Chapter 55: Mother

After that, Yu Xi didn’t ask another single question about Yu Xuelin.

This was the first time he had completely entrusted his affairs to another person to resolve for him. For some unknown reason, he didn’t feel the burdensome weight of owing a favor or any sense of guilt; instead, he felt a tranquil peace of mind that comes with finality.

He believed Gu Chuanzhou would handle it well.

This matter had also become a tacit secret between them.

Yu Xi didn’t say much, and he knew Gu Chuanzhou would absolutely never mention a single word to anyone else.

“I see your complexion has pretty much recovered today. Do you want to go soak in a hot spring together in a couple of days? I know a mountain villa that’s very beautiful,” Sheng Yunjuan said.

On this day, Yu Xi’s room was very lively, packed full of people.

“The one at Maple Leaf Mountain? I know that place, it’s indeed not bad,” Zhang Xingkuo rarely chimed in to agree with Sheng Yunjuan. During the period Yu Xi was recovering from his illness, he seldom bickered or argued with Sheng Yunjuan, restraining his temper so as not to cause Yu Xi any mental fatigue or worry.

“Then I’ll make a reservation right now.” Lin Shuhuai pulled out his phone, preparing to make a call.

Yu Xi hastily grabbed Lin Shuhuai’s sleeve: “Wait a moment.”

Sheng Yunjuan propped both hands on the edge of the bed, asking, “Does Xiao Xi not want to go?”

Yu Xi shook his head: “I want to rest a bit more. Let’s wait until a week from now.”

“That works!” Sheng Yunjuan grew happy again, urging Lin Shuhuai to continue with the booking.

Amidst the chatter, Yu Xi lifted his eyes, quietly stealing a glance at Gu Chuanzhou, who was standing by the balcony window.

Gu Chuanzhou was taking a work call. When handling business, his expression was always very cold, making him appear unapproachable and harsh; only at times like this did Yu Xi feel Gu Chuanzhou possessed a sense of distance.

However, in the very next second, this man—who was exceptionally sharp regarding everything about him—sensed his gaze and turned his head back. In an instant, the frozen ice within his eyes thawed, leaving behind nothing but infinite tenderness.

Even though he was still listening to the person on the other end of the phone, he had already shifted the majority of his attention over. His brows arched slightly, his deep eyes carrying an inquiring look, as if asking him if he needed anything.

Yu Xi’s long eyelashes fluttered, and he rapidly averted his gaze, acting as though nothing had happened as he looked at the hot spring villa photos Sheng Yunjuan held up.

They chatted a lot using the hot spring as a topic, finalized the dates and rooms, as well as the things they needed to prepare in advance.

The more Sheng Yunjuan spoke, the more impatient he became, wishing he could set out right this moment, and he still felt unsatisfied even when it was time for everyone to return to their respective homes.

“How is it already this time?” Filled with all kinds of reluctance in his heart, Sheng Yunjuan dragged Yu Xi’s arm, hanging back because he didn’t want to leave.

Sheng Yunshu reminded him: “Xiao Juan, don’t forget our studio still has business to attend to.”

“Ah… but I still want to stay with Xiao Xi for a bit longer.”

“It’ll be the same when you come over next time.” Sheng Yunshu hoisted Sheng Yunjuan up by his collar, turning his head to call, “A-Shen, let’s go.”

Zhang Xingkuo and Lin Shuhuai followed right behind.

Yu Xi smiled and responded to everyone’s farewells one by one. When his eyes saw off Gu Chuanzhou at the very end, he hesitated to speak, but because Zhang Xingkuo and Lin Shuhuai were still present, he didn’t say anything.

He figured it would be the same to say it on his phone later, but he hadn’t expected that five minutes later, Gu Chuanzhou would leave and then return.

This caused him a bit of astonishment: “Did you leave something behind?”

Gu Chuanzhou shook his head: “Xixi has something to say to me, right?”

“Mm…”

So based on just his expression, Gu Chuanzhou could read his thoughts?

Inexplicably, Yu Xi felt a bit of an itch in his chest, unconsciously rubbing his clothes as he brewed his thoughts for a moment before saying: “I feel that Mother has the right to know about Yu Xuelin’s matters, and I’m also a bit worried about her, so…”

“So you want to go visit her.” Gu Chuanzhou picked up the thread of his words, naturally sitting down by his side while taking the blanket from one side to drape over his legs. “Alright, no problem. Do you want to go tomorrow or the day after?”

He agreed so crisply that Yu Xi got stuck for a moment: “Then… tomorrow?”

“Okay.”

Very quickly, Gu Chuanzhou had his assistant book two plane tickets, and also ordered his work projects and meetings to be postponed.

After finishing his instructions, Gu Chuanzhou began helping Yu Xi pack his luggage once more—not just clothing and daily necessities, but even Yu Xiaohe was put back into its original metal tin to make it convenient to pack into the suitcase.

At ten o’clock the following morning, Gu Chuanzhou arrived at the Pei residence to pick him up.

Pei Lexin didn’t feel at ease about Yu Xi, postponing her time to go to the company to repeatedly adjust his scarf and hat before sending him off, giving him a great deal of instructions.

When Yu Xi had suddenly proposed yesterday that he wanted to go find his mother, Pei Lexin had been a bit surprised. But thinking that Yu Xi must be in such a rush out of missing her, and with Gu Chuanzhou accompanying him, she agreed.

“Remember to give me a call when your plane lands,” Pei Lexin bent down to speak into the car, her gaze then shifting toward the driver’s seat. “Chuanzhou, help me take good care of Xiao Xi.”

Gu Chuanzhou said, “I will.”

When it came to taking care of Yu Xi, there would never be anyone more meticulous and thorough in every matter than Gu Chuanzhou.

Yu Xi could clearly feel the difference. The relatives and friends around him would all take care of him very considerately, but only Gu Chuanzhou could guess his needs and preferences at the very first moment even if he didn’t speak. There were even some minor details that he himself hadn’t paid attention to, yet Gu Chuanzhou had thought of them.

“You unconsciously hug a blanket when you sleep, so I bought you a new throw pillow.” Gu Chuanzhou placed a brand new plush pillow into Yu Xi’s arms.

Yu Xi touched the fleece of the throw pillow, discovering that the texture happened to be exactly what he liked, and he couldn’t help but pinch it over and over again.

Gu Chuanzhou looked at his movements and asked, “Don’t like it?”

Yu Xi’s cheeks puffed up slightly: “No, I like it too much. How can you understand me so well?”

He looked over with his clear, dark eyes, carrying a trace of blame and moodiness.

Gu Chuanzhou looked at him softly: “Because my gaze is always on you, I will naturally notice everything about you.”

Such a reply was somewhat beyond his expectations. Yu Xi blanked out, the tips of his ears instantly burning hot.

Because of a single sentence from him, the man prepared so many things and didn’t even care about his work, accompanying him on a long trip.

“You told me before that a sick person has the special privilege to act spoiled and willful.” Gu Chuanzhou’s expression was serious. “Similarly, the person who is liked has the same privilege.”

“So, no matter what it is, you will agree?” Although it was a question, Yu Xi already knew the answer the moment he asked it.

Exactly as he had thought, Gu Chuanzhou said firmly: “No matter what it is.”

Yu Xi gathered the throw pillow entirely into his embrace, resting his chin on top of it, and said in a muffled voice: “This seems a bit bad too, I haven’t given anything in return.”

The corners of Gu Chuanzhou’s lips arched: “To me, your reliance and trust are already the greatest reward.”

“The person you chose to entreat wasn’t Zhang Xingkuo, wasn’t Lin Shuhuai, wasn’t Meng Shen, and wasn’t Xiao Shu or Xiao Juan, but me.”

Gu Chuanzhou emphasized a certain word, “Only me.”

Yu Xi opened his lips: “That was because it happened to be seen by you that day…”

“There was indeed luck involved, but this is already enough.” Gu Chuanzhou didn’t deny it, his eyes deep and shifting with light. “You told your past to me alone, and you only shed tears in front of me alone, even giving me the special privilege to help you handle the aftermath… Out of my own selfishness, I only wish for us to share more secrets between us, to exclusively possess more of you.”

After Gu Chuanzhou finished speaking, he let out a silent laugh: “Is it a bit frightening for me to say it like this?”

Yu Xi slowly withdrew the astonishment on his face, shaking his head: “It’s alright… I’ve already experienced the most frightening version at your apartment.”

The impact he received that time had been powerful enough; Gu Chuanzhou revealing his other side had completely overturned his impression, so now no matter how shocking the words Gu Chuanzhou spoke were, he felt it was alright.

His level of acceptance had become higher, and he didn’t know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

The plane landed at one o’clock in the afternoon.

Although they had eaten a simple meal on the plane, Gu Chuanzhou still took Yu Xi to the reserved restaurant first.

Thinking that he was about to see his mother soon, Yu Xi’s heart felt both anxious and rushed. He ate the meal absentmindedly and didn’t eat very much.

Regrettably, because he had come abruptly, the timing on Qi Qingyun’s end was difficult to arrange, and the earliest she could meet him was four o’clock in the afternoon.

Gu Chuanzhou took him to the hotel to rest and recuperate for a bit first. When the time was about right, he brought him to the teahouse near Qi Qingyun’s research institute.

Yu Xi drank cup after cup of tea. Gu Chuanzhou asked, “Nervous?”

Yu Xi nodded.

Gu Chuanzhou: “I am nervous too.”

Yu Xi tilted his head, sizing up Gu Chuanzhou’s face which didn’t show a single trace of nervousness: “Really?”

Gu Chuanzhou said in a matter-of-fact tone: “Going to meet the mother of my beloved, of course I’ll be nervous.”

“…” Yu Xi blanked out.

Seeing the faint, barely noticeable smile on Gu Chuanzhou’s face, he felt slightly ashamed and annoyed. With a turn of his hips, he shifted his body sideways, “I’m not talking to you anymore.”

However, having been teased by Gu Chuanzhou like this, the anxiety in his heart calmed down quite a bit.

They waited and waited, watching the clock inside the teahouse private room inch closer to exactly four o’clock bit by bit.

Finally—the door to the private room was opened.

Yu Xi stood up immediately, his eyes lighting up with bright, brilliant spirit, and he called out in a crisp voice: “Mother!”

Qi Qingyun reached out her hands to catch Yu Xi as he ran over, responding with a smile: “Come, let Mommy look… Hm? You look a bit thinner than during our last video call. Have you not been eating well lately?”

Qi Qingyun didn’t know about his illness.

Yu Xi concealed his slight guilt, lowering his head to let Qi Qingyun pinch the soft flesh on his face: “It’s normal for there to be a small difference between video and the real person, Mother. I’ve been eating well, my weight is five catties heavier than before.”

Qi Qingyun said with gratification: “Overall you do look like you’ve gained flesh. It seems your Auntie Pei has raised you very well.”

After exchanging a few words, Qi Qingyun noticed the presence of the other person in the private room.

Gu Chuanzhou stepped forward at the appropriate time: “Auntie Qi, long time no see.”

Qi Qingyun smiled and nodded: “I remember you. You are that very outstanding child from the Gu family. Xiao Xi often chats with me about you too, praising you for being very excellent and saying you take great care of him. I ought to have said thank you to you much earlier.”

“It’s all what I ought to do.” Gu Chuanzhou cast a glance at Yu Xi. “Did Xixi talk about me a lot to you?”

“A lot, he…”

“Mother!” Yu Xi cut her off, giving Gu Chuanzhou a tiny glare before pulling Qi Qingyun toward the chairs. “Let’s not mention those words for now, I still have very important things to tell you.”

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