Wang Quan cannot provide a reasonable explanation for this outrageous degree of similarity.
Gu Jiqing cannot, either.
He looked at the abnormal behavior of both Wang Quan and Zhou Cibai and gently shook off the snow on the umbrella. “What’s wrong?”
Zhou Cibai was too nervous to speak yet.
Wang Quan rushed up to Gu Jiqing with a video of Samoyed and said, “Look, have I discovered some unknown entity of General Zhou.”
On the screen, the Samoyed seemed to know that it had made a mistake and was nervously looking at its owner, even its tail was straightened.
It is indeed somewhat similar to Zhou Cibai’s current appearance.
Gu Jiqing raised his lips slightly and said, “It’s quite cute.”
So Zhou Cubai, who was just about to confront Wang Quan for saying that “your real body is a Samoyed” got up in a bad mood: “……”
He endured it and closed his mouth.
Forget it.
Similar is similar ba.
But Gu Jiqing noticed something was wrong with his emotions and looked up at him. “Is there anything wrong?”
Zhou Cibai opened his mouth, wanting to apologize, but he didn’t know how to say it for a moment.
Just outside the dormitory building, a loud shout came: “Building 1, 314, Zhou Cibai, takeout!”
Gu Jiqing left a message saying, “Your feet are not convenient, I will go and help you get it.” He then propped up his umbrella again and walked towards the outside of the dormitory building.
His tone was gentle and natural, as if he was not angry about yesterday’s incident.
Zhou Cibai’s knuckles that were hanging on his side unconsciously tightened.
Wang Quan looked at his expression, then at Gu Jiqing’s back, and finally smelled something: “Mr. Zhou, have you done something wrong to Yuan Hua? Why else do you look like you’ve got a guilty conscience?”
“No.” Zhou Cibai’s voice was low and cold. “It was because last night I thought he knew He Changzhi had a girlfriend and deliberately bent him.”
“???” Wang Quan directly hit three question marks: “There’s no way ba, big brother? How can you make such a bloody misunderstanding? Why don’t you apologize to him quickly?”
Zhou Cibai tightened his lips and remained silent.
He has always been accustomed to smooth sailing, is handsome, has a good family background, has good sports skills, and is liked by girls. He belongs to the kind of arrogant person who has everything he wants.
So when Wang Quan saw that he had raised his handsome face again, he thought this person couldn’t bear to apologize and became anxious: “No, I know that you have homophobia, but Gu Jiqing is a really good person. Don’t take it personally, and don’t be so high and mighty all day long ……”
Before the word “tug” could be finished, Zhou Cibai raised his eyes and extended his hand to him.
Wang Quan was still carrying a bunch of packaged meal boxes in his hand, thinking that Zhou Cibai would help him carry them. Just as he was about to wave his hand and say no, behind him came a “click” sound of a card to access control over the door.
Then Zhou Cibai’s long arm crossed over him, took the lunch box and umbrella from Gu Jiqing’s hands, lowered his eyelashes, and whispered, “It’s heavy, let me take them.”
The subwoofer is warm, soft, and obedient.
The high and mighty disappeared completely.
And Gu Jiqing really handed over the things to him: “En, you come and pick them up ba. They’re a bit heavy. I’ll help you up first.”
Wang Quan was being sandwiched between two people but was completely ignored: “……” ???
What happened to homophobia?
Although he couldn’t understand the relationship between the two people at all, after helping to send Zhou Cibai back to the dormitory, Wang Quan still hinted to him to apologize as soon as possible.
As soon as the dormitory door was closed, Gu Jiqing found that the porridge on the table seemed untouched.
He looked at Zhou Cibai and asked, “Don’t like porridge?”
He just casually asked.
However, Zhou Cibai seemed to have been poked at the most guilty point and quickly picked up the insulated bucket, saying, “No, it’s just that I woke up late in the morning and haven’t had a chance to drink yet. I’ll drink it now.”
“?” Gu Jiqing pointed at the takeout in his other hand, puzzled. “So this is?”
“……”
After a brief silence.
Zhou Cibai, who always believed that honesty was one of the most important moralities of mankind, had his ears flushed and he forced himself to calmly put the takeout on the small dining table: “Ordered for you, I’ll have porridge.”
He wasn’t actually afraid that Gu Jiqing would be angry with him.
The main reason was that he didn’t want Gu Jiqing to feel that all his good intentions towards him had been fed to the dogs.
Gu Jiqing didn’t think it that way at all, he just glanced at the takeout.
Pineapple Gollum Pork, Squirrel Mandarin Fish, and Sweet and Sour Lotus White.
Indeed, it’s all to his taste.
Recalling what he said yesterday about his love for sour and sweet food, Gu Jiqing felt that Zhou Cibai was probably the same as him, unwilling to owe others favors, so he did not refuse.
He whispered “thank you” and sat down at the small dining table, unpacking the takeout packaging.
Zhou Cibai opened the insulation bucket and sat opposite him.
Then he realized that, although Gu Jiqing was thin and ate in a gentlemanly manner, he actually ate a lot. A whole Mandarin fish was soon down to its bones, and the pineapple goulash was at the bottom.
But the vegetables in the Pineapple Gollum Pork and the Sweet and Sour Lotus White next to it were hardly touched.
How can he maintain balanced nutrition if he only eats meat and not vegetables?
Zhou Cibai scooped up the 3 yuan bucket of porridge from the cafeteria in front of him, and he wanted to say something several times, but he held his tongue.
After all, his relationship with Gu Jiqing has not yet reached the level where he can educate him not to be a picky eater yet.
And what he cares more about now is how to apologize to Gu Jiqing.
He rarely makes mistakes, and he also rarely apologizes. For a moment, he doesn’t know how to speak up.
After careful consideration, his phone happened to ring.
He lowered his head to take a look.
[Old Wang next door]: How was your apologize to Yuan Hua? Don’t let the two of you get on bad terms and then implicate Yuan Hua in not wanting to be friends with me.
Calling others as Yuan Hua every day. How could I have such a frivolous friend?
Zhou Cibai immediately turned back with a stern face and said, [Don’t keep calling him Yuan Hua, no matter how beautiful he is, he’s still a boy, it’s disrespectful]
[Lao Wang next door]: ???
[Lao Wang next door]: No, isn’t Yuan Hua a compliment?!
[Lao Wang next door]: And why do you keep scolding me today!
[There’s something in your mind.]
After Zhou Cibai finished sending it, he looked up and saw Gu Jiqing carefully picking out the green peppers from the glutinous pork and placing them on the nearby vegetable mountain that Gu Jiqing doesn’t like to eat. He couldn’t help but ask, “How can you not eat vegetables?”
“.”
Gu Jiqing felt as if he had been caught doing something wrong suddenly, and his hand, which was picking green peppers, slightly paused.
Then he lifted his head, opened his eyes, and tried to explain seriously, “Actually, I just ate some too.”
“……”
Perhaps due to the habit of Gu Jiqing always showing thoughtful and appropriate behavior in his daily life, it was rare to see the other person show a sense of guilt after being caught for doing something wrong. Zhou Cibai couldn’t describe what he felt for a moment.
He just feels like there’s something…
Cute.
As soon as Zhou Cibai thought of the word cute, he immediately thought of the phrase that states that cuteness is the highest evaluation of boys. Feeling guilty, he avoided his gaze and quickly picked the pile of “vegetable hills that Gu Jiqing doesn’t like to eat” back into his bowl, saying, “Forget it. Pick for me what you don’t eat from now on. Don’t waste food.”
“En, okay.” Gu Jiqing saw that the vegetable crisis had finally been resolved and didn’t care about the weirdness of Zhou Cibai’s remarks last week. He just changed the topic. “What were you trying to say to me earlier?”
This time it was Zhou Cibai’s turn to pick green peppers and paused.
Then he quickly picked the green peppers back into the bowl and whispered, “It’s nothing, I just wanted to apologize to you.”
Gu Jiqing didn’t react for a moment.
Zhou Cibai pursed the corner of his lips and said, “I spoke excessively to you last night without getting to the bottom of things, so I hope you don’t take it personally.”
After speaking, the knuckles holding the chopsticks had turned white, looking like a child nervously waiting for the teacher to release them after admitting their mistake.
Gu Jiqing has also just realized that it was because of this that a certain person suddenly got upset last night.
He is truly the moral model he has selected.
Gu Jiqing didn’t take it seriously at all. He lowered his head and continued to pick at the fish, saying calmly, “Don’t worry ba, I’m not unhappy. You don’t need to apologize because you’re right about this. I didn’t explain it clearly myself. Don’t take it to heart.”
He spoke so lightly that Zhou Cibai didn’t know for a moment whether it was true or false.
But whether it was true or false, Zhou Cibai felt even more guilty in his heart.
How could he think that someone like Gu Jiqing, who is sensitive and meticulous, always considers others when doing things, and only endures grievances, would do that?
Therefore, Gu Jiqing is still not upset.
Thinking about it, Lao Wang next door sent another worried consolation: [Mr. Zhou, have you apologized yet!!]
Zhou Cibai lowered his head and replied: [Already apologized]
[Lao Wang next door]: What did he say
[White]: He said no problem
[Lao Wang next door]: ?
[White]: ??
[Lao Wang next door]: That’s not it, And then?!
[White]: There is nothing more
[Lao Wang next door]: ……Then it’s over!
Zhou Cibai: “?”
It’s over?
[Lao Wang next door]: Did he still say things like he’s not unhappy, you’re right, it’s all his problem?
[White]: ……
A brief ellipsis that speaks a thousand words.
[Lao Wang next door]: You are such a stinky straight man who has never been in love before!
[Lao Wang Next door]: Do you know that if they say it’s okay at this time, it’s just a big deal? They said you’re not wrong, meaning you made a big mistake! If they say they’re not unhappy, it means they’re super unhappy!
[Lao Wang next door]: Think about it yourself: would a person of Gu Jiqing’s character tell you if he’s upset?
[Lao Wang next door]: So this kind of answer is the most terrifying, because it indicates that he has been completely sad, and you cannot easily make up for it
Completely sad and can’t easily make up for it?
He’s thinking of the scene of Gu Jiqing curling up alone in the corner of the bed last night.
Zhou Cibai involuntarily clenched his phone.
Just as Gu Jiqing finished his meal, he stood up and was about to clean up the remnants on the table.
Zhou Cibai quickly put down the things in his hand and said, “Let me do it.”
After speaking, he felt a bit abrupt again, and he slightly restrained his emotions. He whispered, “After all, you helped me bring food this morning.”
It turns out that Zhou Cibai was also someone who possessed the human nature to get the account squared up.
Compared to people like He Changzhi, who always mistake “good” for liking, Gu Jiqing prefers roommates who can draw boundaries and maintain mutual understanding.
Because this way, whether it’s getting along or separating, it will be more convenient.
So Gu Jiqing nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll trouble you then.”
Then he sat back in his seat, took out his laptop, and continued to write an essay about Gaussian distribution.
Xia Qiao just called and said, “Hello, Gu Gu, I bought chestnuts. Do you want me to bring some to you?”
Gu Jiqing likes to eat sweets, especially in winter when he loves to eat warm things like chestnuts and sweet potatoes.
But Xia Qiao is from the Academy of Fine Arts, and his dormitory is in the southern district. It’s too far away, so he just said softly, “No need, it’s snowing today. You can bring it to me again next time. Coincidentally, I don’t like to peel chestnuts either.”
Gu Jiqing always appears warm, gentle, and without a temper. He always helps out when it comes to doing things, but in reality, he is a bit lazy.
For example, he loves sleeping, he doesn’t like going out, doesn’t like washing dishes, and is too lazy to eat all types of shelled food.
It’s just that he often feels aggrieved by his lazy nature to take care of the feelings of those around him.
Xia Qiao knew this and could only say in frustration, “Alright then, I was thinking that you love eating chestnuts the most. Every time you eat them, you feel good. I bought an extra two pounds, but now I can only give them to Shen Laoda. It’s really an advantage for him.”
The dormitory is not too big, and there are only two people.
The room was quiet, and the words on the other end of the phone clearly leaked out.
Zhou Cibai’s fingers paused while he was tidying up the lunch box.
Gu Jiqing likes to eat chestnuts?
And after eating chestnuts, it will make him feel better?
Zhou Cibai didn’t expect Gu Jiqing to forgive him just because of this, but he just wanted Gu Jiqing to stop sulking and being sad alone like last night.
When Zhou Cibai thought of that scene, his heart seemed to feel blocked.
So after thinking for a moment, he finally took out his phone and sent a message to Wang Quan: [Can you go to the south district to help me buy three pounds of chestnuts?]
[Lao Wang next door]: ?
[White]: Gu Jiqing wants to eat, but my foot is not convenient
[Lao Wang next door]: ???
[Lao Wang next foor]: No, it’s snowy today. I was just about to take a nap. You want me to go buy chestnuts for Gu Jiqing?! Are you still human ah?!
It doesn’t sound like much of a human.
But Zhou Cibai hit the nail on the head: [I’ll help you draw the blueprint for this week’s homework]
Old Wang next door instantly replied: [Okay, father, I’ll go right away, guarantee human transportation, and deliver the goods to your doorstep]
Zhou Cibai replied: [Don’t come to the door. After you buy it and come back, let me know, and I will go to your dormitory to pick it up.]
[Lao Wang next door]: ?
[White]: Don’t worry, just send me your group’s homework requirements
[Lao Wang next door]: Okay, father
“But father, why do you have to come to our dormitory to pick it up? You don’t think your foot is broken enough ah?” When Wang Quan bought the chestnuts back, his nose was so cold that it twitched.
But compared to the crazy drawings from this week’s assignment, he definitely made a fortune.
Zhou Cibai sat in his seat, peeling chestnuts, while responding expressionlessly, “Gu Jiqing finds it troublesome to peel chestnuts.”
“?” Wang Quan’s brain is so flexible, but he also froze for half a day without reacting. “No, even if you want to peel the chestnuts before giving them to him, wouldn’t it be the same to peel them in your dormitory?”
Zhou Cibai continued expressionlessly, “He was writing an essay, and peeling chestnuts would make a noise.”
“……”
At that moment, Wang Quan, who had originally planned to take a nap, looked at the 1.9-meter-tall old man in front of him, who was peeling one small chestnut after another seriously, and only eight big characters remained in his mind—me and my grudge-seed brother.
And the next second, his brother said expressionlessly again, “I’ve also made the model diagram for you. So come over and peel them together, or they’ll be cold by the time they’re all done.”
Grudge against oneself: “……Okay, father.”
“But if you suddenly peel so many chestnuts for someone after they’ve said they’re not upset, how can they eat them? Can they eat them? Anyway, if another man were to peel so many chestnuts for me, I would feel anxious.” Wang Quan casually said as he peeled the chestnuts.
Zhou Cibai instantly thought of the sentence Gu Jiqing said to He Changzhi: “I don’t like to owe others favors.”
With Gu Jiqing’s personality, he will definitely not accept his chestnuts for no reason.
And he suddenly peeled a bunch of chestnuts for him. What if he misunderstood that he was interested in him?
Although he thinks that Gu Jiqing is pretty good, he can only get along with him as an ordinary roommate, and there is absolutely no other possibility.
So……
An hour later
Gu Jiqing looked at the 1.9-meter-tall man standing in front of him, holding a bucket full of chestnut kernels. He lifted his head and blinked in confusion.
A day ago, Zhou Cibai, who had made up his mind to “maintain distance and not interfere with each other” with Gu Jiqing, lowered his head, pursed the corners of his lips, and said awkwardly, “Well, Wang Quan messed the bandage on my foot, could you please re-wrap it?”
After speaking and with red ears, he handed over the whole bucket of magic weapons that were said to make Gu Jiqing feel better.
“Also, this is a thank-you gift for you.”
