The dining table fell into instant silence.
Mrs Lin stared at Lin Yu in shock. “Xiao Yu, when did you get a boyfriend? Why didn’t I know about this?”
Mr. Lin’s spoon dropped into his bowl. “When did you start dating? Where did you meet?”
Lin Rui put down her chopsticks and silently looked at her brother.
Lin Yu’s face turned green.
“Oh no, did I say something I shouldn’t have?”
Lu Ziqing suddenly acted as if he had just realized his mistake, looking regretful. “I thought Lin Yu came back this time to tell you. He and his boyfriend are very serious…”
Under the table, Lin Yu stomped hard on Lu Ziqing’s foot while glaring at him.
His eyes clearly said: What the hell are you doing?!
Lu Ziqing remained calm, casually pulling his foot back, then apologetically said to Lin Yu, “Sorry, I didn’t know you were planning to keep it a secret for now…”
Lin Yu: “…”
He struggled to keep his expression from completely twisting.
His eyes were practically shooting lasers at Lu Ziqing.
What the hell is this brat up to?!
Mrs Lin spoke sternly. “Xiao Yu, what’s going on? Why are you hiding this from us?”
Mr. Lin frowned and said seriously, “Is there something wrong with this boy, so you hide him from us? We’ve told you before—looks, gender and financial status don’t matter. The most important thing is good character. If he has bad habits like gambling or online loans, you absolutely cannot date him…”
Lin Yu was at a loss for words. “It’s not…”
“Uncle, Auntie, you’re overthinking this,” Lu Ziqing said with a bright smile. “Lin Yu probably just feels that it’s not the right time to talk about marriage, so he hasn’t mentioned it yet. That boy works at our company—he’s outstanding. Comes from a great family, has excellent character, and is incredibly capable. Even the chairman of the company thinks highly of him.”
Mrs Lin looked at Lin Yu in surprise. “Really?”
Lin Yu: “…”
In a way, Lu Ziqing wasn’t wrong.
After all, the chairman was his father—of course, he thought highly of him.
Mr. Lin asked, “So, you two are colleagues?”
“Not exactly,” Lu Ziqing pressed his lips together and said, “Lin Yu is actually our superior. Ever since he was transferred to the company over six months ago, his abilities have been obvious to everyone. We all admire him and want to learn from him.”
Flattery always worked.
With just a few words, Mr. and Mrs Lin were delighted, continuously serving food onto Lu Ziqing’s plate.
Lu Ziqing put on an innocent smile. “Thank you, Uncle, Auntie. The food is amazing tonight.”
“You really should have told us earlier if you had someone. I wouldn’t have wasted time asking around for matches,” Mrs Lin grumbled, serving a bowl of soup for Lin Yu. “Which school did he graduate from? How old is he? Where’s his hometown?”
Lin Yu: “…”
As the saying goes, one lie leads to a thousand more.
Since things had already reached this point, Lin Yu could only try to go along with what Lu Ziqing had said.
“We… are still getting to know each other. Not sure how long we’ll be together,” he said vaguely. “Once things are more stable, I’ll tell you everything.”
Mrs Lin sighed. “This child… getting all shy about it.”
Mr. and Mrs Lin were overjoyed by their son’s relationship news.
Since Lin Yu refused to elaborate, they turned to bombard Lu Ziqing with questions instead.
Lin Rui, from start to finish, silently ate her meal. Occasionally, she would glance up coldly at Lu Ziqing, who was talking non-stop.
Finally, dinner was over.
Lin Yu grabbed Lu Ziqing by the shoulder and yanked him up. “Dad, Mom, we’re going out for a walk. We’ll be back soon.”
Mrs Lin, still wanting to chat, said, “Why go for a walk so late? Let Xiao Lu stay and talk with me a bit longer.”
“I ate too much and need to walk it off,” Lin Yu said, giving Lu Ziqing a not-so-gentle pinch on the arm. He forced a stiff smile. “Right, Xiao Lu?”
Lu Ziqing immediately played along. “Yes, yes. I noticed the greenery around here is really nice. I was thinking of taking a look anyway.”
“Alright then, just don’t stay out too long,” Mrs Lin reminded. “Just the other day, a high school freshman from Building 6 had his second gender differentiation while doing homework. His pheromones exploded so strongly that half the neighborhood could smell it. The police even had to put up barricades.”
“Got it,” Lin Yu said as he dragged Lu Ziqing out the door. “We’ll be back soon.”
…..
As soon as they stepped outside, Lin Yu immediately let go of Lu Ziqing’s arm.
“Are you actually angry?” Lu Ziqing tilted his head and looked at him. “I just wanted to help since your mom seemed so worried…”
“You—right now—buy a ticket home,” Lin Yu took a deep breath. “Don’t make me say it twice.”
Lu Ziqing dramatically dropped to his knees. “Don’t be mad… Fine, I admit I had my own reasons. When I heard your mom talking about setting you up for a blind date, I panicked a little…”
“And panicking means you can just spout nonsense?” Lin Yu’s expression darkened. This time, he was genuinely angry. “I usually tolerate your antics, and I even put up with you tagging along on my trip home. But there’s a limit. You told my parents I have a serious boyfriend—what if they ask me to bring him home? Did you even think about that?”
Lin Yu truly regretted it now.
He never expected Lu Ziqing to have the audacity to make up something like that in front of his parents.
If he had known, he would have been firmer at the train station and refused to let him come.
Being soft-hearted meant he now had an endless mess to clean up.
Lu Ziqing muttered under his breath, “The person who meets all the requirements is standing right in front of you…”
“You’re still spouting nonsense?” Lin Yu glared at him. “There’s no possibility between us. How many times do I have to say it?”
“Say it as many times as you want,” Lu Ziqing mumbled. “I’ll just pretend I didn’t hear it.”
Lin Yu: “…”
He was constantly amazed by Lu Ziqing’s shamelessness.
How could such a pampered young master be this thick-skinned?
Lin Yu took another deep breath, trying to calm himself.
“If you followed me home just for this, then you’re going to be disappointed,” he said coldly. “Who I date and marry in the future is my own decision. My family has no say in it.”
They walked along the narrow path, the soft night light casting a silver glow over the bushes.
“I know,” Lu Ziqing said, looking straight ahead. “I never expected your family’s approval to mean you’d accept me… I just wanted to see the place where you grew up.”
Lin Yu’s steps faltered for a moment.
“At the dinner table, I admit I acted on impulse. I didn’t think it through, and I apologize,” Lu Ziqing said slowly. “It’s just… I’ve been thinking a lot lately. Maybe the reason you won’t accept me is because… we’ve never truly gotten close.”
“On the surface, we live under the same roof, drink from the same water dispenser, eat from the same pot. It almost feels like we’re already a married couple.”
“But in reality, we barely understand each other. Our relationship started as a transaction. I don’t know how many people are in your family, I don’t know about your childhood, and I hardly even know what you like.”
“You’ve met my father, my grandparents, but those few encounters were all just illusions.”
“I know you don’t like me, and that’s okay. I can be the one pursuing you shamelessly. You don’t have to do anything—You just have to stand there and wait.” Lu Ziqing shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. “Kind of makes me look like a pathetic simp, huh? I’ve never been this desperate for someone in my life. You should consider yourself lucky.”
Lin Yu turned his face slightly to look at him, his emotions a mix of complexity.
He sighed. “You really don’t have to—”
Ever since he was confessed to, he had never given Lu Ziqing a pleasant attitude.
With such good conditions and no shortage of admirers, why insist on forcing this bitter melon like him?
“I do have to,” Lu Ziqing smiled slightly. “At least now, the little dog’s leash is finally in its owner’s hands.”
