Chapter 42 "Does Gu Lin have a girl he likes?"
In the end, Song Zhenshu chose a private club that wasn't far from Anhui University and that he frequented, and sent the address to Gu Lin.
"What kind of phone call is this? Why is it taking so long?"
Just as Song Zhenshu put away his phone, Ji Tong ran out of the villa, wearing only a sweater and no coat.
Song Zhenshu took off her scarf and put it over his head: "Do you want to catch a cold and get your uncle scolded?"
Ji Tong went around behind him and pushed him inside: "Can't we fight inside? Why do we have to fight in the wind outside?"
Song Zhenshu looked at Ji Tong.
As soon as the car arrived at Haiyuan, Gu Lin sent a text message.
He wasn't surprised by this; it was most likely information provided by the little traitor.
What puzzled Song Zhenshu was that Gu Lin had obtained his contact information.
Song Zhenshu glanced at Ji Tong and began to probe: "Do you have Gu Lin's contact information? If so, give it to your uncle."
Ji Tong: "Gu Lin's contact information?"
"Yes, you're living with him now. If I can't reach you, I can contact him."
“Or,” Song Zhenshu tapped her phone, “has Gu Lin asked you for my contact information? If he has, you can give it to him so he can contact me if he needs anything.”
Ji Tong shook his head: "No."
Song Zhenshu raised an eyebrow and slowly said, "Is that so?"
Tongtong didn't give it to him, so Gu Lin found it out himself.
Since his contact information can be found, his "past" should also be clear.
"That's good," Song Zhenshu thought.
This also saves him from being the kind of elder who says, "I've eaten more food than you've eaten salt."
Ji Tong didn't know why Song Zhenshu wanted Gu Lin's contact information, but she still sent it to him.
The uncle and nephew entered the villa. Song Jiahe was serving boat congee, and Ji Yuanfeng opened a bottle of fine vintage red wine. Halfway through the family's meal, Ji Tong's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the caller ID, said "It's Teacher" to Song Jiahe, and then answered the call.
"Hello, Teacher Lin."
"That data? It's here with me, but it's only half done."
"Do you need it now? Okay, I'll email it to you."
"It's okay, no trouble at all. I'll just go upstairs and turn on my computer."
Ji Tong gestured "go upstairs" to the three people at the table and left the table.
"Is the fish maw and bamboo fungus soup ready? Let it cool down first, then you can drink it when it's ready to drink later," Ji Yuanfeng asked Aunt Yang.
"Right away," Aunt Yang said, "Why is Tongtong so busy?"
Song Jiahe said, "It's final week, so it's normal to be busy."
Once the soup was ready, Aunt Yang brought it out in the clay pot.
Ji Yuanfeng poured a bowl for Ji Tong, loosely covering it with a ceramic lid. He then took a small bowl from Song Zhenshu's side and filled it halfway: "Try it, see if the taste is too... Xiaoshu, what are you looking at?"
Song Jiahe also put down her bowl: "What's wrong? You went out and got a sore throat and liver fire. Now you're even distracted while eating."
Song Zhenshu glanced in the direction of the stairs.
"Sister, Tongtong, he..."
Song Jiahe placed another piece of brown sugar braised pork belly into Song Zhenshu's bowl: "Tongtong, what's wrong?"
…It's still early, Song Zhenshu thought to himself.
There's no need to put it in front of my sister and brother-in-law yet.
The problem might be resolved after we meet tomorrow.
Song Zhenshu originally wanted to ask Song Jiahe if she knew about Ji Tong and Gu Lin living together, but she swallowed the words back down.
He tapped his index finger on the phone screen.
"It's okay, Tongtong will have his winter break soon."
"Around the end of January."
The three chatted for a while, and Ji Tong came downstairs after sending the email. He then ate with Ji Tong for a while before getting up from the table.
"Where's my little uncle's gift?" Ji Tong opened her palm towards Song Zhenshu.
"On the way back, he kept saying that it was more comfortable to wear pajamas," Song Zhenshu tapped him on the forehead. "Go back to your room to wash up, and I'll change my clothes too. I'll get them for you later."
Ji Tong was pleased: "Okay."
Ji Tong quickly washed her hair and took a shower. After she finished washing up, Song Zhenshu still hadn't arrived.
Ji Tong walked to the door and left it slightly ajar to prevent Song Zhenshu from having to knock again. Then, she lay back on the bed. With nothing else to do, she took out her phone and sent a message to Gu Lin.
So when Song Zhenshu stood at Ji Tong's room door, carrying a bottle of Italian Limoncello after-dinner wine and holding two wine glasses, what she heard was Ji Tong sending a voice message to Gu Lin—
"I saw the surveillance footage. Who were you messaging at 5:43 PM?"
Song Zhenshu: "..."
At 5:43, barring any unforeseen circumstances, that's when he'll review the upcoming messages.
Song Zhenshu stood at the door, completely baffled as to how Ji Tong could utter such... terrifying words in an almost coquettish tone.
Gu Lin was the same.
Installing surveillance cameras in the house means that your every move, from food and clothing to housing and transportation, is being watched, even down to the second. What's the difference between this feeling of being controlled at all times and being locked up?
Don't either of them think something's wrong?
Is this normal?
Song Zhenshu always prides himself on being a "young man," but today he's starting to have some self-doubt.
"Uncle?" Ji Tong was chatting with Gu Lin when she turned her head and saw a figure halfway through the crack in the door. After confirming that it was Song Zhenshu, she sent Gu Lin a final voice message, "I'm not talking to you anymore, my uncle is coming to play with me."
Ji Tong shuffled over in her slippers, jogged to the door, and said, "Why don't you come in? I didn't lock the door."
“I heard you talking,” Song Zhenshu said, trying to cover it up, “I thought you were talking to the teacher.”
"No, I'm chatting with Gu Lin," Ji Tong replied casually, then looked down and saw the wine and glass in Song Zhenshu's hand.
Ji Tong recognized the brand of the wine; it was a very common after-dinner drink, produced in provinces such as the Bay of Naples in southern Italy, with an average alcohol content that wasn't particularly high, around 20%.
Ji Tong: "A gift?"
“No,” Song Zhenshu also changed into his pajamas, and as he spoke, he took out a small wooden box from his pajama pocket. “It’s Dominican blue amber, I bought it at an auction a while ago, 18 grams.”
Ji Tong opened it and her brown eyes instantly lit up.
Inside the blue amber is a five-petaled flower; the flower is not large, but it is very complete.
Blue amber is rare in itself among ambers, and most of them are insect ambers. It is already rare to find amber containing plant inclusions, let alone such a clear and complete five-petaled flower.
Song Zhenshu knew he would like it, so she went to that auction on purpose.
Compared to jewelry and antique paintings, it's not considered expensive, at over 1.1 million.
"There are also gifts for your roommates, they're in the car. Take them to them on Monday."
What is it?
"Little thing, a Guatemalan antler knife."
These are specially crafted stone tools with obsidian blades and natural deer antler handles; they are very beautiful in person.
Song Zhenshu naturally also got one for Ji Tong, but his was custom-made and the craftsmanship was quite complicated, so it hadn't arrived yet.
Ji Tong held up the amber flower to let the light shine through, and Song Zhenshu's phone buzzed—
His nephew sent him an emoji.
It's a picture of a kitten nestled in a big cat's arms, with the caption "Being with my little uncle is the best thing in the world."
Song Zhenshu had seen this meme.
In Song Jiahe's chat history.
The only difference was that the caption read, "Being with Mom is the best thing in the world."
Song Zhenshu walked over, placed the wine on the coffee table in front of the sofa in the room, unscrewed the cap, poured two glasses, and said unhurriedly, "The emoji didn't lie to me? Is it that you and your uncle are the best of friends, or..."
here we go again.
From a young age, Song Zhenshu loved to ask, "Is my little uncle better or my dad/grandma/grandpa/aunt/uncle/kindergarten teacher Ms. Xue?" Except for not "competing for favor" with Song Jiahe, she would compare almost everyone. Ji Tong had long since mastered the skill of speaking like her little uncle to him without even thinking about it.
"And my little uncle..."
"Is it still better to be with Gu Lin, the best in the world?"
Their voices overlapped.
Ji Tong: "?"
who?
Ji Tong stopped looking at the flower amber, put it into the small wooden box, and turned to look at Song Zhenshu.
Song Zhenshu unlocked his phone, switched to the secondary SIM card, opened a new message interface, and selected audio: "Come on, say it again, 'My little uncle and I are the best of friends in the world.'"
Why is my uncle recording this? Who is he going to send it to?
Ji Tong cautiously walked over, looked down, and saw the name "Gu Lin" in the recipient column.
Ji Tong: "..."
childish.
Is this how you use Gu Lin's contact information?
"Song Zhenshu, how old are you?" Ji Tong put down his phone.
Song Zhenshu: "'Song Zhenshu' is a name you use to address someone. You have no manners."
After the two bickered for a while, Ji Tong carefully placed Hua Po on the bedside table.
Song Zhenshu sat on the sofa and asked, "Any other plans for tonight?"
Ji Tong: "What arrangements?"
Song Zhenshu: "The teacher's emails, papers, exam papers, and so on."
Ji Tong shook her head, sat down next to Song Zhenshu, and rubbed against him: "No, the most important thing today is to accompany my uncle."
“Alright,” Song Zhenshu pushed the wine glass towards him, “then have a couple of drinks with your uncle.”
Ji Tong asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why do you suddenly want to drink?"
Song Zhenshu handed him a cup.
Nothing much.
Have some drinks and ask some nice questions.
Ji Tong rarely drinks alcohol, so his alcohol tolerance is naturally not very high. When the conversation turned to the baby elephant that Song Zhenshu had adopted for him in Kenya, Ji Tong's reaction was a little slow.
Song Zhenshu controlled the amount, preventing him from getting drunk.
"戈戈."
"Um?"
“I heard from Li Yuan that you’ve been staying at Gu Lin’s place for the past few months.”
"Um."
"Didn't Gu Lin go abroad? Why is he suddenly back?"
Upon hearing Gu Lin's name, Ji Tong changed her posture: "I don't know either, he didn't say."
"It's probably related to his family."
Song Zhenshu put down his wine: "Home?"
Ji Tong leaned back on the sofa, his eyes slightly moist from the alcohol. He looked at the ceiling and said, "Yeah, he had injuries when he came back. It looks like his grandfather beat him up."
Song Zhenshu frowned, seemingly lost in thought, before continuing after half a minute: "After he comes back, he wants you to live with him?"
“No,” Ji Tong said, resting his head on the back of the sofa chair. He seemed a little angry about it. “I moved in by myself.”
"At first he said the house wasn't cleaned and it was inconvenient, like he was keeping an eye on me."
Ji Tong said with a rather proud tone, "I went there on my own later."
Song Zhenshu: "..."
Song Zhenshu took another sip of wine and lowered his voice: "It's been half a year since school started in June. Is there a girl you like?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Tong paused, straightened up from the sofa, crossed her legs, and looked at Song Zhenshu, as if she didn't know why the topic had changed so quickly, or as if she was a little puzzled as to why Song Zhenshu asked this question.
"Uncle, you've changed."
“You never asked these questions before.”
Song Zhenshu sighed inwardly.
It's him who has changed.
"No," Ji Tong said.
Song Zhenshu already knew the answer, but upon hearing Ji Tong's reply, he still felt a sense of powerlessness.
"Since you're an adult, it's not considered puppy love. If you like a girl, you can try to get to know her."
"I don't have a girl I like," Ji Tong answered again.
"And what about Gu Lin?" Song Zhenshu asked again.
"Gu Lin what?"
"Does Gu Lin have a girl he likes?"
Ji Tong was stunned for a moment.
"No." He raised his voice a few decibels and put his legs down from the cross-legged position.
When Song Zhenshu asked him this question, Ji Tong's reaction was only a little puzzled. But when it was Gu Lin, he suddenly frowned. Perhaps even he himself didn't realize that he was now somewhat "anxious".
“We’re together every day. If he has a girl he likes, he’ll definitely tell me.”
Ji Tong didn't know why Song Zhenshu was asking this, and instinctively didn't want to delve deeper, so he changed the subject: "Uncle, you just said that Nala made a giraffe friend? What's the giraffe's name...?"
"Not now, but what about later?" Song Zhenshu stared intently at Ji Tong.
Song Zhenshu naturally realized that Ji Tong was changing the subject and knew that he didn't like to hear this.
But he needs to know the answer.
Before he can find Gu Lin, he needs to know what kind of feelings Ji Tong has for Gu Lin.
"If Gu Lin finds a girlfriend and asks you to move out of the apartment, will you move out?"
Ji Tong stood frozen on the sofa.
Girlfriend, move out...
Ji Tong suddenly felt a little lost. Even though she had just finished a glass of wine, her throat kept feeling dry.
"No," Ji Tong replied after a long pause, her face flushing under the influence of alcohol. "He won't find a girlfriend."
"He promised me that he would get married later."
Song Zhenshu: "".
"They won't let me move out. The puzzle isn't even finished yet... The apartment only has two rooms, and I already sleep in the master bedroom, which is full of messy stuff. It's not appropriate for a girl to sleep there..."
When Ji Tong's speech began to lose its logic, Song Zhenshu's energy, which he had been holding on for a day, completely dissipated.
The sword that had been hanging over their heads for so long finally fell.
What's the point of testing?
Given the current situation, what's the point of testing each other?
The room suddenly fell into a long silence.
Just as Ji Tong was about to get the wine while leaning on the sofa, Song Zhenshu grabbed her hand and stopped her.
When he spoke again, Song Zhenshu's voice was a little hoarse: "If I drink any more, I'll have a headache tomorrow."
"I'm thirsty." Ji Tong's tone was dry, and if you listened carefully, you could hear a hint of grievance.
Song Zhenshu began to regret his harsh words, which had unnecessarily upset him.
"Then your uncle will come downstairs and get you some honey water."
"Um."
Song Zhenshu got up, took the small wooden box containing the amber from the bedside table, and placed it in Ji Tong's hand: "Play with it for a while."
"I'll take pictures of some other plant-based amber for you next time."
Song Zhenshu patted Ji Tong's head, his voice and expression gentle: "...Uncle was just joking. As long as you don't find a girlfriend, Gu Lin won't either. Don't worry."
Song Zhenshu used the flower-shaped amber to distract Ji Tong, and then smiled as she left the room.
The door closed little by little, and Song Zhenshu's face gradually darkened until it was completely shut.
"Hold."
Song Zhenshu gripped the second-floor railing and swore for the first time.
Five minutes later, Song Zhenshu took out her phone and found Gu Lin's number.
[Song Zhenshu: Let's change the time.]
[Song Zhenshu: Tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.]
He couldn't wait even half a day.
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