CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53: WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

After buying clothes, the two headed toward a hot pot restaurant.

Just then, Xia Liang’s phone suddenly started buzzing. He took it out and saw a video call coming in from WeChat.

Hearing the noise, Qingxue leaned over cautiously. "Who is it?"

"My mom!" Xia Liang said, annoyed. "You better behave."

"Oh~," Qingxue replied, nodding.

Xia Liang answered the video call, and Mother Xia’s face appeared on the screen.

"Hello, son. How did the blind date go today?"

Hearing his mother’s question, Xia Liang felt a headache coming on and could only respond evasively. "Same old, same old."

"How can that be!" Mother Xia grew anxious, her tone full of exasperation. "How many times has it been now! Can’t you give me some peace of mind? Xiao Wang next door is your age, and their son is already old enough to run errands! When are you going to give me a grandchild to hold?"

Listening to his mom’s relentless nagging, Xia Liang couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Seeing his predicament, Qingxue couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Xia Liang shot her a glare.

Qingxue’s eyes twinkled as her playful side took over. She suddenly started wailing, "Oh, Xia Liang, I can’t live without you! Please don’t break up with me! I’ll do anything for you!"

What the?

Qingxue’s sudden outburst left Xia Liang dumbfounded. His lips twitched as he hissed quietly, "Qingxue, what’s gotten into you?"

"Son, is someone talking over there? What’s going on?" Evidently, Mother Xia had heard everything.

Ignoring Xia Liang completely, Qingxue continued her tearful plea. "Xia Liang! I’m carrying your baby! How could you be so cruel... you can’t abandon us! Boohoo..."

"Pregnant? A baby?" This time, Mother Xia heard it loud and clear. "Xia Liang! You little monster, what is going on?! Did you get some poor girl in trouble? Give her the phone right now!"

Feeling helpless, Xia Liang glanced over to see Qingxue sticking her tongue out at him triumphantly.

"Mom! Listen to me..."

"I’m not listening! So, Xia Liang! You’ve really grown up, huh? Now you’ve even learned to love ’em and leave ’em! Give the phone to her!"

"I..." Xia Liang was so aggrieved he was speechless. He could only glare at Qingxue and hiss in a low voice, "My mom wants to talk to you! Stop messing around and clear this up! Don’t let her get the wrong idea."

Qingxue, however, was completely unfazed. "Hmph! How dare you snap at me when you’re begging for my help!"

With that, she snatched the phone, straightened her hair, and began to speak. "Uh... Auntie... h-hello... I’m Qingxue."

Despite her earlier bravado, Qingxue became extremely nervous the moment she was actually facing Mother Xia. She found herself stuttering, her heart pounding in her chest.

Mother Xia was startled when she saw Qingxue through the camera. So this was the girl—as beautiful as a movie star—who claimed to be carrying her son’s child. Meeting this potential daughter-in-law for the first time, Mother Xia also felt a little shy.

"Oh, Qingxue, what a lovely name. Is it okay if Auntie calls you Xiao Xue?"

Qingxue immediately nodded happily. "Of course, Auntie. Please call me whatever you like."

"Good! What a good child!" Mother Xia looked at the screen, completely satisfied with the gentle and adorable Qingxue she saw before her. However, remembering what started all this, she quickly asked, "Xiao Xue, what you said earlier about being pregnant... is it true?"

"No, Auntie," Qingxue replied, her face turning red as she quickly shook her head. "He made me angry, so I was just trying to get him in trouble."

"Oh~" Upon hearing this, Mother Xia felt a flicker of disappointment, but she quickly rallied. "So, Qingxue, how did you and that little rascal meet? How long have you two been together? Honestly, he never told me a thing. If I’d known you were dating, I wouldn’t have arranged that blind date for him."

As she spoke, a thought occurred to her and she quickly added, "Oh, right! Xiao Xue, you weren’t angry about the blind date, were you? Please don’t misunderstand Xia Liang over this. It was all my idea."

"Don’t worry, Auntie, it’s not a misunderstanding," Qingxue said, quickly waving her hands. With that, she shot a provocative glance at Xia Liang. "Xia Liang and I have known each other since our first year of high school, but we only just made things official."

Hehe, I’m a genius! Once I’ve won over his mom, how can Xia Liang possibly escape? Thinking this, she couldn’t help but feel a little smug.

Meanwhile, Xia Liang stood to the side, looking utterly exasperated. Watching the two of them chatting so enthusiastically, he could only sigh in defeat. Anyone else would probably want to kill him out of jealousy. After all, a gorgeous woman was actively trying to become his girlfriend, and this guy wasn’t even happy about it.

Finally, after ten minutes of lively conversation, the two fell silent.

Qingxue triumphantly handed the phone back to Xia Liang. "Your mom wants to talk to you."

A baffled Xia Liang took the phone, only to see his mother glaring at him fiercely.

"Xia Liang, I’m warning you. I have her contact info now. If I hear you’ve been bullying her, you just wait and see how I’ll deal with you!"

"Alright, alright! I got it, Mom." This time, Xia Liang didn’t bother to explain. This was, at least, a surefire way to put an end to her matchmaking efforts.

"Good!" Seeing Xia Liang agree so readily, Mother Xia finally nodded, satisfied. "Then take Xiao Xue out for a nice meal, do some shopping, maybe watch a movie or something. I’ll transfer some money to you later."

"No need, Mom, I’ve got it covered. You just keep the money for yourself. Alright, I’m taking her to eat now."

This time, Mother Xia didn’t keep nagging. "Go on, go on!"

After hanging up, Xia Liang looked at Qingxue, who was smiling as slyly as a little fox. He walked toward her with a fierce expression.

"What are you trying to do?" Qingxue asked, instinctively backing away as he drew nearer, but she was quickly cornered against the wall.

"Didn’t you tell my mom you’re my girlfriend? Then naturally, we should do what a couple does!" As he spoke, his face drew closer to hers.

Staring at Xia Liang’s face, now just inches away, Qingxue gulped as her own face flushed beet red. Her heart began to pound. Not only was she unafraid, she actually seemed a little expectant. She even closed her eyes and tilted her chin up, offering her lips.

Interesting. A smirk played on Xia Liang’s lips as he watched her.

Without another word, he reached out and flicked her on the forehead.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Qingxue cried out in pain, her eyes flying open as she clutched her forehead, looking pitiful.

"In your dreams. Who’s trying to take advantage of whom here?"

With that, he turned and headed for the restaurant.

That felt good, Xia Liang thought gleefully. That’ll teach you to be so cocky.

Watching Xia Liang walk away, Qingxue’s chest heaved with indignation. "You...!" she sputtered, stomping her foot furiously.

How humiliating! I was so forward! And that blockhead... he actually... ugh! That was supposed to be my first kiss! And he rejected me, even accusing me of trying to take advantage of him!