Please Be More Serious | Chapter 24

Qiu Zheng Qing sees the restaurant Yin Ting mentioned she and her brother are waiting at. When he walks close to the restaurant, he sees Yin Ting sitting at the table next to glass window, photographing people on the street. When he walks past her lens, she stops. She points the lens at his face.

She saw him.

He knows this, because her lips have curved into a very adorable smile.

In that instant, he feels his heart melt into a puddle.

She presses the shutter as he stands there unmoving. She puts down the camera and waves at him. Her smile is so bright that he is unable to control his mirth. With big steps, he walks into the restaurant.

He needs to add some points to this project. The reason? Her smile is very pretty.

 Every time he has a private appointment, there are definitely three people involved.

He hands over the phone to Yin Ting, who thanks him profusely. She makes him order anything he wants, saying that he must eat to his heart’s desire today so that she can show him her gratitude.

Yin Shi nags about his sister’s carelessness. “You don’t even zip your bag properly. When you come home, you don’t go to your room upstairs but stay in the living room to play. You only realized your phone is lost the next morning. You went outside to search, this is really worrisome for other people.”

Yin Ting scrunches her nose, making a face at him. “Isn’t the phone back now? This is what people call life’s little challenges, we need to face them properly.”

Yin Shi snorted. “You have quite a number of life’s little challenges every day.”

She pats her brother. “If you keep on nagging, I’m not treating you anymore.”

Qiu Zheng Qing silently observes the pair of siblings banter, unable to find an opening to join their conversation. He is not too good at assimilating himself into such merry mood. He mentally sighs and decides to concentrate on reading the menu.

The three of them begin making their orders. The waiter makes notes of their orders and leaves. After a while Yin Ting, who has been analysing the menu, speaks up. “Ge, I still want to eat this one.”

“You already ordered a lot just now.”

“I know. So I’m saying we’re going to share this one, I can’t finish it myself.”

“No thanks, I don’t like to eat this one.”

“But I can’t finish it myself.”

“Then don’t order.”

“But I really want to try.”

“Then finish it yourself.”

“You help me.”

“I reject this request.”

Qiu Zheng Qing couldn’t help himself. He quips, “Just order it, I can try it too.” He doesn’t quite understand why but when he sees Yin Ting making that little frown saying she wants to eat the dish, he feels like he must definitely give her a helping hand.

Yin Ting beams and calls the waiter over to make her order. Yin Shi tells Qiu Zheng Qing, “You must treat her too nicely. She can just chat up anyone on the street and become close with them. Once you’re too polite, she won’t be anymore.”

“I’m not like that,” Yin Ting protests, while still talking to the waiter. She turns around to retort, “I’m still a person with manners and propriety. I know how to act according to the situation. Great Director Qiu is a good person, he’s very friendly. We’re really close, that’s why there’s no need for courtesy. Isn’t that right?” She turns towards Qiu Zheng Qing, waiting for his acknowledgment.

He nods. “Right, so you don’t have to be polite.” But what the heck does “very friendly” means?

Having gotten his support, Yin Ting smugly grins at her brother, chin lifted haughtily. Yin Shi pinches her cheeks, pinching so hard that Qiu Zheng Qing’s heart feels a little uncomfortable.

Yin Shi asks Qiu Zheng Qing, “Director Qiu, do you have any siblings?”

“None, I’m an only son.”

“So you don’t know the headaches that come with having a little sister.” Yin Shi makes an exaggerated show of sighing, causing Yin Ting to give him a nudge. Qiu Zheng Qing earnestly smiles at him, his mind thinking, “Believe me, my headaches lately are on par with yours.”

The food is served in a flash. Everyone starts eating while conversing and laughing happily. This is the first time Yin Ting has come to this restaurant. After reading the restaurant reviews online, she really wants to come here to try. Today is finally her opportunity to do so, hence her orders of so many dishes from the menu. Qiu Zheng Qing finally understands that, on the day her bike broke down, she was restraining herself.

Yin Ting’s appetite cannot be considered large. She eats a little of everything and leaves the rest to Yin Shi and Qiu Zheng Qing to finish. Yin Shi desperately tries to finish everything while complaining. Qiu Zheng Qing doesn’t feel comfortable complaining, so he only desperately tries to finish everything. Yin Shi encourages Qiu Zheng Qing to speak up his dissatisfaction, or else the mischievous little brat would not realize how much of a nuisance she is.

Yin Ting protests but Yin Shi continues nagging, “Really a big nuisance.” He drops more food on Yin Ting’s plate. “Finish everything, don’t waste anything.” Yin Ting pouts but still obediently polishes her plate clean.

Qiu Zheng Qing is quiet through the conversation. He frowns at his plate, continuing forcing food into his mouth. This pair of siblings, are they trying to show off their closeness? Have they considered other people’s feelings? Obviously the two of them didn’t.

Yin Ting happily laughs as she snaps a photo of Yin Shi with his mouth full. She says that she is going to share it with their friends. Taking a look at the photo, Yin Shi complains that he is not good looking enough, and then requests for a similar photo of Yin Ting. The both of them keep on bantering while laughing heartily. Yin Ting ends up deleting the photo and with her hand on his shoulder, says, “Young man, I’m still very concerned about retaining your handsome image. If you can’t find someone to marry, mom will blame me.”

Yin Shi retorts, “If you can’t get married, it’s definitely not my responsibility as your brother. You have no image to retain. Neither mom nor dad will blame me.”

Qiu Zheng Qing quietly watch them continue their banter, feeling that his assessment is correct after all. Yin Ting really acts like a spoiled child, coy and sweet. She also likes to stick to people. Once upon a time he thinks such girls are not good, he will feel disgusted with them. But today, seeing Yin Ting like this, he actually feels a little envious of Yin Shi.

On one side, his heart ridicules him. On the other, it is bursting with pink bubbles again.

He truly has quite a lot of headache-inducing headaches.

Yin Shi suddenly says, “Look at you, you’re making a mess of yourself. You’re graceless and you even eat so much, so extravagantly wasteful. Gu Ying Jie actually dared to promise to introduce to you a partner. He really doesn’t know you at all. Director Qiu also won’t dare to send you home next time. On his way to send you home, he’ll realize it’s not your phone that is missing but you. He is already frightened by you, he won’t bother with you in the future.”

Yin Ting is about to refute when Qiu Zheng Qing quips, “My guts are quite strong.”

Yin Shi is stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Director Qiu is really funny.”

Qiu Zheng Qing sips on his water. He adds, “I won’t not bother with her.”

He says it really solemnly. Yin Shi glances at his sister and Yin Ting nods a little. Please-be-more-serious is indeed this serious. “Okay then,” Yin Shi finally announces, “Your understanding of her is not deep enough yet.”

Yin Ting can’t be bothered with her brother. Yin Shi only laughs heartily.

Qiu Zheng Qing feels like sighing again. Where is the joke? The pair of siblings must have taken the “I really like to laugh” medicine.

Yin Ting’s extra order has arrived. It is a very large dish, furthermore there is an abundance of cilantro. Yin Shi immediately makes his stance clear: “I already said I won’t be eating any of this dish.” He is really full, how can he stuff any of this into his system?

Yin Ting smilingly places a piece of the dish into Yin Shi’s plate. Yin Shi shakes his head. “I don’t like cilantro.” She ignores him, placing another in Qiu Zheng Qing’s plate. Qiu Zheng Qing cannot say that he also hates cilantro. Neither can he say that he doesn’t like lamb meat. He is unable to say that he is really too full, or that he doesn’t want to eat anymore. So he ends up eating it.

Yin Ting also picks up a piece of lamb meat for herself. She purposely eats a little less earlier so she can save space for this dish. Biting on the meat, her eyes immediately twinkles. “Nice, it’s really good. They’re really not lying when they recommend this dish on the menu.”

Yin Shi complains, “I want to vomit as soon as I saw the cilantro.”

With much difficulty, Qiu Zheng Qing manages to swallow the mixture of lamb meat and cilantro. To be honest, it is enough just watching Yin Ting eat. Her expression will make one feel like whatever she is eating is indeed very delicious. However, for him, eating the dish is still a torture.

He eats very slowly. Yin Shi is extremely understanding and suggests, “Just pack up this dish for takeaway. Don’t eat too much, it’s no good if you end up stuffing yourself to death.”

That only made Qiu Zheng Qing more embarrassed. Earlier he was the one who asked Yin Ting to order, promising to help her finish. His performance ends up being so lacklustre. He feels his face warming and discreetly glances at Yin Ting. She is also watching him. Her attentive gaze makes his face even redder.

Please-be-more-serious actually gets red-faced when he eats. Yin Ting tries to control her laughter but fails. She has seen quite a few of men who are easily embarrassed but it is her first time seeing a serious and solemn man who is so easily embarrassed.

Yin Shi knocks her head. “You also hurry up and eat.”

Yin Ting lowers her head and eats her own part, no longer staring. Qiu Zheng Qing finally swallows his last bite, feeling that Yin Shi is truly a person worth befriending. Yin Shi is still berating Yin Ting, “You eat so much, when you become a fatty, see who will want you.”

Having finished herself, she responds, “I’m still young, my metabolism is very high. I won’t get fat that easily. On the other hand, you’re not young anymore. You’re the one who should exercise more. Just look at your stomach. If you cannot find a wife, how will I explain to mom.”

“I’m only 28,” Yin Shi cries.

The 33-year-old sitting opposite to them is only silent. He ponders over his own physique. He still doesn’t have a tummy, but if being 28-year-old is already being discriminated against, Qiu Zheng Qing this “elderly” feels a sense of crisis.

Seeing that it is getting late, the two siblings call for the waiter for the bill. Yin Ting takes out her card. Yin Shi is completely unabashed at having his little sister pay for the meal. Seeing the situation, Qiu Zheng Qing also doesn’t offer to pay and only graciously say his thanks.

He takes his leave, feeling it awkward to linger. Yin Ting and Yin Shi still wants to walk around, so the three of them say their farewells near the road intersection. Qiu Zheng Qing doesn’t turn around to look at Yin Ting. In his mind, this project is only barely considered acceptable. Rationally, it doesn’t look too favourable but feelings-wise, he is unwilling to give it up. During their lunch, the project gets some marks reduced for being discriminated for his age…

An elderly woman nearly trips when some pedestrian steps on her feet. Qiu Zheng Qing hurries to help her steady herself. “Thank you,” the woman thanks him.

“Are you going to the other side?” Qiu Zheng Qing asks, pointing at the opposite direction.

“That’s right,” the grey-haired elderly answers.

The road intersection is packed with pedestrians and there are also a lot of vehicles. “Let me help you cross the road,” he says. Holding her arm, he guides her with small, slow steps. His other hand is held up to signal the vehicles to slow down and wait for them to pass.

The elderly woman walks very slowly, Qiu Zheng Qing also follows her pace. Having helped her cross the road, he makes sure she will be alright. He turns around to cross the road again. Just when he is talking his first step, he hears a clear and bright voice shouting, “Please-be-more-serious!”

He turns around with a shock. She hasn’t left yet?

Then he sees her pointing her lens at him.

He breaks into a smile.

Snap, snap, snap.

He patiently waits for her to finish snapping. From behind the camera, she reveals a smiling face. It is very, very bright. She waves at him, bidding farewell. He watches as she runs towards her brother. Yin Shi rubs her head and puts his arm over her shoulder.

Please be more serious.

These words are what he wants to say to her. If only she is more serious, then this project will significantly increase its potential. He also won’t be suffering this sort of nervousness, he will have more confidence. If only she is more serious.

That night he receives an email from Yin Ting. She sent him photos she took of him. There are photographs of him standing outside the restaurant, photographs of him helping the elderly woman cross the road. The last few photographs are of him reacting to her voice at the intersection.

Surprise, calmness, then a smile.

He is standing amidst the crowd, tall and confident.

In her email, Yin Ting writes, “You’re really quite handsome” followed with a string of thumbs-up.

He smiles. He reads the rest of her email. “Question: why do people have grey hair?”

The nonsensical questions again? He replies, “Because people will inevitably grow old.”

She replies immediately with: “Wrong! That’s not due to age! It’s the radiance left by the passing of time. Time is very fair. No matter how you are, everyone will still shine!”

The image of her expression and tone saying these words immediately surfaces in his mind.

Everyone will still shine? She is not correct. Not everyone will shine.

In his eyes, there are a lot of people without radiance. He is still striving for radiance, only successful people have radiance. Therefore he needs to work hard; he needs to work very, very hard.

He waits for a long moment, but Yin Ting doesn’t send him anything new. He clicks onto her Weibo and sees that today she shared a joke. She did not write about the grey hair nonsensical question. He actually feels a little happy at that. He feels like that is their personal conversation topic.

The hour is getting late. While washing up, he stares at his reflection on the mirror. No tummy, but there aren’t abs either. His physique is tall and lean. Plus, she even complimented that he is handsome in her email.

Splashing water all over himself, his entire mind is occupied with her smile, her expression when she called him, her waving at him, her telling his parents to treat her kindly, her clasping her hands to thank him, her scrunching her nose at Yin Shi, her winking mischievously…

There is really not even one drop of seriousness in her blood. She likes to play around, she doesn’t like working, she will give him a headache. What exactly is it that he likes about her!?

But the fact is, he likes her! He misses her! He isn’t happy when other guys is dancing with her. He isn’t happy when Yin Shi is pinching her face. He isn’t happy when Yin Shi places his arm on her shoulder.

He isn’t happy her boyfriend is someone else!!!

Qiu Zheng Qing turns off the tap, releasing a breath.

When he was young, everyone told him that studying was useless and encouraged him to work immediately after high school. Even if he made it into university, he cannot pay his tuition. But he ended up entering university and even managed to get a scholarship. He overcame all the obstacles, working part-time to make money. In university, a lot of people said that it is good enough to just find a regular job after graduating. He refused to do so, he wanted to work at a big company, and he did it.

When his mother was still alive, he once said he wanted to buy a large house for her to live in. He said there should be a spacious living room and a balcony that will see a lot of light. There should be four rooms. Him and his wife will stay in one, his mother in another, one more as his office, and the last one would belong to their child. Back then, his mother laughed heartily, saying that it was impossible but was happy with his noble intentions. She is no longer here, but he made good on his promise!

In his entire life, there is nothing he cannot do once he set out to do it.

Why is the sun so high, so round, and so bright?

Because we have ambitions!

Her smile is like the sun. That is his ambition.

Qiu Zheng Qing wipes himself down and puts on his pants. He hurriedly runs back to his study. He dials her number, his heart thumping wildly.  She answered.

“Say, if there is an ambition that is unsuitable for you, but you really like it, will you still chase after it?”

“Chase!” Yin Ting’s answer is very firm. “If you like it, then you like it. What does suitable or not have anything to do with it? If it’s not suitable, why would you like it? If you like it, why would you complain it’s not suitable? Your ambition won’t be delayed because it’s not suitable, it will be delayed because you don’t like it enough.” She finishes in one breath, with the grandeur of a commander. She then adds, in a gossipy tone, “Who is it?”

Qiu Zheng Qing laughs. Clearing his throat, he says, “No one. I just remembered that you have confessed many times before, so I wanted to ask.”

“Hey! You actually tease your ally, be careful or I’ll eliminate you!”

He gently laughs.

He is really afraid of being eliminated.

“Good night,” he says very joyfully. His entire self has relaxed.

Ambitions are not delayed because it’s not suitable, they are delayed because you don’t like it enough. Angels are really good at debating flawed logics!

Then, the project is greenlighted, go!