ASSHKHME Chapter 67

Chapter 67 Cherish the Moment

Chen Zhuo was silent for a moment.

The elevator wall was clean and bright. Xie Yu stared intently at Chen Zhuo’s expression, his tone gradually deepening, “What? Is it inconvenient to talk about?”

“It’s not that,” Chen Zhuo turned to meet Xie Yu’s gaze, the tangled ends of his hair mirroring his current struggle. “I just haven’t figured out how to tell you so you won’t get angry.”

The elevator “dinged,” arriving on the first floor.

Xie Yu’s car couldn’t be driven in, so it was parked in a temporary parking area outside the complex.

Xie Yu casually tossed the trash into the trash can, naturally hooking an arm around Chen Zhuo’s neck and kneading his face.

He feigned seriousness, “Confess and be lenient, resist and be punished, Chen Xiao Zhuo, quickly confess! Or I’ll tickle you!”

Chen Zhuo’s handsome face was squished out of shape by his hands, and he chuckled, swatting Xie Yu’s hand away. He took out the application form from his pocket and showed it to him.

Xie Yu unfolded it. His expression didn’t change, but his eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Exchange student?”

Chen Zhuo gauged Xie Yu’s emotions, reaching out to tug at the corner of his jacket.

He tentatively said, “Are you angry? Actually, I don’t have any plans to go abroad right now. I’m not familiar with anything over there, and I’d have to study and work. It would be pretty tough.”

Xie Yu refolded the paper and stuffed it into Chen Zhuo’s coat pocket. “I’m not angry. My childhood friend is in the city where your school is located. If you want to go, then go. He can help me take care of you. It’s only for a year, but don’t even think about working. Your man is so rich, why would you need to work?”

Chen Zhuo stared blankly at Xie Yu. He had anticipated Xie Yu being jealous, he had anticipated Xie Yu being angry, but he never expected Xie Yu to be so calm and supportive.

Chen Zhuo was touched. “Xie Yu, how come…”

Xie Yu draped his arm over Chen Zhuo’s shoulder, leaning closer in an ambiguous manner. “There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You can pay me back with your body later, with interest.”

Chen Zhuo shook off his arm, laughing and scolding, “Crazy, you wish. I haven’t decided about that yet, we’ll talk about it later.”

Xie Yu unlocked the car. Chen Zhuo got into the passenger seat, fastened his seatbelt, and asked, “But I’m still pretty surprised. You don’t mind? This is a long-distance relationship, with a thirteen-hour time difference.”

Xie Yu leaned back in his seat, tapping the steering wheel with his fingertips, unable to contain himself any longer.

His face was full of displeasure. “Of course I mind! I knew Xu Qingyou wasn’t up to any good! His wife ran away, so he wants to steal the wife I just got my hands on and haven’t even warmed up yet? What’s he thinking? He’s got ulterior motives!”

Chen Zhuo quietly interjected, “My cousin is just looking out for me. He doesn’t know we’re dating.”

Xie Yu glared at him. “Are you still talking back? Is this the time for you to talk back?”

Chen Zhuo’s gaze slid from Xie Yu’s lips to his throat, and he awkwardly turned his head away. “I’ll talk back later then.”

Xie Yu caught on and chuckled in amusement. “You’ve got ideas, huh.”

Chen Zhuo glanced at him lightly, his eyes alluring and tender. “What? You don’t want to? Do you dislike it?”

Xie Yu remembered the scene when he barged into Chen Zhuo’s bathroom during military training. He should have felt disgusted, but he was actually starting to feel a little eager.

Seeing the change in his expression, Chen Zhuo coughed softly and changed the subject. “If you mind, then weren’t the things you said earlier just to coax me?”

Xie Yu curved his finger and stroked Chen Zhuo’s face, provoking him. “Don’t wimp out, Xiao Zhuo.”

Chen Zhuo raised his eyebrows, arrogantly saying, “Who’s wimping out?”

“Okay, remember your arrogance right now.”

Xie Yu picked up a bottle of mineral water, tilted his head back, and drank most of it. He continued to talk seriously. “After all, it’s something that’s good for you. I can’t stop you from developing in a good direction, or I’d be a stumbling block on your path to growth. That kind of relationship isn’t healthy. Isn’t that asking to be dumped?”

“Besides, Xu Qingyou isn’t even your real brother. He’s an outsider, right? I’m your real boyfriend, your real husband, of course, I’ll stand by your side and do what’s best for you.”

Xie Yu glanced at Chen Zhuo out of the corner of his eye. “Right? I’m family, he’s an outsider.”

Chen Zhuo quietly looked at Xie Yu, then suddenly unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over, and kissed his cheek.

Xie Yu’s lips turned up in a smile. “But I probably won’t be able to go with you. My parents only plan to let me relax for a year. After freshman year, I’ll have to start getting involved in company affairs. Plus, my parents have opened a second account, and my dad’s energy will definitely shift. I’ll be a little busier.”

Chen Zhuo nodded. “I didn’t expect you to come with me anyway. I’m not a kindergarten kid. You have your own path to walk. Don’t change because of me, or I’ll feel uneasy. I don’t want you to change anything for me, you…”

Before he could finish, Xie Yu pinched his cheek.

Xie Yu said unhappily, “What are you saying? We’re tied to the same rope now, what do you mean, your path, my path?”

Chen Zhuo chuckled. “What a terrible analogy. How did you learn Chinese?”

“What should I say then? We’re sharing the same bed and the same boat.”

Xie Yu also laughed. “Anyway, when you’re considering it, don’t think about long-distance relationships or anything. Your brother can afford to buy a plane, can’t he afford a plane ticket?”

Chen Zhuo lowered his head and smiled. “Okay, I got it. I’ll think about it.”

Xie Yu paused for a second. “No, it just slipped out. It’s your man. I can afford to buy a plane, can’t I afford…”

“Okay, okay, I know you’re rich,” Chen Zhuo remembered something, looked around the car, and opened the center console and glove compartment. “Didn’t you say you brought me a gift? Where is it?”

Xie Yu smiled mysteriously. “You’ll find out in a little while.”

An hour later, the car came to a steady stop in the parking lot near Jiangbei University.

The trunk was opened. Chen Zhuo looked at the folded fabric inside, puzzled. “What’s this? Curtains?”

Xie Yu picked up the things and said with a smile, “Yes, bed curtains.”

Chen Zhuo was speechless and wanted to laugh. “Really, you bought four sets?”

Xie Yu “uh-huh’d” and locked the car, walking out with Chen Zhuo. “Of course. If only the two of us put up bed curtains, wouldn’t those two idiots be suspicious?”

“You thought of everything,” Chen Zhuo pulled up his collar and said, “Oh right, I forgot to tell you, Li Zi guessed our relationship.”

Xie Yu stopped in his tracks. “Really? What was his attitude? If he dares to say anything nasty to you, I’ll tell his girlfriend about his snoring and how he doesn’t like to wash his hands after peeing!”

“Hahahaha, you’re really something. It’s okay, he didn’t have much of a reaction.”

Chen Zhuo said thoughtfully, “But now that you mention it, hey, you said the last time you climbed back into the dorm, the one who went to the bathroom was Li Ang, right? He probably saw it, but he couldn’t hold it anymore, so he went to the bathroom.”

“Who cares,” Xie Yu lightly bumped Chen Zhuo’s shoulder and whispered, “Don’t forget, don’t wimp out.”

Chen Zhuo’s face grew hot. “Go away, it’s a four-person dorm, not a hotel with a king-size bed. Don’t mess around!”

Xie Yu hummed a couple of times, sticking close to him, and whispered, “Then let’s go rent a room? Aren’t you horny for me?”

Chen Zhuo laughed and punched him on the back. “Why are you so narcissistic? Public place, watch your words.”

“Anyway, I don’t care, tonight I’m going to sleep hugging you, no, every day from now on!”

Before Chen Zhuo could object, Xie Yu morally blackmailed him. “You said if you go abroad, I’d have to take a plane just to hug you. Shouldn’t we cherish the moment?”

Chen Zhuo said leisurely, “I haven’t decided whether I’m going or not.”

Xie Yu shamelessly said, “Whether you go or not, people have to cherish the moment, right?”