Strawberry Pop Pop Pop chapter 37

In the midst of the chaos, Xu Minghao came up with an excuse and told his little followers that he hadn’t yet been foolish enough to offend the real young master of the Gu family who was Gu Nuan.

Their family company had dealings with the Gu family, and he was well aware of it.

Finally, Gu Nuan made it to Han Yang’s side. He glared fiercely at Xu Minghao and stood in front of Han Yang, saying, “What are you trying to do? Don’t think about bullying my brother!”

Xu Minghao didn’t respond and simply turned away.

Gu Nuan was held back by Han Yang, who said, “It’s just a misunderstanding.”

Once he heard that it was a misunderstanding, Gu Nuan’s tense shoulders relaxed. “You scared me,” he said, then smiled and offered, “Today’s juice is delicious; I’ll share half with you!”

“I don’t want it. I’m feeling unwell.”

Han Yang thought about what Gu Yuanchen had said to him the other night, and his mood soured. These days, he couldn’t even look at Gu Nuan directly. He turned away, feeling a deep sense of frustration.

Compared to his lower exam ranking, it was the situation with Gu Nuan that weighed more heavily on his heart.

Gu Nuan, holding the bottle, took Han Yang’s hand and said, “I’ll go with you to the infirmary.”

“We have class soon; you should go back to your classroom.”

Han Yang pulled his hand away and walked back alone.

Gu Nuan followed for a few steps, holding the bottle and standing still, asking in a pitiful tone, “Brother, did I do something wrong?”

Han Yang immediately stopped. “I did poorly on the exam, so I’m in a bad mood. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

Gu Nuan smiled again and, holding the bottle, took Han Yang’s hand. “You’ll do better next time and get first place. Don’t be upset. Dad even praised you, saying you’re the smartest in the whole grade!” He remembered that Han Yang had said his stomach wasn’t feeling well and insisted on accompanying him to the infirmary.

Han Yang, however, was thinking about what Gu Yuanchen had said to him that night—

“Han Yang, I won’t stop or oppose you if you like Nuan, it’s perfectly normal for someone your age to have feelings for someone. However, Nuan is still too young; he might not even understand the difference between liking an Alpha and liking a brother.”

Under the bright and soft lighting, Gu Yuanchen’s words sounded rather heartless.

Han Yang stood before him, lowering his head, unable to meet Gu Yuanchen’s gaze.

His throat was dry, and he apologized, “Uncle Gu, I’m sorry.”

Gu Yuanchen watched the guilt-ridden Han Yang standing before him, and he couldn’t help but feel compassion. No matter how mature Han Yang might appear, in front of Gu Nuan, he was still just a child.

Gu Yuanchen asked Han Yang to sit down, but Han Yang didn’t move. Gu Yuanchen sighed softly, “I’m not scolding you or angry. I just want to discuss this issue with you.”

Han Yang nodded.

Gu Yuanchen continued, “Though my words may sound harsh, as Nuan’s father and as your guardian, I hope that you can put aside these feelings until he grows up.”

“…?”

“You’re only in your senior year now, and your most important task is to focus on the most important exam of your life. If you still like each other when you’re adults, Uncle Ji and I won’t stand in your way.”

In fact, Gu Yuanchen would even support them.

Gu Yuanchen was asking Han Yang for a promise. Han Yang was busy nodding, his face flushing with embarrassment. He had never felt so ashamed in his life.

Gu Yuanchen was right; Gu Nuan was still too young. He was only in the second year of junior high and not yet 14 years old.

The age gap was the distance they needed to wait for. Han Yang had foolishly tried to bridge that gap at this moment, committing an unforgivable act.

He had no shame.

“I won’t do it again, Uncle Gu. I was wrong. Can you… not tell Uncle Ji about this?”

He was afraid that once Ji Mu found out, he would regret bringing him back. This thought only needed to exist for a second to shatter Han Yang.

The more he cared, the more he feared losing.

Seventeen-year-old Han Yang began to keep his distance from fourteen-year-old Gu Nuan. He no longer ate lunch with Gu Nuan at the cafeteria and didn’t let him stay in his room to do homework.

But whenever Gu Nuan cried with a quivering voice, waiting outside Han Yang’s classroom with a pitiful expression, Han Yang couldn’t help but go to the cafeteria with him. Or one night, when Gu Nuan held his homework book and wiped away tears at Han Yang’s door, Han Yang couldn’t bear it. He opened the door and let him in.

“Brother, I’ll be good. I won’t bother you, please don’t ignore me,” Gu Nuan said with determination. He wiped his tears and said with a crying tone, “When can we get out of senior year? It’s too tough; you don’t want to play with me anymore; you only love studying.”

“…?”

“Sob sob, Brother, I really hate senior year.”

Han Yang wore a bitter expression, thinking that if it were just because of high school, it would be so much better.

Since he had promised Gu Yuanchen, he had to stick to it. But whenever he was with Gu Nuan, his thoughts would become more active, like snow melting, and his restraint would start to weaken.

Han Yang said, “Xiao Nuan, please don’t cry.”

He rarely called Gu Nuan “Xiao Nuan,” and Gu Nuan was momentarily stunned, tears streaming down his face.

Han Yang wiped away his tears with his fingertips and, after a moment of deep thought, said, “When you graduate from high school, I’ll tell you something.”

“W-What is it?” Gu Nuan sniffled, growing curious.

“Perhaps you won’t be happy, and maybe you won’t accept it… but I will definitely tell you.” Han Yang’s voice had a distinctive youthful tone, and this sentence sounded somewhat dreamy, as if it merged into countless dreamscapes of the night. “When the time comes, it’ll be up to you whether you want to continue being close to me.”

Okay?

Okay.

Eighteen-year-old Gu Nuan rubbed his eyes drowsily, waking up from his sleep.

He felt like he had a strange dream but couldn’t remember the details.

After eating the sandwich Han Yang made for him in the morning, taking his medicine, and going back to his room for a nap, he had finally fully awakened.

Gu Nuan walked barefoot outside his room but suddenly remembered something that had popped into his head. He quietly turned back, put on some socks and slippers, and then went downstairs.

Once downstairs, both Gu Yuanchen and Ji Mu had already returned home.

Without waiting for Gu Nuan to approach or say anything, Ji Mu rushed up and held Gu Nuan’s hand.

Gu Nuan noticed that Ji Mu’s hand was ice-cold.

“How are you feeling? Is your body still uncomfortable?” Ji Mu held Gu Nuan’s hand with one hand and touched his cheek with the other. He was extremely worried, and even his eyes were slightly red. “I will take you to the hospital for another check-up, don’t be afraid.”

Ji Mu hadn’t slept since last night, and for someone who rarely showed emotional fluctuations, his tone now even contained a hint of choking. Gu Yuanchen hadn’t slept all night either. He let Ji Mu sit down and had Auntie Xu bring in some hot tea.

Gu Yuanchen asked Gu Nuan, “How’s your body feeling now?” He reached out to touch Gu Nuan’s forehead, and his temperature was normal.

“I’m fine, Dad, Father, don’t worry.” Gu Nuan sat beside Ji Mu and held Ji Mu’s hand in return. “My brother was with me all night, and I slept really well. I feel completely okay now, there’s nothing wrong at all!”

With that said, Han Yang, who had gone out to buy some things, had returned. He was carrying a bag of snacks, all of which Gu Nuan liked, and there was also a bottle of strawberry soda inside.

After more than two months, the family had the rare opportunity to gather together for lunch.

Gu Nuan still didn’t eat much, but he did drink most of the strawberry soda. Ji Mu served him some vegetables as usual, saying, “Don’t just drink soda, eat some vegetables too.”

Gu Yuanchen put some spare ribs into Gu Nuan’s bowl. “You’ve lost quite a bit of weight recently. You should eat some meat.”

Meanwhile, Han Yang, with a small bowl in his hand, was serving chicken soup to Gu Nuan.

Gu Nuan burped, hesitating with the soda bottle in his hand. He was genuinely full.

Ji Mu noticed but didn’t force him to eat more. He said, “Tomorrow, we’ll go to the hospital again for a thorough check-up.”

“Dad, I told you I’m fine.”

“No, you have to go for a check-up.”

Ji Mu’s tone was gentle, but his attitude was firm. He never spoiled Gu Nuan in this regard.

Gu Nuan looked at Han Yang for help, but to his surprise, Han Yang was completely on Ji Mu’s side, even volunteering to be the driver.

Gu Nuan was speechless but felt warm inside.

“I think I’m going to be so happy that I’ll start bubbling with joy.”

He said this in a deliberately cheesy way, lightening the atmosphere at the dining table.