AITFYMIBP Chapter 51

TL: Hua

Glancing at the car key in Gu Siye’s hand, Lin Yanran looked up to meet his gaze. “We really live in the same complex?”

The corners of Gu Siye’s mouth curved into a charming smile, and he nodded gently. “That’s right.”

Lin Yanran was surprised.

“I thought Sister Hong was joking with me.”

Gu Siye turned, smiling as he opened the passenger door, signaling for Lin Yanran to get in.

“It’s the same one.”

Lin Yanran, who had been deliberately kept in the dark by Hong Huixue, felt that this was too much of a coincidence after hearing Gu Siye’s words.

But since they indeed lived in the same complex and Gu Siye was heading back now, he could definitely hitch a ride.

So, Lin Yanran immediately sat down in the passenger seat of Gu Siye’s car and lowered his head to buckle his seatbelt.

He had a good memory; although he had only been to his new home once, he basically remembered the route.

Thus, just as Gu Siye drove out of the company’s basement garage, he suddenly recalled the scene of Gu Siye driving a long way to drop him home the first time he rode in the other man’s car.

“Brother Gu, if you usually live around here, didn’t you take a really long detour to drop me off last time?”

The man, who had vehemently claimed to live not far from Lin Yanran’s house, relying on his acting skills that had won him the Best Actor award, looked straight ahead without changing his expression or missing a beat and said, “No, I occasionally stay over in City Garden as well.”

Lin Yanran nodded knowingly after hearing this.

Indeed.

A top celebrity like Gu Siye couldn’t possibly only have one property.

So, he probably didn’t deliberately take a long detour just to drop him off that time; he must have been overthinking it.

Gu Siye’s luxury car was spacious and comfortable.

Lin Yanran leaned back in his seat, half-closing his eyes, helping Gu Siye keep an eye on the road conditions ahead.

As they passed a Western restaurant, Lin Yanran suddenly remembered Gu Siye calling him from abroad just last night.

“Brother Gu, why are you back so quickly?”

He calculated the time and realized the other man must have just returned to the country.

Gu Siye didn’t tell Lin Yanran the real reason, only casually saying, “I came back after the advertisement was filmed; I wasn’t used to it over there.”

Lin Yanran believed him. He turned to look at Gu Siye, noticing faint dark circles under his eyes, clearly showing he hadn’t rested well.

“You should rest. Let me drive.”

“It’s fine.” Gu Siye smiled and shook his head. “I’m not tired. Just chat with me.”

With Gu Siye saying this, Lin Yanran continued chatting with him.

“Sister Hong told me before that you are my boss.”

Of course, Lin Yanran didn’t say the latter part—if not him, then who should I bother?

The tone Hong Huixue used sounded like a joke.

Yet, he also felt that the other person wouldn’t crack such a joke without reason.

Since he was just casually chatting with Gu Siye now, he simply asked directly.

Regarding Hong Huixue’s statement, Lin Yanran had actually considered that Gu Siye might have shares in Siyu.

Unexpectedly, the man laughed and denied it. “Don’t listen to her nonsense.”

Just as Lin Yanran was about to reply, “Okay,” Gu Siye said another sentence.

“Bai Shengteng is my cousin.”

Bai Shengteng was the owner of Siyu.

The boss is Gu Siye’s cousin…

With this layer of connection, Lin Yanran suddenly understood why Hong Huixue would say that.

However, the people in their circle seemed unaware of the relationship between Gu Siye and Bai Shengteng.

Lin Yanran didn’t like digging into other people’s privacy, so he didn’t bring up the topic again after touching upon it.

The streetlights emitted a soft glow.

It was not yet seven, but the sky had completely darkened.

Lin Yanran thought about Gu Siye having just gotten off a flight, estimated he might not have had dinner, and asked, “Brother Gu, have you eaten?”

The man driving the car immediately replied, “Not yet.”

As expected, Lin Yanran proactively invited him, “If you don’t mind… how about coming to my place for dinner?”

Gu Siye had helped him a lot and was one of the few friends he had in this world.

He had thought about treating the other man to a meal before, but either he was too busy with work or their schedules didn’t match.

So, the opportunity to have dinner together had never materialized.

Since it was a rare occasion for the two of them to be together, Lin Yanran decided to invite him.

Hearing Lin Yanran wanted to treat him to dinner, Gu Siye’s smile even reached his eyes.

“Sure.”

After agreeing, Gu Siye glanced at the gloomy darkness outside the car window and added, “But it’s getting a bit late today. How about we go out to eat first and go to your place another time?”

Moving house was a complicated affair.

Gu Siye knew Lin Yanran had just moved and surely had many things left to sort out.

In such circumstances, if he also had to take the time and energy to cook dinner for him, it would be tiresome and demanding.

Gu Siye didn’t want to burden Lin Yanran, so he reluctantly declined the invitation to have dinner at his place today.

Lin Yanran thought about Gu Siye’s words and agreed that the timing wasn’t ideal.

After all, he hadn’t even been to his new house himself yet, and he didn’t know if Xiao Wang had prepared basic necessities like oil, salt, vinegar, and tea.

Moreover, it was quite late now. If they went back, bought groceries, and then cooked, dinner would likely be ready after nine o’clock.

“Then let’s set a time to treat you separately next time.”

“Okay.”

After Gu Siye agreed, he asked Lin Yanran, “What would you like to eat?”

Lin Yanran smiled. “Shouldn’t I be asking you that? Even if we go out, I should be treating you today.”

Gu Siye didn’t argue and suggested, “How about barbecue? I know a place with a nice atmosphere.”

Since Lin Yanran was treating, he naturally wouldn’t object.

After quickly settling on the plan, Gu Siye turned the car around at the next intersection and drove towards the bustling commercial district.

Gu Siye knew the owner and immediately called to reserve a spot.

Thus, twenty minutes later, the two appeared inside a high-end barbecue restaurant.

Lin Yanran followed Gu Siye, wearing a mask and sunglasses, to a relatively secluded private room on the second floor.

He hadn’t felt cold when the air conditioning was on in the car.

But after getting out and walking the short distance upstairs, the cold wind brought a chill that permeated his clothes.

Once inside the warm room, Lin Yanran took off his coat, which was still chilly.

When he returned to his seat, Gu Siye, sitting opposite him, handed him the hot towel brought by the waiter to wipe his hands.

After wiping his hands, his fingers, which had been exposed to the cold wind, finally warmed up again.

After discussing and ordering their food, Gu Siye looked at Lin Yanran and asked about the follow-up to the incident from the previous day.

“Was the suspect caught?”

“He was caught and has been detained.”

“Did the police tell you his motive for secretly installing the camera?”

This was the question Gu Siye cared about most.

Unaware of the full details, he was worried that the person had malicious intentions and was deliberately targeting Lin Yanran.

“Motive? Maybe because he has a special interest in that?”

Lin Yanran took a sip of water, thought for a moment, and said, “The police said he didn’t just install a camera in my home; he installed them in several other homes in the complex, and the victims were all single men.”

“He said he just found it fun.”

Hearing that last sentence, Gu Siye frowned slightly.

Found it fun?

How could anyone believe that reason?

“Only installing cameras for men, he might be gay,” Gu Siye directly pointed out the other man’s sexual orientation.

Lin Yanran nodded in agreement. “Probably.”

Gu Siye didn’t immediately respond, only asking Lin Yanran after a moment, “Does it make you feel sick?”

When he spoke, Gu Siye, as if nothing was wrong, poured some water into Lin Yanran’s glass, subtly testing his acceptance of homosexuality.

Lin Yanran, however, did not answer immediately.

He only spoke after thinking for a few seconds about what Gu Siye’s words actually meant.

“I feel disgusted by voyeurism but not by same-sex attraction.”

As Lin Yanran spoke, the aunt helping them barbecue glanced at him and Gu Siye several times.

Lin Yanran thought the aunt might not be comfortable with the topic, so he didn’t continue.

The atmosphere at this barbecue restaurant was excellent.

There was a small stage set up downstairs where guests could go up and sing.

The private rooms on the second floor were not completely enclosed, and everything in the hall below could be seen through the clear glass.

After Lin Yanran finished a piece of grilled pork belly, he heard a familiar melody coming from the restaurant’s speakers.

Following the singing, Lin Yanran looked out the window.

On the small stage downstairs, a young man was holding a microphone and singing.

The accompaniment was “Seventeen.”

The guy looked in a certain direction and sang with great emotion.

A row of children stood in front of him, happily applauding.

Diners all around were also recording videos with their phones.

The atmosphere was very joyful.

Lin Yanran smiled as he watched for a while, then noticed that besides the people cheering on the singer, many others were queuing for tables in the main hall.

“This place is so busy, even at this hour.”

Gu Siye followed Lin Yanran’s gaze towards the hall downstairs and chuckled, “Maybe because it’s Christmas.”

As soon as Gu Siye finished speaking, a burst of screams and applause erupted downstairs.

After the singing guy finished the last verse, he walked straight to the girl directly in front of him and gave her a bouquet of roses.

The surrounding friends and family immediately started cheering, urging them to kiss.

In front of so many people, the couple didn’t kiss but just tightly embraced each other.

Looking at the couple embracing, Lin Yanran smiled. “Christmas is indeed very suitable for dates and confessions.”

Hearing this, Gu Siye met Lin Yanran’s gaze, a slight smile on his face.

“Mhm, it’s certainly suitable for a date.”

After dinner, Gu Siye drove towards Dongjiao Junting.

Lin Yanran listened to music and played on his phone.

The songs in the car randomly played “Seventeen,” the same song the guy had sung earlier.

Lin Yanran’s mind couldn’t help but picture the sweet embracing scene of the couple just now.

But the next second, he then thought of the expression of the aunt who helped with the barbecue, glancing back and forth between him and Gu Siye during dinner.

The realization hit him belatedly, and he suddenly stopped scrolling on his phone.

The aunt just now… she couldn’t have misunderstood his relationship with Gu Siye, could she?

He thought back. The guests in the restaurant were either couples or families having dinner together.

He and Gu Siye were sitting face-to-face on this holiday, and they were discussing a topic related to homosexuality…

It seemed quite easy for the aunt to misunderstand?

After returning home, Lin Yanran immediately took a shower.

As he lay in the spacious bed in the master bedroom, he couldn’t fall asleep as quickly as usual.

When he closed his eyes, past scenes involuntarily flashed through his mind.

It was also Christmas.

His friend took him to a corner of the square to watch the fireworks show.

As the fireworks shot into the sky and lit up the night, the other person played the guitar beside him and began to sing “Seventeen.”

The song finished, but the fireworks were still going off.

The other person asked him, “Want to listen more? I’ll sing another one for you.”

He smiled and clapped his hands. “Sing!”

So, the other person really continued to sing.

When the fireworks bloomed in the sky again, the person beside him sang a song, “Like You.”