Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Yin Qiuman had no experience in pursuing someone.

The academic champion was instantly blank. She felt the same confusion as when facing a math problem with no idea where to start.

“Then… can I start pursuing you tomorrow?” Yin Qiuman conceded a step. Mm, she wanted He Xinglan to concede a step.

“I need time to think about how to pursue someone properly,” Yin Qiuman said with a serious expression, similar to how she looked when tackling a difficult academic problem in the past.

He Xinglan found it amusing—no, Yin Qiuman had always been this interesting—so she nodded.

“The academic champion calls the shots.”

Yin Qiuman blushed. The term “academic champion” coming from He Xinglan always carried a teasing tone. And Yin Qiuman knew He Xinglan was doing it on purpose.

“Can you not call me ‘academic champion’?” Yin Qiuman explained, “We left school a long time ago.”

Yin Qiuman hadn’t heard that nickname for almost seven years. Only He Xinglan had called her that, and He Xinglan left right after high school graduation. Other classmates had called her that, but usually only once, because Yin Qiuman would stop them. It seemed the two words were exclusive to He Xinglan. When He Xinglan called her that, it always gave her the illusion of being back in high school.

He Xinglan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, her voice sounding displeased: “I can’t call you that just because we left school?”

Seeing He Xinglan’s displeasure, Yin Qiuman instantly backed down.

“Then call me that when no one else is around.”

“No one around? Like in bed?” He Xinglan felt that she was naturally inclined to play pranks on Yin Qiuman. For instance, right now, nobody would typically associate Yin Qiuman’s words with being in bed.

Watching Yin Qiuman almost bite through her lip because of her suggestion, He Xinglan began to question whether she had gone too far. After all, this was her first girlfriend, wasn’t it?!

“Look… I was just joking…” He Xinglan’s apology was interrupted by Yin Qiuman.

It was a quiet response, light as a mosquito’s hum.

Yin Qiuman actually agreed to her inappropriate suggestion?!

The shock in He Xinglan’s eyes was impossible to hide. Did Yin Qiuman know what she was saying? Someone who needed days of persistent pleading just to agree to a kiss actually…

He Xinglan remained silent, then slowly smiled at Yin Qiuman. “Yin Qiuman, if you had this kind of courage when you were eighteen, do you think we would still be together now?”

“You were the one who broke up with me, and now you come back looking for a relationship. Yin Qiuman, am I, He Xinglan, a toy you can summon and dismiss at will?” The smile on He Xinglan’s face slowly filled with sarcasm.

Yin Qiuman kept silent, not daring to answer. She was indeed the one who initiated the breakup, but back then, she didn’t realize how small a person’s heart could be, only able to hold one person. She let that person in, but selfishly never wanted to let her out again. Thus, forcing He Xinglan to stay in her heart for all these years.

Yin Qiuman wasn’t afraid of He Xinglan being angry; her anger was deserved. She was only afraid that He Xinglan would retract her previous words.

What He Xinglan said was actually true. Eighteen-year-old Yin Qiuman was very timid, too timid to admit who she liked, despite being at the age when she should have the most courage and be most fearless.

The atmosphere in the room was not friendly. If Yin Qiuman were tactful, she should quietly leave now, but Yin Qiuman didn’t want to. She was afraid.

So she asked, “He Xinglan, do the words you said about letting me pursue you still count?”

He Xinglan: “…”

He Xinglan felt useless. She was furious, even tempted to go to a bar to drown her sorrows, yet Yin Qiuman just said that one sentence, and most of her anger disappeared. Seeing the caution in Yin Qiuman’s question, He Xinglan felt a pang of sympathy.

Forget it. He Xinglan told herself internally.

Give Yin Qiuman, and herself, another chance.

“They count.”

Yin Qiuman’s mood visibly improved. “Then I’ll go down and buy toiletries, and pajamas. I came in a hurry and didn’t bring anything.” Yin Qiuman felt embarrassed as she spoke. She sounded overly eager. But she was truly afraid—afraid that after finally reuniting with He Xinglan, she would lose her again.

Yin Qiuman finished and looked at He Xinglan. “Is there anything you want me to bring you?”

“No need. I’ll go down with you.”

The two took the elevator down. Yin Qiuman thought He Xinglan was going to accompany her shopping, but He Xinglan only went to the hotel front desk. Seeing He Xinglan stand still at the front desk, Yin Qiuman reluctantly went to the nearby supermarket alone.

Once Yin Qiuman was out of sight, He Xinglan told the hotel front desk, “Please help me open another room.”

“Certainly, please present your identification.”

He Xinglan handed over her ID. The room she was in was booked by her grandmother using the grandmother’s ID. When she checked into the hotel in the small town, they hadn’t recorded her check-in information.

Once He Xinglan received the room card, she didn’t wait for Yin Qiuman and went straight upstairs.

When Yin Qiuman knocked on He Xinglan’s door, carrying large bags, ready to enter, He Xinglan blocked the door.

“You’re not staying here tonight.”

He Xinglan said, handing over a room card.

Yin Qiuman: “???”

Seeing the bewilderment on Yin Qiuman’s face, a hint of a smile flashed in He Xinglan’s eyes, but her expression remained neutral.

“I just opened another room for you. For you to stay in.”

Yin Qiuman: “…”

Visible disappointment washed over her face. Yin Qiuman looked utterly pathetic: “Can’t I stay in your room?” Yin Qiuman had even bought daring pajamas, hoping to put in effort from all angles, but she hadn’t expected…

He Xinglan saw Yin Qiuman deliberately acting pitiful, let out a cold laugh, and was decisive: “No.”

“What decent person sleeps in the same bed with someone before their relationship is even confirmed?”

“I’m tired, Academic Champion Yin, please help yourself.” He Xinglan finished, slamming the door shut, completely blocking Yin Qiuman outside.

Yin Qiuman stood by the door for a while but saw no sign of He Xinglan reopening it. She had no choice but to resign herself to going to the room He Xinglan had booked for her.

He Xinglan was actually still standing by the door. Only when she heard Yin Qiuman’s footsteps gradually fading away did she walk toward the bathroom.

Time to wash up.

Actually, He Xinglan thought Yin Qiuman would keep knocking on the door. She hadn’t expected Yin Qiuman to be so obedient. He Xinglan couldn’t say whether she was disappointed or not, but she was a little distracted while brushing her teeth.

Then, her phone chimed.

“Can we have breakfast together tomorrow?”

It was a message from Yin Qiuman.

He Xinglan’s mouth unconsciously curved into a smile. She typed a few characters on the keyboard and replied with an “Mhm.”

He Xinglan hummed happily while taking a shower afterward.

After sending that message, Yin Qiuman held onto her phone, barely blinking, waiting patiently and anxiously for a reply. It wasn’t until she saw a curt “Mhm” that Yin Qiuman managed a small smile.

But she was slightly disappointed. She had hoped He Xinglan would say a couple more words to her.

However, Yin Qiuman quickly cheered up. She hadn’t even started pursuing He Xinglan, yet He Xinglan agreed to have breakfast with her. Wasn’t that a small step forward between them?

But she had no experience in pursuing someone, so she needed to ask for advice.

Yin Qiuman quickly finished washing up and placed a video call to the only person she considered close—Xiao Hua.

“Manman?”

“Where are you?” Xiao Hua answered the call, curious about the bed’s background behind Yin Qiuman. Xiao Hua had video-called Yin Qiuman when she was at home before, so she immediately knew this wasn’t Yin Qiuman’s house. In fact, the decor looked like a hotel.

Xiao Hua’s guess was quickly confirmed.

“I’m at a hotel,” Yin Qiuman said.

“A hotel? Are you on a business trip? Is your boss still exploiting you during the holidays?” Xiao Hua asked angrily, speaking up for Yin Qiuman.

“You absolutely have to switch companies after the New Year.”

Yin Qiuman hummed twice. “We can talk about changing companies later. Right now, there’s a very important matter I need your advice on.”

Upon hearing Yin Qiuman use the word “advice,” Xiao Hua quickly said, “Tell me.”

“How to pursue someone.”

Xiao Hua: “???”

“What? Manman, what did you say?”

“Pursue someone? Did I hear that right?” Xiao Hua widened her eyes in surprise, then adopted a gossipy look. “Manman, you… met someone who makes your heart flutter?”

“But how outstanding must that person be to make you pursue her? That’s incredible! Do you have a photo? Send it to me first.” Xiao Hua’s mouth was like a machine gun; Yin Qiuman couldn’t even get a word in for a moment.

Until Yin Qiuman sent He Xinglan’s photo over.

Xiao Hua: “Manman, why are you sending me He Xinglan’s photo?”

It was a high school photo, and Xiao Hua was utterly confused by Yin Qiuman’s action.

Suddenly, Xiao Hua’s voice cut off, her eyes fixed on Yin Qiuman on the phone screen.

“Man… Manman, is that, is that what I think it is?” Xiao Hua spoke haltingly, swallowing several times to wet her throat.

Xiao Hua considered herself quite knowledgeable, but Yin Qiuman’s words still shocked her. Lesbian? Her good classmate, good friend, was actually a lesbian?! It wasn’t that Xiao Hua had any issues with the lesbian community—in fact, she often secretly read GL novels and dramas and was obsessed with the female-female couples. But those were novels and TV shows. Xiao Hua never expected to encounter it in real life. And the person was Yin Qiuman, whom Xiao Hua considered extremely straight.

Most importantly, the person she was pursuing was He Xinglan, someone Xiao Hua knew.

A lesbian was right beside me all this time?!

Thinking this, Xiao Hua looked at He Xinglan’s photo repeatedly. Surprisingly, based on the photo Yin Qiuman sent, He Xinglan actually had a very “gay” aura.

Xiao Hua imagined Yin Qiuman and He Xinglan together, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Manman, how are you planning to pursue He Xinglan?”

Yin Qiuman: “That’s why I’m asking for your advice.”

“You have a lot of relationship experience. Teach me.”

Xiao Hua: Oh, I forgot Yin Qiuman initially asked me how to pursue someone. But Xiao Hua was also troubled. “But I’ve never pursued a girl.”

Yin Qiuman was a little disappointed. Even the experienced Xiao Hua couldn’t help her?

Xiao Hua couldn’t stand seeing Yin Qiuman down. She quickly said, “But while men and women might be wired differently, the methods should be similar.”

“It’s all about conquering a person’s heart, after all.”

“It just depends on whether you plan on taking the ‘direct assault’ approach or the ‘boiling a frog slowly’ approach.”