HSS CH34

Chapter 34: What Does It Mean to Like Someone?

Huo Yuchuan wasn’t friendless before. But those friends gradually vanished after learning about his “disgraceful” background, or became part of the crowd that mocked him. It was just a return to his old life. He thought he was used to being alone, even if Lin Miao also…

The warm soy milk in his hand seemed to suddenly cool down.

“Huo Yuchuan,” he heard Lin Miao say, “Did you have a child out of wedlock with someone?”

Huo Yuchuan was taken aback. “……No.”

“Then there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Lin Miao said, “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

Huo Yuchuan stared blankly at him.

“If you had a child out of wedlock and I still wanted to be friends with you, that would be truly shameful!” Lin Miao said earnestly and seriously, “I’d scold you so harshly that you’d never want to see me again in this life.”

He paused for a moment, then added, “But you can’t choose your parents.”

“Huo Yuchuan, they are who they are. Even if they are your parents, you are not the same as them.”

“You will become a good person.”

Huo Yuchuan stood there, the surrounding noises seeming to fade away, leaving only Lin Miao’s resolute words echoing in his ears.

“You will become a good person.”

He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He even forgot to move until the class bell rang, and Lin Miao pulled him into the classroom.

That day, he lay on the desk with his face buried in his arms. No one knew that the smile on his lips took a long time to suppress.

A messy and hopeless life seemed to brighten up bit by bit.

During those days, he did quite a few part-time jobs, worked in many places, and also did work-study in the library. So, every weekend when Lin Miao went to read, it was like a whole day of companionship. One reading, one finding books, then having lunch together, and saying goodbye after sunset.

Soon, the winter vacation arrived. Huo Yuchuan spent most of his time working part-time, while his mother seldom went out and often sat staring out the window in a daze.

On New Year’s Eve, his mother listened to the firecrackers outside and the laughter from the TV, and suddenly screamed, smashing the window.

“Why hasn’t your father come to find us yet?!”

“I’ve waited for so many years, how much longer do I have to wait?!”

“I’m getting old!”

“You’re all heartless!”

The shrill screams pierced Huo Yuchuan’s eardrums. He cleaned up the glass shards and, as usual, rode his bike out the door, wandering aimlessly.

His mother had said that he looked a lot like his father. This resemblance, which sometimes brought comfort in missing him, now only drove his mother to madness and loss of control.

Although it was New Year’s Eve, the streets were not very lively, probably because everyone was celebrating with their families.

The cold wind blew into his collar. Huo Yuchuan buried his chin in his collar, his hands freezing and stiff. The streetlights were not very bright, casting long shadows behind his bicycle.

“Huo Yuchuan?”

A familiar voice came from behind. Huo Yuchuan came to his senses and realized he had arrived near Lin Miao’s house.

He turned his head and saw Lin Miao, bundled up like a little panda, excitedly running towards him.

“Huo Yuchuan, why are you here?”

Not far away, brilliant fireworks exploded in the sky, as bright as daylight.

Lin Miao grabbed his frozen hands and said happily, “Huo Yuchuan, look, there are fireworks!”

Boom after boom, the fireworks lit up the night.

“Huo Yuchuan, Happy New Year!”

The fireworks seemed to fall into his eyes, bright and passionate.

Huo Yuchuan moved his cold lips and teeth.

“Happy New Year.”

The palm that covered his was as warm as the spring sun in March.

Lin Miao woke up from his nap in the dormitory, feeling a bit dazed. He cuddled with the quilt for a while before slowly remembering what he had promised Huo Yuchuan that morning.

Huo Yuchuan said he could be in a relationship now.

Maybe it was because he had eaten too many taro cakes in the morning and his mind wasn’t clear. Lin Miao thought to himself, otherwise how could he suddenly feel his heart swelling, unable to say no, and only awkwardly saying, “You…… you haven’t apologized to me yet.”

Huo Yuchuan looked at him, his gaze steady, with a reflection of a figure in his eyes.

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” he said slowly, “Can you forgive me?”

Lin Miao pursed his lips and said, “I need to think about it.”

“How long?” Huo Yuchuan asked.

“I don’t know,” Lin Miao turned his face away, “Don’t rush me.”

Huo Yuchuan’s fingertip rubbed against his palm and said, “Then don’t avoid me until you’ve made up your mind.”

Lin Miao started to object but then heard Huo Yuchuan say, “We can meet every day.”

Lin Miao opened his mouth to argue, but Huo Yuchuan added, “Video calls are fine too.”

He reluctantly agreed.

In the dormitory, Jiang Leming heard the movement on Lin Miao’s bed and knew he was awake. He asked, “Lin Miao, do you want orange juice? I’ll order some.”

Lin Miao poked his head out from under the quilt and said, “Yes.”

Jiang Leming immediately jumped up from his chair, “You said you weren’t in a relationship?! Your face turns red eight hundred times a day!”

Lin Miao touched his face, which felt a bit hot.

“Come on,” Jiang Leming leaned over, “Who do you like?”

He Yu also looked at him with curiosity.

Lin Miao shrank back into bed, grumbling, “No one.”

“You keep hiding it,” Jiang Leming hummed, “One day I’ll catch you and announce it from the rooftop with a megaphone.”

Then he was hit on the head with a book by He Yu, exclaiming, “Ouch!” as he went to order the orange juice.

Lin Miao, under the quilt, thought about Jiang Leming’s question—Who do you like?

How do you know if you like someone?

He had never been in a relationship and didn’t think he had ever liked anyone. He wanted to ask Jiang Leming and He Yu but was afraid they would gossip and ask too many questions. So, he decided to post on the internet instead.

“How can you tell if you like someone?”

After a while, replies started to trickle in.

“It’s when you can’t stop thinking about them. You miss them when you’re apart and feel happy when you see them.”

“It’s when you want to share everything with them, even a random dog you see on the street.”

“When you want to see them every day…”

Suddenly, someone replied, “Aren’t you the one who asked if it’s normal to kiss a good friend?”

“So the one you like is the friend you kissed?”

Then the replies went wild.

“Why think? Don’t you have a mouth to kiss?”

“Kiss them senseless. If you still want more, then you know.”

“Forget kissing. Don’t you have a bed to use?”

“You’ll know when you break the bed.”

Lin Miao: “……”