He probably should thank the second young master of the Luo family for such a change.
”I- I think it’s going well,” Shen Ji Yun said in response to his uncle’s question.
Shen Yi Mu opened the refrigerator and took out a carton of milk. He took a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass. “You think you have a chance?”
Shen Ji Yun was silent for a moment. Because he didn’t know what kind of answer to give the other. Did he have a chance? Frankly speaking, if he just based it on the way Luo Yan was acting towards him, he would give a big resounding ‘yes’. But that side of him that just couldn’t believe that things could go this smoothly wouldn’t agree with him.
It’s telling him that that was just how Luo Yan was – very affectionate to the people he cared about. He didn’t want to assume and decide what’s Luo Yan’s feelings were just because of the way the other acted around him. What if he was simply seeing the things he wanted to see? Exaggerating the other’s every action in his mind?
He sighed inwardly. Truly wanting to kick himself. If only he had confidence to actually assume things. Then, maybe he wouldn’t be so unsure of everything.
Seeing this sudden change in expression, Shen Yi Mu wondered if he asked the wrong question. Maybe things weren’t going as well as Ji Yun said. If it was, then, the other would have known by now if he had a chance or not.
The path he decided he took was not an easy one, after all. Even someone who’s much older or experienced in life wouldn’t exactly have an easy way of it. Much less his nephew who couldn’t express or even understand his own emotions.
”If you’re having trouble, you know you can ask me for advice,” he said.
As the other’s guardian, it’s the least he could do. Ji Yun was in a very delicate situation right now. He’s not just exploring his own sexuality, he’s also at the point where he was just starting to learn about his own emotions. There should at least be someone who could guide him as he went to this journey.
”I—” Shen Ji Yun stopped. He didn’t know what to say. No, he did know. He just wasn’t sure if he should.
”Now, now, there’s no need to feel shy,” Shen Yi Mu said when he saw the other’s hesitation. “You know you can ask your dear uncle anything. Even love related matters. I’ll try to give you the best advice I could.”
Even though his uncle said it a teasing tone, Shen Ji Yun could see that the other was very much sincere in his offer. The only reason he held back was because he felt embarrassed asking his uncle about this sort of thing. After all, they wouldn’t be talking about computer-related things as they usually would.
But at the end, despite feeling embarrassed, he finally decided to ask the question that had been running inside his head. “How would one know if the person they like, likes them back?”
After asking that, Shen Ji Yun’s face quickly turned bright red. Showing just how embarrassed he was by doing so.
Oh, it’s this question – Shen Yi Mu thought. How should he answer this one?
”Well, guessing one’s feelings for another is definitely not an easy task. Especially in a case like yours.”
Shen Ji Yun nodded. He understood what his uncle was trying to say. He was referring to the ‘case’ of him liking someone of the same gender. More so in their society where one couldn’t be open about it.
”That kid, Xiao Yan, I could tell that he has a very affectionate disposition for the people he cared about,” Shen Yi Mu continued.
His observation was, of course, based on that one day they spent with the Luo family in Chengdu. Even though it’s only for a short time, anyone with a keen observation could see just how affectionate the kid was to his family. He was the same way with Ji Yun. But not so much to him. Showing how Xiao Yan was only like that to people he was closed to.
”If he is like that to a girl, then, it could be a cause for a misunderstanding. But if he’s like that to a fellow boy, then the first thing anyone would think is that they are very good friends. So, it’s hard to tell what he’s feeling just based on how well he’s treating you.”
That’s exactly what’s going through Shen Ji Yun’s head. “Then, what does Uncle suggest I should do?”
”At this point, there’s really only one thing,” Shen Yi Mu said. He drank his glass of milk first before looking straight at his nephew. “Confess.”
Shen Ji Yun looked dumbfounded for a second. Before he could react or even say anything, his uncle had already continued.
”Tell Xiao Yan your intentions. If you are truly decided on him, then, it’s better to tell him how you feel. Depending to his reaction to your confession, then, you can quickly tell what his feelings for you are,” Shen Yi Mu said. “Of course, this is the easy way. It could either go extremely well or it could go very, very bad.”
Shen Ji Yun could already tell how bad it could be. “If this is the easy way, then, there must be a hard way. Correct?”
Shen Yi Mu looked at his nephew’s hopeful look. “There is. But you must work really, really hard for it to work.”
”I’ll do it,” Shen Ji Yun said with almost no hesitation.