No Ghosting Allowed

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As Zhou Qingbo finished speaking, he saw Zhou Jianguo’s back tense slightly, then he quickened his steps and hurried downstairs. It was as if he was being pursued by some ferocious beast.

Zhou Jianguo was tall and imposing, and Zhou Qingbo had never seen him “run away” like this. Unable to hold back, he leaned against the door and burst into laughter.

He found it amusing, yet touching. His heart softened and settled, and even the restlessness that had surrounded him for the past few days seemed to dissipate a lot.

He watched Zhou Jianguo go back to his room, then straightened up and entered the study. He turned off the floor lamp next to the sofa.

Several psychology books were scattered by the sofa, with the creases suggesting they were recently bought. Zhou Qingbo picked them up one by one, patted the nonexistent dust off them, and casually put them back on the shelf.

Suddenly, there came the sound of hurried footsteps from the corridor. Zhou Qingbo stood in front of the bookshelf and before he could turn around, he felt a cool breeze as the study door was pushed open once again.

“Brother?” Zhou Qingbo turned back, surprised. “What’s wrong?”

Zhou Cangshan didn’t say anything. He subconsciously scanned the study, and when he didn’t see anyone else, his tense shoulders relaxed a bit. He released his grip on the doorknob.

“…I heard Dad’s voice and also yours,” Zhou Cangshan said in a low voice.

“Oh, I came down to drink some water and saw Dad in the study looking up information, so I chatted with him for a bit,” Zhou Qingbo said. “Did I wake you?”

Zhou Cangshan had actually been asleep, but Zhou Jianguo’s temper hadn’t been restrained, and his voice was loud enough to wake him up on the second floor.

Their argument didn’t seem to have any clear content, but the tone was unfavorable. Zhou Cangshan was worried that Zhou Jianguo might get angry and resort to violence again, so he hurriedly rushed out.

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Now, seeing Zhou Qingbo okay, Zhou Cangshan felt relieved, but at the same time, he felt a bit awkward. He avoided Zhou Qingbo’s gaze somewhat uncomfortably.

“It’s nothing,” Zhou Cangshan said. “Just go back to bed. I’m going back to my room.”

He dropped those words and turned to leave, not giving Zhou Qingbo time to respond.

However, perhaps Zhou Cangshan’s reaction was too unexpected. Zhou Qingbo was momentarily dazed, then instinctively stepped forward to the study door. He called out to Zhou Cangshan.

“Brother,” Zhou Qingbo said.

Zhou Cangshan’s steps halted, and he asked what was the matter.

“Are you angry with me?” Zhou Qingbo asked.

Zhou Cangshan remained silent for a moment, not knowing how to answer. To be honest, his recent state of mind had been a bit complex. On one hand, he felt that he should firmly stand with Zhou Jianguo, intercepting Zhou Qingbo from his “abnormal” path and quickly steering him back on track. On the other hand, he remembered the scene from the day Zhou Qingbo got beaten up, and he couldn’t help but waver.

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He felt sorry for Zhou Qingbo and sometimes doubted himself, thinking that if Zhou Qingbo had even a slight amount of sincerity, then perhaps his own actions were betraying his little brother’s honesty.

Furthermore, he was the one who had reported to Zhou Jianguo, bringing their father here. Zhou Qingbo had suffered a beating, and Zhou Cangshan felt guilty. He felt that he should have been more cautious.

He was torn between guilt and opposition, caught between the two sides of his heart, struggling to make a decision. After a long while, he finally turned around, carefully thought about it, and truthfully said, “A bit.”

Compared to Zhou Qingbo, Zhou Cangshan and Zhou Jianguo were clearly cut from the same cloth. They were straightforward and transparent. Seeing Zhou Cangshan’s conflicted expression, Zhou Qingbo knew what was on his mind.

Zhou Cangshan’s life experience and level of authority were obviously not as extensive as Zhou Jianguo’s, and his wavering was too apparent. It was obvious enough for Zhou Qingbo to easily catch on. So, with a thought in his mind, Zhou Qingbo blinked and instinctively took another step forward.

“Brother, do you think I’m embarrassing you?” Zhou Qingbo continued to ask. “Because I’m gay and it might affect your reputation?”

This question from Zhou Qingbo was half-genuine and half-playful. He admitted that he did indeed want to seize the opportunity to chat with Zhou Cangshan again, mend their relationship, and play the emotional card. However, before the words left his mouth, Zhou Cangshan interrupted him.

“Let me think this through, Qingbo,” Zhou Cangshan said. “I’m not sure myself. But regardless, I will take care of you, and it’s definitely not because I’m afraid you’ll embarrass me.”

“I know,” Zhou Qingbo quickly said. “I just wanted to ask.”

“To be honest, Jiang Man has been advising me these days, and Mom has talked to me a few times as well,” Zhou Cangshan said. “Honestly, I still don’t understand why you’re so determined to be with a man, but give me some time to think it over.”

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“Brother—”

 Zhou Cangshan cut him off again. “I also shouldn’t have called Dad without discussing it with you first, but as for the rest, let’s talk about it later.”

Zhou Cangshan’s evasive attitude was quite apparent, and seeing this, Zhou Qingbo decided to hold back the words he had initially wanted to say. He simply made a soft acknowledgement sound and didn’t press further.

“Well then, I’ll go back to sleep, Brother,” Zhou Qingbo said obediently, “Goodnight.”

Zhou Cangshan made a sound of agreement. He watched as Zhou Qingbo went back to his room before sighing. He walked heavily back to his own bedroom.

A small night light was on in the bedroom, and Jiang Man had been awakened by the commotion. She was sitting on the bed rubbing her eyes. When she saw him enter, she asked in a muffled voice, “What’s going on? Did you guys have a fight?”

“No,” Zhou Cangshan’s expression still carried the weight of his thoughts. He gave a perfunctory response, then sat on the edge of the bed, hesitating for a while before tentatively saying, “Man Man, do you think, maybe we really can’t persuade him?”

Jiang Man had been on Zhou Qingbo’s side from the beginning. She yawned lazily in response and leaned back onto the bed.

“Yeah,” Jiang Man, too tired to open her eyes, replied nonchalantly, “You finally figured it out. Congratulations.”

“But I don’t understand, really,” Zhou Cangshan’s face was filled with confusion, “What’s so good about liking men? What if he regrets it later? By that time, won’t it become a stain on his life?”

Jiang Man: “…”

Help, Jiang Man thought, how did I fall for this wooden head?

“And it seems like you and Mom don’t really take this seriously either?” Zhou Cangshan questioned, “With Qingbo being like this, unable to marry or have children, what’s he going to do when he gets older?”

“He’s rich,” Jiang Man, annoyed by Zhou Cangshan’s rambling, couldn’t help but push away the covers and sit up in bed. She said with a sense of resignation, “If he breaks up with Pei You and can’t find someone else, he can still afford to live in the best retirement home.”

“Besides, what do you mean by stain?” Jiang Man reached out to hold Zhou Cangshan’s hand and lightly touched the calluses on it. She spoke softly and gently, “When I was in England, there were homosexuals everywhere on the streets and at school. Our school even had a dedicated rainbow club, and there was a day for confessions each week. You could go on a date with someone you liked that day— I’ve even been confessed to by girls.”

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“What?!” Zhou Cangshan had been lost in thought just now. Upon hearing this sentence, he was jolted back to attention. It was as if someone had pressed a radar button inside him. He instinctively asked, “You agreed to go on a date with a girl?”

“Is that the point?!” Jiang Man, frustrated, swatted him.

Zhou Cangshan cleared his throat, and said, “Please continue.”

“One’s sexual orientation isn’t something they can control, but societal perception is influenced by the environment,” Jiang Man explained and yawned again, saying, “If you went abroad for ten or twenty years, you wouldn’t think this is a problem in any way.”

Zhou Cangshan pursed his lips thoughtfully and didn’t say anything.

“But come to think of it, why did you suddenly bring this up?” Jiang Man said, “I thought you would remain stubborn to the end.”

“I was thinking, Qingbo has never willingly endured much hardship in his life,” Zhou Cangshan said in a low voice, his face showing confusion, “He’s this grown up, and I’ve only seen him do it twice. One was when he learned to bartend, and the other is now with Pei You.”

Zhou Qingbo was a delicate person who wouldn’t willingly subject himself to hardship—unless he genuinely liked something.

Learning bartending was a demanding skill. It required a lot of tedious practice, along with a certain level of risk. Zhou Qingbo had practiced tirelessly for several years when he first started, leaving bruises on both his arms and bandages on his wrists. Despite this, when it came to bartending, he still had some room for compromise. He knew his family didn’t approve of him doing it, so he hid it and fought a guerrilla warfare with Zhou Cangshan.

Zhou Cangshan had initially thought that Qingbo’s level of stubbornness and attachment couldn’t go beyond this point. However, it wasn’t until the confrontation that day that he realized he was wrong.

In regards to Pei You, he was completely unwilling to compromise or back down. Starting from the moment he confronted Zhou Jianguo head-on, Zhou Cangshan had subconsciously realized that he was truly serious this time.

“Now that you understand, why are you still making it hard for him?” Jiang Man said, “If I forced you to start dating a man right now, would you accept it?”

“…”

This hypothesis was too terrifying. Just considering it made Zhou Cangshan’s skin crawl and he felt awkward all over.

“You see, you can’t either,” Jiang Man said, “For Qingbo, having you tell him to date a girl feels the same way you feel now.”

 Zhou Cangshan opened his mouth but ultimately didn’t say anything.

Whether these two “late-night discussions” had an effect or not, the next morning, Zhou Jianguo, for a change, didn’t avoid Zhou Qingbo. Instead, he called him downstairs and initiated a “family meeting.”

 Zhou Qingbo scratched his head, cautiously surveyed the room, and finally sat down in the only empty seat across from Zhou Jianguo.

“After these few days, you seem to have calmed down quite a bit,” Liang Ying was the first to speak, “Today’s meeting is mainly because your dad wants to understand the person you like.”

“Who said I want to understand them?” Zhou Jianguo said irritably, “I am—”

He hadn’t finished his sentence because Liang Ying lightly tapped his leg under the table, silencing his words.

Zhou Jianguo glanced at Liang Ying’s expression and grudgingly changed his words on the spot, “Ah… right, you’re right, as you said.”

“Qingbo mentioned that you’ve met that boy,” Liang Ying shifted the conversation to Zhou Cangshan, “What kind of person is he?”

Zhou Cangshan wouldn’t be able to look someone in the eye and say someone else was bad when he wasn’t. He looked at Zhou Jianguo and then at Zhou Qingbo, touched his conscience, and told the truth, “He’s good, he has a good education, a good job, and a decent personality.”

Zhou Jianguo’s mood was still a bit sour, and he couldn’t help but snort before saying, “So how did he become interested in you? You—hiss!”

His sentence came to a sudden stop as Liang Ying retracted her hand from under the table. She smiled gently and said, “Go on, Cangshan.”

Zhou Cangshan had witnessed the interaction between Pei You and Zhou Qingbo. To be honest, if one of them were a woman, he would surely have enthusiastically supported their relationship. However, the issue was that both of them were men. Zhou Cangshan felt uncomfortable just thinking about it.

“Nothing else,” Zhou Cangshan said, “he’s… he’s a decent person.”

“What about his family?” Liang Ying asked Zhou Qingbo, “Have you talked to his family about your relationship?”

“His family knows,” Zhou Qingbo smiled and said, “If it weren’t for me needing to come back and explain the situation to you, he would have probably already introduced me to his mother.”

This answer was clearly beyond the expectations of the older members of the Zhou family. Even Liang Ying was taken aback, asking if it was really true.

“It’s true,” Zhou Qingbo said nonchalantly, “He came out to his family when he had just come of age. To be honest, we actually first met at blind date from a matchmaking event his mother had organized.”

Zhou Cangshan: “…”

Zhou Cangshan belatedly remembered the “Matchmaking and Love Student Association.” It suddenly dawned on him that this matter had started much earlier than he realized.

Perhaps people tend to follow the crowd. With a positive example from Pei You’s family set before them, the psychological barriers of the Zhou family seemed to have been smoothed out somewhat. Liang Ying didn’t beat around the bush about Pei You anymore. Instead, she directly asked Zhou Qingbo about their plans for the future.

“To be honest, we don’t have any particular plans,” Zhou Qingbo truthfully said, “We like each other, so we’ll just get along well. I don’t think we’re any different from straight couples, and I don’t feel the need to make any overly strict commitments.”

This family meeting went on for a long time and covered a wide range of topics. Due to the personalities of Zhou Jianguo and Zhou Cangshan, the Zhou family rarely had such open-hearted conversations. As a result, the meeting progressed, from early morning until lunchtime.

Setting aside their differing perspectives, Zhou Qingbo discussed the process of how he and Pei You had met, as well as the journey of their decision to be together. During this time, Zhou Cangshan and Zhou Jianguo listened intently, but neither of them provided a clear answer.

However, Zhou Qingbo didn’t expect to sway them with just one conversation. In his eyes, this was merely the first step of a long journey. He didn’t know that after he finished lunch and returned to his room, Liang Ying and Jiang Man followed closely behind.

“Pack your things,” Liang Ying said, “Your grandpa called. He said he’s missing you. So, tidy up and have your sister-in-law take you to stay with him for a few days.”

“Grandpa?” Zhou Qingbo was puzzled, “Doesn’t he prefer peace and quiet? And Dad—”

Zhou Qingbo was about to say that Zhou Jianguo had ostensibly restricted him from leaving the house, but before he could, Jiang Man shot him a glare and silenced him.

“Are you being foolish?” Jiang Man said, “Your dad finally relaxed a bit. Aren’t you going to hurry up and leave?”

At first, Zhou Qingbo was confused, but then he suddenly realized what Jiang Man meant. A hint of joy appeared on his face, “Really, Mom? Is Dad finally accepting the situation?”

Liang Ying stood by the bedroom door, extending her hand to playfully tap his forehead, “Though your dad still can’t fully accept it, he’s not as resistant now.”

“He can’t just easily change his stance once. He feels that if you leave, it’s like he’s agreeing to both of you. But he also can’t bear to keep you confined here all the time. That’s why he purposely found a reason,” Liang Ying whispered softly into Zhou Qingbo’s ear, “Sweetheart, can you give him a way out?”