IHOEAYSTTTIW Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Some things, once said, are… over.

Chapter 43: Some things, once said, are… over.

Cheng Que saw Lin Yan mechanically chopping vegetables as soon as he entered. His eyes could barely stay open, but his hands didn’t stop moving. He anxiously watched Lin Yan chop up one small mountain of vegetables, then start on a second.

Taking advantage of the lull between the two mountains, Cheng Que stopped Lin Yan and advised, “Yanzi, you look exhausted.”

Lin Yan mumbled, “White was being a nuisance all night, didn’t get much sleep.”

White meowed in dissatisfaction.

The truth was, Lin Yan had been on his cell phone all night, wanting to ask Qian Du what Yun Qi really thought of him, but he couldn’t look it up because there was no internet. So… he read novels all night, and the more he read, the more familiar they seemed. The way things were developing between him and Yun Qi wasn’t just similar to those novels; it was practically the same.

“You should go rest…”

Lin Yan waved his hand and yawned, “I can’t sleep until I finish these takeout orders.”

Cheng Que wanted to persuade him further, but the new kitchen helper came to him in a flurry, so he had to leave the kitchen, looking back every few steps.

Yun Qi returned to help as soon as he finished delivering the takeout orders. He opened the door to see Lin Yan absentmindedly stir-frying vegetables, reaching for the sugar jar to pour into the dish.

Yun Qi quickly grabbed Lin Yan’s hand and, seeing Lin Yan’s puzzled look, replaced the jar in his hand with another: “Big Brother, this is salt.”

Lin Yan looked at the label on the jar in his hand, then at the label on the original jar, and slapped his forehead in frustration, “How could I mess that up? I’ve really turned stupid from playing on my cell phone.”

“Cell phone? What cell phone?” Gu Zhan overheard the unfamiliar word as he entered. According to Lin Yan’s habits, it was definitely a new dish.

“It’s cooked chicken.” Yun Qi handed the processed chicken to Gu Zhan, reinforcing Gu Zhan’s impression, “Big Brother is obsessed with researching new dishes.”

Gu Zhan took the chicken from Yun Qi and stacked the dishes Lin Yan had prepared in a peculiar way, ready to take them to the front yard. “That should be enough. I heard from Ah Que that you’re not feeling well today, so I asked Xiao Qi to come over… Wait, who are you?”

Gu Zhan only realized halfway through his sentence that the boy calling Lin Yan “Big Brother” was different from usual.

“He’s Xiao Qi.” Lin Yan threw the spatula into the pot, took off his apron, and put it on Yun Qi.

Gu Zhan put the tray on the table and looked Yun Qi up and down, his eyes finally settling on Yun Qi’s face. He shook his head in disbelief, “The figure is similar, but this face…”

“Ever heard of facial disguise?” Lin Yan snapped his fingers and reached out to tug at Yun Qi’s cheek. “This is the real one now.”

“I know, but…”

“Alright, alright.” Yun Qi pushed Lin Yan out, winking at him where Gu Zhan couldn’t see. “I’ll talk to him. Big Brother, go to sleep.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Lin Yan yawned, waved at the two, and went to catch up on his sleep.

As soon as Yun Qi closed the door, he saw the big fat cat in the corner wake up, looking around as if searching for something.

The fat cat was looking for Lin Yan.

Yun Qi felt a momentary pang of jealousy, but he grabbed White by the scruff of its neck and put it outside the door. “Big Brother is too bored alone. Let White keep you company.”

Gu Zhan came back after delivering the dishes. He was particularly interested in Yun Qi’s story. So when Yun Qi tried to send him away with the newly stir-fried dishes, he directly swapped tasks with the kitchen helper who was picking vegetables.

Gu Zhan looked Yun Qi up and down again, unable to find any similarities to his previous appearance except for the scar on his face. He clicked his tongue in wonder and reached out to touch it. “Mo, your face…”

Yun Qi deftly dodged and changed the subject to something Gu Zhan would definitely pick up on: “Brother Gu, have you and Cheng resolved your misunderstanding?”

“No rush, we’re taking it slow.” Gu Zhan opened the kitchen window. The seat he was sitting in had a clear view of Cheng Que working behind the counter. The corners of his mouth turned up involuntarily, and his eyes softened as he spoke with a hint of boastfulness. “I took him to the ancestral ceremony yesterday, so our relationship has been witnessed by our ancestors. We’ll be family sooner or later.”

Yun Qi casually replied, “That’s great.”

“I was wrong about what happened before.” Gu Zhan wiped the water off his hands and carefully pinched the purse hanging from his waist, counting the silver inside, then carefully put it back. “I’ll save up more money, then I’ll marry Ah Que in style.”

Thinking about his own complicated relationship with Lin Yan, Yun Qi became even more envious of the kind of relationship Gu Zhan and Cheng Que had, where misunderstandings could be resolved with a simple conversation.

Gu Zhan, as if to deliberately bring up sore spots, started gossiping about Yun Qi and Lin Yan: “Speaking of which, when are you two getting married? Maybe we can arrange to have it together…”

Yun Qi shook his head, forcing a smile. “We’ll see…”

…

Gu Zhan paused, examining Yun Qi with a probing gaze for a long time before finally advising earnestly, “I don’t know what secrets or misunderstandings there are between you and Yanzi, but listen to me, some things are better said out loud. Yanzi is such a reasonable person, he’ll definitely understand.”

“There’s nothing, no misunderstandings.” Yun Qi poured oil into the pot, the sizzling sound interrupting Gu Zhan’s words and also masking Yun Qi’s disappointment.

Misunderstandings can be resolved by talking them out, but lies can only be covered up with more lies. What’s more…

He had used those lies to weave a beautiful dream for Lin Yan, and used those lies to take things from Lin Yan.

Someone like him could never be easily forgiven.

Yun Qi handed the stir-fried dish to Gu Zhan, making his intention to send him away very clear.

Gu Zhan took two steps towards the door with the dish, then turned back. Under Yun Qi’s questioning gaze, Gu Zhan stiffly comforted, “Take it slow, it’ll all be okay.”

…

Yun Qi numbly nodded, closed the door, and buried himself in the endless task of cooking.

The EMO moment didn’t last long. Gu Zhan came back after delivering the dishes. Ignoring the oppressive atmosphere in the kitchen, he pressed Yun Qi to admire the new pendant he had bought for Cheng Que: “See that pendant? I bought it, isn’t it pretty?”

Yun Qi looked in the direction Gu Zhan was pointing and saw the new earrings Cheng Que was wearing glittering brightly. Although the earrings were still long, they were much simpler and less extravagant than the ones Gu Zhan had worn before.

Yun Qi hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself, before finally asking the question he had been wanting to ask, “It’s pretty, but… why did you have to buy this kind of…”

“Why buy these long earrings, you mean?” Gu Zhan shrugged, sighing as he looked at the busy Cheng Que. “I didn’t want to buy this style either, but Aunt Zheng’s affair had too much of an impact on him.”

Yun Qi vaguely guessed what Gu Zhan wanted to say, but still pressed him for more information: “What affair?”

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