125: Chapter 123 I’m Serious 125: Chapter 123 I’m Serious Park, pathway.
“Tangyu, although you’re very polite, I still have to say I’m really, really grateful to you.
You are a great benefactor in my life, Liu Shiyi.” Liu Shiyi said, her face filled with deep affection.
If this were a heartfelt confession, it would probably melt any man’s heart of steel, right?
“Cough, if you keep this up, my teeth are going to ache from the sweetness.
Alright, let’s not talk about this anymore, it’s all in the past.
From now on, we’re friends, there’s no need to be so polite.
To be honest, I don’t really like it when you’re so courteous; I’d prefer it if you were more casual,” Tangyu said.
Liu Shiyi looked at Tangyu and after a while, she nodded and said, “Okay, I won’t bring it up again.
You really are a good man.
I don’t know which lucky beauty will get to marry you in the future.
I’m quite envious.”
Such praise actually made Tangyu quite pleased, and he couldn’t help thinking ahead.
“Talking about a wife?
I don’t even have a girlfriend, let alone talked about love,” said Tangyu.
“Ah?” Liu Shiyi looked at Tangyu in surprise, a look of disbelief on her face: “Really?
How is that possible?
You’re so outstanding, and handsome too, and you’re a good person.
You have really excellent qualities in all aspects, how could there be no girls who like you?
Could it be that you’ve never met someone you liked, that your standards are too high?
But that’s not right either, I thought both Guo Momo and that beauty, they’re both quite outstanding, aren’t they?
I thought you and Guo Momo had that kind of relationship.”
“Of course it’s true; this isn’t something you can fake.
I wish Momo and Feifei were willing to be my girlfriends, but they’re both young ladies from wealthy families, with high standards, not necessarily within my reach.
Sigh, actually, my requirements aren’t high.
Um, as long as she’s pretty, that’s enough.
I don’t have any other demands,” said Tangyu.
“Er—” Liu Shiyi said, “That requirement of yours, it really is casual.
But isn’t it a bit too casual?
There are plenty of beautiful women, but not every one of them is right for you.
I think that love should be about finding someone who is suitable and having mutual feelings.”
“Hehe, maybe I’m somewhat superficial,” Tangyu admitted.
“You’re lying.
I don’t believe you’re that kind of person.
I think you have high tastes, and ordinary girls definitely wouldn’t catch your eye.
For instance, a fairly ordinary girl like me, I imagine you’d prefer someone like Guo Momo, someone noble and with temperament,” Liu Shiyi said.
Tangyu shook his head lightly and said, “You can’t really say that.
I indeed quite like Guo Momo’s type, noble with temperament, kind-hearted, and gentle without a princess temperament.
But, I also like your type, fresh and simple, giving people a very comfortable feeling.
Hehe, since you think I’m outstanding, how about you be my girlfriend?”
Liu Shiyi paused for a moment, staring at Tangyu, and said, “As long as you don’t look down on me, I’m willing to be your girlfriend.”
“Ah?” Now it was Tangyu who was taken aback.
He was only making a casual joke and hadn’t been serious.
Although Tangyu liked Liu Shiyi’s type and thought she was not bad, feeling some fondness for her,
Just fondness wasn’t the same as affection or love.
If Liu Shiyi really liked him, Tangyu wouldn’t mind letting her be his girlfriend, as feelings can be cultivated over time, and having an initial attraction is most important.
Tangyu wasn’t a saint or a moral paragon, and he couldn’t be entirely devoid of impure thoughts about a beautiful woman.
When it came to a beautiful woman throwing herself at him, Tangyu generally wouldn’t refuse.
To refuse would be foolish.
If he was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, why pretend to be a sheep?
However, Tangyu felt Liu Shiyi’s quick agreement wasn’t because she had fallen for him but rather due to her gratitude, wanting to repay him with herself.
He couldn’t accept this kind of approach, at least not deep down, seeing it as a form of cheating.
If he truly accepted Liu Shiyi and let her be his girlfriend in this way, Tangyu would despise himself for being too despicable.
He couldn’t claim to be a nobleman, but Tangyu also didn’t consider himself a villain.
Besides, Tangyu felt that Liu Shiyi wasn’t the kind of impulsive person who would fall in love with someone because of one or two moments of emotion.
She probably approached relationships very carefully, so he was sure her agreement stemmed from gratitude.
If it meant relying on such methods to get a woman, Tangyu truly scorned it.
“Er, I was just joking; don’t take it seriously,” Tangyu said.
Liu Shiyi looked at Tangyu, shook her head, and said, “I’m serious.
I really am willing to be your girlfriend.
Actually, I haven’t had a relationship before.
Although I’m not in love with you yet, I at least have a favorable impression of you, so I’m willing to date you and slowly fall in love with you.”
Tangyu shook his head and said, “A bit of a good impression is just that, not affection.
I really don’t need this kind of gratitude.
Let’s leave this matter be.”
There was a flash of strangeness in Liu Shiyi’s eyes as she looked at Tangyu.
She couldn’t quite understand his thoughts, but she could feel that Tangyu had some fondness for her.
However, she admired that he didn’t accept her just because of this.
In her heart, she became even more determined about a thought, a thought only she knew about, and a very bold one at that.
“Tangyu, do you have anything this morning?” Liu Shiyi asked.
“I shouldn’t have anything,” Tangyu replied.
“Oh, then I’ll take you out to lunch.
I’ll cook at home myself, or we can eat out,” Liu Shiyi offered.
A beauty invites to dinner, how can one refuse without inciting the wrath of men and gods alike?
Naturally, Tangyu agreed with a nod: “I’m easy-going when it comes to eating, I’m never picky.”
“Hehe, okay then, that settles it.
We haven’t prepared anything today, so let’s just eat out.
When everything’s ready, I’ll invite you to my place,” Liu Shiyi said with a happy smile.
Just then, a middle-aged woman holding a bag of flowers suddenly came over, presenting a nicely wrapped rose to Tangyu, “Handsome, why not buy a flower for your girlfriend?
Look how beautiful your girlfriend is, and with a flower in her hand, she’d be even more enchanting.
Beauty, look how fresh my flowers are, freshly picked this morning.
Let your boyfriend buy you one; flowers represent love.
If you buy ninety-nine, I’ll wrap them for free,” she said.
Caught off guard by the flower seller’s words, Liu Shiyi’s face flushed red as she shook her head and waved her hands, “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong, we’re just friends, not what you’re thinking.
We don’t need the flowers.”
“How can that be, beauty?
I’ve been selling flowers for years and I’ve seen all kinds of couples.
But you two really caught my eye – a perfect match of talent and beauty, absolutely made for each other, a perfect pair.
I can tell you have the look of a couple, and I’m sure you will become one.
How about this, today I have a buy one get one offer, one flower for just five yuan, and ten would only cost fifty yuan.
With today’s offer, buying ten would only cost you twenty-five yuan.
Handsome, why not take ten?” the flower seller urged.
Liu Shiyi’s face turned even redder, and she shyly lowered her head, “We really don’t need them.” However, she felt a strange sense of pleasure in her heart.
“Handsome, buy your girlfriend a few flowers,” the woman turned her gaze back to Tangyu.
Tangyu smiled, “Alright, give me ten then.”
“Hehe, that’s the way, young man.
A man should take the initiative, that’s how to win your girlfriend’s heart.
Ten flowers for only twenty-five yuan is a deal and it’ll make your girlfriend happy,” the flower seller laughed heartily.
She handed ten roses to Tangyu, took the money, then left with a smile, saying as she left: “Handsome guy and beauty, I wish you an early bloom and harvest, you really are made for each other.”
Seeing Tangyu actually buy ten roses, Liu Shiyi felt so shy she could hardly lift her head, avoiding Tangyu’s gaze.
But deep down, she also felt a tinge of happiness.
However, the straightforward words of the woman made her quite embarrassed.
“They say flowers complement beauties.
Shiyi, these are for you, but it’s not a declaration of love, just a friend giving you flowers,” Tangyu said.
“Ah,” Liu Shiyi was taken aback.
Roses from a friend?
Roses have always been something lovers give each other, this explanation did indeed seem strange to her.
As she looked at the ten roses Tangyu passed her, Liu Shiyi couldn’t decide whether to accept them or not.
Accepting felt odd, but refusing seemed rude.
After hesitating for a moment, she took them: “Then, thank you.” But inside, she felt an unexplainable sense of loss.
If Tangyu had meant it that way, she would have been even happier.
Seeming to sense Liu Shiyi’s thoughts, Tangyu said, “I just thought the flower lady made all that effort speaking such nice words and even offered a discount, it seemed rude not to buy anything.
Friends can’t give each other flowers?
Maybe I just don’t understand well enough, but if it seems too inappropriate, maybe you should just throw them away.”
Liu Shiyi quickly tucked away the flowers: “There’s no taking back what’s been given.
There’s no rule that friends can’t give flowers.
This is actually the first time I’ve received flowers from someone.”
“Oh, it’s also my first time giving flowers to someone.
Both of us for the first time, that’s quite a coincidence,” Tangyu remarked.
“Uh…”
Liu Shiyi wanted to laugh but just couldn’t.
Somehow all this seemed a bit too peculiar.
The interruption by the flower seller had made things a bit awkward between them, as if a thin veil was almost ready to be pierced through.
Love can be like a thin veil too, sometimes it gets pierced accidentally, and then you’re together.
Right then, a phone rang, breaking the moment.
“Tangyu, it’s your phone,” Liu Shiyi said.
Only then did Tangyu realize his phone was ringing.
Upon checking, he saw that it was Xinxin calling.
Tangyu’s eyebrows raised slightly – it was the weekend after all, why was Xinxin calling him?
Without overthinking it, he answered: “Xinxin, is there something you need?”
“Of course there’s something.
Do you think I have as much free time as you to just chat?
If you’re free, come to the office right away, there’s something I need you to help me with,” Zhao Xinxin said bluntly.
“Now—this—” Tangyu hesitated, he was enjoying his time with Liu Shiyi.
“You don’t look busy to me.
Stop your yapping and hurry over; I’ve got an emergency, waiting for you at the office,” Zhao Xinxin was decisive, not letting Tangyu say much before she commanded and then hung up.