Chapter 41: A Clear Conscience

With the dawn of a new day, golden sunlight slowly illuminated the entire city, as if coating it in a layer of yellow paint.

Chen Lin pulled open the curtains and then opened the window, letting the cool morning breeze flow into the room.

Last night, Chen Lin slept very comfortably, sleeping a full ten hours straight.

That was thanks to not being bothered by Yan after returning home.

He picked up his phone and checked the messages. Last night, Yan had asked what he wanted for lunch today. Facing her offer to deliver a meal, Chen Lin refused without a second thought.

After all, after school today, there should be no more relationship between him and Yan.

Although he was very grateful for Yan’s care, Chen Lin hoped it would end here.

Stretching lazily, Chen Lin went to the bathroom to wash up. The expired coffee he drank yesterday had given him diarrhea, and even today, his stomach was still a little uncomfortable, but at least his backside had stopped spraying.

Dressed neatly, Chen Lin left his home and headed toward school.

On the way, he bought an egg pancake from a roadside stall, eating it as he walked.

Just as he was nearing the school, he happened to run into his good friend Jin Jie. With food still in his mouth, Chen Lin didn’t greet Jin Jie right away.

Seeing Chen Lin, Jin Jie approached and slapped him heartily on the shoulder.

“Good morning! Woodwood!” Jin Jie called out, using Chen Lin’s nickname.

Swallowing the food, Chen Lin said, “Morning.”

“Having an egg pancake for breakfast, huh? I’d love some too,” Jin Jie remarked wistfully.

As a close friend, Chen Lin knew exactly why Jin Jie sighed like that. Though Jin Jie wasn’t born into a wealthy family, his mother was very strict with him.

For instance, she strictly forbade him from buying street food for breakfast. In her view, roadside stalls epitomized dirt, disorder, and gutter oil—eating them would give you diarrhea.

“Isn’t it good to eat your mother’s cooking?” Chen Lin replied.

“No matter how delicious something is, eating it every day gets tiresome. Sometimes I want a change of taste,” Jin Jie responded.

“That’s true,” Chen Lin agreed.

Although Jin Jie’s mother loved her child very much, being too strict could also make the child feel very tired.

“By the way, are you free this weekend?” Jin Jie suddenly asked Chen Lin.

“Asking about my weekend plans on Monday? I should be free, but may I ask what you want me to do?” Chen Lin replied, stuffing the remaining pancake into his mouth and chewing quickly.

“Don’t ask me what I’m planning first. Just tell me if you’re free,” Jin Jie said, seemingly with no intention of explaining.

“Come on, man, if you won’t say anything, it’s hard for me to answer you,” Chen Lin complained bluntly.

Hearing that his best buddy dared not immediately agree, Jin Jie mercilessly hooked his left elbow around Chen Lin’s neck. “You bastard, daring to refuse my lifelong request.”

Chen Lin forced down the food in his mouth before replying, “Helping you is no problem, but you have to tell me what you’re doing.”

“Don’t ask. If you ask, I won’t tell you for now,” Jin Jie still didn’t fess up.

“You’re really boring, you know? What’s so mysterious? I have no plans this weekend, so I can definitely agree. But I’m telling you, if you don’t tell me anything, any screw-ups aren’t my fault,” Chen Lin answered bluntly.

As the saying goes, plan before acting. Chen Lin naturally wanted to help his best friend perfectly.

Asking Jin Jie what he planned to do was to better assist him. But since Jin Jie refused to tell him anything, Chen Lin felt helpless.

Hearing Chen Lin’s reply, Jin Jie nodded in satisfaction, looking very pleased. “That’s right. That’s the answer my true friend should give. Without asking what I want to do, you just choose to support me immediately.”

“I won’t do anything illegal, you know. I might even turn you in for a good deed,” Chen Lin joked.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m a model high school student,” Jin Jie said, releasing his hold on Chen Lin’s neck. “After this is done, I’ll treat you to a feast.”

The school day was as peaceful and serene as ever, and soon it was time to go home.

“See you tomorrow,” Jin Jie greeted Chen Lin before leaving the classroom.

Chen Lin packed up his school supplies and also left the classroom.

When he reached the school gate, Chen Lin didn’t head home as usual. Instead, he walked in a different direction.

He arrived at a café decorated in a brown Nordic style—quiet and comfortable.

Though the price per cup was a bit high, the value for money was still quite good.

Chen Lin sat down at a reserved booth next to a floor-to-ceiling window. From the second-floor view, he could see the bustling pedestrians on the street below.

“What would you like to drink?” a waiter asked. Chen Lin casually ordered a coffee.

Chen Lin didn’t really like coffee, but he chose this place because it was better for conversation.

He was still a little nervous, unsure whether what he was about to do was right.

But the thing he was going to do—to have a clear conscience—couldn’t be wrong.

The coffee arrived quickly, placed on the table in front of him. Chen Lin took a sip to calm his nerves.

Even though he had diarrhea from coffee yesterday, he still didn’t shy away from it.

He looked out at the street beside him, waiting for the person he was waiting for. He didn’t have to wait long. Soon, Yan appeared and sat down across from him.

A waiter came, and after carefully studying the menu, Yan chose a caramel-flavored macchiato.

“Why did you ask me to come here today? If you had something to tell me, why not just say it at your place?” Yan asked, puzzled.

Chen Lin didn’t answer immediately. His gaze was fixed outside the window. With Yan sitting in front of him, he couldn’t help but feel nervous, and his emotions were complicated.

Seeing that Chen Lin wasn’t speaking, Yan asked curiously, “What’s wrong with you today, big brother? You seem so strange.”

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Heemin’s One-Sided Love

AdultBoys LoveDrama

Read Now →
Not interested