EAY Chapter 22

How Embarrassing

How Embarrassing

22

When Shi Ran was working at the milk tea shop, he ran into some classmates. They had all gained a lot of weight after not seeing each other for only a month.

After ordering, they sat at the seats outside the shop to chat. Taking advantage of the break from delivering their milk tea, Shi Ran quickly asked if anyone knew where Qi Ye was.

Besides saying they didn’t know, a sense of unfamiliarity with the name also appeared on their faces.

“Aren’t you two always together? You don’t even know?” someone asked.

Shi Ran was speechless. He was grasping at straws in his anxiety. Qi Ye’s title of “invisible man” wasn’t just a rumor; when he wanted to hide, he really could disappear without a trace.

Shi Ran sighed and went back inside to work, carrying the tray.

After he got off work, those few people were still there, and several more girls had come over, inviting Shi Ran to hang out.

Shi Ran really didn’t have any energy or inclination to go, but he was practically dragged forward by two boys who whispered to him, “Please, Ran-ge, these girls all came because of you. Just give us some face, just this once, okay?”

“Let go of me first so I can walk properly,” Shi Ran glared at them, adjusting his shoulder bag. Thinking that having some company was better, so he wouldn’t just be spacing out alone back home.

But Shi Ran quickly realized that the companionship between people was truly worlds apart.

Before, when he was with Qi Ye, even if they weren’t talking and were just doing their own things, or spacing out, he didn’t feel like he was missing anything in his heart.

But now, even though a table full of people were laughing and chatting, lively and cheerful, and the things they were doing were no different from before, he just felt like his heart was empty and unfulfilled.

He made an excuse to go to the restroom, but actually went outside the restaurant to get some air. Leaning against the wall, he checked his phone again. He had sent so many messages that scrolling through them required multiple swipes, but Qi Ye hadn’t replied with a single word.

Shi Ran scrolled down even further, looking at their chat history, and couldn’t help but smile.

——I’m so upset, I did so badly on this exam

——It’s okay, just understand the questions you got wrong

——Wuwu, I’m still upset

——Don’t be upset, I’ll treat you to grapefruit soda

——Qi-laoshi, aren’t you angry?

——Not at all

——Why are you so good-tempered? I never see you get angry

——Ah, really? It’s alright, mostly, there’s nothing to get angry about

——Qi-laoshi is truly the epitome of gentleness

——No way, you’re exaggerating too much

······

“What the hell,” Shi Ran muttered unconsciously as he looked at the messages. Was he always this cringey when he talked before? Anyone who didn’t know him would think he was a soft girl. Ugh, even he couldn’t stand looking at himself. How could Qi Ye stand him?

Shi Ran suddenly wondered, could that be the reason? Was Qi Ye unable to handle him being too embarrassingly lovey-dovey?

No way, no way, Shi Ran quickly shook his head in denial. If that were really the reason, Qi Ye would have pointed it out in time.

People who don’t usually get angry, when they do, it’s a big deal.

Shi Ran couldn’t resist calling again, but the cold mechanical voice on the other end told him the phone was turned off.

He slumped down, finally realizing how scared he was. Could it be that Qi Ye really didn’t plan to ever talk to him again?

–

While working in the orchard, Qi Ye was stung by a wasp on the neck.

Grandpa used his homemade medicinal wine to treat his wound, and after seeing the new cuts on his hands, he refused to let him work in the fields anymore, telling him to stay home and rest.

Qi Ye thought Grandpa was making a fuss, but he didn’t expect the old man to be serious. He stiffened his face, put his hands behind his back, and went out, not forgetting to lock the courtyard gate.

Grandma hadn’t returned from town yet, and Qi Ye was the only one at home in the afternoon.

The reason he had been working so diligently these days was because he was afraid of being alone. Once he was idle, his mind would easily wander.

Qi Ye slowly paced around the yard, his feet stepping on the dappled sunlight that filtered through the leaves. With each step, he thought of Shi Ran.

After eating dinner in the evening, Grandma went to visit a neighbor, and Grandpa used a small stove specifically for boiling water to bake sweet potatoes for Qi Ye.

He had thought that his grandson, who had been resting at home for half a day, would be more energetic, but he didn’t expect him to be so listless. Could it be that he really loved working and was uncomfortable when he didn’t move?

“Does your neck still hurt?” Grandpa pointed casually.

“It’s okay.”

“Don’t take it lightly. Some wild bees have poisonous stings. You have to apply the wine again before sleeping,” Grandpa said meaningfully. “It’s not about young people having to spare no effort, it’s about what you’re doing. These farm chores have never been for you. Doing them occasionally is fine. If you really want to exercise, go for a run in the morning.”

Qi Ye deliberately said, “Are you Dislike dislikeme for getting in the way?”

“Of course, I have to worry about you even when I’m working,” Grandpa said casually, then smiled again. “You and your sister have grown up in the city since you were little, and you’re not close to the land. We won’t force you to do these things. Just coming to see me and your grandma, and talking to us, is already enough filial piety. Don’t touch anything else.”

The baked sweet potatoes on the ground were no longer too hot. Qi Ye picked one up, peeled it, and handed it to Grandpa. He shook his head, so Qi Ye took a bite himself, saying slowly, “People will say you’re spoiling your children.”

“Spoiling them is spoiling them, I’m happy to,” Grandpa Qi laughed heartily. He didn’t care what others said, he only knew that his own children were good children. Only one thing, Qi Ye’s personality was too gentle and honest, and he worried that he would be bullied at school.

Hearing Grandpa’s worry, Qi Ye smiled. “No one bullies me at all. The classmates in our class are all very nice.”

“Then why do I feel like you’re a little unhappy this time you came back? There are also a few kids in the village who finished the college entrance exam. Good heavens, they’re happier than during the New Year, and they’ve already gone out to have fun,” Grandpa Qi said. “You’re just burying yourself in work every day. What’s wrong? Do you have something on your mind?”

Qi Ye was already feeling turbulent inside while eating the baked sweet potato, and when Grandpa asked him this, he suddenly couldn’t take it anymore, and said in a low voice, “Grandpa, these sweet potatoes don’t taste very good.”

“Aren’t they cooked?”

“They’re cooked, they’re just not sweet,” Qi Ye said. “The sweet potatoes baked by the grandpa of one of my friends are very sweet.”

“Is that so? Then it’s my sweet potatoes that aren’t good, they’ve been stored for too long.”

“Mm.” Qi Ye ate the sweet potato in silence, then sat cross-legged, watching the old man leisurely rocking in his rocking chair beside him. He suddenly had a desire to confide in someone. “Actually, I broke up with a friend.”

“Did you quarrel?” Grandpa Qi sat up straight unconsciously.

“It was my fault. I lost my temper with him and said I didn’t want to contact him anymore,” Qi Ye said softly. “I’m really petty. Because I finally made a friend, I hoped that I was also his only friend. Then, when I saw that there were other people around him, I got angry. I said very hurtful things to my friend.”

Although the meaning was slightly biased, it was roughly the same.

Qi Ye couldn’t tell the old man all the truth.

After Qi Ye finished speaking, Grandpa Qi showed a very puzzled expression. He tentatively asked, “Have you been worrying about this these days?”

Qi Ye nodded lightly.

After a while, Grandpa Qi suddenly laughed out loud, the sound getting louder and louder, and the mocking meaning became more and more obvious. Qi Ye was a little angry. He hadn’t expected to hear any comforting words from Grandpa, but he shouldn’t be so annoying.

“Hey, old man, you’re going too far,” Qi Ye said.

Grandpa Qi waved his hand while laughing, seemingly wanting to stop, but to no avail. It felt like the leaves in the courtyard were trembling slightly from his laughter.

“Really, I’ve always been worried that our grandson is too mature, but it turns out you have such adorable worries, haha.” Grandpa wiped away the tears he had laughed out. “I’m going to tell your grandma tonight.”

“I’m being serious with you.”

“I know, I know, you quarreled with a friend,” Grandpa waved his hand dismissively. “Aiyo, it’s so good to be young, to still have these kinds of worries, aiyo, it’s so good.”

He was completely looked down upon. Qi Ye thought helplessly that he would never tell the old man his troubles again. Really, he had no empathy at all.