Chapter 39: Confession

Zhang Xingkuo rejected the organizer’s invitation to the victory party, offering this excuse: “I have to drop someone home. My Xiao Xi has to sleep by midnight at the latest.”

Facing the organizer’s hard-to-describe expression, Zhang Xingkuo walked away without looking back.

Meanwhile, Yu Xi was indeed sleepy. Once the excitement died down, his biological clock kicked in, leaving him a bit listless as he secretly snuffed out several yawns.

While waiting for the venue to clear out, he had leaned against Gu Chuanzhou for a brief moment. Because it was both steady and warm, he had accidentally drifted off to sleep for two minutes.

Thus, when Gu Chuanzhou led him to the car, he followed along and climbed inside in a complete daze.

“I turned on the heater in advance. Is it a bit too hot?”

Yu Xi nodded his head.

“Then how about I help you take off your trench coat?”

Gu Chuanzhou asked softly, and Yu Xi nodded once more.

An already incredibly obedient person would become even more compliant when dazed—just like that time he got drunk in the summer, and just like this very moment.

When Gu Chuanzhou offered to help him take it off, he didn’t move an inch himself, waiting entirely for Gu Chuanzhou to “help.”

The heater inside the vehicle was indeed set quite high, continuously funneling in waves of warmth that coaxed out an even heavier drowsiness, making him increasingly fatigued. Yu Xi’s head tilted sideways, his eyes half-closed as he struggled to keep them open. His long lashes resembled two thick, dark brushes, and his cheeks were flushed red from the heat, looking as though they were dusted with a layer of rouge.

When Gu Chuanzhou unbuttoned his trench coat and slid both hands past the lapels—inserting them right where his shoulders met his sleeves to pull the garment backward—the half-asleep Yu Xi actually knew to cooperate, shifting his shoulders back and naturally leaning against Gu Chuanzhou’s chest.

Because of this, the knit sweater underneath generated some static electricity, crackling softly and causing the fine hairs at the back of Yu Xi’s head to stand up, making him look like a little kitten that hadn’t shed its baby fluff.

Gu Chuanzhou chuckled softly, smoothing down his hair for him before glancing at the somewhat worn and pilling knit sweater on his body. “Why doesn’t our Xi Xi wear new clothes?”

Long before the seasons changed, Yu Xi had received a great deal of new apparel sent by his family and friends. Naturally, Gu Chuanzhou had sent a batch over as well, using the excuse that they were gifted by a brand partner and hadn’t cost a dime.

“Because… my mother gave me this one for my seventeenth birthday,” Yu Xi replied.

Gu Chuanzhou froze slightly, unable to help but smile. He patted Yu Xi’s head, and just as he was about to say something more, his peripheral vision caught sight of Zhang Xingkuo’s silhouette striding vigorously into the parking lot. Without any rush, Gu Chuanzhou fastened Yu Xi’s seatbelt, leaned back into the driver’s seat, and started the engine.

He then rolled his side window down by a small crack, waiting until Zhang Xingkuo looked over before stepping on the accelerator and driving away.

Zhang Xingkuo watched blankly as the car sped into the distance before snapping out of it. His face instantly turned incredibly unsightly, and he couldn’t help but curse inwardly: That dog Gu, he did it on purpose!

Not delaying for a single second, he immediately rushed to start his own car.

Inside Gu Chuanzhou’s vehicle, Yu Xi straightened his body. “Did I just see Xingxing?”

“No.” Gu Chuanzhou rolled the window back up, freeing one hand to pull up the blanket that had slid down Yu Xi’s lap. “Sleep for a bit, we’ll be home shortly.”

“Oh… okay.”

The heating inside the car was at the exact temperature Yu Xi preferred. A tiny crack was left open on one of the rear windows to ensure fresh air circulated, keeping it from becoming chilly or stuffy. The angle of the seatback was also just right—neither too high nor too low.

Despite the mountain road, Gu Chuanzhou drove very smoothly, traveling slowly and with extreme caution. In terms of providing Yu Xi with comfort, he wouldn’t lose to Zhang Xingkuo.

With the environment so comforting and secure, Yu Xi quickly drifted back to sleep, wrapped in the blanket that carried traces of Gu Chuanzhou’s scent.

By the time he was awakened again, he discovered that outside the window lay the gates of the Pei residence, along with… an incredibly resentful Zhang Xingkuo.

He resembled a massive hound that had discovered its master sneaking out to play with another dog, yet possessed no recourse, resorting to staring at its master with a resentful yet pitiful gaze.

Yu Xi’s sleepiness vanished in an instant as he suddenly recalled promising Zhang Xingkuo on the way there that he would ride in his car on the return trip. In the end, he had accidentally forgotten…

Yu Xi frantically threw off the blanket on his lap and unbuckled his seatbelt.

“Xi Xi.”

The hand resting on the door handle was grasped. Turning his head, Yu Xi nearly brushed against Gu Chuanzhou’s face, which had leaned in very close. Only then did he realize he had forgotten to say goodbye to Gu Chuanzhou. “Brother Chuanzhou, thank you for to—”

Gu Chuanzhou interrupted him. “Is there a need to be so polite with me? I was merely reminding you not to forget this coat.”

“Oh, oh… right.” While keeping an eye on the situation outside the car window, Yu Xi waited for Gu Chuanzhou to help him slip on the trench coat from earlier before pushing the door open to step out.

“Xingxing.” He walked over after exiting the vehicle, his fingers hooking onto Zhang Xingkuo’s sleeve. His voice sounded somewhat softer than usual, carrying a slight coaxing tone. Shifting his chin slightly inward, he gazed up from below with a pair of dark pupils, looking rather pitiful. “Are you unhappy?”

Zhang Xingkuo took a deep breath, then squeezed out two words: “I’m not.”

In truth, the moment Yu Xi hooked onto his sleeve, the majority of Zhang Xingkuo’s anger had dissipated. Now, he couldn’t bring himself to be angry at all, though his tone remained slightly stiff. “You promised me on the way there.”

“I’m sorry, I fell asleep earlier…” Yu Xi admitted his mistake very obediently, then looked at him expectantly. “You won the championship today, so I still owe you a request. Go ahead and tell me, what is it?”

Given Yu Xi’s understanding of Zhang Xingkuo, it wouldn’t be an overly excessive demand. From childhood to adulthood, the only things Zhang Xingkuo actively sought from him were attention and companionship.

“Then…” Zhang Xingkuo suddenly raised his eyes, seemingly casting a glance toward the man over here. The smile on his face widened, grinning to reveal a pair of canine teeth. “Starting from today, give me a chance to pursue you.”

“…?” Yu Xi’s eyes widened in utter disbelief as he stared at Zhang Xingkuo, wondering if he had misheard or misunderstood.

But before he could speak and ask, Zhang Xingkuo answered ahead of him, as if reading his mind.

“That’s right, Xiao Xi. I like you.”

“The kind of liking where I want to be your boyfriend, want to date you, and spend the rest of my life with you.”

“I know exactly what I’m saying and doing, and I won’t mistake friendship for romance. I’m not stupid, Xiao Xi. I’ve always been very clear about what I want.”

Zhang Xingkuo blocked all the potential counterarguments Yu Xi might voice, telling him clearly, precisely, and unmistakably how serious and unwavering this affection was.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Zhang Xingkuo grasped Yu Xi’s trembling fingertips, dialing back his scorching gaze that could practically burn someone while simultaneously softening his voice.

Solemnly and with immense treasure, he told Yu Xi, “I had thought about rushing onto the stage to confess to you in a grand, spectacular fashion the moment I secured victory, but I didn’t want to put you in a difficult position, so I held back until now… If I hold back any longer, I’m truly going to go crazy.”

“Xiao Xi, I’m not asking you for an answer right now. I just want you to give me a chance.”

“This isn’t an unreasonable request… right?”

After receiving permission, Zhang Xingkuo possessed a perfectly legitimate and justified priority right to monopolize their dates.

Every time Yu Xi received an invitation and hesitated, Zhang Xingkuo would ask back rather pitifully, “Didn’t you promise to give me a chance?”

It worked like a charm every single time.

However, his prolonged and frequent monopolization eventually sparked dissatisfaction among the others in the group, who questioned what right he had.

Zhang Xingkuo:

[Based on the fact that I confessed to Xiao Xi, and Xiao Xi allowed me to pursue him.] [Any more questions, everyone? (smile) (smile)]

This, naturally, caused quite a stir.

Sheng Yunjuan thoroughly chewed Zhang Xingkuo out in the group chat and promptly kicked him out, declaring that a traitor like him must be eliminated. She also advised Yu Xi not to be deceived, to keep his guard up, and to stay far away from Zhang Xingkuo.

The others remained relatively calm within the group chat, but they would all message him privately to ask if it was true.

Aside from Gu Chuanzhou, who had witnessed the scene firsthand and hadn’t uttered a single word regarding the matter. He simply continued to send morning and evening greetings or chat about daily trivialities as usual, occasionally finding time to drop off items for him, and driving him back to campus whenever he worked his part-time job late into the night.

“Chatting with Zhang Xingkuo again?”

On the way from the cat café back to the dormitory, Gu Chuanzhou questioned the phone-wielding Yu Xi beside him. Just as the youth was about to step on a stray pebble, Gu Chuanzhou wrapped an arm around his shoulder to guide him to the side.

“It’s best not to play on your phone while walking. It’s very dangerous.”

Yu Xi hurriedly sent a final reply to Zhang Xingkuo, tucked his phone away, and looked up at Gu Chuanzhou with a slight smile. “I’ll be careful in the future.”

Gu Chuanzhou remarked, “You’ve finally looked at me.”

Yu Xi froze. “?”

“Ever since you finished your shift, you’ve been typing continuously, and you’ve been distracted while speaking to me.” Gu Chuanzhou slightly tugged the corner of his lips, a trace of loneliness tinting his long eyes.

“I’m sorry.” Yu Xi lowered his head, his brows knitting slightly. “He’s been rather… clingy lately, and the others have started acting the same way. I honestly don’t know what to do anymore.”

Beneath the night sky, Gu Chuanzhou gazed at Yu Xi’s face, which was practically written over with distress. Using a deep yet gentle voice, he murmured, “I know you’ve been working very hard lately. Everyone likes you, which is why they wish to secure a greater share of your attention and focus. But at the very least, you don’t need to feel sorry toward me. I hope you feel no pressure when you’re by my side, and that you can relax completely.”

This stream of gentle, soft words acted like a soothing spring breeze, smoothing over the irritation that had built up in Yu Xi’s heart over the past few days.

Yu Xi couldn’t help but think that it was a relief to have Gu Chuanzhou around—he was as considerate, gentle, and thoughtful as always, always managing to give him room to breathe, never putting him in a bind, and remaining reliable and reassuring. It seemed as though any problem could find a resolution with Gu Chuanzhou.

“If you feel tired, would you like to visit the park with me this weekend to clear your head? I heard a herd of fawns was recently added there, and visitors can feed them. It should be quite entertaining.”

Yu Xi was deeply tempted, but…

“I’m sorry, I don’t have time that day,” he stated with immense apology.

Gu Chuanzhou’s gaze darkened slightly, though his tone remained unchanged. “Do you already have plans with Zhang Xingkuo?”

Yu Xi shook his head. “It’s Brother Shuhuai. I have a very important matter to attend to with him that day.”

This was an established agreement between him and Lin Shuhuai. Even if it were Zhang Xingkuo, he would absolutely have to take a back seat.

Gu Chuanzhou pressed, “An important matter?”

“Mhm.” Yu Xi stole a glance at Gu Chuanzhou’s expression. Seeing that he still carried a smile, he answered in a low voice, “It’s a secret between him and me. I can’t tell anyone else.”