Hearing You Say Love chapter 41
Double Standards
After Zou Beiyuan returned, Su Ming and Song Zhixian had finished chatting. He helped Su Ming up and said to his grandmother, “I’ll take him home first and come back to see you later.”
Song Zhixian waved her hand, “Go on, you don’t need to stay here. Go take care of your own things.”
Once they were out of the hospital room, Zou Beiyuan skillfully squatted in front of Su Ming and tilted his head, saying, “Get on.”
Su Ming leaned against the wall, glancing back at the hospital room, feeling a bit hesitant.
“Hurry up.” Zou Beiyuan urged him.
Song Zhixian and Zou Beiyuan’s aunt were still chatting in the room, and it sounded like they wouldn’t come out anytime soon, so Su Ming bent down and climbed onto Zou Beiyuan’s back, wrapping his arms around his neck.
Zou Beiyuan seemed to have no concerns about this; he naturally carried Su Ming on his back. The vibrations of his speech traveled through his broad, strong back to Su Ming’s chest.
“You should go home and rest. I’ll order takeout for my grandmother. Don’t worry about cooking; standing while cooking isn’t good for your feet.”
Su Ming’s face was close to Zou Beiyuan’s ear, and he shook his head.
The soft touch of his skin brushed against the ear, making Zou Beiyuan feel a bit ticklish. He subtly paused for a moment before saying, “Don’t be stubborn.”
Su Ming tightened his grip around Zou Beiyuan’s neck, still shaking his head.
A few people were waiting at the elevator, and Su Ming buried most of his face into Zou Beiyuan’s shoulder, not wanting other people’s gazes to linger on him for too long.
However, Zou Beiyuan was too noticeable—not only was he exceptionally tall, but he was also very handsome, making it seem like he was from a different world, shining brightly and hard to hide in a crowd.
Su Ming had no choice but to bury his face even deeper like an ostrich.
Warm breaths brushed against the side of Zou Beiyuan’s neck as he gently turned his head to look at Su Ming, just as Su Ming also tilted his head to glance at Zou Beiyuan, resulting in their lips accidentally brushing against each other’s faces.
Both of them turned red.
On the way back to the neighborhood, Su Ming messaged Su Mo to inform him about Song Zhixian’s hospitalization.
Su Mo: [I’m in Mingshan, coming back tomorrow. Which room is Teacher Song in?]
Su Ming provided the floor and bed number and added: [I’ll be in charge of cooking for the teacher; Zou Beiyuan is in charge of delivering it every day. When he has something else to do, I might need you to deliver it.]
Su Mo: [No problem, but why is Zou Beiyuan delivering meals to our teacher?]
Su Ming glanced at the person driving seriously: [Because he is Teacher Song’s grandson.]
Su Mo: [?]
Su Ming: [Once my foot injury heals, I won’t need you anymore; I’ll deliver it myself.]
Su Mo: [You’re injured???]
Su Mo: [I’ll come back tonight.]
Su Ming: …
After parking the car, Zou Beiyuan carried Su Ming back home, and his phone rang incessantly along the way. It wasn’t until he placed Su Ming on the sofa that he freed his hand to return the call.
The English he spoke was incomprehensible to Su Ming.
“I’ll go to the boxing gym for a bit,” Zou Beiyuan said after hanging up, “You just rest quietly and don’t strain yourself. I’ll order takeout for dinner when I get back.”
Seeing that Su Ming didn’t respond, he crouched down and pressed his large hand on Su Ming’s head to make him look at him, “Auntie thinks takeout isn’t nutritious, and I didn’t want to argue with her. I know a few really good restaurants. I’ll order from them later. Don’t push yourself, okay?”
Su Ming didn’t tell him that he had already ordered fresh groceries while they were in the car and just nodded perfunctorily.
By the time Zou Beiyuan returned in the evening, Su Ming had already prepared meals for everyone, neatly packed in insulated containers and boxes, ready to be taken to the hospital.
Zou Beiyuan frowned at the large amount of food, “This is enough for five people. I told you not to exhaust yourself, yet you still made so much.”
Su Ming handed him the bag and gestured goodbye.
Zou Beiyuan, holding the bag, asked him, “And you? What are you eating?”
Su Ming pointed to a small bowl of soup and a small bowl of rice on the table: Just this.
“Come with me to the hospital.”
Su Ming shook his head.
“Come on, we had lunch together, and Auntie and Grandma like you very much.”
Su Ming still shook his head. If it were just Teacher Song who was sick, he would have no problem going eight times a day. But with Teacher Song being Zou Beiyuan’s grandmother, he felt uncomfortable visiting so frequently.
There was a sense of guilt.
It felt like accidentally plucking a well-cultivated cabbage from the teacher’s garden.
Mr. Cabbage pushed the bag containing the meal containers forward, “Take it.”
Su Ming reflexively took it. Before he could ask what he wanted to do, he suddenly found himself lifted into the air by Zou Beiyuan.
“Come with me,” Zou Beiyuan said as he carried him outside, reminding him, “Don’t move; be careful not to spill the soup.”
Ms. Song’s hospital room was lively; Zou Jingnan had arrived.
C University’s affiliated hospital and C University Medical School were just across the street, and Zou Jingnan complained to her aunt for not telling her sooner, saying that it was Zou Beiyuan who informed her.
“Don’t you have a teacher in this department?” Fu Ruoqin asked her, “Have your teacher pay more attention to your grandmother.”
Zou Jingnan shrank her neck, “No way! If I run into my teacher, he will definitely quiz me.”
Fu Ruoqin: “So what if he quizzes you? Can’t you answer?”
Zou Jingnan confidently replied, “Of course not.”
Fu Ruoqin: “Why are you so embarrassing?”
Zou Jingnan: “I’m a freshman! How long has it been since school started!”
Fu Ruoqin didn’t listen to her explanation, speaking in a commanding tone, “You’re no use at all.”
Zou Jingnan wanted to defend herself, but when she turned her head, she saw Zou Beiyuan supporting in a particularly handsome man. Her eyes widened: “Who is this?”
Song Zhixian said, “This is Su Ming.”
The name Su Ming sounded very familiar, but Zou Jingnan couldn’t recall where she had heard it before.
Su Ming smiled at her and sat down with Zou Beiyuan by the coffee table to set up dinner.
As he lowered his head, Zou Jingnan noticed a black cochlear implant hidden in his half-tied hair, and suddenly remembered that her grandmother’s close student was deaf and mute.
Zou Jingnan’s first reaction was surprise; she hadn’t expected this student to be so handsome and thought she should have gotten to know him earlier.
Her second reaction was wondering how Zou Beiyuan was so close to him.
Her third reaction was that the dishes smelled delicious.
Zou Jingnan leaned closer to the coffee table and asked, “Is there any for me?”
Zou Beiyuan replied, “No, go back to school and eat at the cafeteria.”
Su Ming handed her a pair of chopsticks. Zou Jingnan smiled so wide that her eyes disappeared, taking them and saying, “Thank you, Su Ming, Ge.”
During dinner, Zou Jingnan and Fu Ruoqin praised Su Ming’s cooking skills. Zou Jingnan was almost moved to tears, saying she would definitely find a boyfriend who could cook like Su Ming.
Zou Beiyuan immediately said, “You came late; Ming Ge already has someone he likes.”
Zou Jingnan replied happily, “Then the next good-looking guy who can cook will definitely be mine.”
What had started as a joke was taken seriously by Song Zhixian, who asked Su Ming, “Is there someone in your heart?”
This question caused everyone’s attention to focus on Su Ming.
Not knowing why he had suddenly become the center of attention, Su Ming bit the tip of his chopsticks, glanced at Zou Beiyuan, and nodded at Teacher Song.
Song Zhixian smiled lovingly and continued to ask him, “What kind of girl is she?”
Su Ming looked at Zou Beiyuan again, thinking, A girl who is 1.9 meters tall.
The girl who was 1.9 meters tall helped him out: “Grandma, you know he has difficulty speaking, so don’t ask him questions while we’re eating.”
Song Zhixian then turned her attention to her grandson: “How about you? Weren’t you the one who said you would find someone yourself? Have you found anyone after all this time?”
Zou Beiyuan: “…”
Su Ming found it a bit amusing and pressed his lips together.
“By the way,” Fu Ruoqin said, “a new girl joined our department; she’s especially pretty and has a great personality. She’s also very tall, so she would definitely make a good match with Xiao Yuan.”
“Really?” Song Zhixian showed interest. “Does she have a boyfriend?”
“If she had a boyfriend, would I be trying to match them?” Fu Ruoqin glanced at her own mother. “That girl’s mother is a leader in one of our brother units, and I know her quite well. A few days ago, she asked me to introduce her daughter to someone. I thought she would be a good match for our Xiao Yuan.”
Song Zhixian asked, “Do you have a photo?”
Fu Ruoqin took out her phone, “Yes, let me find it; it’s in her mother’s friend circle.”
“Auntie,” Zou Beiyuan frowned, “I haven’t even spoken yet, what are you looking for photos for?”
Fu Ruoqin looked down, scrolling through her photo, “Just take a look; it’s not a big deal.”
Zou Jingnan, enjoying the drama, chimed in, “Exactly, just look. What if you fall in love at first sight?”
Zou Beiyuan glanced at Su Ming, only to find him still looking down at his food, his face showing no expression as if he were indifferent to the whole situation.
“Found it,” Fu Ruoqin handed her phone to Zou Jingnan, “Nannan, take a look first; isn’t she pretty?”
“Wow!” Zou Jingnan exclaimed dramatically. “She’s a super beauty; she has the face of my future sister-in-law!”
Song Zhixian reached out, “Quick, let me see.”
After looking, Teacher Song also praised her beauty and held the phone out to Su Ming, asking, “What do you think?”
Su Ming had no choice but to shift his gaze from the plate of vegetables to the phone, nodded, moved his index and middle fingers down his nose, and then gave a thumbs-up.
Zou Beiyuan understood the sign language, which meant very pretty.
Song Zhixian shoved the phone closer to Zou Beiyuan’s face, “Look, Su Ming gave a thumbs-up. You should go meet her.”
Zou Beiyuan turned his face away, not wanting to look. “I’ll be leaving soon; it would be pointless to meet.”
While picking up food, Su Ming paused at Zou Beiyuan’s words, lowering his head and absentmindedly taking a piece of ginger from the stir-fried vegetables and putting it in his bowl.
Fu Ruoqin said, “Are you going to box forever? Most people retire at your age; after retirement, you can come back.”
Zou Beiyuan put down his chopsticks, leaned back against the sofa, and said lazily, “Why should the girl wait for me for so many years? Auntie, do you have a grudge against her mother?”
He was visibly upset, but Fu Ruoqin didn’t give in to him at all.
“You, kid,” Fu Ruoqin pointed at him with her chopsticks. “There are plenty of soldiers who come back and get married; long-distance relationships are common. If you put it that way, those people shouldn’t get married at all. And if your relationship is good, the girl might be willing to go to America with you. Just meet her first; it’s not like it’s an obligation. The girl might not even be interested in you, given your attitude.”
“Not going to meet her,” Zou Beiyuan said stubbornly.
Song Zhixian sighed and said to Su Ming, “This kid is intentionally trying to annoy me, and it’s giving me a headache. You have a good relationship with him; please help me talk some sense into him.”
Only then did Su Ming raise his eyes to look at Zou Beiyuan.
Zou Beiyuan sat at the edge of the sofa, which was a bit low for him, making it uncomfortable for his long legs to cross. His expression looked a little fiercer than usual.
Su Ming had many things stuck in his chest. He wanted to say that Zou Beiyuan was still young and shouldn’t rush into blind dates, and that such matters should respect Zou Beiyuan’s own opinion. But he couldn’t say anything; he could only watch Zou Beiyuan silently.
In front of Auntie and Teacher Song, Su Ming couldn’t show any obvious expression, making him seem somewhat indifferent.
Zou Beiyuan had initially assumed Su Ming would side with him, but now he was unsure. His dark brows slightly furrowed, “Do you want me to meet her too?”
Song Zhixian nudged Su Ming’s arm with her elbow and urged, “Quick, let him go meet her; he’ll listen to you.”
Fu Ruoqin and Zou Jingnan also looked at Su Ming.
Su Ming had no valid reason to refuse and couldn’t articulate a logical argument to them.
Since no one present could understand sign language, he couldn’t pull out his phone to type out a debate about whether Zou Beiyuan should go on a blind date.
So, he could only lower his eyelids and nod lightly.
Fu Ruoqin immediately turned to Zou Beiyuan, “Auntie will help you schedule a time, or you can add each other on WeChat and chat first?”
Zou Beiyuan stood up. “Let’s talk about it when Grandma gets out of the hospital. I don’t have time right now.”
After saying that, he walked out, and Song Zhixian called after him, “Where are you going? You haven’t finished your meal.”
Zou Beiyuan didn’t answer and walked straight out of the hospital room.
….
After they finished eating, Su Ming stayed with Teacher Song for a while, feeling distracted and not very enthusiastic.
Song Zhixian thought he was just tired and suggested he go back early.
Su Ming supported himself on the edge of the bed and, out of the corner of his eye, noticed Zou Beiyuan standing up from the sofa where he had been using his phone.
“Xiao Yuan, go see Su Ming off,” Song Zhixian said.
Zou Beiyuan didn’t reply, but walked over to help Su Ming move slowly toward the door.
“Then I’ll leave too,” Zou Jingnan said, “I have class tonight.”
Zou Jingnan rushed out of the hospital room and saw her brother carrying Su Ming on his back. Their posture seemed somewhat distant, as if their relationship wasn’t as good as Grandma had said.
Inside the elevator, Zou Jingnan pressed the button for the basement floor. Zou Beiyuan glanced at her, “What are you going to do in the basement?”
Zou Jingnan replied, “Isn’t your car parked on the basement floor?”
Zou Beiyuan retorted, “Where are you going by car?”
Zou Jingnan said, “To the school gate. Is that not allowed?”
Zou Beiyuan insisted, “Not allowed. It’s just a short walk across the street; why take a car?”
Zou Jingnan incredulously exclaimed, “Are you my real brother? You won’t even give me a ride for such a short distance?”
Zou Beiyuan replied, “I won’t. You can walk by yourself.”
Zou Beiyuan said, “Get off on the first floor.”
Zou Jingnan, feeling upset, pressed the button for the first floor. Once they arrived, she stepped out, leaving behind a parting shot, “Zou Beiyuan, you deserve to be single for the rest of your life!”
On the way back, Zou Beiyuan said nothing, driving quickly while adhering to the speed limit.
Seeing his unhappy face, Su Ming didn’t take out his phone to talk; the atmosphere between them felt cold.
This had never happened before.
Once they arrived at the community, Zou Beiyuan still carefully carried Su Ming all the way back, gently placing him on the sofa in his apartment before turning to leave. Su Ming suddenly reached out and grabbed him.
Su Ming’s hand was slightly cool, and when he held two of Zou Beiyuan’s fingers, he felt the rough yet warm texture of his palm.
If Zou Beiyuan wanted to leave, he could easily pull his fingers away, but he didn’t.
“What’s wrong?” Zou Beiyuan’s face still looked fierce, but his tone softened significantly.
Su Ming tilted his head, tightened his grip on his fingers, and shook them lightly, like a child acting coy.
Zou Beiyuan’s expression softened as well. He lowered his head to look at Su Ming and muttered, “When you got tricked into a blind date by your family, you knew to get angry and leave. Now it’s my turn, and you’re here trying to persuade me, right? Su Ming, I’m telling you, that’s double standards! Don’t impose on others what you wouldn’t want for yoursel…”
He didn’t get to finish the rest of his sentence.
Because Su Ming seized his arm and stood up from the sofa, standing on tiptoe to kiss his babbling lips.