I Love You

"Hmm? Who did you say?" Yu Yaochen looked at him in confusion.

Gu Yuechen came back to his senses and shook his head. "Nothing."

Lin Lizhu soon brought over a fruit platter filled with expensive fruit that Gu Yuechen would never have been willing to buy.

But he was in such low spirits that he had no appetite at all. He only ate one strawberry before setting down his fork.

Yu Yaochen could tell he was unhappy and badly wanted to go over and hug him.

So as soon as Lin Lizhu finished washing the dishes, Yu Yaochen sent her away.

The moment the front door closed, Yu Yaochen pulled him into his arms and lowered his head to kiss the tip of his ear.

"You seem to be in a bad mood. Can I ask why?"

Gu Yuechen parted his lips slightly, but quickly closed them again.

He did not want to discuss this subject.

He could not exactly say that he had met the biological mother who had abandoned him, and that Lin Lizhu was his mother.

He could not say it, nor could he tell him.

Gu Yuechen pushed away Yu Yaochen's embrace and said listlessly, "I want to take a shower."

A trace of loneliness appeared on Yu Yaochen's face. He always felt that he could not enter Gu Yuechen's heart.

He knew Gu Yuechen's past had been too miserable, so he was highly guarded.

Fine. He could wait slowly.

Yu Yaochen smiled again, took his hand, and squeezed his soft palm.

"I'll get you some clothes."

In order to get Gu Yuechen to stay here more often, Yu Yaochen had already bought quite a few clothes in his size.

He had even thoughtfully prepared underwear.

They were all stored in the wooden wardrobe in the small room.

Whenever Yu Yaochen stood before that wardrobe and saw it filled with his and Gu Yuechen's clothes, his heart would swell with immense satisfaction.

He could not help imagining what life would be like when they lived together.

And, of course, after they got married.

They would never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of their lives, and he could take Gu Yuechen traveling everywhere.

Whenever he had free time, he would paint portraits of Gu Yuechen.

They would no longer need to avoid anyone. They could hold hands openly, wedding rings they had put on each other resting on their ring fingers.

At night, they would kiss and make love, then hold each other, drenched in sweat, until morning.

Yu Yaochen had never imagined a future like this before. It was only after meeting Gu Yuechen that he had changed completely.

He had begun to worry over gains and losses, and every touch from Gu Yuechen made him feel happy and nervous.

Thinking of this, Yu Yaochen could not help lowering his head and kissing Gu Yuechen's forehead.

"Just wait a little longer. Soon, we won't have to hide anymore." Yu Yaochen said happily, "We can go on dates openly."

And they would not have to hastily end their intimacy just because the servants arrived.

Gu Yuechen had no mind to think about any of that and merely gave a perfunctory response.

"Okay."

After they had both washed up, they lay down on the bed together.

Yu Yaochen could not fall asleep, so he reached out to hold Gu Yuechen's hand.

But the moment he touched the back of Gu Yuechen's hand, Gu Yuechen lifted it and placed it over his own stomach.

Yu Yaochen's hand froze in midair. After a long while, he slowly lowered it.

He turned onto his side and gazed intensely at Gu Yuechen's face.

"Shall we continue?"

Gu Yuechen frowned slightly, understanding Yu Yaochen's implication.

He immediately turned his back to Yu Yaochen and said flatly, "I'm a little sleepy. Another day."

Regret flashed through Yu Yaochen's eyes.

A moment later, Yu Yaochen moved closer of his own accord and wrapped an arm around Gu Yuechen's waist.

"Yuechen, good night."

Gu Yuechen gave a soft hum, but did not say good night.

After an unknown amount of time passed, Gu Yuechen heard the person behind him say,

"Yuechen, I love you."

Gu Yuechen's breathing became uneven. He bit his lip and tried hard to steady it.

This was the first time Yu Yaochen had said the words "I love you" to him.

He knew Yu Yaochen liked him, but he had never expected it to go this far.

It made Gu Yuechen feel somewhat panicked, afraid that it would be difficult to shake this person off in the future.

It probably wouldn't come to that, would it?

Yu Yaochen had such excellent qualifications. All he had to do was crook a finger, and plenty of people would flock to him.

He would not give up an entire forest for a tree that had long since withered like him.

He could even consider getting together with Xie Wangchi.

That guy was not exactly clean, but he was sincere toward Yu Yaochen and would definitely treat him well.

So there was no need for him to be afraid. Once the time was right, he could say something harsh and dump Yu Yaochen.

Yu Yaochen had been doted on by his parents since childhood. His pride had to be strong; he would never foolishly come back to pester him.

"Yuechen," Yu Yaochen spoke again. "Are you asleep?"

Gu Yuechen immediately shut his eyes tightly and did not answer him.

Yu Yaochen sighed, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness. "I'd better save it for later."

The next day, Yu Yaochen began going to the hospital to keep his mother company, but he would send Gu Yuechen messages from time to time, sharing things that happened at the hospital.

But Gu Yuechen did not read a single one, nor did he reply to Yu Yaochen.

His eyes kept drifting toward the clock.

The moment it was time to get off work, he immediately grabbed his things and went to the nearby bus stop to take a bus to the small villa.

Yu Yaochen had long since told him the passcode to the small villa. Gu Yuechen entered with ease, then sat on the sofa and stared eagerly at the door.

When Lin Lizhu came in carrying groceries, he immediately walked over, took the bags from her, and followed her into the kitchen to help.

Lin Lizhu had politely refused several times, but Gu Yuechen would not listen and insisted on helping wash the vegetables.

She had no choice but to stop saying anything and assign some tasks to Gu Yuechen.

Gu Yuechen did not know whether it was just his imagination, but he noticed that Lin Lizhu no longer seemed as warm as she had been at first.

Her attitude when speaking to him was icy, and sometimes she barely responded to the awkward topics he brought up.

But as soon as Yu Yaochen came back, a smile would appear on Lin Lizhu's face, and she would become gentler toward him as well.

After Gu Yuechen noticed this pattern, he began coaxing—and half-forcing—Yu Yaochen to come to the small villa earlier.

This went on for over a week. Yu Yaochen's mother's surgery was very successful, and she was more or less ready to go home and recuperate.

The day Yu Yaochen's mother was discharged from the hospital happened to be Gu Yuechen's day off.

Yu Yaochen drove to pick up his mother and take her back to the Yu Household, so only Gu Yuechen and Lin Lizhu were in the small villa.

"Aunt Lin, what are we making today?" Gu Yuechen rolled up his sleeves.

Struggle flashed through Lin Lizhu's eyes before her expression turned cold. "Mr. Gu, can we talk?"

Seeing Lin Lizhu's serious expression, Gu Yuechen felt a trace of unease.

"Of course." Gu Yuechen forced a smile.

The moment Gu Yuechen sat down on the sofa, he heard Lin Lizhu say, "Yesterday afternoon, the young master told Madam and Master at the hospital that he wanted to call off the engagement."

Gu Yuechen froze for a moment, then the corners of his lips curved upward.

And that tiny movement did not escape Lin Lizhu's eyes.

"I knew I was right." Lin Lizhu's gaze turned cold. "You're the other man."