GLIHBN Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Could it be that you’ve fallen in love with me?

The sound came again from the courtyard entrance. This time, unlike when Chi Ye arrived, You Li didn’t sit still and steady as Mount Tai. Instead, he anxiously walked out quickly, without even greeting Su Shi and Chi Ye.

Su Shi and Chi Ye were both curious about who it could be.

Soon, they heard You Li’s conversation with someone.

“Why did you take so long to come back? I thought you were lost.”

“Couldn’t get lost. I ran into a friend and chatted for a while.”

“A friend? What friend? Which one?”

“Aiyo, I’ll tell you later. Let me cook first. Your guests must be hungry, right?”

You Li came in with a man. The man was tall and thin, looked to be in his thirties, and was wearing a cotton and linen shirt, the same material as You Li’s clothes. He was carrying a vegetable basket, looking like a domesticated man.

Su Shi and Chi Ye had already stood up.

Seeing the two of them, the man gave a polite, shallow smile. “Hello, I’m his friend. I’m here to make lunch for you.”

Su Shi quickly thanked him. “Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”

“No trouble at all. Just wait.” The man went to the kitchen, turning back to You Li halfway. “A Li, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and make tea for the guests.”

“Okay, okay.”

The group sat down again, Su Shi waiting for the other to speak.

Sure enough, You Li took a sip of tea and said, “He’s my partner, but he’s a bit shy.”

Su Shi understood perfectly. “I understand, I understand.”

No wonder the clothes drying in the yard were in two different sizes. So that’s why he had assumed that Su Shi and Chi Ye’s relationship was that kind of relationship.

This didn’t affect the conversation between the two parties. Soon, the meal was ready, and the man called everyone to eat.

It was all home-style cooking, but the taste was still good.

Su Shi learned the man’s name was Li You.

There weren’t any deliberate gestures between Li You and You Li, but you could tell that their relationship was very good, supporting each other. They must have been together for many years.

This kind of trusting, supportive relationship was what Su Shi had always longed for.

Before leaving, the two male hosts even gave them two bottles of homemade wine, which Su Shi happily accepted.

The car drove far away. Through the rearview mirror, the figures of You Li and Li You standing together became smaller and smaller, until they could no longer be seen.

Chi Ye could tell that Su Shi was very envious and secretly took note of it.

After driving in silence for half an hour, Su Shi finally couldn’t bear it any longer and stopped the car in a slightly open area where it wouldn’t affect others.

Chi Ye had come prepared to accept all of Su Shi’s questioning.

Su Shi got out of the car first, and at the same time, ordered Chi Ye, “Get out!”

Chi Ye obediently got out of the car.

On both sides of the small road were farmland, with dragonflies flying around and frogs croaking occasionally. Dark clouds covered the sun, as if the weather was about to change again.

The two stood facing each other in front of the car, their eyes meeting, and an invisible pressure was circulating.

Su Shi took two deep breaths. “Why did you come here?”

Chi Ye was very calm. “Didn’t I tell you just now? I was worried about you.”

If Su Shi could easily believe this reason, then he would have lived for twenty-odd years for nothing.

What made Chi Ye not attend class properly at school and instead chase after him to this remote and difficult-to-find place, after a bumpy ride? The answer seemed to be obvious.

Recalling the various times they had spent together in the past – Chi Ye suddenly appearing at his house, Chi Ye being so considerate, Chi Ye taking such good care of him, Chi Ye seeking him out from afar – Su Shi belatedly realized that something had been wrong for a long time, but he had never thought about it that way.

When all of this was given another layer of meaning, Su Shi’s first reaction was anger, extreme anger.

Chi Ye and Xu Chongming and Jiang Hui were so close, how could Chi Ye do this? How could Chi Ye do this?

Chi Ye was a good boy, a college student with a promising future, yet he was being led down a not-so-easy path by him?

Su Shi couldn’t believe it, and didn’t want to face the reason behind it. Su Shi decided to be ruthless.

“Your cousin and I have already broken up. You have no reason to be so concerned about me anymore.”

Chi Ye looked deeply into Su Shi’s eyes. “You know it’s not because of him.”

Moreover, if you hadn’t broken up, where would I have had the opportunity!

Su Shi slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth. It seemed that he had to be frank today.

Su Shi used the tricks he used to deal with younger admirers in the past, saying in a flippant tone, “Chi Ye, could it be that you’ve fallen in love with me?”

Chi Ye was silent for several seconds, then said earnestly, “Yes, I have.”

Su Shi didn’t expect Chi Ye to say it so directly.

“You and Xu Chongming are relatives. I don’t want to have anything to do with people and things related to him, so we’re impossible.”

Chi Ye vehemently retorted, “He’s him, I’m me. Didn’t you say that you wouldn’t hold it against me because of him?”

Su Shi realized for the first time that Chi Ye was so meticulous in his thinking and so eloquent. “Yes, I did say that, but I only said that because I regarded you as a friend.”

“It’s the same now. If you don’t like it, I can have nothing to do with him or even his family.”

Hearing this, Su Shi was genuinely surprised.

Putting aside Xu Chongming, let’s talk about Xu Chongming’s mother. He had heard that she was very good to Chi Ye. How could he cut off contact with relatives because of his relationship? “There’s no need.”

“There is a need.”

“You shouldn’t have come here to find me. You should be in the classroom, studying hard like your classmates. That’s the most important thing you should be doing right now.”

“My grades are top of the class. I haven’t failed any courses. I’m also learning at the family’s branch company. I’m not neglecting my studies.”

Su Shi raised his head to look at the sky. The sky was dark and gloomy, just like his mood at the moment, full of haze.

“Anyway, you can’t have those kinds of thoughts about me.”

“Why can’t I? You’re single, I’m single, why can’t I?”

Su Shi was once again surprised to discover that Chi Ye was actually so unreasonable. It seemed that either he had been too stupid in the past, or Chi Ye had concealed himself too well.

“Because,” Su Shi said, one word at a time, “I don’t like you.”

After saying this, Su Shi took two steps, opened the car door, and got in the car. He quickly started the car, reversed, and drove away from Chi Ye, the whole process being clean and decisive, ruthless and determined.

Chi Ye stood on the small road, watching the car’s rear, and gently exhaled.

Su Shi drove the car very fast, as if he was in a hurry to escape a crime scene, or as if he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to harden his heart if he didn’t leave quickly.

The sky became even darker, and the wind hit the car windows, making a loud noise. A lightning bolt flashed across the sky, making Su Shi’s heart jump. The car’s speed slowly decreased.

Some villagers were anxiously rushing home, and because a car window wasn’t closed tightly, the villagers’ conversation reached Su Shi’s ears.

“It’s going to rain heavily again. This time, the newly planted seedlings will be flooded again.”

“What’s the point of flooding the seedlings? Hurry home. Maybe people will be blown over by the strong wind.”

On the passenger seat was still Chi Ye’s backpack. The key chain hanging on the zipper was something they bought when they went to the resort.

Another thunderbolt crashed down, and Su Shi’s heart began to beat wildly. Just as the road ahead was wide, Su Shi made a sharp turn and drove the car back.