Admit That You Like Him Too
Xi Zhiyu didn’t quite know what he was doing here.
He sat on the corner of the sofa, watching Xie Yun, who was buried in packing his luggage. Things were being tossed here and there; Xie Yun was clearly in a trance.
What should he say?
Seeing that Xie Yun had been packing for ages yet the room remained as messy as the moment they walked in, Xi Zhiyu loosened his grip on his knees. He actually felt the urge to step in and help.
“Do you need some help?”
“N-no need.”
Xie Yun hurriedly made up an excuse and ducked into the bathroom, claiming he needed to pack the bottles and jars his older cousin insisted he bring along.
In reality, he was young and usually too lazy to use those things. He simply shut the door and splashed his face with cold water, taking a long time just to calm down slightly.
The mirror reflected the dazed expression of a teenager, his hair no longer sticking up.
He truly didn’t understand why his “brother” had suddenly paid him a visit. Sharing a room with him left Xie Yun’s mind in a mess; he was barely able to move without tripping over his own feet.
The atmosphere between them was palpably off. Xie Yun guessed that his secret crush might have been exposed, but he wasn’t certain. The uncertainty was torturous, leaving his heart dangling and swinging on a precarious rope.
He ruffled his hair, adjusted his state of mind, and stepped out, only to be startled again.
“Brother!”
Xie Yun rushed over to the foot of the bed, approaching Xi Zhiyu who was helping him fold clothes as if facing a formidable enemy. “You don’t have to pack for me yourself.”
Xi Zhiyu was startled by his reaction.
His own mind was equally cluttered; he simply wanted to do something helpful so his sudden visit wouldn’t seem too intrusive.
“Are there things that break easily?”
He looked at the items on the bed, assuming that because his childhood friend was a big star, his belongings might be precious or fragile. Only then did he realize his actions might indeed be inappropriate.
Xie Yun shook his head violently. “No, no.”
“You came over to hang out with me, how can I let you help me pack? Just sit on the sofa and wait, brother.”
Xi Zhiyu felt that sitting idly would be even more awkward. He lowered his eyes and said softly, “Didn’t I use to help you pack all the time?”
Since kindergarten, Xie Yun had always been careless. Xi Zhiyu would often help him organize the textbooks and stationery in his school bag.
Xie Yun’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Before was before…”
Xi Zhiyu: “It’s the same.”
He cut him off and continued to fold the clothes. If Xie Yun wasn’t currently a tangled ball of nerves as if every cell in his body were tied in knots he would never have let his brother do these things for him.
He stole a glance at Xi Zhiyu. With just one look, he sighed inwardly: Brother is always so gentle.
By the time Xi Zhiyu finished helping, the room looked brand new neat and clean.
“…Thanks, brother.”
Xie Yun stood there in a daze, feeling as if he were sleepwalking. Searching for something to do, he said, “I’ll pour you a glass of water.”
Xi Zhiyu lowered his face and noticed that the tips of Xie Yun’s ears were flushed not the faint tint of a sunset, but a vivid red. It was only today that he finally detected the depth of those feelings.
Xi Zhiyu couldn’t help but speak up: “Yun-zai.”
“Yeah?”
“Actually,” Xi Zhiyu continued, “you talked in your sleep on the yacht.”
Xie Yun’s brain seemed to crash. It took a long time before his watery eyes widened. “Wh-what did I say?”
Xi Zhiyu: “Yun-zai asked me if I had someone I liked.”
Xie Yun: “…………”
“Did… did I?”
His heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest. He hurriedly walked away, grabbed a glass, and pressed the water dispenser button. “Maybe you heard wrong, brother.”
“Anyway, you worked hard helping me pack just now. I think I brought too much stuff.”
His obvious avoidance made Xi Zhiyu purse his lips and fall silent.
After all, they were in the midst of the first stirrings of adolescence. For a boy who was already emotionally dense, he wasn’t sure if he should take another step forward.
But Xie Yun’s back was turned to him, and his fingers seemed to be trembling slightly; he couldn’t even fill the water properly. Xi Zhiyu thought for a moment, walked up, and gripped the cup for him. “Let me do it.”
Their fingertips brushed, sparking a faint heat, but Xie Yun was the only one who reacted violently, jerking his hand back.
In that instant, Xie Yun suspected he was incredibly stupid, always acting like a fool in front of Xi Zhiyu.
Fortunately, the phone resting nearby buzzed. He didn’t know if it was the hotel butler or Aaron sending a message to save him.
The boy avoided the situation without a second thought, grabbing his phone and looking down, using the silence to mask his embarrassment.
Xi Zhiyu also shifted his gaze. He saw the Alpha childhood friend leaning against the table, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, staring at the screen with a grim expression.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
Xie Yun looked over, his gaze softening instantly. “It’s nothing.”
“My cousin messaged me. She said the studio is pushing for content; it’s been too long since I posted a selfie.”
Xi Zhiyu smiled. “The fans must really want to see your new updates, Yun-zai.”
Xie Yun was entranced by his face. After a long moment, he nodded sheepishly.
He didn’t know if it was just an illusion, but he felt that his brother’s visit this time carried an indescribable frankness.
It was just that he had lost his own footing, turning into a little turtle retreating into its shell. He wasn’t prepared at all, to the point where the situation was spinning out of control.
After replying to the message, Xie Yun exited the studio group chat and tossed his phone aside. He turned around to see that his brother was already standing in front of him, handing him a glass of water.
Xie Yun took it and flashed a smile, but as he met his brother’s gaze, he realized Xi Zhiyu’s eyes had shifted.
They were fixed on his phone.
Xi Zhiyu’s dark eyes flickered. Watching him, Xie Yun read the meaning behind the look and glanced sideways. He practically shuddered, the water in his cup sloshing.
The phone screen was displaying his chat app’s pinned, top friend!
Xie Yun spun around instantly, darkening the screen. His chest heaved with heavy, rapid breaths.
His reaction did not escape Xi Zhiyu’s eyes. Silent and at a loss, Xi Zhiyu’s fingers tightened slightly against his trousers.
The atmosphere was indescribable, as if a heatwave had flooded the air, making them both afraid to meet each other’s eyes.
“I…”
Even Xi Zhiyu’s eyelids felt hot. He exhaled, pretending he hadn’t seen the avatar of the little cat wearing glasses. “Should I head back to my room first?”
Xie Yun’s face was almost buried in his phone screen. A new message popped up it was the hotel butler informing him about the luggage delivery.
Buzz.
Just as he was about to speak, another message arrived, and both of their phones chimed simultaneously.
The universe shouldn’t play jokes with such high frequency. Xie Yun pressed his palm to his forehead and said muffledly, “Then… I’ll walk you back, brother.”
Xi Zhiyu merely looked calm on the surface, but his heart was pounding incessantly. Walking toward the door, he pretended to be nonchalant and took out his phone to check.
A certain social genius was frantically popping up in the temporary group chat.
Paipai: Family, Sister Qiong got motion sickness and is asleep. I’m taking over as the island trip coordinator! @Everyone
Paipai: Everyone can arrange their own plans for tonight. Tomorrow’s schedule is as follows, please acknowledge!
Paipai: [Shared Image]
Yuan Zhoulu had meticulously created an Excel sheet planning everything from wake-up times to brunch. The afternoon was dedicated to the Forest Park, complete with a cartoon map.
From the map, it was clear there were several yacht and rowing routes to choose from. Since the terrain mimicked the game Forest Party, both of them knew which path offered the most exploration and healing.
The rowing was split into pairs. Just as Xi Zhiyu was about to ask, Xie Yun hurriedly reached out and stopped him.
“Brother.”
The boy’s tone was urgent. His flushed face hadn’t faded; he didn’t quite dare to look at him. “The teams are in pairs…”
Xi Zhiyu swallowed nervously. “Yes?”
Xie Yun was equally nervous, but his tone was stiff and overbearing, his brow furrowed in seriousness. “Don’t row with Paipai, okay?”
Xi Zhiyu: “…”
“Okay.”
Xie Yun seemingly hadn’t expected him to agree immediately. He froze for a long moment, then looked at him flusteredly. “Let’s be in a team together?”
Xi Zhiyu met those round, amber eyes. He nodded a beat too slow, unable to get a single word out.
Xie Yun finally let go. A trace of embarrassment lingered on his sharp, handsome face, but his eyes rippled with a subtle smile. “Then, get some good rest, brother. Goodnight.”
Xi Zhiyu: “…Goodnight.”
Night had completely fallen over the island.
The air was thick with the sticky, warm sea breeze. On the walk back to his room, Xi Zhiyu could hear nothing but the thumping of his own heart.
It was uncontrollably loud.
After closing the door, Xi Zhiyu messaged Paipai, asking if he wanted to come over for dinner.
The latter said he’d be up in a bit and had something to tell him, though he didn’t elaborate.
During this time, Xi Zhiyu called his father to let him know he had arrived safely. His voice was soft, but the hotel’s excellent insulation still allowed him to hear footsteps and muffled voices from the hallway.
…It was likely the childhood friend’s friend, Aaron, arriving.
Xi Zhiyu had no intention of prying, but on his phone, the boy who had pinned him at the top proactively sent a message that felt like a status report.
Yun-zai: Brother, Aaron is here.
Yun-zai: He’s in my room to talk about some filming stuff. He won’t stay long. If he’s too noisy, just tell me.
Yun-zai: Get some good rest tonight, brother ^^
Xi Zhiyu’s eyelids felt hot. It was a perfectly normal conversation, just like usual, yet everything about it felt overly ambiguous.
Just then, Yuan Zhoulu rang the doorbell. Xi Zhiyu stood up and went to open the door, his cheeks still sporting an abnormal, faint flush.
Yuan Zhoulu looked suspicious for a moment, glanced into the room and then toward the room next door. His eyes lit up, and he flashed a meaningful smile.
Xi Zhiyu had showered and was waiting for him to start dinner in his pajamas. “Are you hungry?”
Yuan Zhoulu walked in. “I’m alright.”
Xi Zhiyu pretended not to see the hidden agenda. He led him to the dining area. The meal sent up by the butler was still hot, but the cool lighting reflected in the boy’s dark pupils, making the freshly showered Xi Zhiyu look somewhat cool and detached.
Yuan Zhoulu stared at him even more intensely.
Xi Zhiyu picked up his knife and fork. Unsettled by the gaze, he looked down to check his clothes. “Is something wrong?”
His tone was still gentle; he was a natural at acting as if everything were normal.
Yuan Zhoulu clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them. With a tone of relaxed amusement, he smiled and asked, “I’ve wanted to ask you since the last time you bought that pumpkin cake. Finally, I have the chance.”
Xi Zhiyu: “Is it a homework problem you don’t understand?”
“Of course not.”
Yuan Zhoulu cleared his throat. “Have you guessed that the person Xie Yun likes is you?”
Xi Zhiyu, who was slowly cutting his steak, suffered a visible tremor in his hand. He nearly lost his grip on the silver fork.
He looked back up to find Yuan Zhoulu full of gossip, one eyebrow arched. He couldn’t help but look away.
Xi Zhiyu: “I… I didn’t quite hear you just now.”
“Oh.”
Yuan Zhoulu intentionally spoke louder. “Then can I ask another question?”
Xi Zhiyu replied after a pause. “Yeah?”
Yuan Zhoulu grinned. “Do you like him?”
Xi Zhiyu stood up, his face flushed with embarrassment. The legs of the chair scraped against the floor. Realizing he was being ungraceful, he lowered his eyes, his breath hitching. “Paipai.”
Yuan Zhoulu completely ignored his reaction. With squinted, smiling eyes, he talked to himself: “Our Zhiyu, who never accepts love letters and is so emotionally dense, is only ‘double-standard’ when it comes to Xie Yun.”
“You must have realized it by now.”
“That you like him too~”