Chapter 3 Straight Man Rejects Plan

Even after the bill was settled—Liang Yu insisted on paying—Qiao Shuyan still didn't get a clear answer.

However, when it came time to pay, the girl finally mustered up the courage and asked Liang Yu, "Handsome, can you pay by WeChat?"

Qiao Shuyan looked at Liang Yu, who was used to it and said with a smile, "Sorry, the other party won't let me."

The waitress left sadly.

Qiao Shuyan joked, "Where did you get your partner?"

Liang Yu said seriously, "I won't give in to anyone, whether it's the one in the past or the one in the future."

"..." It's not a lie to say that, Qiao Shuyan was speechless.

The two did not drink alcohol during the meal, and the meal was finished in less than an hour. Liang Yu saw that it was still early and that he did not have to go home to work overtime today, so he suggested that they take a walk. Qiao Shuyan wanted to refuse, but then he thought that Ms. Sun would not let him go easily when he got home. Thinking of his mother's noisy questions, he chose the lesser of two evils and took a walk with the gay man.

The night in City B was actually very lively, especially since they were now located in a prime location in City B, one of the most prosperous business districts in City B. There were dozens of skyscrapers rising from the ground all around them, and under the inky sky, all kinds of night lights made the surrounding environment seem like daytime.

After leaving the restaurant, the cold air outside blew in her face. Qiao Shuyan pulled her scarf tighter and felt a little regretful for agreeing to cross the street with him.

Seeing this, Liang Yu asked, "Are you afraid of the cold?"

Qiao Shuyan was embarrassed. He felt that it was a bit embarrassing for a man to be afraid of the cold, but since it had already been seen, there was no need to force it, so he said, "A little bit."

Liang Yu saw a milk tea shop not far away and asked, "Want some milk tea?"

Men and milk tea seemed a bit embarrassing, but Qiao Shuyan said resolutely: "I'll treat you, what do you want to drink?"

"All is fine." Liang Yu said, "Don't add sugar."

Qiao Shuyan ran to buy two cups of hot milk tea and handed the sugar-free one to Liang Yu.

Then, Qiao Shuyan stopped talking again.

Liang Yu asked: "What do you usually do on weekends?"

Qiao Shuyan thought for a moment and said, "I help my mother with housework. Sometimes she pulls me out to do virginity work, and I also go on blind dates. But the happiest time is when I don't have to do anything, I can just read a book or watch a movie at home, and then go to sleep."

"Zhuang Ding?"

Qiao Shuyan took a sip of milk tea and said with a bitter face: "Well, she went out shopping and I carried her bag."

"It seems that it is a wise choice for me to stay away from my mother." Liang Yu also drank a sip of milk tea. It was his first time and the taste was not bad. He glanced at the label on the milk tea cup, which read "Xiao Qiao is a beautiful man, pick up (1/2) jasmine milk cap (not repacked) hot and sugar removed".

"That's very wise." Qiao Shuyan said.

"You studied at University A, why didn't you stay in City A?"

Qiao Shuyan said, "I originally wanted to stay in City A, but my mother said that my father was in poor health and my sister was in City N, so she asked me to stay as close to her as possible. I thought so too, but when I came back, I found that my father was in great health, so she wanted to urge me to get married in person."

Liang Yu: "...Auntie's goal is quite clear."

As he was speaking, Qiao Shuyan's cell phone rang. He took it out from his pocket and saw that it was his mother.

"Hello, Mom," Qiao Shuyan answered the phone, "What's the matter?"

"Have you met Xiao Liang?" Mother Qiao asked with great concern.

Qiao Shuyan: "Yes, we are together now."

Mother Qiao: "How is it?"

Qiao Shuyan glanced at Liang Yu. Since the latter hadn't replied to him yet, he could only say vaguely, "Well, it's OK."

"You'd better be polite to Xiao Liang. Mom and your Aunt Dan have been close friends for so many years. Please don't embarrass Mom." Mother Qiao warned.

"Got it, Mom, don't worry."

"When will you be back?" Mother Qiao continued to ask.

"Let's go to the party later. We both ate a lot, so we need to take a walk to eat and then we'll be full."

"Okay then, be careful and don't be too late."

"Okay, Mom, you hang up." Qiao Shuyan said, and before Mom Qiao could speak again, he hung up the phone. When he put the phone away, he saw Liang Yurao looking at him with interest. Qiao Shuyan frowned and suddenly said in fear: "You don't think I'm a mama's boy, do you?"

"Pfft." Liang Yu was amused by him again, "How could it be?!"

"...There's something wrong with the way you look at me." Qiao Shuyan said and took another sip of milk tea.

Liang Yu smiled: "I just want to ask, am I just 'okay'?"

Qiao Shuyan didn't react for a moment. After a moment he remembered that when his mother asked him "how is it", he said "it's okay".

"Hey, that's not what I meant," Qiao Shuyan explained at a loss, "You're exceptionally good. I, I mean it's 'ok' to get along with you."

Liang Yu didn't know what he was so flustered about, but he thought he was quite cute, so she continued to look at him with a smile.

Qiao Shuyan felt uneasy when he looked at her, and said, "Don't look at me anymore." Then he quickened his pace and walked forward.

Liang Yu felt that Qiao Shuyan was really like a child, so he stretched out his long legs and followed him, but he did not catch up with him. He just followed him two or three steps behind, wanting to see what the child was going to do.

Qiao Shuyan wore a pair of sneakers, dark blue straight jeans, a short black down jacket, and a brown plaid cashmere scarf around her neck. She looked like a college student at most.

Liang Yu followed him into a shopping mall in his leather shoes. He took off his scarf after entering the mall, apparently he wanted to go shopping.

"Do you want to buy something?" Liang Yu took two quick steps to catch up with him.

Qiao Shuyan had also calmed down and replied, "My sister's birthday is in a few days, and I want to buy her a birthday present." Then he looked at Liang Yu and asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"

Liang Yu thought for a moment and said, "I don't know what your sister likes, but in previous years, the gifts I prepared for my mother were nothing more than skin care products, jewelry, and bags."

"I gave her a necklace last year, so why not give her skin care products this year?" Qiao Shuyan said, looking at a brand not far away that his sister often used. "Let's buy that brand."

"OK."

Liang Yu accompanied him to the counter, and with the enthusiastic introduction of the saleslady, the two of them selected a complete set of cosmetics that were quite expensive.

Qiao Shuyan scanned the code and paid without hesitation. The salesgirl happily packed him a beautiful brand-specific gift box and brought him a bunch of samples. She smiled and said, "Handsome man, these are for you. Although you have good skin, these can be the icing on the cake."

Qiao Shuyan was very pleased with the compliment and walked out with a big bag of things. When he was almost at the door, he thought for a moment, took out a handful of samples from the bag, handed them to Liang Yu, and said, "Thank you for today."

Liang Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "No, keep it for yourself."

Qiao Shuyan stubbornly reached into his coat pocket, put all the samples into his pocket, took his hand out, and said, "Don't be polite with me, they are all gifts anyway."

Liang Yu almost froze on the spot. Although there was no skin contact between the two parties, this was the closest anyone had ever been to him in recent years. It was still his cup of tea.

Damn it, Liang Yu cursed in his heart.

Qiao Shuyan had no idea what was going on. He took out his phone, looked at his watch, and said, "It's getting late. Should we go home today?"

"...Well," Liang Yu answered absentmindedly, paused, and asked again, "How are you going back?"

"Take the subway." Qiao Shuyan said.

"I'll take you to the subway station." Liang Yu said as he walked out with his long legs spread out.

Qiao Shuyan hurriedly took two steps forward and grabbed his arm, "Hey, no need to go out, the subway station is downstairs, and you don't have to see me off."

Again.

Liang Yu was a little stiff. He didn't have any physical contact phobia, but he just hadn't been touched for so long that he was not used to it. Very not used to it.

Fortunately, after Liang Yu stopped walking, Qiao Shuyan let go of her hand and said with a smile: "The subway station is just below the mall. I can go down by myself. Don't worry about it. Thank you very much for today."

Not sure what he was thanking her for, Liang Yu shook his head in amusement, "It's okay, I'll take you downstairs, we can go to the supermarket downstairs to buy some things."

"That's fine." Qiao Shuyan nodded without any doubt.

The two of them went downstairs together. Liang Yu sent Qiao Shuyan to the subway station. The two said goodbye. Qiao Shuyan seemed to remember something and asked, "Is what I mentioned to you okay?"

Liang Yu pursed his lips and said, "I'll think about it again."

"Okay," Qiao Shuyan said, raising his free hand and waving at him, "Nice to meet you, bye."

"Goodbye, be safe on the road, and send me a message when you get home." Liang Yu said involuntarily.

"I'm not a child anymore. I'm leaving first." After saying that, Qiao Shuyan entered the subway station.

Liang Yu watched him walk away until he was out of sight, then he came to his senses and turned back home. After leaving the mall, the temperature dropped sharply. He put his hands in his pockets and touched the sample that Qiao Shuyan had just given him. He felt funny again and didn't know what he was doing that night. There was a straight man opposite him, and it was useless to be attracted to him. Why waste time on this? Forget it, Liang Yu thought, don't mess with straight men.

Just as he was thinking about it, his cell phone and the watch on his wrist vibrated together. Liang Yu took out his cell phone and saw that it was his mother who sent him a WeChat message: Son, how are you tonight?

Liang Yu originally wanted to give a negative answer, but after thinking that it was really unfair to Qiao Shuyan, he replied: It's good.

Dan: That's great! I'm telling you, looking at the photos, I think Xiao Qiao is a very pretty and sunny girl, and she's a good match for you.

What he said is true, it's a pity that he is a straight man, otherwise it would be possible for us to get along, Liang Yu thought.

Ethan L: I look better in person than in photos.

Dan: Oh, son, are you attracted to me?

Ethan L: ...we just met once.

Dan: Then let’s make another date tomorrow. It’s the weekend tomorrow.

Ethan L: I have plans for tomorrow.

Just kidding, why would he ask a straight guy out for no reason? It's not for making friends.

Dan: What's the arrangement?

Ethan L: Hiking.

Dan: What kind of arrangement is this? Why don’t you ask Xiao Qiao to go with you?

Ethan L: …He’s afraid of the cold.

Dan: It gets hot when you climb mountains.

Ethan L: …

Dan: Go quickly, I want to see a photo of you two climbing the mountain together tomorrow, otherwise I will go to City B to find you!

Ethan L: …

Liang Yu could understand how Qiao Shuyan felt when her mother urged her to get married. Is it true that all women in their middle or old age will show this trait? Are they keen on being matchmakers?

Forget it, let's just listen to his mother first. Otherwise, if Ms. Yao really comes to City B, he will be the one who will bear the consequences.

Anyway, Qiao Shuyan would most likely not agree. First, the child is afraid of the cold. Second, the child probably isn't keen on sports. Third, the two just met today. The other person has social phobia and would probably prefer to lie down at home on weekends when he has nothing to do.

Thinking of this, Liang Yu sent a WeChat message to Qiao Shuyan: Are we going hiking tomorrow?