Chapter Fourteen: Gazing into the Distance, Lost in Thought

“Yes, last time I was late, Gu Yan bought me breakfast and said you asked him to look after me,” Yu Sheng said.

Yu Chen thought for a moment, suddenly understood, but seeing his clueless sister, he decided to enlighten her.

“I never said that. Think about it—how could I possibly say such a thing?”

“Hm? Are you sure you didn’t?”

“Haven’t you ever considered it yourself?” Yu Chen retorted.

Indeed, when Gu Yan said those words, Yu Sheng had her suspicions. She knew all too well what kind of person her troublesome brother was. But she didn’t want to think in that direction, always afraid it was just her imagination, wishful thinking.

Yu Sheng stayed silent.

After tidying up, she went with a heavy heart to knock on Gu Yan’s door. Gu Yan hopped over, limping, to answer.

As soon as the door opened, Yu Sheng saw Gu Yan’s face dripping with water and his torso bare.

“You… what happened?” Yu Sheng was startled, quickly shielding her eyes with her hand.

“Oh, my alarm didn’t go off today, I just woke up,” Gu Yan replied, then hurried into his room to pull on a T-shirt.

This time Gu Yan truly wasn’t trying to show off; he’d simply overslept and hadn’t dressed yet.

It was Yu Sheng’s first time seeing Gu Yan right after he woke up—a genuinely fresh-faced youth, she thought. Not like herself, who always looked a mess in the morning.

“But why are you here so early today? Didn’t I tell you yesterday to sleep in longer?” Gu Yan asked.

“It’s better to come early; otherwise, I might make you late,” Yu Sheng replied.

“By the way, my brother said he can’t look after you and asked me to apologize to you on his behalf.”

Yu Sheng spoke to Gu Yan’s back, hesitating about whether to bring up the morning’s issue.

Gu Yan chuckled to himself. That kid.

Having your sister look after me is the greatest care you could offer.

“Let’s go!” In the blink of an eye, Gu Yan was dressed.

Yu Sheng wanted to help him carry his backpack, but Gu Yan refused.

“My foot’s injured, not my hand.”

“All right then!” Yu Sheng said, helping him down the stairs, arm in arm.

Gu Yan wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, but Yu Sheng seemed less enthusiastic today.

Turning his head, Gu Yan looked at her. “What’s wrong? Didn’t sleep well?”

“No,” Yu Sheng replied, avoiding his gaze.

Ever since she’d started thinking that way, she didn’t dare look Gu Yan in the eyes. Even as she held his arm, her ears flushed red.

Yu Sheng thought back to her actions—she hadn’t done anything foolish, had she?

Since Yu Sheng said nothing, Gu Yan searched for something to say.

“Starting today, there’ll be evening self-study. Will someone pick you up at night?”

“Ah? No,” Yu Sheng shook her head.

“Then from now on, let’s walk home together in the evenings,” Gu Yan suggested tentatively.

“Ah? Sure, sure.”

Seeing Yu Sheng agree, Gu Yan secretly smiled.

“What do you want for breakfast?” he asked.

Yu Sheng was about to say anything was fine, but when she looked up and saw a little cart ahead, her mind changed instantly.

“I want a pancake!”

“Pancake? Is it good?” Gu Yan had never tried one.

“It’s amazing! You’ll never forget it after one bite!” At the sight of her favorite food, all Yu Sheng’s worries dissolved.

“All right.” Gu Yan loved seeing Yu Sheng’s eyes sparkle as she smiled—a smile that could brighten anyone’s day.

Although they walked slowly and chatted along the way, they still arrived on time.

When they entered the classroom, everyone came over to ask Gu Yan about his injured foot. Yu Sheng returned to her seat, watching Gu Yan surrounded by classmates. Her smile faded a little; she felt more and more that she’d been overthinking.

He’s so popular, so good at his studies, and handsome.

I’m average in everything—popularity, grades, looks, no special talents. How could I ever…

“Hey! What are you thinking about?” Lin Ning interrupted her thoughts.

“Nothing, why?” Yu Sheng replied.

“I see you’re troubled. Want me to give you some advice?” Lin Ning stroked her imaginary moustache with exaggerated flair.

Yu Sheng hesitated, but remembering Lin Ning was still single herself, she doubted her reliability.

“Get ready for morning reading. The rich lady will be here soon.”

The “rich lady” was their nickname for the class teacher, who’d retire after this batch. She was always decked out in gold and jewelry, so they affectionately called her “the rich lady.”

“No worries. I’ll wait for the day you confide in me,” Lin Ning said meaningfully.

But Yu Sheng didn’t catch her drift.

After school at noon, Yu Sheng was helping Gu Yan out of the school gate when a boy approached.

“Gu Yan!” the boy called excitedly.

Gu Yan glanced over and was taken aback.

“Song He? You’re here!”

“Haha, it really is you,” Song He replied.

“How did you know I was here? And how did you know it was me?”

Gu Yan asked some perplexing questions; Yu Sheng was baffled.

“He’s… an old friend,” Gu Yan explained to Yu Sheng.

Song He grinned mischievously, and Gu Yan instantly understood.

“You actually checked up on me!” Gu Yan’s voice grew loud, and nearby students glanced over.

He quickly lowered his voice.

“Let’s talk at my place.”

“Okay,” Song He replied with a grin.

Since Gu Yan’s leg was injured, Yu Sheng told him to wait at her house while she brought lunch down later.

“Your friend—will he be eating lunch today?” Yu Sheng asked before leaving.

“He’ll go out to eat. Don’t worry about him, he’s got money.”

Hearing this, Song He protested, “I want lunch too! I came all this way and haven’t even had breakfast!” He pouted.

“Who cares whether you ate? Besides, I didn’t even ask you to come.”

“Hmph, you’re so heartless. After all I’ve done for you!” Song He said, wounded.

Yu Sheng patted Gu Yan’s shoulder. “It’s fine, I’ll bring extra.”

“Sorry to trouble you,” Gu Yan replied.

After Yu Sheng left, Song He sat on the sofa and asked, “Is she your girlfriend?”

“Almost,” Gu Yan said, pouring him a glass of water in the kitchen.

“Honestly, she wears her feelings for you all over her face.”

Gu Yan couldn’t help but smile. “Really? How can you tell?”

“If a girl doesn’t like you, would she take you home, bring you food, and look after you?”

Gu Yan pondered this. It was true that outsiders saw things more clearly than those involved. He’d always felt Yu Sheng had no feelings for him, since she treated him and Chen Ke’an the same.

“What if she just thinks it’s convenient because we live nearby?” Gu Yan asked.

“Have a little confidence, brother. She’s fallen for you,” Song He sighed.

Gu Yan considered this—it made sense. After all, as a high-achieving, good-looking boy in high school, he ought to be popular.

“All right, now tell me why you showed up here out of the blue.”

Song He looked aggrieved. “I didn’t just show up—I messaged you last night.”

Gu Yan was puzzled. “When? I never saw it.”

Song He burst out laughing. “I knew you missed it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have ignored me.”

Gu Yan gave him a sidelong glance. “If I’d seen it, I wouldn’t have let you come.”

Gu Yan went to his room, turned on his phone, and sure enough, saw Song He’s messages, sent after he’d gone to bed.

He’d slept late that morning and hadn’t checked his phone.

Song He: I’m coming to see you tomorrow.

Song He: Already on the train!

There were a few more messages from this morning.

Song He: I’ve arrived. Are you picking me up? (It’s fine if you don’t.)

Song He: So hungry, so hungry. What are we eating today?

Seeing all these messages, Gu Yan felt a pang of sympathy.

“I have some little bread rolls. Want one while you wait?” Gu Yan offered.

“Yes!”

“What made you suddenly want to visit?” Gu Yan asked.

“It’s rare to find a friend who shares my interests and skill level. Of course I wanted to see you!” Song He replied, mouth full.

“Don’t eat too much. Yu Sheng will bring lunch soon. But aren’t you skipping class?”

“Class is boring! The courses are easy, and I’m preparing to study abroad.”

Gu Yan nodded. It was true—unless something unexpected happened, Song He would go abroad in a year.

“Didn’t you say you’d be my roommate? Does that mean you’ll go abroad next year too?”

Gu Yan thought for a bit. He wasn’t like Song He; for Song He, going abroad was expected, but for him, it would only happen if something unexpected occurred. Since he intended to prevent that, he and Song He wouldn’t be roommates after all.

“This time, I might not go abroad.”

Song He, in the middle of devouring bread, suddenly stopped. “Why? Didn’t you say we’d be roommates in the future?”

“I did, but since I’ve come back, I’ll prevent that accident. So…” Gu Yan trailed off.

“Does that mean we won’t cross paths anymore?” Song He was crestfallen.

Gu Yan had been the first friend who’d connected with him over skill, not family or status like his so-called other “friends.”

“I don’t think so. Before, we only became friends in college, but since I needed your help, I contacted you earlier. That’s the butterfly effect—our meeting happened sooner, but the outcome is the same. We’ll always be friends, all the way up to the day I was reborn,” Gu Yan said seriously.

He knew why Song He was sad. When they went abroad, they were ostracized by some, but they supported each other, eventually silencing their detractors with their skills and achievements. During a celebratory drink, Song He confessed Gu Yan was his first true friend, wanting to be brothers for life.

Hearing this, Song He’s eyes brimmed with tears. “If you’re not going abroad, then I won’t either. I want to go to the same university as you.”

Gu Yan sighed. “You’re still like this. Even if you go abroad, our friendship won’t change. You’ll grow, and you can keep helping me.”

Song He said nothing, head down, nibbling on bread.

Gu Yan wanted to comfort him further, but someone knocked—it was Yu Sheng.

“Hungry, aren’t you? My mom finished work late today, so lunch took longer.”

“No worries, we’re not starving.” As soon as he said it, Gu Yan’s stomach rumbled audibly.