Everyone stood still.
One of their friends reacted and was about to go and call someone.
However, Xu Zhou stopped them, saying, “Jingchen said he’s meeting a client. Let’s not disturb him. He’ll come over later.”
The friends exchanged glances, thinking about offering a few words of advice.
But Xu Zhou smiled and said, “Let’s go.”
They initially thought he would be angry, but he seemed nonchalant. Seeing his calm demeanor, they couldn’t bring up any more concerns. Relieved, they all said, “Alright, let’s go up. When he comes, we’ll make him drink!”
“Absolutely, we must make him drink. It’s his punishment for being late!”
Xu Zhou nodded with a smile and joined them in the elevator.
Once inside the private room, he remained unfazed. His friends also relaxed, feeling assured. Only Zhou Nianyuan shook his head faintly as if he saw through everything.
Most of Xu Zhou’s friends had taken over their family businesses. During their drinking session, the most discussed topic was business in the market.
Xu Zhou listened quietly.
One friend asked him, “Are you not going back this time?”
Xu Zhou replied, “Not sure yet.”
His friend was puzzled. Previously, Gu Jingchen had told them that once Xu Zhou completed his studies, he wouldn’t go abroad again.
Xu Zhou didn’t explain, just smiled without saying a word.
Zhou Nianyuan watched him for a while from the side.
Not long after, Gu Jingchen arrived. As soon as he entered, he headed straight for Xu Zhou and sat down beside him, holding Xu Zhou’s hand affectionately, saying, “Did you wait long?”
Xu Zhou shook his head, “No, we just got here.”
Their friends murmured about the penalty for drinking, and the atmosphere became lively.
With Xu Zhou present, Gu Jingchen was in a good mood. He laughed and joked with his friends, readily picking up a glass and drinking one after another.
Finding an opportunity, Zhou Nianyuan said to Xu Zhou, “Choosing Taosha for the gathering indicates his openness.”
The smile on Xu Zhou’s face faded, but he remained silent.
Zhou Nianyuan glanced at him and said, “If you’re not happy, talk to him and don’t let it affect your relationship.”
After a few seconds of silence, Xu Zhou replied, “I understand.”
In the evening, when they returned home, Gu Jingchen embraced Xu Zhou, smiling, “Zhou Zhou, you’re finally back. We don’t have to be apart anymore.”
Having consumed quite a bit of alcohol, he felt a bit warm, and the hot breath brushed against Xu Zhou’s face.
Leading him to the sofa, Xu Zhou spoke softly, “I want to finish my Ph.D. before returning to China.”
Gu Jingchen, who was initially a bit drunk, suddenly sobered up at those words. He stared at Xu Zhou with widened eyes, “Ph.D.?”
That would take another four or five years…
However, Zhou Zhou had already agreed to return and even discussed taking over the Xu family business and getting married.
Gu Jingchen was fully awake, tightly holding Xu Zhou’s hand. Anxiously, he stammered, “Then… what about the company? What… what about me? Are you leaving me behind?”
But if Xu Zhou continues with his studies, perhaps he won’t marry him so soon?
His heart suddenly panicked.
Xu Zhou looked at him calmly and said, “Next, you should consider carefully whether you want to be with me or not.”
Gu Jingchen stared at him in shock, as if not understanding what he was saying. After a long while, his voice trembled as he asked, “Zhou Zhou, what… what do you mean?”
Xu Zhou lowered his eyelids and said, “Today, I saw you with that woman.”
Gu Jingchen was slightly stunned, then explained anxiously, “She is a distant cousin, not even out of mourning clothes. Please don’t misunderstand…”
Xu Zhou was slightly dazed.
Did he misunderstand?
He couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
If that was the case, then he should be more cautious in considering whether to continue being with Gu Jingchen.
Clearly, he understood Gu Jingchen well. Gu Jingchen was a responsible person, and since they were together, he wouldn’t flirt with other women. However, seeing Gu Jingchen standing side by side with that glamorous woman today made him unable to control his doubts.
Perhaps it was because, back when Gu Jingchen consistently rejected his advances and insisted on marrying a woman, he felt insecure, leading him to be overly suspicious.
This was unfair to Gu Jingchen, who had wholeheartedly devoted himself, while Xu Zhou was still doubting him.
What was even scarier was that, despite knowing rationally that Gu Jingchen wouldn’t betray him or leave him, he still feared that Gu Jingchen might turn around and marry another woman.
It was a kind of psychological ailment.
If he didn’t handle it well, he might drag Gu Jingchen down into hell.
He recalled the words of Zhou Nianyuan… Regardless, he needed to clarify things with Gu Jingchen.
So, he held Gu Jingchen’s hand, comforting him, “Don’t be agitated, listen to me first.”
Gu Jingchen felt like his mind was about to explode, consumed by impatience.
But he was afraid of scaring his beloved, so he had to endure his eager heart and wait for him to continue.
Xu Zhou slowly explained his state of mind, concluding, “This is a kind of psychological illness, and I can’t control myself. If you can’t accept my suspicions, we can separate. Or maybe we can take some time apart, let my psychological condition improve, and then we can be together again…”
Before he could finish speaking, Gu Jingchen tightly gripped his waist and said, “No, I won’t agree to separate!”
Although Xu Zhou was in pain from being tightly held, he didn’t make a sound or push him away. He gently stroked his hair and softened his voice, saying, “But with my current state, I’m afraid it will drain our emotions. We might quarrel and grow to resent each other…”
Being suspicious and on edge wasn’t the state a couple should have.
Gu Jingchen still held him tightly, shaking his head and saying, “No, it won’t happen. I’ll keep loving you…”
He hated himself; why did he stubbornly refuse Xu Zhou’s advances in the beginning? Why did he keep muttering about marrying a woman?
It ended up making Xu Zhou feel insecure and uncomfortable.
“I won’t marry a woman. I have you, I love you, only you…” He was incoherent, urgently expressing his feelings, wanting to keep his beloved by his side. “Can I not look at women in the future?”
His furry head rubbed against Xu Zhou’s neck. “You can lock me up, so I won’t see any women again…”
Xu Zhou couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Lock him up and prevent him from seeing any women? Only he could come up with such an idea!
Initially, Xu Zhou was immersed in the sadness of the possibility of the two separating for a while. However, this silly guy always found a way to divert from the main topic, making it impossible for him to feel sad again.
Xu Zhou chuckled as he pulled him up, cradling his face and saying, “Alright, alright, don’t be afraid. I love you too, and I don’t want to leave you.”
Under his comfort, Gu Jingchen slowly released the hand that was holding Xu Zhou’s waist.
Xu Zhou pulled him onto the bed, and they sat facing each other.
He spoke seriously, “Originally, I returned to China to be with you, but now I’ve realized I have some psychological issues. So, I want to give myself some time to think it through… What about you? Are you willing to wait for me?”
Gu Jingchen had been eagerly anticipating his return, planning to propose early on. How could he be willing to wait? Yet, in the end, this was a mess of his own making, and he couldn’t blame Xu Zhou. He felt even more distressed for the difficulties Xu Zhou was facing and the pain he would endure.
Hence, he dared not say a single word of refusal and replied in a resigned manner, “I’m willing.”
But he seemed so aggrieved, like a little wife who had been wronged, completely exposing his emotions.
Xu Zhou’s mood inexplicably lightened. Suppressing a laugh, he said, “I plan to finish my PhD. During this period, we can maintain a romantic relationship, but we won’t get married.”
Gu Jingchen kissed his lips and sighed, “Okay… Okay then…”
If possible, he would prefer to be locked in a little dark room by Xu Zhou. That way, he and Xu Zhou could see each other every day, always together.
Listening to his muttering, Xu Zhou couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
He found himself truly helpless against this big silly guy. From childhood to now, he had fallen for this fool.
“Alright, since you’ve agreed, the contradiction is resolved… Now, do you want to devour me?” He deliberately took off his own sleepwear.
If it were a normal day, Gu Jingchen would have pounced on him long ago.
This time, Gu Jingchen restrained his impulses. He just embraced Xu Zhou, tucked him into the blanket, and then kissed him from head to toe, as if confirming that he belonged to him.
Xu Zhou’s heart melted into a puddle, secretly thinking that he, too, had to overcome his psychological issues. After all, who made him love this person so much!
Later, Xu Zhou decided to return to California to continue his studies.
The elders at home were quite surprised and inquired about the reasons. The two of them tacitly concealed the truth, only stating that Xu Zhou’s advisor wouldn’t let him go.
Fortunately, seeing that the two of them had a stable relationship, the elders didn’t pry further.
Five more years passed, and they continued the same routine. Every month, Gu Jingchen flew to California to visit Xu Zhou, and every summer and winter break, Xu Zhou returned to China to reunite with his family.
Finally, after Xu Zhou completed his Ph.D., Gu Jingchen couldn’t wait any longer and proposed to him on the same day.
However, Xu Zhou declined, stating, “I still haven’t fully trusted you.”
In reality, after all these years, he no longer harbored suspicions and was well aware that in Gu Jingchen’s eyes, there was only him.
However, he couldn’t help but think of his own helplessness when he heard Gu Jingchen wanted to marry a woman back then, so he couldn’t resist teasing Gu Jingchen.
Seeing Gu Jingchen’s nervous and aggrieved look, he found it quite amusing.
At this point, they were already in their late twenties, approaching thirty. A third of their lives had passed, and although their relationship was stable, it had become somewhat calm. He thought it was time to add a bit of excitement.
Gu Jingchen, however, was unaware of his intentions and thought that he still lacked a sense of security, causing him great distress.
He even went to seek advice from Zhou Nianyuan on how to dispel the shadows in Xu Zhou’s heart.
Seeing him genuinely worried and anxious, Zhou Nianyuan advised him, “Don’t play around too much.”
Xu Zhou smiled but didn’t say anything.
And so, another two years passed. Zhou Nianyuan found his childhood sweetheart, Guan Pan, and got married. Even Xiao Ye Ting and He Jing, who were once just a couple, became husband and wife. As for Gu Jingchen, he proposed to Xu Zhou three more times, and each time, Xu Zhou rejected him.
Gu Jingchen was disheartened, but he didn’t give up and planned for the fifth proposal.
In the winter of that year, Wen Xueli and Wen Yan got married in Gongcheng, inviting them to attend the wedding.
Watching the happily married members of the Wen family receiving blessings, Gu Jingchen truly envied them.
He had long understood that Xu Zhou was teasing him, and he was willing to play along with Xu Zhou in this game. However, he still envied his friends who had gotten married, feeling that if he and Xu Zhou didn’t get married, their relationship wouldn’t be complete.
At that moment, while holding hands with Gu Jingchen and watching Wen Xueli and Wen Yan exchange rings, Xu Zhou could naturally see the deep envy in Gu Jingchen’s eyes.
So, on the plane back to Haicheng, Xu Zhou suddenly looked at Gu Jingchen beside him and asked, “Where is your ring?”
Gu Jingchen stared at him with wide eyes.
Xu Zhou smiled slightly and said, “Let’s get married.”
Author’s note:
There’s another short extra in the afternoon~ ^^
