Please Be More Serious

Chapter 60

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Chapter 60

Chapter 60 Zhengqing"s GirlWhen 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.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 gla.s.s 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.‘h.e.l.lo,’ 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 sprit.i.ted.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 a.s.suage 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 b.u.t.ton. 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 infront 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.’

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