Are You Addicted? Volume 1 Chapter 38

Before starting to eat, Bai Han Qi had been continuously staring at Bai Luo Yin’s face. He felt an extreme regret in his heart as he noticed his son's sullen expression and furrowed brows. Pray tell, why did I agree right away? Why can’t I say the offending words to reject Gu Hai? What’s done is done. Just because of temporary happiness, Bai Han Qi had enraged his precious son.

“How about this, I will tell your grandpa and grandma to eat at home. Then, the three of us will go out and eat.”

Bai Luo Yin’s expression became even uglier as he fretted, “Dad, how can I let my own grandpa and grandma eat by themselves? Can grandpa properly remove the bones from the fish by himself? Even if I wanted to drive someone away, I couldn’t drive my own family away. Just let Gu Hai bring his own bowls and chopsticks to eat at the courtyard. Who asked him to insist on staying here?”

“He is our guest, how could you be like this?”

Instead of answering, Bai Luo Yin turned around to grab a bowl. He didn’t pay any more attention to Bai Han Qi after that.

Bai Han Qi sighed heavily, then he headed towards Grandma Bai and Grandpa Bai’s room. Entering the room, he let both elderlies know about a guest coming to eat dinner with them. He especially cautioned Grandma Bai not to talk, while telling Grandpa Bai to eat more slowly and carefully to avoid choking.

Their family of four, plus Gu Hai himself, were five people altogether. All of them were tightly crammed into a small square-shaped table.

That night, the dishes on the table were especially abundant. Besides the steamed fish cooked by Aunt Zou, Bai Han Qi himself had also cooked two more dishes. Although his dishes didn't particularly look that delicious, the smell was actually not that bad.

Even so, despite the appetizing dishes, this is their family’s most silent meal.

Originally, Grandma Bai really loved to talk. But because her son had forbidden her from speaking, she didn’t dare to utter even one word. Unable to speak, her small eyes could only squint, while looking here and there with a face full of caution. However, looking at her cheerful expression, it could be clearly seen that she was truly fond of this particular friend of her grandson. She wasn't allowed to talk, but at the very least, she could get more food for him. Thus, Grandma Bai casually took some vegetables and placed it into Gu Hai's plate. She then grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Gu Hai also liked Grandma Bai. His own grandmother had passed away when he was merely six years old. The only impression he could remember about her was the way that she would comb her hair until it was shiny. Gu Hai supposed that even if his grandmother was still alive, she won’t be as kind and affectionate like Grandma Bai. Hence, in order to show some respect, Gu Hai also took a piece of fish and gave it to Grandma Bai.

“Grandma, please eat. I can get the food by myself.”

Grandma Bai nodded her head steadily. She wanted to express her gratitude, but since she couldn’t speak, she could only voice “Oh” twice woefully.

Gu Hai’s expression changed. After a moment of consideration, he decided to ask the person beside him. Taking advantage of the gap between Bai Han Qi and Grandma Bai’s conversation, he talked to Bai Luo Yin in a low voice, “Is you grandma… mute?”

Terribly exasperated by Gu Hai's rude inquiry, Bai Luo Yin was on the verge of dumping all the food in his bowl on top of Gu Hai’s head.

“Your grandmother is the one who’s mute.”

“My grandmother had long passed away.”

Bai Luo Yin was in the middle of picking the bones from a piece of fish inside his bowl when he noticed Grandpa Bai looking at him enviously. He couldn’t help but to ignore Gu Hai first, pick the fish up, then gave it to Grandpa Bai. Actually, Grandpa Bai could pick his own fish. However, he always did it badly, so most likely, he would end up choking after he ate the fish. Grandpa Bai’s tongue was not nimble and he needed great effort to swallow down the food. If he choked, he would surely cough out all the food inside his mouth. He was worried that he might make the guest feel uncomfortable, so Grandpa Bai ate very carefully.

When Gu Hai saw that Bai Luo Yin himself didn’t eat much and kept on serving his grandparents, his heart was somewhat moved. He took a piece of fish, placed it into his own bowl, and removed the fishbone just like what Bai Luo Yin had done for his grandfather. Then, he put the fish inside Bai Luo Yin’s bowl. This is the first time Gu Hai had ever done this kind of thing. He once said to other people, if there’s a woman who can make him voluntarily pick the bones from a fish, then this woman is definitely the best candidate as his wife. However, it’s a pity that the first time he do this is actually for a guy.

Bai Luo Yin had just finished placing the fish into his grandpa’s bowl when he realized that there was an additional piece of fish inside his own bowl.

Gu Hai didn’t speak a word, yet Bai Luo Yin immediately knew who gave it to him.

Previously, throughout the entire meal, Bai Luo Yin had been feeling discomfort and uneasiness in his heart. Only right after Gu Hai's considerate gesture that his mood finally improved a bit.

Gu Hai occasionally took curious glimpses at Bai Luo Yin.

After Bai Luo Yin ate two spoons, he knitted his eyebrows before he faced towards Gu Hai.

“There’s still a lot of bones in this fish. You didn’t remove everything.”

Fuck… Gu Hai cursed in his mind, you are in a poor, peasant’s body yet you still want a rich, young master’s life! Just what did I, Gu Hai, owe you in my previous life? How did I manage to encounter such an ungrateful person like you? Whenever I do something strenuous, why does it always turn out to be fruitless in your eyes?

Bai Luo Yin couldn’t help but to feel happy and amused. Of course he knew what Gu Hai was thinking about.

The quiet dinner quickly came to an end. Everything was peaceful, that is, until Grandpa Bai coughed.

The color of Bai Han Qi’s face swiftly changed. He was about to put his hand of Grandpa Bai’s back to support him. However, it was already too late. Once Grandpa Bai coughed, he would definitely choke. He coughed out the rice and the fish, all of the food was scattered around the bowl. All the delicious food on the table was completely ruined.

Bai Han Qi’s expression was taut. He wore a concerned yet reprimanding look.

“Didn’t I tell you to eat slowly?”

Now, Gu Hai understood the reason why Bai Luo Yin had adamantly prohibited him from eating in his house.

Before this incident, Bai Luo Yin was constantly ridden with anxiety. But now that it had happened, his mood suddenly became placid and tranquil instead. He calmly stood up, grabbed some tissues and slowly wiped the remnants of food around Grandpa Bai’s mouth. During this time, he didn’t even spare a single glance at Gu Hai. He didn’t want to see those kind of weird stares that strangers gave towards his own relatives. Although Gu Hai had already finished eating, Bai Luo Yin still couldn’t explain it to him.

Bai Luo Yin proceeded to wipe Grandpa Bai’s collar and front robe until they were clean. Just as he was about to get a new bowl of rice, he saw a hand extending towards them.

“Let your grandpa drink a sip of water first.”

Gu Hai held a glass of water in his hand.

Bai Luo Yin didn’t say anything. He simply took the glass and hand it over to Grandpa Bai.

Later, Gu Hai started to chat with Bai Han Qi and the two grandparents on his own accord. As Grandma Bai listened to their conversation, she felt very happy that both of her cheeks were flushed with excitement. She became more and more elated as she watched them talking. She really wanted to say something! She felt awfully restricted, to the extent that she can’t even say one “good” word!

“Your grandson is amazing. No one in our class is brave enough to provoke him.”

Gu Hai looked like he was playing with a child as he gave Grandma Bai a thumbs up.

Grandma Bai’s eyes suddenly widened as she looked at Gu Hai with astonishment.

“Even you cannot rule over him?”

“Eh……”

When Grandma Bai finally realized that she had just talked, she was immediately flustered. Both of her hands covered her own mouth and she didn’t dare to look at Bai Han Qi in the eyes.

Contrary to expectation, Gu Hai was actually amused by Grandma Bai’s adorable behavior.

“Yes, I cannot rule over him.”

Are you addicted?

Chapter end