“Uh, it’s actually like this,” Xiao Lin quickly began to explain. Perhaps that was the best explanation he could offer for his whimsical confession that day.
“When I went home, my parents kept on nagging me to go on a blind date. You know the situation we’re in. We can only go back to Earth for a few days every year. Even if I wanted to, it’s impossible to find a girlfriend on Earth...but it’s hard to explain to my parents. I don’t want them to worry about it...so, uh, I just want you to do me a little favor.”
Xiao Lin spoke a little incoherently, but he eventually expressed his meaning clearly. He was still a little disappointed though, as it was the first time that he ever made a confession in his entire life. While he did have crushes on several people since he was still a kid, it was actually the first time that he actually made a proper confession.
Xiao Lin was feeling quite incredulous himself. The time he spent with Gu Xiaoyue had not been that long actually, only about four months since they enrolled. Half of that time was spent in the New World too, and the chances for him to actually meet and chat with Gu Xiaoyue were far and few in between. In spite of all that however, he gradually started to feel an attraction to her.
Perhaps it was due to Gu Xiaoyue’s unique character, or perhaps he just felt pity for that extremely talented woman who had only two years left in her life span. It might even be love at first sight. The point was that he did not know, and it was difficult to find definitive reasons to explain something like feelings.
However, because their interactions were too few and too short, Gu Xiaoyue’s refusal was expected. Had it not been for the excuse that Xiao Lin coincidentally had, he would not have spoken in the first place.
The phone fell silent again, but after ten seconds, Gu Xiaoyue’s voice rang in due course, “If it’s just to deal with your parents, then sure, but it’s only limited to this ten-day vacation!”
“Hmm?”
Xiao Lin was stunned for even longer. Even though he had given due thought to the excuse, he did not think that Gu Xiaoyue would accept it. At most, the excuse would just absolve him of his reckless confession and prevent their relationship from being further affected.
Nevertheless, Gu Xiaoyue was as unpredictable as always. She agreed! She actually agreed!
Gu Xiaoyue clearly had something else to say, and although she tried to keep her voice as calm as ever, she was still unable to hide a slight tremor. “But don’t overthink. I’m just repaying your favor so I won’t have to owe you in the future!”
What favor did Xiao Lin owe Gu Xiaoyue?
Maybe it was the help he gave her during the monthly exam, or the previous occasion when she helped deliver the letter to her sister? Perhaps it was the previous exam when he promised Gu Xiaoyue to take care of her sister in case something happened?
Xiao Lin himself was also confused, as he could not remember which exact favor Gu Xiaoyue owed him. However, logic told him that it was better to pretend to be confused at that moment.
“I’ll hang up then if there’s nothing else.”
“Wait, I’ll look for you during these two days.”
“What?”
“Why don’t you come to my house?”
“N-no!”
Gu Xiaoyue’s voice became hurried, and it was obvious that she had not yet adapted to the sudden change in status. Of course, she felt that there was no need for things to change since she only treated it as a casual promise, but Xiao Lin did not want the relationship between the two to be limited to ten days only.
Xiao Lin did not know whether to laugh or cry. “But you just promised.”
Gu Xiaoyue finally compromised. “Okay, okay, I understand. Then, maybe you should come over.”
...
Xiao Lin looked very excited after returning home. When his mother asked what happened during the date, she found out that her son already had a girlfriend. That the person was not Wang Yuelan did not matter much for her. As a mother, she was undoubtedly happy, but she still felt half-skeptical about it.
As a result, Xiao Lin dialed Gu Xiaoyue’s phone number and handed it to his mother while Gu Xiaoyue was still in a daze. After that, Xiao Lin had no idea what the two women talked about on the phone, but from the expression of his mother’s smile, the call was undoubtedly more successful than he imagined.
“It’s such a pity for Yuelan.”
“Mom, it’s not like Wang Yuelan and I are really familiar with each other.”
“Never mind then. When will you bring that Gu Xiaoyue to our home?”
“It’s still early.”
“Don’t bully her alright. Sigh, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
“Mom, don’t worry about me from now on. Just enjoy your good fortune with Dad.”
The gratifying smiles of his parents warmed Xiao Lin’s heart. Whatever the future had in store for him, that place would always be his home. He did not have the heart to see his parents fret over him and he did not want them to feel that way either.
After staying at home for two days, Xiao Lin was prepared to set off to Gu Xiaoyue’s hometown. In fact, he planned to stay home for two more days, since it was quite early in the vacation. However, after his mother knew that he had a girlfriend, she started to rush him, saying that he should keep his girlfriend company during his vacation as he did not have time to keep in contact with her due to being busy with work.
Xiao Lin, who had no idea how to react, could only set off early. Midway through his journey, he was about to buy a plane ticket when he received a call from Gu Xiaoyue. She told him to go directly to the fine arts academy because she was going to the academy to visit her sister today that day.
Xiao Lin felt that it was a bit unfortunate. Gu Xiaoyue probably did not want to be alone at home with him, so she went to the fine arts academy as an excuse. Although Xiao Lin was actually looking forward to seeing how she would act when the two of them were alone together, it was not that big of a deal. In fact, Xiao Lin had initially planned to make time for visiting her sister during that vacation.
Xiao Lin bought some gifts along the way. He knew that Gu Xiaoyue did not lack money at home, and there was no need to buy expensive stuff, but the gift was not meant for Gu Xiaoyue. He chose a relatively high-end fountain pen as a gift for her sister.
It was midday when he arrived at the fine arts academy. Because it was a weekend, there were few people in the academy. Gu Xiaoyue’s sister Gu Chengyun was paralyzed from the waist down, so it was impossible for her to go out and enjoy herself like the other ordinary academy students, even on weekends. Although the time he set with Gu Xiaoyue was around noon, it just so happened that a torrential rain in the morning delayed Gu Xiaoyue’s flight, causing her to only arrive around noon.
However, Gu Xiaoyue had notified Xiao Lin that she had told Gu Chengyun about their visit, so since Xiao Lin was the first to arrive, he went straight to look for Gu Chengyun. It had not been long since his last visit and Xiao Lin still remembered the location of Gu Chengyun’s preferred studio.
What if she was in the dormitory? In any case, Xiao Lin could not possibly go into the girls’ dormitory.
However, Xiao Lin’s prediction was spot on. Even if the lively and cheerful girl could not leave campus during the weekend, she would definitely express her inner feelings in the studio.
A floor below the studio, a familiar figure flashed in the corner of Xiao Lin’s eyes the moment he turned and walked into the corridor from the stairs. After a couple seconds of shock, he called out softly in an unsure tone, “Wang Yuelan?”
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