Marry First Love Later Ch. 9

Chapter 9- C-Can I hug you?

When Yao QiQi returned home, her mother was changed into a beautiful red dress. It was rare to see her mother dressed like this, it made her eyebrows jump and she asked, “Where are you going dressed like that?”

Mother Yao looked at the mirror as she put on lipstick, “I’m going to see little Xie’s aunt, we’re going to discuss the details of your wedding.” 

I knew she was up to no good. 

Yao QiQi put on a fake smile, “Then I hope you have fun. I’m going to my room now.”

“Wait,” Mother Yao called out to her, “how was it last night?”

Yao QiQi: “….”

Was there another mother in this world who loved gossip more than her mother?

“Awkward and embarrassing. Now, Ms. Zhang, I have work to do, goodbye!” She hurriedly ran off. 

Since she didn’t stream yesterday, Yao QiQi’s inbox was bombarded with messages. 

Old Cai: 【Captain where are you?! Your brothers are waiting for you!】

Invincible Demon King: 【AHHHHH…I miss you so much, Sister Qi! You won’t even reply to your WeChat! I’m so lonely…huhuhu.】

Little Cutie: 【Whaaaa- Did you get married or something? Sister Qi, have you forgotten about your little cutie?】

Invincible Demon King: 【Fu*k! I just saw what happened from the hot section. If that scum dares to annoy you, call up your brothers and we’ll beat her up!】

Old Cai: 【Captain, I think King of Comedy got blocked….】

…..

Yao QiQi swiped through the rest of the messages from her teammate before opening up one from the streaming service’s management. 

Idiotic Management [1]: 【What are you doing? Are you so busy that you can’t even return a call? Anyhow, that person already handled everything, so don’t worry and continue your streams as usual.】

Yao QiQi smiled and closed the chatbox. 

She opened the team chat. 

<<Beat the foreigners’ at their own game!>> four-man squad: 

Asian Server’s Boss: I’m back. 

Old Cai: Captain! 

Invincible Demon King: Fu*k yeah! Sister Qi’s finally back!

Little Cutie: You’ve been silent all day! Tell us, did you get married? Lol. 

Asian Server’s Boss: En, I’ll invite you guys to drink at my wedding. 

Little Cutie: …..

Invincible Demon King: …..

Old Cai: …… 

Asian Server’s Boss: It just got officialized so the wedding date hasn’t been set, but when it does, I’ll invite you guys to come over. Well, are you guys interested? 

Old Cai: …Captain, are you serious?

Asian Server’s Boss: Really serious. A long-legged fair-skinned professor from overseas who teaches at “A” University. Way out of my league. 

Invincible Demon King: Fu*k you! Do you even have any shame left? 

Little Cutie: Even I can’t beat this level of arrogance… 

Just thinking about Xie Lan’s serious-looking face wiped away all of Yao QiQi’s bad mood. She turned on the voice chat and said, “Alright let’s start the stream early today guys, I got a date with our professor Xie later tonight. Let’s work hard boys, daddy’s gonna be going first~

Squad members: …..

To make up for the previous day’s absence to her fans, Yao QiQi streamed the entire day and cut down the number of ads as well. However, today she was extra careful to not curse or swear like she usually did and played seriously. 

She couldn’t help it, after all, she was married now and couldn’t do things that might make her wife sad. Although she remembered that Xie Lan probably doesn’t even watch her stream. 

What a pity.

---

Around five o’clock in the afternoon, Yao QiQi received a call from Xie Lan. 

“Ms. Yao booked a reservation for us at a restaurant. Let’s go there together.” 

Yao QiQi hadn’t realized till now that Xie Lan’s voice was quite pleasing to the ear. Although she had been streaming for many years now, she never heard anything like this, this kind of low and magnetic voice that carried a touch of tenderness despite the cold exterior… 

Wait, but she’s only gentle with me, ahhh, just thinking about it is embarrassing! 

Despite her inner turmoil, Yao QiQi answered calmly, “My mother didn’t say anything about a restaurant to me. Did she call you directly?”

“Yes.”

Yao QiQi gritted her teeth in frustration. That mother of hers really is something! 

“Ok then if that’s the case I’ll…”

“Wait for me, I’ll come and pick you up.”

“Ok~”

Yao QiQi hung up and then looked down at her phone. Was this the legendary so-called pampering she’s heard so much about?

Feeling deeply moved, Yao QiQi sighed and changed her clothes. Now was not the time to be careless because it is time to meet the elders. 

When Xie Lan arrived, she was Yao QiQi waiting for her at the gate.

The girl was wearing a tight yellow gown with high heels and her long hair hanging down her shoulders. Paired together, she looked extra slender, playful and lovely. 

This was Yao QiQi’s standard “good girl” dress, and it made her seem even younger, a cool breeze in the summer heat. 

Xie Lang slowly rolled down the window, “Get in.”

Yao QiQi nodded and sat in the passenger’s seat, however, as soon as she sat down, Xie Lan turned to face her. 

Yao QiQi: “!”

Xie Lan didn’t say anything and instead, reached over to fasten Yao QiQi’s seatbelt for her. 

Yao QiQi: …..

Xie Lan: “Did you wait for a long time?” 

Yao QiQi blinked and abruptly turned her eyes to the front, “N-No I just finished changing…” This Xie Lan always acted outside of her expectations, causing her to feel flustered.

Half an hour later, they reached their destination. 

They were directed to a private room that Xie Lan’s aunt reserved. Yao QiQi knew the expensive price tag this place had and thought that the elders were quite generous to book it. She was about to open the door when something grabbed her wrist. 

Yao QiQi looked down.  

A white, slender white hand held her wrist and the entranced Yao QiQi, watched as that hand slid down her wrist and down to her fingers, holding her tight. 

This smooth and easy action seemed to have been done plenty of times, but in reality, the other party was so nervous they could barely speak. 

Yao QiQi even felt a slight tremble from the other, causing her to smile. 

Does she have to be so nervous? We’re just holding hands….

Thinking like this, Yao QiQi sighed and she silently squeezed the other’s hand.

---

Mother Yao opened the door and when she saw the two, smiled so widely that her eyebrows disappeared, “Finally you two are here, we’ve been waiting all day.” 

Meanwhile, when Xie Lan’s aunt saw the pair tightly holding hands, a slight smile appeared in her eyes just briefly.

“The newlyweds are quite affectionate with each other.”

No matter how thick Yao QiQi’s skin was, when she heard this, her ears reddened slightly and she replied with a soft ‘Hello auntie’. 

Then she glanced sideways at the silent Xie Lan beside her. Xie Lan had been watching her the entire time, so when she saw Yao QiQi look at her she looked back with questioning eyes. 

Yao QiQi didn’t speak, but her face turned redder. 

“Don’t just stand there, come sit down. Today, we need to discuss the details of the wedding,” Mother Yao said with a smile. 

Xie Lan’s aunt nodded, “We decided to set the date of the wedding on August 8th. It’s an auspicious day, full of good luck. Do you two have any comments? QiQi?”

Yao QiQi obediently replied, “I have no opinion on the matter, just do what the elders see fit.”

Xie Lan glanced at her and then said indifferently, “I also don’t have an opinion.” 

Mother Yao clapped her hands together, “Alright now that’s settled, let’s discuss who to invite…”

The forever in the background Father Yao nodded along to Mother Yao’s words. 

To Yao QiQi, she felt that her mother was anxious to get her out of the house. The date seemed a little hasty and it probably was because of her mother. 

After dinner, Yao QiQi wanted to go home in her father’s car but was quickly shooed out by her mother, “Go sit in little Xie’s car and get her to take you to a movie. No need to come home tonight~~”

On the other side, Xie Lan’s aunt got into her car and told Xie Lan, “I’ll drive myself home. You and QiQi should go out and play. Have fun.” 

Yao QiQi: …..

Xie Lan: …..

Both cars quickly drove away. 

Yao QiQi stood in place, frozen and speechless for a while. 

Xie Lan: “….do you want to go see a movie?”

Yao QiQi pictured seeing a movie with a Xie Lan and then furiously shook her head, “Nope, no way, don’t want to.”

Not waiting for Xie Lan to speak, she quickly said, “I remember that there is a park nearby, let’s walk around for a while.” 

Xie Lan didn’t hesitate to agree and nodded. 

There was indeed a park nearby with a nice water fountain and nightlife. Most of the people in the park were families who had just finished eating. 

The adults sat around talking to each other and the children, not afraid of the biting cold, chased each other around the water fountain, splashing one another. It was a noisy and exciting atmosphere. 

Yao QiQi looked around and finally found a quiet place, far away from children. 

Xie Lan looked at her and asked, “Do you not like children?”

Yao QiQi shook her head, “Currently? Not very much.” Then she paused as if she discovered something interesting and asked, “Why? Does Professor Xie like children?”

Xie Lan froze, then shook her head, “I also do not like children right now.” 

Yao QiQi thought that Xie Lan was lying in order to humor her, “Then what about later? What if you want children in the future?” 

Xie Lan, seemingly stumped, innocently replied, “ If y-you want one, then we can have one.” 

Yao Qiqi bowed her head and laughed.

Xie Lan was puzzled, “What are you laughing at?”

Yao QiQi looked up at her with bright eyes, “Laughing at you, silly!”

This one smile was so precious and bright that even the stars lost their luster, causing Xie Lan to squint. 

Her heart also began to beat wildly. 

Their eyes met and Yao QiQi realized that Xie Lan’s eyes didn’t look quite right, something was off. She rubbed her ears, trying hard to find an excuse to break this awkward silence. 

Then she heard Xie Lan suddenly say: 

“C-Can I hug you?”

Yao QiQi: …..

She waited for a long time, but Yao QiQi still hadn’t responded. Thinking that Yao QiQi was unwilling to oblige her request, a sense of disappointment appeared in her eyes.

On the other hand, Yao QiQi was lost in thought, almost shocked at the idea that there was still ‘a pure heart’ left in this world. 

When she returned to her senses, without thinking, she raised her arms and jumped into the others’ embrace. 

Feeling the soft body that was tightly pressed against hers and that sweet breath that touched her skin, Xie Lan’s mind slowed before she carefully embraced the person in her arms. 

Although Yao QiQi felt embarrassed, one side had to initiate the hug eventually, so she might as well be the one to do it.

“….QiQi.”

Yao QiQi’s shivered, was this the first time Xie Lan had called her like that?

Wow, why did it feel so touching coming from her lips?

No, she must not let her feelings go out of control! Just hold on a little longer!

Wait, are we going to kiss next? 

Suppressing the restlessness in her heart, Yao QiQi looked up, tilted her head and whispered softly, “Professor Xie…”

Meeting her gaze, Xie Lan felt extremely nervous and suddenly said, “I-It’s getting late, let me take you home.”

Yao QiQi: …..

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T/N notes:

[1] “Idiotic Management” No I did not mistranslate, I made it sound more PG. The original was something much cruder like “disabled” or “retarded” 

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