CH 33

PUBLISHED ON 11 April 2023

Xin Yi’s face immediately became red, stammeringly said: “N-, nothing!” 

He pushed Zhou Muhui away wanting to run, but Zhou MuHui hugged him tightly, Xin Yi was being stared at by him until his whole body felt weak, his hand was on his shoulder for a long time, and he still softly deflated. 

“I just called (husband), what’s wrong…” 

Xin Yi took the courage to refute him, “A-, and she even hugged you!” 

His words were full of sourness, he obviously was angered until he became ruthless just now, but Zhou Muhui paused, and let go of him.

He did not say anything, so Xin Yi went along and climbed up the pole1, pulled the hem of his clothes, and kicked him with a muffled grunt.

Zhou MuHui heard him speaking, being evasive as if stuck in his throat, Zhou MuHui grabbed his hands which were causing trouble, asking him, “What are you saying?”

Xin Yi was embarrassed, his lobes were dyed red, watching him swallow down at last, whispering, “… I want to get married.”

“……”

It was one of the rare times Zhou MuHui was stuck, his mouth was open for a long time, and barely managed to utter two words

“Nonsense.”

After Xin Yi finished saying that, he knew that he would agree to it, he shrunk his neck, “Alright, alright, I won’t say it anymore.”

Xin Yi thought, this is an important matter, he has to think about it carefully, it cannot be said so hastily.

Zhou MuHui is very good, and Xin Yi also has to be serious toward him.

Thus, he let go with peace of mind, and decided that he would think it over, then talk to Zhou MuHui. 

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Xin Yi tossed and turned for a whole winter, and when New Year’s Eve was approaching, he still hadn’t given up on it, and when he was with Zhou Muhui, he stuck to him more than usual, Zhou Muhui didn’t really put these two things together, only thought that the child was lazy in winter, thus he keep leaning against his body.

Xin Yi is soft-hearted, looking at Zhou MuHui eagerly, and was a bit embarrassed to say it directly, only hugging him and wanting to kiss and hug, and going around the curves and skirting the corners saying to Zhou MuHui that he particularly likes him, and want to be with him for a lifetime. 

Accentuating on particularly and a lifetime, carrying Xin Yi’s consistent soft tone.

No matter how indifferent Zhou MuHui was, he still couldn’t help if he was showing his love like this, he pinched the back of Xin Yi’s neck to prevent him from fiddling around, lowered his head, and asked him, “What do you want to do?”

His mouth is so sweet.

Xin Yi shook his head, standing in front of him and looking at him quietly. 

Xin Yi was good looking, and also liked to show off his good looks, but precisely as soon as it’s winter, he only liked to wear the same cloth again and again, 

Zhou MuHui’s eyes landed on his black down jacket, and his heart softened quietly. 

He put the kid’s hat on for him, then tied up his scarf carefully, winter nights are very cold, and it just snowed in the afternoon, Xin Yi couldn’t help but feel cold, once Zhou MuHui was done with work, he sent him back home.

“Zhou MuHui…”

Xin Yi hid in the soft scarf, and called him in a whisper.

His hand was restless, taking advantage of when Zhou MuHui was tying the scarf back for him, he grabbed the hem of his clothes, Zhou MuHui hummed, and then carefully checked his whole body, then asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I am almost twenty years old.”

Xin Yi blinked, and sneakily said it.

“……”

Zhou MuHui frowned, not understanding what he meant.

“It’s not even New Year2.”

“It’s not that…”

Xin Yi was a bit anxious, looking up at him, “I am twenty years old!”

He repeated himself once again.

Zhou MuHui looked at him with even more confusion, not understanding what he wanted to do.

They were almost home, yet the little kid stood in the middle of the road refusing to walk, because Zhou MuHui thought for a while, and asked him at last, “What present do you want?” 

Xin Yi was almost angered to death by him, it was still two or three months away until it was his birthday, who would want such an early present!

“You’re too stupid!”

Xin Yi looked at the man in front of him who was frowning in confusion, but still couldn’t hold back and pounce on him, biting his (ZMH’s) lip ferociously.

“Stupid Zhou MuHui, you’re hopeless.”

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Xin Yi implicitly and explicitly said so many times that he wants to get married, but he never seriously listened to them. 

Xin Yi unilaterally entered into a cold war with Zhou MuHui, and the two of them didn’t speak for many days, on the night of New Year’s Eve, Zhou MuHui texted him, telling him not to come over today, Xin Yi was sprawled on the bed hugging his cat, replied to him word for word, “I won’t go.” 

Zhou MuHui caused him to be angry, there’s no way Xin Yi will easily forgive him.

He turned over angrily, tossing his phone to one side, Xin Shao called him for dinner soon after, Xin Yi answered, but before going out of the door he stopped his step, and took a glance at the phone which was still on the bed.

“Nevermind…”

He muttered softly, ran back, and took the phone back.

Zhou MuHui has always been stupid anyways, Xin Yi cannot stop liking him because of that reason.

The night ended as usual, Xin Yi waited until the end, he was in the living room playing with the cat, Xin Shao didn’t pay much attention, but Yu Nanshan on the other side took a look, and then asked Xin Shao, “Is the door locked?”

Xin Shao was stunned, “It’s locked ah, it was already locked when I was cooking the dumplings.”

Xin Yi’s ears were pricked up, and was stunned when he heard their words, but before he could speak, his father gave him another meaningful look.

“Look after the cat, don’t let it run around.”

Xin Yi shook, his body shrunk straight into the depths of the sofa, gulped and nodded.

“Mao Mao won’t run around…”

He refuted in a small voice.

His parents were talking again, and soon after they went upstairs, Xin Yi carefully put down the cat, and crept over to the door, but just when he inserted the key, a clear male voice came from behind.

“Xiao Yi?”

It was his mom’s voice.

Xin Yi was scared to death, put down the key in a hurry, looked back pretending to be calm.

“Mo-, mom.”

Xin Shao looked at him, asking, “What are you doing?”

His gaze was scrutinizing, Xin Yi hurriedly shook his head, picked up the cat and ran upstairs.

“Nothing, nothing mom! We’re going to sleep!”

The cat was lying in his arms and meowing nonstop, as if explaining to Xin Shao, but Xin Yi was guilty in heart, rushing upstairs taking two steps instead of three.

He didn’t dare to stay downstairs anymore, or else he really won’t be able to leave tonight.

He was a bit in a hurry when he closed the door, there was a loud bang, the cat was startled, it lay on his arm and looked all around, Xin Yi panted and squatted down, comforting him hurriedly, and stopped in the next second, looking at Mao Mao that was in his arms, asked, “What should I do?”

He wanted to go to find Zhou MuHui, but how could he know that his parents would lock the door in advance.

If he knew that earlier he would be angry at him.

Xin Yi thought, he hadn’t seen Zhou MuHui for three or four days already.

Furthermore, Zhou MuHui’s had to come today, it was simply as if he was asking to make up with him.

Mao Mao couldn’t understand his words, ignorantly rubbing against his palm, Xin Yi sighed in despair, hugging him and sitting on the floor, picking up the phone that he hadn’t touched for half a day. 

His and Zhou MuHui’s texts stopped at that don’t come, Xin Yi looked at it again and again, and suddenly scrambled up. 

The cat was put on the floor by him, walking in circles around him, Xin Yi changed his clothes in a hurry, hearing him meow, hurriedly shushing him, “Mao Mao! Don’t call!” 

He remembered that there was a window that was still open in the guest room downstairs, he discovered it in the afternoon while looking for Mao Mao.

“Shhh!”

Xin Yi winked at the cat, smiled and went downstairs cautiously.

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Zhou MuHui was stunned when he saw him, the little kid sat on the steps opposite the bar and was dozing off, his left hand which was supporting his face was already frozen stiff and red, Zhou MuHui breathing paused, strode over.

“Xin Yi?”

Xin Yi woke up confused, and saw Zhou MuHui in the blink of an eye.

“You’ve come out.” 

Xin Yi yawned, and leaned against him. 

He hadn’t quite woken up yet, and was also very lazy, as if his body lost its bones, directly sticking to Zhou MuHui’s body.

Zhou MuHui hummed, grabbed his hand and stuffed it into his pocket, the man’s generous palm rubbed vigorously along the back of his hand, Xin Yi felt ticklish, and couldn’t help but evade and laugh.

“I am not cold.”

Zhou MuHui shot him a glance, and didn’t speak.

This is the first time the two of them haven’t seen each other since that day, Xin Yi had mixed feelings, and it all became happiness after seeing him.

They shouldn’t have argued. 

Xin Yi’s hand was held by him, looking at Zhou MuHui who had a serious face, and was thinking.

He still liked to look at Zhou MuHui like that every day, although Zhou MuHui didn’t like to speak, and wasn’t very intelligent. 

But Xin Yi still liked him very much.

It was already late at night, and already past midnight, even the fireworks had dissipated unknowingly, Xin Yi took out his hand from his palm, and touched his cheek which was also quite cold. 

“I’m a bit late this year, Happy New Year, Zhou MuHui.”

His palm still carried the scorching heat that had just faded from Zhou Muhui’s body, Zhou MuHui kept his head lowered, he paused after hearing his voice, looking at him seriously. 

“Xiao Yi, why were you angry?” 

Zhou MuHui didn’t get it, he didn’t come to find him after arguing with him that day, only getting one reply although he sent three of four texts, Zhou MuHui has a stupid mouth, he usually doesn’t know how to coax him happy, but at least he doesn’t want to make him sad. 

“……”

Xin Yi didn’t think he would ask it like this, he slowly blinked, his finger poked the scar on Zhou Muhui’s face, and said, “Because you’re stupid.”

Zhou MuHui didn’t understand, “What did I do wrong?” 

He looked serious about asking for an explanation, but Xin Yi was embarrassed by his look, and even for a moment, he felt that he was making trouble for no reason.

But he really wanted to get married to Zhou MuHui, not only because of the girl of that day’s provocation.

He wanted to give Zhou MuHui a family.

A home a thousand times, ten thousand times better than before, with fathers, a mother, Xin Yi, and also Mao Mao. 

They will be good to Zhou MuHui, and love Zhou MuHui very much.

“Zhou MuHui…”

Xin Yi leaned closer in this posture, he knows that Zhou MuHui is very busy lately, and gets off work an hour later than usual, he is also the last person on this street, Xin Yi wasn’t afraid to be heard by others. 

“On the night when I turned nineteen years old, I drank a lot of alcohol at home, and ran over to find you.” 

“You were very nice, accompanying me to mess around, and kept holding my hand, I asked you if you liked me but you didn’t shake your head, I kissed you and you didn’t push me away, you put the hat on me, lowered your head to look at me, calling me Xiao Yi.” 

“You said, ‘Xiao Yi, don’t be that nice.’ “

“Your voice was very quiet, but I heard it.” 

“I didn’t get it at that time, I thought, what do you mean don’t be that nice, is Zhou MuHui disliking me now, disliking me for being stupid? Then when I woke up, I understood that wasn’t it.” 

“My Zhou MuHui wanted to say, Xiao Yi, don’t be that nice to me.” 

Xin Yi held his face, pressed his forehead against his, his voice was very soft.

“But I like you, like you very very much.” 

“Later you held my hand and waited for the bus together, I said I would buy you a big house, and we would be together forever, I kept looking at you, but you were watching the traffic lights.”

“I was thinking at that time, how could Zhou MuHui be that stupid, I said so many nice things, why doesn’t he come to give me a kiss, praise me.” 

“But you said…” 

Xin Yi’s voice choked up slowly, and something cold overflowed from the corner of his eyes, Zhou MuHui’s voice turned hoarse, squatted in front of him and looked up at him.

They both know what that non-spoken phrase was, Zhou MuHui held his hand, calling him in a rough voice. 

“Xin Yi…”

“You said… You are very afraid.” 

His tears fell down, carrying an unreachable heat in winter, like a butterfly, flapping its wings, but burning Zhou MuHui’s heart.

“Zhou MuHui.”

Xin Yi called him almost silently, stroking the slight protruding part of his face with his fingertips.

“I don’t want you to be afraid.”

Xin Yi is willing to become Zhou MuHui’s new family, forever protecting him.

Xin Yi leaned over, getting closer to him with his sloppy face, and touched him.

Zhou MuHui didn’t speak for a long time, only staring at Xin Yi in a daze, Xin Yi cried silently, Zhou MuHui thought, this is the first time the little kid cried so obediently. 

Only crying.

“It’s okay.”

Zhou MuHui only spoke after a long while, he embraced the kid sitting on the steps, and comforted his slightly trembling back

“It’s nothing.”

He said.

“I heard it.”

“I heard it all.”

“Zhou MuHui, I am very sad.”

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Xin Yi lay on his shoulders, the tears wet a whole patch on his shoulder, the child’s voice was very small, and the breath from his mouth was hot, Zhou MuHui half-kneeled in front of him and hugged him, as if he were about to be drowned by his wet and hot tears.

“It’s okay.”

Zhou MuHui lowered his head, reassuring him with word after word, he seemed unable to say anything else to comfort Xin Yi, at least to not make Xin Yi this sad. 

Because he was also somewhat inexplicably depressed.

But why was it.

Why after Xin Yi said it out, he felt a bit saddened, although it’s been like this for a long time, although he hadn’t kept it in his heart all these years, Xin Yi said it, Xin Yi cried, as if his heart had been stabbed, making him almost breathless.

“It’s okay.”

Zhou MuHui closed his eyes, hugging him tightly.

“It’s all in the past.” 

He didn’t mention the confession that day again, he carefully covered up those chaotic emotions little by little, he thought, it turns out it was like this to be taken to heart.

It turns out.

It feels like this to be doted on. 

Notes:

For those who are wondering, I still got my tenosynovitis, it got better but I still cannot really flex my thumb and the area is still a bit swollen. I am saying this because my coworkers keep asking if I’m done with it because originally the pharmacist told me 3-4 weeks at least and everyone expected me to be done with it and I included lol. Sucks to be old, I hurt my shoulder the other day carrying all my grocery home, it got better today so I’m updating now. So far, 2023 has been so good to my wallet (stable job) but so bad to my body, I can’t even lmao. There’s also drama at work going on…lol

Thank you for the coffees! I appreciate it, leave a comment too! I don’t get much feedback.