Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 40

Chapter 40

He Xinglan parked the car in a parking space but didn’t get out, simply staring at Yin Qiuman.

Yin Qiuman knew what He Xinglan meant. She looked around to confirm no one was present before leaning in.

The moment their lips touched, she prepared to pull away.

However, He Xinglan was faster, catching that soft lip and holding it tightly.

“Jiejie, are you trying to welch?” The voice escaped her throat, their touching lips still together.

Yin Qiuman didn’t speak. She was indeed trying to welch, but she hadn’t expected He Xinglan to have anticipated her thoughts, perfectly thwarting her plan.

“I forbid it.” The sound escaping He Xinglan’s throat was full of possessiveness. She then deepened the kiss without another word.

Yin Qiuman didn’t know how long the kiss lasted, but it was certainly more than three minutes.

Every time she ran out of breath, He Xinglan would release her for a moment. As soon as she recovered, the kiss would deepen again, repeating the cycle several times.

It was a mix of kissing and biting, deliberately seeming to torment and punish her.

The kiss was only interrupted when the phone rang.

He Xinglan glanced at the phone, not answering immediately. Instead, she looked at the still-gasping Yin Qiuman and said first: “Jiejie was the one who broke her promise.”

Yin Qiuman: “…”

She gave He Xinglan an annoyed glare and urged: “Answer the phone quickly.”

He Xinglan chuckled. Noticing Yin Qiuman didn’t seem to blame her, she picked up the phone.

“Hello…”

“Xingxing, have you arrived?” It was He’s mother calling. “I saw a car parked downstairs at your grandma’s place, and there seem to be two girls inside.”

He Xinglan: We were seen?

Even though He Xinglan was usually bold and carefree, she looked embarrassed by her mother’s question.

She couldn’t deny it; they would have to get out of the car soon. He Xinglan could only answer honestly: “Yes, that’s us.”

“Then were you two just…”

“Mom, can you come down and help me carry some things? Manman brought a lot of gifts for Grandpa and Grandma.” He Xinglan interrupted her mother’s persistent questioning, decisively changing the subject.

“You shouldn’t have bought anything coming to visit,” He’s mother chided, but her cheerful tone held no blame whatsoever; she was clearly overjoyed.

He’s mother hung up the phone without giving He Xinglan a chance to speak further.

Yin Qiuman was still touching up her makeup in the passenger seat. As she had said before, with the way He Xinglan kissed her, her lipstick was completely gone, and her lips were slightly swollen. While annoyed at herself for not pushing He Xinglan away immediately, she was also caught by He Xinglan’s use of “Mom.”

Seeing He Xinglan hang up, Yin Qiuman quickly asked: “Auntie is here too?”

“Not just my Mom, my Dad is here too. They probably found out from Grandma that you were coming over today and drove back last night,” He Xinglan explained.

“But don’t worry. My Mom really likes you, and my Dad listens to my Mom the most. He wouldn’t dare not like you. Don’t be nervous.”

“My Mom is coming down to help. I’ll get out first. You hurry up and touch up your makeup.” He Xinglan said, opening the car door and jumping out like a little rabbit, heading straight for the trunk.

Yin Qiuman wanted to scold her, but the person was already gone.

With a helpless smile, Yin Qiuman focused on touching up her makeup first.

Just as Yin Qiuman finished, she saw He’s mother coming out of the stairwell. Yin Qiuman quickly got out of the car.

He’s mother spotted her daughter right away, and also the girl standing next to her daughter. She smiled broadly and immediately rushed toward her daughter’s… girlfriend.

“Manman.” He’s mother stepped forward and grasped Yin Qiuman’s hand, looking delighted: “Auntie finally gets to see you in person.”

He’s mother scrutinized Yin Qiuman, nodding her head vigorously internally.

Her daughter had good fortune. The girl in front of her had an air of bookish refinement, looking like the gentle, generous, and respectable type. With her obedient appearance, He’s mother couldn’t figure out how her own little rascal managed to find such a girlfriend.

She liked her. Liked her very much.

While He’s mother was sizing up Yin Qiuman, Yin Qiuman, with a slight smile on her lips, was also subtly observing He’s mother.

He Xinglan resembled her mother by about 60 to 70 percent, especially when smiling, with little dimples on her cheeks. Her personality also mirrored He’s mother—optimistic and cheerful, the type that was easy to get along with.

Yin Qiuman’s heart relaxed.

He’s mother… should be satisfied with her, right?

Yin Qiuman glanced at He Xinglan, whose hands were full. Receiving Yin Qiuman’s look, He Xinglan said helplessly: “Mom, I called you down to help us carry things. Can we save the compliments for upstairs? They are heavy.”

He Xinglan pleaded pitifully, but her mother, having a new ‘daughter,’ completely disregarded her old one. Hearing her words, she quickly came to help, but not without giving her a sidelong glance and a jab.

“Is that all you can do? It’s just two things. When did you become so weak?”

He’s mother reluctantly stepped forward to help He Xinglan.

He Xinglan, putting the items into her mother’s hands, retorted: “Mom, where did you learn those words? How can you use them to describe your own daughter? Are you even my real mother?”

He’s mother took the things from He Xinglan, saying dismissively: “I can choose not to be.”

He Xinglan: “…”

He Xinglan couldn’t be bothered to argue with her mother anymore. She sullenly put more gifts into her mother’s hands, and of course, Yin Qiuman’s as well.

But even after all three of them were loaded with items, the trunk still wasn’t empty.

He’s mother: “Why did Manman buy so much?”

“Xingxing, call your Dad and tell him to come down and help. He’s in the kitchen helping your Grandma.”

He Xinglan mumbled an agreement, put down the things, and called her father.

He’s father came down quickly. Seeing the three of them with their hands full, he exclaimed in surprise: “Wow, that’s a lot!”

Then He’s father looked at Yin Qiuman: “Little Yin is too kind.”

Yin Qiuman smiled shyly and said softly: “It’s not much. I wasn’t sure what Grandpa and Grandma liked, so I bought a little bit of everything.”

He’s father had a gentle smile on his face, not overly bright, but he looked very affable, though his authority as the head of the household was still apparent.

He’s father acknowledged her with an ‘Mm,’ then grabbed the remaining items from the car. The group of four went upstairs together.

Because He’s father went downstairs, the grandparents already knew He Xinglan and her girlfriend had arrived. So, when the four came up, the elderly couple were waiting at the door.

Yin Qiuman looked at the couple. Even though they looked very kind and gentle, she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

He Xinglan was the first to hand over the items she was carrying.

“Grandpa, Grandma, these are all gifts from Manman for you.” He Xinglan placed the items on the cabinet near the door, then retreated to Yin Qiuman’s side, taking the items from one of her hands and replacing it with her own hand to firmly hold hers.

“Manman, meet my Grandpa and Grandma.”

Yin Qiuman quickly greeted them: “Hello, Grandpa and Grandma.”

“Hello, hello, hello.” Grandma smiled and covered Yin Qiuman’s hand, looking her up and down. Her gaze was very gentle, making the scrutiny comfortable.

“Xingxing is very lucky,” Grandma said, echoing He’s mother’s exact sentiment.

So, they really are mother and daughter?

A connection of minds.

He Xinglan lifted her chin: “Of course!”

She was not modest in the slightest.

Yin Qiuman wanted to glare at He Xinglan, telling her to restrain herself, but in front of the grandparents, Yin Qiuman could only squeeze He Xinglan’s hand as a warning.

He Xinglan knew Yin Qiuman was nervous. She acted silly for a moment, then became serious.

“Grandma, is the food ready? I’m starving.” He Xinglan sounded like a greedy cat.

He Xinglan was genuinely hungry.

She slept until nine o’clock and rushed to Yin Qiuman’s house without eating breakfast.

Her stomach was in full revolt.

“It’s ready, it’s ready. We were just waiting for you.” Grandma quickly ushered the two families inside.

As soon as He Xinglan entered the house, she pulled Yin Qiuman into the kitchen.

Then, she brazenly searched for the prepared dishes and fed them to Yin Qiuman.

“Try this. Sweet and Sour Pork. It’s the dish my Dad is best at.”

Yin Qiuman instinctively refused: “Xingxing, that’s not right.”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. We’re all family. Little Yin can just help Uncle taste the food.” He’s father walked in, just hearing Yin Qiuman’s words.

Seeing He Xinglan feeding Yin Qiuman, he nodded in satisfaction: “Good job. Wives thrive when they’re cherished. Xingxing is doing well.”

He’s father was surprisingly very pleased with He Xinglan feeding Yin Qiuman.

With He’s father in the kitchen, He Xinglan couldn’t keep Yin Qiuman there to sneak food. After slightly filling their stomachs, she pulled her back to the living room.

In the living room, the grandparents and He’s mother were chatting about local anecdotes, not paying much attention to the two young people’s absence. Seeing the couple return, the three finally focused their attention entirely on Yin Qiuman.

Grandma patted the spot next to her: “Manman, come and sit here.”

Yin Qiuman obediently walked over and sat next to Grandma. He Xinglan subconsciously tried to sit next to Yin Qiuman, but just as she approached, her butt hadn’t even touched the sofa before He’s mother squeezed her aside.

“Go on, move over.”

Compared to her gentle kindness towards Yin Qiuman, He’s mother’s attitude toward her own daughter was as if she were adopted.

He Xinglan: “…”

“Fine, I guess I’m not your precious darling anymore.”

He Xinglan sighed dramatically and went to sit with Grandpa on the side.

Yin Qiuman looked at He Xinglan worriedly. He’s mother saw this and said: “Manman, don’t mind her. She’s just deliberately acting pitiful.”

He’s mother knew her daughter’s personality inside and out.

To put it harshly, she was a bit of a naughty brat.

He Xinglan, who was caught in the crossfire: “…”

“Grandpa, look at your daughter bullying me!” He Xinglan immediately complained to Grandpa.

Grandpa chuckled and chose to side with his daughter: “Your mother is right. You’ve been a mischievous monkey since you were little.”

“You need to be more steady now.”

He Xinglan understood Grandpa’s meaning. In the eyes of the elders, having a partner meant the child had grown up and needed to learn composure, responsibility, and accountability.

“I know.”

“Grandpa, are you satisfied with my girlfriend?” He Xinglan whispered, leaning next to Grandpa.

Grandpa smiled: “Xingxing, how I feel isn’t important. Your parents’, or anyone else’s feelings, aren’t important. What matters is you. If you like her, then she’s the best.”

“I like her. Super, incredibly much.”

“That’s good.”

After lunch at Grandma’s house, He Xinglan was urged to leave by the four elders.

He Xinglan held Yin Qiuman’s hand as they went downstairs.

Seeing the corner of a red envelope sticking out of Yin Qiuman’s pocket, He Xinglan smiled and teased: “Jiejie had quite a haul today.”

Following He Xinglan’s gaze to the exposed red envelope in her pocket, Yin Qiuman smiled gently: “Your Grandpa and Grandma, Dad and Mom, are all very kind.”

He Xinglan raised an eyebrow: “And I’m not?”

Yin Qiuman looked at He Xinglan, who was jealous of her own family, and said honestly: “A little naughty.”

“Naughty?” He Xinglan was extremely dissatisfied with Yin Qiuman’s answer. She immediately pushed her against the wall, one hand behind Yin Qiuman to protect her back, her body nearly pressed against Yin Qiuman’s.

“How am I naughty, Jiejie?” He Xinglan rested her forehead against Yin Qiuman’s forehead, her seductive voice asking: “Hmm?”