Please Be More Serious Chapters 59 y 60

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 Hello all.
Hope you've not been kept waiting too long.
It's February the month of Lurve *puergh*.
Love yourselves and all that two penny jargon.೭੧(❛▿❛✿)੭೨

 Daddy's Girl:

Yin Ting’s phone rang a long time before she picked up. Her voice was cheerful and energetic as she said, ‘Please be more serious, are you finished with work?’

‘Yes,’ he replied, he found himself chocked with unshed tears. He had to clear his throat twice.

‘Have you just finished entertaining your clients?’ Yin Ting asked, ‘Did you drink? If you drank, get a taxi.’

‘I didn’t drink,’ he replied. He suddenly felt like he wasn’t ready to tell her, he hadn’t calmed down. His heart was still beating fast, his thoughts were chaotic. He did not even know how he would tell her.

‘It’s alright if you did not drink, did you just finish or are you home already?’

‘Just finished. I’m in the parking lot.’

‘Go home. When you get home call me.’

‘Ah Xiaoting,’ he called, afraid she would hang up.

‘What’s up?’ she asked

‘Um…tomorrow’s Saturday.’

‘Yes ah. We can meet up tomorrow.’ She said happily, ‘Today you were socialising, not working crazy overtime, so no points are deducted, therefore, we can have a date tomorrow.’

Zhengqing closed his eyes as Guohao’s words came back to him. Did they really have problems getting along? Was he and Yin Ting’s approach to love completely different?

‘Tomorrow,’ he said, ‘let’s go to the movies.’

‘Really?’ Yin Ting’s voice rose an octave; she was very surprised. Zhengqing was suddenly distressed, it was just going to the movies and he didn’t think of going with her. (Zuben: Well you are dense in living life)

‘You actually decided to go to the movies by yourself? So surprising!’ Yin Ting was very happy, ‘So we should go out for lunch, then go to the cinema after. You go to the gym on Saturdays, don’t you? My dad hasn’t come back; I will ask him what he wants to do tomorrow. If there isn’t anything, I’ll have lunch with him while you are at the gym. Then we can meet up afterwards for dinner and the cinema!’

‘I met your dad – had a meal with him.’ He said, grasping the chance. ‘He’s on his way home now.’

‘You saw my dad? How clever. Where did you meet? Did everyone know who he was?’

‘No…truthfully…’Zhengqing paused while he thought of the words to tell her, ‘Truthfully, your dad asked me to dinner tonight but he asked me not to tell you, so I told you I was entertaining customers.’

After a little silence she asked, ‘What happened?’

‘Well, he…talked about the difference in our personalities and the emotional risk we are taking by being together.’

Yin Ting was quiet, then she said, ‘Please rephrase that again, in simple terms.’

‘That is, he has no confidence that we can go the distance.’

Yin Ting could not believe it, there had been no warning at all.

‘So what did this mean?’

Her father had been polite to Zhengqing, they had even had a laugh at the Spring Festival. Why would he suddenly look for Zhengqing to say such a thing?

‘Xiaoting, when your father gets home he’s going to talk to you about his analysis. I called you to tell you where I stand.’

Yin Ting suddenly felt cold. How could this be? How could this happen? (Zuben: You can’t outwit an old fox)

‘Your father has his reasons, but my feeling is that there are many difficulties and setbacks in life. The chances of finding someone you like and who likes you are small. I have lots of things to say, but I don’t know what your father will say to you. I just wanted you to know that he didn’t convince me.’

Yin Ting’s heart was in chaos. She suddenly felt overwhelmed.

‘What-what did he tell you?’

Zhengqing gave a small frown, he could hear the distress in her voice, he replied her, ‘Through his observations of us, there are disparities between us that he feels will develop into problems in our relationship later on. He did his analysis and expressed his opinion.’

‘I called to warn you that your father does not have confidence in us, and he will talk to you about it. I wanted you to be mentally prepared. But I also wanted to let you know I love you and ask you not to give up. Do you hear me?’

Yin Ting’s head was blank. (Zuben: This is the problem with counting your chickens before they hatch)

She didn’t reply.

Zhengqing called her name again; she gave a vague reply,

‘Do you understand what I just said?’

‘I understand.’

‘Can you repeat it?’

‘My dad went to look for you to tell you he doesn’t want us to be together.’

‘No, my last words.’

‘Please be more serious, my heart is in chaos.’

‘I know but you have to listen to me. I love you, and I will never give you up.’ (Zuben: But does she feel the same in the face of beloved daddykins.)

‘I hear you…’

‘Repeat what I have said.’

‘You love me and you will not give me up.’

‘Good,’ he said, ‘your dad is on his way home, he knows that I will call you. He was very calm when he talked to me. It didn’t turn heated. There was no quarrel. Do not worry, okay?’

Yin Ting nodded but realise he could not see her, ‘Yes,’ she replied.

‘I hope that you will listen to him calmly. Do not get agitated, do not be sad. He wants what’s best for you, I understand that. He didn’t hurt me. So don’t worry okay?’

‘Yes,’ she replied with a little tremor in her voice. She was afraid.

‘So repeat what I told you again.’

‘You love me and will not give me up.’

‘Good. Say it again.’

Yin Ting’s voice broke and tears came down her face as she said, ‘You love me and will not give me up.’

‘Please remember that.’

‘I will.’

‘I know I have a lot of shortcomings, and I am not like you. But I will adjust; we will find a good way to get along that suits us. We’ve been working hard on our love,’ (Zuben: Doing naïve things), ‘I will work hard and be with you so you can do what you want to do. I promise okay?’

‘Okay.’ She said with a sob.

Zhengqing wanted to be with her and take her into his arms in a fierce hug and comfort her. But he could only express his determination over the phone. But words were not enough to express how he felt about her.

‘Don’t cry.’ He said.

‘I love you too.’ She said

‘I know or I will insist.’

Yin Ting could not help but sob more, ‘I’m sorry, I did not know my dad had such an idea. I thought he liked you.’

‘Please don’t cry. He doesn’t hate me, he just doesn’t thing I will be a suitable son-in-law. He did not embarrass me, he was very respectful. We really didn’t argue. He wasn’t mean to me, so don’t be sad or afraid. He just told me his opinion, and I told him my opinion. Be calm and listen to him. Don’t worry about me.’ (Zuben: What if she chooses to break up?)

‘Alright.’ She replied.

‘Now, go and wash your face, have a glass of water and take deep breaths counting from one to a hundred. Will you do that?’ He said to her gently.

‘Yes, I will.’ She replied tearfully. She couldn’t speak, she could feel the tears welling up again but she didn’t want him to worry.

Yin Ting hung up and went to wash her face. She looked at herself in the mirror; her eyes and nose were a little red, so she splashed cold water on her face some more. After that, she felt a bit more comfortable. She made herself a pot of tea and drank two cups while she was waiting. She looked in the direction of the entryway – her father had not arrived. She thought of Zhengqing and her heart hurt, but she told herself not to panic, she will listen to what her dad had to say.

Yin Ting started taking deep breaths and counting, but she kept loosing her count. She started over again, at one hundred and fifty seven, she heard the door open. And her father entered. As their eyes met, they knew what happened (Zuben: psychic connection)

Her father took off his shoes and said, ‘I am back.’

Yin Ting smiled and said, ‘Welcome back. I made some tea.’

‘Pour your old man a cup,’ he said as he came to sit on the couch.

Yin Ting brewed some more tea and poured the steaming brew into a purple tea cup, and carefully placed the cup before her father.

‘Thank you,’ he said. He stared at the cup for a time but did not drink, ‘Did Zhengqing call you?’

She nodded.

‘Can daddy talk to you?’

She nodded, but could not say anything, her eyes were turning red and tears were welling up.

Guohao smiled and said, ‘Go and get a box of tissues.’

She went and returned with the box in hand, her expression solemn.

Her father began by praising Zhengqing’s work and life ethic. The he began to tell her his thoughts about the differences between Yin Ting and Zhengqing. He asked her if she understood his needs as a man in his position. His work was his whole world, but what about her?

Yin Ting was unable to reply. Her eyes were red but she did not cry, she had promised Zhengqing to listen to her father calmly and rationally.

He told her he hoped she could realise her dream of travelling the world, living freely. He doubted that Yin Ting could understand or conform to the needs of a man like Zhengqing and she will drag him down.

‘He is not a man that will get off work on time,’ her father said, ‘at least not for a few more years. The work is endless, and in his position, he cannot afford to take it easy like an average worker. You laid rules and because he loved you, he complied. But in reality, he cannot comply and in truth, he does not want to. And when he breaks the rules, you will be angry and disappointed. Is this what you want?’

Tears were now pouring down Yin Ting’s face, but she could not help but protest, ‘Then I would not bind him with rules, would that do?’

Guohao sighed and pulled his daughter into his arms, ‘You set the rules for the wrong person. Don’t you see; you’re not suitable for him, daughter?’

A sob finally escaped her lips, Guohao took tissues to wipe her tears, ‘If you want to be good to him, you will have to harm yourself, and if he wants to be good to you, he will harm himself. Do you think that you will be happy with that? You said you like clouds because they roam free in the sky, but if your pick it up and put it in a box, would it still be the cloud you like?’ (Zuben: It works for some people)

‘I really like him, Daddy,’ she said through her tears, ‘I’ve never liked anyone this way before.’

‘You’ve always chased boys, and then when they reject you you come home to cry that you like this one or that one. Is this not the same?’ her father reminded her. (Zuben: How is it the same thing, Daddykins?)

Yin Ting sobs intensified, ‘It’s not the same. I know it – it is totally different.’

‘Why do you like him?’

Through tearful hiccups, she said, ‘He is so kind. When he talks to children he will come down to their level so that they don’t have to look up at him. He is very patient, even when a discussion is boring, he would not interrupt but listens well. He has a goal that he is aiming towards,’ she blew her nose, ‘He is kind to animals…’ she thought of Zhengqing, helping Little Stone fix her collar, when he helped Xiao Han clean his shoes, when he held Miao-dada and fell asleep on the sofa beside her. She cried even more, she could not go on. (Zuben: It’s funny that his nervousness with the kids came off as kind)

‘But there are other men like that in the world.’

Yin Ting shook her head, ‘They are not Zhengqing.’

‘Yes, so you should let him be himself.’

Yin Ting sat shock still as though she had been slapped. (Zuben: doshite?)

Guohao hugged her gently, ‘You understand now, right? You simply do not suit each other.’

Zhengqing looked at his phone, unease stealing his heart. He wanted to know what was happening with Yin Ting but she could not call right now. When they finished talking, Yin Ting would call him, so he should be patient and wait.

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Zhengqing's Girl:

When Yin Ting returned to her room, it was almost eleven. She knew that Zhengqing must be waiting for her phone call and she should call him, but she was so very depressed. Although the tears have dried, her heart was still heavy. She fell on to her bed, she did not want to move or talk, she felt guilty and sad.

But she waited for her emotions to calm down before calling him. But while waiting, she felt the tears fall. She did not understand why she was crying, she had not been thinking of anything. She dared not. Zhengqing had been right; there had been some truth in what her father said. She had never taken into account Zhengqing’s position. She had just thought it wasn’t good to work overtime and did not consider the pressure he was under. (Zuben: Nope, you didn't)

She had considered herself a good girlfriend, carelessly doing as she pleased. In trying to cook, she destroyed his kitchen. Her thoughts had been self-righteous.

‘You need to think about it, and break up as soon as possible. Do not hold each other back.’ Her father had said.

Although he hadn’t been harsh, he had been firm in his words. He did not agree with them being together, and it made Yin Ting sad. She knew his words were not casually spoken.

But not together? No Qiu Zhengqing in her life? She could not imagine. (Zuben: You guys haven’t even done the deed yet)

She had been lying on the bed for heaven knew how long, when her phone rang, causing her to jump.

A quick look at the caller ID said it was Zhengqing; she quickly grabbed a glass of water from her beside table to drink. She had poured it last night, so it was cold down her throat. She cleared her throat and answered the call.

‘Hello,’ she said softly, afraid he would hear the distress in her voice.

‘Have you finished speaking with your dad?’

‘Yeah,’ she said lightly, trying to be spritited.

There was silence from the other end of the call, as though he was waiting for her to say more. But when nothing was forth-coming, he asked, ‘Your thoughts?’

She shook her head, ‘I don’t know what to do.’

‘I understand.’ He said, his voice was gentle.

Yin Ting suddenly found herself crying again, ‘My father,’ she said tearfully, ‘he makes sense.’

‘That can’t be denied, but reality isn’t as cut and dried.’ Zhengqing said trying to comfort her.

Yin Ting wiped the tears on her face, ‘I realised I was so naïve; making you get home on time, penalty points…they were so childish and selfish.’

‘I did not think so.’ Zhengqing replied. (Zuben: I did)

‘But after a while you will find me annoying and stupid.’

Zhengqing was silent for two beats then said, ‘I thought so in the past but not now. A cute girl taught me to look around me and see the good and beautiful in the world. Yes, I have a lot of work but then I remember that there is someone who loves me waiting for me; waiting to open the door for me, it makes me happy. This is very important to me.’

Hearing that Yin Ting cried even more; she had forgotten. At the start, she had been so happy to be there when he came home, but she had forgotten the reason why they did it. She only remembered that if he did not come back on time, she would not come to see him the next day as punishment. She only wanted him to come home early. She had forgotten that he rang the bell when he came home. The idea to wait for him at his house was hers at the start, so they always ate at his house instead of out.

She actually forgot. So her father was right. (Zuben: Isn’t that just human nature?)

‘I’m sorry, I forgot.’

‘What did you forget?’

‘I forgot we had dates at home because of this. I wanted to do it, but I forgot why I did it. I always wanted something else.’ (Zuben: Maybe y’all shouldn’t be at home all the bleeding time)

‘But you didn’t forget. You wrote it in the diary. I read through it and saw it.’

Yin Ting wiped her tears and blew her nose, ‘You read the diary?’

‘Yes.’

‘How many?’

‘No number, I just read it.’

Yin Tin wiped her tears, but did not reply.

‘Your approach is good. You are always clever in this way. So we will find a way.’

But Yin Ting had no confidence. Her father’s thoughts were justified. She had never considered Zhengqing’s position. She didn’t have a career; she’s always lived freely, so she had never considered his side of things.

It wasn’t a problem of money, but a man’s pursuit of achievement. (Zuben: Which in itself, is to assuage insecurities about his past and people looking down on him because of it)

Her expectations of life and his pursuit of achievement are in conflict.

There was certain death, so her father said.

Though she tried, she could not think of a way to solve it. If she was always waiting for him at home, she would be unhappy. She had to be truthful to herself. Even if she was forebearing and accommodating, she would not be happy, neither would Zhengqing.

‘What should we do?’ she asked.

‘Keep on going. Together.’ Zhengqing was very firm.

‘Can I?’

‘Why not?’

Yin Ting didn’t have the words to describe her feeling. She wanted to keep going but she was now afraid, afraid that their life will turn out as her father expected. And her father did not agree with their relationship; she cared deeply about this.

Zhengqing sighed inwardly; he knew that the impact of Yin Guohao’s words would be greater on Yin Ting than on him because the relationship was of a beloved father and daughter. Yin Ting was willing to give him up to prove her father’s importance. Guohao did not want them to have a relationship; Yin Ting would be affected by this. His biggest challenge was not Guohao, but Yin Ting.

If she lets go, then his hard work would be for naught. Once some accepts a bad result, things tend to go in that direction.

‘Do you remember the words you’ve said?’

‘Which words?’ (Zuben: She says a lot of nonsense, she can’t be expected tor remember all of it)

‘Why is the bright sun so far?’

Because, we need a bright and lofty goal.

Yin Ting covered her mouth; she did not want to cry out loud.

‘Why does the moon change phases?’

Because, change can be beautiful.

‘Why is coffee fragrant?’ (Zuben: to give me a headache?)

Because after coffee went through tribulations, it met milk.

Coffee met milk. He met her.

‘Please be more serious, I want to see you.’ She said through sobs.

‘Good, come downstairs.’ He said.

‘What?’

‘Come downstairs, I’m at the park.’

Yin Ting finally reacted to his words. He had been downstairs?! In front of her neighbourhood!

Yin Ting rushed out; she didn’t stop to wash her face, she took no coat, did not change her shoes. She rushed out of her room and met her father. She ran out the door and said, ‘I’m going out, I’ll be back in a bit.’

She ran to the lift and jabbed at the button. The lift answered quickly. She entered and watched the numbers tick down, feeling amazement.

He had been here. He was outside waiting for her!

Without waiting for the lift doors to fully open, she rushed out. She ran out of the building, out to the park in front of her neighbourhood, and then she saw Zhengqing’s car.

Next to the car, a tall man stood, hidden in the shadows.

The man she loved. (Zuben: cue violins)

Tears poured down her face and she could not see the road but she just barrelled ahead – running headlong into his familiar embrace.

‘Luckily it’s only the slipper that flew this time.’

What could also fly? Yin Ting grasped him tightly. She was really surprised he was there, and also really touched. At this moment, she felt like a dog chewing the mud. (Zuben: I dunno what that is about, don’t ask me)

Her brain conjured up the image and she could not help but laugh.

Zhengqing looked down at her tearful and breathless face, and hugged her really tight. He turned with her in his arms and opened the door to the back seat. She quickly got in and sat.

Zhengqing looked at her helplessly. She was crying and laughing. He went to the front, and got some tissues and switched on the heater.  He gave her the tissues and went to look for where her missing slipper had flown to.

He laughed as he searched. He laughed when he found it. She laughed too. He got into the back seat beside her. (Zuben: Ho ho ho)

He put the slipper on for her, and took off his coat and placed it about her shoulders,

‘Why did you run out like this? Aren’t you cold?’

‘I’m not cold,’ she replied still laughing. His face was close to hers as he put his coat about her, the atmosphere suddenly changed. His coat was really warm and his breath was warm against her skin.

Then Zhengqing lowered his head and kissed her.

Yin Ting wrapped her arms around Zhengqing’s neck deepening the kiss.

They kissed till they were breathless, and Yin Ting pulled back looking into his eyes. They were full of affection for her. The kiss warmed her heart. Then she remembered how she had jumped at him; if she had been too quick she really would have fallen at his feet and eaten dirt, or got her teeth knocked out.

Yin Ting laughed again. He looked at her quizzically and she told him the reason.

Zhengqing asked, ‘Do you know why slippers fly?’

Yin Ting giggled, ‘Quickly explain.’

‘To make you laugh.’ He replied in his serious manner.

Yin Ting burst out laughing. Not that the answer was funny, or was it wonderful, but Zhengqing’s expression while saying it was funny. She leaned into him as she laughed; would she be happy without him?

‘So the effect of candy and a flying slipper are the same, although they are two unrelated things.’

Yin Ting laughed again, ‘It was a terrible one.’

‘But you laughed.’ He said as he stroked her hair.

‘Well, I prefer candy.’ And the slippers were for him.

Zhengqing was silent for a bit, then he said, ‘Whatever the outcome, there are always a pair of shoes.’

Yin Ting laughed again, ‘You’re annoying.’

This was not a time of humour, but why was it that at the time of tragedy people could find humour? (Zuben: It is not a tragedy, dear)

‘I wanted to ask you not to break up.’

Yin Ting stopped laughing and looked up at him.

‘If you look on the bright side, your dad’s objections are good for us. If we know what to look for, we can make a plan. We will certainly be able to solve problems that may arise. This is better than no defence, and things end up being tragic.’

Yin Ting silently looked at him.

‘You know that I never give up whatever I have set my mind on. From my childhood, in work and life. And now, most importantly, you. Don’t worry; I will not be scared of by your dad.’

Index ❀ Chapter 61&62