Lu Yuan was taken aback.
Different?
“How are they different?” Lu Yuan, who had decided not to ask any more questions, found himself inquiring again.
Ning Guiqu remained innocent and carefree, swaying as he walked. He reached the private room door and slumped against it, falling silent.
Lu Yuan approached and continued pressing him.
“Ning Guiqu, I’m asking you a question. What’s different?”
Ning Guiqu tilted his head. “What?”
He had clearly forgotten the question.
A vein throbbed at Lu Yuan’s temple. His rationality told him not to pursue this line of questioning with a drunk, but his emotions compelled him to repeat the question in full. “You said your feelings for me are different from how you feel about your parents. How are they different? Or just tell me, what kind of like is it for me?”
This time, Ning Guiqu heard him.
He rested his head against the door, silent for a moment before glancing sidelong at Lu Yuan, looking shifty.
Lu Yuan didn’t find anything wrong at this point. The process didn’t matter; he just wanted an answer.
Ning Guiqu opened his mouth.
Lu Yuan stared intently at him.
Ning Guiqu said, “My feelings for you are…”
Lu Yuan held his breath.
“Hee hee.”
Then—
Ning Guiqu started giggling, then pressed his head against the door again and demanded fiercely, “Open—up! Let Genius Xiao Qu in!”
Lu Yuan rubbed his brow. What had he been expecting?
Fickle, stupid gay!
Lu Yuan supported Ning Guiqu as they left the Mao Buli Restaurant. It was already dark outside, and Ning Guiqu was still giggling. There were many college students eating nearby, which made Lu Yuan feel embarrassed.
As for Ning Guiqu himself…
He seemed to notice the occasional glances and promptly rested his forehead on Lu Yuan’s shoulder. Lu Yuan stopped walking and reached out to push Ning Guiqu’s head away.
Ning Guiqu’s head wobbled for a moment before he pressed it back against Lu Yuan’s shoulder, giggling again.
“Stop giggling and stand up straight.”
Ning Guiqu obediently stood up, his eyes curving as he giggled at Lu Yuan once more. After laughing, he rested his forehead on Lu Yuan’s shoulder again.
Lu Yuan: “…”
Lu Yuan finally couldn’t help but smile, his lips curving slightly upward. When Ning Guiqu wasn’t being fickle, he was actually quite adorable.
Lu Yuan nudged Ning Guiqu’s head again, supporting him as he swayed unsteadily. As Ning Guiqu leaned against him once more, Lu Yuan said promptly, “No one’s looking at you. You’re drunk but still care about your image?”
As expected, upon hearing Lu Yuan’s words, Ning Guiqu stood still, his gaze vacant. After a few seconds of blankness, he began walking unsteadily without hiding his face. Lu Yuan occasionally supported the swaying Ning Guiqu.
The Mao Buli Restaurant was in a secluded location, and the two walked along a small path with no one around. As they walked, Ning Guiqu suddenly stopped and ran to a nearby tree. He stood there, staring intently at Lu Yuan, waiting for him to come over.
Despite the darkness, Lu Yuan couldn’t ignore Ning Guiqu’s intense gaze.
Lu Yuan realized that Ning Guiqu really couldn’t handle alcohol. His drunk behavior was terrible.
Lu Yuan walked over.
“Let’s go back.”
Ning Guiqu didn’t hear him and called out seriously, “Lu Yuan.”
Lu Yuan repeated, “Let’s go back.”
Ning Guiqu still didn’t hear and said seriously, “I’ve figured something out!”
Lu Yuan had no interest in the epiphanies of a drunk person and said mechanically, “Let’s go back.”
Ning Guiqu still didn’t hear and continued seriously, “I’ve decided to send all your family and friends to Antarctica.”
Lu Yuan: “…”
Lu Yuan sighed, “Are you crazy?”
Ning Guiqu’s ears were currently just a decoration. Not only did he not react to Lu Yuan’s mockery, he said proudly, “This way, you’ll only have me.”
Lu Yuan was stunned.
Ignoring Lu Yuan’s reaction, Ning Guiqu crouched down, giggling and gloating.
Lu Yuan pondered. Was the drunk Ning Guiqu speaking the truth?
Even if it was true, it only meant that Ning Guiqu wanted him to like only Ning Guiqu, while Ning Guiqu himself could find more companions for him, and they could all accompany Ning Guiqu together.
Lu Yuan: “…”
What was he thinking? He’d clearly been around Ning Guiqu too long! Meanwhile, the silly drunk suddenly stood up and asked in confusion, “You’re straight. Wouldn’t it be awkward to be with a gay man like me?”
Ning Guiqu furrowed his brow, clearly finding this question troublesome.
Lu Yuan thought sarcastically that even drunk, Ning Guiqu hadn’t forgotten he was straight.
The more Lu Yuan looked at Ning Guiqu’s face, the more irritated he became. He’d actually been turned by such a fickle gay man. Lu Yuan said coldly, “I’m not straight. Ning Guiqu, let’s go.”
Ning Guiqu didn’t move. This time, he heard Lu Yuan’s words and looked him up and down, concluding, “You look pretty straight to me.”
Lu Yuan: “…”
Lu Yuan said irritably, “I’m gay, okay?”
As soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, Ning Guiqu’s eyes widened even more. He pointed at himself, his voice tinged with excitement, “Me too!”
Lu Yuan took a deep breath.
There was no reasoning with a drunk. Getting a drunk to behave and return to the dorm was even more impossible.
Lu Yuan turned his back to Ning Guiqu. “I’ll carry you back. Can you understand that?”
Then—
Ning Guiqu patted Lu Yuan’s shoulder. “Bend.”
Lu Yuan’s temple throbbed. So he could understand after all.
Lu Yuan bent slightly, and Ning Guiqu immediately jumped on, hugging him tightly. But being drunk, he was restless and said into Lu Yuan’s ear, “Lu Yuan, me too! Why don’t we get together?”
Lu Yuan’s ear tingled as if crawling with countless ants. His heart raced chaotically as usual.
“Do you know what you’re saying?”
The deep, slightly magnetic voice reached Ning Guiqu’s ears. Ning Guiqu heard it!
Ning Guiqu swung his legs slightly. “Of course I do.”
Lu Yuan’s body tensed. He knows? Ning Guiqu actually knows?!
As he spoke, Ning Guiqu touched Lu Yuan’s ear, causing Lu Yuan to stop in his tracks. Ning Guiqu whispered in Lu Yuan’s ear, “Because I like you.”
Lu Yuan felt no joy at this confession. Instead, he pinched Ning Guiqu’s thigh.
Ning Guiqu hissed, “Who was that!”
He poked his head out, looking around.
Lu Yuan stopped walking and said coldly, “It was me. So, how many people have you said those words to?”
Ning Guiqu was stunned for two seconds before reacting. He slumped on Lu Yuan’s shoulder and sighed, “Then I won’t bother you! I’ve only said it to you.”
Lu Yuan turned his head slightly, able to see Ning Guiqu on his shoulder. In the dim streetlight, he could see Ning Guiqu’s cheeks were still flushed, his brow slightly furrowed, probably unhappy about the pinch on his leg.
Lu Yuan couldn’t help but think, perhaps Ning Guiqu was telling the truth?
In that venting account, he had only seen Ning Guiqu confess to him, not to others. If Ning Guiqu truly liked him, if he was truly special to Ning Guiqu, then maybe…
Lu Yuan’s mind snapped, and he fixed his dark eyes on the two figures reflected on the ground. His voice turned hoarse as he asked, “What do you like about me?”
Ning Guiqu replied cheerfully, “Your company!”
Lu Yuan: “…”
Lu Yuan’s expression turned extremely unpleasant.
Unaware of this, Ning Guiqu continued with regret, “I really, really, really, really, really want to work at your company!”
He emphasized “really” multiple times in one breath.
Lu Yuan gritted his teeth and said, “I don’t have a company.”
Ning Guiqu firmly stated, “You will! Lu Yuan, you need to have confidence in yourself!”
Lu Yuan let out a cold laugh.
After encouraging Lu Yuan to be confident, Ning Guiqu suddenly deflated and slumped against Lu Yuan’s shoulder. “But I can’t go now. Lu Yuan, you should cut ties with Song Huai.”
Lu Yuan laughed coldly again as he walked towards the school.
Ning Guiqu suddenly patted Lu Yuan’s shoulder. “Let’s go fishing! I’ll catch fish for you to eat! You cut ties with Song Huai!”
Lu Yuan let out yet another cold laugh, ignoring Ning Guiqu.
Ning Guiqu started throwing a tantrum on Lu Yuan’s back, first tightly hugging his neck, then shaking his entire body against Lu Yuan’s back. “Fishing, fishing, fishing! Fish-ing!”
Lu Yuan was no match for the drunken Ning Guiqu. “It’s so late. Where can we go fishing?”
Ning Guiqu stopped shaking and pressed his face against Lu Yuan’s. “I don’t know. You’re smart, you take me.”
Lu Yuan’s face suddenly felt burned, and his mind went blank.
**
Lu Yuan carried Ning Guiqu to a nearby commercial street. The street was bustling with food vendors and ring toss games. Lu Yuan walked with Ning Guiqu on his back until they reached a place where people were catching small fish with nets. He set Ning Guiqu down and whispered, “Don’t wander off, and don’t say anything weird, okay?”
Ning Guiqu nodded, his eyes bright.
Lu Yuan wasn’t worried about Ning Guiqu causing a drunken scene. Even when he was drunk, Ning Guiqu seemed to maintain his dignity, always speaking to him in a soft, gentle voice that made his ears tingle.
What a fickle gay!
Lu Yuan bought 100 yuan worth of fishing time from the vendor.
Ning Guiqu received a pile of small fishing nets and looked at Lu Yuan with stars in his eyes!
A hint of a smile appeared in Lu Yuan’s eyes.
Although he was fickle, he was easy to please.
Lu Yuan stood by as Ning Guiqu played. Although he could not catch any fish, he had a lot of fun.
The vendor chuckled, “Handsome, why don’t you try too?”
Lu Yuan declined.
Many Linhai University students were on the street, and Lu Yuan noticed that he and Ning Guiqu were being photographed. In the past, Lu Yuan didn’t care much about such things as long as people didn’t shove cameras in his face.
But now, Lu Yuan hoped they’d take more photos. When Ning Guiqu sobered up tomorrow, he’d have evidence of his drunken tantrum and insistence on fishing. Besides, Lu Yuan was curious about what people would say.
Ning Guiqu only managed to catch five small fish with his 100 yuan. The vendor, unable to watch any longer, gave Ning Guiqu a fish tank and a packet of fish food.
Ning Guiqu’s eyes remained bright as he cradled his fish tank, walking slowly to avoid breaking it. He bumped into Lu Yuan’s arm and, when Lu Yuan looked over, said seriously, “We’ll fatten them up before eating.”
Lu Yuan asked, “…Can we go back now?”
Ning Guiqu nodded. And this time… Lu Yuan realized Ning Guiqu could walk properly after all?
After walking a bit, Ning Guiqu stopped and handed the fish tank to Lu Yuan, saying, “Shoelace!”
Lu Yuan glanced suspiciously at Ning Guiqu’s shoelaces but took the tank.
Then—
Ning Guiqu turned his back to Lu Yuan, squatted down, untied his perfectly fine shoelaces, and retied them. Lu Yuan watched his every move clearly from behind.
Lu Yuan dismissed it as drunk behavior.
When Ning Guiqu stood up, Lu Yuan returned the fish tank to him. Ning Guiqu suddenly looked up and said, “The stars are so beautiful!” clumsily changing the subject.
Lu Yuan: “…”
He understood now. Ning Guiqu was just too lazy to carry the tank himself.
Lu Yuan asked suspiciously, “Are you really drunk or not?”
Ning Guiqu tilted his head and shook it, “No!” His flushed face and innocent, almost dim-witted eyes completely weakened his denial.
Ning Guiqu was now relaxed. He walked sometimes in front of Lu Yuan, sometimes beside him. At red lights, he knew to wait. During a 120-second red light, Ning Guiqu grew bored and turned to stare unblinkingly at Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan felt uncomfortable under his gaze.
“What are you looking at?”
Ning Guiqu suddenly said, “Your lips look very kissable. I want to kiss you.”
Lu Yuan nearly dropped the fish tank!
Ning Guiqu, did you even realize what you were saying?!
Leave a Reply