HUFT Chapter 58

Chapter 58

Fu Chaoyun followed Xiao Yi inside. He was not in the mood for eating, thinking it was just an ordinary restaurant with a unique name, Zhuxiang Small Residence. He glanced at the decorations as he walked in, finding nothing particularly novel, and dragged his feet forward.

Fu Chaoyun stopped abruptly at a turn, Xiao Yi still chattering beside him.

“Let’s go, why did you stop?”

Xiao Yi spoke to Fu Chaoyun as he walked ahead, but he stopped mid-sentence, realizing Fu Chaoyun was no longer beside him. He turned around to find Fu Chaoyun standing still.

Xiao Yi was puzzled. Why did he suddenly stop walking?

“What’s wrong? Chaoyun?”

Xiao Yi took two steps back to look at Fu Chaoyun. It was because of Xiao Yi calling out “Chaoyun” that Chi Nan, who had been facing away from Fu Chaoyun, paused with his chopsticks, mid-reach for a dish. Chi Nan thought it couldn’t be that coincidental, that the “Chaoyun” they were calling was the Chaoyun he knew. Chi Nan didn’t turn around, but just paused slightly, then continued the unfinished action with his chopsticks, pretending to be nonchalant.

“Let’s go, I thought I saw an acquaintance, but I guess I was mistaken.”

As Fu Chaoyun rounded the corner, he saw Chi Nan’s back. Fu Chaoyun would never mistake Chi Nan’s back. Even if he did, Gu Jingnan’s eyes met Fu Chaoyun’s at the turn. Fu Chaoyun recognized Gu Jingnan, so he paused, looking at Chi Nan’s back. He seemed thinner. Fu Chaoyun hadn’t seen Chi Nan for many days, but even just from his back, he felt that Chi Nan seemed thinner, his back a little frail. However, even if he was frail, it was none of his business. Now, Chi Nan was eating with Gu Jingnan, not him, Fu Chaoyun. They were just strangers.

“Your eyesight is really bad, let’s go, let’s eat.”

Xiao Yi didn’t understand what Fu Chaoyun meant. He didn’t know Chi Nan, so he didn’t know about the changes in Fu Chaoyun’s heart. He just thought Fu Chaoyun’s eyesight was bad for saying he saw an acquaintance, but he didn’t think too much about it. Someone as oblivious as Xiao Yi wouldn’t think on that level, and he followed Fu Chaoyun into the private room.

As Fu Chaoyun passed by Chi Nan, Chi Nan could clearly smell a faint scent, the scent that belonged to Uncle Fu. Even though he knew Uncle Fu was nearby, he wanted to pretend he didn’t know and ignore him. Just as Fu Chaoyun was leaving him with only his back, Chi Nan couldn’t help but raise his eyes to look at Uncle Fu, until Fu Chaoyun disappeared from his sight.

“Regret it?”

Gu Jingnan had seen everything and asked Chi Nan.

Chi Nan shook his head, put down his chopsticks, and said slowly.

“I don’t regret it. I was the one who brought it up, so I won’t regret it. Besides, even if I did regret it, it wouldn’t do any good. We were originally two parallel lines that would never intersect. Forcibly intersecting them would only disrupt the balance of the world.”

Chi Nan was very rational when he said this. He knew what he was saying and what he was doing. Even if he was given a chance to regret it now, he wouldn’t know what to do with it.

“But you still like him.”

Chi Nan rested his arm on his chin and began to think.

“Like him? How could I not like him? A man like Uncle Fu, anyone would like him. I can only blame myself for not having the good fortune.”

Gu Jingnan nodded after hearing this. Chi Nan was so young, but he lived more clearly and optimistically than they did, and he thought more openly.

“You are very smart.”

This was Gu Jingnan’s evaluation of Chi Nan.

In the private room, Xiao Yi and Fu Chaoyun sat down. The waiter brought over the bamboo menu, and Xiao Yi ordered a few dishes and passed the bamboo menu to Fu Chaoyun. Fu Chaoyun glanced at it but didn’t take it.

“You order. I’m fine with anything.”

“What’s wrong with you? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you so down. I’m going to laugh at you.”

Xiao Yi ordered a few more of Fu Chaoyun’s favorite dishes, then handed the bamboo menu to the waiter and leaned closer to Fu Chaoyun.

“Tell me, I’ve heard so much has happened while I was away. It’s all so exciting. The love story of the film emperor and the musical genius was interrupted by a third party. Let’s dig into the film emperor’s untold secrets. I’ve read it all. I feel like it’s a bit exaggerated. Tell me about it from your perspective.”

Xiao Yi joked with Fu Chaoyun with a grin.

“Really want to know?”

Fu Chaoyun looked up at Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi had a curious expression, his thirst for knowledge exploding as he waited for Fu Chaoyun’s next words.

“Of course. What others say is always a bit fake.”

“Do me a favor and I’ll tell you.”

“What is it?”

Fu Chaoyun crooked his finger, and Xiao Yi leaned closer to Fu Chaoyun. Fu Chaoyun whispered in Xiao Yi’s ear.

“Do you see those two people eating by the window outside? Get the old man away from him and I’ll tell you.”

“Do you have a grudge against those two people? You wouldn’t have stopped walking because you saw those two, would you? If they have a grudge against you, what if they come after me with a big knife someday? I won’t do something like that.”

Xiao Yi strategically retreated. He didn’t know those two people either. Fu Chaoyun was full of mischief, and he didn’t believe Fu Chaoyun would have anything good in mind for him.

“Then change it. Go order two dishes for the table across from us and say they’re from you.”

“That’s okay. What dishes? No, what’s your relationship with those two people? First you wanted to get the old man away, now you’re sending them food. What are you thinking?”

Xiao Yi felt strange. Fu Chaoyun’s attitude changed too quickly, and he couldn’t figure it out.

“Do you still want to hear the story?”

“Yes, what dishes?”

Xiao Yi received Fu Chaoyun’s instructions and ordered a few dishes with the waiter, saying they were to be served to the table by the window. After ordering, Fu Chaoyun had a smile on his face. Xiao Yi felt uneasy when he saw the smile on Fu Chaoyun’s face, but there was nothing wrong with ordering a few dishes. Xiao Yi was completely confused.

After a while, a few dishes were served to Chi Nan and Gu Jingnan’s table. As soon as the dishes were served, Chi Nan immediately stopped the waiter.

“Wait, we’ve already received all our dishes. What’s going on with these?”

Chi Nan stopped the waiter.

“They are from the guests at the table inside.”

After the waiter said that, he put the dishes on the table and left.