Chapter 65 Brother
Gu Xu looked at Chu Yan's mischievous expression, and the slight discomfort he'd felt for coming over without permission instantly vanished, replaced by a precisely measured sense of helplessness and hidden joy. He imitated Chu Yan's behavior, raised an eyebrow, and then, turning the tables, lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear, and said, "What? You've got a mistress hiding in your house? Can't you even check on her?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yan's smile deepened, as if captured by tiny starlight. Far from being annoyed, he generously spread his hands and said, "You're most welcome. Mr. Gu can check in anytime. It's lunchtime, so would you mind trying our A University cafeteria?"
Gu Xu naturally had no objection. He had left work to come here to "recharge," so he wanted to stay as long as possible.
The two walked side by side into the largest student cafeteria at University A. It was dinnertime, and the cafeteria was bustling with activity. It was a sea of green military uniforms, sparsely dotted with students from other grades, bustling like a bustling market. The air was filled with the mingled aroma of various foods and the vibrant energy of youth.
Chu Yan glanced around and found that there were indeed no empty seats.
"Chu Yan, over here, there's room!" A familiar voice called out from not far away. It was from the same group of students who had just participated in military training. They occupied a long table, and there happened to be two empty seats next to it.
Chu Yan responded and led Gu Xu over.
When the students saw Chu Yan approaching, they enthusiastically moved their things to make room, but their eyes were involuntarily drawn to Gu Xu, who was standing beside him. Dressed in a suit, Gu Xu stood tall and straight, his demeanor mature and stern. He stood out from the crowd of students in camouflage or casual attire, like a business elite who had strayed into an ivory tower. Curious and inquiring eyes fell on him.
Chu Yan was about to introduce himself when Gu Shi took the lead. He put on a gentle smile and said to the classmates naturally, "Hello, I'm Chu Yan's brother. I came to see him. You can just call me Brother Shi."
Chu Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, glanced sideways at Gu Xu, a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes, but he did not refute him. He just followed his words and nodded to his classmates.
"So you're Yan's brother, hello."
"Hello, brother. Come and sit down."
"Brother, you look so handsome in this suit. Did you just get off work?"
The classmates immediately greeted him warmly, their curious gazes tinged with a touch of familiarity. Gu Xu calmly took his seat, while Chu Yan went to the window to get his food.
When Chu Yan returned with two plates of food, he found Gu Xu already chatting animatedly with his classmates. Mr. Gu, a powerful figure in the business world, was actually patiently answering all sorts of wild and even somewhat childish questions from the students.
A boy asked curiously while picking at the braised potatoes and meat on his plate, "Brother Gu, what do you think of our A University cafeteria? How does it compare to S University?" He already knew from the previous conversation that Gu Gu was a graduate of S University.
Gu Xu took the disposable chopsticks and broke them apart gracefully. After hearing what he said, he pondered for a moment and gave a very "fair" evaluation: "I guess maybe they are all unpalatable in their own way." This sentence made everyone laugh and instantly brought them closer.
Another girl was full of curiosity about Chu Yan's choice of major. She blinked and asked, "Brother, Chu Yan chose such an unpopular major as paleontology. Does your family have any objection? His scores are so high!" She had obviously heard of Chu Yan's "glorious deeds".
Gu Xu looked up at Chu Yan, who had just sat down and was pushing a bowl of rice in front of him. A hint of ridicule flashed across his eyes, which only Chu Yan could understand. Then he said seriously in a slightly helpless tone, "We are very pleased that he can successfully enter university and choose a major he likes. We dare not have too many opinions." The tone was like that of a parent who was extremely tolerant of his useless younger brother.
Chu Yan: "..." He silently moved another serving of sweet and sour pork ribs towards him.
The classmates burst into laughter again at Gu's Versailles-like answer, and they all complained about Chu Yan's ignorance of his good fortune. Chu Yan did not argue, but just listened with a smile, occasionally making a few jokes, and the atmosphere was unusually harmonious.
A boisterous and enjoyable dinner passed amidst a flurry of chatter. The students, still rushing to attend class meetings, excused themselves one after another. Gu Xu and Chu Yan together carried the plates to the recycling area.
By the time I left the cafeteria, it was completely dark outside. The summer heat had subsided, and the evening breeze brought a cool autumn breeze, clearing away the smell of cooking fumes from the cafeteria. The campus streetlights were already on, outlining the trees and buildings. The streets were mostly filled with students strolling or rushing to class, creating a tranquil atmosphere compared to the bustle of the day.
"Just take a walk?" Chu Yan suggested.
"Okay." Gu Xu nodded. He enjoyed walking side by side with Chu Yan on campus. It felt like he could temporarily escape from the heavy workload and touch a little bit of the simple and pure atmosphere of youth.
The two of them strolled along, unknowingly arriving at the spacious sports field. The track was dotted with students jogging late at night, while the lawn was bustling with activity, with groups of people chatting, playing guitar, and singing. They walked slowly along the outer edge of the track, their shadows stretched out long by the streetlights.
The surroundings were bustling, but there was a quiet tacit understanding between them.
Chu Yan turned his head, the soft light from the street lamp falling between his smiling eyebrows. He stared at Gu Xu's profile and deliberately dragged out his tone, with obvious teasing in his voice: "Brother?"
Gu Xu paused imperceptibly, his ears warming slightly. Fortunately, the darkness provided a cover. He coughed lightly, trying to maintain composure: "Yeah."
Chu Yan, however, persisted. He moved closer and lowered his voice, his breath almost brushing against Gu Xu's ear: "You really want to be my brother? Mr. Gu, this is a unique hobby."
Gu Xu stopped, turned, and looked Chu Yan in the face. The clamor around the playground faded into a blurry background. His expression was devoid of the lighthearted joking he had shown in the cafeteria earlier.
"Chu Yan," he called his full name, his voice low and serious, "I don't want to be your brother, I just..." He chose his words, "I just don't want you to be troubled by unnecessary criticism."
He took a deep breath and cast his gaze at the sweaty figures on the distant track, his eyes filled with a hint of complex emotions: "This world is far less tolerant than it claims. Your excellence and your uniqueness may sometimes become a target of attack. And in the eyes of some narrow-minded people, your sexual orientation may even become the most vicious and easy knife to stab you. It may cause you to lose opportunities, encounter inexplicable hostility, and even be labeled with various labels."
Gu Xu's voice was calm, as if he were stating an objective fact, but Chu Yan could hear the worry and helplessness hidden beneath the calm. He had experienced the cruelty of the business world and knew only too well how unpredictable people could be. He didn't want Chu Yan to be forced to face those filthy speculations and malicious slander because of their relationship, especially in an ivory tower, a place that was relatively innocent but also prone to gossip.
Chu Yan listened quietly, the teasing smile on his face gradually fading. He looked at Gu Xu, a man so decisive in the business world, yet now, fearing the possible criticism he might face, he awkwardly used the identity of "brother" as a cover.
"Gu Xu," Chu Yan's voice also calmed down. He looked into his eyes, "You know, I don't care about those things."
He has never lived in the judgment of others. He has enough ability and a strong heart to face all the storms.
Gu Xu also smiled, that smile was a little helpless, but more of a kind of firm tenderness: "I know you don't care. But..."
He paused, his gaze returning to Chu Yan's face: "But I care."
Those five simple words carried more weight than any lengthy explanation. They weren't about doubting Chu Yan's abilities, nor was they about overprotection; they were about a deep, uncontrollable cherishment. He couldn't bear to let Chu Yan endure even the slightest bit of potential malice and criticism. So, he preferred to use the seemingly joking role of "brother" to build a small but effective barrier in advance.
Chu Yan's heart seemed to be gently bumped by something. He tutted, as if to break the overly serious and heavy atmosphere. He lowered his head slightly, using the shadow of his hair on his forehead to hide the surging emotions in his eyes. His voice was very low, with a hint of sigh and temptation, he murmured:
"Gu Xu..."
"I kind of want to kiss you, brother."
Gu Xu: “!!!”
All his emotions and worries were instantly shattered by this extremely inappropriate yet fatally tempting sentence.
Gu Xu's neck was even stained with a thin layer of red. He was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, angry and embarrassed, and he wanted to pull over this guy who was deliberately ruining the atmosphere and bite him hard.
"You..." He stared at Chu Yan for a long time before he uttered a sentence with a hint of anger and embarrassment, "Think about it."
After saying this, as if he was afraid Chu Yan would really kiss him without hesitation, he turned around abruptly, almost clumsily, and walked forward angrily. His back, no matter how you looked at it, revealed the meaning of fleeing in despair.
Chu Yan looked at his almost panicked back and couldn't help but laugh softly. His clear laughter spread in the night wind, carrying with it the joy of success and a hint of indescribable tenderness. He said to the system, "See, I really like him."
He quickly caught up with the man and walked side by side with him.
The playground was still bustling with activity, night runners sweated profusely, and melodious songs filled the air on the lawn. No one noticed the unspoken undercurrents and emotions surging between the two "brothers" walking side by side.
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