ASSHKHME Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Different

At Xie Yu’s age, he really didn’t like chatting with his parents. He usually ran away after saying a few words, but today he talked on the phone for a full ten minutes.

The first five minutes were spent expressing his views and blessings on Xu Qingyou’s upcoming engagement.

In the last five minutes, he insisted on dragging Chen Zhuo into the conversation, and even without any proper form, had Chen Zhuo call Cheng Tangyu “Mom” along with him.

Cheng Tangyu was a parent who was willing to joke around with her children, happily responding and going along, completely unaware of what mischief her troublesome son was up to.

She even brought up the fact that the two had once been betrothed at birth, in a finger-pointing marriage arrangement, which completely turned Chen Zhuo beet red.

Xie Yu saw that Chen Zhuo was about to become angry out of embarrassment, so he hung up the phone.

Xie Yu said happily, “My mom even said it’s a pity you’re not a girl, otherwise you could have been her daughter-in-law. But a boy can still be a son-in-law, right?”

“Stop messing around. If your mom notices something, be careful you won’t be able to handle the consequences.”

Chen Zhuo took out his phone, feeling a little lost, “Qingyou-ge is actually getting engaged? He never mentioned it to me. The last time I went back to the Xu family, he clearly didn’t even have a girlfriend, and he said he had someone he liked. How could he suddenly get engaged?”

Xie Yu said in a strange tone, “You’re not blood brothers. Even if you were, he wouldn’t need to share everything with you, right? How do you know your future sister-in-law isn’t Xu Qingyou’s true love?”

“What are you being weird about again? What did Qingyou-ge do to offend you?”

Chen Zhuo glanced at him sideways, thinking, “But what you said also makes sense. Last time I heard Aunt Zheng say that his matchmaking partner was Miss Li. My future sister-in-law might really be his true love, huh?”

Xie Yu responded, “Right? You’re both adults. You have your own lives. How would he discuss these kinds of emotional issues with you in detail?”

Chen Zhuo unlocked his phone and found that his WeChat conversation with Xu Qingyou was still from three days ago, with no new messages.

Qingyou-ge: [Xiaozhuo, why aren’t you using the card I gave you?]

Youshao: [Ge, my parents’ compensation money is still a lot. If I don’t have enough money, I will definitely ask you.]

Qingyou-ge: [Okay, I understand.]

Chen Zhuo felt a little guilty. Was he being too distant, causing Xu Qingyou to not even want to invite him to his engagement?

Just like Xie Yu said, they weren’t blood brothers. If the relationship wasn’t maintained, it seemed like it would fall apart.

This was not the outcome Chen Zhuo wanted. He regarded Xu Qingyou as family. He just didn’t want to trouble Xu Qingyou anymore, not wanting to sever this brotherly bond.

Xie Yu noticed Chen Zhuo’s sudden low mood, “Why are you suddenly unhappy?”

Chen Zhuo pursed his lips and asked him very seriously, “Xie Yu, is my personality really that bad?”

If it were at the beginning of the semester, Xie Yu would have nodded vigorously, but now, he thought Chen Zhuo was perfect, even the way he sarcastically teased him was cute.

Xie Yu said, “How can you think of yourself like that? What’s wrong with your personality? Your annoying, bratty, cheap, and bothersome ways are so cute.”

Chen Zhuo silently closed his eyes, clearly wanting to scold him, but he held back.

Dejectedly, he said, “I always seem to pour cold water on Qingyou-ge’s concern and care for me. Is he disheartened? That’s why he doesn’t want to talk to me anymore.”

Although Xie Yu didn’t have a good impression of Xu Qingyou, he thought that Chen Zhuo had been through a lot in the past ten years after losing his parents, and it was thanks to Xu Qingyou’s care. Thinking that way, Chen Zhuo’s feelings for him must be deep.

Xie Yu comforted him, “President Xu is a rising star in the business world. Maybe he’s too busy with work and hasn’t had time to tell you. Don’t overthink it. Why don’t you just call him and ask?”

—

Taifeng Construction Group CEO’s office.

The specially set ringtone on the phone placed on the desk rang, and Xu Qingyou signaled the woman sitting across from him not to speak.

He picked up the phone and answered it, a touch of tenderness adding to his cold and deep eyes, “Xiaozhuo, why are you calling me suddenly? Is something the matter?”

Hearing the word “suddenly,” Chen Zhuo immediately felt guilty. Ever since he left the Xu family, he seemed to have been emphasizing his independence, thus neglecting the feelings of those who cared about him.

“Qingyou-ge, I heard you’re getting engaged. Is that true?”

Xu Qingyou raised his eyes and glanced at Yuan Sijie, his tone calm, “There is such a thing. What’s wrong?”

Chen Zhuo’s voice was a little low, “It’s such a big thing, and you didn’t even tell me. Is it because I… I’m sorry, Ge. I really didn’t mean to distance myself from you. I just didn’t want to always worry you, so…”

Xu Qingyou chuckled softly, “What nonsense are you thinking? I didn’t tell you, not because you’re not important, but because this matter is not important. There’s no need to take up your class time to attend.”

Hearing this, Yuan Sijie, who was reviewing the prenuptial agreement, raised an eyebrow and thoughtfully glanced at Xu Qingyou.

If she hadn’t misheard, there was clearly a man’s voice inside.

In other words, the person who caused Xu Qingyou to have emotional fluctuations was a man. Interesting.

Chen Zhuo “ah”-ed in confusion, “What are you talking about? How can your life’s major event be unimportant?”

He hesitated, “It’s not really some kind of business marriage, is it? Qingyou-ge, this is a lifetime matter. Have you thought it through? Don’t you have someone you like?”

Xu Qingyou turned a blind eye to Yuan Sijie’s teasing gaze, “Xiaozhuo, some feelings are destined to go unanswered. You can’t force them. Okay, let’s not talk about this. If you’re free on Friday, come over if you want.”

Not being able to be with the person you love must be very sad, but in Chen Zhuo’s heart, Xu Qingyou had always been so strong and indestructible that it seemed like nothing could defeat him.

Chen Zhuo thought that this result must be Xu Qingyou’s choice after repeated consideration.

So Chen Zhuo didn’t say anything more, “Okay, I’ll go over. No matter what, it’s a major event in your life. I’ll give you and my sister-in-law an engagement gift.”

“Oh, right.” Chen Zhuo added, “Xie Yu is also going. I can go with him then.”

Xu Qingyou paused slightly, a strange feeling flashing through his heart. He asked, “Xiaozhuo, are you and Xie Yu… are you two very close now?”