
Chi Aibei was prepared for a long-term campaign, the kind where he’d win in one go. He didn’t want to be rejected by Lin Xiu midway. Seeing Lin Xiu turn serious, he quickly said, “I just remembered I have something to do. Brother, I’m leaving first!”
Chi Aibei ran off a few steps, remembered the small fan was still in his hand, and ran back to stuff it into Lin Xiu’s hands. “Brother, you take it. I’ve fully charged it.”
Watching him run off like a gust of wind, Lin Xiu frowned at the fan in his hand… What on earth is with this child? Has he had an epiphany or is he just having another fit?
Chi Aibei ran a long way before stopping. He bent over, resting his hands on his knees as he panted. Phew, that was close. Luckily I ran fast. It’s only my first day of pursuit; it would be disastrous if I were exposed and rejected.
Chi Aibei patted his own face, reminding himself: You can’t rush this kind of thing. You have to take it slow!
Just as he was slapping his own cheeks—thwack thwack—He Chenjiang walked over. Watching him hit himself, He Chenjiang grabbed his wrist. “Chi Aibei, what are you doing?”
Chi Aibei’s slapping motion stopped. He opened his eyes to see He Chenjiang standing in front of him with a furrowed brow. He snapped backward, but He Chenjiang didn’t let go, and Aibei was forced to bounce back half a step.
He Chenjiang: “What are you doing?”
Chi Aibei twisted his wrist. “Patting my face. Is that not allowed?”
It was a completely bizarre action, yet he said it with such righteous conviction. He Chenjiang frowned. Seeing that the boy’s look of disgust was the same as usual, He Chenjiang felt a sense of relief.
He let go of his hand. “Can we talk?”
Chi Aibei glanced at the suitcase beside He Chenjiang. There were still two days left of the holiday; him coming back early couldn’t just be because he’d had enough fun at home and felt bored.
Chi Aibei took half a step back. “If I say no, will you move out of the way?”
He Chenjiang didn’t speak. He stood in front of Chi Aibei, his gaze fixed on the boy’s face, unmoving as if to say “No.”
For the sake of him not harrassing Lin Xiu lately, Chi Aibei asked, “What do you want to talk about?”
He Chenjiang had thought Aibei would ignore him as before. Seeing him relent, He Chenjiang felt a surge of joy. “I heard you didn’t go home for the holiday.”
Chi Aibei frowned. “Why are you always snooping into my business?”
He Chenjiang: “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snoop. My mother heard it from your mother.”
Chi Aibei tilted his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “Were you just apologizing to me?”
He Chenjiang himself knew how ridiculous it was for him to apologize to Chi Aibei, but he admitted it nonetheless. “Yes, I am apologizing. Xiao Bei, can you forgive me? I really regret how I treated you back then. I know I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay?”
Chi Aibei didn’t know how much sincerity was in He Chenjiang’s apology, nor did he want to know. “It’s no longer important whether I forgive you or not.”
The person he had wronged was already gone. Aibei couldn’t accept He Chenjiang’s apology on behalf of the real Chi Aibei.
However, He Chenjiang misunderstood his meaning. He reached out to grab Chi Aibei. “It is important, Xiao Bei. I treated you badly before, and I will make it up to you. I want to start over with you. Before, it was always you chasing me; now, let me chase you. I will treat you well. I won’t be like I was before.”
It took Chi Aibei two seconds to process the words. “What are you saying?”
He Chenjiang: “I said I was wrong. I want to start over with you.”
Chi Aibei thought he’d gone mad. Shouldn’t the person he liked be Lin Xiu? Now he was here talking about starting over—he was sick in the head!
Chi Aibei quickly dodged him. “I don’t want to start over with you. I have someone I like.”
He Chenjiang’s brow tightened. “Is it Lin Xiu?”
Compared to hearing him talk about starting over, Chi Aibei felt more comfortable talking to him as a love rival. He lifted his chin. “Yes. I’m pursuing him.”
He Chenjiang wasn’t surprised. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t seen how clingy Chi Aibei was to Lin Xiu. He didn’t know if Lin Xiu had ever been impatient with him, but even if he had, it would likely be much better than how He Chenjiang had been.
Seeing him remain silent, Chi Aibei warned him, “Lin Xiu is mine. I will definitely win him over. You stay away from him and don’t get any ideas.”
He Chenjiang had never understood why Chi Aibei was so afraid he would harass Lin Xiu. If it weren’t for Aibei, he probably wouldn’t have even been able to strike up a conversation with Lin Xiu, so why would he have any ideas?
“When did I ever…” He Chenjiang’s voice trailed off as he suddenly looked at Chi Aibei.
…No, he had had ideas about Lin Xiu.
He was so used to treating Chi Aibei’s words as nonsense that it made him forget his own previous intentions—if his earlier thought of trying to recruit Lin Xiu counted as “having ideas.”
But that was just something he’d thought about; he hadn’t even had time to implement it. How could Chi Aibei know?
Recommended Reads
