Xu Zhou lazily responded with an “En,” holding onto Gu Jingchen’s waist, and said, “Alright, I’ll remember your words.”
Gu Jingchen smiled, cupping his face, kissing his lips, and murmuring, “Zhou Zhou, you seem so happy.”
Xu Zhou touched his face and smiled in response. The two exchanged an affectionate kiss.
Xu Zhou said, “Let’s get up. Today is the first day of the year. Let’s plan where to go.”
Although they didn’t stay up until midnight, the establishment of a relationship with Zhou Zhou filled Gu Jingchen with extreme happiness.
His chest was brimming with joy, and immersed in excitement. When Xu Zhou got up to freshen up, Gu Jingchen followed him, standing by Xu Zhou’s side like when they were children, brushing their teeth together.
After rinsing their mouths, he flashed a bright smile at the reflection of Xu Zhou in the mirror, showing his white teeth, and said, “Zhou Zhou, I’m really happy.”
Xu Zhou smirked.
After leaving the bathroom, Xu Zhou slowly changed into new clothes and said, “I have a gift for you.”
Gu Jingchen grinned with anticipation.
From the drawer of the bedside table, Xu Zhou took out a box and handed it to him.
Gu Jingchen took it in his hands.
This was the first gift Zhou Zhou gave him after they established their relationship. Gu Jingchen was both excited and a bit nervous.
Opening the box, he found a figurine inside—exactly the one he was planning to collect recently. Even though he hadn’t mentioned it to Zhou Zhou, his Zhou Zhou had intuitively bought it for him as a gift.
He was so happy that he almost acted foolishly, tightly hugging Xu Zhou and kissing his lips, saying, “I really like it. Thank you, Zhou Zhou.”
Xu Zhou didn’t push him away and kissed him back.
Later, the two went out, strolled around the city, and enjoyed a candlelit dinner.
Xu Zhou had chosen the restaurant, reputed to be famous in California, and he had reserved the entire venue.
Gu Jingchen felt that Zhou Zhou was truly romantic, and in comparison, he had done too little.
In the following days, the two of them stuck together. Inspired by Xu Zhou’s candlelit dinner, Gu Jingchen felt he should make more effort. So, every day, he sent flowers to Xu Zhou and occasionally gave him some exquisite little gifts.
Although he had considered giving houses or cars, Zhou Zhou was wealthy, and he had also previously rejected the diamond ring Gu Jingchen offered. Gu Jingchen thought it was better to give small gifts; otherwise, Zhou Zhou probably wouldn’t accept them.
Every time Xu Zhou received flowers, although he didn’t show much excitement, he would personally arrange the flowers in the vase each time, indicating that he was in a good mood.
Before Gu Jingchen returned to his home country, Xu Zhou even took him to the seaside.
California has a mild climate, and the winter sea breeze on the face is not uncomfortable.
The two walked along the beach, gazing at the setting sun.
Gu Jingchen embraced Xu Zhou from behind and whispered in his ear, “I’ll come to see you again in a month.”
After returning home, he would start school, and he would undoubtedly be busy, not only with academics but also managing the company. However, he believed that he could find time to visit California.
Xu Zhou held onto the hand placed around his waist, gently agreeing.
Gu Jingchen couldn’t resist kissing his neck.
These days, he always felt like he was dreaming. Not only did Xu Zhou agree to be with him, but he also indulged and pampered him like this.
He was afraid it was all a dream.
He was someone who took relationships seriously. Once determined, he wouldn’t change. This was also why he hadn’t made up his mind to be with Xu Zhou before. At that time, he wasn’t sure if he really wanted to spend his life with a man, so he didn’t dare to agree easily.
But since he figured it out, he decided to cherish the time with Zhou Zhou and grow old together.
Of course, he knew that Zhou Zhou also treated relationships seriously.
However, for some reason, he still felt a bit uneasy in his heart.
Although they established their relationship, he didn’t see the passionate look in Zhou Zhou’s eyes.
Could it be because they grew up together since childhood, and there was no longer any passion?
As they returned from the beach, Gu Jingchen continued to hold onto Xu Zhou’s waist, sticking to him.
He is leaving tomorrow, reluctant to part.
It’s dinner time now, and the courtyard is adorned with colorful lights. The two sit in the dining room, ready to eat.
Because Gu Jingchen is holding Xu Zhou around the waist, their posture is a bit awkward and ambiguous, so Xu Zhou has all the servants leave.
He didn’t push Gu Jingchen away either. Instead, he touched his face and said, “You let me go first, I’ll get a bottle of red wine.”
Gu Jingchen was somewhat surprised. Did Zhou Zhou drink red wine on New Year’s Eve, woke up with a terrible headache the next day, and now he wants to drink again?
He hesitated but didn’t stop him in the end.
After all, it was in his own home, even if Zhou Zhou got drunk, he could take care of him.
Sure enough, this time, Xu Zhou still managed to get both of them drunk.
He himself wasn’t too drunk, but he insisted on making Gu Jingchen drink with him, cup after cup.
Fortunately, Gu Jingchen had a good tolerance for alcohol. In the end, Xu Zhou was the one who got drunk and collapsed in his arms, but he remained sober.
Just like last time, he carried Zhou Zhou back to the bedroom, and then he instructed the kitchen to prepare sobering soup, feeding it to him.
Afterward, he went to the bathroom to get a wet towel to wipe him down.
As soon as he took off his shirt, Xu Zhou suddenly opened his eyes, staring directly at him, and said, “Let’s do it.”
Gu Jingchen’s eyes widened.
Xu Zhou looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, his drunken eyes moist, his cheeks flushed. He coldly snorted, “Don’t want to?”
How could Gu Jingchen not want to?!
In fact, he had long wanted to prove that he had feelings for Zhou Zhou…
But now, Zhou Zhou is still drunk. If he takes advantage of the situation, Zhou Zhou will definitely be angry when he wakes up the next day.
As his thoughts tumbled, Xu Zhou suddenly got up and pressed him down on the bed.
They were similar in height and strength. Gu Jingchen was caught off guard and was indeed pinned down by him.
“Zhou Zhou…” His body tensed instantly, and he awkwardly called out.
“Kiss me.” Xu Zhou covered his mouth with his own.
At the age of youthful vigor, and with his lover being so proactive, Gu Jingchen couldn’t resist this teasing.
But he still had a shred of reason, pushing the person on top of him, saying, “Zhou Zhou, it’s not right, you’re drunk…”
Xu Zhou bit his lips impatiently. “Idiot, I only had three drinks… I was pretending to be drunk!”
As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Jingchen couldn’t hold back anymore. He turned the tables and pressed Xu Zhou beneath him.
In a daze, he thought that since he and Zhou Zhou were already a couple, sooner or later they would do it. Now that Zhou Zhou was in the mood, he didn’t want to spoil the fun.
Even if Zhou Zhou blamed him when he woke up tomorrow, he would accept it.
Both of them were inexperienced for the first time, and in the end, Gu Jingchen remembered that he hadn’t prepared anything.
Xu Zhou said, “Drawer…”
Gu Jingchen didn’t let him go, comforting him while opening the drawer.
Everything was unopened. Thinking that Zhou Zhou had prepared it in advance, Gu Jingchen felt a warm feeling in his heart.
…the river crab army crawled across…
Afterward, it was unknown how much time had passed before Gu Jingchen stopped his conquest.
He held Xu Zhou tightly in his arms, gently kissing his beloved in a tender embrace. “Zhou Zhou, I love you.”
Seemingly bewildered by the sudden confession, Xu Zhou took a while before hugging him back and softly saying, “I love you too.”
…
The next day, Xu Zhou had a slight fever.
Gu Jingchen felt guilty, so early in the morning, he went out to buy fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory medicine and then went to the kitchen to make porridge.
He fed Xu Zhou half a bowl of white rice porridge, kissed his forehead, and said, “What if I don’t leave today?”
Fortunately, it was the weekend, and Xu Zhou didn’t have classes.
Although Gu Jingchen was delighted that they had become true intimate lovers the night before, seeing Xu Zhou being affected like this by his actions made him feel incredibly uneasy.
Thinking that he had to leave by noon, he felt even more remorseful and found it hard to part.
Xu Zhou, however, didn’t think his fever was a big deal. He patted Gu Jingchen’s shoulder, saying, “I’m fine, just rest for a couple of days.”
As Gu Jingchen considered changing his flight, Xu Zhou interrupted, saying, “It’s not necessary.”
Pouting, Gu Jingchen looked at him with a helpless expression.
Xu Zhou: “…”
The person he liked was indeed a big fool.
He gave him a cool look and said, “I’m really fine. I’ll send you to the airport later.”
Gu Jingchen was stunned.
Even when Xu Zhou was in such a state, he still wanted to accompany him to the airport…
Thinking about last night, how Xu Zhou took the initiative to bring out the red wine and then took the initiative to hug him… his heart was suddenly warm.
His Zhou Zhou was truly brave.
How could he not love such a person?
He held him tightly in his arms and showered him with kisses.
Being so affectionate, Xu Zhou’s eyes secretly revealed a hint of helplessness, but upon closer inspection, there was also a trace of joy.
After a moment of tenderness, Gu Jingchen nuzzled Xu Zhou’s neck like a big cat, and coquettishly said, “Zhou Zhou, are you willing to accept the ring I want to give you?”
Xu Zhou shook his head, saying, “We haven’t graduated from college yet, whether it’s engagement or marriage, it’s too early.”
Hearing him say this, Gu Jingchen felt that it made sense. He planned to achieve some success before showing it to Xu Zhou.
So, he hugged Xu Zhou tightly and said, “Then let’s get married after graduation, okay?”
He had decided to propose after graduation and firmly tie Zhou Zhou down.
Xu Zhou touched his face and smiled, saying, “Okay.”
This excited Gu Jingchen again. If not for Xu Zhou still recovering, he would have pounced on him.
After lunch, at Xu Zhou’s request, the two set off to the airport on time.
Gu Jingchen, not feeling at ease, said, “Zhou Zhou, you don’t have to send me off. I can go by myself.”
Although he had recovered from his fever now, he still felt sorry for Zhou Zhou’s hard work from last night.
He tightly held him in his arms, showering him with kisses, and said, “Anyway, I’ll be back in a month.”
Xu Zhou also kissed him back, without insisting.
However, Gu Jingchen kept dragging his feet, refusing to leave.
Xu Zhou pinched his nose, saying, “I’ll just send you off.”
Gu Jingchen quickly jumped up, saying, “I’m leaving now.”
This made Xu Zhou laugh.
He escorted Gu Jingchen to the gate, and the two exchanged a lingering kiss before parting ways.
As he sat in the car, Gu Jingchen looked at Xu Zhou, who was smiling gracefully outside the window. Thinking about their confirmed relationship, the sweetness of last night, and their graduation agreement, his mood soared.
Although he hadn’t given the ring yet, he wasn’t in a hurry. Three and a half years was manageable; he could wait.
*
For the rest of their university life, Gu Jingchen was busy with his studies and managing the company. More importantly, every month, like clockwork, he would go to California to visit Xu Zhou. This was a fixed schedule that he adhered to.
During winter and summer vacations, Xu Zhou would also return to China. In the second year after they established their relationship, during the Chinese New Year, Xu Zhou took leave to return to his home country.
The elders at home knew that they were together and were very happy. That year, the two families even formally had a meal together, expressing their support for the couple.
Their childhood friends, seeing that the two had finally settled down, breathed a sigh of relief and extended their blessings.
Time flew by in this happy manner, and the two were soon graduating from their senior year.
During that year, Xu Zhou was busy with his thesis and would frequently return to China. He also took over the company, practically handling everything.
Gu Jingchen had also grown a lot. Realizing he wasn’t suitable for the political arena, Grandpa Gu handed over the family company to him early on. Following Zhou Nianyuan, he learned a lot and was now a well-known figure in Haicheng, being addressed as General Gu.
External praises didn’t affect Gu Jingchen much. What made him happy was that Xu Zhou was finally coming back, and they no longer had to endure a long-distance relationship!
He planned to propose on the day of Xu Zhou’s graduation and had been planning for it for a long time.
One week before graduation, Xu Zhou returned to China.
Gu Jingchen went to the airport to pick him up. As soon as Xu Zhou got in the car, Gu Jingchen pressed him into the seat and bit down fiercely.
Xu Zhou hugged his neck, responding to his passionate kiss.
Even though it had only been a month apart, it felt like centuries. Both of them were a bit excited and took quite some time to start the car.
Gu Jingchen, one hand on the steering wheel, gently touched Xu Zhou’s still-blushing face and said, “I’ll take you home. Rest for a while, and I’ll go to the company to handle some matters. I’ll be back in the evening for dinner with the elders.”
Since they started dating, the interaction between the two families became closer, and they often gathered together.
Xu Zhou leaned over and kissed him, saying, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
With the thesis completed, as long as he returned to school to pick up his graduation certificate, this time, he wouldn’t be leaving again.
Gu Jingchen grinned as he was kissed and added, “Tomorrow, let’s get together with A’Yuan and the others. Everyone is looking forward to your return.”
In recent years, he had become close to Zhou Nianyuan. Zhou Nianyuan often guided him in the matters of the company.
Speaking of which, Zhou Nianyuan was truly a remarkable individual. As an illegitimate child, he managed to seize control of the Zhou family within a few short years. Not only did he reorganize the Zhou family, but he also stirred up the prestigious circles in Haicheng. Now, when people talked about Zhou Nianyuan, they were both wary and admiring.
The other childhood friends had also grown up. Some got married at a young age, some took over family businesses, and others ventured into their own entrepreneurial endeavors. However, no matter the paths they chose, the bond between them remained as strong as ever.
Although Xu Zhou’s relationship with those childhood friends might not be as deep as with Gu Jingchen, after all, they had grown up together. Now that he and Gu Jingchen were together again, the distance between him and those childhood friends naturally became closer.
He smiled and replied, “Sure, I bought gifts for them. Remind me to bring them to the gathering tomorrow.”
This time, he came back to stay with Gu Jingchen, but he still valued his relationship with those childhood friends.
Gu Jingchen leaned in with a smile and kissed him, saying, “Zhou Zhou, I’m so happy.”
His spirits were high, and if it weren’t for an important business meeting later, he wouldn’t want to go to the company.
Xu Zhou looked at him with amusement.
Clearly, they were adults now, yet he still behaved like a big boy, silly and cute when he laughed.
But wasn’t that the Gu Jingchen he loved?
They had dinner with both families in the evening and then returned to their own home.
Back when they established their relationship, they had bought a villa right next to both families so they could easily join their elders for meals.
After a long separation, the two naturally indulged in some affectionate moments.
The next day, Xu Zhou almost couldn’t get out of bed.
Gu Jingchen, both excited and apologetic, hugged him before leaving and said, “I’m going to the company now. I’ll come to pick you up in the afternoon. The gathering is at Taosha, I’ve already told them.”
Xu Zhou lazily responded with a hum and kissed him back, saying, “Go ahead.”
Originally, he was supposed to come back the day after tomorrow, but due to a last-minute change of plans, Gu Jingchen couldn’t easily cancel his schedule for the next day.
After Gu Jingchen reluctantly left, Xu Zhou tucked himself back into the blanket and went back to sleep for a little while.
During his four years abroad, he had been very busy, juggling academic responsibilities with managing the Xu family business. Only when he was with Gu Jingchen did he find a moment of leisure.
…
In the afternoon, Gu Jingchen did not come as promised. He mentioned an unexpected situation with a client in Taosha for dinner and couldn’t free up his schedule for the moment.
However, he asked his friends, including Zhou Nianyuan, to pick up Xu Zhou at home. Even Zhou Nianyuan cleared his schedule to accompany them to meet Xu Zhou.
Xu Zhou returned home during every summer and winter break and had regular gatherings with his friends. So, everyone was still familiar with each other.
After a few exchanges, they all drove together to Taosha.
Taosha was part of the Zhou family’s business, now under Zhou Nianyuan’s name. When they arrived at the entrance, the manager came forward to welcome them.
Xu Zhou was most familiar with Zhou Nianyuan, and when he saw a row of men in black suits bowing to Zhou Nianyuan, he couldn’t help but laugh, “You’ve become the boss of the black suits.”
Zhou Nianyuan shook his head helplessly without saying a word.
The manager, who knew Xu Zhou and was aware of his relationship with Gu Jingchen, smiled and said, “Young Master Gu is upstairs.”
The manager was a confidant of Zhou Nianyuan and combined with Gu Jingchen often mentioning Xu Zhou, even when Xu Zhou wasn’t in the country, the social circle in Haicheng knew about their relationship.
Xu Zhou didn’t feel embarrassed. He smiled faintly and said, “Then lead the way.”
Those familiar with Xu Zhou knew well that he had a devious mind, a thick skin, and ruthless methods, even more formidable than Zhou Nianyuan.
However, because he was with Gu Jingchen, he concealed all his schemes, only revealing the sunny side to Gu Jingchen.
Of course, Gu Jingchen was aware of what kind of person he was. After all, he had been tricked countless times by him during their childhood. But Gu Jingchen didn’t mind at all; on the contrary, he felt that they were a perfect match.
The main reason was that Gu Jingchen was a bit foolish. With Xu Zhou by his side, he felt truly at ease.
As everyone was about to head to the elevator, they noticed on the other side of the lobby that a gorgeous woman was holding onto Gu Jingchen’s arm, speaking with a shy and coquettish demeanor.
Surprisingly, Gu Jingchen didn’t shake her off. Instead, he slightly lowered his head, attentively listening to what she was saying, with a gentle expression.
From a distance, the two looked like a couple deeply in love, creating an intimate atmosphere.
The author has something to say:
The afternoon part is finished, and there’s a little extra bonus chapter coming up~^^
