Shen Qin: “.……”


  Kang Xueqing: “.……”


  Originally, the pair of husband and wife had been listening properly, but the upsetting display had taken them by surprise. Shock spread across their faces, and they only managed to react after a long time had passed.

  “.…… What did you say just now? He’s a man??”


  Kang Shengzhe nodded in a frank and open manner before he said: “Yeah.” This two-metre-tall man did not have the slightest awareness of how big of a blow that particular information had dealt to his parents, and his good mood was even tinged with some pride. “All the female students in the entire school all lost to me, I’m more amazing the school flower.”


  Father: “.……”


  Mother: “.……”


  Shen Qin placed down the spatula in her hand and walked out of the living room in a few haste-filled steps. On the sofa, Kang Xueqing put his newspapers down as well, visage teeming with shock and a variety of emotions.

  It was the year 2018 and the existence of homosexuals was no longer considered as something earth-shaking, but to Kang Xueqing, a father who was a civil servant, and to a mother who was a teacher and came from a law-abiding ordinary family, it was not a small matter at all.

  At the moment, Shen Qin still managed to stay calm but both of Kang Xueqing’s hands started shaking right then and there, and it was impossible to decipher if he was anxious or angry. He said: “Kang Shengzhe! You can’t make such a joke to your parents!”


  Kang Shengzhe kept his smile, saying, “I’m not joking.”


  Then he would rather he was joking!

  Kang Xueqing said in disbelief: “Do you know what you’re saying? Being in a relationship with a man? And bringing him back to the family? Do you know what that represents? Is the other party aware? Do you know how hard it is for homosexuals to move around in this society? Do you have that political consciousness?”


  A torrent of questions poured out. Kang Xueqing’s hands continued to shake, faltering as he took off his glasses. He wiped the lens and asked: “You…… are you certain you’re homosexual?”


  Kang Shengzhe said: “I’m not certain.”


  Kang Xueqing’s head became faint, “You’re not even certain if you’re homosexual or not!?”


  Sexual orientations were hard to change; if his son was born liking the male gender then there was nothing Kang Xueqing could say, but Kang Shengzhe had never given his parents such an indicator because he had never expressed any interest in boys as they were raising him. Thus, the sudden revelation of his sexual orientation had left Kang Xueqing with no choice but to doubt if Kang Shengzhe had become confused in a flowery world he had never experienced prior to attending university, and he was completely unclear about what he was doing as a result.

  “This, this can’t go on! You child, do you know what you’re doing? Committing to something in a moment of impulse is not worth it! Just how many people have been misled because they were not careful&#k2026;”


  Kang Shengzhe abruptly cut him off: “I’m not doing this in a moment of impulse.”


  “What?”


  Kang Shengzhe said: “I’m not being impulsive; I like him, I like him very much and I like him most. We’ve promised each other we would get married, I’ve even accepted the betrothal gift.”


  Once those words came out, let alone Kang Xueqing, even his mother Shen Qin’s complexion went through a huge change and the atmosphere became incomparably grim in an instant.

  The nature of dating a boyfriend and getting married with a man could not be spoken on equal terms and previously, they had been giving Kang Shengzhe some leeway. But now that even a lifetime commitment was brought up, even Shen Qin became agitated.

  “Shengzhe, you’re too young right now, and there’s a lot of things you haven’t thought through. You’re not even certain if you’re homosexual or not…… Your father is right, there is a high probability that you’re merely confused in the heat of the passion. What if there comes a day where you calm down and realise that the matter is not what you thought it was? That would not be a good thing for either of you.”


  Kang Shengzhe listened to what they had to say seriously before he said: “It’s true that I’m uncertain as to whether I’m a homosexual or not. However, because I like Liang Liang, it has absolutely no correlation with what gender he is. Whether he is a man or a woman, I’ll still like him, I just like him as the person he is. As for your so-called impulse……”


  Kang Shengzhe laughed lightly, saying: “I have never given in to impulse in my entire life, in fact, I could not be calmer.”


  For people in love, what calmness could they speak of? The words Kang Shengzhe spoke scarcely made Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin believe him, but as parents, their hearts were raised. Thus, they were rendered speechless again.

  To begin with, they were a pair whose minds were more open, considering how they were the less stringent parents who accepted live broadcasting as a means to earn money. They had never been people who spoke strictly, and with regards to Kang Shengzhe’s love affair that was burning hot with zeal, they could not in good conscience, shoot down their son’s feelings.

  But asking them to cheerfully accept it was honestly too difficult. Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin faced each other, expressions complicated.

  Solemn, Kang Shengzhe emphasised again: “I’m serious about this and I’m aware of the issues you’re worried about. Despite that, I will not change my decision. You’ve watched me grow up and you should know that once I say that I want to do something, I’ll definitely accomplish it.”


  Kang Shengzhe seemed to be relieved of a heavy load once he finished speaking. Although he usually appeared to be indolent and scattered without the slightest interest in anything, those words had been pressing down on his heart and finally being able to say them out loud came with a sense of unburdening.

  “He’ll be here in a short while, are you still meeting him or not?”


  Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin exchanged looks again but their complexions did not change for the better. It was not that they were aloof and indifferent to their son’s guarantees, but as his parents, they could not avoid ruminating deeply about the long term.

  To speak of the entire situation unbiasedly, Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin’s attitude was better than most families by a fair bit. However, Kang Shengzhe remained dissatisfied. He stared at his parents for a while and he did not conceal his disappointment in the slightest as he spoke in a hurt tone: “I really did not expect that you would actually have such an attitude.”


  Hearing that, Kang Xueqing’s brain thrashed. What’s the matter with his attitude, was his attitude not good enough?

  “You’re still not satisfied? If you change it to any other family, their parents will react the same.”


  Kang Shengzhe replied, “Liang Liang’s parents weren’t like this.”


  Simultaneously, Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin went into shock, looking at Kang Shengzhe with incomparable surprise, “You’ve met his parents, and his parents even agreed to it???”


  Kang Shengzhe affirmed, “I’ve met them and they agreed to it. Liang Liang’s parents treat me very well. When I was in Beijing, I even stayed in Liang Liang’s house.”


  This time around, Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin had truly hit the limits of the shock they could feel. “When did that happen?”


  Kang Shengzhe did not specifically mention the identities of You Liangxing’s parents and only briefly touched on how his family treated him. Inevitably, their understanding and corresponding support for their son was also brought up, causing Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin to falter after they heard it. They did not expect that as they were worrying about their son’s future path, Kang Shengzhe had already cleared that obstacle.

  “Additionally, the matter regarding the live broadcasting companies, Liang Liang did a lot for me back in Beijing. I managed to switch companies because he helped to bring it about.”


  The fact that the company was Liang Liang’s was something Kang Shengzhe left unsaid, those matters could be left for later to allow his parents to slowly digest what they had right now. Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin did not know much about Kang Shengzhe’s job, and consequently, the thought that this person might have helped Kang Shengzhe did not enter their minds until he had mentioned it. When all was said and done, it was undeniable that Kang Shengzhe had relied on the other party for quite a few matters.

  Despite the multiple shocks that Kang Xueqing received, it was hard for his attitude to not relax with each validation piling on one top of the other. He pondered for a while before he eventually decided: “Bring the person over later, we’ll talk after your mom and I have met him.”


  Originally, it was supposed to be a harmonious scene. However, in spite of getting his parents’ agreement, Kang Shengzhe was not happy.

  “Forget it, it’s better if the meeting doesn’t occur. You’re not even enthusiastic right now. And if Liang Liang were to feel uncomfortable, I’ll end up being very distressed.”


  Kang Xueqing: “.……”


  Shen Qin: “.……”


  That was about enough.

  They have witnessed people climbing the pole but they had never witnessed people being beaten down before the attempt to climb up the pole was made. Kang Xueqing’s ire surged involuntarily and it made him raise his voice as he scolded: “You little brat, are you bringing him or not!”


  With an unwilling appearance, Kang Shengzhe forced himself to say: “I’ll make do with the situation and wrong Liang Liang a little by bringing him then.”


  Honestly speaking, his parents wanted to hit him after that. However, before they could smack him, Kang Shengzhe had already ran away like a streak of smoke.

  Shen Qin asked: “What are you doing?”


  Kang Shengzhe’s voice fluctuated in volume as he replied: “Washing my hair and putting on a face mask, Liang Liang will be here in a while, shouldn’t I try to look presentable?”


  Shen Qin: “??? Where did your face mask come from?”


  Kang Shengzhe replied, “I stole it from you.”


  Shen Qin: “.……” This broken child!!

  The small family was in a disarray for a long moment before Kang Shengzhe went silent on his end. Meanwhile, having calmed down, Shen Qin went back to the kitchen and Kang Xueqing picked up his newspapers again.

  In the quiet, Shen Qin whispered: “What should we do?”


  Kang Xueqing’s brows furrowed, “.…… Just…… we’ll see after we meet him.”


  After being stirred up by their son for a period of time, Kang Xueqing and Shen Qin’s mood had gone through a myriad of changes rapidly. At the start, they were incredibly shocked but at the turn of the head, it had developed to the point where they were going to wait and see. Both of them felt helpless but it was also true that they were not as repulsed by the idea as before.

  Time passed silently, and each minute and second seemed to drag out. Shen Qin and Kang Xueqing were immersed in their thoughts when Kang Shengzhe’s phone suddenly rang.

  Audibly, Kang Shengzhe picked up the phone and his voice travelled to the living room, “You’re here? I’ll go downstairs now.”


  What followed was a series of quick footsteps as Kang Shengzhe donned his down jacket and quickly sprinted downstairs. Shen Qin placed down her wok spatula before she said in a belated manner: “Say, should I go and change my shirt?”


  A short beat later, Kang Xueqing said: “.…… Change it, help me find one while you’re at it.”


  T/N: