Chapter 33 (1/2)

Chapter 33

The Shi Yan who had gone berserk grabbed the conch sh.e.l.l and was about to throw it onto the floor when He Nuo pulled on his hand, “Don’t, don’t throw it.”

Shi Yan looked at the hand that was tugging on his arm coldly, “Let go!”

He Nuo loosened his fingers, but he didn’t let go of his hand. His eyes had a look of reluctance as he said, “It’s so pretty, isn’t it good if you keep it?”

“Pretty?” Shi Yan sneered, “Isn’t it because you dislike it that you don’t want it?”

“If I want it, you won’t have any.” He Nuo said quietly.

“……” Shi Yan’s anger was completely extinguished by this sentence. How could he still not understand him and had even misunderstood his question? When he had asked “You picked up a lot of these?”, he had thought that He Nuo wanted even more of these sh.e.l.ls. Dammit, why did he think that He Nuo would demand for things?

“I do have one, it’s even bigger and prettier but I couldn’t bear to show it to you. I was afraid that you’ll try to s.n.a.t.c.h the one I like.”

“I won’t s.n.a.t.c.h other people’s things!” He Nuo retorted.

“So you want it now right?” Shi Yan pa.s.sed the conch sh.e.l.l back to him, “I carried it all the way back here from Hainan. Even if other people want it, I wouldn’t give it to them.”

He Nuo held it in his hands and suddenly looked nervous. A conflicted look flashed through his eyes as he faced his internal struggles. He saw Shi Yan’s sincere and encouraging smile, then stretched his hand out to take the conch sh.e.l.l and smiled abashedly, “Thank you.”

When he saw that smile on He Nuo, the Shi Yan who was sitting in a narrow s.p.a.ce felt more comfortable than he did on Hainan’s beach where he had basked in the glow of the setting sun and cooling sea breeze. He Nuo held the conch sh.e.l.l with an embarra.s.sed and helpless look on his face, so Shi Yan involuntarily softened his voice when he said, “There’re still some things inside, you’re not gonna take a look?”

He Nuo opened half of the packaging, then clasped the thousand layer buddha’s hand conch in his hand again. He really likes it; when he looks at this conch sh.e.l.l, he can imagine how vast the boundless ocean actually is. This was his first time (in taking the initiative) to receive someone else’s gift, he couldn’t control his face from turning red. He remembered about the incident when he had exchanged shoes with his cla.s.smate before; his Papa had scolded him before that “there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world1”, so He Nuo had never coveted other people’s things.

He gently opened up the top segment and saw many gaudy-looking small packages inside. He Nuo carefully placed the conch sh.e.l.l on his bed and picked up those sweets 一一 then he just looked at it. Afterwards, he raised his head and said seriously, “Is it okay if I don’t want these?”

Shi Yan felt waves of powerlessness wash over him, this stubborn guy ah.

“These are all local specialties, they’re very cheap.” Yet he still answered in a light and casual manner.