ICTEUWMN Chapter 131.2

Inas explained casually as she handed the gift box to Yu Mian with a natural and affectionate smile.

“But how could you forget a gift you personally sent?”

While holding Yu Mian’s hand, reluctant to let go, she glanced at Huo Ting suspiciously.

Huo Ting, who was suddenly called out, actually remembered it in his silence.

However, the reason behind it seemed difficult to explain…

He couldn’t admit that he had prepared three identical gift packages just to avoid suspicion, sending the extra ones through Hals, right?

=.=

“The Brilliant Essence that was very popular at the time, there were so many in that gift box. All the other brands were high-end too. Did you ask a sales assistant for recommendations?”

“Speaking of which, if it’s for a special race, the Brilliant essence can repair scales too. Do mermaids need scale care? Want to try it next time?”

The more Inas talked, the more she thought she should take Yu Mian out for a shopping trip and properly make up for the first-meeting gift.

Although it was also because Yu Mian was just too beautiful she inexplicably wanted to dress him up.

“Brilliant essence…?”

This name was like a distant memory, but after Yu Mian reacted, he subconsciously looked at Huo Ting.

Wasn’t that the product he had written a little note to Huo Ting to help him buy?

As a result, this guy went with Secretary Hals and bought a whole bunch of skincare products. Aside from the Brilliant essence, he hadn’t even touched the rest.

They were still stacked in the cabinet of his study.

Inas watched the silent exchange between the two young men and began to develop a faint suspicion. Her gaze toward Huo Ting became even more subtle.

Could it be that someone like Huo Ting didn’t buy those things by chance after all?

“Ahem, I forgot after Hals sent it out. But yes, I did prepare a gift.”

Under several gazes, Huo Ting finally looked away and gave a quiet explanation.

Only then did Yu Mian realize the conversation was still circling back to him.

Not far away, Huo Dong, Huo Yan, and even Huo Yuejiang looked completely baffled, having no idea what these three were talking about.

“So you’ve known each other for that long.”

Inas shook her head with a smile. When she looked at Yu Mian, the smile in her eyes was so intense that even Yu Mian could hardly bear it.

‘Help. What on earth was Huo Ting up to?’

Orz

“And Brother Yu Mian is an amazing writer! Mom, Dad, you must read his books! I heard the new one’s about a scientist! But I got locked out because of the age restriction.”

Huo Yan, who could never sit still, started promoting Yu Mian’s new book with great enthusiasm the moment the conversation quieted down.

He had been looking forward to it for so long, only to be blocked because of “unsuitable content for children”.

It was so frustrating.

But of course, his parents could read it! He had to make sure they became loyal fans of Brother Yu Mian too!

“Oh? Really? If you need any details on experiments or research, feel free to ask. We know a little about that.”

Huo Dong looked at Yu Mian with great interest, surprised that the mermaid guest’s new book involved scientific experiments.

“No, no, no. It’s not in the traditional sense of scientific experiments. It might differ greatly from real life.”

Yu Mian almost reached out to cover Huo Yan’s mouth.

Why did this kid insist on promoting his books 24/7?

Yu Mian was both touched and helpless about this Fish fan.

“I’ll definitely read it sometime, no, tonight! Can I download it on the light brain?”

Huo Dong was already reaching for his light brain.

“It’s best not to read it at night. The content might be quite different from what you expect. Daytime would be more suitable.”

Fortunately, at that moment, Huo Ting finally spoke up, stopping Huo Dong’s eager search.

Huo Dong paused, now even more curious.

Not suitable for reading at night? Daytime would be more suitable? What exactly was written in the book?

Yu Mian, who was feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Huo Ting was at least a little useful.

After dinner, despite Inas and her husband’s interest in the childhood marriage between Yu Mian and Huo Ting, they still left with their son for a walk in the park.

After all, Inas knew that if Huo Yan stayed, the two youngsters wouldn’t be able to talk about things properly.

Huo Yuejiang stroked his beard for a long time before hesitantly pulling out an old photograph.

“Look, this is the one. Your parents touched it back then too. So cute, right? And, ahem, we adults hit it off and just agreed on the spot. That’s how the child marriage was set.”

Although thinking back, it seems that the parents of both sides had been a bit reckless at the time.

Perhaps that was why he got along with Yu Mian’s parents so well, they were all such free-spirited people.

Besides, the two young ones standing together did look pleasing to the eye.

“But, well, this kind of thing… sigh, it’s still up to you. What we adults say doesn’t count, right?”

Huo Yuejiang finally patted his knees and stood up, glancing at Yu Mian and Huo Ting before preparing to slip away.

The more elders meddled in these matters, the messier they became.

Before his wife returned, he had to hurry back and tidy up that room full of messy fishing rods.

This always happened after family dinners.

Huo Dong and his wife would leave with Huo Yan, Huo Yuejiang would go upstairs or sneak out for night fishing.

Huo Ting thought he would be used to always returning to the study alone.

But this time, the feeling of being pushed back to the study by Yu Mian somehow felt quite nice.

Yu Mian firmly closed the study door in the old residence and only turned to look at Huo Ting after confirming that no one else was around.

It was as if, as long as he acted confident enough, the atmosphere wouldn’t become awkward.

“Don’t you think there’s a lot that needs explaining?”

Although Yu Mian had imagined countless scenarios during dinner, the atmosphere still turned a little subtle when he looked at Huo Ting now.

Huo Ting was looking down at the golden conch shell in his palm. The black strands of hair near his ear swayed slightly in the night breeze coming through the window.

For some reason, Yu Mian recalled when he had first hidden in a jar and was brought back to the study by Huo Ting.

Back then, in order to disperse the scent of blood and avoid alarming his family, Huo Ting had opened the window before falling unconscious. The dazzling Central Star City center in the distance remained bustling, even at night.

It was a stark contrast to the tranquil and profound atmosphere at Starry Sky Lake.

“This conch shell… it doesn’t count…”

Yu Mian couldn’t help but reach out, trying to take the conch shell back from Huo Ting’s hand. But Huo Ting didn’t let go and looked directly at him.

The fingertips that were touching each other felt a little hot, and Yu Mian retracted his fingers instantly.

Ever since learning about the childhood marriage, Yu Mian, who finally had some awareness, began to feel like he couldn’t bear holding hands like before.

Something was wrong. This was way too wrong…!

Noticing this, Huo Ting couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Previously, Yu Mian had been too open and straightforward, leaving Huo Ting, who was completely inexperienced with such matters, at a loss.

There seemed to be no one he could consult about this either. For instance, taking Secretary Hals along to buy skincare products had only made things worse.

Just like no one could ever understand what it felt like when Yu Mian flicked his golden fish tail in the water, holding onto the edge as he smiled at the people standing on the shore.

“The agreement made by Grandpa and your parents indeed doesn’t count.”

When Yu Mian heard this response, he immediately looked up at Huo Ting. The emotion flickering in his eyes was something even Yu Mian himself hadn’t noticed.

“…Of course it doesn’t. It’s the interstellar era, if you like someone, you should have the freedom to fall in love.”

Even in his own books, he never wrote about child marriages!

Yu Mian shifted his gaze awkwardly and continued trying to pry Huo Ting’s hand open to take back the conch shell while mumbling his explanation.

But unexpectedly, Huo Ting agreed quite calmly.

“Indeed.”

“Indeed? You have someone you like?”

Yu Mian, whose thoughts were already tangled like yarn, froze and stopped moving.

What was with that confident tone?

Huo Ting lowered his eyes, observing Yu Mian’s expression. For a moment, he even doubted whether those books were really written by Yu Mian himself.

Or perhaps, when they had watched the “Eternal Night Rose” movie together and Yu Mian had blushed while denying everything with, “Where else could I have learned that? I just imagined it”, it had actually been a truth “truer than pearls”.

“Yes.”

Yu Mian: “…!”

But before Yu Mian could react, Huo Ting added:

“He’s very good-looking, has a great personality, and most importantly, he’s incredibly talented at writing. Plus, he has a golden fish tail that he likes to flick when soaking in the water.”

When Huo Ting stared at Yu Mian and carefully said the last sentence, the bright light of the full moon shone from above, and the cool night breeze brushed their hair together.

“So… would you consider it, starting from now?”