Forbidden to Flirt and Run 12

Chapter 12

Xu Qingtang felt like she was about to die of embarrassment.

She picked up the phone, stood up straight, and walked to an empty aisle. Looking at the two words on the screen, her mood was extremely complicated. “Mom…”

Who could have guessed that Lin Huaijia would hang up so quickly?

And who could have guessed that Teacher Qi would call at this exact moment?

Xu Qingtang looked up at the ceiling, feeling that life had lost its meaning.

Teacher Qi didn’t speak on the other end. Xu Qingtang could only offer an explanation. “I was asking her to rehearse with me. There’s a performance coming up, and my colleagues are all busy, so I asked her for a favor.”

Teacher Qi didn’t say whether she believed her or not, but she didn’t bring up the matter again. Instead, she said, “Don’t trouble her too much. I heard Yizhi is quite busy with work. By the way, I called to ask if you want to add Auntie Xu’s son on WeChat and chat?”

Xu Qingtang didn’t expect Teacher Qi to be serious about this. She shook her head and said, “Let’s talk about it later. I’m very busy recently, I don’t have time to chat with anyone.”

Xu Qingtang had never told Teacher Qi about her sexual orientation.

When she was younger, she hadn’t realized she liked the same sex. Later, when she was with Lin Huaijia, Teacher Qi’s illness was getting worse day by day, so she didn’t dare to bring it up. She had planned to find a suitable time to tell her when Teacher Qi’s condition improved, but then she discovered that she was just a substitute for Lin Huaijia.

Fortunately, Teacher Qi didn’t continue to press the matter.

After hanging up the phone, Xu Qingtang returned to her seat. Gu Yizhi was looking at her with a half-smile.

Xu Qingtang felt that tingling sensation on her scalp return.

She tried her best to look calm and said, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” Gu Yizhi asked, as if reminiscing, “What did you call me just now?”

Xu Qingtang: …

The dead embarrassment has suddenly started to attack me.

Gu Yizhi said, as if negotiating, “It sounds nice. Say it again?”

Xu Qingtang felt she had to say something, otherwise, she would sink in this ocean of embarrassment. So she said nonchalantly, “Peking Opera actors are actors too. We also have an acting bug. Just now, I was just suddenly inspired. Can you understand?”

“I see,” Gu Yizhi nodded and said softly, “Thank you very much for letting me experience art up close. In return, shall we have dinner together tonight?”

Xu Qingtang: …

That’s not necessary.

Xu Qingtang felt that Gu Yizhi pretending to believe her nonsense was fake, but wanting to have dinner with her and get entangled was real.

People always have a certain sense of novelty and a desire to conquer prey they haven’t caught. For now, let’s not discuss whether Gu Yizhi was genuinely curious about whether making love between two women was interesting or if she simply wanted a hookup. The failed hookup that night probably left her with a bit of an obsession.

And it just so happened that she was good-looking, had a decent figure, and seemed like the type who was good in bed and not clingy, which was why Gu Yizhi had some interest in her.

But Xu Qingtang had no thoughts of sleeping with Gu Yizhi.

She didn’t plan on coming out to Teacher Qi for the time being, nor was she interested in having too much private contact with Lin Huaijia anymore. So, Gu Yizhi was not suitable for her.

Thus, Xu Qingtang also smiled, smoothing the wrinkles on the short sleeves of her qipao. “No, I have something to do tonight. Do you remember the person our troupe leader introduced to me last time? I have a good impression of him. We’re about to start dating.”

As she spoke, she discreetly observed Gu Yizhi’s expression.

Gu Yizhi also smiled upon hearing this. “Is that so?”

“Of course,” Xu Qingtang lowered her head with a shy and sweet expression, completely in the state of someone in love. “He’s a good person, he’s good to me, and he’s very interesting. By the way, he can also wash his hair while doing a handstand. I’ll introduce him to you someday.”

Gu Yizhi had no reaction, just said, “Oh? Don’t you like women?”

“Who said that? I’ve never liked women, okay? I’m straight,” Xu Qingtang was a natural at lying. “I was just curious about being with her, wanted to know what it felt like to date a woman. Now it seems it’s not that interesting.”

If it had been a normal relationship or an amicable breakup, Xu Qingtang would never have said such things. But Lin Huaijia was such a disgusting piece of trash that when she said these words, they were more or less tinged with her personal feelings towards her.

Gu Yizhi didn’t speak. Xu Qingtang thought she had probably taken it in and was satisfied. Just as she was about to leave, she heard the troupe leader call her name. She looked up and saw the troupe leader walking over with his belly out, smiling. “Qingtang, why didn’t you say anything when you came?”

Xu Qingtang said, “I just arrived.”

The troupe leader didn’t say anything more, but looked at Gu Yizhi and said, “Yizhi, let’s have dinner together tonight. I haven’t seen your aunt in a long time either.”

Gu Yizhi said calmly, “She has something to do tonight, I’m afraid she can’t make it.”

“That’s fine,” the troupe leader’s gaze shifted to Xu Qingtang, who was thinking of nothing but escaping. “Qingtang, you come too.”

Xu Qingtang: …

The atmosphere in their theater had always been very good. The troupe leader was a kind patriarch who would often take them out for meals, to meet and get to know different people, sincerely hoping that they could carry on the legacy of Peking Opera. Xu Qingtang had always been very grateful for this.

If only the dinner companion wasn’t Gu Yizhi.

The dinner was at a Western restaurant. The environment was relaxed, and the decor was simple. During the meal, the troupe leader was constantly chatting with Gu Yizhi about things. Xu Qingtang silently acted as a background prop, occasionally chiming in with a few words. The atmosphere was quite pleasant and harmonious.

Pressuring people to get married seemed to be a favorite pastime of the elderly. The troupe leader first chatted about Gu Yizhi’s aunt, then said, “Yizhi, you mentioned your situation to me last time and asked me to help introduce someone.”

Gu Yizhi took a sip of red wine and went with the flow. “My career isn’t stable yet, so I’m not considering it for the time being.”

She put down her wine glass. When she looked at Xu Qingtang, her expression relaxed, and her cool features held a hint of gentleness. “They say we should keep the good things within the family. Shouldn’t you also consider Tangtang?”

Xu Qingtang had been happily eating with her head down. Hearing this, she suddenly became a little nervous. When she looked up at Gu Yizhi, the other person was resting her cheek on her hand, her beautifully shaped peach blossom eyes shining, smiling at her. It was impossible to tell if it was intentional or not.

“We’re all family, why be so formal?” the troupe leader pretended to be angry, then looked at Xu Qingtang and smiled helplessly. “I’d like to, but unfortunately, Qingtang herself isn’t interested. Qingtang, tell me, what are your requirements? Next time, we can look for someone in that direction for you.”

Xu Qingtang suddenly choked on her drink.

Who could have known that her tires would be punctured by the troupe leader so unexpectedly?

Just as she was about to say something, Gu Yizhi said with a half-smile, “He has to be a good person, be good to you, be interesting, and preferably be able to wash his hair while doing a handstand, right?”

Xu Qingtang: …

***

Author’s Note:

Qingtang’s remarks about being “straight” are not to be taken seriously. They do not represent her or the author’s views!! Say it with me: Straight girls pretending to be lesbians will be struck by lightning.