Chapter 68 Group Photo

Chen Shuze was ready to endure everything. He thought that if Feng Ran really slapped him, the matter could be settled, which could be considered a good deal.

As long as he was gentle and didn't cause a concussion or deafness, there would be no problem.

Unfortunately, it didn't happen. As soon as he left the house, he received a call from his father, asking him to go home immediately.

His home was not far from Jiang City - two or three hundred kilometers, and it took a few hours to drive there.

When he was young, he and his parents didn't get along. They didn't like each other, and the atmosphere at home was not good, and they were often on the verge of a fight. Now both sides are older, and they have restrained themselves a lot. They only see each other a few times a year, but they are in harmony.

He felt uneasy all the way. His father was urging him on the phone, but he didn't say what the matter was.

Just as he arrived at his home, before he could even knock, the door opened. His mother exclaimed joyfully, "Xiao Ze, you're finally back! Come on in."

Chen Shuze said, "What's wrong? What happened?"

As he entered, he saw a woman sitting on the sofa, playing with blocks with Ruoruo. She turned upon seeing him enter.

It was a woman about his age, with long flowing hair and smart clothes.

His mother smiled and said, "Xiao Ze, this is Qianqian, Uncle Jiang's daughter. Qianqian, this is my son."

The girl said politely, "Hello."

Chen Shuze was completely taken aback by this scene. He didn't know whether to stand or sit. He replied awkwardly and retreated into the bedroom.

He sat at his desk and noticed a photo on the shelf.

It was of him and Feng Ran.

In the photo, he was wearing a bachelor's gown, standing on one side of a large stone carved with the word "diligence" (hardworking) at school, with Feng Ran on the other. He was the only one in the frame, looking at the camera, a youthful smile on his face.

The entire photo was a disaster. There was no composition, no light and shadow, the horizon was skewed, and the setting sun shone on their faces, leaving them both tanned.

He remembered something.

On the eve of graduation, his roommate had just bought a camera to learn photography and wanted to practice on him. The rock was a school landmark, and many people had come to take pictures that day.

It took a long time before his turn came. By then, the sun was setting and the crowd was dispersing. His roommate was about to click the shutter, but he said, "Wait a minute, there's someone behind us. Wait until he passes."

So Chen Shuze looked back. Feng Ran was approaching from behind, clutching several books, in a hurry, and he didn't see him.

An idea struck Chen Shuze: "Take it, right now."

The door opened a crack, and Ruoruo peeked in. He saw her, waved, and Ruoruo came running over.

Chen Shuze smiled, grabbed her hand, and signed, "What are you doing?

" Ruoruo replied, "Playing with my sister."

Chen Shuze asked, "Who's that?"

Ruoruo tilted her head, thinking hard, and said, "I don't know." Mom didn't tell me.

Chen Shuze touched her head and said, "Go play with your sister.

" He picked up his phone and called his father. As soon as the call went through, he asked him, "You guys rushed me home so anxiously this morning just to ask me to go on a blind date? I didn't even go to the company, and you rushed back just for this?"

His father was very calm: "Your mother and I think this is more important than your day's work. You're not young anymore, it's time to get married."

Get married, get married. Chen Shuze was in a headache: "I already told you I can't get married. I don't like women at all."

His father said, "I have no idea what you are talking about. I'm warning you not to bring back the bad habits you picked up outside, abroad! You don't like women, so what do you like? Men?"

Chen Shuze hung up the phone.

He was reluctant to leave, and his mother came to the bedroom door to urge him. He opened the door with a gloomy face.

His mother hit him with a hammer and muttered in a low voice, "Are you going to die? What a disgrace! You're so rude in front of a girl!"

Chen Shuze said, "I told you I like men, have you forgotten?"

His mother's face changed slightly. "You're almost thirty, not in your early twenties. You can do whatever you want."

"I'm not. I haven't changed. Who knew you would just keep giving up?"

He said, walking towards the living room. On the sofa, Ruoruo was still concentrating on building blocks. The subtle atmosphere of the environment had no effect on her. The strange woman, however, tensed uncomfortably, clutched a block tightly in her hand.

He said gently, "Excuse me, can you please talk for a moment?"

His mother shouted, "What are you going to say?"

Chen Shuze boldly replied, "I'm gay."

The girl's hand loosened, and she breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Is that so?"

His mother anxiously said, "You're just listening to his nonsense! He's not gay. If he was, how come he hasn't had a boyfriend in all these years? He can say anything!"

Chen Shuze replied, "I do, and you didn't ask me."

Seeing the mother and son about to argue, the girl quickly stood up and said, "Auntie, I'll go back first."

Her mother took her arm and said, "Hey, Qianqian, please don't..."

She shook her head, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Chen Shuze said, "It doesn't matter. It's okay if you tell anyone. I don't care."

His mother glared at him, then turned to the girl and said with a smile, "Qianqian, you've made it all this way. Eat here today. Chen Shuze, go make dinner."

The girl began to refuse, but her mother's repeated persuasion finally convinced her to stay.

Chen Shuze was cooking in the kitchen when his mother came in to help, nagging him again about his sexual orientation.

He was extremely annoyed: "Don't say anything, I'll leave after dinner."

His mother said: "Look at what you said. I'm telling you, let's both compromise. No matter if it's a man or a woman, you have to settle down this year. You said you have a boyfriend? Okay, show me his photo now!"

He rushed into the bedroom in front of his mother's surprised eyes and took out the terrible photo:

"That's him."