Chapter 41 Using a stick to separate lovers
The hallway was cold, and Ji Tong was only wearing pajamas. Song Zhenshu and Gu Lin were worried that he would catch a cold, so they didn't linger at the door for long.
Ji Tong pulled Song Zhenshu inside, while Gu Lin closed the door.
Song Zhenshu was so focused on Gu Lin that he didn't notice Ji Tong's clothes. It wasn't until they entered the room and Ji Tong bent down to find slippers for him from the shoe cabinet that he noticed Ji Tong's pajamas, which were exactly the same as Gu Lin's.
Song Zhenshu rubbed his temples.
Ji Tong wanted to get Song Zhenshu a new pair of slippers, but couldn't find any.
"Gu Lin, don't you have any new slippers?"
Because Song Zhenshu was standing next to Ji Tong, blocking her view, Ji Tong was leaning to the side when talking to Gu Lin.
Gu Lin closed the door, walked over, and, afraid he would fall, gently lifted him up by the arm: "The floor is clean, take your uncle in first, I'll look for him."
Ji Tong: "Are there any new ones? If not, just wear my gray ones for now."
Gu Lin: "Still sunbathing."
“Oh, right, you washed it,” Ji Tong said as if she had just remembered, turning to Song Zhenshu to explain, “I spilled tea on my slippers this afternoon, and Gu Lin washed them. They’re still drying now.”
Song Zhenshu: "..."
Just say the slippers are still drying; there's no need to say who washed them.
My uncle wasn't really interested in hearing it.
Song Zhenshu pressed his sore eyes, unable to hold back, and said, "From now on, wash your own slippers."
Ji Tong: "-".
Ji Tong thought Song Zhenshu felt she was lazy, so she took the scarf and coat that Song Zhenshu had taken off and defended herself: "But Gu Lin didn't wash them all."
"I washed both of our pajamas yesterday."
Song Zhenshu: "…………"
As they were talking, Gu Lin, dressed in a shabby black pajama set, walked over carrying new slippers.
He handed the new slippers to Ji Tong, then took the coat and scarf from Ji Tong's hands: "Give them to me."
"Let's hang it on a clothes rack," Ji Tong said.
"Hmm," Gu Lin responded, casually hanging his clothes on his arm. "Cold brew tea and a drink, what does your uncle want to drink?"
“It’s a tea bar, he loves tea,” Ji Tong said. “You go hang up the clothes, I’ll pour some.”
While the two were talking, Song Zhenshu was sitting on the sofa.
Oblivious to those around them, and unaware of their own surroundings.
For a fleeting moment, Song Zhenshu felt like a feudal overbearing father deliberately trying to pick a fight with a stick.
Song Zhenshu couldn't quite describe the feeling in his heart.
He sat on the sofa and looked around.
The entrance door alone was piled up like an art gallery, so you can imagine what the interior was like.
Song Zhenshu scanned the furniture, books, ceramics, and records bearing Ji Tong's "label" one by one. Even though she had mentally prepared herself before entering the house, the feeling of unease still spread exponentially.
Ji Tong's voice interrupted Song Zhenshu's thoughts.
"Uncle, isn't the cold brew a bit too cold? If you want it hot, I'll have Gu Lin make it for you." Ji Tong came out of the kitchen carrying the tea.
Song Zhenshu didn't understand.
Is it that she can't live without Gu Lin, or what?
Do you have to wait for someone to brew tea?
Song Zhenshu was holding it in, but he couldn't say anything.
"No need," he said weakly.
"It's just the right temperature," Song Zhenshu said. Nothing tasted good to him now, even fine wine was just water. He didn't want to bother the two of them, so he took the tea and said, "It'll help cool you down."
Ji Tong put down the tea, subconsciously turned to pull Gu Lin, and upon hearing this, looked at Song Zhenshu and frowned: "Are you angry?"
Why am I getting a sore throat in the middle of winter?
"Is anything bothering you? Should we go to the hospital to get it checked out?"
Song Zhenshu glanced at the two people's forearms pressed together: "No, no need."
Ji Tong: "Then I'll ask Aunt Yang to make you some honeysuckle dew when we get back."
Mentioning Gu Lin less often is more effective than any honeysuckle dew, Song Zhenshu thought to himself—
“Uncle, this is Gu Lin, the one I mentioned to you,” Ji Tong said, then tugged at Gu Lin’s sleeve. “This is probably the first time you’ve met my uncle, right? Did you call him ‘Uncle’?”
Song Zhenshu: "..."
Gu Lin: "".
Song Zhenshu couldn't swallow that mouthful of tea, but he was about to swallow his anger.
He raised his head and looked at Gu Lin with an indifferent expression.
Gu Lin also lowered his eyes.
The two exchanged a glance.
Gu Lin withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.
"They shouted it."
Ji Tong asked in confusion, "When? I didn't hear anything?"
"I did shout," Song Zhenshu understood Gu Lin's intentions. Gu Lin didn't not want to shout, but he couldn't shout now, and Song Zhenshu knew that Gu Lin didn't want to hear it now, so Song Zhenshu helped cover up the lie, "I shouted when I opened the door."
Ji Tong turned to look at Gu Lin: "?"
Gu Lin: "Mm."
Ji Tong: "You've never even met my uncle, how do you know him?"
Gu Lin: "Photographs."
Ji Tong remembered that there was indeed such a thing, so she nodded and pulled Gu Lin to sit on the sofa.
Ji Tong couldn't stay idle, so she went to peel tangerines on the coffee table, peeling one for Song Zhenshu and another for Gu Lin.
"How did my uncle come to be?"
He remembered that he hadn't mentioned living here to his uncle yet.
“Your roommate brought me here,” Song Zhenshu put down his tea, paused, and said meaningfully, “Your roommate in 411.”
Not the current one.
"A Yuan?"
"Um."
"Where are they?"
"I'll go back after dropping you off at the elevator."
Before even entering the room, Song Zhenshu had many questions he wanted to ask.
For example, why did Gu Lin go abroad, why did he come back, why did he move out of the dormitory, and why did they live together... all these things.
But neither of them is suitable right now.
The location is unsuitable, and the people are unsuitable.
Song Zhenshu stood on the last plank before walking the tightrope, chatted for a few minutes about everyday things, and looked at the closed doors: "The apartment only has two rooms?"
"Um."
Which one is the guest room?
Ji Tong threw the orange peel into the trash can, took out a tissue to wipe her hands, and casually pointed to it for Song Zhenshu: "That one."
Song Zhenshu stood up from the sofa and shook off the orange filaments that Ji Tong had stained his suit pants: "Take me to your room."
Ji Tong had no objections and handed the leftover orange to Gu Lin: "I'll take my uncle to see my room. You sit here?"
Gu Lin: "Mm."
Ji Tong stood up from the sofa.
The uncle and nephew looked natural and lifted their feet at the same time, while only Gu Lin on the sofa seemed to realize something.
Which one is the guest room? Let's go check the room...
Gu Lin's gaze swept over the two rooms, and he sighed almost imperceptibly.
Song Zhenshu and Ji Tong moved in perfect unison: one walked around the coffee table, the other slowly crossed the living room, and the other parted ways in front of the bedroom.
Song Zhenshu stood in front of the guest room, watching his nephew walk straight to the left: "?"
Ji Tong was equally speechless.
"Uncle, are you going to watch over Gu Lin's room?" Ji Tong asked, puzzled.
Song Zhenshu, whose hand was already on the doorknob of the guest room, asked: "??"
Song Zhenshu: "Is this Gu Lin's room?"
Ji Tong: "Yes."
Song Zhenshu: "You're sleeping in the master bedroom?"
Ji Tong: "Yes."
My uncle's expression seemed a little off.
"What's wrong?"
“Nothing much,” Song Zhenshu said indifferently, releasing his hand from the doorknob. “It’s fine.”
At least we didn't sleep together.
Song Zhenshu let out a sigh of relief and turned to walk towards the master bedroom.
Ji Tong opened the door to the master bedroom: "Here, this is my room."
Song Zhenshu walked in and quickly glanced around. It was a mix of various styles, and he didn't see anything he shouldn't have, so Song Zhenshu was quite satisfied.
Several exam papers were scattered on the desk. Song Zhenshu casually stacked them together and then noticed the glasses next to the tablet.
"When did you start wearing glasses?" Song Zhenshu asked, picking up his glasses.
Ji Tong bent down to tidy the corner of the blanket at the foot of the bed, and glanced at it upon hearing this: "Oh, the glasses belong to Gu Lin."
Song Zhenshu: "..."
Song Zhenshu remained silent for a while, then pretended to help Ji Tong tidy up the draft papers on the table: "It's almost finals week, isn't it? So many papers..."
Song Zhenshu lowered his head accordingly.
The two characters "Gu Lin" were prominently displayed on the exam paper.
Song Zhenshu couldn't hold back any longer: "...Why are Gu Lin's glasses and test papers in your room?"
“Reviewing,” Ji Tong said as she walked over after tidying the foot of the bed. “At the end of the month, our Computer Science project team will have its second selection exam. Gu Lin is going to take the exam to get into Computer Science 1, and I’m helping him with the test questions.”
Song Zhenshu: "..."
The uncle and nephew were talking quite loudly. Gu Lin had arrived at some point and was half-leaning and half-standing at the door of the master bedroom.
Song Zhenshu had a draft paper in his hand. Ji Tong reminded him, "Uncle, don't mess it up. Gu Lin's calculation steps are still on it. He'll need to find it later."
Song Zhenshu looked up and saw Gu Lin at the door, then suddenly clenched her fists.
Ji Tong was startled.
“It was a slip of the hand,” Song Zhenshu said with a forced smile. “Make him recalculate it.”
Song Zhenshu walked past Gu Lin and went straight out of the room.
Ji Tong flattened the draft paper and turned around. He was stunned to see Gu Lin. After realizing what was happening, he quickly walked to the door, leaned over and said to him, "It's draft paper, not an exam paper. It's just a little wrinkled, but it's not torn."
Song Zhenshu wasn't the only one with throbbing veins on his forehead; Gu Lin wasn't much better off either.
He looked at the person who had been adding fuel to the fire ever since Song Zhenshu entered the room, and said with utter helplessness, "Your uncle is still suffering from a fever, so talk less?"
Ji Tong blinked his eyes: "Hmm?"
What does it have to do with my uncle's fever and what he says?
Ji Tong was about to ask another question when Song Zhenshu's voice rang out from the living room: "Tongtong!"
It's a bit loud.
As if afraid that Ji Tong wouldn't hear him.
"I've already straightened the draft paper, don't be angry," Ji Tong quickly told Gu Lin before calling out to the living room, "Coming, coming, what's wrong, Uncle?"
What else is wrong? Talking and whispering in front of elders, is that appropriate?
Song Zhenshu handed him the phone: "Phone."
Ji Tong took the call and saw "Sister" on the caller ID. She answered immediately.
"mom."
"Yes, I saw my uncle."
"I haven't eaten yet."
"Go back to Haiyuan?"
"Is Uncle also staying at Haiyuan this weekend?" Ji Tong's voice suddenly softened. He subconsciously turned around and glanced at Gu Lin. "Hmm... okay, then I'll pack up and go back with Uncle."
"Um."
"By the way, Mom, could you ask Aunt Yang to make some honeysuckle dew? My uncle seems to have a bit of a sore throat."
"I don't know, maybe the sudden change in climate and water quality is making it difficult to adapt."
"Okay, sure."
After ending the call, Ji Tong returned the phone to Song Zhenshu.
Song Zhenshu felt a little soft-hearted because his nephew had specifically mentioned "honeysuckle dew," and the next second he saw him walk towards the person at the master bedroom door.
Song Zhenshu: "..."
Before Ji Tong could speak, Gu Lin spoke first.
"I heard you."
"Going back to Haiyuan with your uncle?"
"Hmm." Ji Tong's mind was a bit complicated. Of course, his uncle was important, and he would definitely go back to Haiyuan. But just an hour ago, he had made plans with Gu Lin for the weekend, planning to have a late-night snack at Uncle Chen's barbecue restaurant after reviewing his studies, and then go see Gu Lin.
Ji Tong: "I'll probably go straight to school on Monday."
"Of course," Gu Lin said. "Spend quality time with your aunt and uncle, and your little uncle too."
“Then you stay in the apartment by yourself… study hard, we can have barbecue another time, and Gu Linlin can watch later too,” Ji Tong warned him, “Don’t eat oatmeal.”
"Um."
Song Zhenshu's shoulders heaved as if he were taking a deep breath, and Gu Lin noticed it.
He knew he should let the man talk less, but considering he wouldn't see him for two days, he ultimately let him be and didn't interrupt.
"The top decision-maker is asking us if we've set off yet," Song Zhenshu said quietly.
"Okay, okay, I'm going to change my clothes."
Ji Tong changed out of her pajamas and came out of the master bedroom, while Gu Lin had already put on his coat.
"Don't go down there, it's very cold today." Ji Tong didn't want Gu Lin to run back and forth.
Gu Linxi took Ji Tong's backpack as usual: "I'll see you downstairs."
Ji Tong habitually handed it to him.
Just as Song Zhenshu was about to take the bag from his little nephew, he was a step too slow and missed. "..."
After the three of them went downstairs, Song Zhenshu realized that his car was still parked in the Anhui University parking lot, so the three of them had to walk side by side for a while.
Twenty minutes later, Song Zhenshu drove the car out of the parking lot. As soon as the car stopped, Ji Tong pulled Gu Lin into the back seat without saying a word.
Song Zhenshu: "?"
If you dare to say you're bringing Gu Lin home today, I'll go back to my apartment and jump right now.
"Uncle, drive towards the apartment and drop Gu Lin off at Peninsula first, then we'll turn around."
Looking in the rearview mirror, Song Zhenshu saw Gu Lin raise his hand and pinch the bridge of his nose.
Clearly, Ji Tong hadn't consulted with him.
"If you're taking Gu Lin back to the peninsula, why are you sitting in the back?" Song Zhenshu really didn't know what to say to him.
“It’ll be more convenient if we get on the bus together,” Ji Tong said. “I’ll sit in the front and keep you company when we get to the peninsula.”
Song Zhenshu sighed and stepped on the gas.
The car stopped at the peninsula, and Ji Tong and Gu Lin got out together.
Ji Tong pushed Gu Lin a couple of steps inside, got into the passenger seat, and rolled down the window.
Gu Lin: "It's time to send a message."
Ji Tong said "Okay".
Gu Lin looked past Ji Tong and at the person in the driver's seat, his expression composed, and gave a very polite nod: "Be careful on the road."
Song Zhenshu nodded in agreement.
Although……
But even though Gu Lin had performed all the proper courtesies, Song Zhenshu still said something.
"Let's go up early, it's quite cold."
Song Zhenshu personally rolled up the passenger-side window and turned the car around onto the main road.
Even with only the uncle and nephew left in the car, it didn't feel lonely at all.
Ji Tong is a chatterbox in front of people she is close to. After not seeing Song Zhenshu for several months, she talked non-stop until she fell asleep.
"Didn't you take a nap at noon?" Song Zhenshu asked casually as he gripped the steering wheel.
Ji Tong: "I slept for more than twenty minutes."
Song Zhenshu: "Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"
Ji Tong: "It's hard to sleep during class."
"Class?" Song Zhenshu frowned. "I heard from your classmates in the dorm across from yours that the afternoon class for engineering mathematics analysis has been rescheduled."
Ji Tong: "Mm."
Song Zhenshu: "Then what classes do you take?"
Ji Tong adjusted the back of his chair a few degrees, saying as he did so, "I'll accompany Gu Lin on the securities investment."
Song Zhenshu: "..."
At an extremely long red light, Song Zhenshu stopped the car, took out his phone, and sent a voice message to Song Jiahe with a pained expression.
"Sister, ask Aunt Yang to make some cold bitter chrysanthemum salad."
"My liver is going to explode."
Song Jiahe: "?"
-
Ji Tong was a little sleepy, but she still kept Song Zhenshu company and talked all the way until the car arrived at the entrance of Haiyuan.
Ji Tong sent Gu Lin a message saying "Arrived at Haiyuan" and got out of the car.
Song Zhenshu tossed the keys to the family driver, Uncle Kang, and got out of the driver's seat.
"You go in first, your uncle will make a phone call," Song Zhenshu said to Ji Tong.
"It's cold, go inside and fight," Ji Tong said.
Song Zhenshu: "Soon, let's go in first."
Ji Tong had no choice but to go in first.
Song Zhenshu didn't make a phone call; he just made an excuse to smoke a cigarette outside.
After finishing his cigarette, he let the smoke dissipate for a while and was about to go inside when his phone suddenly vibrated.
He took it out and looked at it—
[Senior, I'm Gu Lin. Do you have time to meet tomorrow?]
A cold wind suddenly swept through the hall.
To be honest, Song Zhenshu wasn't too surprised.
Song Zhenshu admitted that if Gu Lin were just Tongtong's friend, he thought he would appreciate him.
Intelligent, knows when to advance and retreat, and understands the proper measure.
Knowing he didn't want to hear "little uncle," I called him "senior."
He was more distant than "Uncle Song," yet closer than any other "Mr. Song."
Calm and composed, yet courageous.
He hadn't even approached him yet, but he dared to come to him on his own.
[Song Zhenshu: Time, Address.]
[Gu Lin: Senior, it's settled.]
Song Zhenshu looked up at Ji Tong, who was not far away.
…After all, he was Tongtong's best classmate.
Song Zhenshu lowered his head and typed.
[Song Zhenshu: Then your apartment, 4 PM.]
Song Zhenshu had no other meaning.
It's not like we're actually filming some melodramatic prime-time soap opera.
There's no need to deliberately set up a trap outside.
He didn't really want to break up the couple; he just wanted the young people to be more rational and cut their losses in time.
Choosing an apartment in a familiar environment, Gu Lin felt more at ease without having to go out.
…so that someone won't find out and cause trouble for him later.
The matter was temporarily resolved. Inside the house, Ji Tong called out again like a loudspeaker, "Uncle!" Song Zhenshu responded, "Coming right away," and was about to put away his phone—
[Gu Lin: Senior, the apartment might not be convenient.]
Song Zhenshu: "?"
Since they're willing to offer themselves up, there's no reason not to accept this offer.
[Song Zhenshu: Not convenient? Is someone in the apartment?]
He had just brought Tongtong back when Gu Lin made an appointment with someone.
Does Tongtong know?
[Gu Lin: The apartment is empty.]
[Gu Lin: But there is surveillance.]
Song Zhenshu read the two text messages three times before he was sure he hadn't misread them.
[Song Zhenshu: You installed surveillance cameras in the apartment??]
Gu Lin didn't reply this time.
It's like I was right.
Song Zhenshu turned and went out to calm down for the second time.
There aren't many security cameras in such a large place as Haiyuan, and Gu Lin dares to install one in his apartment? What kind of surveillance? Tongtong? Even if they weren't in that kind of relationship, this is still not normal behavior. Who does Gu Lin think he is, daring to—
Gu Lin: He's faking it.
...In modern society, it's normal to install surveillance cameras and have some awareness of security.
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