Do You Like Me?

Gu Yuechen had thought that after that day, his relationship with Yu Yaochen had improved.

But on WeChat, Yu Yaochen was as cold toward him as when they had first met.

It was not that he did not reply to his messages. Yu Yaochen replied to everything Gu Yuechen sent, but he was stingy with words. His replies were as good as no replies at all.

Gu Yuechen stared darkly at the WeChat chat window, displeased by Yu Yaochen's cold attitude.

After thinking for a moment, he sent Yu Yaochen a message.

Gu Yuechen: [I'm off this Wednesday. Don't stay in the studio every day, you'll get bored out of your mind. Let's go see a movie.]

Half an hour later.

Yu Yaochen: [I'm not at the studio. I went on a trip and won't be back this week.]

After reading it, the jealousy in Gu Yuechen's heart immediately boiled over, and he quickly began typing.

Gu Yuechen: [Are you with Doctor Pei?]

After sending it, every minute and second became agonizing. He simply could not stand Yu Yaochen's reply speed, so he went straight into the restroom at the pet hospital and called him.

It rang twice before Yu Yaochen answered. There was a trace of fatigue in his voice.

"Is that you, Yuechen?"

Gu Yuechen got straight to the point. "You went traveling with Doctor Pei?"

He did not care whether he sounded like he was interrogating him as he pressed on, "Where did you go?"

Yu Yaochen fell silent for a while before answering, "I'm alone. It's not really a trip. I'm at the seaside, clearing my head."

Hearing that Yu Yaochen was alone, the gloom in Gu Yuechen's heart immediately vanished. He feigned concern and said, "Why did you go to the seaside alone? You only just recovered. How can you not bring someone to take care of you? What if you get sick again?"

"Don't worry. I'm fine."

"When are you coming back, then?"

"I don't know either..." Yu Yaochen's voice carried a barely perceptible confusion. "Maybe I'll go back once I feel better."

That answer was rather strange, but Gu Yuechen could not be bothered to care too much. He casually said, "Let me know when you're back. I want to watch a movie with you."

Yu Yaochen suddenly stopped speaking. Only faint breathing could be heard.

Gu Yuechen thought the signal at the seaside was bad, so he called out to him, "Chenchen?"

"Got it," Yu Yaochen replied. "When I get back, I'll find you."

"Okay." Gu Yuechen smiled without smiling. "Have fun."

As soon as the call ended, Gu Yuechen rolled his eyes.

Flowers raised in a greenhouse all had something wrong with their brains.

He had only just recovered, yet instead of resting properly, he ran off to get blasted by sea wind.

He'd be better off dying from it.

*

Gu Yuechen did not take Yu Yaochen to heart. After that call, he did not take the initiative to message Yu Yaochen again and even forgot about their agreement to meet.

It was not until a week later, when Yu Yaochen drove up to the entrance of the pet shop, that Gu Yuechen remembered.

"Xu Rui, I'm leaving first." It was Xu Rui's shift that day. Gu Yuechen waved at him. "I'll bring you breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Okay."

Xu Rui followed Gu Yuechen to the entrance and saw that luxury car again.

This time, the owner of the luxury car finally got out. He went around to the passenger side and gentlemanly opened the door for Gu Yuechen.

Xu Rui was so shocked that his mouth fell open.

It was actually the boss's fiancé.

Inside the car, Gu Yuechen fastened his seat belt and apologetically said, "I can't watch a movie with you tonight. I have to work tomorrow morning."

"It's okay. I came to find you..." Yu Yaochen paused and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "There's something I wanted to tell you."

Gu Yuechen's heart skipped a beat. Had Yu Yaochen finally come around and decided to cheat with him?

He quickly turned his head and nervously stared at Yu Yaochen's nearly perfect profile.

"What do you want to say?"

"Let's eat first. What do you want to have?"

How could Gu Yuechen be in the mood to eat? He was anxious to tear away the veil between them so his plan could continue.

"I'm not hungry. My colleague gave me some cake this afternoon, so I'm still full," Gu Yuechen lied.

"Then let's get something to drink." Yu Yaochen said, "A milk tea shop or a café?"

Getting drinks was more suitable for talking, so Gu Yuechen did not refuse again.

"Find a quieter café."

"Okay."

Half an hour later, they arrived at a café where the average spending per customer was rather high.

"Did you have fun at the seaside?" Gu Yuechen thought he should make some polite conversation first and liven up the atmosphere, so Yu Yaochen could confess more easily.

"It was alright." Yu Yaochen took a sip of coffee. The bitter taste made him frown slightly. He set down his cup and said, "It helped me calm down a lot."

Calm down?

Gu Yuechen immediately had a bad feeling.

If Yu Yaochen had calmed down, he was probably going to draw a clear line between them.

Sure enough, Yu Yaochen's first words struck Gu Yuechen like a bolt from the blue.

"I discussed it with Huanyi last night. We're going abroad next month."

Gu Yuechen's pupils suddenly constricted, and his emotions grew agitated. "You're about to get married. Why are you still going abroad?"

"The wedding will be held abroad, and it will also help us avoid the media here." Yu Yaochen pressed his thin lips together and said with difficulty, "Once my mother is feeling better, she'll also go abroad to continue treatment. I... most likely won't return to the country."

Gu Yuechen could not take in the latter half of his words. All he heard was that Yu Yaochen was taking Pei Huanyi abroad.

Originally, he had another half a year to keep seeing Pei Huanyi.

But now it had been shortened to one month. How could Yu Yaochen be so selfish?

Yu Yaochen raised his eyes to look at Gu Yuechen, restrained and suppressed emotions in his gaze.

"You were the first friend I made after returning to the country, so I decided to tell you before I leave." Yu Yaochen said softly, "Thank you for keeping me company during this time. I was very happy."

Gu Yuechen listened to him with a pale face, then suddenly stood up and turned to leave the café without saying a word.

When he reached the roadside, Gu Yuechen's eyes gradually reddened.

At that moment, Yu Yaochen ran over and grabbed his wrist.

"Yuechen, what's wrong..." Yu Yaochen noticed Gu Yuechen's red-rimmed eyes and froze. "Are you crying?"

Gu Yuechen stared fixedly at Yu Yaochen's face and decided to make one final gamble.

"Chenchen, you like me, don't you?" Gu Yuechen said in a trembling voice. "You painted so many pictures of me. You like me, don't you?"

Yu Yaochen's breathing quickened, and he frantically averted his gaze.

"No."

"You're lying. You do like me." Gu Yuechen rushed forward and hugged him, his voice choked with tears. "Chenchen, I like you too."

Yu Yaochen's eyes widened abruptly, his face filled with shock and disbelief.