GLIHBN Chapter 41
by VolareChapter 41: Begging for Forgiveness
When Xu Chongming arrived at Su Shi’s studio, Little Jie was covering for the front desk, as the front desk staff had an upset stomach today.
“Sir, may I help you?” Little Jie, seeing such a distinguished-looking man, expertly put on a polite smile and asked.
“I’m looking for Su Shi.”
“Oh, you’re looking for Teacher Su. May I ask who you are?”
Xu Chongming said, “My surname is Xu.”
Little Jie’s expression immediately changed, transforming from courteous politeness to enthusiastic warmth, and he whispered, “You’re Mr. Xu Chongming, aren’t you?”
Xu Chongming was surprised. “You know me?”
Little Jie, like a fawning follower, quickly walked from the front desk to Xu Chongming. “Of course! You’re Teacher Su’s boyfriend! Everyone in the studio knows.”
This surprised Xu Chongming. He hadn’t expected that their relationship was so public and transparent at Su Shi’s workplace. Thinking about his family’s attitude last night, Xu Chongming felt very sorry for Su Shi.
Little Jie led Xu Chongming into the studio. Xu Chongming observed along the way. From the outside, the studio’s decor could only be described as having a sense of design, which wasn’t particularly outstanding to Xu Chongming, who had studied abroad. But the inside was a different world. Whether it was the design of the workstations or the arrangement of decorations, everything revealed a sense of amazement.
After receiving Su Shi’s “Come in,” Little Jie let Xu Chongming enter by himself.
As Su Shi looked up, he met Xu Chongming’s eyes. “What are you doing here?”
Xu Chongming hadn’t slept well last night, and his face looked a little haggard. “You wouldn’t answer my calls, so I had to come here to find you. The studio is beautiful.”
Su Shi sat in front of his computer, not getting up. “Go back. We can talk about our matters later. This is a workplace.”
Xu Chongming didn’t budge. “Su Shi, give me half an hour. If not, then fifteen minutes.”
Su Shi’s heart had actually calmed down a lot, but he didn’t want to forgive Xu Chongming so quickly, or he would do it again next time.
Su Shi let Xu Chongming sit on the sofa. The chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea from earlier had lost its flavor, so Su Shi poured it out and refilled it with fresh chrysanthemum and wolfberries.
“Didn’t rest well last night?”
“I didn’t sleep at all. How could I sleep if you were ignoring me?”
Xu Chongming wasn’t exaggerating; he really hadn’t slept all night. But it wasn’t just because of Su Shi. It was also because of Jiang Hui’s immense anger after he returned home.
Jiang Hui knew everything that had happened at the seafood buffet and decided to come clean with Xu Chongming.
She had been anxious to send Xu Chongming abroad in the first place because she had discovered his inclination toward men. And it wasn’t the first time Jiang Hui had seen Su Shi; she had seen the two of them being intimate years ago.
But she pretended not to know and painstakingly persuaded Xu Chongming to go abroad in order to nip this in the bud.
Who knew that after so much time, the two of them would still be in contact and doing so well.
People like Jiang Hui didn’t believe that feelings could last. A marriage was good enough as long as it was passable, let alone a relationship between two men.
But she never expected that on Xu Chongming’s first day back in the country, Su Shi would be the one picking him up from the airport.
Jiang Hui shouted, “Kneel down!” and Xu Chongming knelt down.
Xu Chongming thought that since Jiang Hui knew, he might as well come clean. “Mom, I can’t marry a woman. Xinyi is great, but I don’t like her. Since you know that Su Shi and I have been together for years, please grant us your blessing.”
*Slap.*
A slap landed on his face. “Impossible. Don’t even think about it.”
Jiang Hui left after saying those words, ignoring Xu Chongming’s pleas behind her.
Xu Chongming thought that Miao Xinyi had told Jiang Hui, but he didn’t expect that she hadn’t. Instead, he was also lectured by Miao Xinyi, making him an outcast.
Xu Chongming grabbed Su Shi’s hand. “My mom knows about us. Give me some more time, and I’ll convince her.”
This caught Su Shi off guard. He knew how difficult this would be. “There’s no rush.”
“But how can I not be anxious if you’re ignoring me?”
Xu Chongming spoke sincerely and raised his fingers to make a vow. “I won’t see Miao Xinyi again, and I won’t go on any blind dates. I swear.”
Su Shi took his hand down. “Don’t make promises so easily. For every vow that is kept, there is one that is broken.”
“I won’t break it.”
The water in the transparent health pot boiled, bubbling and gurgling, and the fragrance of chrysanthemum began to fill the air.
Xu Chongming didn’t let go of Su Shi’s hand, kneading it in his palm, and began to slowly tell Su Shi that it was normal for men to be together in foreign countries. They could hug and be intimate in broad daylight.
He was very envious and hoped that one day he could be with Su Shi in such an open and honest way.
Wasn’t that what Su Shi wanted too?
Xu Chongming then recalled the things he had done to pursue Su Shi back then, remembering everything clearly. From Xu Chongming’s description, it was as if Su Shi was experiencing being pursued by him all over again.
Su Shi couldn’t deny that his heart beat faster when he heard these things.
Xu Chongming wasn’t always so full of sweet talk. In Su Shi’s memory, Xu Chongming was even a little shy, blushing and avoiding eye contact when he saw him.
It was only later, in order to pursue Su Shi, that Xu Chongming had developed a thick skin and learned a whole bunch of sweet words from who knows where, saying them to Su Shi in a different way every day.
Su Shi wanted to tell Song Qingyan that the feeling could be found again.
Just like at this moment.
Taking advantage of Su Shi’s distraction, Xu Chongming wrapped his arms around Su Shi’s waist and rested his head on his shoulder. “Baby, forgive me.”
The water in the pot continued to boil, gurgling, and the chrysanthemum and wolfberries had danced for a long time, automatically stopping, and the tea was ready.
Su Shi didn’t answer him, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to him. “Drink some tea first.”
When Xu Chongming took it, his fingers were burned. “Hiss.”
Su Shi grabbed his hand. “I’m sorry. I forgot for a moment that you’re sensitive to heat.”
“It’s okay,” Xu Chongming put the cup down first. “You still care about me so much.”
“No, you’re thick-skinned. You don’t need my care.”
“Su Shi,” Xu Chongming wanted to turn Su Shi around, but Su Shi refused. “Su Shi, look at me.”
Su Shi’s body was turned around, so he had to do as Xu Chongming wished. “What?”
Xu Chongming looked at him with very affectionate eyes. “Can you see it? My eyes are saying, ‘I love you.'”
Who could resist such sweet words?
But Su Shi still held back, telling himself in his heart not to be coaxed so easily with a few sweet words.
“Go back first. We’ll talk about it later. I haven’t calmed down enough.”
Xu Chongming reluctantly got up. “Then don’t make me wait too long.”
“Okay.”
At the door, Little Jie was shooing people away. “Quick, go away, everyone!”
The onlookers dispersed in a flurry.
Little Jie sent Xu Chongming out of the studio and returned to Su Shi’s office. “Teacher Su, your boyfriend is so handsome!”
Su Shi wasn’t in a high mood and just smiled casually. “Take these documents out and distribute them.”
“Okay!”