ASSHKHME Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Nervousness

Inside the Xie family’s Chinese-style manor villa, various red lanterns were hung, exuding a lively and festive atmosphere to welcome the New Year.

The family had hired five chefs to try out different New Year’s Eve dinner dishes, covering both Northern and Southern cuisines.

Xie Liangjun and Cheng Tangyu were both only children, so they never had to struggle with deciding which family to visit for the New Year.

On New Year’s Eve, Xie Yu’s grandparents and maternal grandparents would be brought to their home.

For the past twenty years, they had all been a big family celebrating together. As the only member of the younger generation, Xie Yu would receive thick red envelopes until his hands were sore.

Chen Zhuo sat at the dining table, even more reserved than during his first visit.

The better Cheng Tangyu treated him, the more guilty and ashamed he felt. He simply lowered his head to eat, chewing slowly and carefully.

Xie Yu spun the lazy Susan to put dishes in front of Chen Zhuo. Cheng Tangyu enthusiastically said, “Xiao Zhuo, try this coriander beef, it’s so tender.”

Before Chen Zhuo could answer, Xie Yu, without even looking up, refused for him, “He doesn’t eat coriander or scallions.”

Chen Zhuo quickly glared at Xie Yu and then looked at Cheng Tangyu, cautiously assessing her emotions.

Her face remained calm, but his heart was pounding, fearing that Cheng Tangyu would notice something unusual about their relationship.

Fortunately, Cheng Tangyu didn’t think much of it, smiling at them, “I never thought you two would get along so well. You guys even fought on the first day of school, which made me quite worried. It’s true that acquaintances are made through fighting, that’s great.”

Chen Zhuo felt a sense of relief, but also a wave of anxiety. He unconsciously gripped the chopsticks in his hand tightly, leaving red marks.

The kitchen was bustling, and servants brought dish after dish of colorful and fragrant food to the table. The aroma was enticing, but he found it difficult to swallow.

Having lost his parents at a young age and living under the care of relatives, Chen Zhuo cherished those who showed him kindness.

Chen Zhuo didn’t know how to face Xie Yu’s parents in the future. They were so kind to him, yet he had stolen their son.

At the dinner table, Xie Liangjun and Cheng Tangyu would occasionally ask them questions about their studies and life.

Chen Zhuo forced himself to answer, his smile becoming more and more strained, increasingly feeling unworthy of sitting there.

A strong sense of guilt overwhelmed him.

Xie Yu noticed Chen Zhuo’s unease and pressed Chen Zhuo’s leg under the table. Before he could ask anything, Chen Zhuo suddenly stood up as if shocked.

The three of them looked at Chen Zhuo. Xie Yu asked worriedly, “Xiao Zhuo’er, what’s wrong?”

Chen Zhuo shook his head, forcing a smile, “I’m fine, I need to use the restroom.”

After speaking, he hurriedly left the table and walked towards the living room.

Xie Yu frowned slightly, said “I’ll go check on him,” and followed him out of the dining room.

The bathroom was locked. Xie Yu knocked twice on the door, asking worriedly, “Xiao Zhuo’er, are you feeling unwell?”

Chen Zhuo splashed cold water on his face, his mind filled with the image of Cheng Tangyu instinctively warming his hands in the parking lot.

When he was little, his mother would also hold his cold hands in winter to warm them up.

Chen Zhuo looked at his pale face in the mirror, suddenly filled with self-loathing.

If he had listened to Xu Qingyou’s advice and lived in an apartment outside, without seeing Xie Yu, wouldn’t he have avoided disrupting the Xie family’s harmonious life?

But, Chen Zhuo’s eyes slightly reddened, but he really liked Xie Yu.

The door lock clicked open from the outside. Xie Yu held the key and locked the door again.

Xie Yu’s dry, warm palm lifted Chen Zhuo’s wet face.

Xie Yu’s fingertips stroked his reddened eye corners. “What’s wrong with you? Why did you hide in the bathroom? Talk to me.”

Chen Zhuo’s eyes flickered with tears, staring without blinking, “I feel like I’m a bad person, I’m sorry to your mother, I’m deceiving her.”

Xie Yu was stunned for a moment. “What nonsense are you thinking? Why are you taking all the blame? No, this isn’t a mistake either. We just love each other, what’s so bad about that?”

Chen Zhuo roughly rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, his eyelashes lowered, “Your mother is really good, how sad would she be if she knew we were putting on a show in front of her?”

Xie Yu pulled him into his arms, kissing him deeply. “Don’t be silly. The attitude of my family towards our relationship is a problem that I need to solve. It has nothing to do with you, do you understand? Don’t put the responsibility that I should bear on yourself, okay?”

Chen Zhuo leaned on his shoulder. The anxious and frightened emotions were relieved a lot, and the heart that was beating too fast also calmed down.

He whispered, “I don’t want to make your mother sad. Today, when she checked the thickness of my clothes this morning and held my hand to warm it up, it reminded me of my mother.”

Xie Yu rubbed his back up and down, comforting him. “Your mother-in-law is also your mother, you should call my mom ‘Mom’ too. Okay, okay, don’t overthink, I’m here, I’ll solve it.”

In his strong embrace and familiar scent, Chen Zhuo’s rapid breathing gradually calmed down.

Cheng Tangyu’s worried voice came from outside the bathroom. “Is Xiao Zhuo okay? Why hasn’t he come out yet?”

Chen Zhuo struggled out of Xie Yu’s arms, only then realizing that they were in the same bathroom.

Although the bathroom was large, it was still a closed space, he said nervously, “What do we do? What does it mean for us to be in the same bathroom?”

Xie Yu reached out and ruffled his hair, directly opening the door and walking out casually. “Mom, Xiao Zhuo’er is fine, he just ate something bad and feels nauseous. I’ll let him rest in my room.”

Cheng Tangyu walked over, looking at Chen Zhuo following behind Xie Yu, and asked caringly, “Why are you feeling nauseous? Should I have the cook make you some refreshing soup, okay?”

Chen Zhuo waved his hand, about to refuse, but Xie Yu supported his back and pushed him upstairs, “Yes, Mom, make that tomato mushroom tofu soup with some shrimp.”

Cheng Tangyu responded, “Okay, go rest, and if you still feel uncomfortable, go to the hospital.”

Chen Zhuo nodded, obediently saying, “Okay, I understand, thank you, Auntie.”

After entering Xie Yu’s bedroom, Xie Yu locked the door and flicked Chen Zhuo’s forehead with his finger. “You scared me to death. You were lively this morning, but so listless just now. I knew I should have taken you out to eat.”

Chen Zhuo fidgeted with his hands, “Why are you so careless? What if we were…”

Xie Yu sat on the sofa, pulling him into his arms, “What if we were found out? So what? It’s going to happen sooner or later, we’ll have to tell them eventually.”

Chen Zhuo lowered his head. “Don’t talk nonsense. Auntie has a baby in her belly, don’t scare her.”

Xie Yu stroked the back of Chen Zhuo’s neck, lowered his head and pressed his forehead against his. “I know, I know what I’m doing, I’m not an idiot, I can tell what’s more important.”

Chen Zhuo said unhappily, “Then why did you say that in the parking lot today? Are you crazy?”

Xie Yu kissed his thin eyelids and said softly, “I was wrong, I just wanted to tease you, I won’t do it again.”

Chen Zhuo hummed in agreement, “Okay, then.”

Xie Yu’s eyes were filled with worry, asking, “But your reaction today was really strong, are you really okay?”

Chen Zhuo lowered his eyelashes, pressing his chest. “I’m fine, maybe it’s still post-traumatic stress, I just remembered my mother. When I think about how kind Auntie is to me, but I’m ruining her beautiful family, I feel very anxious and my heart beats fast.”

Xie Yu helped him rub it. “What ruining the family? You haven’t hurt anyone, don’t overthink it.”

He tentatively asked, “Were you, very sensitive before?”