ushernet Chapter 61: Entering the Door
Chapter 61: Entering the Door
Chapter 61: Entering the Door
“The old saying goes: once a performance begins, even if no one is watching, you still have to finish it, got it?”
“Nope.”
“It means holding hands and linking arms like this is normal, so stop glancing down at my hand all the time and act naturally.” Xu Qing, full of reason, leisurely pulled Jiang He in the direction of his home.
“This way, it’ll be more convincing later, and my dad won’t keep finding excuses to come over... Ahem, were you a bit nervous when you saw him last time?”
“Yeah.” Jiang He admitted honestly. Xu Wenbin had indeed made her feel a little uneasy back then.
“Just eat normally later. I don’t think he was much better; his expression was like he’d seen a ghost... If my mom talks to you and you don’t know how to respond, just deflect a bit. Know how to do that?”
Seeing Jiang He’s blank look, Xu Qing slowed down and thought for a moment before saying, “Just go along with what she says. Agree first, then disagree. For example, if she asks you, ‘You’re not a local, are you?’ don’t just say ‘Yeah.’ That seems insincere.”
“So how do I answer?”
“Like this.” Xu Qing cleared his throat and demonstrated: “Yeah, I’m from out of town, not a local.”
“...”
“Didn’t get it?”
“What’s the difference?” Jiang He was confused.
“It makes a big difference. If you just say ‘Yeah’ or nod, she won’t be satisfied. But if you give her two sentences, it shows sincerity.”
Jiang He thought seriously about it. It seemed like saying more was indeed better. Another new skill learned.
“And if she asks what you’re doing, don’t say playing games. Just say you’re doing your own thing.”
“Doing my own thing?”
“Right, your own thing. If she keeps asking what exactly, just say it’s the stuff you do.” Xu Qing realized only now, right at his doorstep, that he hadn’t prepared much. It was too late to turn back now.
If Uncle Qin happened to mention it later and they turned back downstairs, who knows what Xu Wenbin would think? Besides, Zhou Suzhi had already bought groceries.
“What stuff?” Jiang He was getting tangled in his wordplay.
“Just... my own stuff.”
“...Oh.”
“Got it?”
Xu Wenbin, the opposite of Xu Qing, felt irked by his smug look. He didn’t know why, but they naturally clashed.
“Make yourself at home. Here, have an orange.” Xu Qing ignored Xu Wenbin’s irritation, casually grabbed an orange from the fruit bowl, peeled it, and acted like he was at home — which this place was.
Although getting Jiang He to play the role of his girlfriend was still just a plan, she did live and eat at his place every day. Helping him score a rent discount seemed fair enough.
After all, they’d be family sooner or later... Xu Qing shot a grin at Xu Wenbin, handed the peeled orange to Jiang He, and turned on the TV with the remote.
Xu Wenbin felt awkward. He and Xu Qing never had much to talk about. Every conversation revolved around work, and after a few arguments, they’d go silent. Now, with Jiang He here, there was even less to say. He glanced around, thought about heading back to the study, but decided against it.
Damn... If he’d known, he wouldn’t have let the kid bring his girlfriend over. So awkward.
“I ran into Uncle Qin downstairs. He was walking his dog. You should get one too.” Xu Qing clicked through the TV channels, trying to engage Xu Wenbin.
“I don’t have that kind of free time,” Xu Wenbin replied.
“It’s fun. Name it Xiongba. Get two, name one Bu Jingyun and the other Nie Feng, and walk them together.”
“What goes on in your head all day?”
Xu Wenbin was baffled. This kid had been unserious his whole life. He thought Xu Qing would mature, but no. And yet, he found a girlfriend...
Even dog names turned into mischief.
“Isn’t it fun?”
“What’s fun about that?”
“That’s called a generation gap.” Xu Qing shrugged at Jiang He, not caring if she understood, and took off his coat, hanging it over a chair. “You hot? Take your coat off.”
Xu Wenbin was ready to lecture him, but seeing Jiang He, he swallowed his words, adjusted his glasses, and watched Xu Qing help her with her thick down jacket.
Whoa, matching sweaters.
Xu Qing kept busy — peeling oranges, munching on a banana, and handing one to Jiang He. He offered one to Xu Wenbin, who shook his head.
The TV blared with chatter between a guest and host.
Jiang He glanced at Xu Qing, then at Xu Wenbin, lowered her head, and peeled her banana.
In the kitchen, the sizzling sound of frying vegetables filled the air, along with the aroma of food.
Four people, three in the living room, one in the kitchen. No one spoke for a moment.