“Is that so?”
Xie Yizhou was somewhat skeptical, but the next second, he was interrupted by the other party.
“I just heard from the doctor that there is nothing wrong with your vocal organs. Do you want to try speaking? Since you are post-lingually deaf, if you undergo rehabilitation training and persist in practicing, you can make sounds and communicate normally with people.”
Hearing this, Xie Yizhou was momentarily stunned.
Could he speak normally?
He instinctively opened his mouth; he had actually become accustomed to silence. In the narrow rooms of the laboratory, no one communicated with him except for the researcher who taught him. His only friend was a spider in the corner of the wall.
Therefore, sound was not a necessity for him. Food and water were essentials, and sunlight was a luxury. Thinking of this, he looked up and saw that slightly cold face, and his eyes suddenly crinkled into a smile. Being unable to communicate normally with the mission target might affect the mission completion rate.
“What are you smirking at?”
Gu Yulan looked up and saw the youth looking at him with a silly grin. He raised an eyebrow. “What do you think? Give me a straight answer.”
Xie Yizhou nodded.
Gu Yulan let out a light “tsk” and pressed his hand onto the youth’s head, ruffling it. “That is more like it!”
Taking the youth’s self-esteem into consideration, he said softly, “Do not worry, these expenses are not for nothing. Just like the previous hospital fees, they will be deducted from your salary. However, I have one requirement.”
What requirement?
Xie Yizhou looked over blankly with his hair in a mess. In Gu Yulan’s eyes, he looked rather adorable. Gu Yulan leaned against a nearby table, raised an eyebrow, and said solemnly, “You must listen to me.”
Xie Yizhou thought for a moment. Had he not been listening to him?
“Listen to me. First point: you are not allowed to follow me anymore.”
Perhaps kids at this age all have a bit of a rebellious streak. Gu Yulan could not help but feel a headache when he thought about the previous incidents. One moment the youth would nod obediently, and the next moment, he would act as if nothing had happened.
He did not think the youth’s appearance at the A University campus was just a simple coincidence. Since forceful measures like threats did not work, he could only adopt a gentler approach.
Upon hearing this, Xie Yizhou lowered his eyes. That was not following; it was predictive anticipation. Gu Yulan’s gaze was scrutinizing. He had to see the youth agree with his own eyes.
【Actually, it does not matter if we agree to him for now. It is not like you haven’t been rebellious before,】 0377 whispered.
Xie Yizhou lifted his eyelids but said nothing.
【Is there a need to hesitate about this? Hurry up and agree to him!】
Gu Yulan had been waiting for quite a while, and his brow furrowed. “Are you unwilling?”
He could not bring a tag-along every time he went out. He did not know what obsession the youth had that made him so insistent on following him. Under the system’s urging, Xie Yizhou nodded.
Gu Yulan breathed a sigh of relief. He put on a serious face and said, “If I catch you again, watch out because I will not be polite!”
He clenched his fingers into a fist and waved it fiercely in front of the youth, lifting his chin. “Do you understand?”
He had to use both the carrot and the stick.
Looking at the fist right in front of him, Xie Yizhou was not particularly afraid. However, seeing the bright crimson on the back of the hand, he could not help but frown. Imitating the other’s previous actions, he grabbed the waving hand and frowned at the tiny wound on the back of it. He looked up at the other man.
Does it hurt?
Gu Yulan’s hand was caught unexpectedly. Seeing the youth’s concerned expression, his feigned ferocity instantly froze. A cool touch spread across his palm, making him pause. Meeting those clear, black-and-white eyes, he seemed to know what the other wanted to say and said on impulse, “It does not hurt.”
Xie Yizhou did not believe him. How could it not hurt when he was injured? He thought about it, lowered his head, and blew gently on the wound.
This way, it will not hurt.
Gu Yulan watched as the youth held his hand, head slightly bowed, blowing on that insignificant wound with extreme seriousness. As the cool air, carrying a hint of moisture, passed over the back of his hand, that patch of skin instantly became scorching hot. It felt as if a tiny electric current had surged through, making Gu Yulan’s scalp tingle.
This was way too sappy! This was something you did to coax a child. Suddenly, a realization flashed through his mind like lightning, causing his eyes to widen.
Could it be that he likes me?
Gu Yulan’s expression immediately became serious as he looked at the youth’s clean face. It seemed like a possibility. He abruptly pulled his hand back.
Why had he not thought of this before? It was not that he was too narcissistic. He simply viewed the other as a younger brother; a little kid who understood nothing. Thinking about it this way, the youth’s previous behaviors seemed to make sense now.
Xie Yizhou looked at the hand that was suddenly withdrawn and looked up with a surprised gaze. What happened? Why did he suddenly become so serious?
Gu Yulan’s brow was locked as he said solemnly, “There is a second point: you cannot like me.”
Eh?
Hearing this, Xie Yizhou was completely dazed. He blinked, not quite understanding. He liked Gu Yulan? How come he did not know that!
Xie Yizhou’s eyes were clear and bright, with a hint of ignorance hidden within his curiosity. Even 0377 was surprised by this bizarre turn of events.
【Did I miss something just now? How did you two fall in love?】
“I am not sure either.”
Xie Yizhou shook his head to indicate his innocence. Gu Yulan saw the youth shaking his head, acting as if he did not admit it, and let out a cold snort in his heart.
Hmph, caught in the act and still refuses to admit it! Dare to do it, but not dare to own up to it?
That was not right. He looked at the youth’s slightly youthful face and felt that, being a few years older, it was necessary for him to help establish a correct outlook on love. Gu Yulan looked at the youth and said seriously, “Liking someone is not shameful.”
Before meeting Su Jianyang, he did not know he would fall for a man either.
“Do you like men?”
Xie Yizhou was stunned by the question. He did not know if he liked men or women because he had never liked anyone. Xie Yizhou shook his head.
“Then do you like me?”
Xie Yizhou paused. He did not know why Gu Yulan thought he liked him. Gu Yulan見狀, felt a sense of relief while also confirming his suspicions. He had to have a good talk with the other party. The youth might be mistaking admiration for an elder as liking.
He said earnestly, “You are still young and do not understand what true liking is. It is normal for you to have a good impression of me; it might just be a psychology of admiring the strong. You cannot treat this as liking.”
Xie Yizhou tried hard to listen, but this area touched upon his knowledge blind spot, and it was a bit difficult to understand. Meanwhile, 0377 kept droning on in his head.
【Could it be that you have been chasing him too hard lately? Host, do not panic. Based on my analysis, this kind of misunderstanding is very common in old-fashioned novels. It is also common for male supporting characters like Gu Yulan to have weird logic.】
Gu Yulan continued tirelessly, “Furthermore, liking someone cannot be done so casually. If you have someone you like later, you must be like me and absolutely cannot be half-hearted or give up halfway. One should finish what one starts, and the same applies to feelings.”
These principles were the summary of his many years of experience, so he spoke with genuine emotion. To prevent the youth from taking the wrong path, Gu Yulan’s throat felt a bit dry from talking.
“Do you understand?”
Hearing this, Xie Yizhou snapped out of it, met Gu Yulan’s inquiring gaze, and blinked his eyes.
Did he understand? He should have understood.