Chapter 107: An Unrestrained (Imaginative) We Chat Username

Gu Yebai stood in front of the mirror.

This outfit was probably the most low-key one he could find.

A black cotton shirt, khaki cargo pants, and a pair of old sneakers washed slightly white.

Besides that, he had dug out an N95 mask from a drawer, probably left over from the pandemic era.

“I thought Little Gu Gu was going to dress up all fancy! Back in Seoul, at the all-girls school I went to, the girls would always spend half an hour putting on makeup before going out on a date.”

“I thought you were taking this meeting seriously too, so you’d want to look extra handsome.”

Bai Xialin seemed a little disappointed, then couldn’t help but tease.

“What, could it be that Little Gu Gu is a big celebrity, worried about being recognized?”

“The flu has been pretty bad lately.”

Gu Yebai answered reflexively.

“It’s not because you’re afraid of getting caught by your girlfriend, is it?”

She actually guessed right.

Gao Hongyi was indeed at school right now.

St. George’s International School had a strict schedule, but with a school like that, who could guarantee there wouldn’t be various extracurricular activities, club rehearsals, or piano competitions…

What if?

Walking down the street, bumping into her, with a vibrant Seoul girl like Bai Xialin by his side… the mental image was simply too beautiful, too terrifying to imagine.

He’d probably be unable to explain himself even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

Honestly, it was best not to go out at all.

….

But just a moment ago, she had indeed struck a chord.

Gu Yebai longed to be a couple with Gao Hongyi.

He was grateful for her devotion.

But why couldn’t their relationship be a bit more… normal?

If he didn’t go out, if he didn’t overcome the part of himself that was afraid of Gao Hongyi… this was a demon in his heart.

He would never be able to step out this door in his lifetime, and this place would, without him noticing, turn into a cage.

Bai Xialin was full of energy.

“Let’s go~ let’s go!”

His arm was hooked, and he was forcibly dragged out…

Having someone this sunny around… didn’t feel bad.

It was like a breeze carrying no burdens at all, bringing only a faint, refreshing coolness when it blew in.

But in his mind, Gao Hongyi’s expression would sometimes surface, along with that heavy love, sweeping away all the refreshing coolness.

Sigh…

If only Hongyi could gradually become friends with Bai Xialin.

Then, let Bai Xialin slowly influence her, make her understand that love is based on trust, not control…

Clearly, Hongyi and Xiao Lin could share the sunshine.

They got off the elevator.

Walked out of the residential complex, turned into a quiet side street.

Ah…

Leaving home without needing anyone’s permission—for an ordinary sixteen-year-old boy, this should be the most normal thing.

Yet, Gu Yebai’s heart was pounding wildly.

It really felt like a prison break.

He couldn’t help but want to shout loudly: Farewell, my cage!

To relax a bit and ease the tense atmosphere, Gu Yebai started a conversation first.

“Xiao Lin, what does your WeChat name translate to?”

“Hehe~ This young lady’s WeChat name, ‘ Cosmic Observer Rin ‘, translates to—”

Bai Xialin stopped walking, suddenly raised her chin, and put on a proud expression, as if showing off a treasure.

“Universe Observer—Lin!”

“Universe Observer?”

What a chuunibyou WeChat name… Gu Yebai couldn’t help but curve the corners of his mouth.

Her profile picture was a UFO, her accent had that cute foreign lilt, and paired with this name, it actually fit quite well.

Bai Xialin was like a ray of sunshine that could sweep away all the darkness.

“Why are you smiling?”

She tilted her head to look at him.

“Nothing.”

“Could it be my name is funny?”

Bai Xialin puffed out her cheeks, like a little pufferfish.

“No, no, I think… it’s pretty good.”

“Does Little Gu Gu believe aliens exist?”

Gu Yebai instinctively thought of a certain novel, where a certain university entrance exam specifically for dealing with dragons had a similar question and answer…

The central theme was expressing a sense of loneliness.

Think about it, the universe is so vast.

If there were no aliens, it would be too lonely.

Actually, Gu Yebai had similar thoughts to that novel’s protagonist.

“I believe aliens exist.”

“What does Little Gu Gu think aliens look like?”

“Probably… something like the Great Old Ones in the Cthulhu Mythos? Octopus heads, writhing tentacles, all slimy.”

“Or maybe like the bugs in The Three-Body Problem? Although Liu Cixin didn’t explicitly say it, many analyses suggest the Trisolarans are insectoid.”

“Xiao Lin, I’ve read popular science articles. Octopuses are actually very intelligent.”

“Their tentacles have highly autonomous neural networks. The central brain only accounts for one-third of the neurons. The other eight arms each have their own mini-brains, which together account for two-thirds.”

“Even if an arm is cut off, when stimulated, it can still independently grasp things and adjust its posture.”

“Insects are highly socialized and also very impressive…”

Gu Yebai talked about the aliens in his mind, while Bai Xialin kept her head tilted, staring at Gu Yebai.

Completely absorbed.

She seemed very interested in this topic.

Is this really okay?

Actually, Gu Yebai was feeling a bit like retreating.

In my heart, I just want to be friends with Bai Xialin.

I don’t want to develop even a hint of ambiguous feelings.

Otherwise, I’d be letting Hongyi down.

Wanting freedom was true, but he didn’t want to become a scumbag.

Gu Yebai was indeed afraid of Hongyi, but he also loved her.

No matter how pretty or cheerful Bai Xialin was, Gu Yebai had no intention of changing his heart.

“Little Gu Gu really knows a lot.”

“But, has Little Gu Gu ever thought about this?”

“The possibility that aliens actually look exactly like humans, all having primate forms?”

“Maybe they’re hiding on Earth, using high-tech to disguise themselves as humans, perfectly blending into society, like the recent trend of ‘pseudohumans’.”

“For example… I am the visitor from the heavens. I am an alien. I come from a distant corner of the universe. I have always been observing, always watching you all, and always watching you.”

“Later, I couldn’t hold back anymore, so I came to your side and became friends with you.”

“Have you ever thought that maybe my getting close to you is actually because I want to capture you and take you to an alien planet for human experimentation?”

What a flight of imagination!

Gu Yebai was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud.

“Hahaha, your imagination is really rich, Xiao Lin! If you went to write sci-fi novels, Liu Cixin would be out of a job!”

“You could directly write The Four-Body Problem.”

Huh?

Seems like… back in Linchuan, I said something similar to another person.

I remember now.

Back in Linchuan County, Gu Yebai had said something similar to Ai Lian.

Ai Lian was also a girl with wild ideas.

Gu Yebai had also teased her in a similar way, suggesting she go write sci-fi novels…

I wonder how Ai Lian is doing now.

I do kind of miss her.

Before parting, she had given him her farewell blessing.

During their last phone call a few days ago, she said she was going to have a brand new start.

She had confessed to him.

When he tried calling her number again after that, it could never be connected.

“Little Gu Gu, what’s wrong?”

Bai Xialin’s voice pulled him back from his thoughts.

“Your expression suddenly looks so down.”

“It’s nothing… I remembered a friend from my hometown. We’re not in contact anymore.”

Bai Xialin’s eyes flickered, and she lightly bit her red lip.

She kind of wanted to tell him that Ai Lian was still around, only…

Ai Lian had become a different version of herself… become a version that could pursue him without any problems at all.

But she couldn’t say it.

Her hand wanted to gather the courage to hold his.

But the moment it touched the back of his hand, Gu Yebai reflexively pulled his hand back.

Sensing the rejection, Bai Xialin’s hand slowly lowered.

Her smile didn’t change, but her voice wasn’t as cheerful as before.

“We’re here, we’re here! This is the place!”

The cafe she chose was called “Corner Light”.

The shop was tucked away in the corner of the first floor of an old Western-style house, the glass windows covered in ivy.

Pushing the door open, the faint aroma of roasting coffee beans mixed with a woody scent greeted them.

The booth in the farthest corner was half-shielded by potted plants, the light soft and unobtrusive.