Extra Chapter: Xie Qingtang: I Don't Like Men

Zhang Qin downed the cup of brown sugar water in one gulp, shoved the cup into Xie Qingtang's arms, and turned to walk towards the door, saying, "I'll return your clothes after I wash them."

Xie Qingtang put away her phone. "No need to return it."

Zhang Qin pretended not to hear him.

It has to be repaid.

Some things, if left unpaid, can easily become entangled and difficult to resolve.

-

Zhang Qin didn't return Xie Qingtang's clothes to him. After all, she had worn them, and she was too embarrassed to give them back. So she simply converted the clothes and other items into money and put them into the red envelope.

I ran into Xie Qingtang again two nights later.

Zhang Qin returned from eating out and encountered Xie Qingtang, who was about to leave.

"Xie Qingtang," Zhang Qin called out to him, handing him the red envelope. "Here you go."

Xie Qingtang's gaze fell on the red envelope, and she raised an eyebrow. "Wishing me a Happy New Year in advance?"

Zhang Qin's face darkened. It was January, New Year's Day had just passed, and there was still a month until the New Year. Why wish someone a Happy New Year?

Besides, even if it's New Year's, it's not her place to give him a red envelope.

"The clothes from last time, as well as sanitary napkins and underwear."

Xie Qingtang's expression softened slightly. "Just wash the clothes and return them."

Zhang Qin casually made up a story: "It's dirty. It can't be washed clean."

“Then I’ll return the set.” Xie Qingtang waved Zhang Qin’s hand away. “If someone sees me like this, they’ll think I’m accepting bribes.”

Zhang Qin was speechless.

It was indeed because she hadn't considered things thoroughly.

Zhang Qin: "Then I'll transfer the money to you?"

If we transfer the money privately, no one will know, right?

"No need." Xie Qingtang walked past Zhang Qin and entered the elevator.

Zhang Qin was slightly taken aback when she met his gaze the moment the elevator doors closed.

In an instant, it felt like I was back on that snowy night when I ran into him abroad.

That's how he looked at her back then.

Zhang Qin shook her head, trying to clear her mind of those chaotic thoughts.

He refused to accept the money, and she lied and said the clothes were dirty, so she could only buy him an identical set.

However, she couldn't repay every debt, since he didn't need sanitary napkins.

What should I repay...?

-

Xie Qingtang went home.

Gu Zhenying frowned and asked him, "Are you planning to be a bachelor for life?"

Xie Qingtang said calmly, "It's not impossible."

Gu Zhenying looked at her stubborn son for a long time, then closed her eyes, exhaled, and spoke again as if in resignation: "Tell me honestly, do you like men?"

Xie Qingtang: "..."

The atmosphere in the living room froze.

Xie Qingtang looked at Gu Zhenying, whose face seemed to say "Just say it, Mom will accept it," then at her father, whose eyes, peeking out from behind his book, were full of disapproval, and then at her younger brother, Xie Qingxi, who was watching the commotion from the corner of the stairs. She looked helpless.

“No,” Xie Qingtang said, “I don’t like men.”

Gu Zhenying seized the opportunity to ask, "So, you like women?"

Xie Qingtang pretended not to see the suppressed excitement in her mother's eyes and answered in agreement, "Of course."

Xie Chaokun lowered the book in his hand, revealing half of his face.

Xie Qingxi, who was hiding in the corner of the stairs, also peeked out.

Gu Zhenying could hardly contain his excitement, and his voice rose a few decibels: "So you have a woman you like?"

Xie Qingtang raised an eyebrow slightly.

No one in the Xie family is stupid; they are all so clever that they seem like foxes who have cultivated themselves into spirits for thousands of years. Even the wives who marry into the family are no pushovers.

Oh, except for Xie Qinglan's wife, Huo Huaisui.

Gu Zhenying's questions were quite interesting. First, he asked about his son's sexual orientation, using it to probe his son's thoughts. He knew his own son well; if he had never been interested in women, he wouldn't care about gender. If he could say so confidently that he liked women, then he must have liked women before.

Seeing that her son remained silent, Gu Zhenying stood up anxiously, "Which girl is it? Mom will go and propose marriage for you right away."

Now, immediately, at once, carry that girl in a sedan chair carried by eight men!

The second son's family gave a total of 3.3 billion yuan in betrothal gifts, and she gave 6 billion yuan, as long as her older son was willing to marry her!

Xie Qingtang asked with interest, "Regardless of which family's daughter?"

Xie Chaokun quickly said, "Married women won't do."

You should never do anything to break up someone's marriage.

Gu Zhenying calmed down a bit, "Except for married ones."

Xie Qingtang shrugged. "There's nothing I can do about it."

Xie Chaokun: "..."

Gu Zhenying: "..."

Xie Qingxi, who had been watching the show from a distance, couldn't help but interject, "What about divorced people?"

The three people in the living room turned to look at Xie Qingxi at the same time.

Xie Qingtang gave a half-smile.

Xie Qingxi felt a chill on her neck and pulled her head back.