โHm?โ Yan Suizhi responded casually, a slightly upturned lilt at the end. It was pleasing to the ears, and as always, carried a faint smile.
But he never turned his head.
Once, someone had commented that Yan Suizhi resembled a deep lake. It appeared gentle and mild, but was cool to the touch. No one could ever tell how deep it really was from ashore. You couldnโt tell what he liked, what he disliked, nor could you tell if he was happy or upset.
There were some who tried to reach the bottom, yet never knew where to even begin, and were either left dejected or shrinking back at the sight.
But now, standing next to the wall curtained by green vines, Yan Suizhiโs gaze was cast downwards. His form was a slender silhouette carved by the fairy lights on the trees, and his expression was indistinct, concealed by the evening backlight. Although he was facing away, there was the feeling that his heart could be glimpsed through a narrow seam.
He gazed a while longer at the script on the wine bottle under the warm light from the trees, then brushed aside the green vines to place the bottle back where it was before.
When he turned back around, his expression was the same as usual. He said to Gu Yan, โNot listening to Young Master Joeโs childhood stories anymore?โ
He clapped away the dust that had gotten on his hands, curling his fingers, huffily saying, โI suspect that Iโm the only one really searching for that wine of his.โ
Gu Yan looked into his eyes.
For a split second, Yan Suizhi worried that the man in front of him would be a persistent blockhead and ask him what he was looking at just now. After all, people like that who didnโt know proper decorum werenโt among the minority.
And if that really was the case, Yan Suizhi thought to himself, based on how he reacted in the past, he would possibly be quite annoyed, and even get very repulsedโฆ
But he didnโt want to feel that way towards Gu Yan.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
Fortunately, Gu Yanโs gaze only lingered on him for a moment before it swept to the number plates on other trees. He asked, โHave you checked this row? Did you find it?โ
Tjc Velhtl revvfcis rwlifv ja atlr.
โRba sfa. Qf rtbeiv tjnf j ibbx ja Rb. 21,โ tf rjlv jcv kjixfv bnfg, rafq lc rafq klat Xe Tjc.
Rba ibcu ijafg, Abf jcv Bf Alc jirb mjwf bnfg ab atlr rfmalbc. Dea gfugfaajyis, atf klcfgs vlvcโa qijmf atf klcf lc remt jc bynlber qijmf jr atf agff bo Ebk 3, Rb. 21 lc atf A bo Lfjgar.
While the atmosphere as the four of them strolled through the cherry orchard was relaxed, Yan Suizhi was slightly distracted.
In actuality, even later, when they had combed half the orchard and finally found Joeโs exclusive wine, then chatted of his past with Manson and Zhao Zemu along with the brighter spots of his university daysโYan Suizhi was still slightly distracted.
Joe pulled Gu Yan into drinking a lot of wine with him. Putting aside all else, it was impressive how well this young master could hold his liquor. He was still sober after polishing off a rack of wine, and apart from being a bit chattier, didnโt show the slightest discomfort.
He was probably the busiest one that evening. On one hand, he was actually rather shaken by Mansonโs situation and wasnโt in much of a mood. On the other hand, he had to tell some embarrassing and entertaining anecdotes every now and then to tease Ke Jin, relaxing the other some; simultaneously, he didnโt forget to celebrate Gu Yan passing the First-Class Lawyer preliminary review, also casually expressing his envy towards Yan Suizhi.
Because for the longest time, Ke Jin kept looking at Yan Suizhi. It was in a very systematic fashion; heโd drink a sip of fruit juice, and take a peek, then drink another sip, and take another peek. Of course, such a monotonous and repetitive action would be out of place on an ordinary person, but in Ke Jinโs case, this indicated that he was emotionally calm and settled.
By the later part of the meal, Ke Jin was leaning back in his seat, asleep. Joe got a waiter to wrap a blanket around him, grumbling to Yan Suizhi, โSheesh, just ignore my envy. After all, Iโm such a generous man. I really want to thank you, lilโ intern. He is actually in quite poor condition these days, never having much energy and always falling asleep. He startles easily when awake; a single bird flying by can cause him to suddenly fall sick. Itโs great that he managed to finish a proper meal like he did tonight.โ
While he took Ke Jin back indoors, Yan Suizhi and Gu Yan went to wash their hands.
There was an intricately carved washbasin a short distance from every seating area in the cherry orchard, half-enclosed by a railing made of exquisite metal and entwined flowering branches.
As Yan Suizhi carefully scrubbed the smell of food from his fingers, Gu Yan simply leaned against the railing and waited.
The two of them continued their earlier conversation.
โ…How did Joe and Manson turn this way now?โ
Gu Yanโs voice was imbued with a trace of tipsiness, just the slightest trace, his voice coming out more languid than the norm. โJoe is a very simple person and doesnโt have many rules and constraints when it comes to the people he talks to. He will be nice to whomever he feels good about, it doesnโt really follow a fixed pattern. If the other echoes the same sentiment, theyโre friends; if the other suspects that he has ulterior motives, then thereโs nothing to say. At one point in time, Manson was deeply suspicious of everything, just enough to clash with the way Joe is. After a few times of that, the dislike grew and they parted ways.โ
Yan Suizhi said with a smile, โI used to be very perplexed how you and Ke Jin could be friends with Joe, but now it seems perfectly normal.โ
Gu Yan quietened for a while. โHow did you know that weโre friends?โ
โWhat kind of question is that?โ Yan Suizhi blanked. โDidnโt you always get dragged out by him to clown around during the holidays?โ
Gu Yan, who had never โclowned aroundโ in his entire life, stared at him but chose not to correct his wording for now. โI thought that you wouldnโt pay attention to suchโฆ trivialities.โ
Yan Suizhi didnโt deny it. He rinsed the foam from his hands and said contemplatively, โItโs true that I donโt really pay attention, but there are always some exceptions. Even though Iโm always striving to remain impartial, there are inevitably some students that I would appreciate being a little closer to. For example, you and Ke Jin. But it also just happened to be the two of you who, after skedaddling from school, never thought of me again…โ
He sounded like he was making small talk, and even upon meandering to this subject, his tone was still airy, lips curving into a smile. But as soon as he turned his head, he found that Gu Yan was leaning against the railing and looking at him with his gaze half-lidded. The fairy lights by the basin glimmered in his eyes, and his expression was inscrutable.
Yan Suizhiโs words broke off. He unconsciously asked, โWhy are you looking at me like that?โ
Gu Yanโs gaze was very heavy, yet perhaps because of the intoxication that had yet to subside, it lost its sharp edges, even showing a rare gentleness. He stayed silent for a moment before saying, โBecause youโve been a little distracted all night; you look a littleโฆ sad.โ
Yan Suizhi started minutely.
Actually, these words were as direct as asking him what he was looking at in front of the No. 17 tree would have been. It went that people who wrap themselves in too many layers hate to be probed, and the many past precedents told Yan Suizhi that he was no exception.
Yet, strangely, he was not as upset as he thought he would be when Gu Yan laid the words out in front of him in such a straightforward manner.
His lips parted slightly, but he only smiled in the end, saying, โIt’s nothing much. I thought of my family and my childhood, someโฆ mere trivialities.โ
This could probably be considered an unusually sincere answer from him.
With that, he drew an antibacterial paper napkin from the side of the basin. As he wiped his hands clean, he lifted his chin towards the sink, saying, โDonโt just stand there, come wash your hands.โ
Gu Yan looked at him for another moment, standing up straight in a rare display of obedience. Like a good student, he walked over to the sink to rinse his hands.
Yan Suizhi courteously leaned against the railing and waited for him.
At the washbasin, the twilight silhouetted his slightly lowered eyes and the straight line of his nose. Across the years, a lot seemed to have changed, yet everything seemed the same as before.
For a reason unbeknownst even to himself, Yan Suizhi suddenly spoke after watching him for a while. โGu Yan.โ
โHm?โ Set against the running water, Gu Yanโs voice was still tinged with a lazy drawl.
The corners of Yan Suizhiโs lips rose and, as if in jest, he asked him, โAfter graduation, all the other students would religiously contact me every now and then, or minimally drop a festive greeting. Youโre the only one who didnโt send me even a single message, breaking off all contact. Why is that?โ
Gu Yanโs slightly lowered gaze never flickered. He continued to carefully wash his fingers.
Just when Yan Suizhi thought that he was going to do what he always did, pretending not to hear what he couldnโt quite or was too troublesome to answer, brushing it over with silence, Gu Yan suddenly spoke. โBecause of some rather absurd ideas.โ
I wonder what is his reason will be. Thank you for this. Looking forward for pink bubble to start.
Ahh the absurd ideas have come into play
ooooooooooh absurd ideas were they ๐๐๐
AHHHHH DKEjdjsijdjdj (๏พ๏พ0๏พ)๏พ~
Sorry I didn’t mean to reply ๐
Ah so thatโs why the chapter is called aging fine wine.
We are
โagingโ
โfine wineโ
here.
thanks for the chapter <3
Hehe what kind of absurd ideas? +~+!
IM SCREAMING!! KSBAKSN
Ah yes, there are a lot of things that revolves around absurdity and one of it was love.
Gosh Yanyan has so much restraint – if I found a memo of my parents like that, I’d be scurrying around trynna find a way to steal it
“Absurd ideas” hmm like what?๐
-singing- Someone had a crush
Absurd idea like falling in love with his teachers so he needs to get away
So he fell way back then ๐๐
WE ALL KNOW WHAT THOSE ABSURD IDEAS WERE RIGHT?? ITS WHAT IM THINKING OF, RIGHT??
WAIT SO HE ALREADY FELL IN LOVE BACK THEN??? I COULD BE WRONG BUT STILL OMG, I HOPE I’M RIGHT T-T
I bet it’s because he start to realize something with his feeling for good dean so he want to stay faraway, wanted to have nothing to do with it anymore teheheh just a guess but I’ll be amusing if it’s really is what happened
so he has been in love since his student days! thanks for the confirmation.
ke jin is my absolute fave in a “i Will protect him” way. what a good dude. what a cutie.
10/10 w that yummy yummy charged atmosphere. tasty af.
thank u!!
Oh, will we get Gu Yan to divulge his “absurd ideas?” ๐
Thanks for the chapter ๐
Mind explaining more what are those “absurd ideas” huh Gu Yan? ๐๐คจ
Absurd ideas like “having a crush on your teacher”.
I see you Lawyer Gu๐