Chapter 27: Drunk Yu Xi is Unbelievably Obedient

Under several burning gazes, Gu Chuanzhou took Yu Xi into his own car.

After instructing the driver to maintain the steadiest and slowest speed, he raised the partition between the front and back seats and took a bottle of water from the storage compartment, twisting it open.

“Do you want some water, Xi Xi?”

Leaning on his shoulder, Yu Xi took two repetitions of the question before slowly giving a response: “Yes.”

There was a hint of a nasal tone in his voice, soft and sweet like a red bean bun, making one itch to pinch him just to see more of that sweet filling come out.

Gu Chuanzhou’s breathing slowed. With one hand, he cupped Yu Xi’s chin, and with the other, he brought the bottle close, carefully and gently feeding him the water.

Yu Xi tilted his face up and squinted his eyes, looking like a kitten being fed. He took small sips, inevitably getting a bit of moisture on his chin.

Gu Chuanzhou withdrew his hand at the right moment, set the water aside for now, and used his fingers to wipe Yu Xi’s chin and the corners of his mouth. A cherry-red tongue tip darted out—seemingly an unconscious movement to lick his lips—but it happened to brush against Gu Chuanzhou’s fingertips.

The wet, soft sensation flashed by and vanished.

Gu Chuanzhou’s gaze darkened several shades instantly.

Unaware, Yu Xi smacked his lips contentedly after drinking and leaned his face back onto Gu Chuanzhou’s shoulder.

The back seat lights were off. The neon lights from outside flowed across Gu Chuanzhou’s face like water. In the shifting light and shadow, his prominent features appeared exceptionally deep. His dark eyes seemed bottomless, staring intently at the person pressed tightly against him.

“Xi Xi,” Gu Chuanzhou called softly.

Yu Xi opened his eyes a crack and mumbled, “Mhm?”

Gu Chuanzhou pressed the phone screen to light it up. “Look, it’s already very late. If we go back to the Pei house, we’ll likely disturb Aunt Pei and Pei Wang’s rest, right?”

Yu Xi, his head spinning, thought along with Gu Chuanzhou’s words and nodded. “Right.”

“Then does Xi Xi want to stay somewhere else?” Gu Chuanzhou followed up.

It took Yu Xi a few seconds to react: “Stay somewhere else… where?”

“Go to my place,” Gu Chuanzhou said. Seeing the other hop into his trap step by step, an excited glint couldn’t help but surge in his eyes. “No one is at my house, it’s very large, and the bed is very soft… I know Xi Xi has a class meeting tomorrow night; I’ll send you back to school then. Isn’t that great?”

It made a lot of sense.

Dizzy, Yu Xi thought about it and nodded again under Gu Chuanzhou’s gaze. “Okay.”

Gu Chuanzhou hooked his lips into a satisfied smile and rubbed his chin against Yu Xi’s hair, his entire being radiating a sense of pleasure.

…

Half an hour later, Gu Chuanzhou looked gloomily at the three cars following closely in his side-view mirror, then looked at the piercingly bright messages on his phone.

Sheng Yunjuan: [You better honestly deliver Xiao Xi to the Pei house.] [Otherwise, the five of us won’t let you off.] [Meme: Penguin with a mosquito’s view staring at the camera.jpg]

Gu Chuanzhou: “…”

He took a deep breath, put his phone away, and instructed the driver: “Drive to the gate of the Pei house.”

The driver complied, steering away from the direction of the Gu residence.

Once the car came to a steady stop, Gu Chuanzhou got out first, then carried the already sleeping Yu Xi out. He cast a brief glance at the cars behind him flashing their hazard lights and walked into the Pei house.

Pei Lexin hadn’t returned from the company yet, and Pei Wang, who was in his senior year of high school, wouldn’t finish his evening self-study until 10:30 PM. It wasn’t time yet.

The butler came to greet them.

Gu Chuanzhou declined the butler’s help: “I’ll take Xi Xi up myself; please don’t trouble yourself.”

The butler had received instructions from Pei Lexin and naturally trusted Gu Chuanzhou. He accompanied them upstairs, helped open the door, and then withdrew.

Gu Chuanzhou carried him steadily all the way, setting him down with extreme care. However, as he was taking off Yu Xi’s shoes, he heard a movement and found that Yu Xi had already propped himself up to sit.

He just sat there in a daze, not speaking, his misty eyes staring into space.

Gu Chuanzhou set the shoes aside. “How come you’re awake? Aren’t you going to sleep?”

“I am.” Yu Xi nodded repeatedly, then held his head. “Dizzy.”

Seeing him nod until he made himself even dizzier, Gu Chuanzhou couldn’t help but laugh. “Then lie down properly. I’ll go get a wet towel to wipe your face.”

“Okay.” Yu Xi lay back down very obediently, using a very standard and proper posture—flat on his back with his hands folded over his stomach. He kept his eyes open, waiting for the person to come back and wipe his face. He was incredibly well-behaved.

Watching this scene, Gu Chuanzhou felt as if his heart had been struck twice. He stood and watched for a moment before going to the bathroom.

When he returned with the warm, wet towel, the person who was supposed to be lying nicely on the bed had turned over onto his stomach. He was reaching out into the drawer of the nightstand, rummaging for something with a clatter.

“Xi Xi.”

As soon as Gu Chuanzhou called out, Yu Xi quickly returned to his original flat-on-his-back position, putting back on his obedient act as if afraid Gu Chuanzhou would scold him.

Gu Chuanzhou’s heart was full of amusement. He sat by the bedside, gently wiping Yu Xi’s face while asking, “What are you doing?”

“I was looking for Yu Xiaohe,” Yu Xi answered.

“Who?” Gu Chuanzhou’s hand paused slightly.

Yu Xi’s eyelashes were a bit damp, appearing even darker and thicker, and his cheeks were flushed pink. Seemingly finding it comfortable, he let out a soft sigh before replying: “Yu Xiaohe is my pet.”

Gu Chuanzhou was somewhat surprised. “When did you get a pet?”

Not only had Yu Xi never mentioned it, but it was hard to imagine what kind of pet would be hidden in a nightstand drawer. Was it a lizard or a hamster?

Yu Xi looked dead serious. “I picked it up by the river a long time ago. Can you help me find it? I was worried it would get lost, so I didn’t bring it to school. I haven’t talked to it in so long…”

“Okay.”

Gu Chuanzhou pulled the nightstand drawer open again and began searching through the two levels. There were very few items inside: some tissues, books, pens, and a tin box covered by a piece of scratch paper.

When the tin box was taken out, Yu Xi let out an excited cry: “That’s the one!”

Gu Chuanzhou saw the words “Yu Xiaohe’s Home” written on the box. He opened it gently and then locked “eyes” with the contents.

It wasn’t a lizard, let alone a living pet. It wasn’t even alive—it was a pebble.

The pebble lay on dry grass decorated with small flowers. Two symmetrical eyeball stickers had been pasted on its flat front, and it even wore a small, hand-woven straw hat on its “head.”

“…”

Gu Chuanzhou was stunned for a long while before letting out a muffled laugh. He quickly suppressed it and presented it to the waiting Yu Xi: “Here, your pet.”

“Thank you.” Yu Xi took the stone out and had Gu Chuanzhou bring the wet towel he’d just used to wipe his face. He wiped the stone’s “body” and then rearranged the flattened grass in the box.

Gu Chuanzhou sat nearby and watched. Hearing Yu Xi mumbling to himself about getting new grass to make a mattress for the stone, the doting laughter in his heart grew so thick it was about to overflow.

“Xi Xi, why did you name it ‘Xiaohe’ (Little River)? Didn’t you pick it up by the creek?”

“Because…” Yu Xi pursed his lips and smiled with a bit of embarrassment, “I hope it has a broader, more magnificent life than mine.”

Gu Chuanzhou nodded. “I think Xi Xi’s name is very good, too.” He cupped Yu Xi’s face, looking into his eyes. “The clear creek runs fast, regardless of the mountain’s obstruction.”

Yu Xi blinked and suddenly smiled. “I like that phrase.”

Gu Chuanzhou smoothed the messy hair on Yu Xi’s forehead, his gaze profound. “I do too.”

This was exactly the Yu Xi in his heart. It was just that Yu Xi never knew how good he was, projecting his aspirations onto a stone as if they were an extravagant hope. But Yu Xi deserved a broad and magnificent life, and he would certainly have one.

The unsobered Yu Xi didn’t know what was in Gu Chuanzhou’s heart. He was still earnestly saying goodnight to Yu Xiaohe. Finally, he held the stone up to Gu Chuanzhou: “Chuanzhou-gege, do you want to say it too?”

Gu Chuanzhou: “Goodnight, Yu Xiaohe. And Xi Xi, goodnight.”

Yu Xi smiled contentedly and flopped back onto the bed. “Tonight, I’m sleeping with Yu Xiaohe!”

“Mhm, of course you can, but don’t forget we need to apply the medicine before sleeping.” Gu Chuanzhou took the sunburn ointment from Yu Xi’s bag. “Lie on your stomach, Xi Xi.”

Yu Xi quickly lay down, his face pressed against the pillow.

His nape was exposed. The bright red sunburn seemed a bit better after the afternoon application. Gu Chuanzhou’s movements this time were still gentle and meticulous.

But the drunk Yu Xi didn’t have the endurance he had when sober in the afternoon. When the finger applying the medicine made him itch, he laughed, dodging restlessly, his shoulders shrinking and shaking non-stop.

Gu Chuanzhou used a bit of strength to hold Yu Xi’s shoulder. It took a while to finish applying it. He placed the ointment on the nightstand. “The medicine hasn’t absorbed yet; don’t move around for a bit, Xi Xi.”

“Okay.” Yu Xi quieted down, holding the stone and letting out a huge yawn.

Seeing this, Gu Chuanzhou pulled up the covers for him and adjusted the lighting. Yu Xi lay down but didn’t close his eyes; his gaze followed Gu Chuanzhou, staring at him intently.

“What’s wrong?” Gu Chuanzhou stroked his hair.

Yu Xi grabbed that hand, clutching the long fingers. “Thank you.”

Gu Chuanzhou vaguely sensed that Yu Xi’s mood was different now. “For what?”

“Thank you for still being willing to come find me after so long. It was all my fault…” Yu Xi turned on his side and curled his legs up, shrinking into a small ball. He pulled Gu Chuanzhou’s hand close, pressing it under his face. “I’m sorry. I wanted to find you all too, but… but I had no way.”

His voice was tiny, filled with obvious apology and grievance.

“…”

Gu Chuanzhou’s breathing hitched slightly.

He looked at the curled-up Yu Xi and felt the damp heat soaking into the back of his hand. His chest felt a wave of bitterness. He lowered his head and asked, “Xi Xi, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me, okay?”

But Yu Xi, who had buried his face in his palm, suddenly went quiet. He was like a cat whose boundaries had been crossed; even while drunk, he became guarded. “I… I don’t have any difficulties.”

“Is that true? Then look at me while you say it,” Gu Chuanzhou said warmly.

After a long silence, Yu Xi lifted his head slightly, revealing his eyes. He glanced at Gu Chuanzhou and then quickly looked down. The rims of his eyes were red, and tears he was desperately holding back were swirling inside. He probably thought he was hiding it well when he said: “I really don’t.”

“Mhm.” Gu Chuanzhou didn’t just push aggressively; he guided him patiently. “No difficulties, then did you run into any trouble before?”

Yu Xi sniffled. “No…”

Gu Chuanzhou went silent for a moment. “Even if Xi Xi doesn’t say it, I can guess. Xi Xi must have had a hard time these past few years and endured a lot of grievances.”

In the time since their reunion, Gu Chuanzhou had noted Yu Xi’s every move—how he was afraid of being a burden and was careful in every situation.

This didn’t resemble Yu Xi, nor should Yu Xi be this way.

He should be like he was as a child—without many worries, carefree, with a brilliant and happy smile on his face and nothing but pure joy in his eyes. He shouldn’t be cautiously reading people’s expressions, working hard to please and compensate everyone around him while hiding his bad emotions deep in his heart, choosing to process them alone.

Gu Chuanzhou had been constantly trying to find ways to give him more security, wanting him to put down his burdens and accept all the kindness from others with a light heart.

But this was a long-term battle.

Gu Chuanzhou didn’t ask again. He sat quietly with Yu Xi, who had closed himself off once more, until the youth gradually fell asleep.

Yu Xi slept deeply, still pillowed on Gu Chuanzhou’s hand, his brow unconsciously furrowed.

Gu Chuanzhou reached out and smoothed Yu Xi’s brow. He sat with him until deep into the night before gently lifting Yu Xi’s head and withdrawing his right hand, which had long since gone numb and lost all feeling.

He walked onto the balcony, closed the glass door, and made a call.

“Help me look into Xi Xi’s past. I want to know everything he’s experienced in these nearly twelve years. I want the full details; don’t miss any important matter.”

…

Gu Chuanzhou had originally wanted to wait for Yu Xi to speak himself, but he couldn’t wait any longer.

Feeling Yu Xi’s secret tears had felt like a knife to his heart, leaving him consumed with anxiety.