DMPSA CH 41

Chapter 41: Would You Be Willing to Date Me?

By the evening of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the tea house’s glass doors and windows were finally repaired. During these few days, Yue Qi, who was on vacation, visited the tea house every afternoon and stayed until late at night. With the shop temporarily closed, the two of them enjoyed themselves in the cozy space, reading books, watching movies, chatting, and drinking tea. Although their relationship was still that of pursuer and pursued, their days together were harmonious and sweet, as if they had already become a couple.

Da Wang stopped by once during this time, but after seeing how lovey-dovey the two were, he decided he’d rather not set foot in the tea house again for the time being. Waving them off, he said he’d return when the shop reopened.

Meanwhile, Jasmine had recovered well. That afternoon, Yue Qi had just brought her back from the vet. Upon seeing Jasmine’s return, Cha Cha and Hua Dian eagerly sniffed her all over before the three of them snuggled together and took a peaceful nap.

Later that evening, after dinner, Su Qing sat at the counter brewing tea while Yue Qi sat across from him, watching attentively. Everything felt like old times, except for one difference: Yue Qi now had a habit of pestering Su Qing to bake cookies, specifically demanding a green pepper flavor.

Su Qing was caught between laughter and tears, unwilling to subject Yue Qi to such torture again.

“You don’t even like green peppers, so why force yourself? If you really want cookies, I’ll make regular butter ones for you. Why do you insist on tormenting yourself?” Su Qing said, half-annoyed and half-amused.

“I didn’t use to like them, but after eating your green pepper cookies, I fell in love with them,” Yue Qi said as he hopped off his chair, his eyes gleaming with an exaggerated glint. “You’ve captured my heart with green peppers. Whenever I see green peppers—or even the color green—I think of you and your name. It’s like how the fox in <em>The Little Prince</em>^[1] sees wheat fields and is reminded of the prince’s golden hair. You’ve tamed me.”

Yue Qi gestured dramatically as he recited his lines, leaving Su Qing both irritated and uncomfortable.

“Did you used to be in a theater club?” Su Qing rolled his eyes. “If you like green so much, how about I knit you a green hat?” he asked sarcastically.

“No need for that,” Yue Qi quickly replied, obediently sitting back down on the high stool.

Su Qing shot Yue Qi a playful glare before placing a freshly brewed cup of tea in front of him. Yue Qi seized the opportunity to grab Su Qing’s hand.

“Please? The last box of cookies you gave me—I only have two left. They’re wrapped in plastic wrap and sitting in the freezer because I can’t bring myself to eat them,” Yue Qi said earnestly.

Su Qing couldn’t help but smile helplessly at Yue Qi. He thought back to the time when Yue Qi used to call him “Boss Su” and declared that he didn’t like green peppers, telling him not to make such things again. Thinking about it now left a faint sourness in his heart. At the time, Su Qing had assumed that Yue Qi would throw the cookies away after taking them home. He hadn’t expected that Yue Qi would actually eat them.

It had hurt Su Qing deeply at the time, but he could also vividly picture Yue Qi eating those unpleasant cookies all alone, looking lonely. That brief separation had been painful and torturous for both of them.

Now, Yue Qi was acting silly, pretending to love green pepper cookies. Su Qing figured it wasn’t about the cookies themselves; it was more about making amends for the hurt he had caused back then.

Just as Yue Qi had used green peppers to reject Su Qing, he was now using them to express how much he liked him.

Ah, it had only been a few short days, and Su Qing was already finding it unbearable. All that talk about giving Yue Qi the cold shoulder to punish him—it was useless. With this adorable, earnest person right in front of him, Su Qing couldn’t hold back any longer. In the end, it felt like the one most eager for a relationship was none other than Su Qing himself.

Life is short, nights are long, and dreams can be fleeting. He didn’t want to delay any further.

“Yue Qi, have you really thought this through?” After avoiding the topic for days, Su Qing finally took the initiative to ask, “Would you be willing to date me?”

Yue Qi, who had just been fussing about cookies, was stunned for a few seconds before he snapped out of it and hurriedly responded, “Of course I’m willing! I’ve been waiting for you to say this! Are you willing?”

Su Qing couldn’t help but smile at Yue Qi’s mix of excitement and cluelessness. However, he quickly adopted a more serious tone. “Before I say yes, there’s something I want to make clear.”

He adjusted his expression, looking a bit solemn. But if one looked closely, the light in his eyes was gentle. He waited for Yue Qi to sit properly before speaking, and when he finally did, Yue Qi was left dumbfounded.

Su Qing said, “I don’t insist on growing old together.”

“Huh?” Yue Qi replied, dazed. “Isn’t that a song lyric?”

Su Qing chuckled and nodded. “Yes, it’s a lyric—but it’s also what I want to tell you.”

“Why?” Yue Qi asked, even more confused, with a tinge of sadness. “Why wouldn’t you want to grow old with me?”

“It’s not that I don’t want to grow old with you,” Su Qing said, pursing his lips as he tried to find the best way to explain. “What I mean is, I really like you, and I believe you really like me right now too. We’re both serious about wanting to be in a relationship and even hoping it’ll last a lifetime.”

“Of course! I want it to last a lifetime,” Yue Qi quickly interjected, eager to declare his feelings.

Su Qing nodded. “That’s how all couples think when they first start dating. But how many actually make it to the end? Even if they get married or have a permanent bond, what does it matter? Marriages can end in divorce, and bonds can be undone. There are plenty of people who can’t make it to forever.”

“But so what?” Yue Qi asked, growing more confused with each word Su Qing said. “What does that have to do with us?”

“We might not make it to the end either,” Su Qing said softly.

“Impossible.” Yue Qi immediately interrupted him. “I will always be with you, no matter what, and I won’t let us part.” He spoke with absolute certainty, leaving no room for doubt. “Don’t worry. I’ll never leave you.”

“But what if… we fall out of love?” Su Qing asked quietly.

Yue Qi opened his mouth to retort with another “impossible,” but Su Qing shook his head, stopping him. “I’m not doubting you,” Su Qing said. “I’m not questioning your promises. In fact, I trust you too much. I know you’ll stay by my side no matter what.”

“Then why…?” Yue Qi frowned, trying to understand what Su Qing was trying to say.

“That couple in the ER, and my parents—they’ve left too heavy a shadow in your heart. You’re a good person, and I know you once sincerely liked me. I trust you wouldn’t want to hurt me, and you wouldn’t abandon me.” Su Qing let out a bitter smile. “But that’s exactly what I’m afraid of. I’m afraid that you’d stay with me only out of a sense of commitment and responsibility.”

Yue Qi opened his mouth, as if he had just realized something.

That day in the car, he had heard a song. Aside from the recurring line, “You still have to be happy,” there was another lyric that had left a deep impression on him:

“When love fades, staying together out of obligation isn’t just hypocritical—it’s downright cruel.”

(To Be Continued…)

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