Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Showing Mercy She rarely shows mercy...
You Zhi's heart was pounding. He was about to say how he could possibly dislike her, but when he met Xu Qinghu's smiling eyes, his face started to burn again. In a voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "No."
"I know," Xu Qinghu blinked, "you're worried about me working too hard."
You Zhi's eyelashes moved slightly, and after a long time he said "hmm".
He is so well-behaved and innocent that people simply cannot bear to continue bullying him.
[Emm, if Hulu says a few more words, Xiaoyou's face would probably be so smeared with eggs.]
[When facing the person he likes, the innocent boy can't hide his feelings at all.]
[I just like this kind of simple and cute boy, I feel like I can easily control him.]
[I love seeing Xiao You embarrassed. The more shy she is, the more addictive she is. Who understands my pleasure?]
[As a fellow traveler, I like pure and innocent men the most.]
Soon, You Zhi put the peeled cocoa beans into the mortar and began to grind them with the pestle.
Xu Qinghu sat opposite him, supporting his chin with his hand, and stared at him quietly.
You Zhi's movements were quick at first, but when he noticed she was staring at him intently, he slowly lowered his eyelashes and whispered, "You..."
"Hmm?" Xu Qinghu raised the corner of his mouth, "What's wrong?"
"Want to try it?" He tried to calm his rapid breathing and heartbeat, and looked up at Xu Qinghu.
"Sure." Xu Qinghu stood up and sat beside him, took the pestle which was still warm from his hand, and continued to grind the cocoa beans which had turned into powder.
Grind until the powder releases oil and becomes increasingly fine before proceeding to the next step.
Seeing that she was no longer looking at him, You Zhi finally calmed down and had the mind to pay attention to her.
But when the distance between the two people shortened, Xu Qinghu's presence seemed to become stronger.
Her hair, gently fluttering in the wind, fell softly on his shoulders, and her light and pleasant rose-like fragrance quietly occupied his senses.
He couldn't think any further and could only stare at her blankly.
There was a lot of "Hahaha" in the live broadcast room. People thought that You Zhi must have been possessed by a demon, which was why she was blushing and her heart was beating fast.
Grinding was a laborious task, so Xu Qinghu finished it shortly before returning the pestle to You Zhi. "My hands are so sore. You should do it."
"Yeah." You Zhi was afraid she would get bored, so he said, "The chocolates will need to be shaped later. You can go pick out a few molds you like first."
"Okay." Xu Qinghu stood up and walked into the small room with the staff, ready to choose a few good-looking molds.
Looking at her brisk steps, You Zhi showed a faint and gentle smile on his face. Even the time-consuming and laborious task of making chocolate seemed special.
Soon, Xu Qinghu came back with the mold. Looking at the chocolate that was almost ground, he said, "You can add cocoa butter and powdered sugar."
Upon hearing this, You Zhi poured the cocoa butter on the side into the mortar, but did not add much powdered sugar.
He also remembered that Xu Qinghu didn't like food that was too sweet.
Seeing this, Xu Qinghu's gaze paused on him for a few seconds, then he placed the mold and squeezed the bagged chocolate into it.
She chose several shapes of small animals, including kittens, puppies and rabbits.
"Does this look like you?" She pointed at the little rabbit and said meaningfully, "They're both so cute."
"I'm not a rabbit." After clenching his fingers at his sides several times, You Zhi looked into Xu Qinghu's eyes and said with courage: "I'm just... a little nervous."
Xu Qinghu was amused by his efforts to explain. "I know. I don't mind you being nervous. You don't have to take this date too seriously."
She whispered, "Just think of me as your good friend. You can express your opinions freely in front of me and do what you like. You don't have to feel any pressure to date me."
"If you're constantly tense, then when you see the flowers blooming in the botanical garden, and the trees growing lushly, won't you notice their existence? Or realize how special they are?"
Listening to her soft and pleasant voice and looking at her eyes as clear and bright as lake water, You Zhi's eyes moved slightly, as if he had finally found the rhythm of this date.
Although their date had the connotation of a blind date, it was very different from a real blind date. It wasn't that Xu Qinghu would reject him without hesitation just because he performed poorly.
This was just their first date, the beginning of their getting to know each other. It was enough for them to show their true selves and perceive each other with a normal heart.
"I know," You Zhi quickly came back to his senses, looked into Xu Qinghu's eyes, and said softly: "I will slowly learn to get along with you."
"Yeah." Xu Qinghu handed the finished chocolate to the staff and asked them to take it to the refrigerator to cool down.
"Let's go," she picked up the straw hat on the table and waved to You Zhi, "I'll take you to lunch."
You Zhi subconsciously reached for the bag in her hand. Xu Qinghu raised his eyes and smiled, "Isn't this well done?"
She handed the bag to You Zhi and took him to a hot pot restaurant outside the botanical garden. "After lunch, we'll go back to the park and take a walk."
You Zhi nodded, opened the drink for her and placed it next to her.
He was careful and gentle in his actions, and seemed to be paying attention to her needs at all times.
Xu Qinghu looked at his clean and elegant face and deliberately teased him: "Xiao You, will you be so considerate when you fall in love in the future?"
You Zhi's eyelashes trembled slightly, his gaze fell on her delicate and beautiful face, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
But he did not avoid Xu Qinghu's gaze, and slowly said: "As long as it is something I can do, I will do it."
Xu Qinghu's eyes suddenly curved up, "Then being with you must be a very happy thing."
You Zhi's heart began to beat rapidly again. He thought that he could do better, if only... if only...
But he couldn't say it. It was too early to say these words. He had to learn to restrain himself and be patient, and let her know that he would not make promises casually, and that what he said would become true through actions.
The atmosphere in the hot pot restaurant was quite lively, and the smoke rising from the pot made the communication between the two people gradually more harmonious.
Xu Qinghu learned about his favorite food and his usual hobbies, and he also had a basic understanding of Xu Qinghu.
"Do you have any other questions?" Xu Qinghu looked at her through the thin mist.
Perhaps because the atmosphere was too relaxed, You Zhi finally relaxed and asked softly, "What type of boys do you like?"
This was a question that no one else in the cabin had ever asked, which made Xu Qinghu look a little surprised.
You Zhi subconsciously said: "If you don't want to answer, it's okay."
"I like guys who are free in front of me," Xu Qinghu's eyes became more serious, "who have their own things to do and who can understand my life."
This answer was also beyond You Zhi's expectations.
He thought Xu Qinghu would give very specific requests, but she didn't. Her answer even made him feel that he would be very happy to be liked by her.
Everyone wants to be completely free in front of the person they love, but this is almost impossible to do.
To love each other is to carve each other until you fit in with each other.
You Zhi lowered his eyelashes, "Don't you want the other person to become what you want?"
Xu Qinghu chuckled softly: "I like him because he is who he is, not because he needs to become what I need him to be. If that were the case, then the characteristics that originally attracted me to him would completely disappear. I would suddenly become confused and not know what I like about him anymore."
Looking at her smiling eyes, even though she was sitting opposite him, You Zhi inexplicably felt that she was actually very far away from him.
That kind of distance is not the distance between face to face, but the natural barrier that he cannot really get close to.
"Then do you believe in love at first sight?" He did not stop asking.
"I'm not sure," Xu Qinghu shook his head and laughed, "I haven't encountered such a situation so far."
This answer made You Zhi feel slightly relieved. He looked into Xu Qinghu's eyes quietly, his voice suddenly becoming a little stagnant. "Will you change your mind so easily?"
[My old swan, Xiao You is really brave to ask such a question. I thought he was shy and wouldn't ask such a question.]
[He cared about Hulu very much, so he wanted to confirm her feelings.]
[This is quite normal. He knows Xu Qinghu likes Mr. He, but he still doesn't want to miss out, so he asks such a pointed question.]
[Although the date was sweet, I felt like Xiao You would be hurt. I was afraid Xu Qinghu would say something that would upset him.]
[You Zhi is too young and immature right now, and his core competitiveness isn't strong. Although this may hurt, compared to a mature and steady man, can simply being considerate really make a living?]
[No, Hulu, you are not allowed to say anything hurtful to Xiao You. Lock them up!]
Xu Qinghu did not answer the question immediately, but looked into You Zhi's eyes. His gaze was still gentle, as if he was a small animal without any threat.
But Xu Qinghu saw concentration and seriousness in his eyes.
This issue is very important to him.
"Devotion is something you give, and you can't change it easily," she lowered her eyes, hiding all the emotions in them. "If I change, it must be because I don't see any hope in the other person, so I have to stop. It's not that I will make a new choice just because I see a better person."
"Xiao You," she raised her head, her tone becoming a little more serious, "Although you are younger than me, I know you are a sensitive and delicate boy. I don't want to lie to you."
When You Zhi heard this, his eyes instantly dimmed.
The atmosphere between the two of them instantly became stagnant.
Xu Qinghu didn't continue talking, but waited for him to calm down.
Perhaps she should have been more tactful in her words, keeping him hanging, making him completely devoted to her. But looking into his clear black and white eyes, Xu Qinghu didn't even react before the words came out of her mouth.
He is still so young, still in school, and has many aspirations for the future.
When she saw him, she would think of the novel. He was the only man in the cabin who had no ill will towards her, and he didn't have much to exploit. She would subconsciously be less harsh.
Anyway, there are more than one man in the cabin. Even if he is abandoned, there will be others, so he won't have to rush in headfirst.
It has been a long time since Xu Qinghu showed such mercy.
If You Zhi was smart enough, he would know to cut his losses in time.
There will be no future between her and him.
She has her own things to do and doesn't spend too much time on him.
"I know," You Zhi quickly came back to his senses. He didn't look as sad as he did, and his eyes were still gentle. "I know what you mean. How can I take back the love you gave me so easily?"
"If you can take it back easily, then liking someone is too cheap."
His voice was as clear as a summer breeze, warm and bright. "Me too."
He looked into Xu Qinghu's eyes, "Me too."
The sincerity you give will not be easily taken back.
So, he had actually predicted the answer to that question a long time ago, but he ended up getting even deeper into trouble.
"If I like someone, I'm not afraid of getting hurt," he said slowly. "I will do whatever I want to do, as long as I don't have any regrets and as long as I feel it's worth it, then it's worth it."
Therefore, he will not stop when he has had enough, nor will he cut his losses in time. He will plunge into the abyss without hesitation.
He won't stop until he feels exhausted and desperate.
[Xiao You…]
[This is what Xiao You actually said. I always thought he was weak and needed to be protected. I didn’t expect…]
[Who knows, I suddenly get Xiao You's charm, he's no worse than anyone else.]
[I don't know if Xu Qinghu was moved, but I was hooked anyway.]
[I was a bit surprised. I thought You Zhi would choose to let go, but I didn't expect him to be so persistent.]
[So he and Hulu are the same kind of people. Once they make a choice, they'll stick to it. Can Hulu give up on Mr. He? Xiao You is a thousand times better than him.]
[It's so sad, but I'm more optimistic about Xiao You and Hulu. When will Hulu turn around?]
Compared to Little Yubi, Mr. He seems to be nothing.
Xu Qinghu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, as if he had just met You Zhi.
"What?" She tilted her head to stare at him, pretending to be speechless: "This is our first date, why are we suddenly talking about such serious issues?"
You Zhi looked at her quietly, "This will help me understand you better."
"Will you be disappointed then?"
You Zhi shook his head. "I think it's great. I really like this kind of date."
He blinked his eyes, and seemed to have returned to his previous innocent and gullible self.
But everyone knows that he is not as naive as he appears to be, and he has his own real thoughts.
"Do you have any questions for me?" You Zhi asked softly.
Xu Qinghu looked at his fair and clean face, thought for a moment and said: "If someone does something that makes you very angry, what can you do to make you happy quickly?"
You Zhi's pupils shrank slightly. He didn't expect her to ask this question.
Xu Qinghu: "If you don't want to answer, you can ignore this question."
You Zhi: "Is it the person I like who makes me angry?"
Xu Qinghu: "..."
"If it's her, I hope she can hold my hand," You Zhi looked at Xu Qinghu and said slowly: "That way, I will feel that she is still by my side and I won't be angry anymore."
"Is it that simple?" Xu Qinghu's eyes moved slightly, and he felt a little disappointed. "You are already angry, how can you forgive me so easily?"
"As long as it doesn't cross the line," You Zhi said, "I won't get angry about anything else."
Xu Qinghu: "..."
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