BL - One Night In Pingjing 62 The Vow Of Loyalty

"Yes. A while ago." Xiao Maiguo replied.

"Pervert. You and Yun Peng already did it, right?"

"Idiot. He's not even home."

"Where did he go?"

"I didn't tell him I was coming. He's told me he'll go out with friends after he closes from the office."

"I thought you guys were closed till after the holidays."

"Officially, we are. But people who have work to do still go there."

"So, you're just home alone?"

"I prepared a candlelight dinner. Which I now realize is stupid since Yun Peng might eat out before coming. Surprising someone is such an ha.s.sle."

"You're such a girl." Xuan Chaya mocked Xiao Maiguo.

"Shut up."

Xuan Chaya chuckled.

"So, how did your meeting with him go?"

"Quite well. Great actually. I even asked him to move in with me."

Xiao Maiguo paused. "Wasn't that too fast? Did he agree?"

"He did."

"Lucky you. So, how did you find his personality?"

"Fascinating. Although, he's kinda clueless. But I didn't mind it at all."

"You didn't mind it or you had no choice? I've never known you to be able to tolerate cluelessness."

"I know. But I really didn't mind it. Perhaps, my subconscious just knew that I had no choice."

"Wait. What kind of cluelessness are you talking about?"

"Well, he has zero emotional intelligence. He flirted with me throughout the date and wasn't even aware of what he was doing."

"How did he flirt?"

"Well, first, he said he couldn't let me pick him up from work because he didn't want me to catch him smelling like popcorn. That means he wanted to smell good for me, doesn't it? Then he talked about his mother so nicely. You know I do that to hit on girls. He also complimented my eyes. Come on, only girls do that to get me to bed them."

Xiao Maiguo chuckled. "Between you two, I'm not really sure about who's clueless here."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, dude. He's a gay guy looking for a relations.h.i.+p. He was so upfront with you and you believe he didn't know what he was doing? Perhaps, he's found out about your family background and wants to seduce you."

"No, Xiao Maiguo. You know I'm really good at reading people. This guy really is the most clueless person I've met."

"If you say so," Xiao Maiguo said after a pause. "One important question though."

"What?"

"Weren't you put off by his flirting?"

"No. As a matter of fact, I felt kind of flattered."

"Are you falling for him?"

"Are you crazy?"

"No. But it'll be comical if you fall for him. Poetic even. Pay someone to become your fake boyfriend. Then he becomes your boyfriend."

"That's... Not going to happen." Xuan Chaya muttered.

"You don't sound very sure."

"Get off my back, Xiao Maiguo. Look, I've been with a lot of girls in my life before. My s.e.xuality isn't something I've ever doubted."

"But?"

"But... I did feel good when I thought he was flirting with me. And a tiny bit jealous the third time he talked about his friend. But I think it's just because of the circ.u.mstances surrounding our relations.h.i.+p."

"Dude."

"En?"

"You're so going to fall for this man."

Xuan Chaya rubbed his forehead in agony. Yes, it was strange that he felt weird around Cheng Jian, but he didn't think it was something to worry about. To get Xiao Maiguo off his back, he asked, "It wouldn't be the worst thing ever, would it?"

"You're even open to it."

"Bang your head against a wall, Xiao Maiguo."

"Just make sure you let him wear your clothes."

"Idiot."

"Idiot. How's Aunt Charlotte?"

"She's great, as always. Still disturbs me about telling her about my boyfriend occasionally. But I pay her no mind."

"She's so great. And you're such an ingrate. Do you know how many gay people in China itself would kill to have mothers as supportive as yours?"

"I really don't care to know. I just want this to be over and done with soon."

"And your dad? Have you guys spoken?"

"Not a word since the reunion dinner. He hasn't called, so I haven't called either."

"So, it's just a matter of who calls first?"

"Mostly."

Xiao Maiguo sighed. "And I'm the unfilial son."

Xuan Chaya chuckled. "Don't use my words against me."

"En," Xiao Maiguo said. "I have to go do something. Take care of yourself."

"Okay, bye."

***

"Yes, I found them. I'll text you their address and pictures." Su Yang spoke into the phone.

"Okay. Thank you." Hua Zhendan said.

"You have a younger sister," Su Yang added.

"Oh!" Hua Zhendan mumbled. "Okay."

Su Yang disconnected the call and sent the address and pictures as promised. Just then Xuan Tianmei walked into the living room, dressed in a white vest and pink shorts.

Su Yang have her the once-over, then said, "I'm sorry, Xuan Tianmei, but you'll have to stay in the room, okay?"

"Why?" Xuan Tianmei asked with a puzzled expression on her face.

"My friends are coming over." Su Yang held up a flash drive. "I got you some movies to watch so you don't get bored."

"Wait. I'm not allowed to meet your friends?"

"It's not that. It's just... You're not supposed to be here."

"Why not?"

"Because this is a secret hideout and it belongs to the gang, not me alone, and I'm supposed to keep it a secret."

"Then, why did you bring me here?"

"To impress you."

Xuan Tianmei opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"You were impressed, weren't you?"

"So, you want me to stay indoors until your friends leave?"

"Please, just do it for me, okay?" Su Yang flashed the flash drive at Xuan Tianmei.

"Okay." Xuan Tianmei said and accepted the drive.

Xuan Tianmei started to walk out of the living room but Su Yang stopped her. "Wait. You didn't tell me if you sent Xuan Tianyi that recording yet."

"I did."

"Then, what did he say?"

"'Thanks for sending this. But it doesn't really matter.'" Xuan Tianmei mimicked Xuan Tianyi's voice.

"Your brother is a moron."

"Don't abuse him." Xuan Tianmei pointed.

"Why not? Someone broke his back to get him that recording. And all he had to say was, 'It doesn't really matter?'"

Xuan Tianmei shrugged.

"If I'm Qiu Dawei, I would be very p.i.s.sed. So p.i.s.sed, I would seduce Hua Zhendan to get back at Xuan Tianyi." Su Yang said pointedly.

"All three of them can do what they want with their relations.h.i.+p. It's so messed up, it wears me out." Xuan Tianmei lamented. "First, President Hua and Xuan Tianyi were brothers, then they weren't. Then they quarrelled over you and now this."

"Relations.h.i.+ps aren't easy."

"I get that." Xuan Tianmei threw Su Yang a wistful glance. Although Su Yang knew what it meant, she decided to ignore it.

Just then, she heard footsteps that told her people were approaching the living room through the front door instead of the fireplace. She turned to Xuan Tianmei and made a pleading gesture at her. "Now. Leave now, please."

Xuan Tianmei nodded and hurried away from the living room.

Soon, Yun Peng, Zhu Daniya and Lu Qihao entered the apartment. While Yun Peng and Lu Qihao immediately took their seats, Zhu Daniya stared straight at Su Yang and said. "I can smell someone else here. Did you bring someone here?"

Su Yang stared daggers at Zhu Daniya. She had totally forgotten that the lady had the sense of smell of a bloodhound.

Soon, three pair of eyes were fixated on Su Yang and she couldn't help feeling uneasy.

"Su Yang, did you bring someone here?" Yun Peng asked sternly.

"No?" Su Yang muttered in reply.

"Are you asking or answering?"

Su Yang sighed. Nodding slowly, she mumbled, "My girlfriend."

"You have a girlfriend?" Lu Qihao asked, his eyes sparkling from excitement.

"Why would you bring your girlfriend here?" Yun Peng asked.

"To stay... With me."

"Su Yang, that's very careless."

"I know. But I can vouch for her innocence and loyalty."

"What are you saying? Do the words, 'Trust no-one but yourself' mean nothing to you?"

"I am crazy about this girl, Yun Peng."

"Su Yang." Yun Peng called, stunned. Those were the last words he expected to hear from her.

"I am in love with her. And I just wanted her to know me. And she does. She even accepts me exactly the way I am. She doesn't ask for anything more. I didn't even know I could find someone like that, but I did. Isn't that amazing?"

Yun Peng stared at her in silence.

She continued, "I trust her, okay?"

"..."

"I'm... I'm even willing to take the vow of loyalty on her behalf."

"The vow of loyalty?" Lu Qihao spoke for the second time. "You can't be serious."

Firmly, Su Yang said, "I am."