Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Yin Qiuman acted as if she hadn’t heard anything. After a momentary daze, she darted into the bathroom.

“I’ll brush my teeth first.”

Yin Qiuman’s voice traveled through the air to He Xinglan’s ears.

He Xinglan curved her lips and decisively rejected the video call.

“Call back later. The ‘ugly bride’ is afraid of meeting the in-laws, so she’s transforming right now.”

He Xinglan sent a WeChat message to her mother, then tossed the phone aside and strode into the bathroom, standing side-by-side with Yin Qiuman: “I’ll wash up with you.”

He Xinglan meant washing her face, but a scene of their showering together last night flashed through Yin Qiuman’s mind. She gave He Xinglan a cross look.

The look seemed fierce but had no deterrent power whatsoever.

He Xinglan blinked innocently: “I said washing my face.”

“What is Jiejie thinking about?” He Xinglan’s voice was full of laughter, clearly showing she had been teasing on purpose.

Yin Qiuman: “…”

Mischievous!

It was an hour later when Yin Qiuman finally finished getting ready. She had applied meticulous makeup and chosen the best set of clothes she had brought. The sheer effort was comparable to preparing for a first job interview after college graduation.

He Xinglan had never seen Yin Qiuman treat meeting anyone with such importance, and even though that person was her own mother, He Xinglan felt a bit sour inside.

“How about we skip it for now? We can meet again later when there’s an opportunity.” He Xinglan didn’t think she was jealous; she just saw her girlfriend was nervous.

“No.” Yin Qiuman shook her head, refusing. She was indeed nervous, but she couldn’t bring herself to refuse to meet her girlfriend’s parent just because she was nervous.

It would also be impolite.

“Okay then.” Since her girlfriend’s refusal was firm, He Xinglan could only obey. She took out her phone, looked at Yin Qiuman, and asked: “Should I call now?”

Yin Qiuman nodded.

He’s mother seemed to have been waiting by her phone since the last call ended. As soon as He Xinglan dialed, He’s mother picked up.

He’s mother wore a smiling face, but when her daughter’s face appeared on the video, the smile on He’s mother’s face immediately froze: “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“Who wants to see you? I want to see your girlfriend.” He’s mother’s eyes showed clear disdain for her own daughter.

He Xinglan: “…”

Fine, now that she has my girlfriend, her daughter isn’t that important anymore, I guess.

He Xinglan resignedly moved the phone camera to Yin Qiuman.

“Jiejie, this is my mom.”

“Mom, this is my Jiejie—oh no, my girlfriend.”

She had used Jiejie so much that her mouth almost slipped up.

Hearing He Xinglan’s playful words, He’s mother’s dislike for her daughter grew stronger.

“Um… girl, don’t mind her. This He Xinglan, well, she’s a bit simple-minded,” He’s mother said, smiling warmly at Yin Qiuman.

After saying that, He’s mother realized she had just spoken badly about her daughter. A mother saying her daughter was simple-minded… wasn’t that off-putting?

Thinking this, He’s mother quickly tried to compensate: “Even though she’s simple-minded, she’s very caring, and her looks are decent. She can just about manage to be presentable in public and do some cooking.”

Just about manage? What did ‘just about manage’ mean? He Xinglan’s face was as dark as the bottom of a wok upon hearing her mother’s words.

“Mom…”

Is that how you talk about your own daughter?

He Xinglan regretted it. She should have definitely stuck to her initial plan and not called her mother, just letting her cry over the hand in the Moment.

Yin Qiuman was influenced by the relaxed atmosphere. The nervousness in her heart vanished without a trace amidst the mother and daughter’s playful banter.

“Hello, Auntie. My name is Yin Qiuman, and I’m He Xinglan’s girlfriend.” Yin Qiuman greeted He’s mother with a confident smile.

“Yin Qiuman? Then can Auntie call you Manman?”

Yin Qiuman nodded: “Of course.”

“When did Manman meet our Xingxing? How long have you two been together? Um… did Xingxing pursue you or…?” Maybe it was because Yin Qiuman’s ‘Auntie’ was so pleasant to hear, but after that one address, He’s mother instantly turned into a curiosity baby, asking question after question, sounding less like a mother and more like a gossip-loving auntie.

“Alright, Mom, why are you asking so many details?” He Xinglan interrupted her mother’s questions without a second thought.

“The details aren’t important. What’s important is that your daughter isn’t a single dog anymore; I have a girlfriend now.”

“Okay, you’ve seen the person. I need to take my girlfriend out to play, so I’m hanging up now.” After saying that, He Xinglan hung up the phone without giving He’s mother time to react.

Yin Qiuman looked at the disconnected call and hesitated: “Xingxing, wasn’t that a little rude?”

“She’s my own mother; don’t worry about it.” He Xinglan tossed the phone aside, then hugged her girlfriend. After a successful snuggle, she said: “I don’t feel like going out today.”

“Can we stay in the hotel all day?”

He Xinglan felt she was being a bit clingy, and was slightly afraid Yin Qiuman might be annoyed.

Looking down into He Xinglan’s eager eyes, Yin Qiuman curved her lips, showing none of the disdain He Xinglan feared: “Then we’ll stay in the hotel all day.”

Only unconditional pampering.

He Xinglan’s eyes sparkled like stars. Looking at Yin Qiuman, she buried her entire head into the softness of Yin Qiuman’s chest, whining: “Ah, why is my girlfriend so good?”

Yin Qiuman smiled: “Because I’m your girlfriend.”

Because this is what she had wanted to do for a long time.

“Xingxing, Jiejie can be very, very good to you, always very, very good, so let’s never break up, okay?” Yin Qiuman cupped He Xinglan’s face. He Xinglan’s rubbing had made her breathing a bit unstable and heavier than before.

Yin Qiuman stared into He Xinglan’s eyes, tempting her to say the words she wanted to hear.

Breaking up was the word both He Xinglan and Yin Qiuman least wanted to hear.

He Xinglan looked down: “I’ve never thought about breaking up with you.”

Not now, not ever before, and she felt not in the future either.

Yin Qiuman knew what He Xinglan was referring to. After a moment of silence, she said: “Then we’ll never break up.”

“Xingxing, do you want to get married?” Yin Qiuman suddenly asked.

“Married?” He Xinglan was taken aback by Yin Qiuman’s question.

They had only officially started dating less than two days ago, and Yin Qiuman was asking if she wanted to get married?

Was she being a little too… rushed?

Seeing He Xinglan delay her answer, Yin Qiuman hid the expectation in her eyes and smiled: “I was just joking.”

“Look how scared I made you.” Yin Qiuman gently tapped He Xinglan’s forehead with her finger. The expression on her face was relaxed, as if the previous question really was just a sudden, casual joke.

He Xinglan believed her and said, “Oh.”

“Marriage is still a bit too fast.” After all, she hadn’t met Yin Qiuman’s parents yet, and she didn’t know if her parents would agree to their relationship.

Yin Qiuman had been the obedient child in her parents’ eyes, the good student in her teachers’ eyes, and the role model in her neighbors’ words since childhood. Liking women would likely be seen in their eyes as the former good child, good student, and role model having gone astray.

The consequences… He Xinglan found it hard not to worry.