Chapter 34

Su Yao and Liang Chuyuan got off the train two stops early, conveniently near the bustling commercial street in Jiacheng.

“I’ll accompany you for a meal first.”

Liang Chuyuan had been driving all afternoon, and now his stomach was empty. Whether it was psychological or not, Su Yao felt he had lost weight.

“Is there still room in your stomach? Can you eat with me later?”

“Yeah, I have space. Wasn’t really hungry this afternoon.”

“You used to like eating at that place… What’s its name again? The Eight Treasure Pot?”

Su Yao immediately shook her head. “Not today! I want to eat with you.”

Liang Chuyuan gently ruffled her hair, his smile tender, not thinking about anything in particular.

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“Gqvla ol qkdkpb lyvkdt, zlv’p ts tlv vbl nya yde vbld qkde y bsvlz?”

Nkydt Ubwuwyd bye ryajle vbl nya dlyacu vs nyvnb vbl zypv cwp Fw Zys dllele vs vyjl. Tl dseele, pwttlpvkdt vblu qkde y bsvlz dlya bla rzynl qsa nsdhldkldnl.

“Fwal,” Fw Zys alpvle bla nbkd sd bla byde, pxkzkdt yv bkx. “Tso xydu eyup yal usw pvyukdt blal?”

“Ebld yal usw tskdt cynj vs Eldnbldt?” Tkp osaj yzzsole bkx qallesx, ps kv eked’v xyvvla oblal bl pvyule.

“R’zz zlyhl sd vbl qswavb eyu sq vbl dlo ulya, cwv R nyd ts cynj y eyu lyazu vs cl okvb usw.”

“Rd vbyv nypl, R’zz ts okvb usw.”

Fw Zys oyp psxlobyv pwarakple. “Psd’v usw dlle vs ts cynj yde prlde vkxl okvb uswa qyxkzu?”

Liang Chuyuan shook his head. They didn’t place much emphasis on those things.

But Su Yao caught a fleeting glimpse of loneliness in his eyes. She held his hand. “Then this year, I’ll be with you.”

If possible, Su Yao wanted to spend every year with Liang Chuyuan. But it was still too early, and no one could predict the future. So she swallowed back that promise.

Liang Chuyuan kissed her forehead, his gaze landing on a nearby potted plant. He said quietly, “Okay.”

The vegetarian dishes weren’t large in portion, but there were many varieties. Su Yao ate some with Liang Chuyuan, stopping only when she felt a bit full. Seeing Liang Chuyuan enjoyed it, she asked the waiter to add a serving of coconut pudding. It was sweet and heavy, just the way Liang Chuyuan liked his desserts.

“Tomorrow, I’ll come to the hotel to find you, and we’ll go eat The Eight Treasure Pot together.”

Liang Chuyuan paused. “But tonight, I want to be with you.”

Liang Chuyuan’s straightforward gaze made Su Yao’s face flush. “Um… Then I need to go home first and let my family know.”

“I’ll accompany you. I’ll wait outside to avoid any misunderstandings.”

His careful words pricked at Su Yao’s heart, causing a faint ache. She didn’t want to deceive him, so she just hugged his arm, resting her face on his shoulder. “When I’m ready, I’ll take you home, okay?”

Liang Chuyuan agreed silently, thinking that Su Yao probably couldn’t hear him at the moment. He nodded again, his chin touching the top of her head, warm and comforting.

…..

The two of them walked a station’s distance before reaching the car. The hotel was already booked online. Liang Chuyuan first took Su Yao to her home. When the car was still some distance from the community, he stopped.

“Go on.”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Su Yao wrapped her scarf tightly and got out of the car. She took a few steps, then suddenly turned back, heading towards Liang Chuyuan’s direction.

Liang Chuyuan rolled down the car window. “What’s wrong?”

Su Yao smiled, lips pressed together, and her hands felt cold as she cupped his face. He instinctively held her hands.

“I’m glad you came.”

With those words, she kissed him.

“Wait for me.”

*

When Su Yao returned home, her parents were engrossed in discussing the protagonists on TV, commenting on their love, hatred, and romantic entanglements, finding it worth the fuss over several episodes.

“Back already?” Upon seeing Su Yao, Mu Wei abandoned the television. She jumped off the couch, feeling no pain in her waist or legs, light as a swallow. “How was the blind date today? Is that Zong Ming guy as handsome as his photos? Did you have anything to talk about during dinner? You didn’t give him attitude, did you?”

Su Yao: “…”

Su Yuan from behind couldn’t stand it anymore. “Let our daughter speak for herself. Why are you bombarding her with so many questions?”

Mu Wei snorted in dissatisfaction at him, but she didn’t ask further questions, just staring keenly at Su Yao, waiting for her response.

“It was just okay.”

“What do you mean ‘just okay’!”

“He wasn’t interested in me, and I didn’t feel anything for him either. So it was just okay.”

“Who said he wasn’t interested in you? How dare he not be interested in you!”

Amused by Mu Wei’s fierce demeanor, Su Yao chuckled twice before continuing, “He simply wasn’t interested in me. This blind date was sprung on me without warning, so I had no choice but to go. But if there’s another one, whoever wants to go can go, but I won’t.”

“Then find yourself a relationship to show us!”

When Su Yao was in school, she was obedient and compliant. While others were indulging in puppy love, she focused solely on her studies. At that time, Mu Wei felt proud, boasting about how mature her daughter was.

But with time, that maturity began to sour.

Since Su Yao was in her sophomore year, Mu Wei had been urging her to find a boyfriend and experience romance. It didn’t necessarily have to lead to marriage, but having multiple experiences was good. Su Yao responded lazily to this suggestion, neither liking it nor paying much attention to it. Mu Wei thought the kids were still young, so there was no need to worry.

However, a woman couldn’t stay young forever.

As Su Yao continued to avoid romantic relationships, Mu Wei became truly anxious. She even speculated whether Su Yao might be interested in women. After asking, she realized it was just her overthinking, but instead of feeling relieved, she became more worried.

If neither men nor women interested Su Yao… could it be that she was interested in transvestites?

That wouldn’t do. The root of the blind date arrangement stemmed from this concern.

“I told you, I have someone I like. If I have the chance, I’ll bring him back for you to see.”

Mu Wei looked at her suspiciously. “You don’t really like that guy who gave you the scarf, do you?”

“What’s wrong with him? Weren’t you quite satisfied when you peeked at him?”

“That’s because I didn’t know he couldn’t speak!”

“I was just joking. Why do you keep harping on it? Can I communicate with someone who can’t speak? How could your daughter not know sign language?”

“…,” Mu Wei thought about it and realized Su Yao’s point. “Then why did you suddenly ask me…”

She knew Su Yao too well. Su Yao wasn’t the type to make things up out of thin air. If it wasn’t because he was mute, why would she ask that question?

“I just asked casually.”

Su Yao thought she could deceive her mother for the time being. If Mu Wei could arrange blind dates for her without consulting her first, then she could do the same in this matter. This was called putting theory into practice.

Mu Wei’s impression of Liang Chuyuan finally changed. She sat back on the couch for a while, as if finding a new interest, then turned her head and said, “So tell me, what’s he like?”

“Let’s talk about it later,” Su Yao waved her hand, walking towards her room. “I’m staying at a friend’s place tonight, so I won’t be coming back to sleep.”

“Which friend?”

“…A middle school classmate. It’s been a while since I last visited, so we contacted each other today.”

Mu Wei didn’t think much of it. Just as Su Yuan came over to ask her about the guy who gave Su Yao the scarf, she got distracted and didn’t inquire further.

Stuffing her pajamas into her bag, Su Yao breathed a sigh of relief.

At her age, getting into a relationship was like playing at teenage romance.

This was like scratching an itch she hadn’t scratched when she was young.