Grandma did not notice the ambiguous atmosphere between them. Seeing that Ye Qingzhou really had done as she wished, she quickly nodded with a smile. "Good, good, good. Now that's a good boy..."
Chu Ci: "..."
The person in question was not feeling particularly good about it.
Fortunately, their home was only on the second floor. Ye Qingzhou carried Grandma inside on his back and carefully settled her on the sofa before following Chu Ci downstairs to buy groceries.
"Cici?"
Ye Qingzhou looked at Chu Ci ahead of him, one eyebrow slightly raised, a teasing smile in his voice.
At that, Chu Ci nearly tumbled down the stairs. He cleared his throat twice. "Grandma isn't here..."
His implication was that there was no need to call him that.
"But I want to call you that..."
Looking at Chu Ci's embarrassment, Ye Qingzhou seemed to have discovered something fun. He followed leisurely behind him. "I think Grandma made a very good point. Teacher Chu sounds too formal. Cici sounds much closer."
Chu Ci felt obliged to remind Ye Qingzhou, "But we've only known each other for a day. Less than ten hours, to be precise. Aren't you getting a little too familiar?"
"That's not how you should look at it."
Ye Qingzhou was not buying that at all. "Haven't you heard the expression 'love at first sight'? That instant affinity is a magical thing. Take the first time I saw you, for example. I really, really, really liked you."
Chu Ci: "?"
Were all you Earthlings this bold?
[No. Earthlings tend to be more reserved and restrained when expressing their feelings. Almost no one expresses their feelings so directly to someone they have only just met, so I think his "like" was probably just something he said casually. Maybe he means he thinks you would make a great friend?]
Lele explained gently.
Chu Ci had not read much into it in the first place. After all, he and Ye Qingzhou had known each other for far too short a time. He was not so conceited as to think that one brief encounter would have made Ye Qingzhou develop any deep feelings for him.
Still, he thought there was a problem with Ye Qingzhou's choice of words. "If I remember correctly, doesn't love at first sight mean a man and a woman falling in love when they first meet? Using that expression for us is a little..."
Chu Ci did not finish the rest.
But Ye Qingzhou still understood what Chu Ci meant. He asked humbly, "What's inappropriate about it?"
Chu Ci: "..."
Why did he feel like Ye Qingzhou was doing this on purpose?
"Teacher Chu, there's a question I'd like to ask you."
Seeing that Ye Qingzhou had finally abandoned the intimate nickname "Cici," Chu Ci let out a relieved breath. He tried to keep his voice calm. "Go ahead."
Ye Qingzhou asked gently, "Do you think love can only develop between a boy and a girl? To put it another way, do you think love can exist between two boys or two girls?"
Not expecting that question, Chu Ci froze for a moment.
When Chu Ci remained silent, a flicker of disappointment crossed Ye Qingzhou's eyes. He forced a faint smile. "Is it awkward for you to answer? That's all right..."
But before Ye Qingzhou could finish, Chu Ci interrupted him. "It's not awkward to answer. I just wondered whether this question was even worth singling out to ask."
"What do you mean?"
For a moment, Ye Qingzhou did not follow.
Chu Ci explained helplessly, "I mean... I don't think there's any need to discuss this at all. Of course love doesn't only develop between boys and girls. As long as two people love each other, why should gender matter?"
Ye Qingzhou's eyes instantly lit up. "So you're not against people of the same sex falling in love?"
"Why would I be?"
There was a note of puzzlement in Chu Ci's voice. "When you like someone, shouldn't you like their character, their values, and their personality? What does that have to do with gender?"
Perhaps because he had grown up without parents to guide him, Chu Ci had his own unique understanding of "love." He had always believed that as long as he liked someone, whether they were male or female, tall or short, fat or thin, strong or weak, he or she would always be the best in his heart.
"You're right."
The smile in Ye Qingzhou's peach blossom eyes was almost overflowing. Anyone could have seen his good mood.
His voice held an unmistakable smile. "I completely agree with your view. I also think love has nothing to do with gender. Affection should be pure, without any impurities. If you still have to consider someone's gender, family background, looks, or whether their personality is good or bad while liking them, then that affection is far too fragile, far too easily shattered..."
"I wouldn't quite put it that way."
Chu Ci found Ye Qingzhou's wording a little strange. "You can't choose things like your gender, family circumstances, background, or looks, so of course those don't have to matter. But shouldn't you give personality some consideration? If someone is far too arrogant and overbearing, wouldn't you find that irritating?"
"No."
Ye Qingzhou shook his head honestly and explained earnestly, "If he's arrogant and overbearing, it's because he has the backing to act that way. That proves being with me and becoming my partner makes him feel very secure, so I'd only find him cute."
Cu... cute?
Was that how the word cute was supposed to be used?
Chu Ci almost thought he was hearing things. He asked incredulously, "Then what if he accidentally causes trouble for you outside, and you don't have the ability to sort it out? Would you still think he's cute?"
Ye Qingzhou shook his head.
It seemed he wasn't completely beyond saving.
Chu Ci nodded in satisfaction and was just about to offer his own opinion when Ye Qingzhou spoke first. "I'd only think I wasn't strong enough yet, since I couldn't help him resolve every difficulty..."
Chu Ci: "?"
Was Ye Qingzhou's way of thinking... really normal?
"I believe the person I like would never cause trouble for no reason, so the other person must be at fault. And if the other person is at fault, why should we be expected to put up with it?"
Chu Ci stared blankly at Ye Qingzhou.
Would... would this really not cause problems?
"Besides, as the saying goes, a gentleman can wait ten years for revenge. Even if I can't sort it out for the time being, since he dared provoke the person I like, I'll definitely make him pay a terrible price in the future..."
As he said this, Ye Qingzhou's demeanor changed. Before, he had looked like a refined young gentleman; now, he radiated an oppressive, aggressive air.
Chu Ci remained silent.
Only then did Ye Qingzhou realize he had said a little too much. He lowered his eyes, concealing the darkness in them. When he looked up again, he had returned to the image of a refined young gentleman.
"Sorry, Teacher Chu. I didn't scare you, did I?"