Starlight Has No Past

Untitled Part 36

Chapter 36 Part 1

By the time Zhou Tingsheng came to the dinner table, Ye Qiao's family had almost finished eating. Aunty Zhong added one more pair of chopsticks and a rice bowl as a courtesy. Zhou Tingsheng didn't have much use for them since the family had finished off most of the food. They invited him to sit down at the table only because it was easier to question him.

Ye Qiao was at her wits' end. Her uncle and aunt kept thanking Zhou Tingsheng for bringing gifts, especially her aunt who knew the value of those mooncakes. Ye Qiao was uneasy under the scrutiny of her family. Something didn't seem to be right. She gave a sharp glance at Qianxi, questioning her with her eyes-- --What did you say to them exactly?

Qianxi innocently mouthed her reply to her cousin-- --I didn't say anything!

Zhou Tingsheng held Ye Qiao's hand under the dinner table and watched the two cousins exchange words in silence with a smile.

Ye Qiao's grandma was more prudent and her uncle was a man, therefore the responsibility of questioning Zhou Tingsheng fell her aunt's shoulders. She gently asked: "Are you from Yang City?"

Zhou Tingsheng nodded and said: "Yes." Her uncle immediately exchanged a look with her grandma across the table: Oh, he's from here.

Ye Qiao's aunt naturally felt surprised: "You didn't go home for the holiday tonight, so you came here especially to keep Qiaoqiao company?"

Zhou Tingsheng answered with a tint of smile: "Yes."

Ye Qiao pinched him under the table. Ye Qiao's aunt continued with a series of questions, such as "Where do you work?" "How busy is it?" "Qiaoqiao has to travel a lot, it must not be easy for you."

She mixed praise in between her questions and continued without interruption. Ye Qiao felt like her family was already ready to marry her off.

Qianxi looked at Ye Qiao sympathetically and her eyes seemed to say "I told you it would be like this."

When they got off the dinner table, it was already 9 o'clock. Zhou Tingsheng had drunk some liquor with Ye Zhiliang and couldn't drive home by himself. Ye Qiao's aunt was planning to let him stay for the night and gave Ye Qiao a look, asking her intent.

Ye Qiao had been in a state of bewilderment the entire night after Zhou Tingsheng's sudden appearance and didn't know whether to say yes or no until she heard Zhou Tingsheng cover his mouth and yawn. Ye Qiao remembered that he had been rained on earlier and probably needed a hot shower now, so she agreed. The Ye family house had many rooms; even her grandma didn't show any displeasure at the decision to invite Zhou Tingsheng to stay the night.

There was no shower in the guestroom and Qianxi was using the shared bathroom, Ye Qiao led Zhou Tingsheng to her bedroom to use the bathroom there.

Ye Qiao took a towel and her uncle's pajamas and told him: "You're too tall, my uncle's jacket probably won't fit you. I'll find a shirt for you tomorrow. As for the jacket, I'll dry it for you and it'll probably be dry enough to wear tomorrow." She walked in the bathroom to adjust the temperature of the water and pointed out the hot and cold water faucet handles. She also pointed out the toiletries he could use.

As Ye Qiao was leaving the bathroom, Zhou Tingsheng blocked the bathroom door. He put both of his hands around her waist and sniffed her hair: "You aren't going to take a shower with me?"

Ye Qiao pinched him on his face and responded in irritation: "I haven't dealt with you about tonight yet. If you dare misbehave in front of my grandma, uncle, and aunt, don't blame me if you get kicked out."