Chapter 55: Worried About Me?

You Chong and Zhou Xuan were buying drinks at the small shop, and the latter took some time choosing a flavor.

When they returned, carrying drinks for six, only Yang Juan was left sitting on the steps in front of the viewing tower.

Zhou Xuan pulled a bottle of iced cola from the bag and tossed it to Yang Juan from a distance.

Yang Juan, looking tense, reached out to catch it and ended up hugging the bottle tightly to his chest.

While taking in their interaction, You Chong frowned and asked, “Where’s Lin Hexi?”

Yang Juan looked up and said, “He went to the restroom.”

You Chong asked again, “When did he go?”

Yang Juan pressed his lips together, thinking.

Beside them, Zhou Xuan raised his eyebrow and teased, “Captain You, no need to be so dutiful, right?”

You Chong ignored the teasing, and kept his gaze fixed on Yang Juan.

Yang Juan replied uncertainly, “It should have been about two minutes ago.”

Upon hearing Yang Juan’s response, You Chong’s frown didn’t relax. He was about to ask another question when Zhou Xuan’s hand landed on his shoulder, interrupting him.

Zhou Xuan spoke in a casual tone, “No need to be so tense, it’s only been two minutes. With so many people needing to use the restroom, waiting in line takes more than just two minutes.”

You Chong paused and said nothing more.

They sat down in front of the steps and started talking about the assignments their professional course teacher had given them this week.

Both Yang Juan and Zhou Xuan were struggling with the assignments and wanted to borrow You Chong’s work to take a look.

However, You Chong, who was at the center of the conversation, seemed distracted throughout, frequently glancing down at the time on his phone.

Zhou Xuan couldn’t help but wave his hand in front of You Chong’s face.

After snapping back to reality, You Chong slapped his hand away. “What are you waving around for?”

Zhou Xuan withdrew his hand, and clicked his tongue lightly. “We’re asking to borrow your homework for reference. Who’s the pretty girl you’re thinking about?”

You Chong didn’t respond to the homework question at all and simply said in a low voice, “It’s already been ten minutes.”

Zhou Xuan was momentarily stunned, then realized that You Chong was referring to Lin Hexi with the ten minutes remark. Still unconcerned, he casually called out to a guy returning from the restroom direction, “Hey man, is there anyone else in the restroom?”

The guy thought for a moment, then shook his head. “There shouldn’t be anyone.”

After thanking the guy, Zhou Xuan turned his gaze back, and his expression now sour. “That Lin Hexi, could he have sneaked down the mountain on purpose, setting us up?”

Yang Juan chimed in softly, “His backpack is still here.”

You Chong had already stood up, his tone unreadable as he said, “I’ll go check the restroom.”

Zhou Xuan looked surprised, instinctively feeling something was off, but there was no time to dwell on it. He tried to stop You Chong, saying, “What are you going to look for? Just tell the teacher directly.”

You Chong brushed Zhou Xuan’s hand aside, with his brows furrowing tightly. “I’ll go down and find him; you guys go inform the teacher.”

Zhou Xuan was stunned again.

Sensing that something was off with You Chong’s behavior, Zhou Xuan reached out again to grab him.

You Chong abruptly turned his head, his dark eyes cold and sharp as they stared at Zhou Xuan.

Zhou Xuan’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and only then did he clearly see You Chong’s face.

His expression was heavy, with clear irritation showing in his eyes and at the corners of his brows. His jawline was unconsciously tense, and his lips were pressed into a straight line.

The subtle changes in You Chong’s face all unmistakably indicated his foul mood at the moment.

Watching You Chong’s figure walk away, Zhou Xuan was puzzled. It’s just a missing person who isn’t even important—was there really a need to be this angry?

He turned and took a couple of steps towards Yang Juan, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Something was off.

A chill ran through Zhou Xuan’s heart as he finally realized—

That wasn’t anger; it was worry.

Since when did You Chong and Lin Hexi get so close? Zhou Xuan, looking displeased, glanced at Yang Juan. “Do you think if I went missing, he’d be this worried too?”

Without a second thought, Yang Juan replied, “It’s different.”

Zhou Xuan’s expression darkened further. “How is it different?”

Yang Juan was silent for two seconds before finally blurting out the truth: “You and You Chong are friends, but Lin Hexi and You Chong are in a relationship.”

Zhou Xuan nodded impatiently, “Yeah, I’m friends with You Chong, and Lin Hexi and You Chong are also frie—”

He abruptly stopped mid-sentence.

After a moment, Zhou Xuan slowly displayed a look of disbelief. “What did you say the relationship between You Chong and Lin Hexi is?”

Yang Juan pulled out a photo he had taken at the beach to show him.

Just showing the photo wasn’t enough, so Yang Juan continued, “That morning when you and I went to find You Chong, Lin Hexi was hiding in the wardrobe in You Chong’s bedroom.”

“So,” Yang Juan stated with certainty and seriousness, “they are in a relationship.”

Zhou Xuan stared at the photo and listened to what he was saying, looking as if he had been struck by lightning.

The two sat there with different thoughts for a moment, deciding to wait for news from You Chong before deciding whether to go to the teacher.

A few minutes later, You Chong called them, saying that he had found Lin Hexi, and only then did they feel relieved.

As he walked outside the restroom, You Chong’s emotions gradually calmed, and he remembered that he had Lin Hexi’s WeChat and phone number.

He stopped by the roadside and called Lin Hexi. When the call was answered, You Chong’s expression eased slightly.

However, a strange girl’s voice came through on the other end.

She quickly and simply explained the situation, and You Chong followed the small path to the right of the restroom, finding them at the spot with the swing.

Lin Hexi was still crouched at the bottom of the slope. You Chong took off his own jacket, tied it to Lin Hexi’s jacket, and threw the makeshift rope down the slope, pulling him up from the bottom.

After they got back to the top of the slope, You Chong untied his jacket and put it on. Before Lin Hexi could thank him, You Chong, with a slightly annoyed tone, scolded him, “Lin Hexi, why do you always get into trouble?”

Lin Hexi wisely kept his mouth shut and said nothing.

You Chong’s anger flared up quickly but dissipated just as fast. He furrowed his brows slightly and asked, “Are you hurt?”

Lin Hexi paused, then gently curved his eyes into a smile. “No.”

The two intended to take the injured girl back to the more populated area at the mountain top. While she was still hesitating, worried that her friend wouldn’t be able to find her, distant lights began to flicker and sweep over them.

Her friend had returned with help.

Both sides breathed a sigh of relief. After quickly saying their goodbyes, Lin Hexi and You Chong returned to the gathering place at the mountain top.

All the students had already gathered, and the elective teacher led the group back down the mountain the way they had come.

Going down the mountain was much easier than climbing up, and the time spent on the mountain path was significantly reduced.

The teacher parted ways with them at the school gate, and Lin Hexi and You Chong walked back to Chengnan Community together.

It was already close to eleven at night, and most of the shops on either side of the street had turned off their lights and closed. Only a few cars passed by, their headlights cutting through the darkness.

The wide, flat road stretched to the edge of their vision, swallowed by the endless darkness. The streetlights cast a pale yellow glow at their feet, exuding a faint warmth.

While stepping on the circle of light beneath his feet, Lin Hexi spoke in a lazy tone, “When I was on the mountain, I was just about to call you when your call came through.”

You Chong glanced at him, calmly waiting for him to continue.

Sure enough, Lin Hexi’s voice carried a hint of laughter as he continued, “So, does this mean we have a special connection?”

You Chong’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. “It was just a coincidence.”

“Coincidence it is, then.” Lin Hexi didn’t argue, and his smile undiminished. He seemed to think of something else and slowly added, “You were in such a rush to find me—could it be that you were worried about me?”

It was just a casual question, as ordinary as any other.

However, You Chong’s expression faltered slightly, and he couldn’t respond immediately.

Lin Hexi didn’t notice the change in You Chong’s expression and playfully added, “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes.”

You Chong quickly regained his composure, stopping in his tracks as he looked at Lin Hexi from under the streetlight. “Yes.”

Though standing in the light, Lin Hexi couldn’t quite make out the expression on You Chong’s face. Caught off guard, he instinctively asked, “What?”

“Weren’t you asking if I was worried about you?” In just a brief moment, You Chong had already concealed his emotions, with a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Yes, I was worried about you.”

Lin Hexi abruptly halted, and quietly lifted his gaze to meet You Chong’s.

You Chong’s expression was ambiguous, somewhere between a smile and not. “I was worried you’d cause trouble for me.”

After hearing this, Lin Hexi let out a soft breath, uncertain whether he had expected this response or felt a vague sense of disappointment.

He turned and continued walking forward, not noticing that You Chong remained standing under the streetlight, unmoving.

Worried about him?

This wasn’t the first time such an emotion had surfaced.

After retracting his gaze from Lin Hexi’s retreating figure, You Chong stood still, furrowing his brows silently.