Chapter 20

Somehow, heavy rain had started outside, drumming against the glass.
Another lightning bolt streaked across the night sky, briefly illuminating their faces.
“It’s raining. I’m going back to sleep.” Guan Shanyan looked away and stopped teasing Shen Youwei.
Shen Youwei shook her head in disagreement: “This kind of storm is perfect for watching horror movies.”
“Then enjoy.” Guan Shanyan didn’t linger and went back to his room.
After he left, Shen Youwei sat alone on the sofa, hugging the cushion. The movie had reached a critical scene, but she wasn’t watching. Though her face appeared calm, her heart was racing.
When Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan were little, they often had close physical contact, but back then, neither of them thought much of it. Ever since realizing she liked him, Shen Youwei had become sensitive to his touch.
Even after sitting on the sofa for so long, she was still savoring the memory of Guan Shanyan’s broad, strong hand. The warmth of his palm seemed to linger on her lower back even now.
Shen Youwei stayed in the living room until the movie ended, then turned off the TV and returned to her room.
It was rare for her to watch a horror movie all the way through so quietly.
Before entering her room, she peeked in at Guan Shanyan’s, noticing the light was still on. Though dim, it seemed he hadn’t gone to sleep.
When she lay on her bed and checked her phone, she saw a message he had sent to her alternate account, confirming he really hadn’t slept.
Guan Shanyan: Do you have someone you like?
Shen Youwei raised an eyebrow. Lately, he had clearly been using her alternate account as a personal relationship advisor.
He Zhou: [You like someone? Your sister?]
Guan Shanyan: …
Guan Shanyan: [Why do you always think I like my sister?]
He Zhou: [Because she’s the only girl you’ve ever mentioned to me.]
Guan Shanyan: …
Guan Shanyan: [That’s because she’s my sister.]
He Zhou: [But didn’t you say she’s just your god-sister?]
“…” Guan Shanyan, watching their circular conversation, realized he shouldn’t have asked He Zhou this question in the first place.
Guan Shanyan: [Sorry, let’s pretend I didn’t ask.]
He Zhou: [You’ve been sentimental lately, must be something going on.]
He Zhou: [Avoiding it won’t solve anything, bro.]
Guan Shanyan: “…”
He closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair.
Sentimental lately? Well, yes, he had been discussing feelings with He Zhou more often recently, but in a rational way, hardly sentimental.
As soon as that thought crossed his mind, inexplicable images flashed in his head. Without even realizing it, the tips of his ears began to turn red.
The moment he felt the urge to kiss Shen Youwei, he was no longer acting like a proper older brother.
…
The next day, Sunday, it was again a day with just Shen Youwei and Guan Shanyan at home.
Guan Shanyan considered going to the office to work overtime, which would avoid awkward situations, but if he wasn’t home, Shen Youwei definitely wouldn’t cook. After weighing the options, he decided to stay.
Shen Youwei had woken up early yesterday to go with Luo Yu to inspect some shops. Today, she made up for the lost sleep, only emerging from her room around eleven.
This time, she obediently wore long sleeves and pants. Guan Shanyan was preparing lunch in the kitchen. She peeked over and asked: “What are we having for lunch?”
“…” Guan Shanyan paused, then looked back at her. “You didn’t order anything, so I just made something.”
Shen Youwei looked at the food simmering in the pot. It didn’t seem casual at all. “Your casual looks pretty abundant. I like it.”
“Thanks.” Guan Shanyan lowered the stove flame slightly and asked: “What are you planning for the afternoon? More sleep?”
“I can’t really sleep that much.” Shen Youwei shot back, pondering what to do. “How about going to the boxing gym? I need to finish my twenty-hour course soon.”
Otherwise, she might not be able to keep up.
Guan Shanyan was silent for a moment after hearing her, then suggested: “How about we go to the park and row a boat on the lake?”
Shen Youwei looked at him in surprise. When they were kids, she had always begged to go boating. Now Guan Shanyan had finally discovered the fun of it? “Lize Park?”
“Mm, last time I saw some nice boats there. Today’s weather is perfect too.” It had rained last night, and the temperature was just right for outdoor activity.
Shen Youwei stared at him for a while and sighed theatrically: “Fine, if you want to go that badly, I’ll go with you.”
Guan Shanyan: “…”
When she begged to go boating as a kid, he had never acted so coy.
To protect her privacy as a celebrity, Shen Youwei wore a mask outside. The weather was pleasant, sunny but not hot, and after walking for a bit, she felt much more comfortable.
Because of the weekend and the good weather, Lize Park was crowded. A long line had formed at the lake for the boats.
“Last time at the park, the line was okay because it was free. Now the boats cost money and it’s still so crowded?” Shen Youwei wondered. After the construction of Starlight Park, she had thought Lize Park would be deserted. What are all these people doing here?
She knew marketing accounts never told the truth.
“Spring is perfect for rowing on a lake and enjoying the scenery,” Guan Shanyan recited flatly. “That was your line back then.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
Honestly, memories need not be so precise.
Due to the crowd, each boat had a 30-minute limit. Exceeding it would incur extra fees. The line moved slowly, and Shen Youwei, in the middle, worried: “We’re not going to spend the whole afternoon just waiting in line, are we?”
That would be exhausting.
“No,” Guan Shanyan said. “The staff keeps track of time. If you can’t get a boat, they’ll stop the line.”
He glanced at her: “Once, they actually stopped us, and you cried so loudly at the boats on the lake.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
She had said, memories need not be perfect.
And she hadn’t cried that loudly!
“I didn’t cry that much”
“Mm, you just shed two tears.” Guan Shanyan had already learned to answer first.
Shen Youwei: “…”
She shouldn’t have agreed to go boating with him in the first place.
“Wait here.” Guan Shanyan suddenly left the line and walked ahead. Shen Youwei froze: “What are you doing? You’re not going to wait for me to get to the front, are you??”
“…” Guan Shanyan nodded. “Good idea.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
She waited in line for ten minutes before seeing him return.
Today, he wore a light-colored outfit. His hair looked casually messy but was actually carefully styled. The outfit gave him a calm, understated aura. The red balloon in his left hand was the finishing touch.
Wait, did Designer Guan see a balloon for sale and think it matched his outfit perfectly, so he bought it?
Shen Youwei admired his knack for turning life into a runway. He walked up and handed her the balloon.
Shen Youwei stared at the bright red balloon, momentarily stunned: “What’s this for?”
Was he trying to match her outfit today?
Guan Shanyan: “I said, I saw a balloon in the park and bought it for you.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
What, is he serious?
“Mom, mom, a balloon!” A child in line noticed the balloon and begged his mom for the same one.
Holding the balloon, Guan Shanyan said: “If you don’t want it, I’ll give it to the kid.”
“…” Shen Youwei took the balloon, looping the string around her fingers to prevent it from flying away.
Guan Shanyan looked down at the string wrapped around her fingers and chuckled: “They say experience is the best teacher. Last time, when the balloon flew away, your tears were wasted.”
Shen Youwei glared at him: “What do you mean?”
“Last time the balloon flew away, you tied it around your fingers like this.”
“That was because I was little. Not anymore.”
Guan Shanyan smirked without arguing, took the balloon, wrapped the string around her wrist twice, and tied a knot: “Okay. If it flies away now, it’s because you let it go on purpose.”
Shen Youwei: “…”
The balloon was secure, but her dignity was gone.
He had tied it to her wrist in front of everyone. Even the children were snickering!
“Mom, this lady is sillier than me. She tied the balloon to her hand!” The boy said shamelessly, not caring if she heard.
“Guan Shanyan, are you doing this on purpose?” Shen Youwei whispered, eyeing him.
He glanced at her masked face: “Don’t worry, no one will recognize you.”
Shen Youwei said nothing more, standing there with the balloon as they reached the boating entrance. She and Guan Shanyan picked a stylish boat and slowly pushed off from the shore.
“Let’s not go too far, or we won’t be back in half an hour.” Shen Youwei rowed while speaking to him.
Guan Shanyan nodded. Normally, they would take their time, but with the time limit, the leisurely feel was gone.
He was thinking of coming back another time when Shen Youwei suddenly yelped in pain: “Ah!”
“What’s wrong?” He glanced at her. She was bending over, rubbing her ankle.
“I pushed too hard, slipped.” Shen Youwei pressed her ankle, wincing. “Might have twisted it a bit.”
Guan Shanyan frowned slightly and bent down: “Let me see.”
Shen Youwei released her foot. They both stopped rowing, and their boat drifted to a halt.
The wind blew through the little boat, tossing Shen Youwei’s hair. She lifted her hand to tuck the stray strands behind her ear, then heard Guan Shanyan’s voice from below: “It’s not too serious, but you shouldn’t practice boxing for a while.”