Chapter 855: HE'S STILL WAITING FOR YOU

AFTER talking for a while in the caf, Shen Ji Yun reluctantly bid farewell. After all, he still had to wake up early tomorrow. Jiang Yue insisted on taking him back to his hotel. Since he also wanted to spend more time with him, he agreed.

Of course, he had to call the shop where he rented the motorcycle and told them where to get the bike. Then, sending them additional money for their services. Done with that, he and Uncle Yue walked to the other's car.

He told him the address of the hotel he's staying in and they headed there.

"You mentioned that you're going to Hunan province with the family of the friend you're visiting here today?" Jiang Yue asked as he drove.

He knew that the 'friend' Xiao Yun was talking about was Luo Yan. So, that meant that the other would be going with the Luo family tomorrow. When he heard Xiao Yun saying that earlier, he was truly quite surprised. Because this showed that the other was quite close with Luo Yan.

Jiang Yue was really starting to wonder how the two got close when both lived in different cities. Especially with Luo Yan's circ.u.mstance. But if he did, he had to explain how he knew who Luo Yan was. And then, he had to reveal how he followed the two from Guizhou Academy.

"Yes, I met him here during his older brother's graduation. Uncle was the guest speaker. Then, we got to know each other in Arcadia the game Uncle made," Shen Ji Yun said.

Jiang Yue didn't expect that Xiao Yun would explain further. Was he being too obvious? He sighed inwardly. As time went by, he felt like his image as an adult in front of Xiao Yun was slowly degrading.

But hearing how the two became close friends through Arcadia, he could finally understand how could that happen despite being in two different cities.

"Has Uncle Yue played Arcadia?" Shen Ji Yun added.

"The old version, yes. The VR version, I haven't yet," Jiang Yue answered honestly.

He had never tried playing the VR version. Because he knew how easy it was for the company to get their players' personal information if they wanted to. He was worried of Yi Mu finding him that he tried very hard not to go near the game.

It was quite hard. He was very thankful that he was abroad for most of those seven years. With that, he only had to control himself when he returned here about two years ago. But it was still hard. Very, very hard.

He could no longer count how many times he tried to buy a VR helmet just so he could enter the world Yi Mu created. But he held himself back time and time again. It didn't stop him from checking it on Weibo and other sites though. So, he knew how realistic it was. Truly, like a whole new world.

Even though it had nothing to do with him, Jiang Yue still felt very proud. How could he not? Seeing Yi Mu's hard work come to life, it filled him with so much pride that it easily became his source of happiness.

Shen Ji Yun, hearing the other's answer, wanted to ask 'why not?'. But he stopped himself. Because he felt like he already knew the answer.

Silence filled the car for a good while. Until Shen Ji Yun dropped a very big 'bomb' that almost made Jiang Yue lost control of the steering wheel.

"The friend I met up today, I'm in love with him," Shen Ji Yun said first. "He's a boy, by the way. Just like me."

That's when Jiang Yue swerved to the right, almost hitting the car on the next lane. It was a good thing that he quickly took control of the steering wheel and the car's trajectory returned to normal.

Then, it took a few minutes before everything that Xiao Yun said registered in his mind. He said he was in love with his friend and that friend was a boy. And Jiang Yue knew who this 'boy' was.

Luo Yan.

Xiao Yun was in love with Luo Yan.

"Does... does your uncle know?" was the only thing he could ask at the moment.

"Yes," Shen Ji Yun answered. "We have a very serious talk about it. I knew of all the consequences I have to face when I realized about my feelings and decided to face it head on. I knew how hard it would be, especially in this country. But I couldn't lie to myself and act as if these feelings inside me never existed. I want to at least try to pursue this love. To see if it could be reciprocated."

Jiang Yue didn't know how to respond to such a heartfelt and honest admission.

"Even if it didn't, I wouldn't have any regrets. Because I knew that I tried. I probably would be sad for a very long time though," Shen Ji Yun continued with a self-deprecating smile. "But in the off-chance that I succeed, then I would do my best to protect him against the cruel words of others. I'm ready to bear all the hate and criticism. I will do everything in my power to make him happy."

Jiang Yue felt sour in his heart hearing those words. He felt like he was taken back years ago when Yi Mu confessed to him. It completely felt like the one sitting beside him was Yi Mu himself.

"I'm sure Uncle felt the same. No, he still feels the same way regarding his relations.h.i.+p with you, Uncle Yue."

Jiang Yue almost lost control of the steering wheel once again when he heard that. "Xiao Yun, you, you knew about us?"

"Uncle told me about it when we had that talk." Shen Ji Yun turned to Jiang Yue and added sincerely, "He's still waiting for you, Uncle Yue."

Jiang Yue visibly felt his heart tremble hearing that.