Chapter 30: Will You Be Happy?
Su Huai naturally noticed Qi Xu sitting by the window. He glanced at Xie Yang and them, his gaze shifting between the two. “Are you following him around like a shadow or is this just a coincidence?”
He didn’t believe it was mere chance.
Given Qi Xu’s personality, it was most likely intentional.
Just some straight guy antics.
Oh no, this was all his cunning plan.
Xie Yang suddenly remembered Qi Xu’s questions from last night and finally understood why he had asked so carefully.
It wasn’t about checking up on him; Qi Xu simply wanted to fish for information, and he foolishly fell for it without realizing.
Seems like his boyfriend was a bit clingy.
And ever since they started dating, the aloof and cool image of Qi Xu had begun to crumble.
But regardless of what kind of Qi Xu it was, it seemed to be the one he liked.
Facing Su Huai’s teasing gaze, Xie Yang could only confess to Su Huai, “Last night, I turned down Qi Xu’s invitation to have lunch together. I thought he just wanted to know my schedule…”
Su Huai clicked his tongue.
He knew it would turn out like this.
Looking at Xie Yang, he saw a reflection of himself, remembering Xia Hang’s clinginess. Su Huai couldn’t help but sigh, “Can you handle all this?”
Xie Yang: “Huh?”
Su Huai: “Is Qi Xu overly clingy? He seems like he wants to spend twenty-four hours a day with you.”
Xie Yang smiled shyly, “Can we join them at the same table?”
Su Huai teased, “Now you’re not afraid of letting everyone know?”
Xie Yang lowered his gaze and whispered, “I want to make him happy.”
Qi Xu liked sticking close to him so much that if he pretended not to know him deliberately, Qi Xu might not get upset, but he’d probably feel a bit stifled inside.
Gradually, he might become disappointed in him.
Su Huai didn’t seem to mind, “Sure, we can. Anyway, I know both of them. Let’s just freeload a meal off them.”
Hearing Su Huai’s words, Xie Yang felt relieved.
Originally planning to sit at the table next to Qi Xu, he walked directly to Qi Xu instead. In Qi Xu’s surprised eyes, Xie Yang smiled and said, “Mind if we join tables?”
Sheng Fei, who was ordering food, heard someone striking up a conversation and looked up strangely at Xie Yang.
Just as he was about to say “Who are you?”, he saw Qi Xu scoot over to the adjacent seat and happily say, “Couldn’t ask for more.”
Sheng Fei: “???”
Couldn’t ask for more?
Was that something you’d hear from old Qi?
Sheng Fei glanced strangely at Xie Yang sitting next to Qi Xu.
Do they know each other?
When did old Qi get a friend like this? How did he not know?
Why were they sitting so close together?
It was weird.
Old Qi never liked people getting too close to him.
Su Huai patted Sheng Fei on the shoulder, gesturing for him to sit inside. “Xiao Fei Fei, I’m sitting here.”
Hearing the nickname “Xiao Fei Fei,” Sheng Fei felt his scalp tingle. He glanced at the person and said, “Su Huai, long time no see.”
Su Huai: “Yeah, it’s been a while.”
Sheng Fei: “Why isn’t Xia Heng with you?”
He had heard recently that Xia Heng had returned to the country to find his childhood sweetheart, never expecting it to be Su Huai.
Su Huai: “He has something to do today.”
Hopefully, he always has something to do, so he doesn’t need to be watched 24/7.
Sheng Fei: “Oh.”
The hard-to-start conversation ended again, and Sheng Fei dryly watched the two sitting intimately in front of him.
When did Old Qi get so chummy with another guy?
The bench isn’t small, but the two of them are squeezing together. Don’t they feel uncomfortable?
Scanning the QR code to order, Qi Xu told Xie Yang to order what he liked.
Xie Yang: “How spicy do you want the broth? Mild? Medium?”
Qi Xu lightly tapped his fingers on the table, as if thinking, his brow furrowing slightly: “Order the clear broth. Your stomach isn’t great, don’t eat too much chili.”
Xie Yang: “I can eat a little bit.”
Qi Xu: “I’ll make a dipping sauce with some chili for you later.”
Xie Yang nodded obediently.
Su Huai ignored the dumbfounded Sheng Fei next to him; he was busy ordering food.
Today, with someone else footing the bill, he wasn’t going to hold back.
Qi Xu: “What else do you want to eat?”
Xie Yang: “We can order more if it’s not enough.”
Qi Xu: “I’ll go make you a dipping sauce, you just sit here.”
Xie Yang: “Okay.”
Sheng Fei’s eyes almost popped out. What’s going on? Old Qi making a dipping sauce for someone?
Every time they had hotpot before, it was always others who made the dipping sauce for Old Qi under his orders.
When had he ever seen Old Qi serve someone else like this?
Sheng Fei looked at Qi Xu, his mind a mess, and blurted out, “Old Qi, can you make one for me too?”
Qi Xu gave him a cold look and silently mouthed one word.
“Scram.”
Sheng Fei: “???”
He scratched his head as he watched Qi Xu’s retreating figure.
“You’re really clueless.”
Su Huai couldn’t help but roll his eyes at him and then followed Qi Xu to the self-service area to make the dipping sauce.
Sheng Fei: “???”
He didn’t understand what kind of charade Su Huai was playing.
Xie Yang didn’t know what to say, so he simply kept quiet and obediently waited for Qi Xu to return.
Sheng Fei scrutinized Xie Yang, his gaze falling on his face. Remembering the intimate way they interacted, he thought of Qi Xu’s mysterious online lover. He remembered that Qi Xu had even met his online lover in person, and the other party was a guy.
Thinking about this, Sheng Fei looked Xie Yang over carefully again.
“You wouldn’t happen to be that little supporter, would you?”
Xie Yang hadn’t expected him to start a conversation and was momentarily stunned, then he nodded and politely greeted, “Hello, I’m Xie Yang.”
Sheng Fei’s mind buzzed as he realized that this was Qi Xu’s mysterious online lover.
“No wonder he suddenly wanted to treat me to hotpot. It’s because you’re here.”
When Xie Yang heard these words, a sweet feeling surged in his heart.
Even bystanders could see what was on his mind.
Looking at Xie Yang’s obedient appearance, Sheng Fei sighed and said, “Just as I expected, Old Qi really likes your type.”
Xie Yang: “What?”
Before Sheng Fei could say anything else, Qi Xu returned. He glanced sideways at Sheng Fei and huffed, “Sh*t up.”
Sheng Fei made a gesture of zipping his lips, indicating he would stay quiet.
Even when eating hotpot, Xie Yang didn’t need to lift a finger. Qi Xu would help him blanch all the dishes he wanted and put them in his bowl.
Sheng Fei looked at Qi Xu, who was acting like a servant to his crush, with a complicated expression.
He really wanted to record this scene and show it to Xi Rui and Song Xingyu.
Qi Xu, deep in love, was quite unsettling to witness.
Seeing Qi Xu filling his bowl full of food, Xie Yang quietly refused, “I can’t eat anymore.”
Qi Xu patted his slightly bulging belly and smiled, “Then I’ll eat it.”
He took Xie Yang’s bowl.
Sheng Fei was once again astonished.
Old Qi could even eat leftovers from others.
He couldn’t help but admire little assistant’s charm, to actually captivate Old Qi like this.
Sheng Fei felt he couldn’t bear this alone. He opened WeChat group chat.
Sheng Fei: [Old Qi has lost his dignity.]
Xi Rui: [When did he have dignity?]
Sheng Fei: [He actually flaunted his affection with his partner right in front of me, it’s really too much.]
Sheng Fei: [The stench of love is suffocating me.]
Xi Rui: [What? Old Qi is really in a relationship?!]
Song Xingyu: [What? Old Qi is really in a relationship?! When did this happen?!]
Sheng Fei: [That little devil looks exactly like Old Qi’s type, making him go all out. No wonder he’s been quiet lately, turns out he’s been busy chasing after his little boyfriend.]
Song Xingyu: [Tell us more, I have a friend who wants to know before he dies.]
Xi Rui: [Which friend of yours?!]
Xi Rui: [How do you know? @Sheng Fei]
Sheng Fei: [This sly guy suddenly said today he wanted to treat me to hotpot, turns out it’s because his dear boyfriend was coming here to eat, and he came to pretend it’s a coincidence.]
Sheng Fei: [He’s really shameless.]
Xi Rui: [Hahaha, the scapegoat has been caught red-handed.]
Song Xingyu: [I don’t mind being that scapegoat.]
Song Xingyu: [@CX330, why didn’t you invite me? Am I not worthy to be that scapegoat?]
Xi Rui: [@CX330, why didn’t you invite me? Am I not worthy to be that scapegoat?]
Sheng Fei: [You two are really toxic.]
Qi Xu’s phone kept buzzing, but he showed no intention of checking it. Xie Yang asked him, “Aren’t you going to see what the messages are?”
Qi Xu glanced at Sheng Fei and said, “Just some boring group messages, no need to bother.”
“Oh.”
Xie Yang nodded.
Qi Xu placed his phone in Xie Yang’s hand and lazily smiled, “Are you checking up on me, boyfriend?”
Xie Yang blushed slightly, and returned the phone to Qi Xu. He had no intention of checking his boyfriend’s phone, believing that a phone was a private thing that even couples should respect as personal space.
Just like the secrets in his own phone, he didn’t want Qi Xu to discover them yet.
…
After dinner, Xie Yang returned to the dormitory, feeling like he still smelled of hotpot.
But Qi Xu didn’t. He still smelled like fragrant gardenias.
After taking a shower, he had to go to class. Today was the last day of December, and after today’s class, the New Year’s holiday would begin.
He had cleared his schedule for the New Year holiday and renegotiated his part-time job with the manager.
His savings were now enough to support him until he graduated from college. He hoped to free up some time to have a proper relationship.
Xie Yang’s class in the afternoon started half an hour earlier than Qi Xu’s.
The Computer Science and Business Management buildings were not far apart, so Xie Yang waited for him downstairs.
Today was very cold, and the weather forecast said it might snow in the evening.
Xie Yang wore a hat and scarf, wrapping himself up tightly.
As Qi Xu reached the staircase, he saw Xie Yang, head down, playing on his phone.
Qi Xu strode towards him, unable to hide the joy on his face.
He hadn’t expected Xie Yang to wait for him here.
Did this mean Xie Yang was willing to go public with their relationship?
Qi Xu wanted to take his hand, but hesitated halfway.
Xie Yang looked at his outstretched hand and took the initiative to hold it, softly saying, “Your hand is so warm.”
Qi Xu tightly held Xie Yang’s hand and put it in his pocket, saying tenderly, “It’s so cold, and you’re still waiting here for me.”
Xie Yang: “Does it make you happy?”
Qi Xu bent down to kiss his cheek and smiled, “Yes, it makes me very happy.”
People around them glanced over intentionally or unintentionally, and their whispers reached their ears.
Xie Yang started to get nervous; he wasn’t used to being the center of attention.
Qi Xu re-tied his scarf, covering most of his face.
“This is better.”
Xie Yang’s heart fluttered slightly. He felt that Qi Xu understood everything.
Understanding, respect, and love.
Xie Yang held his hand tightly and smiled, “Shall we go home?”