Try Saying You Don't Like It - Chapter 44

Chapter 44

Yin Qiuman was willing to marry her. He Xinglan was ecstatic, the smile never leaving her face, successfully earning a look of disgust from He’s mother.

However, He Xinglan quickly stopped smiling.

As the day concluded, He’s mother and father decided to take their leave after dinner, and they dragged He Xinglan along with them.

He Xinglan wore a long face: “I’m not going! I don’t have anything to do back there. Why should I torture myself by staying in a hotel?”

He Xinglan looked at Yin Qiuman with pleading eyes, hoping she would say a few good words for her.

Yin Qiuman looked at He Xinglan’s pathetic expression, just about to persuade He’s mother, when He’s mother quickly took over the conversation.

“Manman, Auntie and Xingxing have very important things to discuss. Tomorrow, we’ll send her back to warm your bed.” He’s mother finished speaking gently to Yin Qiuman, then turned to give He Xinglan a sharp, threatening look, pulling the extremely reluctant He Xinglan away with long strides.

Yin Qiuman only managed to give He Xinglan a look that said, ‘I can’t help you.’

He Xinglan: “…”

Dragged into He’s father’s car, He Xinglan scowled: “Mom, what is so important?”

“Do you know how cold it is sleeping alone in a hotel bed? Oh, right, you wouldn’t know, because you have Dad to warm your bed. What a heartless woman, bullying her own obedient daughter!”

“Obedient?”

“Are you obedient?” He’s mother scoffed, looking at He Xinglan out of the corner of her eye.

He Xinglan: “Am… Am I not obedient?”

She hadn’t done anything truly bad, yet she felt inexplicably guilty.

“Liking girls, dating too early, and being a player and a heartbreaker—are you obedient?” He’s mother slowly listed He Xinglan’s ‘crimes.’

Of the charges He’s mother listed, the first and third were indefensible, but…

“Dating too early?”

It’s said that no one knows a daughter like her mother. He’s mother knew very well that her daughter was trying to squirm out of it.

But just as the Monkey King couldn’t escape the Buddha’s palm, He Xinglan couldn’t escape her mother’s grasp.

“Your mother-in-law told me! You and Manman dated in high school. This is considered old flames reuniting, renewing your bond.”

He Xinglan: “Hehe…”

But He Xinglan pressed on: “Even so, you shouldn’t break up a pair of lovebirds and separate me from Manman for even one night!”

Hearing her daughter’s completely unreasonable argument, He’s mother couldn’t be bothered to engage.

“Fine. Then you can go back. As for you and Manman’s wedding preparations, we’ll talk about that later.”

“Wedding preparations?” He Xinglan’s eyes widened, and she instantly became an obedient child.

“Dad, drive faster.”

“Mom, how about we talk in the car? There are no outsiders anyway.” He Xinglan adopted a serious demeanor, even sounding a bit anxious.

But the more anxious He Xinglan was, the less hurried He’s mother became.

“We’ll talk back at the hotel.”

He’s mother was a woman of her word. He Xinglan moved her lips but finally gave up on struggling.

Fortunately, the hotel was not far from Yin Qiuman’s house. He Xinglan only had to endure the suspense for about half an hour.

Back at the hotel, He Xinglan couldn’t wait.

She didn’t let her parents rest, pulling them directly to the sofa in the room.

“Mom, you can talk now.”

“That eager?” He’s mother smiled.

“Then what were you doing those seven years? If you were so eager, you should have chased her back sooner! Why did you go around being a player and a heartbreaker? If you weren’t my biological daughter, I’d want to slap you twice.”

He’s mother was not gentle with her daughter at all.

He Xinglan: “…Mom, can we not talk about the past?”

At least give me some face, I’m your biological child.

Noticing her daughter’s pleading eyes, He’s mother sighed: “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore.”

“It’s about those things you mentioned: the diamond ring, the proposal, and so on. I want to ask, with you and Manman, is our family gaining a son-in-law or a daughter-in-law?”

“If it’s gaining a son-in-law, it’s fine. If it’s gaining a daughter-in-law, how much betrothal gift (cǎilǐ) is appropriate for Manman?”

“Of course, the term ‘betrothal gift’ might not be suitable, but we have to let Manman’s parents feel our family’s respect for Manman, right?”

“Just like the marriage certificate: I know it’s not allowed domestically, but even if you go abroad, you must get it. It’s not about needing some guarantee; it’s about showing our attitude. The betrothal gift is the same. That’s why your Dad and I brought you back to discuss.”

He’s mother’s words plunged He Xinglan into thought.

“That… I really hadn’t thought about that before.” An embarrassed look flashed in He Xinglan’s eyes.

He’s mother and He’s father exchanged a look, both conveying the meaning, I knew it.

After a few seconds of silence, He’s father took out a bank card and handed it to He Xinglan.

He Xinglan: “???”

“This is the dowry your Mom and I prepared for you,” He’s father said. “We initially thought you’d marry and have children. Later, you told us you liked women. Your Mom and I set this money aside as your future financial security. Now, it can be used as a betrothal gift.”

“It’s not a lot, but it’s enough to buy a house that belongs to you and Manman.”

He Xinglan’s nose felt a little sore looking at the bank card in her hand.

It’s said that parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. She realized that without her knowing, He’s father and mother had been planning for her too.

“Dad, Mom, did I… disappoint you?” He Xinglan lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

She hadn’t studied well in school, often causing her parents to be called to the school by teachers. As an adult, she hadn’t followed the typical path of marriage and childbearing to give her parents grandchildren early, and she liked women…

“Mom and Dad, if there’s a next life, don’t let me be your daughter again.” This was the only form of compensation He Xinglan, with her not-so-clever mind, could think of for her parents.

The moment He Xinglan finished speaking, her head was struck hard.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” He’s mother scolded angrily.

“Not be our daughter? So you can go cause trouble for someone else? You’re really naughty then.”

He’s mother’s eyes were also teary, but seeing He Xinglan’s low mood, He’s mother held back the warmth in her eyes.

“Your Dad and I never regret having you as our daughter, Xingxing.”

“Whatever your Dad and I do for you is because we love you. You just accept it. Don’t worry or think about anything else. Just be good to Manman in the future, and your Dad and I will be happy.”

“We don’t have any grand wishes.” He’s mother placed her hand on He Xinglan’s head: “We only hope our daughter is happy.”

“So, remember to ask Manman and see how much betrothal gift is appropriate for us to prepare.” Moments of tenderness were always brief with He’s mother. Before He Xinglan could even finish being moved, He’s mother efficiently changed the subject.

He Xinglan nodded: “Okay, I’ll discuss it with Manman.”

“Also, the diamond ring… Mom knows a designer. I’ll forward the contact details to you later.”

“In addition, once you get the marriage certificate, you have to have a wedding, right? Even if you don’t invite all the guests, you should at least invite a few close relatives and make it lively.”

“Manman is so beautiful and outstanding. I definitely want to show her off.” He’s mother smiled brightly, a strong fighting spirit surrounding her.

He Xinglan looked at He’s father and asked: “Dad, did my Aunties show off their daughters-in-law to Mom again?”

He’s father slightly nodded.

“Then let’s have a wedding,” He Xinglan agreed instantly.

After concluding the discussion with her parents, He Xinglan was chased back to her room, feeling lonely and cold. She immediately called Yin Qiuman.

“Manman, I miss you so much.” He Xinglan lay on the bed, looking at Yin Qiuman on the video call, full of longing.

Can’t hug my soft, fragrant girlfriend. Wuwuwu, I want to cry.

Yin Qiuman smiled warmly, responding to He Xinglan’s enthusiasm: “I miss you too.”

He Xinglan: “Wuwuwu, I miss you even more.”

“I want to hug you, I want to kiss you, I want to do naughty things with you.”

“Manman, should I just come back to you right now?” He Xinglan impulsively finished speaking and was about to climb out of bed to turn her words into action.

“Xingxing, wait a moment.” Yin Qiuman waited until He Xinglan’s movements stopped before explaining: “That would be too much trouble.”

“Besides, we’ll see each other tomorrow, right?”

He Xinglan was unhappy, pouting: “But I miss you.”

“I won’t be able to sleep without my soft, fragrant wife to hold.” He Xinglan looked up at the ceiling, looking extremely depressed.

He Xinglan sighed, then countered: “Without me to hold you, can you sleep tonight?”

The answer was, of course, no, but Yin Qiuman knew that if she expressed her desire for He Xinglan to hold her while she slept, He Xinglan would definitely appear at her doorstep within half an hour.

So Yin Qiuman said: “It’s fine. I’m quite tired today.”

“You’re tired?” He Xinglan immediately became obedient upon hearing this. She stopped fussing and even urged Yin Qiuman: “Then hurry up and wash up, then get into bed quickly and rest.”

“No video call?” Yin Qiuman raised an eyebrow, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes.

Although she and He Xinglan weren’t exaggeratedly separated, Yin Qiuman still wanted to see He Xinglan’s face and hear her voice.

That was the only way she would feel extra secure.

“Of course not,” He Xinglan couldn’t bear to hang up: “I’ll watch you wash up.”

“What about showering?” Yin Qiuman continued to ask, looking at He Xinglan, who seemed to want to squeeze herself into the phone.

“Showering…” He Xinglan looked thoughtful, then said naughtily: “If my girlfriend lets me accompany her, I can accompany her.”

After teasing Yin Qiuman, He Xinglan started to sigh again.

“I want to shower with my girlfriend.”

Yin Qiuman didn’t dare to speak, afraid that if she responded that she also wanted to, He Xinglan would rush back immediately.

He Xinglan was definitely capable of such impulsive actions.

Yin Qiuman took her clothes and went into the bathroom, placing the phone upright on the vanity.

Since she was still in the washing face and brushing teeth stage, He Xinglan figured there was no point in saying suggestive things, so He Xinglan told her about the bank card her parents gave her.

“Manman, we’re rich.”

“?”

“My Mom and Dad gave me a bank card and told me to give it to you. They said it was…” He Xinglan giggled: “They said it’s the betrothal gift!”