HSS CH23

Chapter 23: Cheer Up a Bit

In that moment, Lin Miao’s mind seemed to crash, like a glob of paste that stuck everything together, leaving him unable to think. All that remained was Huo Mingzhe’s words, “He likes you,” buzzing in his ears.

He was dazed as Huo Yuchuan pulled him out of the hotel lobby. He felt like he had lost the ability to speak, stammering and slowly asking, “He said… who likes me?”

Huo Yuchuan’s steps paused. He turned around, slightly lowering his eyes to look at him. His grip was tight, but his face showed no discernible emotion.

He took a step closer and stared at the person in front of him, asking, “What do you think?”

Lin Miao’s heart suddenly began to pound, “thump-thump-thump,” against his chest. Heat quickly rushed to his cheeks, making his head feel dizzy. He didn’t understand what was happening, only feeling a bit panicked and abruptly pulling his hand back.

“I… Huo Yuchuan, you…”

Huo Yuchuan’s empty hand twitched, and his piercing gaze seemed to suddenly dim. He put his hand back in his pocket and said indifferently, “I also like Aunt Chen, like Little Zheng… So what, you don’t like them?”

Lin Miao’s heartbeat gradually slowed down. He slightly opened his mouth and asked blankly, “Is… is it this kind of like?”

Huo Yuchuan turned his face and walked outside, “What else could it be?”

Lin Miao was very confused and couldn’t describe how he felt. He followed and asked, “So what did your brother mean by ‘secret’?”

Huo Yuchuan: “He’s being silly.”

How rude! Lin Miao looked at him and asked, “Are you angry?”

Huo Yuchuan: “No.”

But you look very upset, Lin Miao thought to himself. It seemed like he wanted to punch his brother.

Little Zheng was waiting outside in the car. After Huo Yuchuan got in, he didn’t speak anymore, just staring out the window at the passing vehicles and pedestrians, lost in thought.

Lin Miao pondered for a moment and thought that maybe his own reaction had made Huo Yuchuan unhappy. It was normal to like classmates, friends, and elders, but he had overreacted. Huo Yuchuan was someone who cared about his image, and he was probably annoyed because he was embarrassed.

He thought for a moment and sincerely said to Huo Yuchuan, “I also really like you and Little Zheng!”

The car suddenly braked sharply, startling Lin Miao into hugging Huo Yuchuan beside him.

“Sorry,” Little Zheng said, “My foot twitched.”

He started driving again and said, “No need.”

Lin Miao forgot to let go of Huo Yuchuan and asked while still holding him, “What?”

Little Zheng, with no emotion, said, “No need to like me.”

Lin Miao: “……”

Lin Miao felt very hurt, “It’s the kind of like that good friends have!”

Little Zheng glanced at Huo Yuchuan in the rearview mirror and said, “Just pay money.”

Lin Miao whispered to Huo Yuchuan, “Why does he like money more than I do?”

Huo Yuchuan coldly said, “Then go hug the money.”

Lin Miao reluctantly let go of him and coaxed, “Cheer up a bit.”

Huo Yuchuan, with a blank face, said, “I’m overjoyed.”

Lin Miao: “……”

This man is really hard to please.

They went to a Japanese restaurant. Lin Miao noticed that Huo Yuchuan didn’t eat much and asked if he didn’t like it.

Huo Yuchuan seemed to frown whenever he heard the word “like,” so Lin Miao stopped asking and said with concern, “I’m going back to school this afternoon. Sleep well tonight.” He paused and added, “If you can’t sleep, go back early.”

Huo Yuchuan looked at him, his expression improving a bit, and he nodded.

At that moment, a guy with dyed gray hair walked over and smiled at Lin Miao, saying, “Hi, can I get your contact info?”

Lin Miao’s mouth was full of sushi, and he quickly turned to look at Huo Yuchuan, making a few “mumbling” sounds.

The gray-haired guy looked a bit disappointed and asked, “Is he your boyfriend?”

Lin Miao: “……”

Lin Miao quickly shook his head, and the guy’s eyes lit up again. “Then can I get your contact info?”

Huo Yuchuan silently picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.

Lin Miao suddenly felt a bit angry—didn’t Huo Yuchuan say he couldn’t give his contact info to others? Why didn’t he help him refuse? Is the tea that delicious?!

He swallowed the sushi in his mouth and said, “No, you can’t.”

The guy still didn’t give up. “Just to get to know each other. Maybe we have a connection. I’m nearby……”

Lin Miao pushed the blame onto Huo Yuchuan. “He said no.”

The guy smiled and said, “He’s not your boyfriend. Why does he care so much?”

Lin Miao blurted out, “But he’s my husband.”

The guy: “……”

“Ah, I see,” the guy said awkwardly, “Sorry to disturb. Enjoy your meal.”

As soon as the gray-haired guy left, Huo Yuchuan suddenly covered his mouth and started coughing violently, as if he was going to choke to death, “Cough cough cough……”

Lin Miao was startled and quickly patted his back, “Are you okay? Did you choke?”

Huo Yuchuan coughed for a while before he finally caught his breath. His eyes were a bit red from coughing, and when he looked at Lin Miao, there was an emotion in his eyes that Lin Miao couldn’t understand.

He spoke hoarsely, “I’m your husband?”

Lin Miao’s face turned red. “Why did you just stand by and watch? I was afraid that guy wouldn’t leave.”

He stuffed two more pieces of sushi into his mouth and added, “Don’t get the wrong idea. I don’t like guys.”

After saying that, he mumbled to himself, “It’s that kind of like, not the kind between friends.”

Huo Yuchuan stared at his puffed-up cheeks and asked, “So sure?”

“Yeah,” Lin Miao said, “I’ve never liked a guy since I was little.”

Huo Yuchuan: “Then have you liked a girl?”

Lin Miao was taken aback. “I guess… not.”

Huo Yuchuan: “So by your logic, you don’t like anyone at all.”

Lin Miao: “……”