Gentlemen's Friends

Chapter 55 Extra Story: The Doubter (3)
So the light was turned on, and Ren Ningyuan could see him clearly under the bright light, so he frowned and sat down beside the bed, and asked, "What's wrong?"

"It's like this now, can't it?"

He couldn't control the tremor in his voice, and he couldn't hide the redness around his eyes.And Ren Ningyuan just looked at him quietly.

"I, I won't marry any woman."

"..."

"I don't want to have kids either."

"..."

"You and Xiaoke...I..."

Qu Tongqiu could feel sweat dripping from his forehead, he knew that his face was already flushed, and he was fighting for something unattainable to him with the greatest courage.Facing Ren Ningyuan, who was as immobile as a mountain, he still couldn't say anything.

"I want...to be with you..."

He hoped to stay by his and Qu Ke's side. His best time and all his feelings were given to these two people.To leave them would be to cut him alive.

Ren Ningyuan looked at him quietly, and said after a while: "Is there really no such plan at all?"

Qu Tongqiu was speechless for a while, and his eyes were blurred by this ruthless response.

"I, I just want to..."

When Qu Tongqiu was embraced by those powerful arms, he was completely caught off guard, and he didn't even understand what the hug meant.If it is comfort or apology, it is too hard.

This hug seemed to have no reason, and there was no logic or rationality at all. Qu Tongqiu tearfully wanted to ask, but Ren Ningyuan had no room for him to ask any more questions.

Gradually, he didn't care about the reason anymore. At this time, Ren Ningyuan chose to hug him instead of pushing him away. To him, this was the best comfort in the world.

When he opened his eyes, he didn't know whether it was afternoon or night, Qu Tongqiu still felt in a trance, as if his soul was about to be pulled out of his almost broken body.

He vaguely saw the person sitting by the bed, who seemed to have a bowl of soup.This made him open his mouth after a short rest.

"Would you like a drink?"

Qu Tongqiu shook his head, although his throat was thirsty, the desire to drink it was only second.He was eager to ask this person something.

There was no answer to his question last night.

The man reached out and stroked his sweaty forehead politely.

"Qu Tongqiu."

It sounded like he was about to discuss something big.

Ren Ningyuan looked at him condescendingly: "We can't go on like this. It's useless."

"..."

"I think we're still..."

Qu Tongqiu suddenly felt a little unbearable. When a person is exhausted to a certain limit, he will become weak for a while.He could no longer look at that person, so he had to reach out and pull the quilt to cover his head.

Then he heard the man say outside the quilt: "If you don't mind, let's get married sometime."

"..."

Generally speaking, a marriage proposal is one of the most important events in life, usually between men and women of the right age, with flowers and diamond rings, long sweet words from the heart, and tears in the eyes.

At least Qu Tongqiu and Yang Miao were like this back then, except that he couldn't afford a diamond ring at that time, and replaced it with a thin platinum ring.

And before he got up to brush his teeth, and there was even gum in the corners of his eyes, Ren Ningyuan proposed to him in the tone of "we have time to go shopping together".

For a moment, Qu Tongqiu felt that he must have passed out from sleep, or was stuffy in the quilt and lacked oxygen, which caused his mind to be so unconscious.

He and Ren Ningyuan, married? !
Married, he and Ren Ningyuan? !
The quilt was pulled off from the head, and in front of him was the man's calm, emotionless face.

Qu Tongqiu stared at him dumbfounded for about a minute.

This was really amazing, he never thought that such a thing could happen in his life.

He had proposed to a woman once, and now a man proposed to him.

This 1 minute is not enough for his brain to complete the sluggish operation.

After tens of awkward seconds passed, Ren Ningyuan suddenly said, "Do you want something to eat?"

"what……"

"Chinese or Western?"

"Chinese, Chinese style... right..."

"it is good."

Ren Ningyuan picked up the cold soup, turned and went out, and when he entered the room again, he really brought him a piece of fish porridge and crystal dumplings.

So Qu Tongqiu ate the meal on the bed, Ren Ningyuan waited for him to finish eating before taking away the cups, covering him with a quilt, and then everything went on as usual.

This day passed, and Ren Ningyuan didn't say a word about getting married.

Life is back to normal again, calm and peaceful.

They still slept in the same bed, ate at the same dining table, and called to ask about the same underage daughter who was 3 minutes late for the school dance... Ren Ningyuan was still gentle, calm, and polite, as if What I asked that day was really just a matter of how many catties of cabbage to buy.

Qu Tongqiu couldn't see the man's emotions at all.After much deliberation, he was not sure whether Ren Ningyuan was just talking casually, or joking, or something... But to be serious, even he himself didn't think it seemed like it.

Therefore, since Ren Ningyuan didn't mention it, he was too embarrassed to take the initiative to ask.

This matter is like a small stone falling into a pond, causing a little ripple, and soon the water surface is calm as usual.

It's just that Qu Tongqiu started to learn how to use the computer his daughter gave him, and secretly searched the Internet for marriage by himself.

Although there was someone, that Ye Xiutuo, who smiled and showed him the ring and partner, saying "We're married".But at that time, his own life was in a mess, and he was only surprised for a moment when he heard this declaration, and he didn't have the leisure and thought to really digest this fact.

Thinking about it now, the two of them getting married is really a very new subject for him, and there are too many knowledges and questions to be solved for him to study.

If married, who is Ren Ningyuan to him?wife?The child's father?

The daughter still only calls him father and Ren Ningyuan as uncle. If she is really married, what should she call Ren Ningyuan?Mother?
Just thinking about it so wildly and unconstrainedly, even though he knew it was unrealistic, he was inexplicably shy and nervous at the same time.It's almost like when I first fell in love, my ears are about to spit out hot air.

One day, Qu Tongqiu was passing by a bridal shop alone on the street, and Qu Tongqiu stopped to look at the window.Behind that glass is the most beautiful bridal gown.

This is his memory when he was young, and now that he thinks about it, it hasn't faded at all.

When he walked into the store, the clerk greeted him warmly: "Is the gentleman here alone?"

"Oh, I, I'll take a look first."

"This way please, a batch of new dresses just entered the store today, you can help your girlfriend take a look first."

In the spacious store, there are already several couples of young people picking and admiring, frolicking sweetly from time to time.Qu Tongqiu looked at them, and carefully touched the groom's dresses by himself, holding the texture of the fabric tightly in his palms, which could make people feel an impulse of happiness from the bottom of their hearts.

What a dream in life this is.

He tried on a gown, then looked at himself in the mirror in a serious, suit-and-shoe look.

Maybe Ren Ningyuan's marriage proposal is also overdue.He didn't respond immediately at the time, and it was invalidated.

Only his own reflex arc was too long.

He went from dreaming of becoming Ren Ningyuan's little follower, to becoming a little follower, to becoming a friend, and finally becoming a stable cohabitant.

In between, more than ten years have passed.

Each step takes a long time, and they are never sure if there will be a next step.

Becoming a partner was something he had never dared to think about.So there was no way for him to suddenly have life wisdom beyond his own in that 1 minute.

He was half a beat too late.

Although Ren Ningyuan didn't mention it anymore, and didn't plan to mention it again, he still remembers it by himself, and he can't erase it from his mind.

When Qu Tongqiu came home, Ren Ningyuan was already sitting in the living room, concentrating on reading the magazine in his hand, when he heard him come in, he raised his head, and the two of them met their eyes, which was regarded as a greeting, and then They each staggered awkwardly.

Qu Tongqiu found a seat on the side and couldn't help but look at the quiet man on the sofa.Many years have passed, Ren Ningyuan is still as good-looking as before, even better.Over the years, he has faced the same face every day, but he has never felt tired of it.

Ren Ningyuan seems to have never been married, and has been single for no reason until now.

When he was young, he used to think wildly, wondering what kind of person could live with Ren Ningyuan, that kind of imagination was full of longing and envy.

But now I was lucky enough to sit beside him.

When I think about it carefully, I feel that this is so happy that it makes people shudder.

And how can he gradually take this as a matter of course, instead of taking the initiative to do something to defend this precious happiness like a man?
"Ren Ningyuan."

Ren Ningyuan put down the magazine and looked at him.

"that……"

"Ok?"

After only saying a few words, Qu Tongqiu already felt his throat itchy, and couldn't restrain his instinct to swallow: "What happened that day..."

Ren Ningyuan's brows seemed to move slightly, and then he still looked directly at him calmly.

"I'm sorry, I..." He was ashamed of his insensitivity at the time, and if given another chance, "I think—"

"I'm back!"

Qu Tongqiu froze for a moment, then saw a girl with beautiful long hair enter the living room gracefully, and her daughter came back from get out of class.

Qu Ke jumped into his arms excitedly: "Hey, I heard a classmate recommend a delicious takeaway restaurant to me today, it's the one you opened, Dad!"

Qu Tongqiu said "Ah", and before he had time to express his joy or humility, Ren Ningyuan also stood up: "I have something to do in the store, I'll go out for a while. You guys have dinner first."

After going out, Ren Ningyuan didn't come back until bedtime.

Qu Tongqiu thought it was probably because there were too many things to take care of in the store. After all, it was an entertainment city, so how could the boss have no nightlife.

If you get married and have to give up nightlife because of your family, I wonder if Ren Ningyuan can adapt?He is quite experienced, but Ren Ningyuan has never been married, will he not get used to it at all?

In such anxiety, Qu Tongqiu gradually fell asleep with a little longing.

However, Ren Ningyuan still did not come back the next day.

I called to inquire about it because I was worried, but I got a gentle response of "the business in the store is not finished, don't worry".

Qu Tongqiu sat at home, and as time passed, he gradually became uncontrollably worried.

Can people who are used to the glamorous nightlife really accept marriage?Maybe Ren Ningyuan regretted it after that impulsive moment, so that when he heard him mention "that day", he could only simply avoid it, and even felt embarrassed to see him when he went home.

Of course, this is not something that can be forced. Many times, marriage is essentially just an impulse. If you miss it, you really don't have it.

However, originally he was not greedy at all, he didn't dare to think about getting married again, let alone expect to have such a relationship with Ren Ningyuan.

It was Ren Ningyuan himself who put this desire into his mind.Then it grew bigger and bigger, bigger and bigger, so big that even he couldn't restrain the little monster that was about to move.

He felt that maybe he should force Ren Ningyuan to take a little responsibility for this greed that he personally facilitated.

Qu Tongqiu took his credit card, went to the jewelry store, then the flower shop, and finally drove to Ren Ningyuan's nightclub.

He was dressed too formally tonight, with a crisp suit, white shirt, tightly tied tie, shiny leather shoes, and hair that was so meticulous that it was almost weird... so that from the moment he entered the door, the guests in strange clothes stared at him in unison. look at him.

Qu Tongqiu was sweating on his forehead, passing everyone's sights with a velvet box in his arms. He had almost finished walking for a while before he remembered that because he was too nervous, he left a large bouquet of flowers in the car.

Without a huge bouquet of flowers to boost his courage, his courage would have shrunk a lot. However, it would take more courage to go back the same way to get it under the watchful eyes of everyone, and then walk through this section again.

"Qu Tongqiu."

Qu Tongqiu hurriedly raised his head, Ye Xiutuo stood on the stairs, looking down at him: "Are you looking for Ning Yuan?"

"yes……"

"Is something wrong?"

"Ah," he didn't want to be interrogated by his relatives and friends before proposing marriage, he was a little confused, "I, I have some private matters to discuss with him."

Ye Xiutuo looked at him for a while, then said, "Actually, you should give him some time."

Qu Tongqiu panicked for a moment. Indeed, for such a big event as marriage, it is necessary to give Ren Ningyuan enough space and time to think it over carefully. He is a little impatient.

but……

"It's been a few days actually, so I thought, maybe—"

A smiling man poked his head out from the door behind him: "Xiu Tuo, let him come up."

Ye Xiutuo hesitated for a moment: "I don't think it's the time yet..."

Rong Liu sighed: "It's time. You are fine, but if I drink it again, it will be difficult for me to explain when I go back. Xiao Teng won't allow me to enter the house if the alcohol exceeds the limit. I have worked hard. Please understand my difficulties, okay? "

Qu Tongqiu got a pass to go upstairs in this kind of conversation that made him feel like a cloud, so he hurriedly touched the precious box on his chest, and smoothed out the non-existent wrinkles on his trousers.

Ren Ningyuan sat in the room without any strange expression on his face, he could still feel that his mood was obviously not very good.

However, the two looked at each other, and his tone was gentle enough: "What's the matter? What's the matter?"

"Ah..." Qu Tongqiu hurriedly stood up straight, "I want to talk about what happened that day..."

Rong Liu immediately made a posture ready to get up and rush out at any time, and said, "Xiu Tuo, do you think it would be better for us to go out for a while?"

Ye Xiutuo said firmly, "No, Ning Yuan needs us at a time like this."

With the addition of two unexpected audiences, Qu Tongqiu felt that his back was drenched with sweat.

The arrow is already on the string, and this is the most critical moment in his life.Then at this critical juncture, his lines escaped from his mind in fright, and he even forgot what the most appropriate wording should be.

"Marry me"?

Lines can get away with irresponsible funk, but he can't.

Everything related to Ren Ningyuan is something he can fight for by abandoning his self-esteem and even disregarding his shame.

(End of this chapter)