DP Chapter 17

Xu Chuo smiled and said, “Yes, there is someone I admire. Auntie, you are amazing. But whether it can become a real relationship is hard to say. The other person is too shy, and I can’t figure out what they are thinking, which is a bit troublesome.”

Xiang Yiye choked, his chopsticks slipped, and the chicken wing he had just picked up fell back into the bowl.

“Girls are usually shy. You have good qualities, so show more affection, and it will definitely work out.” Qiao Sha said, looking at Xiang Yiye, “Our Xiao Yiye also needs to work hard.”

Xiang Wan said, “I think it’s difficult. He has a dull personality and doesn’t know how to please girls, otherwise, he wouldn’t be over twenty and never have been in a relationship…”

This exposed the fact that he had never had a relationship. Xiang Yiye directly retorted, “Mom, I don’t think the problem is with me. What’s that saying? An emperor’s daughter doesn’t have to worry about marriage. When are you going to find yourself a husband with hundreds of millions of assets?”

Qiao Sha laughed, wrinkles appearing around her eyes, “You’re just talking nonsense.”

Xiang Wan glared, “You rascal…”

Xu Chuo smoothed things over, “Uncle and Auntie, don’t worry. There are many people who like Xiao Yiye. It’s just that he has high standards. I’ll introduce someone to him later so he won’t be alone.”

Xiang Yiye shot Xu Chuo a glare, which Xiang Wan saw, leading to another round of scolding, saying that his attitude was bad. This made Xiang Yiye feel rebellious and he started arguing with Xiang Wan on the spot.

“A bully at home,” Xiang Wan said.

Xiang Yiye was about to retort when he suddenly saw Xu Chuo smiling, not gloating, but a heartfelt, happy smile, his eyebrows curving and showing a pair of silkworm-shaped eye bags.

“Let him scold me then,” Xiang Yiye thought.

After dinner, Xiang Yiye was washing dishes in the kitchen. Qiao Sha had just helped Grandmother back to her room to rest, and then came in, handing a basket of fruit to Xiang Yiye, saying, “Cut a fruit platter and take it out to talk with your dad and Xu Chuo.”

Xiang Yiye looked around the kitchen and asked, “Mom, where’s the fruit knife?”

“It should be on the coffee table, go look for it,” Qiao Sha said.

Xiang Yiye went to the living room to look. It wasn’t on top of the coffee table, so he pulled open the side drawer. He didn’t see the fruit knife but saw several medicine boxes. He picked them up and opened them, instantly becoming furious.

Xiang Wan was on the sofa, chatting with Xu Chuo about which houses in City M were good investments. During this time, he felt that the big guy Xiang Yiye squatting beside him looking for something was too annoying, so he silently sent a glare, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

“Dad, I forgot to ask, did you finish all the medicine the hospital prescribed before?” Xiang Yiye suddenly said.

“I took it, I took it. Xu Chuo, you continue…”

“Then what are these?” Xiang Yiye stood up, holding several boxes of brand-new medicine in his hand, looking displeased, “The medicine is all here, what did you take?”

When Xiang Wan saw the medicine, he knew there was no denying it, so he said casually, “Oh, I took it for a few days at the beginning. I was too busy at work for a while, so I didn’t have time to take it. Leave it there, I’ll take it again tomorrow.”

Xiang Yiye glanced at Xu Chuo, and held back once, twice, but by the third time, he really couldn’t hold back anymore. In his previous life, he watched Xiang Wan close his eyes in front of him, and he never wanted to experience that irreparable feeling again.

He didn’t want to lose Xiang Wan again.

“Did I tell you to take the medicine on time?” Xiang Yiye flared up, “Old Xiang, why do you always ignore what I say?”

Xiang Wan “ahem-ed” and said with a sullen face, “That’s enough, Xiang Yiye, there’s a guest here, don’t make a fool of yourself.”

“He’s not an outsider,” Xiang Yiye said sternly, glaring at Xiang Wan, “You’re going to the hospital for a check-up with me tomorrow.”

“Let’s talk about it when I have a vacation in a few days.”

“We’re going tomorrow, no discussion,” Xiang Yiye said, “How much salary will be deducted for taking half a day off? I’ll pay you for it.”

Xiang Wan said, “There’s no need for that, the company is busy at the end of the year, my body…”

“It’s settled then, I’ll drag you there even if I have to!” Xiang Yiye’s tone left no room for doubt.

“Is that the attitude you use to talk to your dad?” Xiang Wan felt that his authority as the head of the family had been seriously damaged, and his voice unconsciously increased.

Xu Chuo had sharp eyes, saw the fruit knife hidden in the pen holder on the table, took it out and handed it to Xiang Yiye, and said in a low voice, “I want to eat an apple, go peel one for me, be careful with your hands.”

Xiang Yiye took the fruit knife, turned around and went into the kitchen, and saw Grandmother poking her head out at the door of the guest room: “Are you arguing?”

“No, Grandma, we’re chatting,” Xiang Yiye said.

“Don’t argue, did you hear me, don’t scare Xiao Chuo,” Grandmother said.

“…I know, we’ll keep it down, you go to sleep, or you’ll have a headache again later.” Xiang Yiye walked over and closed the door again.

The moment he closed the guest room door, he suddenly realized a problem: Grandmother usually lives in the countryside and is only brought home for a period of time before the New Year. If Grandmother is staying in the guest room, where will Xu Chuo sleep tonight?

“Of course, he’ll sleep in your room,” Qiao Sha didn’t think this was a problem.

“Then where will I sleep…”

“Squeeze in, there’s enough space, you two aren’t fat,” Qiao Sha said. Xiang Yiye was tall and long-legged, and during his high school growth spurt, the family directly bought him a double bed.

“I’m not used to sleeping with someone else, and Xu Chuo is even less used to it,” Xiang Yiye refused with his whole body.

“Then you can sleep on the sofa,” Qiao Sha said, “Just put up with it for one night, Xiao Chuo is a guest, you can’t just kick a guest out in the middle of the night, right?”

Xiang Yiye decisively chose to sleep on the sofa. A single man and a single woman for one night, Xu Chuo’s behavior would be like swallowing him alive. However, he could escape sharing a bed with Xu Chuo, but he couldn’t escape sharing a bathroom with Xu Chuo.

Xu Chuo was in Xiang Yiye’s room, looking around with great interest. Xiang Yiye must be a Virgo. The things on the bookshelf, wardrobe, and desk were all neatly organized.

His eyes were locked on a thick photo album when he heard a call from the bathroom: “Chuo-ge, are you outside?”

Based on this long-lost “ge,” Xu Chuo knew that Xiang Yiye probably had something to ask for.

“Um, I didn’t bring a bath towel in, can you pass me one? It should be in the wardrobe,” Xiang Yiye said.

“Okay, wait a moment.” Xu Chuo saw the white bath towel hanging in the closet and licked his lips imperceptibly.

Xiang Yiye waited anxiously in the bathroom. He swore he didn’t do it on purpose. The bathroom was embedded in his room, and when he slept alone, with the door closed, there was nothing wrong with going out naked.

There were two knocks on the bathroom door. Xiang Yiye opened the door a crack and reached out half an arm to receive it: “Thank you…”

Xu Chuo put the bath towel into Xiang Yiye’s palm, and while he was distracted, he grabbed the edge of the door with his other hand and pushed the sliding door to the side.

In the time it took Xiang Yiye to receive a bath towel, the city gate was instantly lost, and the invading enemy stood in front of him. In addition to being shocked, all he could do was immediately pick up his discarded shirt and tie it around his waist: “What are you doing in here, get out.”

“I’ll wipe you down?” Xu Chuo’s eyes were burning, his gaze shifting over his body, “Are you done washing?”

“I’ll do it myself, just give it to me,” Xiang Yiye said stiffly.

Xu Chuo walked closer with the bath towel: “I’ll serve you, we’re not outsiders, you said it yourself.”

Give me a break. Xiang Yiye flicked the wet hair from his forehead and planned to grab it directly. As soon as he stretched out his arm, Xu Chuo unhooked his shirt with one finger.

Xiang Yiye slapped his hand over Xu Chuo’s eyes and then snatched the bath towel and tied it on: “Stop messing around, my house isn’t soundproof.”

“What are you thinking,” Xu Chuo pulled down his hand and said, “I just wanted to see how your back injury was healing… Turn around.”

“It’s already healed, I haven’t felt it for a long time,” Xiang Yiye said.

Xu Chuo went behind him to look at Xiang Yiye’s back. The bruises had mostly faded, but they still left some marks on his white and delicate skin.

“I hope it doesn’t disappear forever,” Xu Chuo stroked it, “Otherwise, it would be a pity.”

Xiang Yiye straightened his back, and water droplets fell from his hair, sliding over his neck. Xu Chuo picked up the towel hanging on the side and wiped his hair and neck, watching his fair neck gradually turn red like an autumn osmanthus branch.

Through the mirror in front of him, Xiang Yiye could see Xu Chuo on the side. He was wearing his pajamas, and the neckline was slightly larger, revealing a clear collarbone.

“This is going to kill me,” Xiang Yiye’s Adam’s apple rolled. He grabbed Xu Chuo’s hand and said, “Get out, Chuo-ge, I’m begging you.”

“With that expression of yours, did I do something wrong? I’m obviously very gentle with you,” Xu Chuo said, looking up to kiss him.

Xiang Yiye wanted to push him away, but his right hand was entangled, and Xu Chuo directly put his hand behind his ear.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door. Qiao Sha said loudly outside the door: “Xiao Chuo, Xiao Yiye, I heated up two glasses of milk, drink them before you rest.”

Xiang Yiye stretched out his arm and turned on the shower, using the sound of the shower to cover his voice, and reminded in a low voice: “My mom is here.”

Xu Chuo didn’t stop, and the knocking continued.

“Xu Chuo!” Xiang Yiye was anxious, and wanted to grab Xu Chuo’s hair, but felt it would hurt, so he changed to holding his chin, “Okay, I’m afraid of you.”

“Continue later,” Xu Chuo said reluctantly, and finally let him go and went out.

Continue… Xiang Yiye leaned against the sink, regretting as he looked at the fog on the mirror. Why couldn’t he be a mermaid? That way, he could live directly in the bathroom.

He took another long shower, almost soaking himself, and dawdled for a long time before returning to the room.

Xu Chuo was sitting on the bed. When he saw him come out, he glanced at the milk on the table and said, “It’ll get cold if you don’t drink it. Are you still growing taller, or are you drinking this to nourish your skin?”

Xiang Yiye didn’t speak, his eyes avoided him. He picked up the glass and drank it all, walked to the wardrobe to change into his pajamas, and then found a blanket, planning to take it to the living room.

As he passed the end of the bed, his leg was hooked. Xiang Yiye looked down and saw that Xu Chuo used his foot.

“Please let me go,” Xiang Yiye was about to raise his hands in surrender.

Xu Chuo retracted his foot: “Who runs away after starting a fire like you? I have trouble sleeping in new places, can you bear to watch me toss and turn all night and not be able to sleep?”

He thought Xiang Yiye would refuse outright, but Xiang Yiye stood there, lowering his eyes and hesitating for a long time, and said, “Then… I’ll only stay for a little while, and you’re not allowed to do anything out of line, or my parents will find out.”

Xu Chuo was stunned for a moment, then smiled and knocked him down, saying in his ear, “I simply don’t know how to love you.”

Xiang Yiye rolled over, pressing him down, “Don’t move.” His gaze moved down and suddenly froze.

Xu Chuo’s arms were restrained by him, and the collar was pulled along with it, the mark on his shoulder looming.

Even though he already had the answer in his heart, Xiang Yiye was still unwilling to give up. He pulled open Xu Chuo’s collar and saw the extremely clear scratch, extending to the shoulder blade on his back.

Left by someone else, perhaps less than 24 hours ago.

“Looks well-behaved, but you’re so rough,” Xu Chuo said, noticing that Xiang Yiye’s expression suddenly became cold.

Xiang Yiye took the quilt next to him, covered Xu Chuo with it, got up and said, “Next time, before flirting with someone, remember to hide the marks on your body. I don’t care about other people, but I find it disgusting.”

Xu Chuo lifted the quilt, grabbed his arm, and said with a smile, “Let’s talk some sense. You rejected me yesterday, so I found someone else.”

“Should I feel honored?”

“It won’t happen next time,” Xu Chuo said, “Don’t torture me, Xiao Yiye, I really like you, hasn’t it been obvious enough during this time?”

“Like?” Xiang Yiye laughed, “Your like is forcing others to come out in front of their parents?”

Xu Chuo paused and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it through. Stay, I won’t do anything, Uncle and Auntie won’t know.”

“Save those lies for other people, I won’t believe them,” Xiang Yiye shook off his hand and went to the living room.