Chapter 24: CH 24

Today’s gathering wasn’t much different from how Xu Juan and his friends usually did things. First, they would have a meal. After that, there would be other activities planned.

But this time, before they arrived, Xu Juan especially reminded Hou Shijie that he would be bringing Pei Yu today, and told him not to invite people of dubious character. 

Hou Shijie understood him and got the hint immediately, but what he didn’t understand was why Xu Juan cared so much about Pei Yu. Was this university professor really so special?

Like Guo Shao, Hou Shijie was also purely straight, he didn’t get what was so good about men.

He kept having misgivings in his heart, and couldn’t help asking Xu Juan: “Ge, you’re not being serious with him, are you?”

“Where’s all your nonsense coming from?” Xu Juan said through the phone, “Just care about yourself.” 

“……”

After being rebuked like this, Hou Shijie was startled. He thought, from this reaction, even if he weren’t completely serious, he was at least seventy percent serious. His cousin probably didn’t know the old saying that “all who drown know how to swim”.

But these were words he wouldn’t dare to say to Xu Juan even if he’d borrowed the courage of one hundred people.

Once the call ended, Hou Shijie began inviting people.

As it happened, while he was at work that day, Xu Juan received quite a number of phone lectures from his mother. If it weren’t for the gentle and considerate Pei laoshi chatting with him on WeChat, he wouldn’t have been able to improve his mood the entire day.

To prevent yet another accident, Xu Juan went through the chats on his phone and did a big clean-up, deleting whatever needed to be deleted. 

In the evening, once it was time to get off work, Xu Juan drove over to pick Pei Yu up.

When he arrived at Hong Uni, Pei Yu was already out and was currently waiting for him at the entrance of the southern school gate.

University was different from high school, not everyone had the same dismissal time. Those who had no classes in the evening had long since left.

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“Yeah, let’s go straight there. Are you hungry?”

“Not really.” Pei Yu’s gaze fell on Xu Juan’s body, and he suddenly said, “You’re very suited to wearing formal wear. When we first met, you were dressed rather similarly to now. Back then, I already thought, you’re very——”

Pei Yu deliberated over his choice of words: “Very alike those playboys in movies. Elegant and charming, looks good in anything, but especially stylish in formal wear.” 

“……” Xu Juan was briefly stunned, he had never expected Pei Yu to see him this way, “Was that your first impression of me, Pei laoshi?”

“That’s right. Back then, at first glance, I felt that you weren’t a good person.”

Xu Juan: “……”

You’re not wrong. 

Xu Juan smiled, faint and secretive, then personally put Pei Yu’s seat belt on for him. After that, he turned back and headed towards the location that had been decided upon.

……

They had decided to meet at Wanju today. This restaurant’s specialty was in being expensive. Apart from big shots and public figures, the usual people would never be able to afford it.

Although the extravagance here wasn’t in the first place as when compared to other fancy, high-class clubs, its entire existence shifted in the direction of business affairs; It was a place frequented by people like Xu Juan’s father, his older brother, and other similarly successful people when they wanted to discuss business. It was luxurious but proper.

Xu Juan and Pei Yu didn’t exactly arrive early, but Xu Juan was a familiar face; In Hong city, his face was well-known. Once he entered the lobby, there would be people showing him the way and respectfully sending him to the entrance of the private room.

The entire time, Pei Yu’s expression was quite tense. Xu Juan was very sharp, vaguely getting the feeling that the other was observing him. 

“What’s the matter?” After the attendant left, Xu Juan stood in the doorway, unable to stop himself from asking, “You seem a little upset? Do you not like it here, Pei Yu?”

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“It’s not that.” Pei Yu shook his head.

“Then what’s the matter?”

“……” 

The lights in the hotel corridor were so bright, they were brilliant. A warm tone washed over Pei Yu’s face and he hesitated before abruptly taking Xu Juan’s hand, confessing: “Sometimes, I’d think I know you well. But other times, I’d feel as if there’s a distance between us… Like just now.”

“Just now?” Xu Juan was bewildered, he hadn’t done anything earlier, had he?

Pei Yu looked down, holding onto his hand a little tighter, and said nothing. It was a very controlled gaze, as if there were hundreds and thousands of subtle, complicated emotions. Xu Juan stared at him for a while, then suddenly understood a little.

Ever since they’d met, until now, it was always Xu Juan blazing around and about Pei Yu’s world. Pei Yu had never stepped foot into his world, today was his first time. 

Feelings aside, they were truly two very different people, living at two different ends of the world. What Xu Juan was used to, was foreign to Pei Yu. But a foreign environment wasn’t enough to influence his mood; What made him feel distant was this side of Xu Juan he had never seen, that had been inadvertently revealed in this environment.

Pei Yu’s heart was suddenly rattled.

The insecurity that came with dating, was not always caused by doubt. As long as he didn’t have enough confidence to keep Xu Juan in his grasp, then his heart would never be at rest.

But this sort of mentality was pure imagination, to begin with, it was all unfounded overthinking, so he couldn’t blurt it out in detail. 

Pei Yu felt he was being too sensitive. Xu Juan hadn’t even done anything, he wasn’t in the slightest bit wrong. If he were to spout such nonsense for no good reason, it would become an additional burden for Xu Juan to bear.

“I’m not implying anything.” Pei Yu pursed his lips, and with some difficulty, said, “Just take it as me… me liking you too much. Xu Juan, I apologize.”

He forced a smile: “I’m a little nervous.”

“……You don’t have to be nervous.” 

Pei Yu wasn’t someone adept at hiding his mood, so how could Xu Juan not have picked up on it?

Xu Juan’s feelings were complicated. Indeed, he felt burdened, but it wasn’t the kind of burden Pei Yu thought of.

Xu Juan pulled his hand from Pei Yu’s grasp, then moved to hug him: “If you’re upset, let’s just go back and not eat here anymore.”

“I’m fine, I——” 

Pei Yu had yet to finish speaking when a voice rang out from behind them: “Hey, what’s the matter, Director Xu? Why aren’t you guys heading in and standing here whispering about?”

Xu Juan let go of Pei Yu and turned around to look, it was Guo Shao.

Guo Shao didn’t show up alone today, he’d brought along some company; A young girl trailed behind him, dressed in a purple little formal attire. She had a head of long, black hair, was pretty and her makeup was done well, so it highlighted her attractiveness.

Xu Juan recognized her, she was Guo Shao’s younger cousin, Yue Xuelin. Which was to say, she was the fiancée that his mother had found for him. 

Xu Juan frowned and his entire expression changed, becoming on the verge of flying into a rage. Hurriedly, Guo Shao threw him a look to show that he was being wrongfully accused, this was the “political task” his family had assigned him. He wasn’t deliberately trying to make things hard for Xu Juan.

Xu Juan remained silent.

Guo Shao felt a little awkward: “Let’s just head in first, we’ll talk after we’ve eaten.”

It wasn’t appropriate for Xu Juan to directly refuse his hospitality, but Xu Juan could sense the mood of the person beside him—— Pei Yu didn’t need him to explain anything. In those few seconds, he had understood their “script” through the exchange of eye contact and was now even more tense. 

Faced with this, Xu Juan momentarily didn’t know what to say. Pulling at Pei Yu’s hand, he silently pushed the door open and entered the private room.

T/N: hello,, i know it’s been really long, but the past month has been a wild ride for me. the semester started for grad school, i moved across the country, and on the second day of classes, my mac decided to go on (permanent) strike. so i had to order a new son and it only got delivered earlier this week. [ Looks Off Yonder Distance. ] you know how they say “福无双至，祸不单行”… i feel like a textbook example [ rest!! ] i hope you’ve all been well, the next one or two updates will still be sporadic but they’ll resume regular schedule soon! 

also, deluge has an audio drama now!! i recently found out, i’ve been so out of touch. but i am so excited!! it’s on maoer fm.

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