Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

That evening, Yin Qiuman personally saw He Xinglan off on the train before turning back to the hotel.

On the way, Yin Qiuman received a call from her mother, Leng Ci, asking when she would be home.

Yin Qiuman replied, “Right away.”

She did need to go home to grab a few changes of clothes.

Yes, Yin Qiuman had decided to stay at the hotel, specifically in He Xinglan’s room, until He Xinglan returned.

When Yin Qiuman arrived home, both her parents were there. With the Lunar New Year approaching, her parents’ work was slightly less demanding, so they had time to gather at home to discuss what New Year goods needed to be prepared.

Hearing the door open, Leng Ci stood up and said to Yin Qiuman with a smile, “Manman is back? How is the progress?”

Leng Ci’s face showed an expression that suggested she knew everything.

“Progress?” Yin Qiuman was momentarily confused, then realized what Leng Ci was asking about.

However, Leng Ci was most likely testing the waters; she couldn’t be certain of her guess.

Yin Qiuman felt He Xinglan’s worries were truly unnecessary.

Her parents hadn’t found out about her desire to date through word-of-mouth.

Yin Qiuman wanted to tell them directly, but she was afraid that if He Xinglan knew she had already come out to her family, she would be so scared that she wouldn’t even care about spending the New Year with her grandparents and simply wouldn’t come back.

So, instead of answering, she looked at her mother and countered, “What kind of partner does Mom hope I find?”

“Your partner is, of course, up to you,” Leng Ci was left somewhat speechless by Yin Qiuman’s question. “That’s the person you’ll spend your life with, not your father and me. Naturally, your preference is more important.”

“Right. As long as you like them, whether they are tall or short, fat or thin, excellent and outstanding, or ordinary and mediocre, these external conditions don’t matter,” Yin Huaishan agreed with his wife.

“But they must treat you well.”

This was the one point Leng Ci and Yin Huaishan felt their future son-in-law must meet.

Yin Qiuman nodded, “So, it doesn’t matter if she’s a man or a woman?”

“Of course not. Didn’t they say online that when it comes to relationships, it’s about following your heart’s desire? Nothing else matters.” Short videos were very popular now, and Leng Ci was keeping up with the trends.

Moreover, Yin Qiuman was single at an advanced age, and honestly, this elderly mother was a little nervous.

She was afraid her excellent daughter might be an anti-marriage person.

Compared to remaining unmarried, Leng Ci would rather her daughter be a lesbian.

As for Yin Qiuman’s old-fashioned father, with her around, what waves could he make?!

In their Yin family food chain, Teacher Yin Huaishan belonged to the lower end of the food chain.

Yin Qiuman nodded upon hearing this, feeling more confident about coming out in the future.

Yin Qiuman turned and walked into her room, emerging shortly after with a bag.

“Mom, Dad, I need to stay outside for a few more days.”

“Going out again?” Leng Ci was stunned for a moment. Her daughter had never stayed out overnight except during university. She was already surprised yesterday, but she didn’t expect her daughter to keep surprising her?!

“Why are you staying outside? With friends?” No matter how open-minded Leng Ci was, she couldn’t help but ask a couple more questions.

“Manman, although your father and I won’t interfere with your friendships or dating life, girls are always susceptible to being taken advantage of outside. You must remember to protect yourself well,” Leng Ci knew her daughter’s personality and that once she made a decision, others couldn’t change it. She could only anxiously caution her.

“I’m alone,” Yin Qiuman pursed her lips and, after a moment of hesitation, explained.

Her eyes were filled with regret.

She did want to stay with He Xinglan, but He Xinglan… hadn’t given her the chance.

“Alone?” Leng Ci was even more confused.

If she was alone, why wouldn’t she stay at home?

But Yin Qiuman clearly had no intention of explaining. She opened the door and left with her clothes bag.

Leng Ci only looked at her daughter’s back and then blamed her husband, “Why didn’t you say anything just now?”

Yin Huaishan calmly took a sip of the tea in front of him, then said, “Don’t you know what kind of person Manman is? What do you have to worry about with her?”

Sensible, steady, and intelligent. From childhood to adulthood, Yin Qiuman had never done anything to make them worry.

Sometimes, she even seemed more like the elder, more thoughtful than the two of them, who had lived half a lifetime.

Reminded of this, Leng Ci nodded in agreement, “You’re right. She knows what she’s doing in everything she does.”

The couple stopped discussing Yin Qiuman’s matters. Leng Ci went into the room to do her skincare routine, and Yin Huaishan continued watching his history channel to pass the rare leisure time.

On the other side, because she paid for the room extension, Yin Qiuman smoothly obtained the room card for He Xinglan’s room.

This was Yin Qiuman’s second time entering this room. The first time, she was blocked by He Xinglan and failed to enter. The second time was this afternoon, when He Xinglan specifically granted her permission out of consideration for the extended room fee.

Yin Qiuman looked around. The room layout was slightly different from the room she stayed in last night. It was larger and had a leisure balcony. If she felt bored inside the room, she could go out onto the balcony for some fresh air. It seemed He Xinglan’s maternal grandparents cherished her very much.

That makes sense. If He Xinglan’s maternal grandparents didn’t cherish her, why would He Xinglan come back to spend the New Year with them?

Slowly, Yin Qiuman’s gaze fell upon the large bed in the room.

Because the room hadn’t been checked out, it hadn’t been cleaned and looked exactly as He Xinglan had left it.

Yin Qiuman stood for a moment, then took out her pajamas and went into the bathroom.

When she came out, Yin Qiuman walked straight to the bed, lifted the duvet, and climbed in.

Pulling the covers up and tucking herself in tightly, Yin Qiuman took a deep breath under the duvet, then lifted the corners of her mouth in satisfaction.

How wonderful. It’s entirely He Xinglan’s scent.

Yin Qiuman shifted, making sure her body was fully nestled against the duvet, trying not to leave any gap, making it feel as if she were tightly hugged in He Xinglan’s embracing arms.

After staying like that for an unknown amount of time, Yin Qiuman crawled out and checked the time on her phone.

It was already past midnight. He Xinglan should have arrived by now, right?

After hesitating for a moment, Yin Qiuman called He Xinglan.

At Qingcheng Station.

He Xinglan had indeed arrived, and Lin Yue came to pick her up personally.

Seeing He Xinglan walk out empty-handed, Lin Yue raised an eyebrow, teasing, “Wow, are you… not done playing and heading back already?”

“If you ask me, all this back and forth is exhausting. You must be awfully bored.”

He Xinglan gave Lin Yue a faint glance, “I don’t have that thing.”

“Nor am I bored.” The thought of Yin Qiuman made He Xinglan feel irritated.

“Then what is it? Are you running away from someone?” Lin Yue’s eyes sparkled with gossip. She said excitedly, “Hurry and tell me. Consider it payment for me picking you up so late.”

He Xinglan got into the car first. She did need someone to talk to. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang.

Noticing Lin Yue’s questioning gaze, He Xinglan handed the phone directly to her so she could see clearly: “See? I’m running away from her.”