Chapter 10 Part 1
With his injured hand, Yu Li's gameplay became a bit slow.
Seeing this, Yan Sui said they should stop playing and let Yu Li go back to the room to rest early.
As Yu Li put down the controller and walked to the gaming room door, he heard Yan Sui say:
"Xiao Li, if you're not happy staying here, be sure to tell me."
Yu Li was taken aback, turning back to look at Yan Sui.
The other had a frown, his sincere gaze carrying a bit of worry.
Yu Li smiled and nodded, "Okay, I know."
Back in the room, Yu Li thought about it and guessed that Yan Sui must have heard his address of Yan Shiting at the kitchen door.
Even if he didn't hear the distant form of address, his uncomfortable behavior in front of Yan Shiting could also clearly indicate the problem.
The reason for this was that he was afraid of Yan Shiting.
He was afraid of Yan Shiting, first because of his warning, and second because of that night's incident.
Yu Li let out a long sigh, pulling the quilt over his face.
It seems he needs to muster the courage to solve this problem.
*
The next day was Saturday.
After Yan Sui went out, Yu Li snuck into the kitchen and made a fruit platter.
With his injured finger, he was particularly careful when peeling and cutting the fruit, and it took him a good while to finish the platter.
After it was done, he carefully carried the fruit platter to the garden.
By the small lake in the garden, a parasol was set up, and Yan Shiting was sitting in a lounge chair reading a book.
Yu Li walked up to him and saw the book cover had a computer-related English title.
He glanced at it briefly before shifting his gaze, placing the fruit platter on the table.
Yan Shiting's hand paused in turning the page.
Without looking up, he coldly asked, "Aren't you going out to play with Yan Sui?"
Yu Li felt nervous, having forgotten the opening he had planned, so he dryly answered, "He went on a date with Miss Xu."
Yan Shiting gave a hum, putting down the book and letting his gaze fall on the fruit platter.
It was the same as the one he had brought to him last time, with the fruits carved into flower and animal shapes.
Yan Shiting looked at it for a moment, pursing his lips without a word.
Yu Li felt a bit uneasy.
After bringing the meal last time, the next day the butler told him that Yan Shiting had finished eating all the fruit platter and small pastries.
So it seemed he didn't dislike it, which is why Yu Li chose to make a fruit platter again.
But now, Yan Shiting's behavior left Yu Li a bit puzzled.
He was hesitating on how to express his purpose, when he heard Yan Shiting speak up, "Your hand is still hurting, yet you went through the trouble of making this. Is there something you want to say?"
Yu Li paused, then took the opportunity, "Mm."
Last time he made the fruit platter to express gratitude, and this time it was just to have a more natural conversation with Yan Shiting.
Yu Li looked around, finding two rocks to stack as a makeshift bench. He sat down, gazing at the rippling lake surface, and said, "Yesterday, Yan Sui said that if I'm not happy staying here, I must tell him."
Yan Shiting looked at him and asked, "Are you unhappy then?"
Yu Li shook his head, "No, but I'm a bit worried."
He paused, his hands nervously intertwined, "Yan Sui told me before that you want him to screen his friends. I've always wanted to ask, in your heart, am I also one of the friends that should be screened out?"
Choosing to ask this question, Yu Li had his own little thoughts.
The time when Yan Shiting told Yan Sui that sentence was right after the party night.
If Yan Shiting still remembered that night's incident, upon hearing him mention this sentence, he should have some reaction.
But he did indeed have this doubt. He had once developed inappropriate feelings for Yan Sui, so Yan Shiting might think he was no longer suitable to be Yan Sui's friend.
After speaking, Yu Li turned to look at Yan Shiting's expression.
Yan Shiting was staring at the lake surface. Hearing his words, he only solemnly said, "Yu Li."
"You have helped Yan Sui a lot in his studies, not leading him astray or harming him. Just from these aspects, among his friends, no one is better than you."
"Moreover, you have even saved his life."
Yu Li knew which incident Yan Shiting was referring to.
Two years ago on the spring trip, Yan Sui accidentally fell down the slope. At that time, it was raining heavily, and Yu Li was worried about a landslide, so he risked danger and slid down the slope to bring Yan Sui up.
Shortly after he brought Yan Sui up, that slope section indeed had a landslide. If he had delayed a little longer in rescuing Yan Sui, Yan Sui would have been buried.
He didn't expect Yan Shiting to still remember this.
Yu Li turned his gaze to his hand, "So I'm not the one who should be screened out."
Yan Shiting: "Mm."
Yu Li heaved a long sigh of relief.
In the moment of Yan Shiting's affirmation, his nasal cavity felt sore, but his heart felt light and joyful.
"I have one more thing I want to tell you." Yu Li took a deep breath, "Although I've liked Yan Sui before, I've never wanted to be with him. My idea has always been that just being his friend is good enough."
"Now that he has someone he really likes, I will let go of my own feelings and still be his friend as before."
Yan Shiting quietly turned his head to look at him.
The Yu Li speaking had a relieved smile on his face, and there was no trace of resentment or sadness in his tone.
It seems he didn't need Yan Shiting's reminder, as Yu Li had always been very clear.
It was he who had been overly concerned.
Yan Shiting's hands on his lap slowly curled up.
He reached out and poured a cup of tea, pushing it towards Yu Li.
Yu Li pulled up the corners of his mouth in a smile.
**********
Communication. Thank God.
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