Category: What To Do, My Boss Wants To Chase My Roommate (Page 1 of 6)

7

I’m in a good mood recently. I haven’t been posting updates because I went home for Chinese New Year.

You all know how it feels, right? The joy of browsing forums during work breaks, but when on vacation, you don’t even bother to post.

My boss also went home with me. I can already anticipate some of you saying I’m gay, but it’s not the case. He went because of Li XX. But relationships need to progress gradually, so he’s staying with me to take the chance to enhance their relationship.

That’s my plan, and the real situation should be pretty close to that.

We had the New Year’s Eve dinner together and went to the temple to draw fortune sticks.

The fortune stick indicated that I was destined to live off someone financially, which infuriated me. I don’t believe in such things, but as soon as boss saw the stick, he became happy.

He must be mocking me for living off someone financially.

I saw through him.

8

Speaking of which, why do my parents look at me and my boss strangely?

My mom even apologized to me, saying it was her fault for letting me wear girls’ clothes when I was young and delayed me.

Let’s set aside the cross-dressing thing for now… What exactly are they trying to imply ah?

Is it because boss gave them gifts? Or is it because when we slept in the same room, he dozed off and inadvertently hugged me, which my mom saw?

I can’t help it if boss doesn’t sleep well. Besides, a couple of big men hugging wouldn’t hurt.

9

Lately, I haven’t countered your claims that boss and I are in a gay relationship because there are too many, and I can’t keep up. Also, I’m too lazy to argue about it. I absolutely don’t endorse such assumptions!

Don’t misinterpret my posts!

p.s: Stop asking about the cross-dressing thing! I’ll never, ever, ever show you any pictures, hmph!

p.p.s: I embarrassed myself in front of my boss again. Just before we left, my mom showed him our family photo album. F*ck, my boss found out about me cross-dressing as a chubby kid. My mom even pointed to that photo of me in girl’s clothes and said it was cute. Cute? Where’s the cuteness?! And my boss went along with her, saying I was cute.

The scariest horror story in the world is having your boss see your cross-dressing photos and compliment how cute you look. Does anyone understand that?

F*ck, so awkward, wish I could just crawl into a hole.

10

Today, I met my boss’s didi. Honestly, their personalities are completely different.

His didi always narrowed his eyes like a fox, and when he talked to me, it was very inappropriate and frivolous. I don’t like him.

He kept touching my hand; I shook him off once, but he shamelessly did it again.

How can my boss, who’s so refined and elegant, have such a vulgar didi ah!

Later, boss sent his didi away and warned me not to believe his didi’s words. His didi enjoys flirting around and cautioned me not to be deceived.

How could I be deceived? I’m not into men.

Then I realized his didi seemed to be interested in Li XX. Oh my, am I about to witness some dog-blooded plot of a rich family soap opera?

Li XX mustn’t waver ah. This guy seems interested in everyone; it’s too weird!

I don’t care; I firmly stand by my boss and Li XX’s CP ah. It’s unbreakable and irreversible.

11

Sigh.

This is the end of this post, I don’t want to say anything.

12

This morning, I noticed that my private messages were flooded by you all. My boss and I aren’t in any danger, so don’t worry.

Oh well, let me talk about what’s been happening lately.

After Chinese New Year, my waist got better. After the New Year, my boss and I went on a business trip.

When we booked a hotel, there happened to be no single room, only couples rooms. At that moment, I thought it was okay for two big men to make do with it, so I didn’t pay much attention.

I feel like my boss was just using official business as an excuse to have fun.

During those two days, he practically showed me around the entire city. At night, he even helped me with massages. At that time, I was incredibly grateful, thinking I’ve encountered the best boss of the century. I completely forgot his previous fussy image.

It turns out I’m really f*ckng sweet.

That night at the banquet, I kept blocking drinks for my boss. Eventually, I got completely drunk and became delirious. When I woke up, my boss was in the bathroom taking a shower, and I was lying naked on the double bed, suffering from a terrible headache.

Sigh.

Boss said I got drunk and started yelling that I wanted to watch p****, insisted on streaking, and even tried to pull down his pants, behaving extremely indecently. Boss couldn’t handle it, so he knocked me out. I felt a lump on the back of my head when I touched it.

Initially, I believed my boss and didn’t think much of it. Later, I wanted to check the lump at the back of my head.

While the boss was away, I used my phone to take a picture of the back of my head, but I accidentally took a photo of the back of my neck, revealing a red mark there.

Even if I’m a virgin, I know what this is. Besides, I don’t have a girlfriend. I’ve been with my boss these past few days. Even if I were dumb, I could figure out who marked this.

This place is well-hidden, and it’s winter now. My clothes can cover it up. I couldn’t see it in the mirror. I was thunderstruck. I couldn’t even hold onto my phone; it slipped to the floor.

When boss came back and saw me sitting on the bed in a daze, he went about his own business, ignoring me. Later, he found my phone on the floor, picked it up, saw that picture, and said, “I didn’t lie to you. Who knew you’d be so terrible after drinking? You went crazy last night after drinking.”

Boss added, “I’ve also told you, I’m gay. I restrain myself even when someone I like takes their clothes off in front of me.”

Before I could react, my boss… ai, let’s not bring it up.

Why is my boss so skilled at that ah!

My boss doesn’t like Li XX. He targeted me from the start. It’s something obvious when you think about it carefully. I lost my first kiss, and almost suffocated to death before I figured it out. From beginning to end, my boss had no particular reaction towards Li XX but was rather ambiguous in his attitude toward me. I’m such a stupid X.

Boss said he planned it for a long time, stating whether I agreed or not was my business. He turned into full-on domineering CEO mode, which gave me goosebumps. I couldn’t hold back and kicked my boss’s lifeblood, then ran away.

13

I really don’t know what to do now. Have I really become gay? I can’t accept it at the moment.

Don’t laugh guys. Wuwu, my inner cries are summoning Mimi.

Fine, you guys just laugh. I even kicked my boss’s lifeblood, what else do I have to fear?

W**, Mimi really came. Mimi jumped to my keyboard, and then jsbyywhisnxvdjsknq_27:)$:9…\\

14

I finally have time to be alone these days. Let me tell you, to prove I’m not gay, I’ll now open the mysterious folder on my computer to show my prowess. I’m going to shatter your illusions! Wait for me to return in half an hour.

Haha, my beloved Teacher X, here I come.

15

How can anyone still doubt whether I can do it within half an hour? Just wait and see.

16

…

17

…

18

Fam, does anyone have recommendations for experts who specialize in treating ED? Asking for a friend.

19

Okay, I admit it, I’m the one with ED, alright?

But, in reality, it’s not a complete ED. Whenever I see my beloved Teacher X, all I can think of is my boss’s face…

I think I understand now. You guys won; it seems to be my issue after all.

Why didn’t the boss say so if he liked me?

Well, looking back, I realize he hinted at it quite clearly. I was just too stupid.

20

These past few days, I’ve been on leave and adamantly refused to go to work. My boss didn’t push me either. Today, he texted me, saying if I have time, I’ll meet him at XX restaurant; he really wants to see me.

Li XX also advised me not to argue with my boss, but he doesn’t understand my inner turmoil. He stubbornly insists that I’m gay and that the incidents between my boss and me are just playful antics between lovers.

Should I go ah? I kicked my boss’s jj. I’m too embarrassed to face him.

Hey, hey, hey! What are you all talking about “may you live a long and happy life together”? I just want to have a good talk with my boss; I’m not planning to get married to him!

21

I really didn’t want to go at first… ai.

Human nature is despicable. Eventually, I still went.

Boss was sitting by the window, the sunlight making his black hair gleam. I’ll admit, at that moment, my boss looked so f*ckng handsome. I felt my face heating up, and I could barely stand on my legs.

Boss didn’t say anything, and neither did I. I didn’t even know what I was doing. My boss just kept looking at me, making me feel all jittery inside.

I admit I’m indeed bent, no matter how you spin it. I’m gay, and I’ll love whoever I want.

We looked at each other in silence for a while. My boss held my hand, his touch was f*ckng gentle, and then said, “Will you come to my place tonight?”

I f*ckng… I wrapped my index finger around his ring finger.

I f*kng agreed.

Hehehe, I have a partner now. Are you jealous, those of you in front of the screen?

By the way, can anyone recommend some medicine for a sore throat? Feeling a bit worked up lately.

I can’t continue this anymore. This thread has gone off-topic. My roommate isn’t involved with my boss. After I answer your questions, I won’t update this anymore. There’s nothing more to say.

How come there are still people asking if cat poop stinks? Let me tell you, cats also poop, and of course, poop stinks.

For those asking about the length with my boss… I won’t tell you. Guess it yourselves, but I’m longer than my boss.

Sigh, why don’t any of you believe me?

There are still people asking for Li XX’s contact information? Li XX isn’t gay. If it’s about girls, I’ll share it, but for guys, unless you want trouble, I’ll tell you, I’ve mentioned before that Li XX is a tough guy, not someone to mess with.

The consequences of pursuing him can be seen through my boss’s didi. Last time, he was butt-naked and got locked in a restroom by Li XX and called my boss to bring him pants.

…Yi, is this something that can be said?

Ai ya, I’ve gotten used to calling boss that way. I can’t suddenly start calling him husband; that would be too weird.

Why are you all so dirty! I just asked for some medicine, how can you think so much? I can’t take it anymore, I’m out of here, never to be seen again!

22

I’m the OP’s boss. Thank you all for the enthusiastic discussion. No need to worry; I’ve taught him to change his address to me.

Just in case the OP says anything weird, this thread is now permanently closed.

---

Jie Jie: It’s finally done! Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed and had fun reading this like I did. I appreciate all your comments, too! :blobsnuggle:

6

It’s been so long since I last posted. I wonder if you all still remember me. I twisted my waist the day before yesterday, and I’m still lying in bed. A lot has happened recently. I, the original poster, am physically and emotionally exhausted. Let me explain slowly.

Before I twisted my waist, I was constantly being overworked by my boss, and I had to make time for the New Year’s Eve party. During my free time, I read your replies. There wasn’t anything meaningful. More than one person even asked me if cats could poop and if cat poop smells. Let me clarify this once and for all. You’re overthinking it. Cat poop is quite smelly. Cats aren’t angels that produce strawberry-scented poop every time they go.

Every year our company hosts a New Year’s Eve party, and boss forces everyone to participate. Because I sang “Man’s Flower” last year, boss prohibited me from singing this New Year’s Eve. I had no choice but to form a temporary group with Li XX and two other male colleagues, calling ourselves F4.

After all, except for Li XX, the remaining three of us are tough guys with waists as hard as steel pipes. I suggested performing a comedic dialogue, but Li XX disagreed, saying he’d burst into laughter if he spoke alone. He insisted on teaching us street dance, claiming the moves weren’t difficult and the requirements weren’t high. He said I could just fool around a bit and it would be fine.

I f*ckng believed him at the time. As a result, after practicing for two days, those two male colleagues of mine could clumsily follow along, but as soon as I started dancing, I looked like a donkey pulling a millstone, with my waist feeling like it was carrying a weight of 200 lbs.

Li XX couldn’t bear to watch and said, “Ge, how about you perform radio gymnastics on the side while we do the street dance?”

I immediately declined, saying, “That’s too embarrassing.”

Li XX responded, “Then I’ll dance with you, and we’ll call it a dance medley.”

Considering it for a moment, Li XX usually has good popularity. If he and I embarrassingly perform radio gymnastics together, it might still appease the boss. Not a bad move.

On New Year’s Eve, boss was in a good mood. He even said he would treat all the employees present. I’ve been looking forward to the New Year’s Eve dinner for a long time. I was even prepared to not return until I got drunk.

As a result, life is so f*ckd up. Our F4 dance medley performance had the audience laughing from start to finish. What’s most annoying is that while following the rhythm with Li XX, during a “leaping movement,” I slipped, forcefully did a split, and then landed on my back on the stage.

Lately, I’ve realized that I’ve been extremely unlucky, especially with frequent embarrassing incidents in public. Last time, I ruined the boss’s suit, and this time, I injured my back doing radio gymnastics.

What’s worse, the aftermath of these incidents has nothing to do with the boss.

Boss paused the program, striding onto the stage with his long legs. He took responsibility, acknowledging he shouldn’t have pressured me to perform. I was in so much pain that I couldn’t move, and all I could see were the boss’s shining leather shoes.

Later, in the reflection of the shoes and the stage lights, I saw the boss bend down and hoist me onto his shoulders. I heard a crisp sound from my spine, even more painful than before, but I didn’t dare say anything.

Boss held onto my ankle with one hand and flung a card to his assistant, saying he wouldn’t attend the dinner today and would only pay for it. Honestly, even as a straight guy, I couldn’t help but find his local tyrant aura so handsome that it explodes.

At that moment, although my waist hurt, my heart was pounding loudly, almost leaping out of my throat.

Netizens, just thinking about how the boss flung over his card makes me feel uneasy. Do you think I might fall ill because of this ah?

Later, the doctor told me that what would have healed in two days turned into a second-degree injury due to the boss lifting me like that. My waist was done for.

W**. What the f*ck is this? Boss seemed quite guilty. He said he had a friend who was a doctor and had learned some massage techniques from him. That night, he experimented with massaging my waist. The process was as painful as a pig being slaughtered, but the boss remained unfazed, pressing on wherever it hurt.

Li XX originally wanted to check on me in the bedroom but heard my screams and went another way. My cat, lord of the house, walked over my head and affectionately rubbed against the boss’s pants.

Well, what could I do? But afterward, my back did feel somewhat more comfortable, even a bit pleasant. I tend to doze off easily when bored. In a drowsy state, I felt someone touching my face.

A man being touched on the face, how uncomfortable ah! Although I was sleepy at the time, my reflexes were still sharp. I instantly grabbed the person’s hand. Now, guess who it was?

Correct! It was still the boss! I already know what you all might say, that the original poster is leaning towards being ‘gay’ with the boss or something like that. Let me tell you, don’t jump to conclusions! (Even though you never listen anyway.)

Because the boss said, “You have an eye booger.”

I nodded.

The boss said, “It’s true, don’t disbelieve me.”

I didn’t say anything, thinking to myself: ‘No, no, no, boss, I really do believe you ah.’

When the boss saw me silent, he suddenly turned stern. I didn’t even know why he got a little unhappy again. He said, “XX, don’t you believe me?”

I wished I could nod my head 800 times, or break through the bed with my chin to express my sincerity. I replied, “I believe you, I believe you.”

Why is the boss always in a bad mood? What’s going on ah? I’m pretty upset too ah!

As the boss was about to leave, I blurted out asking if he wanted to have a couple of drinks before leaving. However, the boss didn’t catch on that I was just making small talk and came back. So there I was lying in bed, and the boss was seated at my desk. He rummaged through the fridge, grabbed a beer, and started drinking while I watched.

While he was drinking, out of the blue, he scolded me, “XXX, you’re such a fool.”

I felt quite annoyed by this. He scolded me, and I didn’t dare to talk back. He was drinking my beer, and all I could do was watch.

The boss’s face turned slightly red, and he said, “XXX, do you know that I’m gay?”

I ignored him, thinking to myself, ‘How could I not know? You’ve mentioned it before.’

The boss then asked, “Where’s your cat? Mimi?”

Once again, my master cat stepped happily over my head and then affectionately rubbed against the boss’s pants.

Hmph! I see through both of you!

I couldn’t wait for the boss to leave soon and said, “Boss, it’s getting late. You should leave soon.”

The boss replied, “I’ve been drinking, I can’t drive.”

I suggested, “How about… letting Li XX drive you?”

Boss’s face darkened and he said, “If you mention Li XX again, I’ll…”

He didn’t finish his sentence. Boss consumed about three or four cans of beer, drinking a bit too much. He used my toiletries directly, even using my towel when coming out of the bathroom after washing up. He ended up in just his underwear, lying down next to me and fell asleep.

His defined eight-pack abs were very eye-catching, and I couldn’t resist touching them. My heart was racing nervously, but they felt good.

I’ve mentioned before that my boss is a neat freak and very particular about things. I thought he’d be furious the next day if he used my toothbrush absentmindedly, but surprisingly, he was in a good mood.

I ended up sharing a bed with the boss for a night because my waist injury made it difficult to move, and I had a stiff neck from sleeping awkwardly. The next day, I was holding back my pee. I didn’t dare to ask Li XX for help in front of the boss, fearing his anger.

Ai, who else has my kind of bad luck? I have to be so cautious about everything in my own home just because of the boss.

Thankfully, the boss had to go back to handle work matters; otherwise, I might’ve perished due to a bursting bladder.

Li XX asked me, “Ge, are you and the boss… You know…”

I was shocked and replied, “Wait, aren’t you…?”

The conversation between Li XX and me was totally misunderstood, and Li XX was immediately shocked, “What me ah? Aren’t you…”

Our conversation was so disconnected that I’m not even sure how much Li XX understood. He jovially patted my shoulder, almost embedding me into the bed frame with his strength.

Li XX said, “Ge, I don’t discriminate against you, really.”

This is completely different from what I initially thought ah! I know you might think I’m going off track, but I’ve already created quite a few misunderstandings. There’s nothing that can make me care anymore. I have to rest my waist injury at home these days. If there are any new developments, I’ll update you later.

3

Today is our department’s team building activity, and boss is treating us. Due to the slippery ground, I accidentally slipped and fell flat in front of the boss.

How can I avoid embarrassing myself in front of the boss? Urgent, waiting online.

4

Your suggestions are useless; how could you even suggest that I strip naked and apologize? Wouldn’t that just make me more embarrassed?

5

It was freezing cold the day my ass fell and squatted. I was sitting between the boss and Li XX. I felt that I was in the way. I thought, instead of being a nuisance, it’s better to give them some space. So, I sneaked out to a secluded alley to smoke.

Someone asked if I deliberately sat between them. I could only say, “Your mind is too dark! Do you think I’m capable of doing an NTR?¹It stands for “Netorare” which is a genre that typically involves infidelity or cheating within a romantic/sexual relationship.I’m not even gay ah! It’s all because I slipped and fell, and when I got up, I was the last one to choose a seat. There was only an empty spot between them, and I had no choice but to sit there.”

Only ghost knows why they didn’t sit together.

Forget it, back to the main point. Ironically, while sneaking a smoke, I got caught by the boss again.

Why am I nervous? Because when I left the table, I lied to them, saying I was going to the restroom. I had been smoking for a while, and considering the time elapsed, they probably thought I was taking a dump.

After the boss caught me, he didn’t mind that I lied; he just asked if I didn’t like eating with everyone.

That’s not the case; I’ve always been open to dining together. I never shy away from free meals and don’t fuss about it. This time, not being able to enjoy the meal was purely the fault of boss and Li XX.

Knowing their relationship, it wouldn’t have been awkward sitting between them ya.

I simply said I needed some fresh air and then asked him why he came out.

My boss said he was also getting some fresh air.

He said getting fresh air was just that, and then he took out a cigarette, and I offered him a lighter.

Boss’s smoking posture is very handsome.

While smoking, he casually asked if I was intentionally avoiding him.

I actually do… How should I put it? To improve the relationship between him and Li XX, I’ve been subtly getting Li XX to deliver things to the boss for me whenever possible. I thought he wouldn’t notice.

Boss is incredibly observant. He can even pay so much attention to me, an ordinary employee.

Of course, I didn’t dare to say that I was avoiding him, so I mentioned that Li XX was passing by, and he was happy to help me out.

Then, in a cryptic tone, the boss said, “You and Li XX seem to have a pretty good relationship ah.”

Thanks to my high emotional intelligence, I sensed that the boss was feeling jealous that I and Li XX appeared too close.

Boss is really a difficult man to coax.

So, I said, “No, it’s not like that. Li XX and I don’t have a good relationship; he doesn’t like me.”

“It’s just me unilaterally trying to get close to him.”

Don’t doubt Li XX ah; the fault is all mine. I’m the malicious supporting character who tried to foster their relationship and ended up unrequitedly infatuated with Li XX.

My boss directly stubbed out the cigarette and never spoke to me again.

I managed to annoy the boss once more, but it’s okay; I believe everything is still within my control!

---

Jie Jie: Short extra chap^^;

2

[Picture] [Picture] [Picture]

This is my cat, named Mimi, it’s a girl.

She’s fine, I just wanted to show her off.

Ahem, let me first respond collectively to everyone’s questions, and then I’ll explain what happened.

1. About me and the boss:

Our company is located in a certain first-tier city, where the competition is fierce. I didn’t graduate from a 985 or 211,¹In China, universities are often categorized into tiers, and “985” and “211” refer to prestigious university classifications. “985” refers to “Project 985,” which includes top universities in China known for their research and academic excellence. “211” refers to another initiative comprising universities with a high level of academic and research standards. so landing this job was quite challenging. As for the boss, they’re the type of person you can find on Baidu Baike.²Chinese encyclopedia I can’t disclose specific details, feel free to guess. Our boss once made it to the top ten list of a certain entertainment magazine’s Golden Bachelors, quite an experience for them.

2. About why I always emphasize that I’m a straight guy:

I just wanted to highlight the difference in sexual orientation between myself and the boss, to prevent assumptions about me being involved in same-sex relationships. Unexpectedly, it had the opposite effect.

3. About Li XX:

Li XX and I are also fellow townsmen; we have a great relationship. Every Chinese New Year, he comes to my house for dinner and celebrates with me. He’s very good-looking; even as a straight guy, I find him attractive. He doesn’t have any bad habits aside from going to the gym and doing household chores. He’s very considerate, and living with him as a roommate is genuinely comfortable. To be honest, although Li XX looks like a beautiful woman and is tall and slender, he’s quite formidable. I have no idea how he built up those muscles.

4. About the cat:

My cat is really cute, she eats and poop well, stays healthy, and is very lively. She used to be a stray kitten. I sincerely suggest adopting instead of buying. Besides making the occasional mess and having smelly poop, she has no other shortcomings.

That’s all.

I have good news and bad news to share with everyone today. The good news is that boss didn’t mention the suit issue all day, choosing to overlook the past. The bad news is that I managed to make boss angry again.

I genuinely feel that doing favors for the boss is f*ckng sweeter than drawing a red line for oneself. The company’s year-end “Move Employees to Tears” award definitely should include my efforts.

This morning, while I was in the restroom, I caught Li XX tying his tie in front of the mirror. It was the first time I’ve seen Li XX in private wearing a suit and looking extremely handsome. Then he told me he was planning to take a day off today for a blind date.

I was so shocked that I felt like my heart was going to give out. If Li XX goes on a blind date, boss won’t be happy. If boss isn’t happy, he might remember that suit incident. I quickly asked him about the specifics, and Li XX reluctantly mentioned that his jiejie was forcing him to go. My mind was racing at a f*ckng lightning speed, trying to find a breakthrough.

I said, “Have you seen a photo?”

Li XX: “No.”

Me: “Then I’ll go for you!”

At that moment, Li XX gave me a strange look and said, “Ge, did you oversleep and get confused?”

Thinking about it now still makes me mad. I wanted to help him out, and he thought there was something wrong with my head. Pei! Doesn’t recognize a good-hearted person.

I said, “After all, I’m your senior. If I don’t look out for you, then who will? Think about your perfect attendance award.”

Li XX: “Ge, what about your attendance then?”

Don’t even mention it. If I dwell on it further, I might cry.

Please give me some advice in the comments. I’m so worried about the situation between boss and Li XX, and boss still looks at me unfavorably.

Then Li XX went to work happily. Before leaving, he specifically reminded me to handle the blind date matter without making it awkward.

Oh, man, he said he was embarrassed, but his body was still very honest and aimed for perfect attendance.

In my mind, I’m thinking if the girl is nice, I might consider pursuing things further. After all, I’ve sacrificed my perfect attendance award.

Now that I think about it, I’m so f*ckng sweet. After a long time today, I’ve been treated so unfairly inside and out, and I’ve truly moved myself to tears.

I called reception to request leave, and within two minutes, the receptionist came back, saying boss didn’t approve.

In my heart, 10,000 WTFs ran past. Boss completely fails to understand my good intentions, thinking I’m being unproductive. They simply can’t appreciate my efforts, just like Li XX.

The receptionist girl was annoyed by me so much that she directly transferred the call to the boss. Boss was quite angry and bluntly stated that if I take leave today for something as meaningless as a blind date, he’ll fire me on the spot.

At that moment, my acting skills reached their peak. I claimed my mother was forcing me, saying if I didn’t go, she’d skin me alive, which reluctantly made the boss agree.

Later, boss said, “What time is your blind date? There’s a banquet in the evening, and I want to take you there.”

I was torn between happiness and worry. I was glad the boss was voluntarily taking me out to broaden my horizons, an opportunity most people wouldn’t have. However, I was sad because I definitely wouldn’t be able to seize the chance to hug the boss’s thigh. He didn’t want to explicitly state his intentions, so it depended on my perception. Usually, bosses prefer smart employees, and at that moment, I was confident I was one of them.

I said, “I’m sorry, boss, I might not be able to go. How about letting Li XX go instead?”

You guessed it right. Until now, I still can’t figure out what I said wrong. Boss got angry again, saying, “Why bring up Li XX regarding your matters?”

I WTF-ed at that time. How does boss have such an unconventional way of thinking?

Then, I thought maybe they argued, so I said, “Li XX usually seems quite well-behaved, but his personality can be quite explosive…”

Boss hung up on me directly.

What on earth is happening ah? I must be extremely unlucky. Is there a great god who can understand boss’s mindset? If this continues, that suit, which Mimi scratched, will be beckoning me again.

For those who say the boss likes me, think about it carefully, ok? A rich second-generation returnee³Someone who worked/studied overseas and returned to China. from a wealthy family, would they even consider a rough man like me? Before yesterday’s incident, boss and I had no interaction whatsoever. If not for this issue, I wouldn’t even think the boss remembered me. Li XX has always been the apple of the boss’s eye. Since he joined the company, boss has praised him during meetings. Boss seems to prefer men like Li XX—fair-skinned and good-looking.

Ai, whatever I say now, you guys will only hahaha, and 666, or you’ll say that I’m gay.

The girl from the blind date had a good personality and appearance. We chatted for a long time, discussing everything from poetry to life goals. We even watched a movie, and I got bored and fell asleep, which was a bit embarrassing. After having dinner with her in the evening and planning to part ways, guess who I saw?

That’s right! It was my boss! What a small world.

Just as I stepped out of the restaurant, he stopped his Lamborghini right in front of me, rolled down the window, and said, ‘What a coincidence.’

I quickly greeted the boss.

It was quite a coincidence. But I remember not being that close to the boss. Why did he come over to greet me so deliberately?

The girl from the blind date almost screamed out. She grabbed my arm and said, “Isn’t that the person from TV? He’s actually your boss?”

I’m a little embarrassed, but I have to bite the bullet to deal with boss.

Boss said, “XXX (that’s me) and I have a business banquet shortly. I’ll take him with me now. Could you please go back on your own?”

Have you ever experienced what awkwardness feels like? It’s the kind of awkwardness where you’re hesitant even to check your phone, just waiting for the boss to break the silence.

As soon as I got into the car, there was an awkward silence between boss and me. It had been several winters since either of us had seen snow.⁴It suggests that just as the absence of snow for multiple winters feels strange or unfamiliar, the uncomfortable silence between them also feels unusual or awkward, emphasizing the unusualness of the situation or the discomfort they are experiencing in their interaction. Despite having the car heater on, the temperature inside was freezing, making me shiver. After a while, boss finally said, “How’s the girl?”

I reckon even he was trying to find something to talk about, considering the uncomfortable atmosphere. Wanting to ease the tension, I replied that I thought she was quite nice.

As a result, the atmosphere became even more awkward than before, and it seemed like boss wasn’t very pleased. I sneakily glanced out the window and realized the route looked somewhat familiar—It was actually heading towards my house. I asked, “Boss, aren’t we going to the banquet ah?”

It was the first time I smelled smoke on the boss. I’ve been off cigarettes for a while, but this scent triggered some cravings. He seemed quite annoyed and mentioned that he canceled the business banquet.

Do you guys know what this means? The boss would rather offend people than go to the business banquet. This definitely indicates something unusual is going on ah!

I asked, “Then, why…”

Boss glared at me. Although I don’t know what’s going on until now, I still wisely chose to shut up.

I said, “How did you⁵Formal ‘you’ was used. know where my home is ah?”

Boss replied, “Li XX told me.”

I was so thrilled that I almost jumped out of my seat. Truly impressive of the boss to catch on so quickly (although I was a pig teammate⁶A poor teammate who makes mistakes or only cause trouble for the group. before).

Boss asked, “Why are you so happy when I mention Li XX?”

At that moment, I was solely focused on being happy. But upon reflection, I’ve noticed many issues. Boss’s behavior was too strange. There was even a fleeting moment when I felt like the boss didn’t like Li XX at all.

That’s the part I can’t wrap my head around. If boss doesn’t like Li XX, why would he disregard my suit? I don’t think boss is the kind of wealthy person who casually throws money around.

Boss continued, “Your parents are in XX City, right? It’s quite far from here. Besides you, I assume you don’t have any relatives or acquaintances nearby. How was your blind date arranged?”

I pondered for a while, trying to find a way to explain without revealing anything about Li XX, but I couldn’t come up with a reasonable explanation. Seeing me silent, the boss said, “Is lying to me fun?”

I realized I couldn’t possibly give away anything about Li XX ah. I quickly apologized to my boss, but boss was still very displeased.

I can’t help but think, I’m really in deep sh*t.

When I got home, I found out that despite my efforts to protect Li XX, he had already sold me within the company. It means that boss already knew about me substituting for Li XX on the blind date, yet he made me apologize for half a day.

I never want to see them again in my life.

All day long, I’ve been in a state of not knowing what was happening, not understanding why the boss was upset, and despite my busyness, I wasn’t comprehending what I actually done. This kind of perplexity.

It’s truly mentally exhausting.

Just now, boss actually sent a message asking me to sort out the work missed due to today’s leave. I have to work late into the night. If there are any questions, please ask directly, I’ll respond after I finish work tomorrow.

1

Original poster is male and straight (emphasized). Boss is a well-known figure in the financial circle, known for being quite particular in personality. The situation is a bit complicated.

The situation began when my nephew traveled a long way to send me a kitten at the office. He was cheeky and spoiled, not considering the fact that I might not be allowed to have pets at home. He didn’t discuss it with me beforehand, and just put the cat in a box and delivered it directly to my office.

At that time, I was busy with year-end planning and didn’t pay much attention. Boss kept staring at my desk while patrolling the office. I don’t usually interact much with the boss, so this was the first time I caught his attention. He’s usually a very serious person, and I was afraid he might find fault with me. I was nervous for quite a while but couldn’t figure out if there was any issue.

After the boss passed by in front of me at least three times, I finally noticed my folder was shaking.

I’m a materialist and don’t believe in supernatural entities. My mind short-circuited at that moment, and I didn’t even consider that boss was staring at my folder. I opened the folder and found it was the box that was shaking. Without much thought, I opened it.

Inside the box was a calico kitten. At that moment, boss’s face turned black. Before I could react, the kitten jumped onto the boss’s shoulder and bit into his suit, tearing a large hole in it.

I was also helpless. What could I do!

My colleagues subjected to the boss’s tyranny all year round, dared not even glance over. There was no mediator among us, and the situation became extremely awkward for a while.

As I mentioned before, our boss is overly particular. He’s a neat freak and extremely picky. His suit alone might cost more than several months of my salary. At that moment, I was terrified and broke into a cold sweat. Forget about any bonus; my job might be at stake.

Boss’s face was as dark as charcoal. He didn’t say anything. He just grabbed the cat from his shoulder and threw it into my arms, instructing me to follow him to his office.

To put it another way, that calico cat was quite adorable. Our Chinese domestic cats are awesome. At a crucial moment, it acted cute, and what’s infuriating is that I softened when I saw its green eyes. I’m truly a man without principles.

Blood kept dripping from my heart.

I immediately went over to apologize to the boss. That suit was indeed not cheap. However, my boss acted as if nothing had happened, perhaps because a tycoon doesn’t care about such small sums of money.

Poverty limits my imagination.

But I couldn’t get over it ah. I’ve diligently worked for such a long time, and a month’s salary can’t even cover a fraction of it.

Boss was busy looking at the computer screen and didn’t see my distressed face. In fact, he probably didn’t even want to look at me and said, “It’s okay, don’t worry about it.”

I can only humble myself, grovel, and almost kneel down to call him “Father.” I’m just begging for the boss’s magnanimity.

Guy, please don’t interrupt. I regret posting my problem here. My heart is bleeding, and you guys aren’t offering any substantial advice. All I get are “hahas” and “666s.” If “hahas” and “666s” were useful, I wouldn’t be in such a miserable state.

Also, I’m really straight. Please don’t ship me with the boss. He’s interested in my roommate. You guys are really scary. My hair is standing up in the middle of the night.

Where did we stop? Right, he said to me, “You have a good relationship with Li XX, huh?”

Li XX is a recent graduate and just got regularized. He’s so tender that you can pinch out water from him. We both graduated from the same university. We were in the same club before and played cards together every day. Being his senior, I take care of him. We’re currently sharing a rented place.

Li XX is really good-looking. Those idol-like fresh meat boys on TV don’t even compare to his pinky finger. You guys won’t get a chance to see him in person, but I can vouch for him. I swear I’m not lying.

Went off topic there. Initially, when the boss started asking about Li XX, I didn’t think much about it. I just straightforwardly mentioned that Li XX and I are roommates, and our relationship is generally okay.

Later, out of the blue, the boss said, “Do you know that I am gay?”

At that moment, I was baffled. I thought to myself, ‘How could I know something even your own mother might not know?’ After a while, I sensed something was off. Based on my straight-guy instincts, Li XX is good-looking, never had a girlfriend, and might lean towards being gaygay.

Actually, I’m quite open-minded; I don’t discriminate against homosexuals.

The boss said, “Do you understand?”

At that moment, I wished I could nod a hundred and eighty times to show that I understood.

The more I thought about it, the more it didn’t add up. Why did boss bring up Li XX for no reason ah? After mentioning Li XX, he then says he’s gay. Is there any necessary connection between these two things?

The moment I walked out of the office, I suddenly understood everything.

I’m well aware of the situation. With boss’s subtle intentions, isn’t he just trying to approach Li XX? Damn, ah. I’m like the matchmaker for Zhang Sheng and Cui Yingying. As long as I can sweet-talk the boss and he doesn’t pursue today’s matter, I’ll be f*ckng thanking the heavens.

Li XX isn’t here today. I’m seeking advice from you all, esteemed individuals, on how to chase men. I need to clean my cat’s litter box now. I’ll keep following up if there are any new developments tomorrow.

1. Name: Zhou Jie Renlun

2. Gender: Male (crossed out) Identifies as female, leads to becoming dull

3. Sexual Orientation: Male, likes to be dull

4. Age: 18

5. Birthday: October 1st

6. Occupation: Male Stripper (female)

7. Education Background: Dropped out of a prestigious university, and currently pursuing primary education while working

8. Workplace: None, living off someone financially.

9. Favorite things: Fish and dog shit. At 13, I had a thing for goldfish… (crossed out) Current XP is the anglerfish

10. Most disliked things: I hate money, I don’t care about money, and to me, money is just a number.

Additionally, there’s also the cat. Their shit is so stinky and they shed fur every day. It snores like my dad and prefers to play with my roommate’s underwear rather than mine. I truly detest creatures that resemble furballs!

11. Family Members: Parents, three jiejies, and two didis.

12. Home Address: Residing with family at a youth hostel, the specific address is not disclosed.

13. Thoughts on Family: I hope my family can let me live with them and live off financially.

14. Preferred Partner Type: Naughty and cute at times, yet composed and profound; someone who can accept me who is dull.

15. Expectations for Marriage: Being a housewife. I want to be a housewife

16. Personal Advantages in Choosing a Partner: Have two jj.

17. Personal Disadvantages in Choosing a Partner: Both jjs are unusable.

18. Final Words: Your document-sharing software is so bad that it pops back to WeChat at every turn. Please use more efficient software for questionnaires; this one is so slow I’m worried it’s carrying a virus. Also, once you switch software, don’t ask me to write surveys again!!!

The night when the questionnaire was received, Ning Renjie stayed awake all night…

---

Author’s Note:

Now Google accounts have custom genders…

My gender is now also dull just like Xiu Xiu’s (not).

Ning Yiheng clearly didn’t anticipate that I already knew about this matter. There was a moment of panic in his eyes, but he didn’t try to conceal it. He directly apologized to me, “I’m sorry, Xiu Xiu, I…'”

“I don’t want to hear your explanation!” I intentionally said, “Do you know how much I’ve hoped for readers who genuinely like me? Do you truly respect me? How could you pay me, use money to corrupt me? Do you know the platform’s commission? 40%! Just the commission alone could buy us tickets to Venice for our honeymoon…”

“I don’t need a reader like you.”

Actually, I still wanted to hear Ning Yiheng’s explanation, and I also wanted to hear his thoughts about my novels. It’s such a happiness when the person you like appreciates your hobbies… Wuwu, I’m a cruel person.

But deep down, I still had some genuine feelings. If he wanted to support me, he could’ve given me the money directly without letting middlemen profit from it.

Recalling the dog-blooded romance novels I’ve read before, I said, “Ning Yiheng, do you not love me at all?”

Ning Yiheng wasn’t someone who could speak well. He always let me lead conversations. My words fired off like a machine gun, leaving him speechless.

Ning Yiheng is so pitiful, Nian Nian is so pitiful. How can I talk about him like this?

Ning Yiheng suddenly slammed on the brakes, coming to an abrupt stop at the roadside. Despite wearing a seatbelt, the force nearly threw my head out—I had never seen Ning Yiheng so impatient.

Ning Yiheng’s face was expressionless as he said, “Can’t I be your reader?”

I replied, “No, you don’t like me for my writing; your intentions aren’t pure. I hate you for doing that.”

F*ck, what the hell am I saying.

Ning Yiheng: …

Ning Yiheng said, “Cheng Huai Xiu, my intentions indeed aren’t pure.”

“I admit my intentions aren’t pure. Yes, I watched every episode of “League of Maidens” for you. I memorized the transformation lines of the Cat-Eyed Girl and the Little Alien Princess. It’s because I love you. I wanted to understand you and like everything that you like.”

Oh my god, he admitted it. He truly loves me. I never thought someone would go to such lengths for me. Suppressing the urge to cry, I continued to keep a straight face.

“A mother knows her child best.” Aunt Lin’s words were indeed right.

I don’t know whether I should feel secretly pleased about my successful coercion at this moment, because I subtly sensed Ning Yiheng’s change in emotions.

Ning Yiheng appeared somewhat angry.

I gritted my teeth and continued, “I don’t believe you. If you love me, why hide it from me?”

Ning Yiheng, “I did it because…”

“I won’t listen to your explanation!” I forcefully interrupted to avoid being swayed by Ning Yiheng. I no longer looked at his expression. “Ning Yiheng, you can’t satisfy me at all either.”

Ning Yiheng asked in surprise, “Satisfy?”

Determined, I said, “Do you really think those kidney-enhancing teas were brewed for me?”

“I wanted to maintain your dignity in front of others and didn’t want to embarrass you, but what about you? You refuse to talk to me about anything, never considering my dignity seriously. Do you think we still need to be together?”

In fact, even if it was a sexless marriage, I was willing to stay with Ning Yiheng for the rest of my life, and I could accept all of his shortcomings.

Once I understand his true thoughts, I must apologize to him properly.

The provocation method indeed worked. Even someone as patient as Ning Yiheng got angry because of my words—He abruptly grabbed my chin, forcefully twisting it back—I was caught off guard by him and nearly screamed out loud, while Ning Yiheng had already unbuckled his seatbelt and pressed himself onto me.

“Cheng Huai Xiu, do you think I am impotent?” Ning Yiheng’s fingers increasingly tightened, pinching me to the point where I almost suffocated.

My brain was still clinging to the thought process that had initially forced Ning Yiheng’s hand, and I subconsciously let out a “hmm.”

I said, “If you have the ability, show me if you can do it.”

–

If the string is stretched too tightly, it will break, and if the person is stretched too tightly, it will break.

I’ve learned a bloody lesson today: You can’t push people too hard.

–

When I opened my eyes, it was nearly dawn. Ning Yiheng had an emergency travel blanket in the car, so I wrapped myself tightly and slumped in the passenger seat like a corpse.

Although my mind was awake, my body felt lifeless. I couldn’t move a muscle, not even my little finger. My eyes were swollen like two light bulbs, tears lingering in the corners, and everything appeared blurry.

Wuwu, I hate Ning Yiheng. Yesterday was feigned hate, but today’s hate was genuine, in the literal sense—

Ning Yiheng leaned in again and kissed my cheek.

He kissed my hands and touched my blanket again. While my voice was hoarse, I didn’t have the strength to push him away and could only grunt and resist, but he said, “Baby, I’ll just touch it.”

I’ve only read about such situations in novels where the protagonists flirt and play around, exploring the unknown, and engaging in romantic encounters without boundaries.

I considered, what if I and Ning Yiheng were to… I’m not sure about Ning Yiheng, but I might just die.

Ning Yiheng kissed and began to kiss deeply again. I could only raise my head to bear his kiss. My tongue was almost eaten by him, but he seemed to be unsatisfied. The deeper he kissed, the more dizzy I was.

I don’t know how long it took before Ning Yiheng let go of me, with the tip of his nose against the side of my neck.

Ning Yiheng’s breathing was so rapid that it burned the bite marks on the side of my neck making it itchy and painful.

“I love you so much, I really do,” he said. “I’m sorry, Xiu Xiu. When it comes to things like choosing a partner, I’ve always hoped we could be more cautious in everything we do, so that you still have room for second thoughts.”

He scared me indeed. I didn’t expect to be down there at all. I hadn’t even reacted yet, and he—Wuwu, I’m feeling emo again.

By the time the night had passed, my tears had almost dried up. I could only hoarsely cry out, “I kept begging you yesterday, but you wouldn’t listen to me.”

Ning Yiheng kissed my tears and kept apologizing, “I’m sorry, I really couldn’t stop.”

I choked and said, “You keep saying you love me, but you’ve never been willing to tell me why you like me.”

“We, we’ve come this far, and you, you still…”

“No!” Ning Yiheng said, “I’m just afraid you won’t be able to accept it.”

I said, “If you don’t say it, how will I know if I can’t accept it?”

“I want to hear you tell the truth.”

Ning Yiheng remained silent for a while before finally speaking, “From the moment I first saw you at the company several years ago, I imagined how you might look crying and pleading while you lay on my office desk.”

Me: …

What lying down? Lying down for what? I really don’t want to understand!

Ning Yiheng said, “I used to go to your office every day just to catch a glimpse of you. I thought if I saw you enough during the day, I might dream of you at night…”

He leaned in close to my ear and uttered a string of words that completely upended my understanding. My face flushed red, and I hastily interrupted him, saying, “No! Please don’t say anything more. I-I-I already know everything!”

Poking into Ning Yiheng’s skin, all I found inside was unsuitable, illicit yellow materials.

Ning Xiaoyu was right, Ning Yiheng was really mensao.

“I really wanted to take you somewhere tonight,” Ning Yiheng sighed, sadness overflowing in his eyes. “I’m sorry, I ruined everything.”

The forlorn look on Ning Yiheng’s face was both pitiable and cute. I wanted to touch his cheeks and chin, but I simply couldn’t lift my hand.

I said, “Where do you want to take me?”

But Ning Yiheng didn’t reply; he simply said, “There’s still time.”

He kissed me on the cheek, then fastened his seat belt and started the car.

“I can make up for it,” Ning Yiheng said, “I’m truly sorry, Xiu Xiu, I shouldn’t have been so impulsive.”

I immediately responded, “It’s not your fault; it was because I deliberately said the opposite to upset you…”

“We can go see it another time,” I said, “Anyway, there’s still time in the future.”

“No, it has to be today,” said Ning Yiheng as he stepped on the gas.

I said, “I have to go back to work today.”

Although my perfect attendance was already gone after substituting for Li Xiaoming’s blind date last time, taking unauthorized leave would be a deduction ah!!!

Ning Yiheng said, “Let’s skip work; I’ll request leave for you.”

“Both of us skipping work?!” I was shocked, “Isn’t that bad?”

I really don’t want to live off someone financially ah…

What responded me was the sound of the tires scraping against the ground as Ning Yiheng braked.

–

I didn’t know how long Ning Yiheng’s car had been driving. It was long enough that I no longer lamented my own salary and began to feel drowsy due to the night’s adventure.

Only when Ning Yiheng parked did I fully awaken from my half-asleep state.

It was still early morning, with a layer of mist enveloping everything around us. Leaning against the car window, I gazed outside and saw hillsides full of blooming flowers.

Ning Yiheng unfastened his seatbelt, stepped out of the car, and walked around to the passenger side where I was seated.

Although it was already spring, the outside temperature wasn’t particularly high. Ning Yiheng opened the passenger door, and the cold wind immediately rushed in, making me shiver.

Ning Yiheng lifted me up like a princess and placed me on the clean grass.

His arm wrapped around my shoulders, holding me tightly in his embrace.

Ning Yiheng said, “After my parents divorced, my mother gave up everything related to the Ning family, including me—She refused to answer my calls and never looked at me again. At that time, I couldn’t understand why she suddenly disappeared. I ran out of the house to find her and stumbled upon this place by accident.”

“I really liked this place. Back then, the bus on this route was still running. I used to take the bus for half an hour to get here, spend half a day sitting here, lost in thought, and then rush to catch the last bus back. My father was very busy with work, so even if I sneaked out, he wouldn’t notice.”

“There will be many fireflies at night. I really wanted to bring you to see them,” Ning Yiheng said, “but unfortunately, we won’t be able to see them this time.”

I pulled my hand out from the blanket and gently wrapped my arms around his waist.

I don’t care about fireflies. I just want to be with Ning Yiheng.

“I was utterly disappointed with love at a young age, thinking that all marriages were like my parents’—until I met you.” Ning Yiheng looked at me and gently kissed my forehead.

He took out a small box from his pocket, holding it out to me, and opened it with one hand.

“Marry me,” Ning Yiheng said, “Cheng Huai Xiu, will you be my husband?”

I stared in shock at the exquisite ring inside the box.

Ning Yiheng was proposing to me—

“I do,” I said. “I want to marry you.”

Ning Yiheng placed the ring on my ring finger and gently kissed the knuckle.

I felt the weight of the ring at the base of my ring finger and was in a trance as if I was still in a dream.

My mind went blank, and I blurted out, “For our honeymoon, I want to go to—”

Ning Yiheng said, “To Venice, let’s go to Venice.”

My brain stopped and I said, “I love you so much.”

“I can’t wait to be here with you again.”

Ning Yiheng blushed and raised his eyebrows.

–

During the ups and downs of today, realized a few things:

1. On that date, Ning Yiheng really took my nonsense seriously when my brain short-circuited and he bought Okamoto to buy three get one free deal. That’s not good; I need to ensure he listens to me less in the future.
2. Ning Yiheng isn’t really dealing with ED. I can’t imagine how he managed to suppress it.
3. Can someone explain to me why I’m always the bottom ah???

After coming back from the hill, I caught a cold. My personal leave turned into sick leave, and finally turned into marriage leave, and then—

I really don’t want to live off someone financially ah!

But yay, I’m finally married! Hehe, wishing myself a happy marriage!

---

Author’s Note:

It’s finished la! If anyone is interested, please check out the author’s column for other new articles.

---

Jie Jie: Main story done~ :blobaww: next will be the extra chapters that were mostly forum discussions + the questionnaire if I remembered correctly :blobsmilesweat:

Ning Xiaoyu suddenly moved aside as if he had been electrocuted, and said nervously, “Mom, what are you doing looking at the photos?”

Aunt Lin gave him a blank look and said, “What’s wrong with looking? It’s not like I’m looking at your partner’s photos. Why are you nervous?”

Ning Xiaoyu’s eyes rolled around in their sockets, and after a while, he blurted out, “Then how can you just… without permission…”

Ning Xiaoyu can actually say such words. Does he really care if Li Xiaoming allows it?

“It’s also true that Auntie got a little over-excited,” Aunt Lin rubbed her chin and said, “Then Xiu Xiu, can you show me your photo together ya.”

Ning Xiaoyu: …

Me: …

Why is Aunt Lin getting excited? What’s the reason for her excitement ah?

… Aunt Lin’s logic is impeccable. On the surface, she wants to see my group photo, but in reality, she wants to see Li Xiaoming. This statement seems less offensive.

I have a subtle feeling of ambiguity, like when waiting to cross the road at a red light, watching a bunch of people pass their way through, and the traffic light turns green right at that moment—

F*ck, what am I even imagining!

Li Xiaoming and I don’t like taking photos. When we go out, we only take pictures of food and scenery, never tourist photos. We don’t have any private photos together. So, following Aunt Lin’s suggestion, I found a loophole and retrieved the staff group photos taken during our company activities.

This helped alleviate the subtle feeling in my mind.

Aunt Lin accurately spotted Li Xiaoming at a glance, and said in surprise, “He’s so beautiful ah!”

Beauty at Li Xiaoming’s level is hard not to become the center of attention among ordinary people, even in these casual candid event photos. While others might have a messy expression, for him, it’s beautifully disarrayed… I scrolled through a few more pictures, and without exception, Li Xiaoming looked flawless from every angle.

Even if he isn’t standing in the C Position,¹Center position everyone appearing in the frame automatically becomes a backdrop to highlight him.

This world is too cruel to ordinary people.

Though I’m also just part of the backdrop to Li Xiaoming, I was inexplicably proud of him and said, “Yes, this is my friend.”

Aunt Lin’s eyes lit up as she scrutinized Li Xiaoming’s face.

Ning Xiaoyu stretched his neck for a while, straining to look towards our direction, but his body refused to move over. Eventually, he could only reluctantly turn back to his original position.

Aunt Lin said, “Seeing a beauty makes one’s mood really good oh. Just by seeing his photo, I’ve retrieved my lost collagen, and feel like I could be ten years younger.”

Ning Xiaoyu said, “… I’m going to tell my Dad.”

Aunt Lin chuckled and said, “You know, if you casually mention this to him, he’ll feel ashamed of himself for being an old man.”

“Your father was at his prime when he was in his thirties, the perfect time for a mature man to shine. It’s a pity you and Nian Nian are a bit lacking. Nian Nian is a less worse off, but you lack a lot more…”

Ning Xiaoyu: …

How can this family of three look like elementary school students.

“It would be great if he could marry into our family,” Aunt Lin suddenly uttered, making me break into a sweat, “But I don’t have another daughter to marry him off to.”

“Oh, does he have someone?”

I panicked for a moment and said, “He, he doesn’t…”

What’s up with Aunt Lin? How did she suddenly take a liking to Li Xiaoming?

It’s such a pity, I thought. Aunt Lin and Ning Renjie have great genes. If there were a second daughter, she would surely be very beautiful.

Li Xiaoming missed out on the chance to marry into a wealthy family, and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Aunt Lin glanced at Ning Xiaoyu, who just turned his back, silently chopping vegetables.

“That’s great,” Aunt Lin said, “Next time, invite him over for dinner as well.”

“If I see him in person, I could become thirty years younger—Women indeed need handsome men to refresh and rejuvenate their eyes!”

Ning Xiaoyu: …

Aunt Lin’s words shifted too quickly, leaving me baffled and unable to catch up. My mind was spinning, and I couldn’t quite comprehend.

But why did I feel like the more I heard, the more wrong I felt?

Could it be—No, it couldn’t be—

Aunt Lin wouldn’t be interested in Li Xiaoming, would she? What about my father-in-law ya???

Can relationships among wealthy people really be this chaotic?

But I’ve also heard of the gossip about a famous actor’s wife dating their son’s ex-boyfriend—but could Aunt Lin really be that kind of person?

How could I maliciously speculate about Aunt Lin’s character like this? I feel like slapping myself.

Wait, what’s wrong if Aunt Lin likes younger men? Older men can financially support younger women, so why can’t Aunt Lin like fresh meat?

But just in case, I mean just in case if Aunt Lin and Ning Renjie have an open marriage, how should the seniority between Li Xiaoming and me be defined? I seriously thought about it and realized we could only consider each other separately—I could call him Dad, and he could call me Ge…

F*ck, what a mess.

I’m at a loss.

I shouldn’t have taken out the photos wuwu. If there were no photos, I wouldn’t have to overthink so much.

–

Li Xiaoming’s damn beauty is really a source of temptation to commit crimes.

I realized that this kind of Mary Sue lines in novels could totally fit him.

I tried not to look too solemn while finishing dinner, held on until leaving the Ning’s residence, and bid farewell to Aunt Lin.

Ning Yiheng was completely unaware of my worries, but he seemed burdened too. His face was tensed up as he said, “Xiu Xiu, I want to take you somewhere.”

I asked, “Where to?”

Ning Yiheng replied, “You’ll know when we get there.”

Despite the late hour, my worries made me less inclined to go straight home. Two heavily burdened individuals drove into the outskirts in the dead of night. I had no idea where Ning Yiheng was taking me; my mind was filled with thoughts of Li Xiaoming.

Ning Yiheng seemed lost in thought too. He drove very fast and didn’t say a word along the way.

He’s usually not this hurried.

I finally put aside the chaotic thoughts in my head. After all, Ning Yiheng was the most important person to me. I couldn’t help but worry about his condition. “What’s wrong with you?”

Ning Yiheng’s reply was concise, “It’s nothing.”

Everyone understands how powerful the impact of a partner’s “it’s nothing” can be, especially in such a tense atmosphere.

Usually, “it’s nothing” means something, and if Ning Yiheng’s face was this stern, it probably meant that something was highly probable to be significant.

Ning Yiheng’s “it’s nothing” subtly wounded me.

My mind was filled with various thoughts, like a chaotic warfare squeezed into a mess. Suddenly, Aunt Lin’s words floated lightly out of the mess.

— “Only when he’s pushed to the limit will he reveal his true thoughts.”

I took a deep breath and silently apologized to Ning Yiheng in my heart.

I need to be a little bit extreme, I want to hear the truth from Ning Yiheng.

“I know you’re ‘Like Madam Huai Xiu Xiu Forever,’” I tried to lower my voice, attempting to seem a bit angry, “Ning Yiheng, why did you lie to me?”

Worthy of being the boss’s biological father. Even after being contradicted by his son directly, he maintained his composure.

Ning Renjie scrutinized me from head to toe with a complicated expression.

He didn’t speak further. He turned to chase after Aunt Lin, leaving Ning Yiheng standing in place.

Ning Xiaoyu seemed to have turned a blind eye to this scene and comforted me, “Sister-in-law, it’s okay. Even if the old man doesn’t agree, he can’t make the decisions.”

As Ning Xiaoyu spoke, his hand stealthily pressed down on the back of my hand again while elegantly holding a glass of red wine, and taking a sip.

“With me around, I can also have a say in this family—”

Ning Yiheng’s palm swiftly landed on the back of Ning Xiaoyu’s head, causing him to almost spit out the wine. He immediately withdrew his hand from mine, tremblingly placing the wine glass back and awkwardly wiping his mouth with a napkin.

Ning Yiheng’s finger pushed against the leg of Ning Xiaoyu’s sunglasses, giving it a flick. Just before the sunglasses fell, in an attempt to save face, Ning Xiaoyu abruptly covered the lenses, readjusting the glasses onto his face.

Ning Xiaoyu withered again.

Ning Yiheng withdrew his hand and his arm fell gently on my shoulder.

–

We only stayed with Ning’s family for a day; tomorrow is Monday, and both Ning Yiheng and I have to go back to work.

My boss won’t give me a raise just because I’m dating him, and I don’t want to rely on others financially.

If you want to earn money, you have to work.

After the wedding reception ended and the guests left, only the family members of the newlyweds remained.

Even though there were fewer people than during the reception, Ning Yiheng became busier. He not only had to introduce me to various relatives but also engage in necessary socializing and small talk—Since he rarely visited home, bringing a male partner attracted a lot of attention and scrutiny.

Of course, today’s protagonist was Ning Yiheng’s meimei. I didn’t have to socialize extensively with Ning Yiheng’s relatives, but as the brother of the bride, Ning Yiheng found it challenging to relax on such an occasion.

Fortunately, Ning Yiheng’s family members were quite open-minded, and they even teased us about when we would get married.

Only Ning Renjie remained silent and wore a stern expression—But since Aunt Lin had given her approval, no one else had objections, and Ning Renjie’s opinion was disregarded.

I had thought I would have a chance to enjoy some rich family drama as depicted in novels, such as Ning Renjie offering millions to make me leave Ning Yiheng or the sudden appearance of Ning Yiheng’s long-lost fiancée in a strategic business alliance…

As a result, everything went unusually smoothly; neither my family nor Ning Yiheng’s family opposed it. Aunt Lin even made an appointment to meet with my parents.

It all felt like a dream.

The Ning family didn’t follow the custom of disturbing the privacy of the bridal room. Instead, in the evening, a few of the closest family members gathered at home for dinner.

Aunt Lin personally took charge of the kitchen. Although I couldn’t cook, to leave a good impression on my mother-in-law, I went to the kitchen to help.

Ning Yiheng was helping Ning Renjie host the dinner, and Ning Xiaoyu volunteered to assist his mother in cooking. To my surprise, Ning Xiaoyu was quite skilled in cooking. Instead of merely helping out, many dishes were actually prepared by him.

Ning Xiaoyu looked rather decent when he was focused on cooking. I thought to myself, that as long as he didn’t speak with a playful tone, he was still quite handsome.

After Aunt Lin finished preparing the soup, she suddenly brought a chair over and sat beside me, quietly observing as I washed the vegetables.

Since I wasn’t particularly familiar with the kitchen, being observed by Aunt Lin made me even more at a loss. I clumsily separated the leaves from the packaging and cleaned the dirt trapped in the crevices, inadvertently shaking off several shredded leaves.

Oh, I’m so stupid. I had to pick up each leaf that fell.

Aunt Lin just watched me fussing over the cabbage.

She suddenly asked, “Xiu Xiu, how did you and Nian Nian get together?”

That caught me off guard.

Before dating Ning Yiheng, it seemed like I was always making a fool of myself in front of him…

Before I could even figure things out for myself, we ended up together in a hazy and confused state.

And until now, I still don’t know why Ning Yiheng likes me.

Before I could gather my thoughts for an explanation, Aunt Lin continued, “Nian Nian is quite like his father. He’s not very good at expressing his thoughts. No matter what happens, he won’t discuss it with those around him. He’ll just try to figure it out by himself. When it comes to interacting with people, he prefers to show kindness in his own way without discussing it properly.”

“Xiu Xiu, if you’re not proactive enough, it can be tiring to be with him. Sometimes, being a bit more assertive might work better oh.”

“Only when he’s pushed to the limit will he reveal his true thoughts.”

Aunt Lin’s words made something click inside me—though I wasn’t sure exactly what I’d understood, I felt somehow closer to Ning Yiheng.

Aunt Lin continued, “Even though I’m not his biological mother, I’ve watched him grow up. In our family, when any of these kids sneeze, I know exactly what they’re thinking.”

Ning Xiaoyu added, “My ge is a mensao.¹Chinese term used to describe someone who appears quiet or introverted on the outside but actually has a deeper, more complex personality or inner thoughts. If you don’t open up to him about something, he could ponder it on his own for the rest of his life.”

Aunt Lin turned to look at Ning Xiaoyu and changed the subject, saying, “Never mind your ge for now. When will you bring a partner home?”

Ning Xiaoyu: …

Aunt Lin said, “Stop fooling around with random people while you’re young. When you meet the right person, settle down. I don’t care whether it’s a man or a woman; you need a companion…”

“And you, with this dawdling, looking ugly. Why do you always wear it?”

Ning Xiaoyu: …

Me: …

If Ning Xiaoyu didn’t wear sunglasses, Aunt Lin would probably be so scared by his dark circles that she would faint.

Sure enough, all mothers in the world are the same. In an instant, I saw myself being urged to get married reflected in Ning Xiaoyu.

Ning Xiaoyu’s forehead began to sweat.

Ning Xiaoyu said, “Didn’t we agree to criticize my ge?”

“Who agreed with you?” Aunt Lin said with a smile. “Your ge makes people worry less. There’s nothing to criticize.”

Just then, my WeChat chimed with a sound, and a voice message from Li Xiaoming popped up.

I shook the drops of water from my hand and directly clicked play.

Li Xiaoming: “I made some food for Mimi. It scratched the toilet paper. Remember to replace it when you get back.”

… I could already imagine a scene of scattered toilet paper all over the floor.

Today, Ning Yiheng and I were going to be out all day, so I gave the keys to Li Xiaoming and asked him to check on Mimi when he had the time.

Although Mimi was quite active, it enjoyed tearing up toilet paper and Ning Yiheng’s underwear every day, but it still had a tendency to become a pig. It needed controlled feeding to prevent overeating throughout the day; it couldn’t have a self-eating feeder all day.

Ning Xiaoyu’s back tensed up and looked away.

Aunt Lin looked at Ning Xiaoyu and then at my phone.

Aunt Lin said, “Xiu Xiu ya, was that your friend who just spoke?”

I said, “Yes, I asked him to help take care of our cat at home.”

“Auntie has a small request.” Aunt Lin winked and curved her lips, “Can you show me his photo?”

To forget the embarrassment, I redirected my attention and flipped through the small booklet on the table. The Ning family printed all the information about the wedding into booklets, with each seat having a copy. The first page read, “Congratulations to Lin Muning and Song Xinxin on their wedding.”

Their daughter and Aunt Lin share the same surname, while the two sons follow Ning Renjie.

My family’s surname situation is similar to Ning Yiheng’s family. Both my parents have the surname Cheng, and so my brother and I also carry the surname Cheng. My eldest nephew follows my sister-in-law’s surname, while my niece follows my brother’s surname, Cheng.

Lin Muning is very beautiful. She resembles Aunt Lin more, with a petite stature and a round face. When she speaks, she reveals two round dimples.

Neither Ning Yiheng nor Ning Wanyu inherited such beautiful dimples.

Lin Muning’s personality seems very similar to Ning Yiheng’s. She doesn’t speak much, just silently observing her own wedding.

Song Xinxin also seems reserved, only showing a shy smile when the topic of the bride is brought up.

Marriage is so wonderful; I admire it.

I’ve had youthful fantasies before, imagining lifting the veil of my beloved and kissing her, but even if it were Ning Yiheng, it wouldn’t make much difference. He just wouldn’t be wearing a bridal veil, and he’s not a girl.

But I still want to marry him.

After Ning Renjie escorted Lin Muning and handed her over to the groom, he sat at the main table alongside Aunt Lin. After the parents’ speeches and the couple’s vows, the wedding banquet officially commenced.

Ning Xiaoyu discreetly lifted his sunglasses and wiped away tears with a napkin.

Ning Xiaoyu is quite a crybaby. I think, perhaps beneath his nonchalant facade, he has a fragile heart.

Aunt Lin enjoys lively gatherings; her smile never fades. She dragged Ning Renjie, holding a tall glass, and moved among the guests. Soon, she arrived at our table.

When she saw Ning Xiaoyu in low spirits, she lightly slapped the back of his head.

Aunt Lin said, “Why are you crying on such a good day ya.”

Ning Renjie was dragged along by his wife without losing his dignity. He maintained a serious expression but discreetly started assessing me.

I felt his line of sight and couldn’t help but sit up straight.

…After all, I told him before that I was a stripper with two jj’s, so I felt a bit guilty upon meeting him in person.

Ning Xiaoyu was grieving alone and was startled by his parents who suddenly came over. He muttered, “I can’t bear to see my meimei getting married.”

Just when I thought Aunt Lin was going to slap him again, she gently patted his head instead.

Despite the vigorous rubbing, Ning Xiaoyu’s glossy hair, fixed with gel, remained firm.

Aunt Lin said, “Qu ah, what era is it now? It’s not like your sister is being sold to the Song family. What is there for you to be so reluctant about? Your thinking is not right.”

“We should be happy for her ya.”

Aunt Lin spoke very gently and treated Ning Xiaoyu in his twenties as if coaxing a child.

Ning Xiaoyu: “Mommy…”

Blergh.

I understand now. He isn’t just a crybaby; he’s also a mama’s boy and sister complex.

I’m afraid that his previous unconventional behavior was simply due to being overly spoiled by Aunt Lin.

Subconsciously, I touched Ning Yiheng’s fingers. My Ning Yiheng always internalized his pain and rarely complained. He’s completely unlike Ning Xiaoyu, who grew up in a loving environment.

Ning Yiheng pushed away my fingers and, under Ning Renjie’s gaze, he asserted his dominance by wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

Ning Yiheng said, “Dad, this is Cheng Huaixiu.”

Ning Renjie responded with a simple “Hmm.”

When the father and son spoke, the air pressure seemed to be a lot lower.

Aunt Lin smiled and said, “Xiu Xiu is very cute.”

I replied shyly, “Thank you, Aunti.”

Ning Renjie uttered, “Cheng Huaixiu.”

That single sound transported me back to being called out by a teacher in high school. I promptly responded, “Yes, Uncle, hello, I am Cheng Huaixiu.”

“In half an hour, I’ll have Xiao Tang send you another questionnaire,” Ning Renjie said without changing his expression, making a statement that sounded quite bizarre, “This time, don’t fill it randomly.”

The questionnaire mainly included personal information, hobbies, and opinions about family. I didn’t mind revealing this information to my father-in-law, so filling it out again didn’t bother me.

Ning Yiheng immediately refused, “I don’t want my partner to fill out these kinds of things again; it’s pointless.”

Ning Renjie said, “I need to know him.”

Ning Yiheng retorted, “Questionnaires can be fabricated, creating a person who fits your preferences is easy, but these have no real significance— If you want to know him, respecting and spending time with him is enough.”

…I was just thinking about writing something nice to please my father-in-law.

I also wanted to say I didn’t mind, but Ning Yiheng’s stance was so firm that I couldn’t voice it.

Ning Renjie said, “… He won’t lie.”

“I know he won’t lie to you,” Ning Yiheng replied, “but I refuse to let you measure my partner in this way.”

Ning Yiheng trusted me so much, I was so touched.

Such words made me feel guilty.

Seeing that the father and son were about to quarrel, Aunt Lin’s smile froze on her face.

Aunt Lin pushed Ning Renjie’s hand away and whispered, “Ning Renjie, if you want to argue, do it outside. Don’t sour the atmosphere at my daughter’s wedding.”

Ning Renjie: …

Aunt Lin added, “It’s okay, Nian Nian. If your dad doesn’t catch the mood, I’ll kick him out myself.”

It turned out that Aunt Lin talking to Ning Yiheng was also like coaxing a child.

It’s hard to imagine how someone so gentle now could have teased Ning Yiheng to the point of tears when she was younger.

Ning Renji: “I didn’t…”

Aunt Lin continued, lost in her thoughts, “When we first met, you asked me to fill out a questionnaire. And when Mumu was dating, you even had Xiao Song fill out a questionnaire. What’s the point of all that writing? I even wrote that I was introverted! Yet, here we are, spending over half a lifetime together—”

Ning Renjie replied, “…I didn’t sour the atmosphere.”

Ning Xiaoyu immediately joined the fray, “You¹Polite form was used. can’t be mean to my mom!”

After being chastised by his son and then by Aunt Lin, I had no chance to interject.

Father-in-law had unique preferences; despite being a CEO type, he didn’t talk about chicken soup or claim to be indifferent to money; instead, he enjoyed making others fill out surveys.

Aunt Lin said, “Forget it, I won’t argue with you, and don’t send any more questionnaires to Xiu Xiu.”

Ning Renjie added, “I didn’t intend to argue.”

Aunt Lin shook off his hand, gracefully swirled her tall glass, and turned to leave, saying, “I’m going to toast with Mumu. You stay wherever you feel comfortable.”

Ning Renjie: …

Ning Renjie: “Forget it.”

“But Ning Yiheng, I haven’t agreed to you dating men yet.”

This statement hit like a bolt from the blue, chilling my heart halfway through.

I had thought that at least Ning Renjie’s request for a survey indicated some form of approval from him…

“I don’t need your approval,” Ning Yiheng asserted firmly, his fingers wrapped around my shoulder tightening gradually. “This is my own decision.”

“I not only want to date him, but I also want to spend my life with him.”

---

Jie Jie: Sorry, I got busy this week so I wasn’t able to update.

Anyway, main story ends at Chapter 54 then 6 extras :blobblush: