Pretending Not to Love You [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 45

Chapter 45

“Hey, hey, hey, come back. What time is it? Don’t be impulsive.” Zuo Qiu called out to Xiao Baijun, who was about to rush out in shorts and slippers.

Xiao Baijun turned back. “Then when do you think I should go?”

Zuo Qiu beckoned Xiao Baijun to come and sit down. Once Xiao Baijun was seated on the sofa, Zuo Qiu asked, “How sure are you about going back now? Have you planned what to say? Have you thought about what you’ll do if your family objects?”

Zuo Qiu’s words sobered Xiao Baijun up. The family member most likely to object was his father. If his father strongly opposed their relationship and wanted to blacklist the duo, Xiao Baijun didn’t care for himself, but he couldn’t disregard Zuo Qiu’s situation.

Xiao Baijun had initially planned to approach this from several angles. First, he would frequently take Zuo Qiu home to build rapport, starting with his grandmother and mother, ideally getting them on their side to help persuade his father. Second, he planned to wait until he had learned everything he needed to, successfully taken over Bailu Entertainment, and then negotiated with his father after showing him his achievements. This would greatly increase his chances of success.

Rushing back now would definitely not lead to an optimistic outcome.

Xiao Baijun embraced Zuo Qiu and apologized, “I’m going to have to let you suffer for a while.”

Zuo Qiu patted Xiao Baijun’s back to comfort him. Xiao Baijun’s family situation was a given, and since he had just dated a girlfriend not long ago, his family certainly wouldn’t be able to accept him suddenly coming out.

“Let’s go home for lunch together tomorrow,” Xiao Baijun suggested. If he couldn’t come out yet, building up goodwill was still possible.

Hearing Xiao Baijun say “home” instead of “my house,” Zuo Qiu couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, I miss Grandma too.”

…

The next day, the two brought a pile of local specialties from M City back to the Xiao family home. Before leaving M City, Zuo Qiu and Xiao Baijun had toured the local market, sweeping up all the specialties. They bought two identical sets; one was mailed back to Zuo Qiu’s hometown, and the other was brought back to B City.

Yin Qiushui and He Can were both pleased to see Xiao Baijun carrying large bags and bundles. After all, Xiao Baijun was almost 22 and had traveled many times, but he had never brought back so much as a grain of rice. In Xiao Baijun’s words, “Aren’t all things the same? There’s no need to exhaust yourself bringing things home.” While that was often true—the quality of many tourist souvenirs wasn’t as good as what could be bought in B City—the thought behind traveling a thousand miles to bring something back was more precious than the item itself.

The two elders knew that Xiao Baijun’s change was likely due to the thoughtful Zuo Qiu, which made them even fonder of him.

Xiao Bailin was also home today. Seeing his younger brother bring his “sister-in-law” home for lunch and the “sister-in-law” chatting happily with their grandmother and mother, he couldn’t help but tease Xiao Baijun: “Got to the meat, did you?”

Xiao Baijun looked at Zuo Qiu ahead and didn’t speak, but the smug smile on his lips made Xiao Bailin want to hit him.

“Shouldn’t you thank me properly?” After all, Xiao Baijun’s successful de-virgination of himself and Zuo Qiu owed a great debt to him.

Xiao Baijun glanced at Xiao Bailin. “As someone who has been there, let me give you a piece of advice.”

Xiao Bailin, who didn’t have a girlfriend, humbly asked, “What is it?”

“Talk less, perform more. It applies in bed, and it applies at other times too.” After saying this, he quickly walked a few steps to Zuo Qiu’s side.

Xiao Bailin took a second to process this, then forced a laugh. Was he implying that he talked too much? His little brother was as annoying as ever!

…

In the living room, the Xiao family and Zuo Qiu sat on the sofa chatting.

The two ladies held Zuo Qiu and Xiao Baijun’s hands, asking endless questions. Xiao Zhan and Xiao Bailin sat across from them with expressionless faces, forced to listen to the women’s chatter, somewhat confused as to why there were so many questions after only half a month apart.

Xiao Baijun was also impatient with these trivial questions, which were detailed down to what they ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He sat on the side, concentrating on listening to Zuo Qiu’s meticulous answers. At this moment, Xiao Baijun deeply admired Zuo Qiu. After talking so much, he still wore a smile, and his speaking speed hadn’t changed. He truly is the good wife I chose!

Xiao Bailin looked from a distance at Xiao Baijun’s infatuated, almost slobbery look, wanting to embrace and nibble on Zuo Qiu, and disgustedly turned his eyes away.

…

After lunch, the two weren’t in a hurry to leave. Xiao Baijun accompanied Zuo Qiu for a stroll in their small garden. Calling it a small garden was an understatement for this space, which covered several hundred square meters. The garden was filled with trees Zuo Qiu couldn’t name, providing deep shade, with small bridges over flowing streams and pavilions. Even walking inside during the hottest part of summer, one didn’t feel any heat, only a refreshing coolness.

“Poverty limits my imagination,” Zuo Qiu sighed. While the Xiao family villa’s interior design was exquisite, it wasn’t as shocking as a several-hundred-square-meter garden in the heavily-priced land of B City.

Xiao Baijun’s face showed no smugness or pride. He said faintly, “These are the results of generations of the Xiao family’s hard work.” He hadn’t contributed a single brick or tile to this garden. The previous generations planted the trees, and the later generations enjoyed the shade. He was just one of the people enjoying the shade.

Zuo Qiu put his hand on Xiao Baijun’s shoulder. “My boyfriend is very capable now and will be even better in the future!”

Xiao Baijun smiled, glanced at Zuo Qiu, and put his hand on Zuo Qiu’s shoulder in return. “That’s for sure. Your husband is great in every way.”

Zuo Qiu smiled without answering Xiao Baijun’s suggestive comment, and the two continued their slow walk in the garden.

…

Upstairs on the second floor, Yin Qiushui saw the two boys walking arm-in-arm, smiling. She told He Can, “They have such a good relationship. I really like Zuo Qiu.”

He Can smiled and nodded. “Jun Jun has changed a lot since he’s been with him. That’s probably the effect of associating with good company.”

Yin Qiushui chuckled in agreement.

Under the shade of a tree near a rockery, Zuo Qiu saw Axing, the dog, sleeping in a cool spot. He was about to walk past quietly when Axing suddenly opened its eyes. It first spotted Zuo Qiu and was about to run toward him, but then it saw Xiao Baijun. Axing hesitated for a moment while looking at Xiao Baijun, then turned and ran away.

Zuo Qiu: …

“What did you do to Axing to make it so afraid of you?”

Xiao Baijun: “I didn’t do anything special.”

He truly hadn’t done anything special—no kicking, no hitting, no threats to cook it. Xiao Baijun had simply intimidated it a few times with his powerful presence, clearly demonstrating his dislike for it.

Zuo Qiu looked at Xiao Baijun. He could probably understand Axing now. Xiao Baijun usually wore a cold expression in public, didn’t talk much, and looked as if someone owed him millions. Such obvious dislike would certainly be felt by a sensitive dog.

…

The two prepared to leave after having dinner at the Xiao house. Xiao Baijun refused the items the two elders tried to give them. “We really don’t need them. The things we brought back last time are still untouched.”

Yin Qiushui was displeased. Holding two jade pendants, she said, “Forget about the other things, but you must take these. I specifically had a master consecrate them. Take them!”

Xiao Baijun took the jade pendant box and saw that they were two identical Hetian jade Guanyin pendants. Xiao Baijun was tempted. He hadn’t given Zuo Qiu anything since they got together, and these two pendants looked like a couple’s jewelry. He accepted them.

Yin Qiushui was also happy. Her grandson was away alone, and the family was very worried. In those first few nights, she couldn’t sleep. Later, she sought out someone to bless these two Guanyin pendants, and only then did her heart feel a little calmer.

…

When the two returned home that evening, Xiao Baijun personally put one of the jade pendants on Zuo Qiu. After putting it on, he forced Zuo Qiu to put his on for him.

“Do you think we look like we’re performing some kind of ceremony?” Xiao Baijun asked Zuo Qiu, who was fastening his pendant.

Zuo Qiu laughed. “I don’t think so.” He just thought this person was incredibly childish!

Xiao Baijun didn’t mention exchanging wedding rings and instead brought up something else. “Oh, that reminds me, where is the couple’s mug that Grandma gave us last time?”

When they went to M City, Xiao Baijun deliberately took his mug, but Zuo Qiu didn’t take his, which made Xiao Baijun a little uncomfortable. Now that they were back in B City, he had to make Zuo Qiu bring it over.

Zuo Qiu finished tying the red string and sat on the nearby sofa, avoiding eye contact. “What mug?”

Xiao Baijun saw Zuo Qiu avoiding the subject and exposed him directly. “Don’t play dumb. Where is the mug?”

“Is it in your room?” Xiao Baijun asked, getting up to look in Zuo Qiu’s room.

Zuo Qiu rubbed his temple, defeated by Xiao Baijun’s persistence. “It’s in M City.”

Xiao Baijun stopped. After realizing what that meant, he smiled and walked over to Zuo Qiu, pinching his cheek. “You little liar.”

A little liar who wants something but won’t admit it!

Zuo Qiu felt embarrassed. He really was quite timid in the past. Fortunately, Xiao Baijun had walked 99 steps and finally forced him to take the 100th step.

The two didn’t mind the heat. They hugged each other, enjoying their sweet time together until half an hour later, when Zhao Zhixian brought the pre-selected assistant, as promised.

…

The first sentence the assistant spoke made Zuo Qiu understand why Zhao Zhixian said this person would meet both their requirements simultaneously.

“My name is Guo Chen. I am 27 years old, female, and I like women.” After clearly and concisely introducing her defining characteristics, Guo Chen stood straight to the side and said nothing more.

Guo Chen was about 1.7 meters tall, with a buzz cut, tanned skin, and wore a black T-shirt and knee-length jeans. Zuo Qiu looked at her and thought, if she hadn’t said she was female, he would probably have had to confirm it with Zhao Zhixian, as even her voice was androgynous!

Xiao Baijun was also quite satisfied with Guo Chen. She had a firm gaze and spoke little. Most importantly, she was a woman who liked women, which eliminated many potential problems. Moreover, Guo Chen looked stronger than Zuo Qiu, so doing manual labor shouldn’t be an issue.

“Fine, have her come with us to M City tomorrow,” Xiao Baijun decided.

Zhao Zhixian nodded. Guo Chen only said “Good,” and the two left together.

…

After they left, Zuo Qiu said to Xiao Baijun, “Why do you think we exist in this world?”

Xiao Baijun understood Zuo Qiu’s meaning. The “we” he spoke of included not just the two of them but also the minority group, including Guo Chen, who were not accepted by the majority.

Xiao Baijun didn’t want to engage in a philosophical discussion with Zuo Qiu and quickly changed the subject with a dirty joke to divert Zuo Qiu’s attention. “Maybe because in our past lives, I enjoyed f-u-c-k-i-n-g you so much!”

Zuo Qiu’s slight melancholy was shattered instantly. “Maybe in the past life, you were the one on the bottom.” The one being f-u-c-k-e-d.

Xiao Baijun frowned, imagining himself as the bottom. “I’ll give you a chance. Tonight, I volunteer to be the bottom and let you show off your prowess.”

Zuo Qiu chuckled twice, got up, and walked away.

He had no intention of being the top in this life, and Xiao Baijun knew that well, so how could he fall for the trap! Besides, his wound wasn’t fully healed yet. Did Xiao Baijun think he was an idiot!

Xiao Baijun watched Zuo Qiu’s retreating back and rubbed his nose. Having a smart boyfriend was sometimes a bad thing. He wouldn’t fall for such small tricks!