Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

“I’m going to buy them right now.” He Xinglan suddenly turned and ran.

Because she wanted to kiss her again.

Yin Qiuman watched He Xinglan’s retreating back, wanting to call out to stop her, but if she made a sound, wouldn’t she expose her location? Helplessly, Yin Qiuman could only stomp her foot in annoyance.

“Who said you could kiss me again?!”

Yin Qiuman, who had just experienced the sweetness of intimate contact, also felt that one kiss wasn’t enough, but she would certainly never admit it.

So, by the time He Xinglan bought the candy and returned, Yin Qiuman was long gone.

“Gone?” He Xinglan looked disappointed, but quickly cheered up.

“I can see her at school tomorrow anyway.” He Xinglan thought, humming cheerfully as she left the small alley.

Yin Qiuman returned home and ran straight into Leng Ci.

“You’re back,” Leng Ci greeted her daughter gently.

Yin Qiuman lowered her head and mumbled an ‘Mm.’

“Mom, I’m going back to my room to do homework.” Yin Qiuman subconsciously wanted to escape.

Yin Qiuman was famously the ‘good kid’ in the eyes of her parents and relatives. But who would have thought that this ‘good kid’ was not only dating but had just been kissing someone in an alley? Therefore, facing Leng Ci, Yin Qiuman felt inexplicably guilty and just wanted to quickly return to her own private space.

Leng Ci hummed: “Mom will heat up some milk for you and bring it over later.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Hot milk was her nightly habit before bed. Yin Qiuman thanked her and was about to quickly leave when Leng Ci’s voice called out.

“Wait.”

“What about your mouth…”

“I just ate a sausage,” Yin Qiuman quickly explained, her heart pounding in her throat.

She rummaged through her school bag with her head down. Having never lied before, she knew that if she looked up and met Leng Ci’s eyes, Leng Ci would definitely notice her abnormality.

“Sausage?” Leng Ci paused. Her daughter had never liked eating food from outside. Why was she suddenly eating sausage?

However, Leng Ci didn’t ask further. It was just one sausage; it wasn’t a big deal.

“Tell Mom if you want to eat something like that in the future. Mom will make it for you at home. Since you usually eat at home, Mom is worried that eating outside food might upset your stomach.” Leng Ci instructed her briefly and then turned to go into the kitchen.

She was going to prepare hot milk for Yin Qiuman.

Yin Qiuman listened to her own thumping heartbeat, stood still for a few seconds, and then pushed the door open to her room.

That night, Yin Qiuman suffered from a rare bout of insomnia, repeatedly asking herself if dating was truly right at such a critical moment as the final year of high school.

However, the next day, when He Xinglan pulled her into that small alley, all her self-reflection was completely forgotten.

She kissed He Xinglan intimately in the empty alley once again.

He Xinglan didn’t know how long she pinned her against the wall and kissed her.

She only knew that the sky was bright when they left the house. By the time they finished kissing, the sky had dimmed considerably.

It looked like it was around one or two in the afternoon.

He Xinglan looked at Yin Qiuman’s swollen lips and chose to look away.

“So… do we go back or wander around more?”

“How about we wander around more?” He Xinglan didn’t wait for Yin Qiuman’s answer and chose the latter option.

Even though she knew any intelligent person would understand, her girlfriend was thin-skinned after all.

He Xinglan would absolutely not admit that she was afraid of being beaten by the two mothers if they went back now.

Yin Qiuman could naturally feel the discomfort on her lips. She glared at He Xinglan and agreed with her choice.

The two stayed out until dinner time when He’s mother’s urging call came through to He Xinglan’s phone.

“Come back and eat.”

Only then did He Xinglan lead Yin Qiuman home.

Returning home, this time Leng Ci and He’s mother were sitting in the living room chatting, while He’s father and Yin Huaishan were busy in the kitchen.

“Mom, we’re back.”

He Xinglan helped Yin Qiuman change her shoes and led her girlfriend to sit down next to the two mothers.

Leng Ci smiled and nodded. He’s mother glared at He Xinglan: “Look at the time, will you? Don’t you know when to come home?”

“Day after day, Manman is being led astray by you.” He’s mother stared at her daughter with a knowing look as she spoke.

He Xinglan thought, Oh no, knowing that her mother had figured out all the naughty things she had done.

Without rebutting, He Xinglan rubbed her nose and chose to go help the two fathers in the kitchen.

The two fathers were idle husbands, they didn’t need He Xinglan’s help at all. He Xinglan was chased out as soon as she went in.

He Xinglan simply hid in the bathroom and complained to Lin Yue about her dwindling family status.

Lin Yue: “…Just keep showing off. Your sister here is going to be suffocated by your sugar sooner or later.”

He Xinglan chuckled, feeling proud, triumphant, and slightly irritating: “You should hurry up and settle things with your little girlfriend too. Then you can shower me with sugar, and I promise I won’t complain that it’s too sweet.”

Lin Yue had never been single. She was the true Queen of the Sea, but recently, she had reformed. She met a younger person, five years her junior, and it was either love at first sight or lust at first sight. In any case, she was vigorously pursuing the person.

However, the two were currently in the ambiguous stage, so the relationship status hadn’t been settled yet.

He Xinglan naturally had to return all of Lin Yue’s previous teasing.

Lin Yue: “…Get lost.”

Having her weak spot exposed, Lin Yue angrily hung up the phone, not wanting to deal with her toxic friend anymore.

Just then, she was called out for dinner, so He Xinglan put away her phone and walked out.

The cooking skills of Leng Ci and He’s mother were excellent, and He’s father and Yin Huaishan’s skills weren’t bad either. The two families sat around one table.

He Xinglan was picking fish for Yin Qiuman when Leng Ci suddenly called out: “Xingxing?”

“Hmm?” He Xinglan looked at Leng Ci: “Mom, what is it?”

“There’s something… although it’s too early to say, but since you’ve chosen each other, I, Manman’s father, and your mother and father want to know what your next steps are. When do you plan to truly solidify the relationship?” Since her daughter’s partner was a girlfriend, Leng Ci couldn’t help but worry more.

Even though she knew that a piece of paper wouldn’t matter if the relationship truly broke down, Leng Ci couldn’t help but think about it.

In the afternoon, she discussed this concern with He’s mother, and the two reached an agreement. Hence, they decided to ask the two young people at the dinner table.

“Truly solidify the relationship… does Mom mean getting a marriage certificate?” He Xinglan asked.

Leng Ci nodded.

He’s mother glared at her daughter: “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it yet!”

He Xinglan immediately looked aggrieved from being scolded: “Of course I have!”

“I’ve thought about it for a long time, but these things have to be done one step at a time!” He Xinglan noticed Yin Qiuman was also looking at her and quickly held up three fingers: “Manman, I swear I’ve thought about it.”

Yin Qiuman smiled gently at He Xinglan: “I believe you.”

She said no more, clearly waiting for He Xinglan’s next words.

He Xinglan: See, she still doesn’t quite believe me.

He Xinglan sighed helplessly and simply expressed her thoughts.

“Getting a marriage certificate… I should at least propose first.”

“The diamond ring, the venue, who to invite as witnesses—I haven’t had time to arrange any of this because of the Chinese New Year.”

“These things must be done. Everything others have, Manman must have too. I don’t want to compromise Manman on these things.”

Yin Qiuman is the person I cherish and love above all else.

Hearing that He Xinglan already had her own plans, He’s mother and Leng Ci exchanged a look, relieved.

He’s mother’s gaze toward He Xinglan also became that of a doting mother.

“It’s fine. Leave the diamond ring to you, and leave the rest to me. We’ll pick an auspicious day and get this done, then you and Manman can go abroad to register your marriage.”

Leng Ci: “I can help too.”

After Leng Ci spoke, Yin Huaishan and He’s father also chimed in.

With both families pitching in, even a lot of work becomes a small task once divided.

If it weren’t for the fact that the diamond ring required time, the elders would have wanted tomorrow to be that auspicious day.

Leng Ci and He’s mother, Yin Huaishan and He’s father, were already discussing the details.

He Xinglan looked at Yin Qiuman, who was busy eating. She looked very well-behaved while eating, as if she were oblivious to the outside world. But was that really the case?

He Xinglan leaned close to Yin Qiuman’s ear and whispered: “Yin Qiuman, are you… willing?”

Yin Qiuman raised her head, her bright eyes looking at He Xinglan, but her gaze was hesitant: “Are you… proposing now?”

He Xinglan: “Of course not.”

“I just…” He Xinglan said sheepishly: “I just saw you were silent and thought you weren’t willing.”

Yin Qiuman: “He Xinglan, did you forget? I wanted to drag you to get married more than you did.”