Chapter 287: Conceited Friends

Zhai Yanjun had a pleasant time over lunch. Even though he couldn't communicate with Yue through words, it was as if he didn't need words with her. With just one glance, she knew what he was looking for. And because of this, he didn't even realize that he had eaten way more than he usually did. 

There were two reasons for this; one, he found the food to be extra delicious. Two, there was someone who wholeheartedly paid attention to him.

But he wasn't the only one who ate too much. Hyson was in no better condition. In fact, he ate even more than Zhai Yanjun. However, his reasons were different than Zhai Yanjun.

He rubbed his tummy that was so full that he was having difficulties in even breathing. Raelle gave him a look, "Who asked you to torture yourself? Have you been starved for a century?"

Hyson kept rubbing his tummy as he said, "How can I not eat? Do you know how much time Yanyan spent to make this all for me? Only by eating it all could I show how much respect I have for her."

"Trying to please her, you have brought trouble on yourself," stated Raelle. "Let's go on a walk. It'll help with digestion. I'll accompany you."

"Okay!" Hyson readily agreed and shouted, "Mum, Ellie, and I are going on a walk. We'll be back in half an hour or so."

After that, he snaked his arm around her neck and dragged her out of the house. Even if Raelle didn't like this posture, she still didn't push him away. Hyson had been putting his weight over her and yet she didn't complain regarding this. 

Of course, he was the only one who was allowed to take such liberties with her. 

As they took a walk in the back garden, Hyson brought up the topic they had been discussing over lunch, "How do you think my mum knows that soldier? She seems to be familiar with his taste as well."

"I know," answered Raelle. "Since she had been avoiding the spicy things, I purposely offered that spicy beef chili dry to Zhai Yanjun. And just as I expected, Yue stopped me."

"I noticed that," said Hyson. "Do you really think I don't understand what you do? I can read your mind easily just like you can read mine. How can I not understand your purpose for doing it? Our Ellie would never do anything without a reason."

"And this is why you're my best friend," responded Raelle. "It's easier to talk to you. I don't have to explain myself."

Hyson threw his head back and laughed out. Indeed, she never had to explain herself to him. From the first time of knowing her, he had tried his best to understand her. Because he knew she didn't like explaining herself. Or it'd be better to say that she had difficulties explaining herself. She would rather let herself be wronged than trying to explain herself to anyone.

But she never had to face something like that with him around. Lately, even Shui Xian was able to understand her somewhat. However, it'd take Shui Xian to get the same understanding as Hyson did.

"I have a conjecture," Raelle told him. Hyson raised his brow at her waiting for her to continue. "I think Zhai Yanjun is Yue's nephew."

"Nephew?" questioned Hyson as his expressions hardened.

"Have you heard how Xian is related to Yue?" asked Raelle.

"I did," answered Hyson with a deep frown on his face.

"Zhai Yanjun and Xian had been playmates in their childhood because their families had a relation. In fact, I heard it was Xian's mother, Song Xin'ai who was the maternal cousin of Zhai Yanjun's mother."

Hyson had an understanding look on his face.

"So, he is my cousin?" 

"That's the only possibility I have in mind for now," answered Raelle. "Why? You don't like him just because he is related to you by blood?"

Hyson shook his head, "No way. I could see the warmth and sparkle in mum's eyes when she looked at him. It's obvious what he means to her. I can never bring myself to hate someone who is dear to my mum." He took a pause before asking, "What kind of a person do you think Zhai Yanjun is?"

"He is another version of Xian," answered Raelle. "Just a little gloomier."

"Huh?" Hyson was surprised to hear this.

"They both have... What do you call it? Ah! A soft heart. Yes, they are both soft-hearted people who decided to build walls around themselves because someone hurt them badly." Raelle sorted her thoughts as she continued, "As for why I said that Zhai Yanjun is gloomier. I don't think I need to explain it to you. I believe you're quite familiar with the look in his eyes."

Hyson pressed his lips together. "I suddenly find him quite interesting."

Raelle looked at Hyson, "You already found him interesting from the moment you met him. Don't use me as an excuse to say you have a good impression of him. In fact, even I'd say there is nothing to complain about him."

"Such a high evaluation from Raelle Xiang." Hyson continued to smile to himself softly when he said those words. 

"You can find your mum's past through him," added Raelle.

"But that was never something I wanted to do," answered Hyson. "I don't need to tell you that."

"Are you telling me that you aren't desperate to know the reason why your mother can't speak?" asked Raelle.

Hyson was stumped for words. He was definitely desperate to know that. It was the only thing of the past he had an interest in. How could he not be interested in it? He wanted to know what reason forced his mother into desperation.

"Say it once," started Raelle. "I'll help you."

"Even if I'm desperate to know about it, I can't do it," said Hyson helplessly. "I don't want to dig at my mum's wounds. If she isn't the one telling me about it, I don't want to know about it." He shook his head to shake off this heavy mood and knocked her head, "I want ice cream."

"Can't you think of anything other than ice cream?" inquired Raelle. "Your brain is gonna freeze one day."

"Earlier you said, I have no brain. So, I have no worries," answered Hyson shamelessly.

"Usually you don't agree with what I say," stated Raelle.

"Nah! I only agree with you in life," said Hyson. 

Taking a walk did help Hyson with digestion a lot. He wasn't feeling as uncomfortable as he did before. But he still didn't want to go back inside. He had been locked up in the hospital for days. Now that got the chance to walk in the open air, how could he not find it relaxing?

"Let's go inside," urged Raelle.

"I don't want to."

"Do you want that long-lost son to snatch your mother already?" 

Hyson stared at Raelle, "If he is so capable then why not. I'll let him try."

"I think this is what people call being conceited," said Raelle.

Hyson chuckled, "I am conceited. I have a conceited best friend. How can I not learn from her?"

"I taught you to be conceited?" Raelle found it interesting.

"Didn't you?" retorted Hyson. "I am conceited. Because I have faith. No one can snatch my mum from me. Just like no one can snatch my best friend from me."

"I can't say anything about Yue but I certainly am not going anywhere," said Raelle. "If I said you'd be my best friend, I won't have it any other way."

Hyson's eyes on her softened as he smiled. Eventually, Raelle did drag him inside the house. When Zhai Yanjun looked at the two of them, he couldn't help staring intently at them. The relationship between Hyson and Raelle intrigued him. He learned they were best friends but this friendship...

This friendship was new to him. Unlike Shui Xian, Zhai Yanjun really never had friends. So, this pair of friends before his eyes looked really interesting to him. He had never felt the need to have friends. He had seen friends betraying each other, being jealous of each other, and even trying to kill each other. He knew no friendship last forever.

Even Shui Xian's friends didn't stay with him. Even though he used to brag about his friendship. But what happened? Those friends distanced themselves from him.

However, the pair of friends before his eyes gave him a different feeling. It made him want to experience friendship. He really couldn't understand why he was even feeling this way. Nothing seems extraordinary about them and yet they made anyone feel envious of what they had.

For the first time in a long time, Zhai Yanjun was feeling envious of someone. And that person wasn't really Raelle who was said to have the whole world. He was envious of Hyson instead. The guy who had a mother who dearly loved him and a best friend who stood by his side.