Chapter 12 Under the Fireworks
I felt my whole body buzzing with happiness.
It spun my head so much I couldn’t say a single word.
I just kept nodding frantically.
After a while, I finally realized something.
My confession plan… it looked like he had already figured it out.
I asked him, “When did you know I was going to confess?”
“Probably from the moment you started planning it,” Chi Wen said. “I have to say, Dongdong, you were a little too obvious.”
“But at first I only guessed. What really confirmed it for me was the day before yesterday. Your brother suddenly showed up, punched me, and said if I ever dared to hurt you or make you sad, he’d print my business card and hand it out like flyers at a gay bar.”
I: “…”
Chi Wen: “Feels like he’s been waiting for this day for a long time. Should we let him know the result?”
I didn’t quite get it. “How do we let him know?”
Chi Wen laughed. Suddenly he grabbed my hand, raised it, and waved it toward the distance.
I followed his line of sight.
Under a big tree not far away, Su Qi was peeking out half his face, looking sneaky.
The second he realized we spotted him, he stopped hiding.
His face wore that familiar stubborn look—like he was daring anyone to call him out for peeking.
Not only that—he even took Chi Wen waving our joined hands as a provocation.
He rolled up his sleeves, cursing under his breath, and started marching over.
But he didn’t take more than a few steps before Gu Shang appeared out of nowhere and dragged him away.
Gu Shang silently endured Su Qi’s real punches and kicks, and still managed to haul him off.
Chi Wen raised his other hand and gave Gu Shang a thumbs-up. “Good brother.”
I: “…”
Ever since Gu Shang made up his mind to cancel the engagement, their positions had completely flipped.
Now Gu Shang was the one chasing after him every day.
A few days ago, Su Qi started another one of his “love masterclasses” with me again.
“I’ve told you so many times—men need to be strung along! If you give in too easily, they won’t cherish you!”
I listened seriously and raised my hand. “Teacher Su, I have a question.”
Su Qi put on an exaggerated tone. “Student Su, please speak.”
I played dumb. “Teacher Su, why are there so many mosquito bites on your neck?”
“Ahem, cough, cough.” Su Qi tugged at his collar, trying to cover the obvious hickeys. “Do you understand playing hard to get? I haven’t forgiven him yet. I’m just messing around!”
He waved his hand. “Forget it. You’re still a kid—I can’t explain it to you. Class dismissed!”
Back then I just went: “Oh, oh.”
I smiled as I watched their figures walk farther away.
Until Chi Wen gently pinched my chin and turned my face back to him.
“Alright, stop looking. I just confessed, and you keep staring at other people. I’ll get jealous.”
My attention snapped back.
It landed on our tightly clasped hands.
I started grinning like an idiot.
“So happy?” Chi Wen laughed along with me. “Do you like me that much?”
I blinked. Because I felt shy, my voice came out very small. “Mm.”
I really liked him.
I still remembered the first time I saw him.
It was at some banquet. I was wearing heels that didn’t fit. My heels were rubbed raw and hurt so much I limped. I hid in a corner trying to stuff some tissue under the strap—right when I ran into Chi Wen.
We didn’t know each other, so after a moment of mutual surprise, we just politely nodded at one another.
Chi Wen left quickly.
But a few minutes later he came back and handed me two band-aids. “Use these.”
I stared at him blankly.
Inside, though, it felt like an earthquake had just happened.
Later, I often watched him quietly from far away.
I never imagined there would come a day when he would hold my hand like this and say to me:
“Don’t sneak looks at me anymore. You can look openly from now on.”
“Every time there was a gathering, you hid so well. It took me forever to find you.” Chi Wen tightened his grip a little. “There were several times I searched for half the day only to realize you really hadn’t come.”
I laughed—a bit immorally.
Even though when I got home that night, Su Qi would definitely call me spineless again for agreeing to Chi Wen without even thinking.
But whatever.
Spineless was spineless.
Life was so short.
Love first, think later.