Chapter 43: “Came to See You.”

Yao Wenjing only heard the last sentence, surprised by Lin Zhi’s “harsh” tone. He looked at Lu Liu’s “sad” expression and hurriedly tugged at the hem of Lin Zhi’s shirt, signaling him to stop saying such things. Trying to ease the tension, he said, “What a coincidence, Lu Liu also came here to buy something.”

“Mm.” Lu Liu quickly hid his thoughts and, facing Yao Wenjing, returned to his usual gentle and reserved self. He politely asked, “I’m by myself. Can I join you two?”

Lin Zhi struggled to hold back a laugh, this guy really knew how to put on an act.

Yao Wenjing waited a few seconds but didn’t hear an answer from Lin Zhi. He looked up to see Lin Zhi pursing his lips, looking unhappy, and thought, Did they have a falling out? To avoid an awkward situation, Yao Wenjing decided to take matters into his own hands and agreed, “Of course, it’ll be more lively with more people.”

Yao Wenjing had a good impression of Lu Liu and didn’t feel like he was someone who would stir up trouble, so he assumed that if there was any disagreement between Lin Zhi and Lu Liu, it was probably Lin Zhi’s fault.

As they continued to choose gifts, Yao Wenjing lowered his voice and seriously said to Lin Zhi, “Xiao Zhi, the way you spoke to Lu Liu just now wasn’t very nice.”

Lin Zhi: “?”

“Friends sometimes have disagreements,” Yao Wenjing “educated” him. “But when you have the chance to meet, it’s best to ease things over. Saying things without thinking can easily hurt feelings.”

Lin Zhi picked up a small trinket and casually said, “That’s a bit exaggerated. What I said wasn’t a big deal.”

“Didn’t you notice that Lu Liu wasn’t very happy?” Yao Wenjing sighed quietly.

“Mm,” Lin Zhi glanced at Lu Liu, who was a little farther away, and laughed. “I really didn’t notice.”

“Forget it,” Yao Wenjing saw his indifferent expression and gave up trying to persuade him. As for Lin Zhi, he couldn’t entirely be on his side. “You do as you wish. Lu Liu has helped us a lot before, and he’s been so good to you, yet… But I believe you have your reasons.”

Lin Zhi was thoroughly amused by Yao Wenjing’s mixed-up words, and his focus shifted. “You also think Lu Liu is good to me?”

Upon receiving a positive response, Lin Zhi, as if realizing something, walked toward Lu Liu under Yao Wenjing’s appreciative gaze.

“Ah,” Lin Zhi cleared his throat, slightly embarrassed, and looked around at the store’s displays. He asked Lu Liu, “Is there anything you like?”

“No.” Lu Liu answered without hesitation. If he said something he liked, Lin Zhi would probably buy it and give it to him in front of everyone, just like with the sunflower last time.

Lin Zhi thoughtfully suggested, “Then how about we try another store?”

Yao Wenjing had been busy advising Lin Zhi and hadn’t had the chance to look at the store’s items. However, Lin Zhi quickly took the lead and headed out.

He didn’t dare to question it, as he still had no idea what kind of gift to choose.

They visited several stores, and every time they walked around, Lin Zhi would ask Lu Liu if he liked anything, and also ask Yao Wenjing if he found anything interesting. Both of them shook their heads.

After walking out empty-handed once again, Lin Zhi’s patience ran out. “After seeing so many different things, you still don’t know what you want?”

“I remember now,” Yao Wenjing’s gaze landed on a sports store across the street. “Once, I ran into my senior on the way back to the dorm, and he was holding a basketball.”

“That’s more like it.” Lin Zhi snapped his fingers. “Let’s go.”

With a clear direction now, Lin Zhi quickly helped Yao Wenjing pick out a gift, accomplishing the purpose of their trip.

Yao Wenjing planned to give the gift to his senior as soon as they returned to school. The time was getting late, and the bus stop was very close to where they were, so they decided to head home.

All the buses going to various universities passed through this station, and the three of them stood at the platform, unsure of what to say to each other.

Lin Zhi felt a bit awkward. With the separation imminent, he wanted to say something to Lu Liu, but with Yao Wenjing standing nearby, many things were hard to say. He could only pretend to casually glance at Lu Liu several times.

Fortunately, the bus Yao Wenjing needed to take was the first to arrive, and luckily, neither Lu Liu’s nor Lin Zhi’s school was in the same direction.

As they watched Yao Wenjing’s bus disappear into the distance, Lin Zhi thought he would feel more relaxed. However, the truth was, he felt even more awkward. Before, he could sneak a few glances at Lu Liu, but now, he just stared down at the empty space in front of him.

Station Announcement: The bus Lu Liu is waiting for will arrive in one minute. Lin Zhi felt a sudden reluctance and softly said, “It’ll be here in a minute.”

“Mm.” Lu Liu replied with a single word.

What’s with this cold response?

Lin Zhi turned his head to glance at him and, feeling irritated, said, “What’s the point of you coming today? You didn’t eat anything, didn’t buy anything—just counting your WeChat steps?”

Lu Liu looked back at him with a half-smile, his tone calm, “Came to see you.”

Lin Zhi felt like a balloon that had been inflated, only for Lu Liu’s words to gently pop it, slowly releasing the air.

Sixty seconds passed so quickly, and they only exchanged two or three sentences. The bus entered the station, slowing to a stop, and both the front and back doors opened simultaneously. Lin Zhi said his farewells, but Lu Liu stood still, not moving.

The doors closed again, and the bus accelerated away.

“…” Lin Zhi paused before asking, “Why aren’t you leaving?”

“There are no seats on the bus,” Lu Liu gave a reasonable explanation. “I waited a long time for you earlier and walked around with you for a while. My feet hurt, and I don’t want to stand all the way back.”

The guilt that had been interrupted earlier surged back in Lin Zhi’s chest. He murmured, “What should we do if the next bus doesn’t have any seats either?”

“I think I’ll go back to the street and find somewhere to eat,” Lu Liu said, exaggerating his situation, “I didn’t have dinner before coming, so I’m hungry.”

Lin Zhi felt even more guilty now. While he and Yao Wenjing had leisurely walked over, full and content, Lu Liu had been waiting for him on an empty stomach!

As the night lights began to shine, Lu Liu sat down in a small restaurant and tasted the food Lin Zhi had ordered for him. It was delicious and slightly sweet.

“Eat more,” Lin Zhi kept pushing the plate toward him, “Next time, don’t do this. Always fill your stomach before doing anything.”

Lu Liu thought, If I didn’t do this, would I get the effect I want? He smiled and said, “If you push any more, it’ll fall off the table.”

Lin Zhi awkwardly withdrew his hand, placing it on his thigh and tapping his fingers on the fabric of his jeans.

Lu Liu ate slowly, but quickly finished everything on his plate.

“Are you full?” Lin Zhi asked hastily, “Want to order more?”

“I’m full.” Lu Liu was in a good mood, smiling. Actually, he was a bit stuffed but didn’t want to waste the meal Lin Zhi had ordered for him. “Let’s go.”

As they left the small restaurant, Lu Liu didn’t head toward the bus stop but instead started walking back the way they came.

Lin Zhi walked alongside him for a while. When Lu Liu showed no sign of stopping, he couldn’t help but ask, “Your feet don’t hurt anymore?”

“No,” Lu Liu answered, “I’m walking you back.”

It wasn’t a short walk to his school, but Lin Zhi didn’t refuse.

“Lin Zhi,” when they reached a quieter area, Lu Liu called his name seriously, “Before the college entrance exam, I saw what you wrote in your notebook. The last time I asked, you said you were still chasing it. How’s it going now?”

“Ah?” Lin Zhi didn’t expect Lu Liu to ask this suddenly and was unsure whether to be honest or just brush it off. After hesitating for a few seconds, he decided to ask, “Do you remember the dream I told you about when the vacation just started?”

“I remember.”

“I told you I was still chasing it,” Lin Zhi decided to be honest, “But I don’t think I told you who it was.”

Lu Liu seemed to sense something, stopped walking, and turned to look at Lin Zhi, not quite believing it. He asked for confirmation, “Could it be… me?”

Lin Zhi felt the heat of Lu Liu’s gaze, which made his ears burn. He looked down and walked ahead without waiting for Lu Liu. His voice carried with the wind and reached Lu Liu’s ears, “It’s the benefactor I mentioned to you.”