Chapter 371: Chapter 371: Do you know people say you two look like fools!

“Are you shy because you’re not talking? Brother, if you like someone, you should be honest, otherwise it’s such a pity to miss out.” Sang Qingran paid no heed to his brother’s deadly glare.

Isn’t it good to help others? Then be kind to the end.

“No! I’m very sorry to this beautiful lady, but I have no feelings for you either. Actually, both of us were forced into this blind date. Maybe it’s better we just leave now.”

Sang Shen hurriedly spoke, fearing he’d be misunderstood and that would spell trouble for him.

He couldn’t even remember what his grandfather had initially instructed him, all he knew was that he absolutely must not reciprocate any interest!

“What a psycho, bringing me here for a blind date if you didn’t plan to court me, wasting my time.” The woman was instantly furious and stood up to leave.

Sang Shen observed his youngest brother with an indifferent expression, “See, if you were a bit more polite, I wouldn’t have been scolded along with you.”

“Weren’t you the one who tried to set us up in the first place?” Sang Qingran raised an eyebrow.

“I was politely setting you up. You could have refused. After all, you’re the one involved.”

“Fine, I’m leaving.” Sang Qingran stood up and headed out, not caring about accepting or refusing, as indifference was the best rejection.

Resigned, Sang Shen followed him out, already imagining what their grandfather would say about the two of them.

After all, the blind date didn’t even last half an hour including their travel time.

He had tried his best to persuade, but his younger brother was stubborn and unyielding, making him feel like he might become the blind date himself.

As they walked, they hardly conversed or interacted.

Sang Shen, head bowed, walked ahead until he bumped into his brother’s back and looked up, puzzled, “Why did you suddenly stop?”

He had just asked the question when he saw Meng Jiahe and Shangguan Yuan walking by in the street ahead, with a child in Shangguan Yuan’s arms, all wearing smiles.

Because they were too far away, he couldn’t hear their conversation, but the smiles indicated they were discussing something harmonious and congenial.

Sang Shen instinctively turned to look at his brother and indeed, saw a fleeting look of desolation in his eyes.

Sang Shen knew what was on his brother’s mind without even asking…

“Are you still thinking about Ah He?”

“No.” Sang Qingran averted his gaze, even though his denial was betrayed by the emotions lingering in his eyes.

“It’s just us here; are you still going to deny it? Besides, do you even realize how you normally are, and what you’ve become now?”

Sang Shen couldn’t help but chuckle. It was certainly obvious when his younger brother was disturbed or off-balance.

It seemed the latter halves of their lives were similarly distressing, likely all making up for the harm they caused Qiaoqiao when they were younger.

“What difference would admitting make, or not admitting, for that matter? It’s all in the past now. There’s no use talking more about it.” Sang Qingran smiled faintly.

He wasn’t afraid to admit, but there was simply no point in doing so any longer; he and Meng Jiahe were never meant to be, and voicing his thoughts would only trouble himself and tarnish Ah He’s reputation.

“So, you’re unwilling to go through with the blind dates because you still have someone in your heart, not because you don’t want to settle down.”

This time, Sang Shen spoke with certainty. It seemed like he was the only heartless monster in the family, as he cared about no one apart from Qiaoqiao.

Even his grandfather’s caring was merely because of Qiaoqiao.

“No matter the reason, I will not marry anyone in this lifetime.”

“I feel the same, yet differ in some ways,” Sang Shen felt more bewildered about himself the more he thought about it, feeling like a heartless freak.

He was barely able to discern whether his feelings for Qiaoqiao stemmed more from care or from guilt.

“Let’s go back. In the future, don’t always aim to find the answers. Some questions inherently lack purpose.”

Sang Qingran strode forward briskly, his words perhaps meant for Sang Shen or perhaps to remind himself of this rationale, recognizing that understanding some things held no meaning.

“Yeah, I understand,” Sang Shen heard, but it struck him differently.

His brother thought he talked too much.

After their walk, and because they lingered on the road for a while, it wasn’t too early when they got home, originally thinking the old man wouldn’t think much of it.

But as soon as they stepped inside, they were greeted with scolding, “You two still have the face to come back?”

“Why wouldn’t we have the face? Did we do something wrong?” Sang Shen was baffled.

“Do you even need to ask what you did during the blind date? Do you know what that girl and the matchmaker said about you two!”

Mr. Sang Senior had never heard of such outrageous things in his life, and to think it involved his grandsons!

“What did they say?” Sang Shen thought at most they said they were impolite and not genuinely there for the blind date, what else could have been said.

“She told the matchmaker not to match her with idiots anymore, claiming you two have something wrong with your brains. One of you was like a mute during the date, not speaking at all, and the other talked too much and seemed uninterested in the blind date entirely, lacking even basic manners to offer her a drink.”

Mr. Sang Senior found it preposterous; while Qingran was usually reserved, he wouldn’t be silent on purpose like he was today.

“What? I was just explaining for Qingran, and I even said it was on me. How could it be my fault if she didn’t order anything?”

Sang Shen wanted to scream injustice; he hadn’t even performed that well during his own blind date.

And what was with that woman? Complaining was one thing, but how could she implicate him, an innocent party?

“I did respond to her. I just didn’t initiate any topics,” Sang Qingran also spoke up in his own defense.

“You two… really are hopeless!” Mr. Sang Senior sighed; both his sons truly lacked social skills, “You must learn to ask proactively what others want to eat or drink, not wait for them to tell you what they want.”

“…We’ll know next time, but as for today, can we just let it go?”

Only then did Sang Shen realize that he needed to be proactive.

“Qingran, you’ve been called an idiot. Do you have any thoughts on this, any idea where you went wrong?”

Mr. Sang Senior counterquestioned, actually unclear himself why Qingran was labeled as such, unsure which aspect of his behavior was off.

“I don’t know, Grandfather, just tell me directly.” Sang Qingran spoke frankly.