Chapter 396 - Wish

"Why are you looking at me?" questioned Hyson to Zhai Yanjun who had been staring at him for a long time now. While Hyson was paying attention to the parade, Zhai Yanjun's attention was still on Hyson's face. Hyson got so annoyed by it at this point. Getting into his dramatic act almost instantly, Hyson took a step away from him and held his arm in front of his body saying, "Are you by any chance in love me with?"

Zhai Yanjun choked on his saliva at his choice of words. He couldn't help it. "What?!"

Hyson flicked his hair away from his forehead saying, "Although I know I'm handsome, charming, adorable at times, however, you should give up. This love is bound to fail."

Zhai Yanjun covered his mouth with his hand saying, "Shut up!" He had to take several deep breaths to calm himself as he said, "Don't you think before speaking?"

Hyson shrugged his shoulders as he slapped his hand away from his mouth and said, "I say what I want to say. I don't have a habit of keeping everything buried inside me like you."

Zhai Yanjun paused when he heard those words and stared at Hyson.

Hyson pointed ta his face, "There! You're doing it again! Stop looking or you'll really fall in love. Then don't come crying to me."

Zhai Yanjun chuckled at his antics and said, "I'm looking at you because I wish to understand you. I feel like I can't read you at all." He lowered his eyes as he added, "And I'm wondering why you aren't nice to me? Aren't you normally an easy-going person? Why do you get so prickly around me? You even sound more familiar with Weimin Ge than me."

"Do you really want to know?" asked Hyson.

"I do," he replied.

"My words won't sound nice to you," warned Hyson upfront.

"I can take it," he answered.

"Then here it is... I simply wish you have never appeared in my life," said Hyson. Hearing those words Zhai Yanjun's face paled. That feeling of being unwanted was bursting out all over again. Meanwhile, Hyson continued, "Don't get me wrong, I really have nothing against you. It's just that your appearance is like a wake-up call. It's a reminder that the peace in my mum's life is not meant for a lifetime. She'd have to scratch those past scars all over again. And I don't like that. Anything that poses even the possibility of hurting my mum, I don't like it."

"I thought..." Zhai Yanjun was having difficulty forming his words. "I thought you're okay with me coming to see Ayi. You said it to me last time."

"I'm okay with that," said Hyson. "I told you, as long as your presence makes her happy, I'm okay with that. These are two different things. It's not like I need to remind you that if your family got to know about my mum, it's gonna be my mum who is gonna get hurt."

"You don't have to hate me for that."

"I don't hate you," said Hyson. "Hate is a tiring job. I don't like things that make me feel tired. I even don't like feeling that makes you feel tired. This is why I stay away from love and hate. Both are exhausting emotions. Not my cup of tea."

"You seem to love Raelle though," Zhai Yanjun couldn't help pointing that out.

"Because loving her is the easiest thing to do," he told him. "With Ellie, I don't have to waste my time explaining things. I don't have to waste my energy thinking about what she meant. And I definitely don't have to doubt her feelings." He smiled at Zhai Yanjun as he added, "That's why it's very easy to love her. Because it's very natural."

"Is it really as easy as you say?"

"It is," stressed Hyson. "Now, you tell me what do you want from me?"

"I just want you to be a little nice to me," said Zhai Yanjun. "I told you I want to really become your cousin. No, I want to be your big brother. I've never had a brother. So, I know I'm not good at it but I'm willing to try. I might not be the best brother out there, but I promise you that I won't be leaving your side."

"You're really annoying," commented Hyson. "Can't we just go back to our lives? I really don't need a brother."

"What if it's me who needs a brother?" asked Zhai Yanjun. "I know you don't want one. But I do. I really do."

"Argh! Bloody chicken nugget!" Hyson cursed by himself before looking at Zhai Yanjun standing there waiting for an answer. "I want to punch you so badly right now."

"Go ahead," said Zhai Yanjun.

"What?" Hyson was shocked momentarily.

"I said, go ahead! You can punch me. I won't dodge," promised Zhai Yanjun. "In fact, you can punch me for as long as you want if that makes you accept my presence in your life. I'm willing to be your punching bag for today."

Hyson laughed dryly, "I don't like violence. I'm a peace-loving guy."

"I already know that." Hyson looked up at him as he continued, "I knew you won't use violence. That's just not you. Even if you're frustrated, you won't take out your frustration by hitting people."

"Oh, you think you have me figured out all ready now?" 

Zhai Yanjun shook his head, "No, I just had that feeling."

Hyson punched his stomach saying, "Well, never trust your feelings again." And then he swaggered away.

Zhai Yanjun laughed out behind him because Hyson's punch was so light that even a kid won't feel it. He just threw the punch to prove his point. What pettiness! But it only made Hyson seem cuter.

"What?" Hyson turned his head to look at him. "Aren't you coming now or should I leave you behind?"

"I'm coming," Zhai Yanjun ran over to his side hurriedly.