My Landlord is an Idol Singer - Chapter 180

“Oh.” Xia An’ge couldn’t see Gu Zhinan’s expression. She just felt surely he was lying. No way she’d believe him. “Gu Zhinan.”

“Mm? What is it?”

“Are you still going to blind dates?” Xia An’ge stared at the car window, hugging the Sprite in her hands, not looking at him.

“No. Once in a lifetime is more than enough for that experience.” Gu Zhinan grinned as he spoke.

“Oh.” Was that really a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience?

“Then… should I have Auntie Xia find me someone for a blind date too?” She turned toward him, her eyes a little doubtful.

“Ah?” Gu Zhinan didn’t know how to explain. He thought for a moment, then said with a sigh, “Landlady, don’t forget, you’re already registered as my girlfriend at Auntie Xia’s place. If you’re not afraid she’ll give you a scolding, go ahead and tell her.”

“Mm.” The two fell silent again. Just as Gu Zhinan was about to speak, his phone rang. “Shh!” He pressed a finger to his lips. Xia An’ge froze mid-sip, watching as he answered the call.

“Hello, Mom.”

“Gu Brute’s mom?!” Xia An’ge’s whole body tensed instantly. She felt a pressure so strong she didn’t even dare breathe too loudly.

“You met her already and didn’t even call me? Mad at me?”

On the other end, Chen Ru had just quarreled bitterly with that so-called “sister.” That woman had accused her son of being useless and said he brought another woman along just to spite her daughter!

Her son, she could say whatever she liked about him. Gu Zhi could say so too. But anyone else, even relatives, she wouldn’t tolerate it!

“No, I just finished eating and forgot. I was about to call you, really.”

“Really?”

“Really!”

“You’re not lying to me?”

“Why would I lie to you?” Gu Zhinan’s voice was gentle, and Xia An’ge, listening from the side, felt a twinge of envy. It was clear from their tone alone that his relationship with his mom was warm and easy.

This kind of gentle tone from Gu Brute, it was the one she liked the most, the one she had no defense against.

Only then did Chen Ru let out a breath. She didn’t believe a word that woman had said. 

“Your handsome boy, that blind date fell through. I’m not good enough for her. She wanted me as a backup!”

“Tell her to scram!” Chen Ru’s voice sharpened. She knew it! “Tell her to scram right away! If her family ever comes to our shop again, I won’t sell them a thing. They’re not worthy! Just now she kept going on and on, I was so annoyed! Made it sound like I was the one begging for the blind date.”

“Hahaha, fine, we won’t sell. We’ll keep it for ourselves.”

“You don’t even know, at first she acted so fierce. I thought maybe we were in the wrong, so I kept quiet. But the more she talked, the more ridiculous it got. That’s when I realized. I know my own son, don’t I? She was talking nonsense!”

Gu Zhinan felt touched. In this body’s memories, it seemed he had always enjoyed this kind of near-indulgent motherly love. Even his father, Gu Zhi, couldn’t compete, one spoiled him, the other cherished him.

After ranting, Chen Ru spat a few times to “ward off bad luck,” then asked carefully, “Do I really have a daughter-in-law now?”

“No, I just said that to get rid of her.” Gu Zhinan sounded helpless as he explained to his mom. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xia An’ge pressing her lips together, fighting a laugh, but too nervous to let it out.

And then, she let out a Sprite burp.

In the small car, the sound was painfully loud! Xia An’ge clapped her hand over her mouth, her whole face flaming red. She was doomed!

“Who was that? Is that my daughter-in-law? And you said you weren’t dating anyone? Gu Zhinan! You’ve grown up, huh? Wings stiff now? Hiding a secret romance from your parents?!”

Chen Ru’s excitement spiked. That voice, wasn’t it a girl’s?

“What the—!” Gu Zhinan nearly choked. One little burp and she got pinned as his girlfriend? “That’s just my landlady. We ran into each other by chance.”

He hurried to explain. Without a proper explanation, there was no escaping this today.

“Your landlady? Really?” Chen Ru was skeptical. That woman earlier had claimed some “seductive vixen” had shown up with her son to humiliate her daughter.

But Chen Ru automatically translated “seductive vixen” into “pretty girl.” Everything that woman said, she took the opposite way.

“Come on.” Gu Zhinan held the phone out toward the nervous landlady, whose face was scarlet, he thought maybe she was holding back another burp. “It’s fine. Just say a word or two, otherwise she won’t believe me.”

Xia An’ge’s heart pounded wildly. Even her ears felt like they were burning. She looked at him helplessly, eyes begging for rescue. Gu Zhinan mouthed the words, and Xia An’ge stiffly repeated them aloud.

“H-hello, Auntie.” Her voice was soft, nervous, and sweet.

“Eh!” Chen Ru perked up at once. That voice was so lovely, then the girl herself had to be even more of a beauty!

“Zhinan’s landlady? What a sweet voice!”

“Th-thank you.”

“How old are you, dear? Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Mom, enough! One more word and I’m moving to Mount Song this year.”

Xia An’ge’s face turned crimson, like blood might drip from her cheeks. Especially at that question, do you have a boyfriend? Instinctively, she glanced at Gu Zhinan. But he was busy arguing with his mom and didn’t notice at all.

“What are you going to Mount Song for? To become a monk? Don’t you dare! If you must, go to Wudang instead.”

“….” Unable to win, Gu Zhinan gave in and chatted a few more minutes, begging her not to arrange blind dates anymore.

After hanging up, he looked at the Landlady, still dazed with the Sprite in her hands.

“My mom’s like that, carefree like a kid. But she’s actually a good person, very thoughtful.” Then he frowned. Who says their mom is “thoughtful” like that?

“It’s fine.” Xia An’ge snapped back to herself, turned away, and stared blankly at the steering wheel.

“Here.” After a long pause, she shoved the Sprite back at him. She swore she’d never drink Sprite again, it had betrayed her at the worst possible moment!

Gu Zhinan accepted the half-finished Sprite and chuckled. Probably just from eating too much. “I never asked, why are you in Hangzhou?”

“There’s an event.” Her whole demeanor seemed deflated, her voice quiet.

“Then why’d you come find me?”

“I…” Xia An’ge herself didn’t know why. She just felt suffocated knowing he was on a blind date. “I was afraid your blind date would mess up your Masked Singer competition. I want to see you make it to the fourth round.”

It was such a clumsy excuse, even she didn’t believe it. But Gu Brute nodded like it made sense. “Reasonable.” He smiled, “I’ll give it my all. I’ll go then.”

Click!

The sound of the car doors locking made him stiff. He turned his head just as the landlady said coldly, “I’ll give you a ride. I’m on the way.”

“Oh.” He pulled his hand back. On the way? Well, that saved him cab fare.

Outside Hangzhou TV station, at an intersection, Xiao Li was already waiting beside a car.

“I’ll head over.”

Xia An’ge nodded, watching as Gu Zhinan got out, retrieving his guitar from the back seat.

She whispered, “Good luck.”

“Thanks. Remember to check in with Xiao Ying. I’ll message her later. Don’t wander, okay?”

“Mm.” She watched him walk off, get into another car, and drive away. Then she buried her face in the steering wheel, not sure what to think. Especially after actually talking to Gu Brute’s mom today. Her face burned red all over again.

“Teacher Gu, why are you so late? I’ve been waiting half an hour!” Xiao Li’s eyes lit up when he saw Gu Zhinan approaching with his guitar. He was nearly in tears of joy.

“I told you to just wait a bit. Why did you send me a message every ten minutes?” Gu Zhinan was speechless. Whatever happened to trust between people?

“Don’t say it, I get it. My bad, my bad.” Xiao Li was already familiar with Gu Zhinan’s ways. He surrendered instantly.

“Who was that girl in the car just now? Was that your girlfriend? But I never heard you had one!”

“Do I need to announce it to the world if I have a girlfriend?”

“So she really is your girlfriend?” Xiao Li was shocked. Big news! If this got out in the Legend of Sword and Fairy review section, it would blow up!

“Is this car moving or not? If not, I’m leaving.” Gu Zhinan gave him a weary look.