I rejected your confession, but you took my best friend home?

Chapter 143 I... want to clarify our relationship with you now.

After a while, Zhu Tao sat down on a lounge chair in the poolside rest area.

She was shivering slightly as she came out of the pool. Although the indoor heating was on, it was still a bit cold.

At that moment, a bath towel was draped over her body. Zhu Tao looked up and saw Liao Haomiao sitting down on the chair next to her.

He also bought several bottles of water, placed them on the table, and handed one to Zhu Tao after opening it.

The two sat by the pool, watching Zhou Heng and Yin Mengran playing happily in the water, a hint of envy in their eyes.

The reason why the two of them can't play so carefree is because there are many barriers between them.

The ambiguity in their relationship, along with family obstacles, have led them to their current situation.

"You...yesterday..."

After a moment, Liao Haomiao spoke first, breaking the deadlock.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Tao turned to look at Liao Haomiao's profile, pursed her lips, and listened quietly.

"You told your mom yesterday... that I'm your boyfriend, but we... we haven't actually defined our relationship yet, right?"

"Yes."

Zhu Tao nodded, agreeing with Liao Haomiao's idea. Regardless of what she thought yesterday, neither of them had explicitly said it out loud, which was a fact.

"I'm sorry I told you you were my boyfriend yesterday without your permission..."

Zhu Tao took the initiative to apologize to Liao Haomiao. She was well aware of the situation; she had definitely been out of his league.

With Liao Haomiao's top-ranking grades, decent looks, and his father being the manager here, his family must be quite well-off. Given these advantages, Liao Haomiao could easily have had better options.

All she had was the fact that she had once been in a relationship with Liao Haomiao; she had no other assets to speak of.

That's why she dared not say anything or make any requests.

What happened yesterday was already a very bold act for her.

Liao Haomiao didn't care about such things. On the contrary, he was very happy, at least it was Zhu Tao who took the first step, not him.

"No...you don't need to apologize. I'm glad...you consider me your boyfriend, so now I want to say..."

Liao Haomiao paused, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself. After a few seconds, he slowly began to speak:

"I... want to clarify our relationship now, are you... willing?"

Liao Haomiao stared intently at Zhu Tao, then extended his hand.

Zhu Tao was genuinely taken aback, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes, her mouth slightly agape...

She paused for only a few seconds, then her slightly pursed lips curved into a graceful smile.

He then extended his hand and gently placed it in Liao Haomiao's palm.

"I'd love to..."

"Oh--"

As soon as Zhu Tao finished speaking, cheers and soft applause suddenly rang out from ahead.

The two looked ahead and saw Zhou Heng and Yin Mengran standing by the pool, smiling at them.

"Uh..."

Zhu Tao immediately lowered her eyelids, her face followed suit, but her ears subtly flushed red, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, unable to conceal her joy.

Liao Haomiao was somewhat surprised to see that Yin Mengran no longer needed Zhou Heng's support, and asked:

"Oh? You learned it so quickly?"

Zhou Heng raised his head smugly and said, "Of course, my girlfriend is so smart, is learning to swim difficult?"

As soon as Zhou Heng finished speaking, Yin Mengran moved closer to him, her pure, glassy brown eyes fixed on him, and whispered:

"It's because you taught me so well. I'm not very good at it yet, but I'll get better with practice..."

Zhou Heng gently brushed a strand of Yin Mengran's hair aside and said softly, "Let's rest for a bit. Swimming is very tiring."

"Uh-huh..."

The two came out of the pool.

Liao Haomiao immediately tossed two bath towels over for them to drape over their bodies.

Zhou Heng first draped the cloak over Yin Mengran's shoulders, and then over himself.

After they sat down, Liao Haomiao asked:

Are you hungry? Should I call my dad and ask him to take us out to eat?

Zhou Heng's eyes widened in surprise.

"Huh? It's fine to play for free, but you also want Uncle to treat us to a meal? Forget it, let's just go eat by ourselves. He must be quite busy, it's not good to trouble Uncle like this."

"I agree."

Yin Mengran echoed Zhou Heng's words, and Zhu Tao shared the same thought, gently tugging at Liao Haomiao's arm and nodding slightly at him.

"I see... alright then..."

Since they had all said so, Liao Haomiao chose to compromise.

So the group decided to go out for a meal together. There were many snacks and restaurants to choose from.

Zhou Heng and Yin Mengran walked hand in hand in front, while Liao Haomiao and Zhu Tao walked behind.

Liao Haomiao took Zhu Tao's hand, and Zhu Tao not only didn't resist, but gripped it even tighter.

After many years, she finally held that hand again, and this time, she vowed never to lose it again.

Seeing that Zhou Heng and the others were some distance away from him, Liao Haomiao whispered in Zhu Tao's ear:

"Um... let's not tell our families about what's going on between us, okay?"

"Ah...ah?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Tao's heart skipped a beat, and she remained stunned for a few seconds before reacting.

For a moment, she thought of many possibilities, but she felt that the most likely one was the reason why they had separated in the past.

Zhu Tao's lack of immediate response made Liao Haomiao somewhat flustered, but he didn't know how to explain.

He didn't want to tell her...that his mother disapproved of their relationship. He couldn't bring himself to say it; he knew it would hurt her deeply.

Moreover, he couldn't bring himself to say the conditions his own mother had proposed. Who would suggest that his girlfriend's mother come to his house to apologize?

Speaking it out would undoubtedly put their relationship in a very awkward position.

He can only use this delaying tactic temporarily, and then slowly figure out a solution himself.

"I... I just want to... uh, keep our relationship a secret from my family so they won't interfere, that way we can get along better, right?"

Liao Haomiao offered a simple explanation, but Zhu Tao didn't buy it at all.

She absolutely refused to believe that this was the reason, but she also absolutely refused to expose it, knowing full well what the consequences would be.

"Um...okay, I understand."

Zhu Tao verbally agreed, but secretly she remembered this as no small matter; it could very well separate them again...