Strawberry Pop Pop Pop chapter 59

On the deserted roadside, a street light flickered.

The flickering light made Gu Nuan’s eyes hurt.

He slightly parted his lips, stopped in his tracks upon hearing Han Yang’s words. Han Yang looked at him and repeated, “I’ve never liked anyone else, Gu Nuan.”

Gu Nuan didn’t understand what Han Yang meant. He had prepared himself for rejection but received an unexpected answer, leaving him momentarily stunned.

He hesitated, swallowing a gulp of air.

…

After a long wait, the designated driver leaned out of the passenger window and politely asked, “Are you both getting in the car?”

Gu Nuan didn’t pay attention to the driver’s question. He was preoccupied with Han Yang’s previous statement, anxiously awaiting Han Yang’s next words. He didn’t even bother to look at the driver, standing still in front of Han Yang.

Han Yang lowered his gaze, contemplating, and then said, “We’re not going to the restaurant; let’s go home.”

Gu Nuan was pulled into the car by Han Yang, only realizing later that the driver was a stranger.

“Who are you?” Gu Nuan blurted out.

The driver, as calm as someone watching a soap opera, spoke to the two passengers in the back seat, both of whom looked decent. “Sir, I’m just an ordinary driver, and I need to pick up my next fare. Are you ready to leave?”

Gu Nuan was at a loss for words. Han Yang then provided an address, saying, “Go here.”

• Gu’s villa.

The driver checked the GPS and said reluctantly, “It’s quite far. After dropping you off, I’ll need to return the car to the owner. This round trip takes time, and it’s different from what I mentioned when I accepted the order…”

Han Yang decisively added, “I’ll pay extra.”

The driver replied, “Alright, please fasten your seat belts!”

At first, Gu Nuan was confused, but then he suddenly realized that He Yunchu and Han Yang had no plans to have dinner together. Han Yang had merely asked He Yunchu to borrow his car, and nothing else was going to happen.

With this understanding, Gu Nuan let out a deep breath and almost wanted to hide in embarrassment.

If that was the case, he had misunderstood earlier. He had even melodramatically acted out such a big farewell scene, nearly shedding tears…

Wouldn’t that be ridiculous and unnecessary in Han Yang’s eyes?

As someone who had confessed and been rejected, Gu Nuan had forcibly misunderstood Han Yang’s intentions and staged a melodrama… After a deep reflection, he realized he might have overdone it a bit.

He stiffly glanced at Han Yang, whose expression remained calm, and noticed that his hand had been held by Han Yang all along.

Gu Nuan tried to pull his hand away, but Han Yang didn’t let go. So, he forced a difficult smile and turned his head. On the glass window, there was undoubtedly a face that had lost all dignity.

Gu Nuan: …I really want to find a hole to bury myself in.

When they returned to the villa, it was pitch dark inside, and Aunt Xu and Xiao Meng had already finished work.

Han Yang pressed his fingerprint to unlock the door, and he and Gu Nuan entered the house, turning on the lights.

Gu Nuan, feeling awkward, took the initiative to ask, “Brother, are you hungry?”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh, okay, I’m fine too.” Gu Nuan’s hand was released, but it still retained the warmth of Han Yang’s touch. He rubbed it discreetly and moved stealthily towards the stairs, preparing to make a run for it.

Han Yang didn’t let him escape that easily, blocking his path.

Gu Nuan took a step back, knowing he couldn’t escape, and apologized proactively, “I’m sorry! I misunderstood. I thought you liked He Yunchu and thought that you wanted to celebrate my birthday with him, so I got a little upset…”

But Han Yang wasn’t concerned about this matter. “He Yunchu is my senior at work, and we usually look out for each other, but there’s nothing more to it.” He paused for a moment, not beating around the bush, “But even if I don’t have anyone I like, how would you react if I were to reject you again?”

Would you leave me, or would you continue liking me?

Han Yang, who was considerably taller than Gu Nuan, blocked his way and unexpectedly sought an answer tonight.

Unable to escape, Gu Nuan had no choice but to stand in front of Han Yang with a stiff expression. His heart was tingling, as he would likely be rejected by Han Yang for the second time tonight.

Han Yang, who rarely acted so unrelenting, insisted, “Gu Nuan, answer me?”

Gu Nuan tightly clutched his clothes and hesitated several times.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and to prevent Han Yang from seeing them, he lowered his head. He thought, “Just reject me already. Why make me answer such a difficult question…”

Gu Nuan didn’t want Han Yang to see that he was about to cry, so he quickly and softly gave an answer. He wanted to end this conversation quickly and retreat to his room, saying, “If you don’t have someone you like and you’re not bothered by me, I would want to continue pursuing you. I know you don’t like me, I know, please, you don’t have to say anything.”

Because he really liked him, he could persist even when facing rejection.

That was Gu Nuan’s answer.

After saying that, he used his hand to push Han Yang slightly and said, “I’ll go upstairs first.”

Han Yang didn’t move, lost in thought, and Gu Nuan wasn’t sure what he was thinking.

Glancing at Han Yang, Gu Nuan thought maybe Han Yang really didn’t want him to pursue him?

Gu Nuan realized this and thought, after summoning the courage to confess today, maybe he had overdone it. He stood there stiffly, ready to make his escape.

Suddenly, Han Yang spoke up, “Aren’t you afraid?”

“What?”

“Han Yongnian.”

Gu Nuan hadn’t heard that name in a long time, and now that it was mentioned again, he fell into silence.

Han Yang noticed his subtle change and turned his head away with a somber expression, as if there were ice in his throat. “He’s been released from prison.”

“…” Gu Nuan unconsciously clenched his hand, clearly showing fear upon hearing that name. Anxiously, he said, “I, I didn’t know about this.”

“He hurt you, nearly killed you, but I have an unbreakable connection with him.” Blood ties were an invisible shackle and an unfortunate beginning for Han Yang.

Han Yang didn’t want to bring up this issue with Gu Nuan, but faced with Gu Nuan’s strong emotions, he couldn’t avoid it any longer.

Facing the issue was also hurtful, but avoidance was even more painful.

So, Han Yang decided to address the problem that stood between them. He wanted Gu Nuan to understand clearly what the issue was, rather than leaving Gu Nuan in a state of confusion and hurt.

He couldn’t bear to see Gu Nuan loving him so deeply yet suffering. He wanted to give Gu Nuan the best, not hurt his feelings.

“Gu Nuan, his blood runs through me. Even if I act like it doesn’t, it’s still a fact.” Han Yang chuckled bitterly, his voice filled with self-blame and regret. “If it weren’t for you kindly taking me home, you might not have experienced what happened four years ago.”

“…”

“Gu Nuan, don’t you resent me at all?”

The clock on the wall ticked, 7:20 PM. There were four hours and forty minutes left until Gu Nuan’s birthday ended.

Gu Nuan stood quietly, looking at Han Yang surrounded by past nightmares. He took a deep breath and asked, “Brother, do you want me to resent you?”

Han Yang couldn’t answer; he couldn’t answer on behalf of a victim.

Gu Nuan looked at Han Yang, who seemed to be standing in the shadow of fear and uncertainty when hearing the name “Han Yongnian.” No one could avoid fearing something that had harmed them in the past, something that lingered deep in their memories. If they couldn’t forget, it would continue to haunt them.

But when Han Yang, who had willingly taken on all the sins of his father, stood before him, Gu Nuan just wanted to ease all his fears and resentment. He stepped forward and embraced him, embracing this Han Yang who had been trapped in the fog.

And indeed, that’s what he did.

Han Yang smelled of a soothing mint scent, even in such a situation, he didn’t forget to comfort Gu Nuan with his pheromones.

Han Yang was always afraid of hurting Gu Nuan again, to the extent that he treated Gu Nuan like a fragile doll in a glass case.

“Brother, I’ve grown up.”

Gu Nuan tiptoed, hugging Han Yang and gently patting his back. “I’m not the kid from four years ago. I won’t be easily hurt by someone. Have you ever thought that if it weren’t for you finding me in the warehouse back then, I might have already died?”

Han Yang shivered all over, incredibly afraid of that possibility.

Sensing his tremor, Gu Nuan hugged him tightly, trying to warm this slightly cold body. “You saved me!”

“No, it wasn’t me…”

“It was you!” Gu Nuan affirmed, “Since you left Han Yongnian, you’ve been our family. You don’t need to bear the responsibility for everything he did, and no one needs to bear it for him. Brother, you must realize this; otherwise, you’ll keep hurting yourself, and you’ll hurt the people who care about you. That’s not what I want, and it never has been.”

Gu Nuan spoke these words to Han Yang for the first time, and they had always avoided discussing the accident from four years ago. Over time, small issues had turned into big ones. Gu Nuan knew that Han Yang had unresolved issues, but he didn’t know that Han Yang had shut him out because of it.

If it was because of this that Han Yang rejected his confession, it would be a great pity.

Clearly, he would be the person in this world who loved Han Yang the most.

Gu Nuan wished for Han Yang to receive a lot of love and hoped that he would always be a part of that love. He wanted to chase away the dampness and darkness from Han Yang’s past and become his little sun.

He had thought about many things, even if they were unrealistic. He had always indulged in these thoughts with joy.

“Brother, I like you very much.”

They say third time’s the charm, but Gu Nuan didn’t like that. Beautiful things shouldn’t be limited to numbers.

Gu Nuan smiled and released his warm embrace. “You don’t need to dwell on those messy thoughts anymore, and I won’t either.” He scratched his nose and said, somewhat embarrassed, “Brother, I’ll leave it at this for today. I’ll continue pursuing you.”

In Gu Nuan’s smile, Han Yang’s expression was moved.

Gu Nuan pursed his lips and, in advance, found a way out for himself. “But don’t worry. When you… when you find someone you like, I’ll withdraw voluntarily. You don’t have to think that I’m suffering. Love, well, it’s probably quite complex.”

After saying that, Gu Nuan finally went upstairs with determination, waving to Han Yang, “Goodnight, get some rest.”

He looked at Han Yang, still reluctant to enter his room.

However, after a relatively silent moment, Han Yang also went upstairs, pulled Gu Nuan into his arms, cradling his face and passionately kissed him for the first time.