Chapter 40: Jiuniang "Brother Wenyuan... do you like boys?"...

Gu Ci raised his head and met Sun Shumiao's provocative gaze, but soon, he looked at Huo Wenyuan with a harmless expression, and said earnestly: "It's so boring here, do you want to go with me to play beach volleyball? The classmates are all interested in this!"

But Huo Wenyuan seemed not to hear it at all, completely ignored Sun Shumiao, turned his head and asked Gu Ci: "Do you want to go back to the room to rest?"

Gu Ci noticed that something was wrong in the atmosphere, and thought of what Shang Zui and Qu Zhi had told him about the past, and nodded immediately: "Okay!"

Sun Shumiao clenched his palms, watching Huo Wenyuan take Gu Ci up, his eyes almost drowned in jealousy.

Reluctantly, he took a few steps forward, blocking Huo Wenyuan's way. "Brother Wenyuan, why do you always refuse to look at me? I've been by your side since we were little!"

"He's just a servant's child. Why are you being so nice to him?"

Huo Wenyuan paused, but he didn't turn around. His expression and tone were icy.

"I'm warning you one last time. If you offend Gu Ci again, you don't have to stay here."

Sun Shumiao was incredulous. "You did it for him!"

He stood on the beach in frustration, staring at Gu Ci's back, a hint of resentment crossing his face.

Huo Wenyuan... could he ever care so much about someone?

As

Huo Wenyuan led them all the way back to their room, Gu Ci couldn't tell whether he was nervous or apprehensive, and he didn't know what to say. A thin layer of sweat formed on his palms, but when he tried to let go, Huo Wenyuan held his hand firmly.

"Still want to let go?" Huo Wenyuan questioned him softly, staring into his eyes.

Gu Ci, unsure of his meaning, swallowed, nodded slightly, and explained, "My hands are sweating..."

Huo Wenyuan still refused to let go. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he stepped forward, pushing Gu Ci directly behind the door.

Gu Ci: "!"

Trapped between Huo Wenyuan and the door, there was no room to retreat even if he wanted to. Even without looking up, he could feel Huo Wenyuan's distinct, chilling presence.

Huo Wenyuan's voice was deep: "Didn't you make a wish to never part with me? Why are you letting go?"

Gu Ci: "?"

Hearing Huo Wenyuan's words, he panicked instantly and looked up at him, blushing from his ears to his cheeks and neck. "You...you peeked at my wish!"

He had clearly written those words on the wish! Huo Wenyuan had actually peeked at them!

Huo Wenyuan, still smiling, argued, "I see it clearly. You said you wanted to stay by my side, forever with me—"

The words were about to escape his lips when a hand stopped him. Gu Ci, filled with shame, felt like tearing out of his three-bedroom apartment. He pressed his hand against Huo Wenyuan's lips.

"Stop it, Brother Wenyuan, stop it..." Gu Ci pleaded, his eyes evasive, hoping Huo Wenyuan would let him go.

...When did he become so shameless?

Huo Wenyuan continued to smile at him, his obsidian eyes radiating a deep yet restrained light. Gu Ci's palms grew hotter, his heart weakening. Finally, he dropped his hand dejectedly.

Huo Wenyuan deliberately asked, "You won't stop me from talking anymore?"

Gu Ci's expression was aggrieved. "Will it help if I stop you?"

Huo Wenyuan replied, "Yes."

He took Gu Ci's hand and placed the back of his white hand a centimeter from his lips.

"You know, I'll listen to whatever you say."

Gu Ci lowered his head sheepishly: "..."

"What are you talking about?"

Seeing Gu Ci blushing at his teasing, Huo Wenyuan finally put his thoughts aside and reminded him of his previous question: "What did you want to ask me just now?"

"Huh?" Gu Ci paused for a moment, remembering the unfinished question.

Huo Wenyuan waited patiently.

Gu Ci: "..."

He cautiously shrank back, trying to maintain distance from Huo Wenyuan even though there was no room left.

"Brother Wenyuan... do you like boys?"

The moment Huo Wenyuan asked this, his expression suddenly became strange and fascinating.

He suppressed his inner emotions, his heartbeat accelerating. He kept his voice steady and said, "Why do you ask that?"

Gu Ci lowered his head in deep regret. Although he felt a little out of place, he had already asked, so he had no choice but to continue: "I'm just curious. Because of that script-killing game just now, I want to know what you think."

"If a boy liked you, would you say yes?"

Gu Ci had a reason to ask. For some reason, after learning that Sun Shumiao liked Huo Wenyuan, he kept imagining him confessing his feelings to her. Even though it was clear Huo Wenyuan wasn't particularly fond of Sun Shumiao, he couldn't help but fantasize about it. What if it

was Chen Shumiao? Zhang Shumiao, Wang Shumiao... What if another boy confessed his feelings to him, would he accept? And what would he call them then? "Sister-in-law"?

Gu Ci's thoughts grew increasingly confused, and he tilted his head back, waiting for Huo Wenyuan's final word.

Huo Wenyuan was silent for a long moment, gently smoothing a stray strand of hair from Gu Ci's ear. Then, slowly, he said, "Gu Ci, sometimes, love has nothing to do with gender; it's all about that one person."

"What I like is never gender, but a specific person. At that point, whether they're a boy or a girl doesn't matter. Do you understand?"

Gu Ci tugged furtively at the hem of his clothes and nodded, meeting Huo Wenyuan's gaze. Though he hadn't fully grasped what Huo Wenyuan meant, he understood.

As long as he liked them, could they be boys or girls?

Is that the correct understanding?

He couldn't help but admire Huo Wenyuan's openness. Just as he was about to imitate Shang Zui's flattery to smooth things over, Huo Wenyuan asked, "What about you?"

"If one day..." he paused, then continued, "a boy confessed his love to you, would you accept his advances?"

Gu Ci replied frankly, "I can't imagine such a scenario."

The only people who had confessed their love to him before were girls, not boys. Perhaps he wasn't the type to easily attract boys.

"But..." Gu Ci thought for a moment, then shared his thoughts. "Don't worry, Brother Wenyuan, I don't discriminate against same-sex love either!"

He offered an example: "Even if I like girls, I respect my classmates who like boys!"

Huo Wenyuan: "..."

He ultimately dropped the subject, his lips curled up: "How generous."

Gu Ci lowered his head sheepishly. Just as he was about to say something, there was a knock on the door.

Gu Ci: "?"

He exchanged a glance with Huo Wenyuan, nudged him, and asked, "Who's there?"

Shang Zui's voice came from the door: "Little Gu Ci! Have you returned to your rooms?"

Gu Ci opened the door immediately after hearing this.

Shang Zui: "?"

What were they doing in there just now? Did the door open in seconds?

"What's going on?" Gu Ci poked his head out.

"Oh, that's right." Shang Zui looked around, especially wary of Huo Wenyuan. He whispered to Gu Ci stealthily, "I just heard Qu Zhi say that today is Shi Fei's lunar birthday, and he's going to video call her later. I also want to say a few words of blessing to her. Can you accompany me?"

Fearing that Huo Wenyuan would interfere again, he quickly added, "Huo dog, I won't invite you this time. Please let me go. You're too much of a threat to me."

Gu Ci understood Shang Zui's intentions and said to Huo Wenyuan, "How about Shang Zui and I go for a while? You wash up first, and I'll be back soon."

Huo Wenyuan looked at him and warned, "Don't be too late. Call if you need anything."

Gu Ci nodded.

He followed Shang Zui to their room. Shang Zui kept mumbling nervously along the way, his face visibly tense.

It was the first time Gu Ci had seen Shang Zui so nervous.

"Little Gu Ci, what do you think I should say later? Wouldn't it be silly to just say 'Happy Birthday'?" Shang Zui spun around anxiously. "But what else can I say? Should I just say 'I love you, you're my goddess'? No, that's too blunt. I absolutely can't say that."

He denied himself, then hesitated. "But I'm not his brother, nor a close friend. Wouldn't it be too sudden to send a blessing like that?"

Gu Ci, feeling Shang Zui was a little overly anxious, reassured him, "No, as long as it's a sincere blessing, I think Shi Fei will be happy."

Shang Zui nervously opened the door. When he entered, Qu Zhi was video chatting with Shi Fei.

"!" He took a step back, turned to Gu Ci with a scowl, "I'm not ready yet!"

Gu Ci smiled and encouraged, "It's okay, go ahead."

Shang Zui didn't know how he had even reached Shi Fei's presence. The goddess's face was right before him, but his usually eloquent mouth couldn't open. He moved around aimlessly, but no sound came out.

Qu Zhi turned around curiously and looked at him: "Didn't you insist on giving blessings? Now you are speechless?"

On the other end of the video, Shi Fei also said gently: "Shang Zui, do you have anything to say?"

Shang Zui shook his head, and with a flushed face, he managed to mutter "Happy Birthday".

Then, with lightning speed, he said "I like you".

Everyone on and off the screen was silent.

Shang Zui's face was ashen, and he desperately covered his mouth with both hands.

Shang Zui lowered his head in shame, wishing he could slap his stupid mouth.

Why doesn't his mouth follow his brain... How can he say what he thinks in his heart?

Qu Zhi pointed at him: "I can't believe you are so scheming!"

Shang Zui felt like he could hardly lift his head. He slowly moved his eyes to look at Shi Fei, and seeing her smile, he said: "Thank you, Shang Zui, but I'm sorry, I have someone I like, and you know that person."

Shang Zui: "More than just knowing..."

The problem is... he actually didn't want to confess at all, but he didn't brake in time and blurted out his feelings accidentally. What the hell is going on!

He didn't care what Qu Zhi and Shi Fei talked about afterwards. He waited in a daze for Qu Zhi to hang up the phone and asked: "Am I rejected?"

Qu Zhi glared at him: "What do you think? Although I know you covet my sister's beauty, I was shocked by your sudden confession in public without any warning. My sister's attitude towards you is considered friendly." When

Shang Zui heard this, his eyes darkened, his lips were so dry that they were about to blister, and now he didn't want to stay in this room at all.

He turned around and invited Gu Ci to escape by water: "Little Gu Ci, would you like to go downstairs for some water? I'll treat you to a drink."

Gu Ci knew Shang Zui was sad at the moment, so he agreed to his request: "Let's go." "

?" Qu Zhi was stunned, "Wait, aren't you going to take me with you?"

Shang Zui turned around: "Sorry, no! Taking you brings back sad memories."

Qu Zhi: "..."

He was not careful with his words, so why is he being blamed for this?

The drink shop in front of the hotel.

Shang Zui glanced at the drink menu with a distracted look, and asked Gu Ci weakly: "Little Gu Ci, what would you like to drink?"

Gu Ci was a little worried about Shang Zui's condition, and asked with concern: "Let me treat you, which one would you like?"

Shang Zui's eyes locked on the shop's sign: "I want this, Osmanthus Fermented Rice Balls."

...If you can't drown your sorrows in alcohol, you can at least drown your sorrows with fermented rice, right?

Hearing the order, the waiter kindly reminded: "The alcohol content of this fermented rice is not low, is this ok for you?"

Shang Zui could not hear the word "no" now, and immediately ordered two cups angrily.

The drinks arrived, and Shang Zui angrily took up his straw, "How strong can a piece of fermented rice wine be... I have to taste it to see how it's made."

Gu Ci also tasted the fermented rice wine in front of him. His initial reaction was that it was okay, but the flavor was definitely a bit richer than the average fermented rice wine.

"Nothing more than that," Shang Zui commented. "You reminded me so seriously, someone who didn't know would think it was wine."

"Wow, but little Gu Ci, I'm so embarrassed to go back to school. Why did I just snap and say that..."

Gu Ci's face flushed slightly under the light. He quietly sipped his fermented rice wine balls, listening to Shang Zui chattering on the table, and offering comfort in between.

They talked for an unknown amount of time when Gu Ci's phone suddenly vibrated. He was about to answer the call, but Shang Zui grabbed him and immersed himself in another round of heartbreak, ignoring the phone call and messages at hand.

"I really didn't want to confess! But I don't know why the alcohol came out of my head!"

"Oh, I've lost all my face after this accident. How will the goddess look at me in the future..."

"Little Gu Ci..."

Shang Zui became more and more confused as he spoke, and slowly drooped his head. Gu Ci's eyes also became a little blurry, and he was unconsciously shrouded in a layer of sleepiness.

"Why is your face so red?" Shang Zui asked curiously, "Pink, so red."

Gu Ci touched his face and said in a daze: "I don't know... I drank fermented rice wine, and I just felt a little dizzy."

"It's okay, go on."

Shang Zui nodded and said something unclearly. Before Gu Ci could hear clearly, he heard a "bang" and Shang Zui fell on the table.

Gu Ci: "?"

He poked Shang Zui: "Shang Zui? What's wrong with you?"

The clerk kindly handed them two glasses of water: "Our fermented rice wine is our exclusive signature product, and the alcohol content is not low. Most of you who have never drunk alcohol can't handle it."

Gu Ci looked at the devastated Shang Zui: "Ah..."

So... he is drunk? It turns out that drinking fermented rice wine can really make you drunk.

Gu Ci took a sip of water, gave Shang Zui some more, then stood up and wanted to help him back to the hotel. Unfortunately, Shang Zui was not very cooperative, and his steps were a little unsteady, so it was not very convenient for him to move.

He had no choice but to pick up his phone, ready to call for help. As soon as he reached for it, Shang Zui sat up, as if resurrected, snatched his phone and hid it behind his back.

"No video calls!"

Gu Ci: "..."

"I'm not going, I'm not going." He coaxed Shang Zui back, but the swaying worsened, his vision blurring. After making sure Shang Zui was safely slumped over the table, Gu Ci simply opened the door and went outside to make the call, enjoying the night breeze to sober up.

Leaving the bar, he called Huo Wenyuan.

The call answered instantly.

"Brother Wenyuan..." Gu Ci's voice was a little weak. "Can you come to the bar downstairs to pick Shang Zui and me up?"

Huo Wenyuan didn't agree as quickly as usual, instead asking, "Why?"

"We..." Gu Ci trailed off, feeling strangely guilty.

He couldn't possibly say he was drunk from the alcohol, could he?

He turned awkwardly to look at Shang Zui, slumped over the table, and said with difficulty, "We..."

"Let's go back."

Huo Wenyuan's voice echoed simultaneously from the phone and behind him.

Gu Ci turned back, nearly dropping his phone in surprise. Huo Wenyuan quickly grabbed his phone and ended the call. He looked at Gu Ci, bewildered, and found it amusing.

He hadn't come home for most of the night, hadn't responded to calls or messages, and was drinking, and had gotten himself this drunk?

Gu Ci stumbled, his eyes fixed on Huo Wenyuan's lips. "Brother Wenyuan... did you teleport down here?" He

'd barely dialed the number, and he'd already appeared right before his eyes? He'd even pinpointed their location.

"Yes," Huo Wenyuan quickly caught Gu Ci as he slipped, and continued, "I guessed someone needed me, but they didn't answer the phone or respond, so I teleported down here."

Gu Ci: "..."

The evening breeze blew, and everything was quiet. Under the neon lights of the seaside, he watched Huo Wenyuan's lips curl up, and his heart suddenly began to beat.

"Gu Ci, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Huo Wenyuan's voice echoed overhead.

Gu Ci lay motionless in Huo Wenyuan's arms, his eyes sparkling as he stared intently at his jawline. After a long moment, he slowly shook his head.

Although he noticed it at first sight, he still wanted to sigh: Huo Wenyuan is really good-looking.

And... dizzy, face hot, heart confused.