Please Be More Serious Chapter 43

Tenshaen Garden, Uwajima. japan-guide.com

It was late when Zhengqing finally brought Yin Ting home. They hadn’t gone anywhere else, they just sat in the parking lot starring at each other, giggling and kissing.

Zhengqing was of the mind that a kiss was a very good thing; sweet, pleasant and intimate. When he kissed Yin Ting, she blushed and her eyes twinkled, her lips were soft and supple, and her every reaction told him that she liked him and she liked his kisses.

This filled him with self-satisfaction and contentment. (Zuben: You haven’t done anything yet)

He was glad that he had spent his thirty-three years, working hard and had had no time to care for himself, otherwise he would be married with children and would never met have her. He was thankful for her broken bicycle, although, that day was rather embarrassing, but it brought into his life the kind angel who gave him a red thread of love. (Zuben: Urgh)                               

He felt the hand of fate, that red thread was really magical. He was grateful. 

But Time was a really repugnant fellow. It was already eleven, and he really needed to get her home, and he also had work tomorrow.

The car drove up to Yin Ting street entrance, but she could not bear to leave, she said to him,

‘When you get back home, give me a call. Let me know you’ve got home safe,’ (Zuben: I’ve just got a boyfriend. I don’t want him to die!)

‘Very well,’

‘Before I come to get you tomorrow, I’ll give you a call, so you can let me know beforehand if you’re too busy. Also, you need to take a break between, don’t stare at the computer screen too long. Drink lots of water, have a good lunch…’ (Zuben: Yada yada yada…)

‘Yes,’ Zhengqing could not help but laugh.

‘Why are you laughing?’ she asked blushing, but she was still reluctant to go. This was their first date, it felt so short. It was already time to part.

‘Because, you’re not acting like a girlfriend,’

Yin Ting stared at him, ‘Don’t you dare say mother!’ (Zuben: Well…)

‘You’re acting like a wife,’

‘...’ Yin Ting suddenly lost momentum and her face bloomed red.

‘Your area is really nice, ah.’ He said changing the subject.

‘My Mother chose the area, and the style of house, and the decor, but she didn’t live long enough to see my Dad buy it.’

‘I should visit one of these days. Why don’t we take a walk for now?’

Yin Ting laughed and nodded. So he could not bear to leave either, she thought as she happily led him to the park.

They strolled around the pond and rockery, and down a tree lined path. She told him this was here she fed Miao-dada, she’d put out a bowl for the cat which it came to everyday. She led him to a small hill, near which, was a small woodland, where she found Miao-dada.

‘I held onto my confidence and didn’t give up on him.’ She blinked and looked at Zhengqing. It had been like looking for a boyfriend, she refused to give up. When one relationship did not work out, she looked to the next, thinking surely she would soon find her happiness. Sure enough, through lots of twists and turns, she was with someone who made her happy. (Zuben: Lud!)

She leaned against Zhengqing as he laughed. She wanted to tell him her thoughts, but he bent over and kissed her.

She rose on her tiptoes to hold him closer as they kissed. How many times they had kissed this evening, she did not remember. She only knew she liked his kisses. He hugged her to him tightly and kissed her deeply. As the night went on, he got more skilled and…bolder.  

Zhengqing pulled back a little, as the two of them were gasping for air. She looked up to eyes and could see the warmth, and it warmed her too. She said to him,

‘I should tell you that I am very healthy and my body is very good. I exercise regularly and have a medical examination every year. I will try to be healthy and keep you for a long time. I know quite well the toll an ill family member takes on the family. I have looked after my father, who after all this time, has not let go of my mother’s shadow. I will try hard to be well, and accompany you for a very long time, so that you won’t be sad.’

 Zhengqing was moved and held her tightly in his arms. He felt his eyes burning with unshed tears. He did not have close family; Xiaoting will be his only one. And he knew that she said she would not make him sad. (Zuben: Please tell me how she can guarantee that?)

‘I think if you are far away from the kitchen, this goal is very easy to achieve.’ He said teasing her.

He laughed when she pinched him in retaliation.

‘Please be more serious, your personality was so serious, but you are such a strange old man. But, it doesn’t matter; I have experience dealing with strange old men such as my father. You can feel rest assured.’ She said.

‘Not serious enough young lady, going by your personality, you’re definitely a mischievous one even when you get old. But don’t worry, I have experience dealing with Miao-dada, therefore, you can feel relieved.’ He replied.

Yin Ying laughed, so they were an inborn pair?

She sighed sadly and muttered, ‘I don’t want to go home.’

‘Me neither,’ he wanted to kiss her again.

‘But my family has a strange old man,’ she said, ‘so I have to go home.’

It’s a pity, but there was nothing they could do.

So he said, ‘I’ll walk you to doors of your building.’ Just to be with her a little longer.

‘Alright.’ She said happily.

They strolled as slowly as possible to her apartment building. At the entrance, he decided to accompany her to the elevators. At the elevators, he still did not let her go but told her he hoped the day he could come with her to her family home would arrive soon.

Yin Ting got on the elevator, as the doors closed she looked at Zhengqing, he had a forlorn expression on his face. She hurriedly stopped the doors, and gave him a quick kiss and ran back into the lifts. Laughing she said, ‘I’ll tell my Dad, so it can happen quickly.’ (Zuben: Would it? We’ll see…)

The door finally closed and Zhengqing watched the LED screen count floors until it stopped. He waited for the time that Yin Ting would leave the elevator and whispered, ‘Good night,’

When he got home, he hugged Miao-dada for a good while. In his absence, Yin Ting had bought lots of things for the cat. In the cat’s room, there were new cabinets with sets of cat’s clothes, collars, a lead, and various types of snacks and toys. (Zuben: No wonder the cat got fat.)

‘She is spoiling you,’ he said to the cat. But the cat did not pay him any mind; it was more interested in the snack drawer Zhengqing had opened. He closed it. He was also going to be spoiled by her, he thought.

He lay down on the carpet and thought of Xiaoting’s kisses and his body felt aglow. It all felt like a dream, this was the best Christmas he’s ever had since he’d been born.

 Yin Ting arrived home in a floaty self-satisfied haze. Yin Shi was still at his bar. Her father, Yin Guohao, had gone to sleep. Their housekeeper came out to ask her if she wanted to have anything before she slept. But she shook her head and smiled foolishly as she went to her room.

In her room, she pulled out Zhengqing’s present and placed it on a prominent shelf. She started the slideshow again. As she read, she collapsed onto her bed and covered her face with her quilt from shyness.

She liked his kisses. His body was firm and strong, and his arms around her made her feel peaceful and secure. His hands were large and warm but he was very gentle. His eyes twinkled brightly and his looks stirred something within her.

He said he wanted to come and visit her home soon.

She giggled, he was so impatient. So loveable.

She wanted to give him a gift, something clever and touching like his photo frame. (Zuben: Would you be viewing any power point presentations?) She must think about it deeply. She thought about the way he looked at her today, so passionate, it made her feel shy.

She was giggling to herself, when her phone rang. She looked to see it was Zhengqing so she quickly picked up,

‘Are you home?’ she asked

‘Yes, for a while.’

‘How are you?’

‘Very good,’ he’d played with the cat a lot, now he was resting. It wasn’t good to have a fat cat.

‘What are you doing now?’ she asked

He was just lying on his bed, ‘Not doing anything,’ he said, a bit embarrassed to tell the truth, ‘What are you doing? Asleep, yet?’ he asked in return.

‘Nothing,’ lying on her bed, missing him already wasn’t something she could say so easily. Not yet. Then she remembered,

‘I still have your house keys.’

‘I know, I had spare ones at work.’ He said smiling. ‘If I had forgotten about them, I would not have been able to enter my house.’

She laughed and said, ‘The keys are mine now.’

‘Xiaoting,’ he called quietly.

‘What is it?’

‘I have never had the experience of ringing my own door bell. Thank you.’ He said, his voice was low and gentle. She was touched.

He’d never rand the door bell of his house, because, there had been no one to open the door for him. How lonely. Yin Ting was sad for him.

‘Today made me very happy,’ he said.

‘Me too,’ she said, her heart was touched.

‘I better get some sleep, there’s a lot of work tomorrow.’

‘Alright, have a good rest.’

‘You too. See you tomorrow evening.’ He said to confirm that nothing had changed and feel at ease.

‘Yes, see you tomorrow.’

They rang off. Yin Ting was in a strange mood, both happy and down. She wanted to be good to him, no, she wanted to treat him the best and be more to him. 

The next day, Zhengqing arrived at work. He seemed to be the topic of conversation for his colleagues especially those who were Tingting YuLi 413 followers. Many offered him congratulations. Even his micro-blog was lively with many new users following his page and congratulating him. (Zuben: Weird people)

Many of those should also be Yin Ting’s blog followers. Someone made a comment about the deletion of the initial blog post, (Zuben: I’m really not sure about this line. It must be Chinese internet speak)

Zhengqing frankly said, ‘Thank you,’

The feeling was very new and fresh, yet wonderful. He felt good. He got himself a cup of coffee and started his work day. He took a photo of his coffee and posted it on his blog and shared it with Tingting Yu Li 413’s circle.

One of colleagues rapidly commented: ‘Boss, isn’t it too early in the morning to be showing off your love?’

Yin Ting replied quickly: ‘Let me ask, can you let my boyfriend peacefully show love on my blog. Sofa! Please!’ followed by several sad faces (Zuben: This is nonsensical)

There was a reply: ‘Alright! The boss has become a human beauty.’ Then he deleted his original message. (Zuben: Why are there so many followers of Tingting in YongKai? It just seems to implausible.)

Ying tIng also deleted her reply and wrote: ‘Sofa!!!’ (Zuben: Maybe sometime soon as I translate the 11-19 chapters I will figure out what SOFA is)

Zhengqing covered his face and laughed. He’d almost forgotten his sweet girlfriend could be feisty.

She sent him a message: ‘Work hard, take breaks and drink plenty of water and eat lunch.’

The colleague appeared again, his comment was a long line of ha-ha-has.

Yin Ting replied: ‘Thank you. Thank you.’

After a bit, another colleague commented: ‘Beauty, did you snatch the sofa to pursue our Vice President Qiu?’

Yin Ting replied to a peace hand sign and a toothy grin emoticon.

Someone else asked, ‘Is Qiu zong very serious in love as well?’ (Zuben: They’ve only been dating two weeks if you count the long distance thing at the beginning.)

 Yin Ting replied: ‘I’m not telling.’

Zhengqing thought if he did not wade in, the situation would become chaotic, so he replied to his nosy colleagues,

‘It seems that we are idle. Please bring me the reports from the last two weeks.’

The comment section finally became quiet.

Yin Ting left a smiling tongue out emoticon and ran away. Other people came online to tease them. Zhengqing logged off the micro-blog and dived into work.

(Zuben: If I had been reading this chapter, I totally would have skipped this. So dull and cheesy. Why are his colleagues her micro-blog followers?!)

At noon, Yin Ting called him telling him to have lunch and take a break. He reported his doings for the day, Yin Ting was satisfied. Chouzhengqing laughed and asked her what she ate. She informed him that she was having lunch at home. Though her dad was now in good health, she still went home to eat and have a nap. They talked for a bit more then Ying Ting said she was off to eat and rang off.

The housekeeper was setting the table, her father Guohao, was sitting at the head of the table watching his daughter smile sweetly at her phone. When the housekeeper came back with a serving of food, Yin Ting said, ‘Aunty Chen, tomorrow I will learn how to cook from you. I’ll give you the recipe, please help me buy the ingredients.’

The older woman smiled and agreed, and returned to the kitchen.

Her father watched her quietly as she served him some rice,

‘Dad,’ she began, ‘I have a boyfriend. This time it is real. You’ve met him before, Qiu Zhengqing who works at YongKai. You met him at the cemetery last Mid Autumn festival. Do you remember?’

‘Hmm.’ Guohao replied neither warmly or coldly as he began to eat.

‘He doesn’t have any family and he’s the only one at home. I want to learn how to cook, so I can make tasty dishes. You and Ge ge can’t laugh at me oh. Otherwise, I won’t maintain my enthusiasm for learning.’

‘Do you have to do it?’ Guohao asked, ‘Is he looking for a girlfriend or a cook?’

‘That I have no skill in this is not good.’ At home, she would like to help Aunty Chen, but she didn’t because, it felt like she want invading Aunty Chen’s domain in the kitchen, and she didn’t want to do anything wrong, ‘This is something I want to do, he hasn’t asked me. It’s not about being a housewife.’

Guohao remained silent.

‘When can you meet him, ah?’ she asked.

Guohao ate a bit and then replied, ‘You haven’t been dating for long. Right now, you think everything is great, when you’ve both calmed down, stabilised and are seeing clearly, you can come and talk to me.’ (Zuben: Thumbs up for daddykins.)

Yin Ting pouted and helped her father dish out more vegetables, ‘You always eat meat and rice, and so little vegetables. How long will it take to consider us stable?’

‘You will know when the time comes.’

Yin Ting thought that now was very good, but since her father said so, she had to comply. They really had only just started; she didn’t need to worry about it.

At five PM, TingTing called Zhengqing to ask how things were progressing. And what time will he be leaving work? He glanced at his desk covered in documents, ‘There is a small meeting so…seven.’ He could leave just before seven, ‘You get some evening tea to pad your belly first.’

‘Alright,’ she said and hung up.

Near six, she called again, ‘How is it going? Do you think you will be done by seven?’

‘Well…possibly,’ he said, just then another document was handed to him. He frowned; he had to deal with that.

‘I won’t come and pick you up. I bought us dinner and I will take it to your place and wait for you with Dada. When you finish, come home. So it won’t be too tiring.’

‘Good. Thanks. See you soon.’ He said slightly relieved.

At seven-twenty four, Zhengqing called Yin Ting and told her he was leaving work and heading home. She told him she was waiting.

Waiting for him at home, ah. What a wonderful feeling. (Zuben: How long till it becomes pressure?)

Half an hour later, Zhengqing stood before his home. Though he had a door key, he still pressed the bell.

The door opened and Yin Ting greeted him with a sweet smile, ‘You’re back!’ she cried. His fat cat also came over to purr at his feet.

This felt so good, he thought as he opened his arms and Yin Ting clung to him.

‘From now, how about if there is no time to go out, I buy dinner and wait for you here?’ She asked him.

Zhengqing pulled back slightly and looked at her eyes.

‘I like opening the door for you,’ she said (Zuben: For how long?)

Zhengqing was speechless and pulled her into a tight hug.

Someone was there to open the door. Someone was home waiting for him. 

Zuben: Dear readers, you must think I must be some kind of grumpy pants with my oft derisive comments: I am. Since I am not reading ahead, I am reacting as I would if someone told me about this couple. I can’t decide if their insta-dependence is a plan by the author for the story ahead or if this is what she wants their love to be like. Anyway, we’ll find out as we go along.

This was a boring chapter for me. So much pointless minutiae. I especially disliked the micro-blog part. Urgh.

Index ❀ Chapter 44