Chapter 48
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Lin Yuyan paid a high price for that statement, as he spent a week sleeping on his stomach, and even had to stand while drawing.
Gu Yaoyang initially wanted to delay his departure to take care of him but was forcefully pushed away by Lin Yuyan. For other matters, it would be acceptable to stay, especially when one is sick or injured. However, staying for such reasons felt too embarrassing, didn’t it?
When his agent asked for the reason for his leave, how could Gu Yaoyang answer?
He would surely say it straightforwardly: “Because my boyfriend couldn’t handle it, and I wore him out to the point where he couldn’t get up, so I need to stay home and take care of him.”
Lin Yuyan immediately shook his head, rejecting the idea of letting that happen.
After Gu Yaoyang left, the International Combat Week began in full swing, and he remained victorious in the octagon, amassing more passionate fans. But he got busier, with hardly any time to come back, and even the occasional phone call had to be squeezed into his schedule.
At the same time, Lin Yuyan’s exams were steadily approaching. To ensure nothing went wrong, he repeatedly practiced his drawing techniques, often working late into the night. He slept only a few hours a day and went to the studio the next day to continue working. In the last month, he even lived in the studio until Mr. Zeng said he could apply for a scholarship fund, and only then did he truly relax.
During this time, neither Lin Zhiyuan nor Xu Jinglan contacted him.
Thinking about it carefully, his current life wasn’t much different from before. Even when his parents put on a show in front of him back then, he only saw them once or twice a year. Not to mention the relationship has now been severed. A person as pragmatic and cold as Lin Zhiyuan would never look for him again. He was probably waiting for his son to come back desperate and seek his forgiveness, which he might grant out of fatherly mercy, for not knowing better.
As for Xu Jinglan, he wondered how long she would continue to blame herself before taking the first step. She seemed to have no idea what her son, whom she professed to love, needed. It’s possible that this was the ending they had anticipated for a long time – they no longer had to pretend to be a loving couple for the sake of their child. Once the window was broken, they didn’t want to waste any more time.
It’s strange; Lin Yuyan felt less sad now, and even felt that these things weren’t worth being sad about.
“I have my exams tomorrow.”
“How are you preparing?”
“My teacher says it should be fine, but I’m still a bit nervous.” At night, Lin Yuyan prepared his art supplies for the next day while video chatting with Gu Yaoyang. Gu Yaoyang encouraged him for a while and then suddenly asked, “Are you still uncomfortable?”
Lin Yuyan was baffled. “Where am I uncomfortable?”
Gu Yaoyang raised an eyebrow, “What do you think?”
Lin Yuyan thought for a moment, blushing immediately as he said, “It’s been, it’s been three months! How could I still be uncomfortable? Even a broken leg can heal in such a long time, not to mention your, your skills. I absolutely don’t feel anything!”
“Hmm?” Gu Yaoyang squinted his eyes as he leaned closer to the camera, asking somewhat dangerously, “Are you sure?”
Separated by their phones, Lin Yuyan had grown a bit bolder, and he mumbled with not much confidence, “Y-yes, of course.”
Then, he asked in a hushed tone, “When, when are you coming back?”
Gu Yaoyang said, “Tomorrow.”
With a sudden “pa,” the video went black, and Lin Yuyan dropped his phone on the floor. He quickly picked it up, looking alarmed as he asked, “Tomorrow?!”
If it were any other time, he would have jumped up in joy, but after just making a bold claim, his legs were shaking uncontrollably, and his bottom was a bit sore.
Gu Yaoyang watched Lin Yuyan’s anxious and hesitant reaction for a while before bursting into laughter. “I was just kidding. It will take at least two more months.”
“Oh, it’s going to take that long…” Lin Yuyan’s emotions were on a rollercoaster, going from cheerful to disheartened. “By then, I’ll already be back at school.”
Gu Yaoyang kissed his phone and whispered, “Don’t worry; it will be good after this time period.” He had given himself a four-year timeframe, and during those four years, aside from buying a house, he had some other things to take care of.
The enrollment exam at the Mostin Art Academy had a relatively small number of participants. Since it was the last session, there were only seven or eight people in the examination room.
One of them was a mixed-race student with black hair and blue eyes who approached Lin Yuyan excitedly, saying, “Hey, we have the same hair color.”
Lin Yuyan smiled at him and replied, “Hello.”
“I’m Chen Ze, what’s your name?”
Lin Yuyan didn’t expect him to have a Chinese name, which instantly made him feel more at ease. “I’m Lin Yuyan.”
Chen Ze shook hands with him and said, “I hope we can be classmates.”
Lin Yuyan was also delighted to make a new friend and asked him to take care of him.
Just as they were talking, the door to the examination room was forcefully kicked open, and a burly, menacing-looking man in black leather walked in. It was snowing outside, yet he was wearing only a thin T-shirt, revealing his muscular arms. Sensing that everyone’s eyes were on him, he let out a provoking “hissing” sound from his nose and mouth. The timid girls in the room cowered or turned away. Lin Yuyan was taken aback; he felt this person had a strange sense of familiarity, but he was sure they had never met before.
Perhaps all dark-skinned foreigners looked somewhat similar? That’s why he felt like he recognized him.
“G…” Chen Ze whispered, “This guy is so strange; why is his whole body covered in the letter G?”
G? Lin Yuyan had a sudden realization. He stood up right away; no wonder he looked familiar. Could this person be a fan of Gu Yaoyang? Sure enough, this guy’s dark arms were tattooed with Gu Yaoyang’s English name.
Lin Yuyan felt a bit annoyed; he rolled up his sweater sleeves and found that his arms were completely bare, with nothing there. He felt inferior for a moment. Just as he was about to lower his hand, he saw the enthusiastic Gu Fan jump up, clenching his fists and taking on the posture of an attack.
He even mimicked Gu Yaoyang’s preparation stance exactly, clearly trying to imitate him.
Lin Yuyan knew he couldn’t beat him, and just as he was about to say something, he felt Chen Ze tug on his shirt, motioning for him to sit down.
The proctor walked into the room from outside and signaled everyone to be quiet.
During the exam, Lin Yuyan performed steadily, and when the teacher walked by him, they nodded approvingly. The basic exam lasted three and a half hours, and Lin Yuyan’s work was highly complete. After submitting his work, he and Chen Ze were the only ones left in the examination room.
“I’ll be heading out now. If nothing unexpected happens, we might be classmates next Monday.”
Lin Yuyan waved to him and began to pack up his tools to go home. As he walked halfway, he saw a small tattoo shop and hesitated for a moment.
At 8 o’clock in the evening, Gu Yaoyang video-called Lin Yuyan, intending to ask him how the exam went.
In normal circumstances, there shouldn’t have been any issues since they had a teacher like Zeng Yi. Even a talentless kid could be taught. However, as soon as the video call connected, he saw Lin Yuyan sitting on the couch, red-eyed with wet eyelashes, looking like he had been crying.
Cried? Gu Yaoyang furrowed his brows and asked, “What’s wrong? Didn’t you do well on your exams?”
Lin Yuyan shook his head.
Gu Yaoyang asked, “Then what happened?”
Lin Yuyan remained silent for a while, still not saying anything.
Gu Yaoyang waited for a few minutes, then decided not to ask further. He got up and asked Shao Zheng to book the earliest flight. When Lin Yuyan heard this, he quickly stopped him and extended a swollen red arm, saying with a hint of grievance, “Your name has too many strokes. It hurts so much when you tattoo it stroke by stroke. It pained me to death….”
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Thank You for the new chapter ♡╰(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)╯♡
Thank you so much for translating this story!!!!