Day: September 11, 2023

Chapter 12: Clouds and Seas

The dimly lit hallway in the dark night was eerily quiet, and the sound of footsteps echoing in the serene space was rather unsettling. With a heavy heart, Xu Huaiming climbed to the second floor.

He had long memorized the password for the digital lock. A press of his fingers on the familiar numbers, and the door swung open.

Tan Xilu had told him the code shortly after he arrived here. It was during those days when Tan Xilu had gone missing, which was the source of his suffering.

Xu Huaiming had suggested changing the password, but Tan Xilu had refused, saying, “I’ve already gotten used to it.”

Xu Huaiming thought that was true. He had become accustomed to Tan Xilu’s absences, which is why he felt a surge of excitement when he returned. But once that excitement passed, everything would become calm again. Since he had grown accustomed to Tan Xilu’s departures, it meant that if he didn’t return someday, someone else would eventually fill the void beside Tan Xilu.

Xu Huaiming thought Professor Bowen was right. Human emotions were fickle. One moment, someone could say they loved you, and the next, they might be extremely annoyed with you. Therefore, he couldn’t allow himself to develop feelings for a human. He had never imagined that Tan Xilu would lie to him because of another man.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed the door open.

The TV was on in the living room, playing a soap opera from several years ago. Tan Xilu was sitting on the couch, watching it attentively.

Hearing the door, he turned his attention away from the TV and asked Xu Huaiming, who was changing his shoes in the hallway, “Back so soon?”

“Yeah.” Xu Huaiming slipped on his slippers and entered the kitchen to put the bags of salt down. He then walked back and said, “There weren’t many people at the supermarket at this time of night.”

Tan Xilu nodded and made room for Xu Huaiming on the couch.

Xu Huaiming took the opportunity to sit down and reached out to pull Tan Xilu into his arms.

Tan Xilu had a faint scent of men’s cologne on him, a subtle fragrance that he probably couldn’t even smell himself, but Xu Huaiming could. It was exactly the same as the person he had encountered earlier that evening.

Xu Huaiming furrowed his brows and covered Tan Xilu with a blanket, attempting to mask the discomfort he felt from that familiar scent.

Originally, Tan Xilu had been leaning on his shoulder, and after the blanket was placed over him, he seemed to find it more comfortable. He even reached out and wrapped his arm around Xu Huaiming’s waist. Xu Huaiming always had a slightly lower body temperature, making him feel different from a regular person. Every time they kissed, Xu Huaiming felt that his lips were unusually cold, while the person he kissed was as cold as ice.

But people had different body temperatures, and Tan Xilu wouldn’t question it because of that.

However, Tan Xilu’s passiveness, or rather, his honesty after lying, made Xu Huaiming uncomfortable. His thoughts were entangled, and even though he knew his place as just a companion to Xu Huaiming, and that he wouldn’t be one for much longer, he couldn’t help but ask, “Was the parent who gave you a ride back a man or a woman?”

His hand, which was holding onto Xu Huaiming’s waist, tightened slightly, and he looked up at Xu Huaiming with a somewhat evasive gaze. “A woman.”

Xu Huaiming fell silent for a moment, then made a soft “Hmm” sound and didn’t ask any further questions. But Tan Xilu felt a heavy atmosphere emanating from Xu Huaiming.

He opened his mouth, wanting to confess, but Xu Huaiming suddenly hugged him tightly, pressing his lips against Tan Xilu’s collarbone and teasingly grazing his teeth along it. A tingling sensation spread through Tan Xilu.

Feeling Xu Huaiming’s movements pause for a moment, Tan Xilu looked up at him, but the next second, Xu Huaiming covered his lips with his own.

Xu Huaiming was aggressive, with a wolf-like hunger. Tan Xilu felt like his mouth was slightly bloody by the end, and he was almost out of breath.

When it was over, the soap opera on the TV had already finished, and Xu Huaiming carried him to the bathroom. Tan Xilu was on the verge of falling asleep, and in a half-dream, half-awake state, he thought he heard someone whispering in his ear, “Let me stay by your side a little longer.”

However, whether that was a dream or a fantasy, he didn’t remember the next morning.

Tan Xilu was awakened by a phone call from Qin Sizhe. He had originally had a day off after the open class, a precious opportunity to sleep in, but his sweet dreams were interrupted. Nobody would be pleased by such a disruption, so he reluctantly answered the phone.

To his surprise, it wasn’t Qin Sizhe on the other end but a stranger’s voice.

Two minutes later, Tan Xilu rushed out of his bedroom, wearing a serious expression. He grabbed his coat and said to Xu Huaiming, who was preparing breakfast, “There’s an urgent matter at school, I have to leave.”

“So suddenly?” Xu Huaiming had just picked up a sandwich he had made for Tan Xilu to eat on the way, but before he could turn around, he heard the sound of the door closing.

He paused for a moment, standing still in silence. Ten minutes later, he turned around and put the sandwich into the refrigerator.

However, that momentary daze and desolation that passed through his heart suddenly caused him a sharp pang of pain.

Tan Xilu had stayed at his alma mater to teach two years ago. After graduating from graduate school, his advisor had a great opportunity for him to go abroad, but Tan Xilu had declined, saying he wanted to stay at the university.

His advisor knew that Tan Xilu had a boyfriend who had been missing for years. For the sake of that boyfriend, Tan Xilu gave up a guaranteed spot at a prestigious university and willingly settled for teaching at the local university. Now, he was even choosing to remain there.

His advisor shook his head, thinking this kid was really stubborn. However, he knew Tan Xilu’s temperament well. Once he made up his mind, it couldn’t be changed. Later on, his advisor’s nephew got into the same university, and his advisor sent him to Tan Xilu.

His nephew’s name was Qin Sizhe, the same student Xu Huaiming had seen holding hands with Tan Xilu when they came out of the closet.

Although the office wasn’t large, there were quite a few people inside, including teachers, students, and parents. Tan Xilu, facing the gaze of everyone, arrived late, panting as he entered the office. His rapid breathing had not yet settled when a hand forcefully grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. A sharp female voice said, “Teacher Tan, please help resolve this matter.”

Tan Xilu, sweating profusely, raised his head. The first thing he saw in his line of sight was a pair of legs wearing sneakers. As he looked up, he recognized Qin Sizhe’s familiar face. Qin Sizhe was tilting his head defiantly, as if he were dissatisfied. But behind him, a man grabbed his neck from behind, forcing him to lower his head.

Then Tan Xilu heard Qin Sizhe’s voice, loud enough to echo through the office, “I like men, what’s wrong with it? I’m gay!”

Five seconds later, the man behind him kicked his legs from behind, and Qin Sizhe knelt on the ground with a heavy thud. It was a hard landing, and the impact between his body and the hard floor sounded like bones breaking. However, Qin Sizhe bit his lip and didn’t make a sound.

Tan Xilu took a sharp breath, rushed over to help Qin Sizhe up, but was stopped by the woman who had spoken first. “Teacher Tan, although homosexuality is legal now, having Qin Sizhe and Teacher Tan engaging in inappropriate behavior in the school does affect the school’s image. You need to do something about it.”

“Where’s Professor Qin? Hasn’t he come?” Tan Xilu lifted his eyelids to look at the woman. “Ms. Zhang, I’m not Qin Sizhe’s advisor. If something has happened to him, you should first contact his advisor.”

Ms. Zhang choked, her voice faltering as she said, “But isn’t Qin Sizhe close to you, Teacher Tan?”

“They’re all my students; I treat everyone equally.” Tan Xilu removed Ms. Zhang’s hand from him and looked at the man behind Qin Sizhe. He frowned and asked, “Are you Qin Sizhe’s brother?”

“Sort of.” The man said, “My name is Chi Yexing. I’m Qin Sizhe’s apartment mate. His mother asked me to take care of him like a brother since I’m older.”

“Well, Mr. Chi, regardless of the child’s mistakes, resorting to violence is not the solution.” Tan Xilu looked at him. “Moreover, being gay is not a mistake.”

Chi Yexing made a cold snort from his nose, and he turned to look at Qin Sizhe, who was still struggling to stand up. He sneered, “Qin Sizhe’s family situation is special. In his family, no one is gay except him. Not to mention he brought someone to the school to mess around.”

“Just because I am Qin, does that mean I can’t control myself? Because of one woman’s one-sided words saying that I brought someone to the school to mess around, you’re going to believe it?” Qin Sizhe suddenly let out a furious roar, but his voice was hoarse. “Chi Yexing, when will you believe me? Will you ever stand by my side and speak up for me once?”

Qin Sizhe, who was a tall young man over 1.8 meters, whom Xu Huaiming often saw sprinting on the basketball court, when had he ever seen him looking so wronged, like a trapped, red-eyed little beast on the verge of tears?

Tan Xilu felt moved in his heart, wanting to help him up, but Chi Yexing suddenly kicked Qin Sizhe again before picking up his suit and dusting it off. He turned and walked away.

“Chi Yexing.” Qin Sizhe called out to him before he left.

But this time, Chi Yexing didn’t look back, and he left decisively.

“Chi Yexing.” Qin Sizhe called out to him once more.

But this time, Chi Yexing didn’t look back either, and he left without turning around.

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 11: More blooming feelings

Xu Huaiming didn’t see Tan Xilu at the entrance of the shop, which puzzled him. Tan Xilu wasn’t the type to leave without notice if something came up. He asked the fruit shop auntie nearby and learned that Tan Xilu had received a phone call at the entrance and hurriedly left.

With concern, Xu Huaiming dialed Tan Xilu’s number, but to his surprise, Tan Xilu immediately hung up.

Xu Huaiming was taken aback and dialed a few more times, but each call was consecutively declined. It was clear that Tan Xilu didn’t want to answer his calls. Sighing, Xu Huaiming thought that something must have come up with Tan Xilu.

He returned to the shop and told Arlene, “Let’s purchase more ingredients for tomorrow. Business has been good these days, and we might run out of supplies.”

“Alright,” Arlene agreed, then added, “Christmas is coming soon. Xu Ge, why don’t you make a special Christmas dessert?”

“Christmas?” Xu Huaiming asked.

“Yes, it’s just a week away,” Arlene smiled and took out a few Christmas stickers from behind the bar. “I bought these stickers yesterday, planning to put them on the door. Unfortunately, we’re still missing a Christmas tree. Xu Ge, you know…”

Xu Huaiming fell into a momentary silence. This was probably what it meant to like someone. 7 had to be replaced with something new here. In other words, he could also become outdated. As long as Tan Xilu didn’t like him anymore, got tired of him, someone new would come to replace him.

When Xu Huaiming called, Tan Xilu had just placed the hot water on the coffee table. He had wanted to answer, but his mother gave him a stern look. In the Tan family, there was an unwritten rule that when guests were present, you couldn’t rudely answer phone calls. So, Tan Xilu had to repeatedly hang up the call.

He thought Xu Huaiming would probably understand. He could explain it to him later in the evening.

“Xiao Li, my son’s job is quite stable now. He’s a university professor, just like me. It’s a family tradition. Our work isn’t too busy most of the time, except when students graduate and work on their theses. Your dessert shop, on the other hand, is busier during holidays and special occasions. It complements each other. With this arrangement, there will probably be fewer conflicts after marriage. Xiao Li, my son is easy to get along with. Even if he gets angry, just be patient with him, and if it really doesn’t work out, come to me, his mother, and I’ll talk some sense into him.”

“Mom… what are you saying?” Tan Xilu almost sprayed the water out of his mouth. They had just met, and she was already talking about marriage. Even a matchmaker wouldn’t be this hasty.

“What am I saying?” Tan’s mother rolled her eyes at him. “I’m just taking care of your lifelong matters.”

“Auntie, it’s okay. Xiao Lu seems very pleasant, how could I bear to get angry with him?” Li Zhao smiled and looked at Tan Xilu.

For some reason, Tan Xilu felt that Li Zhao’s gaze was somewhat teasing, making him feel uncomfortable.

“See, Xiao Li knows how to talk. My son is a bit tongue-tied. You’ll have to be more understanding in the future,” Tan’s mother laughed heartily. Suddenly, she exclaimed, “Oh, I almost forgot, I have a date with my friends later. You two can chat for now, and I’ll leave first.”

Tan Xilu was stunned and shouted, “Mom…”

Tan’s mother patted Tan Xilu’s shoulder with a smile and said, “I’ll leave you two to chat. Mom will be going now.”

Tan Xilu knew that his mother was giving them some alone time. There might be something she couldn’t say with her present. After all, this was a matter of the younger generation’s lifelong happiness, and she could only play the role of a matchmaker. Whether it worked out or not would depend on them.

“Then, Auntie, please take care and be safe. Do you want me to escort you?” Li Zhao stood up, ready to accompany her.

“No need, no need. I’m not suffering from dementia. Can’t I find my way?” Tan’s mother pressed her hand on Li Zhao’s shoulder and motioned for him to sit back down. “You two chat properly.”

With her departure, the atmosphere in the room immediately became awkward. Li Zhao lost his initial friendly expression, and the look he gave Tan Xilu became more provocative. “Auntie told me that your ex-boyfriend was also in the dessert business. I’m a bit curious. If we get married, would you treat me as a shadow of your ex?”

Staring at Li Zhao, Tan Xilu was momentarily slow to react. After a while, he replied, “No.”

He paused and added, “I won’t marry you.”

“Oh? Is it because you already have a partner?” Li Zhao leaned back on the sofa lazily, raising the corner of his mouth.

Tan Xilu was caught off guard and blushed. “You know…”

“Yeah,” Li Zhao smiled, sat up, and reached out to pinch Tan Xilu’s chin. He leaned closer and said, “You look pretty obedient. I can’t imagine what you’re like in bed.”

“You…” Perhaps he had never heard such a frivolous remark, and Tan Xilu was at a loss for words. He widened his eyes and quickly moved away from Li Zhao. “You shameless.”

Li Zhao couldn’t help but laugh again. “You’re quite interesting. You’re in a relationship and yet here you are on a blind date. Does your partner know? Or is it that you don’t really care about him? What does he do? Is he also in the dessert business, just like your ex-boyfriend? Are you playing the role of a stand-in again? Or maybe, you only look obedient, but you’re actually a little wildcat.”

“Why is that any of your business?” Tan Xilu was flushed with anger. What kind of person had his mother set him up with? He felt like he was on a date with a hooligan.

Li Zhao clicked his tongue. “I was just asking. Do you have to be so angry?”

The clock on the wall struck seven, and Xu Huaiming would be returning soon.

“That’s enough,” Tan Xilu stood up abruptly. “I’m not in the mood to continue this conversation. You should leave.”

“You’re kicking me out so urgently?” Li Zhao squinted his eyes. “Is it because your partner is coming back soon?”

Tan Xilu was taken aback by how Li Zhao had guessed the truth. He hesitated for a moment and mumbled, “It’s late, and if I don’t leave now, when will I leave?”

“Alright, I’ll leave then. Why are you in such a hurry? We’re not having an affair.” Li Zhao laughed.

While Li Zhao had been teasing Tan Xilu throughout their conversation, he left quite abruptly. He even closed the door behind him when he left.

Tan Xilu wasn’t good at chatting with strangers, especially those he didn’t know well. His few previous blind dates had ended because of his awkwardness. His excuses to his mother had included, “He’s too quiet and just daydreams all the time,” “He got overly emotional when talking about his past relationships,” and “I don’t think we’re compatible, and he’s not warming up to my conversations.” Tan Xilu knew he had his flaws, but he was naturally clumsy. Perhaps it was because he had been pampered by Xu Huaiming for too long, and everything had been initiated by him. He had never needed to think about these things.

As Tan Xilu slowly tidied up the cups on the table, he thought about it. He should try to keep the blind date a secret from Xu Huaiming. His partner was so sensitive, and he would definitely be upset. Besides, he wouldn’t have any more dealings with someone like Li Zhao in the future.

Today, the shop wasn’t very busy. Perhaps it was because of the cold weather and the fact that it wasn’t the weekend. After bidding farewell to the last customer, Xu Huaiming packed up and prepared to close the shop. He told Arlene, “You can use some money to buy a Christmas tree yourself, and we’ll add it to the budget later.”

“No problem, Xu Ge,” Arlene replied. “Oh, by the way, if you have any questions about the little surprise, you can ask me.”

“Sure,” Xu Huaiming said. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. In the future, Xu Ge should give me a raise,” Arlene joked.

“Sure,” Xu Huaiming replied.

Xu Huaiming rushed to catch the last bus back to his residential area. When he got on the bus, he called Tan Xilu again, and this time, Tan Xilu answered. Tan Xilu sounded somewhat apologetic, “I’m sorry about earlier. When I was at the entrance, I received a call from a student’s parent, and I had to go back to school to resolve it. Later, the parent gave me a ride back home since it was on the way. I had to hang up when you called. I hope you’re not upset.”

“I’m not upset. As long as you’re okay,” Xu Huaiming reassured him.

Tan Xilu responded with a soft “Okay,” feeling a bit guilty. “Are you on the bus now? You should be almost back.”

“Yeah, I’m on the bus. I’ll be back soon,” Xu Huaiming confirmed.

“Great. It seems we’re out of salt at home. Could you pick up a bag from the supermarket on your way back?” Tan Xilu asked.

“Sure, I got it,” Xu Huaiming replied.

They chatted affectionately for a while and hung up the phone just as Xu Huaiming was arriving at his destination. He got off the bus through the rear exit and, noticing the newly stocked strawberry-flavored condoms on the supermarket shelves, hesitated briefly before grabbing two boxes.

Inside the residential area, as Xu Huaiming walked, he encountered a man who glanced up at him. Although they didn’t exchange words, Xu Huaiming felt a strong sense of hostility emanating from the man. He paused for a moment, but the man continued walking forward without turning back.

Xu Huaiming’s senses were overly sensitive, and he could still smell the man’s presence in the air. He could discern that this man carried the scent of Tan Xilu.

He also realized that Tan Xilu had lied to him. There was no such thing as a parent of a student who needed his attention. Instead, it seemed that this stranger had given him a ride home, or perhaps, he had given him more than a ride home after all.

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

https://ko-fi.com/hoenibean

Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!

Chapter 10: Monica

When Tan Xilu arrived at the dessert shop, it was just 5 o’clock in the afternoon. Tea time had already passed at this hour, but the place was still quite crowded. The reason was none other than the fact that Xu Huaiming was a handsome owner.

In truth, Tan Xilu was a bit puzzled. It seemed like Xu Huaiming hadn’t changed much from seven years ago. There was hardly any difference. Back then, he had a lot of young ladies swooning over him, which had kept the dessert shop in business.

Xu Huaiming and Arlene were putting the final fruit decorations on the cakes when they heard the bell ring. Arlene was the first to lift her head and said, “Teacher Tan is here!”

Xu Huaiming placed the last small cherry on the cake before looking up at Tan Xilu and smiling. “Is the class over?”

Tan Xilu nodded and walked over to the counter, taking a seat. “It ended smoothly.”

Xu Huaiming reached out and tousled his hair, pushing the cake toward him. “Arlene failed several times before finally making this cake. Want to taste it?”

“Really? Arlene made this?” Tan Xilu glanced at Arlene, who smiled awkwardly and said, “This cake is quite technical, too difficult to make.”

“Then I’ll give it a try.” Tan Xilu took a fork and scooped up a bite.

“Not bad, it’s quite sweet,” Tan Xilu praised after taking a bite.

“Really?” Arlene was pleasantly surprised.

“Wow, this cake looks so beautiful, and it must be delicious!” Several young ladies who had just entered the shop rushed over to the counter. “Can we taste it? If it’s good, we don’t mind buying one.”

“Ah?” Arlene clearly hadn’t expected anyone to like it and was momentarily stunned.

“No need to buy; the cake hasn’t officially gone on sale yet. Go ahead and taste it,” Xu Huaiming pushed the cake towards them. “If you find it tasty, it’ll be a big encouragement for our little sister here.”

“Of course, of course, with a cake this beautiful, how could it not be delicious?” the young ladies smiled.

Encouraged by Tan Xilu’s endorsement, Arlene started chatting with the young ladies about the cake.

With some free time, Xu Huaiming said to Tan Xilu, “Let’s go inside.”

Xu Huaiming was remarkably efficient; while teaching Arlene, he still managed to prepare the desserts that Tan Xilu wanted to try.

Lately, Tan Xilu had developed a preference for matcha cake. Xu Huaiming served him a bowl of hot pearl milk tea with extra toppings, filling it to the brim.

Tan Xilu sipped on it, and the black pearls in his mouth provided a satisfying sensation. That’s why people often say that eating sweets can make you happy.

But aside from Tan Xilu enjoying sweets, Xu Huaiming also indulged in them, except his sweet treat was Tan Xilu himself.

Tan Xilu didn’t quite understand why Xu Huaiming loved kissing so much. When he emerged from the inner room, his lips were tinted red.

Arlene had just seen off a group of customers and was puzzled by Tan Xilu’s unusually flushed complexion. “Teacher Tan, is the air conditioning too hot in the inner room? Why is your face so red?”

Upon hearing this, Tan Xilu blushed even more and didn’t dare to answer Arlene. He hastily mumbled that he needed some fresh air and hurried outside.

A few minutes later, Xu Huaiming emerged from the inner room. Unlike Tan Xilu, his face wasn’t red, his heart wasn’t racing, but there was a small cut at the corner of his mouth.

He had originally planned to take a breather outside, but as soon as Tan Xilu stepped out, his mother called.

In the past couple of years, Tan’s mother had recently retired. She enjoyed her days, receiving a pension from the government, dancing in the square with her friends, going on dining trips and travels. Occasionally, she would attend one of Tan Xilu’s classes at his school. On the surface, she seemed carefree, but her greatest concern remained her beloved son’s personal issues.

Ninety percent of the time, when she called, it was to introduce potential partners to Tan Xilu. The remaining ten percent was spent discussing other matters before she inquired about whether Tan Xilu had found someone.

His phone vibrated once again, and Tan Xilu sighed as he answered it.

As he expected, the first words from Tan’s mother were, “Xiao Lu, have you found anyone suitable recently?”

Before Tan Xilu could respond, she continued, “It’s okay if you haven’t. You know, Zhang Auntie’s uncle’s sister’s cousin’s niece’s son is of marriageable age now. He came out to his family a few years ago and hasn’t found the right match yet. I’ve seen that young man; he’s tall at 1.9 meters, and he’s also in the dessert business. I’m sure you’ll like him.”

“Mom… I…”

His mother grew impatient, “Don’t ‘Mom’ me. Look, you’re not getting any younger. I just want to see you get married while I’m still alive. Is that too much to ask?”

“Mom, I already have…”

“Alright, I’m already downstairs in your neighborhood, and I brought that young man with me. Please come back quickly, let’s meet, just once, okay?”

Tan’s mother had already made her biggest concession by bringing the person along. She couldn’t just take him back now.

There was a pause on the other end of the phone, followed by hurried footsteps, and then Tan Xilu’s voice came through urgently, “Mom, don’t come in yet. The house is not tidy. You can find a nearby place for tea; I’ll be there soon.”

Tan’s mother always believed that the future son-in-law should see her son’s living environment with his own eyes for better understanding and compatibility. Although Tan Xilu felt uncomfortable bringing a stranger to his home for the first meeting, he couldn’t refuse his mother’s request. So, he had to endure it.

It wasn’t the first time that Tan’s mother had brought a potential partner to his home.

Considering that her son might be living a rough life on his own, she thought that this young man might become her son’s future son-in-law. The first impression had to be positive. So, she said, “Alright, hurry up then.”

After hanging up the phone, Tan’s mother felt a bit embarrassed and said to Li Zhao, “I’m sorry about this. Xiao Lu is still busy. Let’s go for some tea first; he’ll be here soon.”

“It’s okay, Auntie. Waiting a bit longer is no problem,” Li Zhao smiled. “Good things take time.”

Tan’s mother looked at Li Zhao with relief. She thought he was a good kid, much better than Tan Xilu’s ex-boyfriend, whom she hadn’t wanted to meet for the past seven years.

Tan Xilu knew his mother was worried about his marriage. She had arranged several blind dates before, with both boys and girls, but they had always been scheduled in advance, and he was informed about them. This was the first time she had directly brought someone over and then informed him. He understood that his mother was genuinely anxious.

He also knew that his mother didn’t like Xu Huaiming, so they couldn’t meet yet. She couldn’t trust someone who had disappeared from her son’s life for seven years. She would probably slap him as soon as she saw Xu Huaiming.

Before his mother arrived, Tan Xilu tidied up the place, making sure it didn’t look like it was inhabited by two people. Then, he called his mother and said, “You can come up now.”

Li Zhao seemed like a very talkative person. When they were going upstairs, Tan Xilu could hear his mother laughing in the hallway. His mother was a university professor, a refined woman. The fact that she was laughing like this indicated that she was quite pleased with Li Zhao. Thinking about it, Tan Xilu realized that his mother might have a hard time accepting Xu Huaiming.

As he opened the door, his mother and Li Zhao had just arrived at the entrance. His mother didn’t seem pleased when she saw that Tan Xilu was wearing a simple home outfit. “I told you we were meeting someone; why are you dressed like this?”

Tan Xilu changed into another home outfit, his hair disheveled and a few strands standing on end, making him look like he had just woken up. “It’s okay, Auntie. This way, it’s more authentic, isn’t it?” Li Zhao’s gaze lingered on Tan Xilu’s body, appraising him.

“Well, that’s true,” Tan’s mother thought. Since they would be living together sooner or later, it made sense to adapt in advance.

Tan Xilu noticed that Li Zhao’s gaze wasn’t very polite and frowned as he looked at him.

Li Zhao did indeed look good. He was probably about the same height as Xu Huaiming but had a different style of handsomeness. Xu Huaiming had the initial impression of being aloof but turned out to be a warm and friendly type upon getting to know him. In contrast, Li Zhao’s first impression was more like a smooth talker.

It was no wonder he could make Tan’s mother so happy, but Tan Xilu didn’t particularly like him.

“Come on in, have a seat first,” Tan’s mother invited Li Zhao, leading him inside by the arm. “What would you like to drink? I’ll have Xiao Lu make it for you.”

While Tan Xilu was boiling water, he had a nagging feeling that he had forgotten something, but he couldn’t quite remember what it was. However, when he saw Li Zhao coming out of the bathroom after holding a pot of hot water, he suddenly recalled it. He seemed to have forgotten to empty the trash bag in the bathroom.

It had happened the previous night when he and Xu Huaiming had a bit to drink. After using the bathroom, he had thrown some items into the trash can and hadn’t had a chance to clean it up yet. He wasn’t sure if Li Zhao had seen it.

However, Li Zhao sat back on the sofa with an expressionless face. Tan Xilu was relieved, thinking that Li Zhao probably hadn’t noticed. Otherwise, it would be quite embarrassing to discover such things when you came for a blind date.

T/N: Hey there! There is plenty more where that came from, so stay tuned! And stay healthy! Straighten your posture, so some stretches and drink some water before continuing hehe~

If you like my translations, feel free to donate to my ko-fi!

I really, really appreciate all the support from my readers <3 It goes a long way and motivates me lots!

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Also, check out the other series we have on HoH!

If you like cats, check out Revenge of the Garfield

If you like dragons, check out I’m Pregnant with the Hope of the Entire Planet and The Dragon and the ‘Princess’

How about some mystery or showbiz? Check out Morbid Addiction & Perfection

What about the perfect, most non-toxic male lead ever? Laws of Love

How about MC nursing ML back to health? Forced into the Deep

Thank you for all your support <3 Leave a comment if you like 🙂 I love reading them!