53 I Like it Even When it Hurts
Back to the present time, 10:19 A.M.
Mo Aini took a step back. "What..... made you....remember....."
"Hu-Hu did." Hu Chuntian showed him the stuffed toy. "You met him before, right? When you were painting me?"
Mo Aini silently nodded.
His mind was racing. Things have gotten even more complicated now. He couldn't grasp the situation yet, and how Hu Chuntian feels about all this.
Maybe he was just as shocked as he was. But when he looked at Hu Chuntian's face, it was totally calm and serene.
"I had an Uncle, he gave Hu-Hu to me. He was my father's greatest friend." Hu Chuntian said fondly, squeezing the stuffed toy in his hand. "He said Hu-Hu had magical powers, that he was a guardian of the good and just. I know it must have just been a make-believe tale for a child..... but now I'm not so sure."
"Is there something special about Hu-Hu?" Mo Aini asked.
Then, another person stepped on his foot. "Ow! Nevermind, let's.... let's talk somewhere else."
"Hey, you." Hu Chuntian called out to the person coldly, reaching out to them. "You stepped on my lover's foot. Apologize."
The person was a short man in his 50s, possibly a mixed-race since he had white hair and western features. "R-Really? My eyes are not so good anymore. My greatest apologies, please take this as compensation, I can't believe I stepped on a child!"
He took one of his expensive watches and offered it to Mo Aini, bowing his head again and again.
Mo Aini was baffled and scratched his head. "Er, it's ok, Sir. Please don't make a big deal about it. My friend was just overreacting."
He quickly placed a hand on Hu Chuntian's shoulder and pushed him towards the opposite direction of the old man. (Seriously, what's up with eccentric old men today!? Even my grandpa who refused to drink anything but pineapple juice is more normal than the oldies I encountered so far!)
They reach the elevator, and Hu Chuntian turned to him with a frown.
"Just a friend, Da Ge?"
Mo Aini distractedly pushed the button. "Uh.... I.... I can't possibly tell him that we were...."
"We were?"
This delinquent was looking at him expectantly and piercing through his very soul with those deep blue eyes that it made Mo Aini avert his gaze, flustered.
"Anyway.... Where do you want to talk?" Mo Aini changed the subject.
"Anywhere is fine."
Mo Aini doesn't really want to be the one making decisions now. He had always been the indecisive type that just go with the whims of everyone else. "Well.... Lunch is coming soon so how about a restaurant? There's a food area on the 5th floor from what I've seen on the map."
"Alright, Da Ge."
There was an awkward silence as the elevator went up with only the two of them.
Mo Aini was still confused and unsure when he felt something rest on his shoulder and cling to his arms.
"A-Tian.... what are you doing?"
"I'm sleepy." Hu Chuntian yawned. "I woke up early—No. I wasn't able to get any sleep at all. Because I was too anxious."
Hu Chuntian fluttered his eyelashes. "I'm anxious because of you."
So he says, but Mo Aini was the one who's acting more anxious between the two. "That doesn't explain why you're clinging to me like that. The elevator is going to open—"
"So you want us to just act as friends then? You don't want anyone seeing me show my affection towards you?" Hu Chuntian pouted.
"No.... It's just.... We're going to a restaurant with many people, are you still going to—"
"Yes." Hu Chuntian said firmly. "I don't care what other people think. You know that by now, Da Ge."
Mo Aini tried not to pay too much attention to it or his face will go completely red.
They went to a restaurant and ordered food with the blond delinquent still latching on to him like glue. They earned a few stares but otherwise, people minded their own business.
Mo Aini knows what this is, of course. Hu Chuntian was testing him. He's testing if Mo Aini would reject him again, even after the grievances he did for him.
So, Mo Aini let it be. It did feel nice just having skinship with him, though he would prefer if it was more in private.
They sat together at the table with some noodle soup and appetizers. Mo Aini thought: (It looked just like we're having an actual date.)
This thought made Mo Aini really perplexed and he stirred his soup in a daze.
"Da Ge." He came back a bit to his senses when Hu Chuntian called out, no longer clinging to him and expression serious.
"Hm?" Mo Aini raised his chopsticks midway.
"You didn't answer my question earlier. What are we, really?" Hu Chuntian asked.
A little bit of the soup got stuck on his throat and made him choke, but he cleared it up. Mo Aini's eyes flitted back and forth. "I... I don't know either...."
He turned to Hu Chuntian. "A-Tian... I hurt you three times already. I will be leaving this world soon. Do you still want to be with me? Do you still want to pursue to have something with me, even when it's pointless?"
"Do you even have to ask that, Da Ge?" Hu Chuntian tilted his head to the side. "I've been chasing you for three lives now, or whatever this is. All I'm waiting for is for you to explain. But even if you don't....."
Hu Chuntian placed his hand on top of his. "I know that I would still keep on pursuing you, even if you leave me again and again."
At this, Mo Aini gave up. Without asking the system for permission, he revealed everything.
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So far, the system has been quiet, so perhaps it doesn't see any problem with Hu Chuntian knowing. He'll forget all this after She Haoran's route was finished anyway.
Hu Chuntian asked some questions that even Mo Aini doesn't know the answer to, like what's the main goal of having girls try all the routes and why do they send people to travel alternate universes in the first place.
This kind of technology could make even bigger money than just making otome visual novels. So why didn't they?
There's obviously something more going on, but maybe the system would do something..... terrible if they pry too much so it's best for them to never find out.
"I see now. You've been keeping this kind of pain with you all along, Da Ge. Knowing that all connections would just be cut off once the game is over...." Hu Chuntian sighed as he ate his blueberry cheesecake for dessert. "I don't blame you anymore."
"But.... If there was no reason to be afraid of it..... Could you..." Hu Chuntian set down his fork and looked him straight in the eye. "Could you fall in love with me if the circumstances were different? Be honest."
Mo Aini scratched his head and nervously chuckled. "Heh, well.....That's the thing."
"I already fucking did."
Hu Chuntian's eyes brightened up. "Since when?"
"I'm not sure either. I'm not sure of a lot of things. Maybe I loved you only today....." Mo Aini said. "Maybe since the start?"
"Da Ge, what kind of answer is that?" Hu Chuntian made an irritated face. "C'mon, I need to know! You're making me want to punch you."
"Hehe, feel free to do so. I hurt you many times already." Mo Aini spread out his arms.
"Even if you did, Da Ge, all is forgiven. Like from what I read in the novels, 'Between lovers, there's no need for "sorry" and "thank you".' If loving you means I would keep on hurting, I don't mind it at all....."
Hu Chuntian embraced him instead of punching him. "I like it even when it hurts."
For some reason, that made Mo Aini burst out and cry right then and there.
"Goddammit...." Mo Aini sniffed. "You really should stop reading those novels, you're getting way too good with your words."
He tightly hugged Hu Chuntian as well, not caring about a single thing anymore besides the boy in his arms.
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They talked and hang around the airport some more, not minding the time. Eventually, the sun has started to set, yet they were still chatting and idly strolling by the parks and gardens outside.
"If you played the otome game instead of your sister, Da Ge, which route would you pick?" Hu Chuntian suddenly brought up the question.
Mo Aini chuckled nervously. "Nah.... It's better if you don't ask."
Hu Chuntian continued pushing the topic. "Hey, I won't be jealous, I promise! You can be completely honest with me."
"A-Tian, I know you." Mo Aini gently flicked his forehead. "I don't believe you'll never get jealous."
"Tsk, fine." Hu Chuntian crossed his arms. "Aren't you going to ask who I'd pick then?"
"Huh? You play otome games?"
Hu Chuntian laughed and smack his knee. "Silly Da Ge! Of course not! It's just a hypothetical question."
"Oh, ok. Which route would you play then?" Mo Aini asked.
"Hmm... I think Mr. President is the most appealing out of the four." Hu Chuntian answered without hesitation because this is just the type of person he was, honest and completely unfiltered.
"You and She Haoran are quite close in this universe. If it weren't for my sister, you two would have a good set-up for a BL story." Mo Aini tried to hide the disdain in his voice. "The gentlemanly president who secretly has employed the delinquent to keep watch of the school grounds for him. An unexpected duo, but you two would make a cool couple."
"Whoah, wait, Da Ge! I wouldn't go that far!" Hu Chuntian grinned. "And you said I was the one who's easily jealous, yet look at you~ Vinegar* doesn't suit you, Da Ge."
"I'm not reeking of vinegar, just common sense." Mo Aini grumbled and walked ahead. "I'm not wrong though, I've read a few BL novels and this kind of action/mystery is the most famous. You got the brawns, She Haoran got the brains. It's the perfect match."
"Hey, we're perfect together too! You were an ex-delinquent back in your world that has settled down through art, while I'm a new one full of energy and hostility. It's like fire and ice. We balance each other." Hu Chuntian attempted to reconcile by showering Mo Aini with praises. "If you were one of the options, I would pick you! Knowing that you had the same background as me, not to mention that you have the most striking look out of the group."
Mo Aini rolled his eyes. "You mean ugliest, don't sugarcoat it. I'm already proud of my plain face, it's what keeps me out of trouble and helps me avoid unwanted attention from people."
"Aww, no! You are the best, Da Ge! You can't change my mind!" Hu Chuntian wrapped his arms around him with that bright smile. "Let's not mention anyone else anymore, I don't really care about them! All I want is my Da Ge!"
"Yeah, yeah. You've said that many times already." Mo Aini checked his watch. "We should go home. It's Sunday, so there's school tomorrow."
"I'll call my driver to pick us up." Hu Chuntian nodded.
As they drive through, they kept their banter and bickering like an old married couple. Mo Aini had never felt better in his life. It was like a huge weight was lifted from his shoulder and he felt so fucking light, he could almost float in the clouds!
The limo parked at Hu Chuntian's residence, and Mo Aini waved at him. "Well, good night, A-Tian."
Hu Chuntian just gave him an odd look. "You're not going out of the limo?"
"Yeah, I want to ask your driver to bring me to the dorms—"
"Da Ge. You're not going anywhere without me." Hu Chuntian pulled at his shirt. "You'll sleep here. We have a lot of catching up to do."
"Catching up? What do you mean?" Mo Aini just lifted an eyebrow as Hu Chuntian dragged him towards his house with a sly grin.
He whispered to Mo Aini's ear. "Let's continue where we left off at Valentine's day, Da Ge."
Mo Aini took a moment to process this, and he stammered immediately. "W-Wh-Wha-What... H-H-How.....Huh????"
"You don't know how? I thought you've read BL novels. I also did some research even before my first time giving you.... you know...." Hu Chuntian gestured by rounding his fingers and placing them over his mouth.
"I could teach you, Da Ge. Maybe we could watch some videos that I saved—"
"No!" Mo Aini shook his head to perish the thought. "Whether it's you or me, it's going to hurt! And I don't want you or me to get hurt!"
"But Da Ge..... didn't I tell you?" Hu Chuntian lowered his voice seductively.
"I like it even when it hurts. So you can hurt me all you want tonight."
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