The Long Chase For The President's Spouse

Chp. 70

Chapter 70: I Found Your Parents

Zhang Heng grinned slyly as he asked, "You're in love with me, aren't you? Stop trying to deny it."

Gu Zhun's face reddened even further, but he remained silent this time, neither nodding nor denying Zhang Heng's conjecture.

"Will you come back with me, then?" Zhang Heng asked quietly.

Gu Zhun raised his head at the question, his eyes lost and flickering with uncertainty. His cheeks remained flushed, and his lips quivered slightly as if he were breathless from anxiety and embarrassment.

Zhang Heng was not going to force Gu Zhun into giving him an answer. He had put everything on the line when he came to Japan in search of Gu Zhun, and he had already beaten the odds when he finally found him. This time, he would wait for Gu Zhun to make up his mind.

"Let's go." Zhang Heng took Gu Zhun by the hand.

Gu Zhun followed Zhang Heng and drifted along unquestioningly. It was as if he had complete confidence that Zhang Heng would keep him safe wherever they went – as if he believed that even the most insignificant places could be heaven on earth if Zhang Heng was with him.

This was the way that things had always been.

Seven years ago, shortly after Zhang Heng transferred to Gu Zhun's school, their form teacher decided to conduct a class meeting outdoors. She encouraged the class to take inspiration from the theme, 'In Search of Spring', and immerse themselves in their surroundings. The room soon became empty as the class left in groups to enjoy the flora the school campus offered. Only Zhang Heng and Gu Zhun remained. Their teacher spared them no more than a cursory glance before leaving as well to join the other students; she knew that Gu Zhun would rather bury himself in his studies for an entire day than waste a single second outdoors.

Zhang Heng watched as Gu Zhun worked through the practice questions in his book. He could not understand why Gu Zhun was working so hard when they were only in their second year of junior high.

"Why didn't you go out with everyone else?" he asked. But there was no response from Gu Zhun, who was completely lost in his studies.

Half an hour later, Gu Zhun paused briefly to put aside his math practices and pick up a new set before resuming his work. Zhang Heng's mood began to sour as he continued observing Gu Zhun from his seat. How was it possible for anyone to study for such long hours without taking a break? Wouldn't his mind be numb from all that work? Wouldn't his butt hurt from sitting still for so long?

"Are you one those nerds who do well in exams but are hopeless in everything else?" Zhang Heng wondered aloud. After all, there were many types of elite students. Some of them had no trouble enjoying an active social life while maintaining exceptional grades in examinations. Some, on the other hand, devoted all their time to mind-numbing drills and spared no time for relaxation...

Instead of remaining silent, Gu Zhun unexpectedly replied, "Maybe..."

"What? Did you just admit that you're a nerd?"

Zhang Heng eventually found out, much later, that Gu Zhun was not responding to his question at all. He was reading a passage aloud in order to experience the text more effectively and Zhang Heng simply mistook his recitation as an answer.

At the time, however, Zhang Heng reacted to Gu Zhun's 'admission' by springing to his feet and forcibly pulling Gu Zhun out of his seat. Taken by surprise, Gu Zhun stumbled and snapped sharply at Zhang Heng, "What do you think you are doing." Gu Zhun's cold declarative tone made it clear that he was in no mood to entertain Zhang Heng's explanation. School was ending soon and he was not going to waste his precious time on Zhang Heng.