Mistaken Canary Chapter 51 (Part 2)
Chapter 51.2
The following afternoon, after lunch, Zhuo Shu was walking down the hallway when he ran into the same nurse from the previous day.
The nurse said, "The elderly just went downstairs for a stroll in the garden. Your brother’s here."
At those words, Zhuo Shu felt a surge of excitement. Today, he was going to confess for sure!
He quickly walked to the door, noticing that a curtain had been drawn around the bed. It was something they usually did during the day to help the old man change clothes, perhaps he had forgotten to pull it back.
A figure was moving behind the curtain, seemingly searching for something.
Zhuo Shu called out, "So you’re here."
The figure froze for a moment, reaching out to pull the curtain, but Zhuo Shu quickly intervened, saying, "Don't move. I have something to say to you."
The figure withdrew his hand.
Zhuo Shu closed the door, took a step closer, but didn’t dare get too close. He took a deep breath and asked, "You still haven’t answered my question I asked you last time. Would you be able to give me an answer today?"
The other person remained silent.
"Wait a second, let me try again," Zhuo Shu said, taking a moment to recollect, "From the moment I first saw you, it was as if Cupid was waving at me—then shot an arrow straight through my heart."
"......"
"You’re just so enchanting, with your angelic face and devilish body, it’s impossible not to want to get closer."
Zhuo Shu’s exceptional ability to memorize had not dulled in the slightest. After all, he had carried that love letter with him everywhere, often sneaking a glance. It had long since been etched into his mind, and now reciting it came naturally.
Ban Zhang, that genius, had written such a versatile love letter. It may have been a bit cheesy, but it was still much better than the dry, straightforward "I love you" he might’ve said.
"......"
"I’ve never met anyone who moves me like you do. I feel like I’m floating, forgetting who I am, what I’m supposed to do, what my purpose in life is... I don’t know..."
"......"
"I only know one thing: I will follow the one I love. I’m willing to give up everything to chase you." Zhuo Shu conveyed his words with great emotion, finishing with the crowning line: "I love you!"
"............"
"Allow me the opportunity to take care of you and teacher. Despite his tendency to boast and ramble, I know you would never desert him."
Zhuo Shu spoke with sincere emotion, but then, the curtain was yanked open with force. "Who did you say likes to ‘boast and ramble’?!"
Zhuo Shu jumped back in surprise, taking several steps back and pointing in shock. "Teacher, what are you doing here?"
"You almost gave me a shock there, I thought you were about to profess your love to me," the old man grumbled, looking at him with clear distaste. "What a load of rubbish; a three-year-old could come up with something better than that."
"......" Zhuo Shu silently endured the frustration. "The nurse told me you went to the garden… Where’s Tongchen?"
"He said he was coming to visit, so I came back. Just changed into my hospital gown," the old man replied.
"Sorry, I thought you were Tongchen," Zhuo Shu awkwardly stood in place.
The old man narrowed his eyes, interrogating him. "I’ll ask you this—aren't you two already in a relationship? Why are you still going on about confessing now?"
"Just some second-hand romance," Zhuo Shu evaded, then turned to leave. "You get some rest, I’ll step out for a bit."
"Wait, don’t you want to see Tongchen?" the old man asked.
"Where is he?" Zhuo Shu immediately turned around to ask.
"Tongchen, come out," the old man said with a laugh. "You must've heard everything as well."
Zhuo Shu looked at him in confusion, then bent down to look under the bed.
The old man: "......"
After a brief pause, the bathroom door creaked open, and Ying Tongchen appeared in the doorway, holding a bowl of fresh strawberries.
He glanced at Zhuo Shu, then at the old man, placing the bowl on the table. "I’ve washed them. Eat up."
Without another word, he turned and walked out resolutely.
Zhuo Shu stood there stunned for a moment, and the old man clicked his tongue. "What are you standing there for? Go chase after him!"
"Oh, right!" Zhuo Shu immediately rushed out, reaching the end of the hallway where he found Ying Tongchen lighting a cigarette and taking a slow puff.
"You heard everything just now, didn’t you?" Zhuo Shu asked.
Ying Tongchen nodded, turning his head to look out the window, holding the cigarette as he asked with a muffled voice, "Why do you like me? Is it because we’re compatible?"
"Well, I can't deny that part definitely adds to it," Zhuo Shu said. "But it’s hard to put into words. Whenever I see you, there’s an inexplicable joy, and when I see you with someone else, I feel frustrated. When you’re not around, all I want is to see you again... I’ve never felt this way before, and I’ve been rather confused. It wasn’t until recently that I realized: I’ve fallen for you, I want to be with you, and I want you to be mine alone."
Ying Tongchen lifted his gaze, his eyelashes fluttering slightly: "Were there additional points due to sympathy?"
"No, not at all," Zhuo Shu shook his head. "Didn't I tell you this the other day? Back then, I didn’t even know about your past."
Hearing that, Ying Tongchen froze for a few seconds, the tension in him finally dissolving.
He lowered his head to shake off the ash from his cigarette, then curved the corner of his mouth. When he lifted his gaze, Ying Tongchen suddenly grasped the collar of Zhuo Shu’s shirt, pulling him a little closer. In a low voice, he warned, "Think carefully about the consequences. If you dare play me now or in the future, it won’t be as simple as just being reported. You might even end up dealing with legal consequences."
Zhuo Shu laughed. "What kind of legal consequences? The ones where I'm chained up for life?"
Ying Tongchen chuckled lightly. "Indecent."
"Here’s something even more indecent," Zhuo Shu whispered in his ear, "I want to kiss you right now."
"There’s too many people here," Ying Tongchen glanced at him.
"We ought to mark this perfect moment somehow," Zhuo Shu gazed at the slightly reddened curve of Ying Tongchen’s ear, reaching up to touch his cheek. In his distraction, he accidentally brushed against the cigarette butt. "Owww—!"
Ying Tongchen quickly snuffed out the cigarette and grabbed his hand to inspect the burn.
"Oh dear, haven't seen you two for a moment, and you're already at it again!" The caregiver auntie, while getting some water, happened to walk in and catch them in mid-tussle. "How can you burn someone with a cigarette? You shouldn’t do that."
"Auntie, it's not his fault," Zhuo Shu waved off her concern and explained.
The auntie crossed her arms and squinted. "I saw everything clearly. Now, both of you, put your hands out."
Zhuo Shu extended his hand, and Ying Tongchen, thinking the auntie might have some pain-relief remedy, followed suit and offered his hand as well.
Then, the auntie placed Zhuo Shu’s hand into Ying Tongchen’s and sternly said, "The elderly just had surgery. We can't have him seeing you two fighting like this. At least keep up appearances!"
Ying Tongchen: "?"
Zhuo Shu: "?"
Caregiver auntie: "Alright, just go in like this. The elderly will be happy when he sees you both like this."
Zhuo Shu looked down at their hands tightly clasped together and agreed, "I think Auntie is right."
Ying Tongchen: "..."
"Let’s go," Zhuo Shu said, pulling him forward.
Ying Tongchen stepped back but was immediately pulled forward by Zhuo Shu.
Many people in the hallway glanced over, watching the scene with curiosity.
Ying Tongchen instinctively averted his eyes, avoiding their gazes.
Zhuo Shu turned to look at him. Instead of letting go, he tightened his grip even more.
The caregiver auntie followed alongside with a beaming smile, proudly explaining to the onlookers, "See that? These two brothers used to fight over inheritance every day, but thanks to my advice, they’ve finally made up. Look how close they are now!"
Zhuo Shu: "?"
Ying Tongchen: "???"
"Impressive, impressive, you’re amazing, Auntie Niu!"
"So these are the two brothers who’ve been fighting every day?"
"At the end of the day, they're family. It's great that they’ve made up. Make sure to behave from now on, alright?"
Though discussions swirled around him, no gaze bore the weight of scrutiny.
Ying Tongchen lowered his head to look at Zhuo Shu’s broad hand, spread his fingers, and intertwined them quietly with Zhuo Shu’s.
Caught off guard, Zhuo Shu looked at him in surprise and delight, then instinctively turned to kiss his forehead.
The caregiver auntie beamed with delight. "Look at that! Such affection between brothers! If there’s ever another case of wealthy family drama, send them straight to me!"
"Impressive, impressive, Auntie Niu, you’re amazing!"
Ying Tongchen: "..."
.
.
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Author’s note: What does it feel like to have your declaration of love received with success?
Zhuo MollyColly: I just want to go home and take a nappywappy (*^▽^*)
Ying Tongchen: I just want to go home and punish MollyColly →_→