Now that filming has just finished, and I haven't had any other work for the time being, I have no worries, but...
Both of them sensed it; Xiao Shulang's eyes glistened with tears, and he deliberately created some distance between them: "Stop."
Qin Shuang was also moved, but she stopped as if to comply, looking at him with longing yet restraint.
Xiao Shulang wasn't unwilling; he was trembling under Qin Shuang's restrained yet eager gaze. But he still had to say something: "We're going to see your aunt and uncle tomorrow. If we do this now... will it have any impact tomorrow?"
Qin Shuang: "..."
Honestly, I don't know.
They knew how to do it and what to pay attention to, but they had no experience with what the results would be after putting it into practice.
It's said that the first time a man is the one who takes the brunt of the pain is always a bit difficult, but even with their knowledge, the two men can't guarantee what the outcome will be.
Since there are no guarantees, it's definitely not the right time to try.
Both of them chuckled helplessly, closed their eyes and leaned against each other to calm their breathing. Qin Shuang lifted him up from the sofa and stuffed a snack into his mouth. Xiao Shulang chewed it and leaned back against him. At least they had finished watching the movie.
Xiao Shulang only indulged in laziness for a short while; the rest of the time was spent checking several times to make sure everything was prepared and deciding what to wear the next day.
While filming in the film studio, he and Qin Shuang developed a hobby of helping each other pick out clothes. They bought everything online, and many of the clothes were still unopened and put directly into the dressing room without even being tried on.
Since Xiao Shulang couldn't make up his mind, Qin Shuang suggested that he try on all the clothes he hadn't tried on yet.
Xiao Shulang came out of the dressing room in the walk-in closet, staring at the mirror as he asked Qin Shuang, "How's this outfit?"
Qin Shuang: "It looks good."
“Hiss…” Xiao Shulang took a deep breath. “This is the fifth set. You say the same thing for every set. Come on, give me some constructive suggestions.”
"It's really beautiful," Qin Shuang commented honestly.
What doesn't Xiao Shulang look good in? He looks good in anything. Qin Shuang is happy to wait for Xiao Shulang to change clothes because she enjoys watching her beloved change, especially when he wears clothes she has chosen.
But Xiao Shulang was indecisive and needed to make a decision.
"This one will do," Qin Shuang said. "It suits you very well."
"Is this appropriate for a visit?" Xiao Shulang looked left and right. "This will do."
Qin Shuang nodded and picked up another outfit beside her: "Try this one on."
Xiao Shulang was puzzled: "Why do we need to try it on when we've already decided?" He turned around and saw Qin Shuang's eyes, and instantly understood. His puzzled expression was replaced by teasing. "Teacher Qin, is it you who wants to see me wear it?"
Qin Shuang didn't flinch or dodge, but nodded calmly. She even lowered her head and touched Xiao Shulang's forehead with hers, asking softly, "Is it not okay?"
Xiao Shulang: "Okay!"
Very good.
Oh my god, Teacher Qin, you need to have some sense of your own destructive power. It's just a few sets of clothes, right? Change them! I'll change them in a heartbeat!
As it turned out, Xiao Shulang really did become a model. He changed into several outfits, and photographer Qin Shuang took photos of him, both of them, including solo and couple shots. They were both clothes hangers, and they looked good in any outfit.
The two took a selfie by the window and, coincidentally, both set it as their new screensaver.
Whether Xiao Shulang was calm or still nervous, the next day arrived quickly. The two packed their things and drove to their destination.
Although it was Qin Yunting's birthday, the family banquet was held at the home of Qin's parents, not Qin Yunting's own residence. Therefore, Xiao Shulang's visit was a formal home visit to her boyfriend's parents.
Qin Shuang also had a key to the house. After opening the door, the people inside heard the noise and came to the door.
"Hello, uncles and aunts."
Xiao Shulang quickly greeted him and handed over the things in his hand: "This is my first time here, so I brought a little something."
Mother Qin smiled and said, "You're too kind. Next time you come, don't bring anything. Just come and visit us."
Qin's mother had Qin's father take the things from her, and then she led Xiao Shulang into the house: "Come and sit down."
Qin Yunting came downstairs at this moment, greeted Xiao Shulang, and Qin Shuang handed him the gift: "Happy birthday."
Qin Shuang specifically said, "I picked it out with Shu Lang."
"Thanks." Qin Yunting took it. "Should I just open it?"
Qin Shuang nodded, and Qin Yunting opened the gift, which contained a watch.
"You have good taste." Qin Yunting took off his watch and put on a new one. "I'll wear this today."
At this moment, Qin's father patted Qin Shuang on the shoulder, signaling him to come upstairs and talk together. Qin Shuang turned his head to look at Xiao Shulang, who was with Qin's mother. Noticing Qin Shuang's gaze, Xiao Shulang looked up.
Qin Shuang was afraid that Xiao Shulang would feel uncomfortable. Xiao Shulang also saw Qin's father calling Qin Shuang, so he nodded to Qin Shuang and mouthed: Go ahead.
Qin Shuang then followed her father upstairs. Qin's mother noticed their interaction and smiled, saying, "Every time he comes back, his father will ask him to go to the study to have a private talk with him."
Xiao Shulang withdrew his gaze and spoke politely: "Yes, he did mention it."
“You’re at home here, so don’t be shy.” Qin’s mother looked at him. “We used to wonder what kind of person he would bring back, but now that we’ve seen him with our own eyes, he’s far more outstanding than we expected.”
When praised by his elders, Xiao Shulang quickly replied, "Auntie, you flatter me. I also have many shortcomings and need to work harder."
Qin's mother was very satisfied with Xiao Shulang. She sighed softly, "Qin Shuang is a quiet child. We are always worried that he can't express his feelings properly. Relationships require a lot of communication. You don't need to spoil him. Just say what you need to say. If you are wronged, just come to us."
Parents love their children, and every word they say is actually for Qin Shuang's sake. Xiao Shulang was quite nervous when he entered the room, but now that they were talking about Qin Shuang, he realized that the person in front of him was just like him, someone who placed Qin Shuang in an important position, and suddenly he was not so reserved anymore.
Xiao Shulang's gaze softened: "No, he's very good, and he's very good to me too. Qin Shuang may not talk much, but he does a lot."
Every little thing he does makes you feel loved. Qin Shuang conveys his love through actions, which is far more effective than empty words. Besides, although he doesn't talk much, he can turn ordinary words into sweet nothings in the right place, making them incredibly touching.
They communicated well; even though he was a man of few words, Xiao Shulang could understand his meaning perfectly. They had a great understanding and were very compatible.
Qin's mother said kindly, "That's good. As long as you're happy, we're at ease."
“Shulang.” Qin Yunting popped out from behind the sofa. “That kid is so quiet. If there’s anything you want to ask him that he won’t tell you, come to me. I can back you up.”
"Hey, get out of here!" Qin's mother waved her hand at him. "Shulang, just treat this guy as a joke. He's unreliable. Treat him as entertainment, but don't fall into his trap."
Qin Yunting grinned, "Mom, how can you talk to your son like that? Oh, by the way," he shook his wrist, "thank you for the gifts."
Xiao Shulang knew that Qin Yunting was just joking, to help him quickly integrate into the atmosphere and conversation of his home, and he was very grateful.
"Is there anything else you'd like to eat, Shulang? There aren't many formalities for family dinners. Just tell us what you want to eat and we'll have the kitchen add it."
That's what he said, but Xiao Shulang was too embarrassed to cause trouble, and he didn't mind, so he shook his head.
In the study, Qin Shuang was thinking about Xiao Shulang, and his father's words were a bit strange. He answered a few questions while multitasking, then stared intently at his father, who coughed because of his gaze.
Qin Shuang said helplessly, "You can just say what you want to say."
Seeing that his roundabout approach had been exposed, Qin's father dropped his serious demeanor and asked directly, "Have you made up your mind about the person you brought back?"
Qin Shuang sat up straight: "Yes."
He thought for a moment and added, "It has to be him."
"Youth is wonderful," Qin's father sighed. "Once you've made up your mind, treat others well. Your mother is always worried that you have communication difficulties. If there's anything you don't understand, you can come and ask me."
Qin Shuang looked up at him, her expression conveying her meaning clearly: What can I ask you?
"Anything is fine, whether it's about relationships or daily life."
Qin Shuang nodded calmly: "Okay."
Qin's father: "I feel like you don't trust me."
Qin Shuang spoke frankly: "I personally respect you, but my mother said that, emotionally, you were almost dumped by her back then."
"Ahem!" Qin's father coughed heavily twice. "Ah, let's stop here. Come on, let's go down and take a look."
When Qin Shuang came downstairs, Xiao Shulang was already chatting quite happily with Qin's mother and Qin Yunting, and there was no awkward situation. Qin Shuang breathed a sigh of relief.
When Qin's mother saw him coming, she didn't linger with Xiao Shulang. She and Qin's father made an excuse to leave temporarily. Qin Yunting didn't want to be a third wheel either. It was his birthday today, and he had a lot of messages to reply to, so he walked away with his phone in hand.
Qin Shuang sat down next to Xiao Shulang and held his hand: "How is it?"
“They are all very nice people,” Xiao Shulang said, “and they genuinely care about you.”
This is what family is. Even when children grow up, become independent, and have their own lives, even if they are so busy that they can't see each other more than a few times a year, there is still a natural warmth when they come home. It comes from a genuine concern.
Just as Qin Shuang was about to say something, Xiao Shulang suddenly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Of course, I care about you too."
If they weren't in an old house full of people, Qin Shuang would have loved to hug and kiss them right away.
But this wasn't their private space, so Qin Shuang simply held Xiao Shulang's hand tightly.
"I will give you a home," Qin Shuang told him. "I will be the one who cares about you the most."
Xiao Shulang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll remember."
See? Who says Qin Shuang can't express himself? He knows how to pick out the key points and speak the truth. As long as it's from the heart, it's absolutely pleasing to the ear.
Chapter 68 I want it, body and soul.
After the family lunch, outsiders began to arrive one after another in the afternoon. Some were Qin Yunting's friends, and some were business partners. The house gradually became more and more crowded.
There were too many people, and Qin Yunting alone couldn't possibly entertain them all. The Qin family members all had to make an appearance. Xiao Shulang stood with Qin Shuang, and since he was also good at business and socializing, he quickly became familiar with the people who came to chat.
At the same time, they quickly discerned who was close to the Qin family and who was merely there for social purposes, and who genuinely wanted to befriend them.
During the lunchtime family dinner, everyone sits at the table and eats properly. The evening party is much more relaxed, with everyone sitting in twos and threes, playing games and eating as they please.
Xiao Shulang, Qin Shuang, and several other young people sat together. They were all friends of the Qin family. Ji Jing was also there. Young people love to play games when they get together. They had already played several rounds of games, and then one of them went to the prop box and brought back something new.
The new game uses prop cards. The person whose name is drawn draws a card, which will have prohibitions written on it, such as "Don't laugh loudly." The person whose name is drawn must abide by these rules, and if they accidentally break them, they will be punished.
And the person who draws the lottery won't be told the specific details beforehand; everyone will even deliberately guide them to make mistakes, that's what makes it fun.
When it was Xiao Shulang's turn, he drew a card, but someone else had to see it. Ji Jing saw the card and read: "You cannot say 'I'."
"Wow, this is difficult," Ji Jing said. "I think we can start thinking about the punishment."
Except for Xiao Shulang, who couldn't look, the others also crowded around Ji Jing to look at the cards. Qin Shuang originally wanted to take a look too, but the others pushed her back, saying, "Don't look, don't look! You and Xiao Shulang are in cahoots. If you look, you'll definitely give him the answers."
The others also thought the question was easy and that Xiao Shulang could easily fall into it. Xiao Shulang tried to get information out of them: "No way, is it really too difficult? Can you give me a hint?"
Someone said, "It's not easy to give a hint. How about this, since the question is too difficult, we'll set a time limit for you, thirty minutes. Quickly, someone come and write down how many times he makes this mistake."
A young woman happily raised her hand: "Me, me!"
“Let’s think of a punishment first,” Ji Jing snapped his fingers. “Hey, we won’t make things difficult for you. How about this: for every time you break the rules, you kiss your boyfriend a certain number of times?”
The onlookers immediately egged him on, saying it was just kissing her boyfriend, but Xiao Shulang wasn't afraid: "Just playing."