Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 62. Just Good Friends?

November 10, 1997, Monday. Guan Xuchen was walking alone on the way to school. With his head bowed, he shuffled forward, kicking small pebbles on the path, looking gloomy.

Suddenly, he heard a "clang" sound. It turned out that a small pebble had hit a beggar's enamel bowl by the roadside.

Guan Xuchen recalled being bullied by a beggar in Junior Two and a surge of fear welled up in him. Fortunately, this beggar didn't seem as fierce as the one from before. He simply picked up the pebble, examined it, dropped it into his pocket, and gave Guan Xuchen a silly grin.

Guan Xuchen quickly quickened his pace. After walking for a while, he saw that the beggar wasn't following him and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He then recalled how a couple of years ago, he had been bullied by a beggar and how Gao Xinglang had saved him and offered to be his "bodyguard".

At the thought, a sweet smile tugged at Guan Xuchen's lips. But the smile faded quickly, replaced by a tinge of sadness. He murmured to himself, "If Lang dislikes me, why would he still be my 'bodyguard'?"

"Soupy, wait for me!" Just then, Gao Xinglang's voice came from behind.

Guan Xuchen paused, hesitated, and instead of turning around, kept walking.

"Soupy, wait for me!" Gao Xinglang called out as he caught up. He patted Guan Xuchen on the shoulder and asked with a laugh. "Soupy, why did you keep walking away when I was calling you?"

"Oh, it's you, Lang. I thought it was someone else," Guan Xuchen gave a faint smile and continued walking toward the school.

"Soupy, don't walk so fast." Gao Xinglang caught up again, grabbed Guan Xuchen's arm, and asked bluntly, "Soupy, why have you been avoiding me lately?"

"I—I haven't..." Guan Xuchen stammered.

"Then why do you skip our morning walks to school and avoid lunch with me? You said you were busy when I asked you to play basketball and have sushi last Saturday. And you rushed home right after your English class on Sunday," Gao Xinglang grumbled.

"I was preparing for the midterms, so I wanted to squeeze in more study time," Guan Xuchen explained earnestly. "Plus, I was sick before, and the doctor said my stomach wasn't good and I should avoid cold and raw foods..."

"Oh, I see," Gao Xinglang said, his frown softening into an approving smile. "Soupy, you're so hard-working, Soupy. No wonder you ranked fifth in the liberal arts classes!"

"It's just so-so," Guan Xuchen smiled. "You also did well on the midterms too, Lang."

"I was really just 'so-so'—98th in the science classes," Gao Xinglang laughed heartily. "As long as I can stay on the basketball team for another year."

"Mhm, Lang, you've got this!" Guan Xuchen encouraged him.

"Thank you," Gao Xinglang replied with a hearty laugh, then grew serious. "Soupy, just tell me directly if something's bothering you. We're best friends—brothers. No need to hold back."

"Okay, I get it," Guan Xuchen nodded slightly, then hesitated, "But... even my mom says I act... girly sometimes... Aren't you embarrassed to be around me when people make fun of that?"

"Oh, so that's what this is about..." Gao Xinglang said with a self-deprecating chuckle. "I was being sharp-tongued last time—don't take it to heart, Soupy."

"It's not about what you said," Guan Xuchen said with a look of grievance, "Bro Feifan made fun of you in junior middle school, and you called him 'sharp-tongued'. Earlier when Wei Qing made fun of you, you called him 'sharp-tongued'. But now even that school magazine girl... I just don't want you to be unhappy."