Chapter 41 Published
After that day, Lin Qing remained silent for quite a while, at least Ji Ruan never heard from him again.
However, the two of them had different social circles. If Gu Xiuyi hadn't taken him to the villa, and if he hadn't met Cheng Zizhang, he would probably never have known that there was a person named Lin Qing in the world.
Ji Ruan attended classes as usual, occasionally went out to play with friends, and was often taken out for dinner by Gu Xiuyi. His life returned to its most peaceful state.
Until one leisurely Friday afternoon when there were no classes in the dormitory, he, Han Xiaolin and Qin Shan stayed in the dormitory to watch a horror movie.
Ji Ruan doesn't like this kind of shocking movies. If he were allowed to choose, he would definitely choose a warm and pure love animation to spice up this wonderful afternoon.
But there was nothing he could do, he lost the dice roll and could only compromise with the orientations of his two straight roommates.
Li Yu pushed open the dormitory door in a hurry at the high-energy moment when the female ghost climbed out of the elevator.
Bang——!
Ji Ruan was so scared that he almost jumped up from his chair.
Han Xiaolin and the other two were also very scared. After a second of hesitation, they rushed forward and hugged Li Yu and beat him up.
"What the hell are you doing? Huh? Don't you know how to open the door properly when you come back? Huh?!"
"You scared me to death, Master Qin! If you scare me to death, can you afford to pay for the loss of a rising star in the future of the financial world?!"
Li Yu struggled hard to free himself from the two men's throat-locking tactics, holding up his cell phone with shining eyes, and brought a blockbuster news - first-hand information exclusive to students of the Academy of Fine Arts.
"Lin Qing has dropped out of school."
He dragged a chair over and sat down in front of Ji Ruan, and paused the video: "Did you know that Lin Qing actually dropped out of school?"
"What the hell?" Han Xiaolin and the others were also shocked and hurried over: "What's going on?"
Ji Ruan was sitting in the seat closest to the iPad, and the scene when Li Yu pressed the pause button was very beautiful. When the female ghost was approaching the surveillance camera with bloody eyes, Ji Ruan could see that beautiful big face by turning his head.
He swallowed, reached out his hand to turn off the screen in disgust, and then looked at Li Yu: "How about you elaborate?"
Li Yu had obviously run back, and his breath was still not even out, his neck was all sweaty. He fanned himself with his hands, took the tissue handed to him by Ji Ruan, and wiped his face while saying, "Lin Qing is quite famous in our department."
Qin Shan said disdainfully: "What good reputation can he have?"
Han Xiaolin: "Just him?"
"Don't tell me, it really is him." Li Yu threw the used tissue into the trash can and sat back.
"He's pretty good-looking, isn't he? Some girls in our department like him. He's also Master Cheng's apprentice, and he always dresses himself up as an immortal, which is quite intimidating. Some time ago, it seems that he had a rich boyfriend, but I don't know who he is. Have you heard about it?"
Han Xiaolin sneered: "Where would I have heard that? I'm not familiar with him and he's not a rich man... Hey, Ji Ruan, what about you?"
Ji Ruan really knew it, but his version was not about a boyfriend. He only knew that Duan Zeping had been pursuing Lin Qing for more than a year but could not really catch up with her.
I didn't expect that the version of this story spread in the Academy of Fine Arts was different. Did Lao Duan finally become the official boyfriend in the eyes of others? Was it just a matter of fact?
Ji Ruan pinched his earlobe, but still didn't tell anyone about it. He asked Li Yu, "And then?"
"And wasn't he expelled from the sect a few days ago?" Li Yu said seriously, "This is quite a big deal."
"Yes, yes, yes, I heard about it too. I was so happy." Han Xiaolin gossiped.
Li Yu looked around their faces and said, "Then he couldn't stand it anymore. What he did was the same as stealing other people's things. His character is corrupted and his personality is completely broken. How noble he pretended to be before is how ugly he is now."
"People who were expelled by Teacher Cheng can no longer stay in their circle. The live broadcast of the event was also uploaded to the Internet and people watched it for fun. Now everyone in our department knows him. He has become completely famous, even if it's a black celebrity."
Ji Ruan nodded thoughtfully: "So he dropped out of school?"
"Isn't it?" Li Yu spread his hands. "That can only be the reason. A person like him can't stand all these pointing fingers. He probably wants to go out and hide for a while, to avoid the limelight. After all, he is like a rat crossing the street now."
Han Xiaolin smiled: "You can't be planning to wait until both of their classes graduate before coming back, right?"
Qin Shan moved his chair back to his desk and said, "It doesn't matter if I hide now. The Internet and campus gossip have memories. They will remain the same no matter how many graduates there are."
After listening to almost everything, Ji Ruan stood up to pack his things and asked casually, "Do you know where he went?"
"I don't know about that," Li Yu shrugged. "He didn't seem to tell anyone, and we couldn't find out. I guess he went back to his hometown..."
"Oh..." Ji Ruan nodded, put the candy jar into his bag without asking any more questions.
"Hey Ji Ruan, do you want to go home now?" Han Xiaolin suddenly asked when he saw his actions.
Ji Ruan turned around: "Yes, why don't you come with me?"
"Yes, yes, yes," Han Xiaolin quickly climbed onto the bed to get his things, and spoke rapidly, "Wait for me a moment, I'll pack it up right away, and we can go out together."
Ji Ruan only saw him grab the stairs and jump onto the bed, as agile as a monkey.
He smiled and leaned on the table and ate a candy slowly: "It's okay, don't worry, take your time."
Ji Ruan and Han Xiaolin are the only locals in the dormitory. Han Xiaolin goes home occasionally, but Ji Ruan must go back on weekends, otherwise Mr. Gu will nag him and even break into the school to take him back.
The other two stayed behind for the entire semester, and he turned on the horror movie and waved at them without looking back: "See you on Monday."
Monday has the most classes. Han Xiaolin felt that the whole weekend would not be happy after hearing this. He slammed the door and said, "It's okay if we don't meet!"
In the spring of March and April, the sun is shining brightly every day. It looks warm from outside, but once you go out and feel the wind, it still feels a little chilly.
Han Xiaolin has already started wearing fashionable spring clothes, but Ji Ruan's clothes are only slightly looser than those in winter. There's nothing he can do about it; he is really afraid of the cold.
The willow trees by the roadside began to shed their catkins. Ji Ruan's bronchial tubes often had minor problems from time to time, and he would cough easily when the catkins floated in the air.
Han Xiaolin walked out of the dormitory building, ran two laps in the sunshine, took off the only remaining coat on his body, and put on a thin long-sleeved T-shirt. Looking back, he saw Ji Ruan fully armed with a sweater and a coat, and he was hurriedly taking out a mask from his pocket and putting it on.
Han Xiaolin couldn't help but smack his lips and walked to Ji Ruan: "How about I rent you a glass cover, and you can live inside it from now on, so that you won't be hit by the wind or melted by the sun."
Ji Ruan rolled his eyes at him and said, "Okay, but can you not be so stingy? You still have to rent a glass cover. We are such good friends, don't I deserve you to buy one for me?"
"Tsk, look at what you're saying," Han Xiaolin patted his purse, his face showing pain, "I've contributed all my savings to Sister Zhang, please be considerate of me and go back and ask your boss Gu to buy it for you."
The Sister Zhang he mentioned is the Sister Zhang Malatang restaurant at the school gate. Han Xiaolin doesn't know why he likes it so much and misses it if he doesn't eat it for a day.
Ji Ruan had eaten with him for a few meals. It was okay at first, but he couldn't stand going there every day. He almost vomited after a while and swore that he would be a puppy if he went there again.
"You're crazy," Ji Ruan laughed, "Don't you get ulcers if you eat like this?"
He was wearing a big mask, with only his bright eyes showing on his entire face. There was breeze and sunshine. In Han Xiaolin's aesthetic sense, he was more beautiful than the peach branches on the tree.
Han Xiaolin smacked his lips. No wonder a man like Mr. Gu was so dominated by him. If it were Han Xiaolin, he would be dazzled even when looking at a man, not to mention an old man like Mr. Gu who had been gay all his life.
After fully affirming his good friend's beauty, Han Xiaolin nodded confidently, confirming his own analysis.
He laughed: "Maybe I am gifted. I can eat hotpot, skewers, spicy hotpot, and everything else without getting irritated. You can't do that. So we are destined not to be dining partners..."
Ji Ruan was amused, and just then a gust of wind blew with willow catkins, choking him and making him cough a little. He hurriedly pressed the mask tighter.
Han Xiaolin subconsciously raised his hand to pat Ji Ruan on the back, but when his eyes turned to Ji Ruan, his hand stopped.
The sun is shining brightly right now. I remember someone said that natural light is the most powerful weapon when taking photos.
But he didn't know if it was because of Han Xiaolin's astigmatism, but he saw that the back of Ji Ruan's hands and forehead exposed under natural light were white and a little blurred, as if they had really been melted by the sun.
Han Xiaolin had the illusion that Ji Ruan would disappear if he touched her.
Han Xiaolin withdrew his hand awkwardly: "Oh my god, this is too scary. Only Mr. Gu dares to serve you..."
Ji Ruan coughed a little uncomfortably and didn’t hear clearly: “…what?”
“No, no, no,” Han Xiaolin waved his hands quickly: “You cough, just cough slowly.”
After walking for a while, he suddenly remembered something and asked Ji Ruan: "By the way, how have you considered becoming my disciple?"
Ji Ruan listened, his face was a little melancholy, and he pressed his chest and coughed twice: "I haven't thought about it yet."
The day before yesterday, Cheng Yunxiu came to see him specially, brought him a lot of snacks and gifts made by herself, and also gave him a lot of tools for Han embroidery. She said that she liked him very much and asked if he was willing to formally go and learn Han embroidery.
Ji Ruan likes it. Of all things in the world, Han embroidery is probably the one he is most familiar with and most confident in.
But because of this, he also knows that once a decision is made, it cannot be easily changed. Han embroidery is something that requires a long time, even a lifetime, and requires patience and concentration.
No matter how gorgeous and exquisite each piece of work looks, it reflects the hard work and effort behind it.
Ji Ruan didn't know if he had the energy and patience to do so.
Han Xiaolin would not think so much. He reached out to the branches on the roadside while walking: "I see that Teacher Cheng really likes you, and the senior sister is also optimistic about you, which means you are suitable. I agree. It's so exciting to be an artist."
Ji Ruan didn't say anything for a while, then smiled and shook his head.
·
The one who came to pick up Ji Ruan today was Uncle Zhang.
Ji Ruan was stunned for a moment after getting in the car.
He didn't know when it started, but every Friday after school, Gu Xiuyi would wait for him at the school gate. When he opened the car door, he would see Gu Xiuyi lazily flipping through documents in the back seat.
But he didn't come today.
Ji Ruan felt a little weird.
When I returned home, Gu Xiuyi was still not there. You know, in recent months, he would hardly give up any opportunity to have dinner with Ji Ruan.
Although it was normal for Gu Xiuyi not to come home when Ji Ruan just got married to him, but now Ji Ruan is gradually starting to get uncomfortable with it.
After Ji Ruan took a shower in the evening, as time gradually approached nine o'clock, he sat at his desk and painted for a while, trying to calm his mind.
But when the clock passed nine, there was no knock on the door. Before the man came to bring him the milk, Ji Ruan was in a daze for a long time.
He suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.
He couldn't tell why, but he just felt uncomfortable, as if the stupid cat at home had jumped on his heart and made a thumping sound.
Ji Ruan took out his cell phone and flipped to Gu Xiuyi's dialing interface in the address book. After hesitating for a moment, he pressed the dial button.
beep--
Toot--
Ji Ruan listened quietly until his palms began to sweat, but the call was not answered.
Ji Ruan was stunned.
Gu Xiuyi...actually didn’t answer his call?
He unconsciously pursed his lips into a straight line and hit Song Ling again.
Song Ling didn't even answer?!
Just when Ji Ruan was feeling inexplicably bored, his cell phone suddenly vibrated. He looked down and saw that it was Li Suian calling.
"Hello, Doctor Li?"
"Hey, Xiao Ruan," Li Suian sounded quite peaceful, "I have a favor to ask of you."
What he said the next second made Ji Ruan feel uneasy.
"Old Gu is drunk and wants to see you. He won't leave unless you come. What do you think about this matter..."
Ji Ruan: “……?”
"What... No, no," Ji Ruan couldn't believe it: "Is it true?"
Li Suian smiled bitterly: "Why would I lie to you about this? Seriously! Can you come over?"
Ji Ruan felt a little dizzy.
Gu Xiuyi is drunk?
A veteran like Gu Xiuyi can actually get drunk?!
Ji Ruan didn't know what he was thinking about. He stood up with a bang, his eyes shining brightly.
If he went there now, wouldn't he be able to record a unique and exquisite video of Boss Gu getting drunk?
There is such a good thing?!
The inexplicable depression in Ji Ruan's heart immediately disappeared, and he said to the phone: "I'll be there soon, tell him to wait for me."
After saying that, he hung up the phone, took out a set of sportswear from the closet, put it on, and went out to take a taxi.
It only took Li Suian twenty minutes to pick up Ji Ruan at the door of the bar, but the child's expression was different from what he had imagined. He didn't look worried at all, but rather... excited?
Ji Ruan was holding his cell phone and turned on the camera to record a video as soon as he got off the car. He had a few strands of hair on his head and his sportswear made him look young. He was stopped by the security guard when he entered the door.
Li Suian greeted the manager and allowed Ji Ruan to pass smoothly.
This should be a high-end bar with a quiet environment and elegance everywhere. At least it is completely different from the bar where Han Xiaolin took him to dance.
He followed Li Suian, looked around, and asked, "Where's Gu Xiuyi?"
"Uh..." Li Suian smiled awkwardly: "I'm sorry, Ji Ruan, I--"
"Ji Ruan?" He was interrupted before he could finish his words.
Ji Ruan responded and turned around, seeing Gu Xiuyi at the end of the corridor.
He took off his suit jacket and wore a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and two buttons undone. He walked over with a tall and straight figure, and every step he took exuded a strong aura, causing the waiters passing by to look back.
Ji Ruan's expression gradually changed from initial excitement to confusion.
Why do Gu Xiuyi's steps look so steady?
He can actually walk in a straight line?!
With his wrist caught, Ji Ruan looked up in a daze and met Gu Xiuyi's eyes. Under the ambiguous light, his eyebrows and eyes looked particularly deep.
"What are you doing here?"
Ji Ruan was stunned: "You are not drunk?"
The child's eyes were round and bright, and he was obviously very cute, but Gu Xiuyi inexplicably saw a hint of disappointment in them.
He seemed to have heard something ridiculous: "How could I be drunk?"
Ji Ruan pursed his lips immediately and raised his finger: "But Doctor Li said..."
The corridor at the back was empty, Li Suian had long disappeared, having hidden his achievements and fame.
Gu Xiuyi pinched Ji Ruan's cheek and turned his head back: "Did Li Suian trick you into coming here?"
God knows how he felt when he first saw Ji Ruan.
This guy came in wearing a tracksuit, with his hair uncombed and floppy. He looked around with his eyes wide open, fully aware of how popular kids like him were here.
If the person standing next to him wasn't Li Suian, Gu Xiuyi would have asked his bodyguards to pin that person to the ground.
Ji Ruan was so angry that his cheeks were about to puff up. He snorted, unwilling to admit that he had been deceived.
Gu Xiuyi looked at him quietly for a long time, and finally pinched his chubby cheeks and laughed: "So stupid."
As he got closer, Gu Xiuyi smelled a fragrance on Ji Ruan, which seemed to be the scent of home shower gel.
He seemed to have taken a bath.
“…”
Gu Xiuyi paused for two seconds, his heart suddenly skipping a beat.
He actually dared to wash himself and go out smelling good? !
Gu Xiuyi felt as if a stream of blood rushed directly to the top of his head.
When someone passed by, he subconsciously pulled Ji Ruan towards him, as if the passerby was a jackal, tiger or leopard.
Ji Ruan didn't understand why Gu Xiuyi suddenly hugged him, but Gu Xiuyi's body was warm and Ji Ruan liked this temperature.
He did not struggle, but stretched out his index finger and tapped Gu Xiuyi's shoulder.
Gu Xiuyi looked down at him: "What?"
Ji Ruan blinked obediently:
"Why didn't you answer my call?"
Then he saw Gu Xiuyi's eyebrows twitch.
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