No Time

Chapter 96: Reply

With a confession, there had to be a reply, right?

The next morning, I stayed in my bed all day.

It was the weekend.

I had not gotten any sleep.

My eyes hurt from playing on my phone the whole night.

I didn't want to go see Shui Yu downstairs.

But.

I was hungry.

'No! You can't go meet him right now! You have to hold it off for now!'

Telling this to myself didn't help because the fragrance of whatever dishes were being made permeated into my room.

Urgh, curse him for being such a good cook!

No, I had to think it over, over, and over.

I didn't know how to face Shui Yu.

If he was waiting for me to come down there, he wouldn't get his results.

No matter what, before I had a definite answer, I wouldn't see him.

I should have at least stored some snacks here.

Anyways, I was getting fat, so I should take this chance to lose some weight.

As the agonization of my stomach came to make a noise, a knock on the door came to a sound.

"I'm going to leave your portion here. Careful not to bump it with the door."

I leaned my ear to the door and made sure the footsteps were gone.

Whew, I wouldn't starve today. I'll just exercise next time.

I slowly opened the door and sighed in relief.

Only a tray of food and drink was placed on the floor.

No humans in sight.

He really is considerate, isn't he?

It was curry for today. And as always, impeccably delicious.

At this point, I should really just surrender and let myself be spoiled to death, right?

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I wouldn't mind living like this for the rest of my life.

You know what, I had to man up.

I could come to like Shui Yu romantically, I was willing to develop feelings for him.

Maybe I did already like him, it's just that I didn't think of it too much.

I didn't want to become like the lonely professors and doctors stuck in their research forever in Greenland.

I loved research, I want to do it my whole life, but I don't want to be like them, forgetting everything else.

The colleagues I had here had happy families although they were busy. Such a life was much more preferable.

Mm, I liked living here, I didn't want to go back.

Whew, alright, revenge was a bad thing, I'd deeply regret it if I did anything to make Shui Yu sad or angry.

...I can't imagine an angry Shui Yu. How scary would that be?

Even imagining it is terrifying.

Well, it wouldn't happen. Probably.

In the future, I reckon it'll be calm and peaceful.

Shui Yu worked, but he did the housework as well.

Since he was so busy with housework and work both, if things calmed down enough and he could take a break, I would take care of him with my own salary.

I would be the breadwinner of the house!

Although I was young and ignorant of the ways of the world, I was confident in my skills, talent, and potential!

And if nothing worked, at the very least, I was handsome enough to live off my face.

Sigh, it's a pity that I don't want to become an idol. If I did, I'd be famous in the base by now, a rising top star!

I've decided. I was the man for Shui Yu, I had to reply properly and give him a confession scene like they always mentioned in tv shows and novels. That's the correct etiquette, right?

The 999 roses scene? A candlelight path? A building with light on in some rooms to create a certain message? What should I do?

Ah, so much to plan out!

After my confession, Xia Jiayi didn't come out of his room for the whole day.

The next day, he also didn't come out.

The day after that, he came out because he had to go to work.

I had work too, but we missed each other in the morning because I could tell he wanted to avoid me.

I gave him space, but it did feel awkward and disheartening that he would go out of his way to not see me.

At least he didn't starve himself and still ate the food I made.

Today, I would work hard and try to keep my mind off of the confession.

I said my good mornings, how are you, and listened to some office gossip along the way to my office.

They were especially chatty today.

Well, they always were on a Monday.

Secretary Jing listed off the events on my schedule today and I noticed that I had time left over.

"I don't have anything after 6 to do today?"

"Yes, you can leave early. A previous appointment was rescheduled for a later date."

"I see. You should go home early as well. Get some rest and spend time with family.'

"Thank you, I will do so," he gave a smile.

-----------

Work indeed ended early today.

Going down to the lobby, I didn't see anyone.

"Is everyone off today?"

"Someone's having a wedding, they invited everyone to attend."

Hearing this, I was a bit miffed.

Why didn't they invite me?

Seemingly noticing my mood, Secretary Jing explained, "At the time, you still had a filled schedule, so they didn't invite you. They didn't want to bother you."

I still could have made room at least. They were being considerate, but I could have attended.

It was such an important day after all.

Then I seemed to hear whispers outside.

"Are they having the wedding near here? I can hear their voices..."

The people who gossiped all the time in the office, of course, I knew their voices.

I could see Secretary Jing starting to break a sweat.

Hm? What were they hiding?

Well, I'd find out soon.

I mentally prepared myself, but what came at me... wasn't something I could've ever expected.

The people I knew... they were all dressed in red and holding up a huge bouquet of flowers each.

They were formed into a slightly lopsided heart shape presumably if seen from above.

"He's out! Light 'em up!" somebody shouted in the distance.

With a blaring "BOOM!" flashing lights surrounded me.

Fireworks? Roses? What was-

"BzZttT- Shui Yu!"

The static hurt everyone's sensitive ears, and we all cringed.

But I recognized that voice and looked for the direction where the voice came from.

And there he was.

"Xia Jiayi?" I quietly mouthed.

"Shui Yu! I-I-I feel that we understand each other very well! And, although I know many things, it took me a long time to find out that... I like you! I accept your confession! Let's go out! Be my boyfriend!"

Seeing him so flustered with blushing cheeks, even stuttering, but still bravely saying what he wanted to say, my heart melted.

In his own excessive and childish way, he made this scene happen.

Some tears slipped out in relief and happiness.

Xia Jiayi quickly threw away the megaphone, which made another static noise, causing more moans of irritation.

"You, why are you crying? I've accepted your confession... Do you not like me anymore?" he asked quickly with a confused face.

"No, I like you very much."

I smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you for liking me back."

"...Mm. So we're a couple now?"

"Yes."

After a while, the workers all began to leave.

"I thought it was a proposal!"

"Dummy, he's too young!"

"Yeah, and who'd make a proposal like this?"

"Eh? What's wrong with it?"

"It's way too excessive! Anyone would be scared away!"

"The chief likes this kind of thing? I wouldn't have known."

"I think it's just Xia Jiayi's preference, he wanted it like the movies or something."

"So we're just extras?"

"I guess so? I wonder how much he spent on all of this."

"Researchers do make tons here... I should've studied harder when I was in school!"

"Hm, I think they make a nice couple. It's nice seeing the chief happy."

"Yeah, everyone participated because they wanted to see him happy."

"Let's wish them luck!"