FIMA Ch178: Conclusion [Part 2]

Xie Qingxiao’s throat tightened almost instinctively.

Th-this… was Gu Siyuan’s voice?

His fingers rubbed lightly against each other as he slowly, slowly raised his head, like some stiff machine wound too tight—and Gu Siyuan’s cold, handsome face filled his vision.

“Boss…” Xie Qingxiao parted his lips slightly, his voice trembling.

“Mm, it’s me.” Gu Siyuan gently let him go.

In that fleeting instant as they separated, Xie Qingxiao seemed to catch a faint smile deep in Gu Siyuan’s eyes.

At once, his cheeks reddened. The tone Gu Siyuan had used just now replayed in his mind, and he suddenly wanted very badly to run away—but no matter what, he could neither move his feet nor bear to look away.

Gu Siyuan began questioning him. “Why were you running so fast just now?”

Xie Qingxiao lowered his lashes slightly, and a bit of his natural cold beauty returned to his face. “It was Ying Ze. He said you woke up.”

Gu Siyuan’s lips curved faintly.

The commotion between the two of them was not large, but just now the newly engaged couple had been at the crucial moment of exchanging rings, making their vows, and bowing in thanks to the guests. Naturally, the sudden appearance of people at the main entrance drew a great deal of attention.

One person passed it to ten, ten to a hundred, and before long, the gaze of the entire banquet hall had shifted over toward them, accompanied by endless murmurs.

Zhuang Hongkai looked at that tall figure standing there in profile with his back partly turned, and his eyes darkened further. That little bastard Xie Qingxiao had come today specifically to make trouble—who knew where he had found this wild man to act all intimate with in public.

If he had known Xie Qingxiao had such a rotten temperament, and that Professor Gu from the research institute was now gravely ill and unable to support him, then no matter what, he would never have acknowledged this troublemaker back into the Zhuang family in the first place.

He called out sharply, “Qingxiao, come over and have a drink with your younger brother to toast the guests.”

Xie Qingxiao looked up and gave a cold laugh.

Toast them?

He was not the one getting engaged, so what wine was there for him to toast? More like they wanted him to go block drinks for Zhuang Ming.

So he answered directly and icily, “I have a headache today. I can’t drink.”

“Xie Qingxiao!” Zhuang Hongkai exploded in anger.

The thing he valued most in his whole life was his face and reputation. Yet Xie Qingxiao actually dared, in front of all these people, to give him not even the smallest shred of respect.

At the side, Liu Qian curled her lips slightly, though on the surface she hurried to smooth things over with Zhuang Hongkai. “Oh, Hongkai, Qingxiao’s been outside all these years with no one to educate him. He’s always had this kind of temper. Why get angry with him?”

Those words looked like they were easing the situation, but in truth they were vicious and deeply grating.

The crowd could not help exchanging glances.

Xie Qingxiao was just about to retort—

when suddenly, Gu Siyuan reached out and loosely took hold of his wrist. “Wait a moment first. I’m taking you to eat.”

“Ah? Oh…” Xie Qingxiao’s mind gave a buzz, and he instantly forgot whatever he had been about to do. He only lowered his head and stared at Gu Siyuan’s hand around his wrist, his eyes still somewhat dazed.

Except in those absurd, illusory dream worlds, Gu Siyuan had never held him like this.

Gu Siyuan then turned around fully, and that cold, handsome face was completely exposed to the eyes of everyone present.

Looking toward Zhuang Hongkai standing not far away, he said with indifferent calm, “Qingxiao had a hard life over these years. I have been helping support him all along. If there is anything he has done wrong, Mr. Zhuang can simply speak to me directly.”

Naturally, Zhuang Hongkai recognized Gu Siyuan. At once, his eyes widened in shock.

Half a year ago, Gu Siyuan had been severely injured during an out-of-town field inspection. The state had mobilized numerous experts for consultation, but the results they gave were all extremely pessimistic—they all said it was possible Gu Siyuan might never wake up again.

That was why Zhuang Hongkai had abandoned his original plan of marrying Zhuang Ming to Gu Siyuan.

And afterward, to avoid gossip from others, he had hurriedly finalized Zhuang Ming’s engagement to the second young master of the Cheng family.

But now this…

“Professor Gu,” Zhuang Hongkai said in astonishment, “you… you’ve recovered?”

Gu Siyuan nodded. “Mr. Zhuang, my sudden appearance today is a disturbance. My apologies.”

“No, no, not at all. It’s my honor that you came.” Zhuang Hongkai forced a few dry laughs and shook his head, then could not help asking, “When did you wake up?”

Gu Siyuan said blandly, “About one hour ago.”

“Ah…” Zhuang Hongkai went blank for a moment.

Gu Siyuan had just woken up, and instead of doing anything else, he ran straight to his son’s engagement banquet?

Could this be… a snatching-the-bride scenario?

With that thought, boundless delight immediately rose in Zhuang Hongkai’s heart.

His current future son-in-law was the Cheng family’s second young master. Their families could be considered reasonably well-matched, but compared with a true top-tier figure like Professor Gu—who both conducted scientific research and ran companies—there was naturally no comparison at all.

If Gu Siyuan had really come to steal the groom, then Zhuang Hongkai would not mind going back on the engagement right there on the spot.

After all, for young people in love, mutual willingness was what mattered most. True love was invincible. As parents, they should not beat apart mandarin ducks, and certainly should not interfere too much…

He exchanged a glance with his wife, and at once an unspoken understanding and anticipation passed between them.

“Professor Gu, have you come here today because of something important?”

Xie Qingxiao naturally understood these two people best. One look at the way they stuck out their asses and he understood the filthy thoughts hidden underneath. His face immediately darkened.

Pinching his throat slightly, he said in a sinister tone, “Dad, Aunt Liu, why are you both staring at my boss like that? Zhuang Ming’s engagement ceremony is only halfway through—are you just stopping it like this? The guests are all waiting.”

Zhuang Hongkai shot him an unhappy look and was about to interrupt—

when Gu Siyuan, still holding Xie Qingxiao’s wrist, lightly rubbed it a few times and raised a brow. “So today is your son’s happy occasion. My sudden arrival truly is regrettable.”

Zhuang Hongkai frowned in confusion, then hesitantly said, “Ming’er has actually admired Professor Gu for a long time. This engagement only happened because his mother and I forced him…”

The corner of Xie Qingxiao’s mouth slanted upward into a cold smile. “Dad, the Cheng family is standing right here. What nonsense are you saying?”

Zhuang Hongkai’s whole body jolted as he immediately realized he had grown too eager just now.

He was just about to say something to smooth things over—

when an enraged voice suddenly rang out.

“Good, very good. So this is how the Zhuang family intends to trample the Cheng family’s dignity into the ground today? This matter will not end here.”

With those words, Mr. and Mrs. Cheng and the second young master of the Cheng family directly stormed out, slamming the door behind them.

…

Xie Qingxiao followed Gu Siyuan out of the hotel.

Reaching the car door, Gu Siyuan tilted his chin slightly. “Get in.”

Xie Qingxiao glanced at the car and slowly walked over.

Gu Siyuan was not someone who indulged in comfort, so there were only two cars in his garage total: one for public use and one for private use. Xie Qingxiao had ridden in this one a few times before, but this was the first time Gu Siyuan had opened the car door for him personally.

Today seemed to contain a great many firsts.

After Xie Qingxiao got in, Gu Siyuan sat down beside him as well, and the car immediately shifted into self-driving mode.

Feeling the body warmth of the man beside him, along with that faint scent like snow and clear tea, Xie Qingxiao could not help growing restless.

He almost wanted to cover his ears and pray that Gu Siyuan absolutely would not ask him why, when treating his damaged mental power, he had set up so many melodramatic worlds—and why the two of them had such melodramatic identities and entanglements within them.

However, after sitting there on edge for quite a while—

the man beside him still said nothing, so quiet it was as though he did not exist at all.

Xie Qingxiao could not help stealing another glance at him.

Gu Siyuan was fiddling with his phone for some reason. Sensing the look, he turned the screen toward him. “How about this place?”

“Ah…” Xie Qingxiao blinked blankly.

How about what?

He looked toward the screen. It showed a series of food photos—from his favorite restaurant.

Xie Qingxiao reminded him, “I don’t think this restaurant does delivery.”

Gu Siyuan raised a brow. “Why would we need delivery? We’ll just go eat there.”

Xie Qingxiao gave him a strange look.

This was Gu Siyuan, the workaholic. Back at the institute, he usually considered even walking to the cafeteria a waste of time.

With that thought, Xie Qingxiao’s gaze just happened to sweep outside the car window. “This isn’t the road back to the institute…”

Gu Siyuan nodded. “We’re not going back. We’re going to eat.”

Xie Qingxiao blinked in surprise and was just about to say something else when the car had already stopped in front of the restaurant.

Gu Siyuan got out first. After waiting a bit and seeing no movement from the person inside, he said, “You should get out now.”

Xie Qingxiao immediately scrambled out.

The two of them entered the restaurant, and a server at once came forward to greet them.

Gu Siyuan said, “I already made a reservation.”

“Of course, please come with me.” After checking the information he provided, the server quickly led them toward an empty table by the window.

The table was covered with a fresh tablecloth, and on top sat a newly arranged bouquet of flowers whose fragrance was gentle and pleasant. Not far away, a violinist played a soft, flowing melody.

Gu Siyuan and Xie Qingxiao sat facing each other.

The server pulled up the restaurant’s electronic menu and invited the two of them to order.

Gu Siyuan looked up. “You choose.”

Xie Qingxiao nodded. “Alright.”

He understood Gu Siyuan’s tastes extremely well. To Xie Qingxiao, ordering for Gu Siyuan—deciding what he would eat—was almost a kind of secret little happiness.

He pointed at items on the screen and said, “Braised beef brisket, special claypot chicken, and this grilled fish… mm, and one vegetable salad.”

“Very good.” The server recorded the order and nodded repeatedly. “Would you like anything else?”

Xie Qingxiao looked toward Gu Siyuan. “Boss, do you want anything else?”

Gu Siyuan looked at the dishes Xie Qingxiao had chosen. They were all things he usually ate. The line of his brows lifted a little, and he told the server, “Add one plate of boiled shrimp. Mm, and the salt-baked shrimp is your house specialty, right? Bring one of those too.”

The server froze for a second, then immediately nodded again. “Of course.” Then she took the menu and left.

Although having two shrimp dishes at one table was a little odd, well—perhaps they simply really liked shrimp.

And in fact, this server had not guessed wrong.

Xie Qingxiao was an extreme shrimp lover, and the reason he loved this restaurant so much was exactly because of its signature shrimp dishes.

But eating shrimp meant peeling shells, which took more time than other dishes. For a workaholic like Gu Siyuan, shrimp was exactly the kind of food that would never appear on the table.

So whenever Xie Qingxiao ate with him, he would never take the initiative to order it.

And now, it had actually been Gu Siyuan himself who…

Xie Qingxiao could not help feeling a little smug inside. Thinking about it this way, Gu Siyuan must have already been paying attention to his preferences in secret, and was now even specially bringing him out for shrimp.

Could this situation possibly mean…

If so, then Gu Siyuan probably would not make things difficult for him, and surely would not ask him again about the dream worlds, right?

At that moment, Gu Siyuan’s slightly low voice rang out. “What are you spacing out over?”

Xie Qingxiao hurriedly shook his head. “Nothing.”

Gu Siyuan met his gaze. “Reflecting on yourself?”

Xie Qingxiao lowered his lashes slightly, picked up the tea beside him, and took a small sip, pretending calmness as he said, “Reflecting? What would I need to reflect on? Boss, I’ve been very honest lately.”

Gu Siyuan lightly tapped the tabletop with a finger. “Very honest? For example, setting yourself up as my mission target in all nine virtual worlds. For example, deliberately appearing in my arms at the start of each world. For example…”

“Ahem—cough cough—” Xie Qingxiao burst into a fit of coughing while clutching his glass.

Damn it. He had just been thinking that Gu Siyuan probably wouldn’t ask. Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives.

Gu Siyuan glanced at him, stopped speaking, and reached out to pull over a tissue, handing it to him.

Xie Qingxiao hurried to take it, and in the scramble, their fingertips brushed. The heart is linked to the fingers; that soft, warm contact traveled straight from his fingertips into his heart.

Xie Qingxiao felt both nervous and yearning.

Then, suddenly, his fingertips warmed.

His eyes widened.

Gu Siyuan had turned his hand and caught several of his fingers in his own, gently kneading them twice.

Xie Qingxiao instantly looked up at him. “Boss, what is it?”

Gu Siyuan’s expression did not change in the slightest. As he slowly rubbed Xie Qingxiao’s hand in his own, he said in a casual tone, “You still haven’t answered my earlier question. Using life inside traveling virtual worlds to help restore my mental strength was something we had already discussed before. But the plots of those worlds, and all those complicated entanglements between the two of us—that was your additional design. So, what exactly were you thinking?”

Xie Qingxiao’s fingers immediately shook, and he instinctively tried to pull them back.

But though Gu Siyuan’s movements looked casual, his strength was impossible to resist.

Xie Qingxiao gave a light cough and answered without any real confidence, “I wasn’t thinking anything. I just designed the plot casually.”

Gu Siyuan gave a low laugh, then extended his free left hand and pinched Xie Qingxiao’s chin, forcing him to lift his face. Their eyes met directly, with no possibility of escape.

He said in a low voice, “The truth.”

Xie Qingxiao had always been afraid of being looked at by Gu Siyuan like this. Instantly, all the strength in his heart softened.

He licked his lips, turned his gaze slightly aside, and said, “I designed it that way on purpose.”

“Mm. Why?” Gu Siyuan nodded with perfect calm.

Seeing that Gu Siyuan still looked so composed, Xie Qingxiao suddenly felt inwardly aggrieved.

Hmph. This man was clearly the one taking the initiative, so how had it turned into him being the one who lost his footing first?

His brain buzzed, his eyes widened, and almost viciously he blurted out, “Because I like being hopelessly tangled up with you in love and hate, okay? And what’s wrong with us hugging? I’ve always liked you. I want to stick to you. If I weren’t afraid it would overstimulate you too much, then according to my original design, I would’ve had our very first meeting in every world happen directly in bed!”

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