Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 38. Xiaoda or Dongsha?

May 12, 1996, Sunday.

Guan Xuchen was alone at home reading a book in the evening. His eyes were on the book, but his mind was elsewhere, lost in thoughts unknown.

At that moment, he suddenly heard the doorbell ring. Guan Xuchen thought it was his parents returning, and hurriedly went to open the door, only to see Gao Xinglang standing there with a smile, holding a fruit basket.

"Lang, what brings you here?" Guan Xuchen asked in pleasant surprise, "Haven't we agreed to skip the English tutoring this evening since you had a competition today??"

"Why, Soupy, you don't want to see me unless it's for English tutoring?" Gao Xinglang joked.

"Why wouldn't I want to see you, Lang? Come in and have a seat," Guan Xuchen replied with a smile, and then said with a hint of complaint, "You guys left in a hurry after the awards ceremony this morning. I tried calling you just now, but the line was always busy..."

"After the awards ceremony, Coach Yang invited us to lunch. As for the phone... I'll explain to you later." As Gao Xinglang walked into the living room, he held up the fruit basket in his hand and said, "Someone sent some fruit to my dad. I brought some over for your parents, and of course also for you, Soupy."

"Thank you, Lang. And please thank Uncle Gao for me as well," Guan Xuchen said with a smile as he took the fruit basket.

Seeing that there was only Guan Xuchen and himself in the house, Gao Xinglang asked, "Soupy, aren't your parents home?"

"Mm, they went to a wedding banquet," Guan Xuchen replied.

Gao Xinglang found it odd and asked, "Then why didn't you go with them?"

"Alas," Guan Xuchen sighed lightly and replied, "I don't really like this kind of boring socializing. Just some distant relatives anyway. Besides, aren't the finals coming up soon? I might as well seize the time to study."

"Soupy, come on. Don't push yourself too hard. You need to take a breather," Gao Xinglang laughed and said. "Besides, socializing from time to time keeps you from becoming a nerd."

"Then I'll 'socialize' with you now," Guan Xuchen pointed at the fruit basket and joked, "Lang, what's your favorite fruit? Let's 'socialize' while eating fruit."

"Grapes," Gao Xinglang was amused and replied.

"I like grapes too," Guan Xuchen said, unwrapped the fruit basket, took out the bunch of grapes, and carried it into the kitchen.

After a while, Guan Xuchen came out with the washed grapes on a plate and placed them in front of Gao Xinglang. He said with a smile, "By the way, Lang, I haven't officially congratulated you on winning the championship today, and as the captain of the team!"

"Thank you, Soupy!" Gao Xinglang had taken off a grape, but suddenly put it back. He took out a gold medal from his pocket, handed it to Guan Xuchen with a smile, "I almost forgot this. I'd like to give you this gold medal, too, Soupy."

Guan Xuchen looked a little surprised, then waved his hand and said a little shyly, "Lang, you've already given me a gold medal from a basketball game before. This is the first gold medal you won as captain in middle school. It's so meaningful. You should keep it for yourself..."

"Soupy, why are you always so shy and reserved?" Gao Xinglang laughed, then stood up and, without any further ado, put the gold medal around Guan Xuchen's neck.

"If you hadn't helped me with my studies, I probably wouldn't have made it into the school team; and if you hadn't encouraged me, I might have quit the captain's position long ago. So you deserve a share of the credit for this gold medal."