Chapter 24 Chu Chenghuan's Thoughts
Final exams were over, and winter vacation was upon us. When the results came out, the school mailed the transcripts directly to everyone's homes, ensuring everyone knew their results. Xie's father sat on the sofa, staring at Xie Ting's report card, where he ranked 30th, tenth from the bottom.
Xie Ting was still waiting for praise: "Dad, I've improved. I was fourth from the bottom in the last monthly exam."
Xie's father rubbed his eyebrows, said nothing, and hired a tutor for Xie Ting the next day.
The tutor was very harsh. Xie Ting, who was lying on the table listening to the class, was slapped on the back by the tutor. "You can't even sit up straight, how can you improve your grades?"
Xie Ting sat there obediently like a quail, not daring to disobey his tutor's orders.
After a day of tutoring, Xie Ting overheard his tutor telling his father in his bedroom, "His foundation is solid, and he can handle the simple questions. He just can't handle the more difficult ones. He needs to practice more, or he hasn't done enough. Overall, he's doing well."
Xie's father was distressed: "He's already in the last place, how can he be good at all?"
The tutor smiled and said, "Xie Ting is from No. 1 Middle School. The education level at No. 1 Middle School is very high, and the students' overall grades are relatively high. As long as he's not in the bottom three or four, the gap between him and the top students won't be that big. If he gets one or two more questions right in each subject, he'll be in the top ten."
"My Tingting still hopes to be in the top ten?"
Xie Ting put his ear to the door, feeling mixed emotions. He had originally thought that the teacher was so strict with him because he must have thought he was unteachable, but he actually said so many good things in front of his father.
Today, he pretended to go to the toilet, but actually he scolded the teacher harshly in the bathroom.
Xie Ting felt guilty.
Feeling guilty, Xie Ting's eyes darkened when he learned that the teacher would come to his house at six o'clock the next morning to give him extra lessons. All his guilt disappeared immediately.
"Dad, I don't think I need a tutor. Just let Chu Chenghuan circle some questions for me to do."
"The young master is busy this winter vacation and has no time to tutor you. Don't bother him, okay? The young master is soft-hearted and will have to stay up late at night to tutor you."
Xie Ting thought that being a young master from a wealthy family had a hard life.
"Okay."
Before the Lunar New Year, Xie Ting returned to his hometown in the countryside with his father. Xie Ting's home was a two-story duplex with a balcony and a yard. His grandparents warmly entertained the sweet-talking Xie Ting. On New Year's Eve, while his father went to play cards, Xie Ting went to join the college students who had returned from the village next door to set off fireworks.
But college students are not keen on setting off fireworks. After playing with two, they started chatting with people on their mobile phones.
Xie Ting squatted outside the yard, listening to the sound of fireworks while planting mushrooms. Bored for a while, he went to ask his father, who was playing cards, for his phone. His father was playing cards, fearing Xie Ting would get upset, so he gave it to Xie Ting immediately.
Xie Ting logged into his QQ and started sending group messages saying "Happy New Year's Eve" and grabbing red envelopes in the group. He then poked at Chu Chenghuan's chat box, but Chu Chenghuan ignored him.
Xie Ting called and the call was quickly connected. Xie Ting wished: "Chu Chenghuan, happy New Year's Eve!"
After Xie Ting finished speaking, he waited for a minute. There was no sound from the other end, only the faint sound of Chu Chenghuan's breathing. Xie Ting was puzzled: "Chu Chenghuan, are you there?"
Still no sound.
"Master, hello! You are very stupid."
"You are the stupid one." Chu Chenghuan finally spoke.
Xie Ting said with a grin, "What are you doing, Master? Ignore me. Happy New Year's Eve!"
Chu Chenghuan was silent again.
???
"Master, you're stupid." Xie Ting repeated it deliberately, but this time Chu Chenghuan didn't say anything. Xie Ting glanced at his phone again, which showed that he was on a call. The master was clearly there, right?
"Chu Chenghuan, what are you doing? Why are you ignoring me?" Xie Ting was a little depressed.
Chu Chenghuan finally spoke at this time, "I'm thinking of something."
"What's the matter?" Xie Ting was instantly curious.
"We didn't talk for two weeks."
Xie Ting hadn't calculated this. "So?"
"So why didn't you come to me?"
Xie Ting was no longer bored, and he strolled around the house with his phone in his arms. "I don't have a cell phone, and I've used up all the minutes on the landline at home this month. Dad always says you're busy, and I have extra classes to attend, so he won't let me come to play with you. But you can come to me, you obviously have a cell phone and a driver!"
Xie Ting was still angry at the end of his speech.
"Chu Chenghuan, you have failed our friendship!"
Chu Chenghuan took a deep breath.
Xie Ting was pleased with himself and asked Chu Chenghuan to settle the score with him first. This time it was definitely not his problem.
"I'm sorry, it's really my fault. Why are you so angry?" A low apology came from the other end.
Xie Ting:?
Xie Ting rubbed his ears. It was the first time he heard Chu Chenghuan apologize to him. He hesitated: "You don't need to apologize to me for this, right? I'm not angry at all."
Chu Chenghuan thought he had to apologize, and he actually didn't go to find Xie Ting on purpose.
"I need to apologize." Chu Chenghuan said seriously.
Xie Ting felt a little guilty, so why did he apologize to him? Xie Ting was not good at handling this matter, so he changed the subject, "Let me listen to the sound of fireworks for you."
Xie Ting ran out, holding his cell phone high.
The sound of "boom boom" fireworks rang out, and the voice held high up was heard by Chu Chenghuan's very light voice, "Happy New Year's Eve, Xie Ting."
Xie Ting, who had keen hearing, heard it.
Xie Ting put his phone back on, "I accept your blessing. What do you want for your 16th birthday?"
Chu Chenghuan’s birthday is on February 6th, the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, and the New Year will come soon after it passes.
Chu Chenghuan didn't offer any ideas: "Think for yourself, I don't want any perfunctory ones."
Xie Ting snorted proudly, "I knew you would say that. I've already thought of what to give you, and it won't be perfunctory. I've been waiting for your birthday."
Chu Chenghuan is still looking forward to it.
After New Year's Eve, Xie Ting followed his father to visit relatives and friends and received a small amount of New Year's money. His father said he would help Xie Ting save it, but Xie Ting was reluctant and kept the money to buy Chu Chenghuan a birthday present.
Xie Ting finally expressed his dissatisfaction with his father's constant distrust of him. After a moment's reflection, his father decided to trust his son once again. His filthy son might have truly changed, so he decided to give him a chance.
So this time, Xie's father didn't care about how Xie Ting spent his New Year's money.
On Chu Chenghuan's birthday, Xie Ting went there in the morning just to enjoy the lunch and cake. Xie Ting satisfied his stomach with a delicious meal, and after the people celebrating Chu Chenghuan's birthday had left, he mysteriously handed over his birthday present.
The gift was wrapped in a gift box. When Chu Chenghuan opened it, he found a cinnabar-colored bracelet.
Xie Ting sincerely wished: "I bought this at the temple. The master blessed it and it can bring you peace and success."
Chu Chenghuan weighed the bracelet. It was not of low quality at all and did not look like something that cost only a few dozen dollars.
"How much?"
Xie Ting spread out three fingers on one hand, "Three thousand! That's all my New Year's money and my personal savings. I'm completely broke now."
Chu Chenghuan showed a curious look.
Chu Chenghuan said, "Xie Ting, you spent all your New Year's money on this bracelet. After school starts, you can only eat in the cafeteria and can't buy snacks."
Xie Ting's eyes curved as he said, "It's okay! Those are junk foods, you can't eat too much. And I'm also considering your status. If you wear something cheap, what if you get laughed at by the rich second generation in your circle?"
Xie Ting was very thoughtful.
Chu Chenghuan stared at Xie Ting without saying a word.
"What's wrong? You don't like it? This bracelet has been blessed by a master. It's not just an ordinary bracelet." Xie Ting snatched the bracelet away. "I'll put it on you. I've already bought it, so I can't return it. Chu Chenghuan, you have to cherish it. This is the first time I've bought you such an expensive gift."
Chu Chenghuan stretched out his hand consciously.
Xie Ting snorted proudly, no one can refuse the bracelet blessed by the master!
Chu Chenghuan still stared down at Xie Ting's face. He hadn't seen Xie Ting for half a month during winter break, and he'd thought about him every day. He'd deliberately not contacted Xie Ting, because after learning that a man's interest in marrying the little prince Xie Ting wasn't just a curiosity, Chu Chenghuan began to wonder if he was simply thinking about his childhood sweetheart, or if there was a deeper meaning to his longing. The two kinds of longing were so different, Chu Chenghuan couldn't tell the difference. So, Chu Chenghuan stopped contacting, trying to erase the longing. After that, he looked forward to Xie Ting's contact every day.
Having been close since childhood, he's now accustomed to Xie Ting's presence. It's also because of this habit that Chu Chenghuan can't quite tell what he really feels for Xie Ting. Xie Ting deserves his affection, but there are many kinds of affection. Could this be a tainted affection? Is he gay? Is he gay?
Chu Chenghuan didn't know for sure, as he knew very little about homosexuality. But he was certain of one thing: he wanted Xie Ting to be by his side. He had been by his side since childhood, and he should always be by his side.
Xie Ting emptied his wallet for his birthday gift; he was far more important than food. So, he should be Xie Ting's only one. In return, Xie Ting should be his only one.
After putting on the bracelet, Chu Chenghuan stared at the bracelet on his wrist and suddenly threatened: "Xie Ting, you are not allowed to fall in love."
Xie Ting narrowed his eyes slightly: "You asked me to tell you that I have someone I like, and now you ask me not to fall in love. Master, you are so troublesome."
Chu Chenghuan didn't think he was a nuisance at all, and gave another order: "Listen to the back."
Xie Ting did not agree to Chu Chenghuan without principles. He needed to consider the pros and cons and logic involved.
Xie Ting sat in Chu Chenghuan's chair, stroking his chin and asking very seriously, "But liking something is beyond my control. What if I meet a girl I like?"
In that case, just don't let Xie Ting have any contact with women. Chu Chenghuan said without hesitation: "Not only men, but women must also be reported. Don't refute me, you did the same to me before."
Xie Ting:?
This is a domineering young master!
Xie Ting felt innocent but also felt something was wrong. He had previously forbidden Chu Chenghuan from socializing with either men or women because he was afraid he would become a homosexual. But later, when he reached the upper grades of elementary school, he stopped caring about girls. Now, in high school, why did Chu Chenghuan treat him like this?
Is it pure revenge, or is there another agenda?
What's the point?
Xie Ting was thinking hard when he heard Chu Cheng say, "I really like the bracelet. The snack rack next to the bookcase has been updated with food. Go and see if there's anything you want to eat."
Xie Ting ran over immediately.
What's the point? What could he possibly be after? Chu Chenghuan, who isn't gay, of course wants him as a friend! Chu Chenghuan is probably also worried that he'll forget about his brother once he has a girlfriend!
Tsk.
He is not that kind of person.
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