Chapter 36 [VIP]
The waiter put away his cleaning tools and stepped aside, saying, "It's all cleaned up. Please enjoy your meal."
"Thank you, you've gone to so much trouble." Wen Zhiyu bowed slightly and then gestured to Han Shu, "Eat up."
"No—" Han Shu pursed her lips, forcibly holding back her words. She sat down, lifting her skirt, but had no appetite at all.
No, why isn't he answering?
She kept her head down, unaware that she wasn't the only one nervous; the seemingly calm person opposite her was also fidgeting.
Wen Zhiyu tripped over the table leg and, with a thud, his bottom made intimate contact with the bench before he could even react, sitting down in an unprecedented position.
Another awkward silence.
A moment later, the man's tense voice rang out, "This, for you."
Han Shu looked up and saw a simple, exquisite little box being pushed in front of her by Wen Zhiyu. She blinked and carefully lifted the lid.
—A lifelike six-flower came into view.
Wen Zhiyu licked his lips and swallowed. "I'm sorry, I encountered some problems at work before, and my attitude was not good. It was my fault."
Han Shu placed it in his palm and poked the pure white petals. "An apology, a gift?"
"Um."
Did you make it yourself?
"……Um."
Han Shu poked the yellow-green flower stamen again, incredulously asking, "Is this carved from clay?"
Under the wooden table, Wen Zhiyu interlaced his fingers, repeatedly pinching the pads of his right fingers with his left, saying, "My skills aren't very good, please don't mind."
When Ling Lin celebrated her birthday, Han Shu learned about many flowers that symbolize friendship, including the one in front of him.
The first bloom of the sixth month.
A beautiful friendship, looking forward to meeting you again.
Although the first sentence was far removed from Han Shu's current thoughts, the second sentence... could at least partially convey his meaning. His anger of the past few days had completely subsided, and all his troubles were cast aside.
She couldn't suppress the smile playing on her lips, her tone even brimming with laughter, "Teacher Wen has such skills?"
Wen Zhiyu was somewhat embarrassed to say, "I used to... play with clay for a while."
"Pfft!" Han Shu couldn't help but burst out laughing. Sure enough, it was the familiar Teacher Wen, the Teacher Wen who was always finding ways to amuse himself.
Wen Zhiyu awkwardly scratched his chin, slightly hesitant, "Then... can you forgive me?"
Well, here comes the familiar kindergarten-style reconciliation again. Han Shu carefully put the flowers back into the box and said proudly, "I'll think about it."
To get back to Jielang from this restaurant, you need to walk through a quiet alley and then along a seaside path lined with coconut trees.
Han Shu walked along the shady path, clutching the small box. To his left was an endless expanse of blue, the blue of Capri. To his right was Mr. Question, who had slowed his pace and followed beside him.
Wen Zhiyu, still uneasy after not receiving a final answer, asked, "Do I have work this afternoon?"
The sidewalk was narrow, and Han Shu stepped aside to make way for the woman pushing the stroller. "Yes, it should be finished around four o'clock."
“I’ll wait for you,” Wen Zhiyu said immediately. “I’ll pick you up after get off work and take you home.”
go home.
Upon hearing the word for the second time, Han Shu's mind still wandered uncontrollably. He stammered, "There's something I want to discuss with you."
"Hmm." Wen Zhiyu listened intently.
Han Shu stopped and said seriously, "Maybe I should pay some room fees. I was already eating, drinking, and staying for free, and now there are three more cats. It's really not right, and I feel guilty."
Actually, she had wanted to say these things for a long time, but she hadn't found the right time. Saying them out loud brought a sense of relief and comfort.
However, Wen Zhiyu frowned deeply and said, "No need. I've already said before that I'm not at a loss at all, so don't feel guilty."
"But you haven't asked me anything lately?" Han Shu muttered. "Even if you asked me a hundred or a thousand questions, I would still feel like I'm taking advantage of you."
During his recovery period, he was provided with three meals a day, expensive cat supplies, and ointment that far exceeded the value of money.
As a guesthouse owner with almost no customers, Wen Zhiyu was completely at a loss for how to handle this situation, since the few guests he had left without even daring to stay for one night. In desperation, he blurted out, "I'm willing to let you take advantage of me, is that not allowed?"
Han Shu stared in surprise, speechless.
Just then, a couple passed by and, after overhearing their conversation, cast a look that was half teasing and half puzzled.
Wen Zhiyu realized he had misspoke, and his fingers, which were tucked into his pocket, were almost twisted into a pretzel. "Besides, the house is empty anyway, it doesn't affect me at all."
"Then, with so many empty rooms in your house, would you just let anyone stay there?"
"Of course not."
Just as Han Shu was about to retort, Wen Zhiyu said in a serious tone, "You are no stranger, and the cat you saved is no ordinary cat either."
Han Shu found himself acting strangely. His heart was beating fast, but his blood was flowing slowly, and his head was dizzy and throbbing, as if he were floating on a cloud.
"But--"
"but--"
Isn't that so?
Yes, but—
"If that's the case, then let's not talk about money."
Wen Zhiyu turned around and strode forward, leaving Han Shu with a resolute back view.
Han Shu: ...
The sea breeze rustled through the treetops, causing the sunlight filtering through to shift direction. A bright spot of light landed right on her right eye, snapping her back to reality, and she jogged after it.
With only three steps left, Han Shu was getting tired.
To everyone's surprise, Wen Zhiyu took even faster strides and quickly pulled ahead of him again in just a few seconds.
Han Shu was furious. "Stop right there—hey!!!"
Wen Zhiyu acted as if she hadn't heard him, and even started running, her stray hairs bobbing with each step.
Today he was dressed in a casual suit, round-neck pants, simple yet youthful, looking just like a college senior.
Unfortunately, Han Shu had no time to appreciate it. She lifted her skirt and sprinted forward with all her might.
He fled, she chased.
"Wen Zhiyu, why are you running away?!"
"..."
He continued to flee, and she continued to chase.
"Stop right there!!!"
"..."
With Jielang just ahead, Han Shuzeng quickened his pace, held his last breath, and stretched out his arm, his fingertips about to touch the hem of Wen Zhiyu's short-sleeved shirt—
Wen Zhiyu nimbly changed direction, dodged, and ran in the opposite direction.
He's sick, completely sick.
Han Shu's anger surged to the top of his head as he roared, "How childish of you!!!"
Wen Zhiyu sensed something was off about her tone, slowed down, and turned around to see her eyes wide with anger and her face puffed out like a little steamed bun.
"Will running solve the problem?!"
Wen Zhiyu thought for a moment, "But I don't think that's a problem."
"I think it's a problem!"
Han Shu walked forward slowly with a tense expression.
A storm was brewing, and a chilling aura swept over them. Wen Zhiyu wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to say it properly, and hesitated for a moment.
One step, two steps, three steps.
Han Shu launched himself, hurtling towards Wen Zhiyu like a mushroom cannonball.
Running at full speed when being chased is an instinct ingrained in human genes.
When Wen Zhiyu came to his senses, the two of them turned into a childish game of chasing each other, almost as if he was about to make a face and say, "Come and catch me!"
The chase started with a straight line along the sidewalk, then progressed to a game of cat and mouse around the car in the parking space, ultimately ending with Wen Zhiyu slipping into the car and locking the doors.
Through the dark glass window, Han Shu's face, flushed red from anger or exhaustion, and Wen Zhiyu's expressionless face momentarily overlapped.
Oh!
She turned and left, her anger soaring to the heavens.
Oh!
Like him? Who would like him? Who would like such an immature man? Who would like a man who runs away because he doesn't want her to talk about money? Who would like a man who locks her out of her favorite little blue car?
Nobody! Nobody will like it!
A series of hurried footsteps came from behind, the air was scorching hot, and a palm strike rushed straight towards his bare arm.
Han Shu impulsively started running forward, but before he could pick up speed, a familiar figure appeared in his peripheral vision.
Wen Zhiyu didn't dare to pull her, so he could only stride along beside her.
Wen Zhiyu: "I was wrong."
Han Shu: Ha!
Wen Zhiyu: "I was really wrong."
Han Shu: It's too late!
She vowed never to say another word to him!
Wen Zhiyu weakly explained, "I just don't know how to tell you, and I really don't charge room fees when I run a guesthouse."
Han Shu immediately forgot his vow and retorted, "You said you wouldn't rent long-term!"
Wen Zhiyu said, "Because it's you."
Han Shu tightly closed his mouth and took a deep breath.
Bang!
The chest cavity trembled violently.
"I ran because I was afraid of saying the wrong thing and making you angry." Wen Zhiyu raised one hand to his ear in a gesture of surrender, and said in a low voice, "Of course, I shouldn't have run away either; it was my fault."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
My heart is beating a little loudly.
If she loses control of her surfboard, she'll plunge into a warm, salty sea. She'll grab the leash and quickly rise to the surface.
Losing control of her eyeballs, eyelids, and corner muscles will plunge her into a dark and deep sea. She will bind her arms and willingly drown herself at the bottom of the ocean.
Who would like an immature man? But immature men are so sincere.
Who would like a man who runs away? But a man who runs away is so cute!
Who would like a man who locked her out of the car? But the man who locked her out of the car caught up with her.
Why!
Why does she like him so much?!
Han Shu doesn't understand why sweetness and melancholy can coexist, and she doesn't know how to respond.
Wen Zhiyu's uprightness and steadfastness must stem from her simple-mindedness. Unlike her, whose mind is filled with distracting thoughts that grow up to her neck, entangle her vocal cords, and prevent her from speaking.
Just then, Chunjing peeked out the window and said with a smile, "Minor Heat, class is starting!"
Like a childhood game of freezing, Han Shu was successfully thawed by his teammate, who waved and said, "Coming!"
Turning to Wen Zhiyu, she seemed to have had her volume turned down, and lowered her head, saying, "I...I have to go to work."
But his resolve was heavy.
She instinctively reached out and touched it, her almond-shaped eyes filled with surprise. "My sun hat! Ah! I left it at the restaurant!"
Wen Zhiyu took a step back, put his hands in his pockets, and said, "Go ahead, I'll wait for you."
Han Shu was absent-minded all afternoon.
He absentmindedly held the umbrella, absentmindedly held the camera, absentmindedly took pictures, and absentmindedly picked at his hands.
She would ponder what to do if Wen Zhiyu really didn't want the money, or wonder if he might have a crush on her, but most of the time she was filled with melancholy.
The future seemed uncertain, and she hadn't even figured out her own life yet, and now there was this distracting person in the world! She was so worried, so incredibly worried!
After the shoot, Han Shu shuffled back to the club, quickly processed the photos, uploaded them to his cloud drive, shared the link in the group chat, and then went home.
She dragged her legs out of the club and headed towards the parking lot. Her steps were labored, probably because her thoughts were too heavy and her head was too swamped, so much so that she didn't realize she was walking right in the middle of the asphalt road.
"Miss! Miss, please move aside!"
"careful!!"
Two shouts rang out.
Almost simultaneously, Han Shu's wrist was grabbed by a strong hand and she was pulled behind her back. Over the man's broad shoulders, she saw a boy speeding past on a land surfboard.
Once he was sure it was safe, Wen Zhiyu let go of the car, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and said, "Get in."
Han Shu hugged his arms to hide his excitement, slowly moved over, and made conversation by saying, "Land surfboards look quite interesting."
Since receiving the skateboard, I first practiced surfing until my muscles ached, then I burned my arm, and I haven't even tried it once.
That's a real shame.
After Han Shu sat down, the car door did not close as expected.
Just as she was about to ask if they weren't leaving, she saw Wen Zhiyu leaning against the door frame, his long legs bent as he squatted down.
“Go back to school today, I’ll accompany you.” Wen Zhiyu put one hand on his knee and looked up. “I won’t charge you for the room, but you have to promise me one thing.”
Han Shu murmured, "...What are the conditions?"
"Try everything your husband or parents don't like, disagree with, or don't do with you. Do it with me."
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