ASSHKHME Chapter 88

Chapter 88: You’re My Brother

Xie Yu stubbornly stared at him, as if he wouldn’t let him leave if he didn’t get a good answer.

At nineteen, expressions of love are immature yet intense. In my eyes, there can only be you, and in your eyes, there can only be me.

Chen Zhuo gently hooked Xie Yu’s palm with his pinky finger, his dark pupils reflecting Xie Yu’s image. He said seriously, “Whether Qingyou-ge likes me or not won’t affect my feelings for you. I love you, and only you.”

Xie Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but turn up. He pretended to be serious and said, “What I asked just now was clearly, is he more important, or am I more important?”

Chen Zhuo shook his hand, a hint of coquetry in the gesture, and said helplessly, “Aiyo, please spare me. The standards of measurement are different, how can I compare?”

Xie Yu snorted coldly, turned his head away, and adopted a posture that was difficult to appease.

Chen Zhuo pursed his lips. Might as well go all in and called out red-faced, “Husband, you clearly understand what I mean, don’t be angry anymore, I will report the content of the conversation to you at any time, okay? Husband…”

When he wanted to coax someone, he could always say words that pleased people’s hearts.

Two “husbands” in a row. Even though Xie Yu turned his face away, you could still see the corners of his mouth almost reaching the back of his head.

Xie Yu cleared his throat, “Chen Xiaozhuo’er! That’s cheating! That’s playing dirty.”

The blush on Chen Zhuo’s face spread to his neck. Enduring the shame, he shook Xie Yu’s hand again, his eyes sparkling with only Xie Yu in them, and asked, “Doesn’t it work? Husband?”

Xie Yu stared at Chen Zhuo silently for two seconds, finally couldn’t help but pinch his face, lowered his head and took a hard bite.

He said fiercely, “It works! How could it not work? I’m a sucker for this. Call me one more time and I’ll let you go.”

Chen Zhuo’s entire head was about to burn up. Usually, he would have already been annoyed and angrily scolded Xie Yu, but today he was in the wrong. Hesitantly, he called out again, “Husband, you go home first and arrange the flowers, remember to put the vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator, and when I get home, I’ll make you something delicious.”

Xie Yu was ecstatic!

So comfortable, too comfortable. He was being called “husband” and promised a home-cooked meal. He was only nineteen, it was too awesome!

But he still pretended to be very reluctant, “Alright, seeing how sincere you are, then you can go. But you have to report in a timely manner, not a single word can be different, understand?”

Chen Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief, “Okay, I promise. Then I’ll go back to the Xu house first?”

Xie Yu hummed, “Go back, I can’t stop you anyway. Tell your cheap brother how much you love me.”

Chen Zhuo laughed, “Okay, I will.”

Xie Yu stood aside, watching Chen Zhuo walk towards Xu Qingyou’s car, and cursed, “Damn it, why do I feel like my wife is being snatched away?”

Chen Zhuo opened the car door and got in, turning back to wave his phone at Xie Yu, indicating that he would contact him on WeChat.

The car drove past Xie Yu. Through the right rearview mirror, Xu Qingyou saw Xie Yu giving him the middle finger.

After leaving the parking lot, they quickly merged into the traffic, heading towards the Xu residence along the road.

The car was very quiet, with a faint, fresh scent of aromatherapy.

Xu Qingyou didn’t ask anything, kept his eyes on the road, driving steadily, only talking about topics related to the New Year.

Chen Zhuo was still thinking about what Xie Yu had said just now.

Although he selfishly hoped that Xu Qingyou would only treat him as a brother, trying to preserve that kinship.

But if Xu Qingyou really liked him, and he was already aware of it but continued to play dumb, then he would be a real piece of trash.

Chen Zhuo did some mental preparation in his heart and took the initiative to speak, “Qingyou-ge, I don’t want to lie to you. Xie Yu and I are dating.”

Xu Qingyou didn’t even spare him a glance. He imperceptibly tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his tone calm, “Yeah, I could tell.”

Chen Zhuo had never been able to figure out Xu Qingyou’s thoughts. Xu Qingyou didn’t seem to have strong emotional fluctuations in front of him, like a calm lake. When the wind blew, it would only cause ripples, but there were no stormy waves like the sea.

He pinched his palm and asked tentatively, “Qingyou-ge, when did you find out?”

Xu Qingyou didn’t answer his question directly, but said, “I found out too late, Xiaozhuo. When did you start liking the same sex?”

Chen Zhuo had never carefully analyzed his orientation to anyone before, and felt a little embarrassed, “I don’t remember. Anyway, when I came to my senses, I realized that I wasn’t interested in girls. I guess it was innate.”

After a while, Xu Qingyou said, “Yeah,” his voice a little dry, “Okay, I understand.”

Chen Zhuo didn’t like this kind of circuitous, ambiguous conversation. He stared at the traffic light ahead that was about to turn red, took a deep breath, and asked bluntly, “Qingyou-ge, what about you? Are you gay?”

The car lurched forward a little, but quickly stabilized, just like Xu Qingyou himself.

He slowly stepped on the brake, maintained a proper distance from the car in front, stopped to wait for the red light, and gripped the steering wheel so hard that his knuckles turned white.

He turned his head to look at Chen Zhuo, uncontrollably sad, his smile a little bitter, “Didn’t you guess already? Why not just ask, is the person I like, you?”

Even though he had been mentally prepared, Chen Zhuo was still stunned when he actually heard the answer.

The person in front of him was Xu Qingyou, the only person who had given him warmth in the past ten years, the man he regarded as his brother.

Chen Zhuo didn’t know how to respond in order to minimize the harm to Xu Qingyou.

He didn’t want to give Xu Qingyou hope, nor did he want to make him sad. Lost in thought, he lowered his head and fell silent.

The car was clearly not a good environment for talking about these topics. In the narrow space, all emotions were impossible to hide.

Xu Qingyou raised his hand and gently stroked Chen Zhuo’s upturned stray hair, “Look at how troubled I’ve made you. You don’t have to answer, I know the answer.”

When the green light came on, Xu Qingyou lightly pressed the accelerator and drove across the street, saying calmly, “Do you remember me telling you? Not all feelings can get a complete answer. I’ve been prepared for this for a long time. I thought this would be a secret I’d keep buried in my stomach for the rest of my life, but being able to tell you in person today makes me feel a lot better.”

Chen Zhuo felt very uncomfortable, as if he was the one being rejected. He said in a hoarse voice, “Ge, I… I’m sorry.”

Xu Qingyou chuckled softly, “What do you have to be sorry about? I’m very grateful that I still have the identity of a brother. Just don’t avoid me in the future.”

Chen Zhuo fiddled with his fingers, “How could I avoid you…”

Xu Qingyou moved his lips, struggling to say, “Xiaozhuo, I want to ask, if there was no Xie Yu…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but Chen Zhuo understood the complete expression of the question: If there was no Xie Yu, would you have fallen in love with me?

Chen Zhuo bit the soft flesh on the inside of his lower lip, his mouth full of the metallic taste of blood, “…You’re my brother.”

Xu Qingyou nodded, he understood.

You’re my brother, I only regard you as my brother, even if there was no Xie Yu, you could only be my brother.

What a heartbreaking sentence, even more lethal than a friend zone.

Xu Qingyou felt like there was some sand in his eyes, making them sting.

Chen Zhuo looked conflicted, “Don’t, don’t like me anymore.”

Xu Qingyou said, “Okay, I’ll try my best.”