Translated by Q the Panda (ko-fi)

Chapter 39

"Damn! Get together, get together!" After Lin Xu pushed away, everyone finally reacted to the bromantic moment. Finding it amusing, they started to egg them on.

Even in the noisy bar, their voices were loud enough to be heard by those around them.

Lin Xu felt even more awkward. This time, it wasn't mainly because of his social phobia, but because his ex was present. The situation was just too mortifying.

A slight blush appeared on his cold, aloof face.

At first, Wu Zijun didn't find the joke inappropriate. After all, it was his birthday and everyone was trying to have fun.

However, being more familiar with Lin Xu, Wu Zijun noticed his discomfort and made a stop gesture. "Okay, okay, enough with the jokes. Xu-ge wouldn't be interested in a burly figure like me."

But his voice was barely audible over the din of the bar, so the teasing continued for a little while longer before gradually subsiding.

After giving his gift, Lin Xu retreated from the center of attention, hiding himself among the people, and felt a bit more at ease.

He had considered leaving directly, but it was his friend's birthday. Besides, there was really no need to run away.

Gu Jinzhi might have seen him, or he might not have. He might know who Lin Xu was, or he might not.

In any case, they no longer had any relationship. Lin Xu was the one who initiated the breakup. Now, it was merely a chance encounter at the same bar. He felt awkward about it himself but saw no need to make a big deal out of it.

Running into an ex has always been awkward, a fact as old as time.

Lin Xu, sitting in a corner with a neutral expression, counted the minutes. His aura was cold and aloof, making him stand out in the bar. Even in such a lively place, he maintained a very proper posture, a habit ingrained since childhood.

Occasionally, he couldn't help but glance toward the direction he had noted earlier, checking to see if Gu Jinzhi had left. But his seat offered a poor vantage view, so he couldn't see anything.

Unavoidably, his heart raced, not due to the upbeat music.

The world knows that online relationships are unreliable, almost like a game. Lin Xu might be a fool, feeling guilty for not taking it seriously from the start. Although the relationship was over, his feelings were not so easily quelled.

Especially with the person involved suddenly appearing around him.

Whether Gu Jinzhi was disappointed or indifferent, Lin Xu could no longer concern himself with it.

Hearing the crowd's raucous cheers, Gu Jinzhi's nose nearly twisted out of shape in anger. He felt quite upset. This big lout looked older than him, how could he be better than him?

So he didn't believe at all that they could have any secret relationship.

He was certain Lin Xu had seen him. There had been a slight, though subtle, change in his expression. It seemed that Lin Xu’s emotions were stirred by his presence, indicating that he still harbored feelings.

Gu Jinzhi straightened in his seat, thinking to himself that if Lin Xu had any sense, he would come over on his own.

They had met before, so they weren’t strangers. There was no reason to be embarrassed.

But after waiting for over twenty minutes, with only other men and women approaching him, Gu Jinzhi grew impatient.

Frowning, he stretched his long legs out as if to stand up and take action, but then crossed his legs again in frustration.

Frowning, he live-streamed his situation to his bad friend.

“He saw me, so why isn’t he coming over???” Gu Jinzhi typed quickly, feeling both anxious and confused.

“Come on, uncle, get a grip. He's broken up with you. As a high school student, he definitely doesn't want anything to do with you. And besides, weren't you the one who went to find him?” Xu Zhou was fed up with this weirdo’s stupid questions over the past few days.

“F*cking b*llsh*t!” Gu Jinzhi’s face tightened with fury. This idiot only knew how to jinx people.

Here goes the cursing again... Was this really how Second Young Master Gu acted when he was infatuated with a younger guy?

“Well, then take the initiative yourself! Aren’t you the impressive second young master of the Gu family?” Actually, Xu Zhou thought things would be simpler if this brother would just forcefully pursue him. But Gu Jinzhi was all talk when it came to others and became foolish when faced with the one he liked.

After several deep breaths, Gu Jinzhi’s face turned slightly red as he admitted, “I... I’m just too embarrassed.” He glanced over at Lin Xu again.

“We’ve met so many times before, and he’s seen me in all sorts of embarrassing situations. I... I’m just uncomfortable, embarrassed…” Gu Jinzhi said nervously, his legs shaking even more. Now that he knew Lin Xu had seen him, the shame he felt was overwhelming and unstoppable.

He had arrived with such confidence, but seeing Lin Xu made him feel suddenly timid.

“Then just leave. The breakup is already done. Don’t be so wishy-washy.”

“That’s not an option! You’re so f*cking useless with your terrible ideas,” Gu Jinzhi said, shaking his head in frustration. His friend was proving to be of no help.

Gu Jinzhi turned off his phone and mentally rehearsed his grand entrance.

He imagined himself standing in front of Lin Xu with a commanding presence, asserting his claim in front of everyone. Then, his boyfriend would look at him tenderly, admit his mistake, and vow to treat him with the same kindness and understanding as always.

Alternatively, he envisioned himself sitting next to Lin Xu, boldly declaring, “I’ve found you. You can’t run away.” After all, even though Lin Xu was younger and taller, he was no match for Gu Jinzhi’s strength.

Before he could finalize his fantasy, a commotion erupted nearby. Gu Jinzhi’s face, previously troubled, now took on a serious expression, his eyes narrowing with a threatening edge.

Wu Zijun and his friends had run into trouble on what was supposed to be a joyful day.

It turned out that a female friend of theirs had accidentally stepped on someone’s foot. She had apologized and offered to compensate, but the person she’d offended was clearly a thug. He had also brought his friends along. Seeing that the girl was pretty, he refused to let it go and wanted to harass her.

Another guy, who was hot-tempered, got into a scuffle with the thugs, and things quickly escalated into a brawl with the potential for a full-blown fight.

As the host, Wu Zijun couldn't let the situation spiral out of control. Besides, causing a disturbance in the bar would affect others, so he suggested they go outside to talk it over properly.

Both groups, fuming with anger, exited the bar. Lin Xu, seeing this, naturally followed with a furrowed brow.

Although their side had a few athletes, there were also many girls. They would be no match for the thugs if things turned violent.

Sure enough, as soon as they were outside, Wu Zijun, tall and sturdy, was braver than the others when facing the thugs. He approached them to negotiate, even if it meant paying to settle the issue.

Initially, everyone thought the situation might not be too serious.

However, before Wu Zijun could say much, one of the thugs, a man with dyed yellow hair, spat on the ground and delivered a hard kick to his knee.

That kick was so hard that Wu Zijun's entire knee swelled up and he immediately fell to his knees. Shocked, no one dared to step in.

The yellow-haired thug smirked, “You, a kid who hasn't even finished growing up, want to talk to me?” He was clearly drunk and showing off.

His companions, also drunk, laughed loudly at the sight of the defeated student.

The thug wanted to kick Wu Zijun a few more times, but Wu Zijun managed to get up and retaliate. Though he didn’t inflict much damage on the thug, other hot-headed young men from their side joined the fray.

The girls were urged to find a safer, more crowded area.

The situation escalated so quickly that there was no time for any other action. Amid the chaos, Lin Xu joined the fight.

For a moment, the struggle was fierce and unrelenting.

Suddenly, Wu Zijun let out a muffled groan. His knee had been kicked hard again. One of the thugs had taken the opportunity to step on his back, putting him in a dire situation.

Lin Xu glanced in that direction. The thug in front of him, seeing Lin Xu distracted, was about to strike.

Before Lin Xu could even process what was happening, the thug who had been targeting Lin Xu was kicked.

Turning to the side, Lin Xu saw a guy wearing a hoodie from a brand popular with boys standing next to him. The man had just kicked the thug on the ground, and was now spitting at him in disgust.

They were so close that Lin Xu could feel Gu Jinzhi's warm body pressing against his arm, which left his mind in a daze.

This wasn't the first time this had happened, but their relationship had changed drastically.

Nervous, Lin Xu still held onto the idea that Gu Jinzhi was just a student.

Gu Jinzhi, meanwhile, glanced sideways at Lin Xu. He looked aloof and cool, but inside, he was nervous. He had forgotten all the rehearsed script and found himself at a loss for words.

Staring into Lin Xu's clear eyes, Gu Jinzhi awkwardly opened his mouth and, without thinking, blurted, “Is that guy your boyfriend?” His tone was a bit sharp and abrupt, a feeble attempt to sound as mature and assertive as a guy his age should be.

Gu Jinzhi pointed at Wu Zijun, who was still struggling.

The thugs across from them were stunned by the kick Gu Jinzhi had delivered. It was clear they were dealing with someone skilled, not a mere muscle-bound embroidered pillow.

Lin Xu was dumbfounded.

He looked at Wu Zijun and shook his head in disbelief, feeling embarrassed by the question. How had such words even come out?

However, the brief exchange with Gu Jinzhi only made him feel more awkward and strange. Hearing Gu Jinzhi’s voice again added to his discomfort.

Satisfied with the answer, Gu Jinzhi didn’t say more. He nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and charged back into the fray.

Lin Xu quickly realized that Gu Jinzhi didn't call him student or kid, meaning he was aware of his... true identity.

In the chaotic alley, the sounds of fierce struggle and anguished cries echoed. Wu Zijun had already been rescued, and he, along with several other injured boys, stood next to Lin Xu, watching the thugs being pummeled.

After a moment of silence, Wu Zijun asked Lin Xu, “Damn, is this guy your friend? He’s seriously badass! He must have trained, right?”

Lin Xu touched the bruise on his left cheek, looking at their admiring expressions with a complex mix of emotions. He wasn’t sure how to respond.

Groaning in pain, Wu Zijun clicked his tongue and said, “I never knew you had such a tough and silent friend. He’s not only handsome and skilled but also so loyal.”

Lin Xu never expected Gu Jinzhi to still help them even after knowing he was Amour. It would already be a relief if he didn’t turn around and beat them up instead...

He pressed his lips together and said, “You’ve... heard of him.”

At that moment, Gu Jinzhi had finished dealing with the last thug and clapped his hands lightly. His actions had been just enough to teach a lesson, leaving the thugs bruised but not seriously injured.

However, when he turned around and saw Lin Xu and his friends watching him, he suddenly felt a bit self-conscious about his image.

He casually walked over, crossing his arms, and looked at Lin Xu.

“Brother, you were awesome just now! Are you Lin Xu’s friend? Are you his older brother?” the others asked eagerly, gathering around him.

Gu Jinzhi wasn’t pleased with these assumptions. Thinking how pointless it was to dress younger in his age, he looked at Lin Xu unhappily to see how he would respond.

Lin Xu, feeling his ears redden with embarrassment, was mortified to be helped by his ex. It was awkward enough seeing him again, and now he had to face him after getting beaten...

He lowered his voice and answered Wu Zijun’s earlier question, “I asked for your help because of him.”

The others were still confused, and so was Gu Jinzhi, who looked utterly bewildered. Only Wu Zijun’s eyes widened in disbelief. He glanced between Gu Jinzhi and Lin Xu, his anxiety growing.

So, this guy was Lin Xu’s boyfriend? Holy sh*t!

What had he gotten himself into today? Could he even go home in one piece…

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