Chapter 66: Feng Xiaochun
After blowing out the candles, Gu Yang had Song Yinxing make a wish. Resting his chin on his hand to watch the other open his eyes again, he casually asked, “What did you wish for just now?”
Song Yinxing was about to answer, but Gu Yang went on without waiting: “Never mind. Better not say it out loud; it won’t work if you do.”
“…Aren’t you making a wish?” Song Yinxing asked softly.
“Better not. If two people make wishes in a row, they might think it’s too greedy and then neither will work,” Gu Yang replied calmly. “Besides, I don’t really have any wishes.”
After the candles went out, the room was plunged into darkness. Gu Yang’s face was swallowed by deep shadows, his expression concealed behind an invisible veil, leaving only vague contours.
Song Yinxing fell silent as well, saying nothing further.
After all, the wish he had just made was for Gu Yang.
He wanted Gu Yang to live longer, much longer.
Once the lights were on, they cut the cake.
The four-inch cake wasn’t very big, but by the time they finished, it was already late.
At such a late hour, Song Yinxing naturally couldn’t leave Gu Yang to go back alone, so he suggested accompanying him home and then returning himself.
Gu Yang frowned, finding it troublesome: “Isn’t this a bit too much? I’m a grown person. Do you think I’d get lost?”
Song Yinxing pursed his lips. He was inherently pessimistic, always imagining the worst, and he completely disagreed with Gu Yang’s attitude.
Instinctively, he said, “No, it’s too dangerous. Why don’t you just stay at my place tonight?”
Gu Yang froze, expression like he had discovered a new continent.
Song Yinxing inwardly cursed himself for saying that, wanting to retract it, but Gu Yang spoke softly, almost shyly:
“I’ve never stayed over at anyone else’s house before…”
“Fine then,” Song Yinxing relented. “You can sleep at my place tonight.”
The front door of the Gu residence had an alert chime whenever someone opened it, loud enough to echo throughout the first floor.
Gu Yang didn’t want to disturb anyone, so he had considered climbing through a window to return. But now, he found Song Yinxing’s suggestion reasonable.
“Which room should I sleep in?” Gu Yang asked, tilting his chin toward the two nearby bedrooms.
Song Yinxing hadn’t expected him to agree and was caught off guard: “You’ll sleep in my room…”
“But don’t move yet. Let me go in and tidy up first.”
Saying that, Song Yinxing rushed into his room. After closing the door, he started straightening everything.
The master bedroom next door had originally been his mother’s, but since she was hospitalized long-term, Song Zihan had moved in, treating it like a messy dorm room, so it was naturally unsuitable for Gu Yang.
Song Yinxing had mild cleanliness and OCD tendencies. Though the room was already tidy, he quickly replaced the sheets and blankets with freshly washed ones.
While doing so, he noticed a scarf on his pillow and remembered it.
He was grateful he had noticed it beforehand; otherwise, if Gu Yang saw it, he might think Song Yinxing was a pervert.
Now, with Gu Yang sitting outside, he couldn’t just carry the scarf out openly. He placed it in the safe inside his wardrobe, alongside cash and important documents.
Once that was done, he casually walked out. “You can come in now.”
Gu Yang stood, draping an arm over Song Yinxing’s shoulder as they walked inside together.
“Actually, there was no need to hide it,” Song Yinxing thought.
He bent slightly to match Gu Yang’s height, still distracted by the possibility of other oversights. After absentmindedly nodding, he was shocked to realize, “You knew?”
He hadn’t expressed such a big change in expression in a long time. Gu Yang’s slight smile carried an indescribable playfulness and intimacy.
Under that gaze, Song Yinxing felt a subtle current flow through every vein, unsure if it was from guilt or something else.
“It’s just a porn magazine, isn’t it?” Gu Yang said, smiling. “Xie Wu told me that boys in puberty always keep some in their rooms.”
Song Yinxing: “…”
Honestly, that remark hit him as hard as when he once eagerly discovered from Gu Yang that Xie Wu’s brother was into married women.
He wanted to defend himself, but Gu Yang had already let go of him, lightly patting his shoulder as if to say no words were necessary.
“I didn’t bring pajamas. Do you have an extra set?”
Song Yinxing silently fetched a clean set from his wardrobe. He tended to focus on one task at a time and didn’t realize he’d left the topic hanging.
Gu Yang removed his jacket and unbuttoned the inner layer: “I’ve already showered before coming, so I’ll just change directly.”
Song Yinxing nodded vaguely, quickly leaving to avoid awkwardness.
Once the door closed, he leaned against it, still unsettled.
At that moment, a message arrived.
He glanced at it; it was from the assistant of Nie Runhua.
After the outsourced hit incident, Gu Yang had mentioned it humorously.
Hearing this news, he predicted that the unlucky assistant would be the one to take the blame. He immediately contacted Nie’s assistant using the phone number, gaining trust step by step.
Having dealt with Xie Kai once, he knew Xie’s temper—a memory etched deeply in him from the ordeal of losing an ear.
Back then, Xie Kai knew Nie Ying was behind the scenes but couldn’t deal with her, so he vented on him.
This time was different.
The assistant informed him that the Xie family had begun taking action and even thanked him, saying without his intervention, Nie Runhua would have captured him first.
Song Yinxing lowered his phone and let out a faint cold laugh.
The person Nie Ying implicated wasn’t him, powerless, but an assistant who had always been around Nie Runhua and knew a lot.
He had the assistant hand over the information to the Xie family in exchange for protection, so Xie Kai would have someone to vent on without dragging others in.
He didn’t hold much resentment for Xie Kai breaking his ear.
…After all, Xie Wu had died because of him.
Some things he could let go of, but Nie Ying? Never.
The intense hatred and resentment consumed him again, and he gripped his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
At that moment, a light push came from behind the door.
Finding it wouldn’t budge, the force disappeared for a moment, then returned as someone pressed harder.
Song Yinxing stepped aside. In the next second, Gu Yang stumbled out.
Once Song Yinxing steadied him, Gu Yang looked at him blankly: “Why were you blocking my door?”
The words sounded mildly accusatory, showing no awareness of staying over at someone else’s house.
Song Yinxing stared straight at him.
Gu Yang had already changed into his pajamas. They didn’t fit perfectly, loose at the shoulders and long sleeves covering his hands.
“I want some water,” Gu Yang said.
Song Yinxing found a cup, washed it several times, dried it, and poured water before handing it to him.
After a few sips, Gu Yang naturally handed it back, and Song Yinxing placed it on the table.
As he did, his thoughts became hazy.
The anger and frustration he had felt moments ago suddenly dissipated.
He had never wanted to be trapped in the past after understanding all the grudges—it would make his life too tragic.
And until now, he had never been able to construct a clear future for himself.
If only days like this could become normal.
They could live in the same house; Gu Yang would stay by his side, intimately close, making any request.
Song Yinxing almost indulgently imagined it.
But the moon wouldn’t come to him on its own; he had to walk step by step toward it.
Taking Nie Ying down could at least prevent Gu Qingxu’s death and the Gu family’s turmoil later.
Maybe… this could slightly change the outcome of his previous life?
…
The next morning, Song Yinxing got up early to make breakfast. If he were alone, he usually wouldn’t eat.
“Skipping breakfast will give you a stomachache,” Gu Yang said while drinking porridge, evaluating his actions.
Gu Yang also didn’t care much for breakfast, a habit instilled by Xiao Huang in the house, who had once neglected breakfast in high school and developed stomach problems.
Song Yinxing didn’t respond. It wasn’t because he couldn’t, but because he wanted to save money. In his previous life, after dropping out, he had also suffered stomach issues, sometimes painfully enough to contemplate suicide.
“I’ll be careful from now on,” he said softly.
After breakfast, Song Yinxing rode his bicycle, taking Gu Yang to school.
“Did you forget your backpack?” Song Yinxing realized only when they reached the teaching building.
“No worries, I asked someone to carry it.”
Song Yinxing hadn’t realized who it was when a cold, murderous aura approached.
He looked up and saw Gu Qingxu, frowning, carrying a backpack on his back and another on his shoulder. Seeing Gu Yang, he threw one directly at him.
Song Yinxing quickly stepped in, catching it.
“Last night you stayed out late, and today you have the nerve to make me carry your stuff? Who do you think you are?”
“You have a birthday, so what? You even made Father send me away, leaving me to deal with those old bastards at the company all night!”
Gu Yang accepted the backpack from Song Yinxing and said thanks.
Gu Qingxu, exhausted from staying up, seethed: “Where were you last night? Don’t tell me it was at someone surnamed Song’s house?”
Gu Yang gave him a look of subtle disdain, clearly annoyed at his nagging.
“Fine, fine!” Gu Qingxu sneered repeatedly. Unable to stand it any longer, he coldly delivered the backpack and left.
“What’s up with Gu Qingxu? Exploded first thing in the morning,” Xie Wu, who had run into Gu Qingxu, commented. He waved at Song Yinxing: “Morning.”
Song Yinxing just nodded.
Seeing Xie Wu reminded him of the tragedies of his past life, so he preferred minimal contact, even for the other’s sake.
Xie Wu didn’t mind the cold attitude; naturally straightforward, he felt even more at ease after being hit on the forehead last time.
“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s return to our classrooms,” Xie Wu said, guiding Gu Yang upstairs.
“By the way, why do you two look like you came together?” Xie Wu suddenly asked, recalling earlier events.
“We did come together,” Gu Yang said casually. “I slept at his place last night.”
At that, Ying Jiayi, gossiping with Yu Bai, whipped her head around: “You slept with who?”
“Song Yinxing,” Xie Wu interjected. “And didn’t Gu Yang just say he slept at his place? Jiayi, your wording is weird.”
“Wait, why did you sleep at Song Yinxing’s house?” Yu Bai asked, puzzled. “After leaving the hospital last night, didn’t you go back with Uncle Gu?”
“I snuck out in the middle of the night,” Gu Yang said, yawning, a little sleepy, returning to his seat.
“Didn’t sleep well?” He Ming’an asked calmly. “Did Song snore or something, disturb you?”
“We didn’t sleep together. I’m always like this,” Gu Yang replied.
Hearing this, He Ming’an finally smiled: “Why did you sneak out in the middle of the night? It’s your birthday, and so much happened already; you shouldn’t have rested properly?”
“After all, I’ve never stayed over at anyone else’s house. Since he suggested it, I thought it was fine to try,” Gu Yang said.
Yu Bai widened his eyes in shock: “You’ve never stayed over at anyone else’s house? Not even the class monitor’s?”
He hadn’t thought it through; it seemed unbelievable since they had known each other since elementary school.
After speaking, he instinctively wanted to slap himself.
He Ming’an said nothing, just looked at Yu Bai with his usual calm, unreadable smile.
He took a small gift box from his bag and handed it to Gu Yang: “I wanted to give this at your birthday party, but it was too chaotic last night.”
Every year, He Ming’an personally gave him a gift. Gu Yang opened it.
It was a necklace—a jade green central stone surrounded by a ring of fire-colored diamonds.
“I thought you’d give me earrings this year.”
As he said this, Gu Yang unconsciously touched his earlobe; the recently pierced hole had finally stopped hurting.
“That would just encourage you to pierce your ears,” He Ming’an said with a shake of his head. “I bought this during my trip to Xiangjiang.”
Gu Yang honestly admired the craftsmanship.
“Looking at your expression, it seems I chose correctly,” He Ming’an smiled, noticing the necklace at Gu Yang’s collarbone. “I haven’t seen you wear this before. Doesn’t seem like your usual style.”
“This is Song Yinxing’s birthday gift?”
Gu Yang, still holding the box, answered casually.
“He actually knows what you like. He really put thought into it,” He Ming’an said appreciatively.
Ying Jiayi suddenly remembered something: “Is your brother dealing with Nie Runhua now?”
Having been groomed as the heir, she had access to such information.
Xie Wu scratched his head: “Yes, I told him to stop, but my brother’s stubborn. I worried both sides would get hurt, but he somehow dug up all this info. I really admire him.”
“Nie Runhua is finished this time,” Ying Jiayi scoffed. “The old man has other kids. From what I know, there’s enough dirt to strip him bare.”
The information included both unsavory business dealings and Nie Runhua’s messy relationships over the years. The latter was a favorite among online netizens.
This was because Nie’s assistant managed the boss’s daily life in addition to company affairs.
Never underestimate the anger of a worker.
“The situation is still internal, but Nie Liu Hua will leak it. Even if the old man is lenient, public opinion will crush the stock price.”
“My brother really does big things quietly,” Xie Wu sighed, touching his forehead. “I hardly feel resentment toward Nie Ying now. Since Nie Runhua’s suffering, Nie Ying couldn’t have fared better.”
The only good thing was that Madam Nie had successfully finalized her divorce, escaping that nightmare.
Xie Wu wasn’t narrow-minded; he wouldn’t help Nie Ying, but he also didn’t enjoy kicking someone down. For him, this matter was closed.
His attention was on something else.
After school, while Gu Yang hadn’t left yet, he looped an arm around him, asking playfully, “Any plans this afternoon? If not, I’ll take you out.”
Gu Yang didn’t really want to go, but Xie Wu’s grip was too strong.
He also generally didn’t reject or push away others’ invitations.
Xie Wu winked at He Ming’an, assuring him, and then briskly dragged Gu Yang along.
After a while without questions, Xie Wu grew anxious: “I want you to come see someone with me.”
“Who?” Gu Yang finally asked.
“Feng Xiaochun,” Xie Wu replied seriously.
Possibly his older brother’s future fated wife.
Gu Yang paused slightly.
Xie Wu, noticing him stop, asked nervously, “Is something wrong?”
After a moment, Gu Yang said slowly, “It’s fine. I’ll come with you.”
Xie Wu grinned: “Loyal to the word. Let’s go!”
He hailed a car, giving the destination.
Gu Yang didn’t ask much along the way; Xie Wu rambled on:
“Do you know why I want to see Feng Xiaochun? Once my brother mentioned her, he’d never looked so happy before. It was the first time he really cared for a woman.”
“You think I shouldn’t go see what my future sister-in-law might look like?”
He babbled to rationalize his actions, but glancing at Gu Yang, he saw him completely spaced out, not listening.
Xie Wu: “…”
What a waste of my feelings.
They stopped at an old street lined with clothing shops.
Xie Wu led Gu Yang to a women’s clothing store at the end.
He had come just to check, unsure how to find Feng Xiaochun since she wasn’t in their circle.
But his junior high friends knew someone on the street where his mother’s shop was, fitting the description: a woman of age, unmarried, with a high school daughter.
Perfect match! Everything matched!
Excited, Xie Wu wanted to see her, bringing Gu Yang along to gauge her reaction.
He sneakily pressed against the glass to look inside.
Mostly, it was a women’s clothing store; otherwise, he’d have gone in.
This area was isolated, traffic sparse. Several shops had closed; this was the only one left, making his behavior seem a bit creepy.
“Why’s it so dark? It’s daytime… Whoa—”
He had wanted to peek in, but his gaze darted around. In the distance, he saw a long-haired figure in their school uniform.
He had heard from his friends that Feng Xiaochun’s daughter attended their school but rarely went there.
Xie Wu didn’t expect to run into her.
As schoolmates, with the girl being female, Xie Wu feared an awkward encounter. Plus, he came to see someone who might be his future sister-in-law—how could he face her daughter?
The street ended in a dead end. Xie Wu looked left and right, first hiding Gu Yang behind a stack of cardboard boxes, then finding a spot for himself.
Xia Chun had just returned from school. He had no work today and wanted to see his mother.
Approaching the store, he took a deep breath, as if it took great courage just to step inside.
Before he could enter, a rustling sound came from beside him.
He slowly turned and met the blank expression of Gu Yang, who had been knocked out from behind a cardboard box.
