Translator: Guy Gone Bad

  The hot summer breeze blew into the room from the window and sprinkled over Yu Qinghuan’s face, rolling up a wisp of hair on his forehead which tightly sticking to his sweaty skin, making his heart even more irritated and stuffy.

  Looking blankly at Huo Qu, who was asking for praise with a proud face, Qinghuan stretched out his hands and turned Huo Qu’s handsome face to one side. Angrily, he said, “Leave me alone. Don’t sway in front of my eyes.”


  You thought you are pretty smart, huh? Opened the window and bang! Problem solved?

  “Qinghuan,” Huo Qu did not leave, but stretched out his hands and hugged Qinghuan instead, rubbing on his shoulder pettishly, “I didn’t sway in front of your eyes, I’m beside you.”


  Yu Qinghuan almost choked out a mouthful of blood by this reply, his shaking shoulder even failed to support Huo Qu’s head leaning on it.

  He was in fear and trembling, not knowing what kind of fate lied in front of him, while Huo Qu was unaware of it and even could not understand what he meant. Yu Qinghuan’s chest suddenly rose with an avalanche of irritability, which immediately shattered his reason.

  He was just about to push Huo Qu aside. Encountering with that pair of dark, bright, but caring eyes, and the hands that were holding his arms, he unconsciously stopped his move.

  “Qinghuan,” Huo Qu held Qinghuan’s hands in his palm and his voice was gentle, “Are you thirsty? What about I get you a cup of water?” Huo Qu walked to the table, awkwardly picked up the kettle. He poured a glass of water and handed it to Qinghuan, “Have a drink.”


  It was plain boiled water, not as refreshing as ice water, but with a hint of coolness after having been put in the air-conditioning room for so long. Yu Qinghuan lowered his head and took a sip of water. The dryness and irritancy in his heart were relieved in an instant.

  Before he met Huo Qu, the boy could not even use a kettle. Last time when he was ill, Huo Qu squatted in front of the socket all day long and held the kettle for research because Yu Xin once said the patient needed more hot water.

  What was so simple even to a child could be extremely difficult for him. But he never gave up and struggled to learn how to boil hot water.

  In those days, he would remind himself every half an hour like a clock to let Qinghuan drink some hot water.

  The thought of Huo Qu kindness to him gradually settled Yu Qinghuan’s heart.

  He liked Huo Qu for his innocence and honesty, even if this kind of character would annoy him and make him angry sometimes.

  At the beginning of his rebirth, he didn’t know the meaning of having a second life. His parents had gone, and he didn’t have much obsession with money and career. His heart was like floating in the air all day long, never falling on the ground.

  However, he met Huo Qu. From the boy, Yu Qinghuan gained a sense of security he had never felt before. Perhaps throughout his lifetime, Huo Qu would always act as what he had just done: ran to open the window when Qinghuan said his chest was stuffy.

  However, he felt relished.

  “What if your mother doesn’t like me?” Yu Qinghuan sighed, stretched out his hands and hugged Huo Qu, leaning his head on the man’s shoulder feebly.

  “How could it be!” Hearing this, Huo Qu suddenly widened his eyes and said in an inconceivable tone as if Yu Qinghuan had said something unreasonable, “You are so nice, who wouldn’t like you?”


  Yu Qinghuan’s heart quivered and his chest was almost filled with honey. He kept silent for a long time before he scratched Huo Qu’s palm and asked in a low voice, “Have you seen strange things on the Internet again?”


  After a pause, he added, “Like coaxing a little girl or something.”


  Huo Qu tilted his head and digested the meaning for a while before he laughed, “No, I’ll only read your news online.”
……

  How to Love You was an urban drama. The filming site was not far from downtown. Within an hour, Huo Rong already drove Mrs. Huo to her destination.

  “Mom, let me help you,” Huo Rong reached out wanting to help her with the bag, but Mrs. Huo dodged it.

  The old lady pinned her windblown hair behind her ears and walked straight forward, rejecting her second son’s kindness, “No, I can do it by myself.”


  What was going on?

  Huo Rong’s eyes stared at his mother blankly. Whenever his mother had outings, she would always command them to help with carrying her bags. Why did she suddenly change today? He followed up in bewilderment. Until he stood at the door of the hotel and saw his mother looking in the mirror and tidying up her clothes, he suddenly realized something.

  Did his mother want to make Yu Qinghuan know it was really she who brought him those zongzi in person?

  On hearing that someone was knocking at the door, Huo Qu immediately stood up but was held back by Yu Qinghuan when he tried to walk over to open the door.

  Yu Qinghuan took a deep breath, looked into Huo Qu’s puzzled eyes, and said with a smile, “It’s okay, let me.”


  He held the door handle, bit his teeth and pulled open the door.

  Mrs. Huo didn’t expect it wasYu Qinghuan who opened the door. She was stunned for a few seconds before she came into her normal being, “Qinghuan, sorry to disturb you. Huo Rong told me you are quite busy recently.”


  “No, no.” Yu Qinghuan hurriedly leaned to one side and let Mrs. Huo and Huo Rong enter the room. He repressed his beating heart, trying to stay calm. “I happen to be free this afternoon.”


  Mrs. Huo nodded and handed him the zongzi, “Those zongzi my chef made taste pretty good. So brought you some.” After a pause, she added, “I don’t know what kind of stuffings you like, so I brought some of each flavor.”


  “Thank you.” Yu Qinghuan was flattered and received the present. He pulled over a chair for Mrs. Huo, “Please.” Then he carefully placed the food on the table and turned to pour a glass of water for the lady. When placing the cup, his hand shook and the water almost spilled.

  “Take it slow. No hurry.” Mrs. Huo reached out and gave him a hand. She took the cup and had a sip of water to show due respect for Yu Qinghuan’s feelings.