Chapter 85: Still eating?
Jiang He, who had been specially trained by Xu Qing, performed exceptionally well, and in Xu Wenbin's eyes, his impression of her changed instantly.
Able to handle the kitchen, and seemingly the living room too—what kind of dumb luck did this kid stumble upon?
“What’s wrong, Dad?” Xu Qing felt that his dad’s gaze was a bit odd.
“Nothing.”
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
“It’s nothing.”
“If you want to ask something, just ask. I only come back once a month, I’ll give you a full explanation.”
“So you know you only come back once a month?!” Xu Wenbin glared.
“I’m an adult, I’m working outside... Once a month isn’t too little, right?” Xu Qing scratched his head. “Except for those who live at home and come back every day, who comes back all the time? I’m just not disturbing you two enjoying your life together.”“You...”
Xu Wenbin opened his mouth, but the words stuck in his throat.
He wasn’t wrong. This brat coming back was just annoying. It was better if he didn’t come back at all, disturbing their lives.
...But not coming back wasn’t right either!
Having a son was just a pain in the neck. If he’d known, he’d have had a daughter instead—
If it were a daughter, she’d probably be married off to someone in the building across the way by now, saving him the headache.
“Check out those articles my sister shares on her WeChat feed. I see them all the time when I scroll through my Moments. They’re pretty good.”
Xu Qing let go of Jiang He’s hand, pulled out his phone, tapped a few times, and said, “I’ll share them with you. Look, she posted this the other day: Urgent! The dangers of late-night snacking... Oh, but you two sleep early and don’t eat late-night snacks. Here’s another one: How to Let Go When Your Child Grows Up. This one’s good, I’ll send it to you. And this one: Can You Still Discipline Your Grown Child... Uh, let’s skip that one.”
He rambled on, quickly sharing several articles from his aunt’s WeChat feed. “I’m telling you, Dad, if my little brother were as handsome and talented as me, with a girlfriend and a job, my aunt would be over the moon. You can’t be too greedy, always thinking I’m up to no good...”
“You think you’re so great compared to that rascal Xiao Wen? Why don’t you compare yourself to Haozi?”
“Who are you calling a rascal? He’s just a bit mischievous!” Zhou Suzhi wasn’t having it, poking her head out of the kitchen while waving a spatula.
Xu Wenbin ignored her. Everyone knew what his sister’s kid was like. He continued talking to Xu Qing: “Haozi’s a civil servant now, and he has a girlfriend. Except for being a bit dark-skinned, how is he not better than you?”
“He has a girlfriend? That blind date went fast.”
“Never mind how fast it was. Forget about being a civil servant; getting into a public institution would be good too. That lousy video thing of yours is unreliable. You might make money now, but can you make it forever?”
“Why do I need to do it forever?”
“...”
Xu Wenbin was ready to give a fatherly lecture, but he was stumped. His face darkened, and after a moment of silence, he asked, “So what are you planning to do?”
“Go big, go strong, open a studio, start a company, and eventually get it listed. Then I’ll be the CEO, and you’ll be the CEO’s dad, the father of a first-generation rich guy. Think of the prestige.” Xu Qing clenched his fist enthusiastically.
“Get lost!”
“Come on, Dad, let’s be real. Even public institutions aren’t lifelong jobs. Work is work; why rank them? If I joined a company, with my personality, I’d just be a slacker, eating and waiting to die. How’s that any different from now?”
“Why would you be a slacker?”
“Because that’s just who I am.”
“You little...” Xu Wenbin was about to grab a slipper but stopped when he noticed Jiang He nearby.
“Ugh, people have their own destinies, Dad. Why can’t you understand? I’m my own person with my own path. When you two are old and retired, I’ll take care of you. I’ll give you money and take care of you. Why do I have to join some public institution...?”
Xu Qing was getting frustrated. “Didn’t Mom have my birth chart read before? What did that old fortune-teller say... something about the Three Nobles? Always striving and competitive, not the type to sit still—Mom, what did he say back then?”
“What did he say?”
“Right!” Xu Qing got up, ran to the study, pulled open the bottom drawer, and rummaged around until he found a big red sheet of paper. He spread it out and looked.
“‘The Seven Kill Star suppresses the Three Nobles, loves indulgence, is competitive, enjoys standing tall and bullying the weak, with a temperament like a tiger...’ Whoa, is this really me?”
He shook his head and walked back out. “Dad, look, it’s fate. At my core, I’m not like Haozi. You can’t force it.”
“Why are you taking a picture of it?” Xu Wenbin watched him snap a photo with his phone.
“To remember it. I’ll show it to my future girlfriend and match our birth charts. I think we’re destined for each other, and she believes in this stuff.”
“Hah! What nonsense. ‘Temperament like a tiger’—he was just trying to say you were one step away from being a delinquent but made it sound nice. Always drinking and picking fights.”
Xu Wenbin sneered. “And didn’t I beat that out of you?”
“That wasn’t you; I just grew out of it. Everyone’s young once.”
Xu Qing reminisced about the days of being whipped with a leather belt, but he felt nothing now. Back then, he probably deserved it.
“Anyway, I’m just quietly doing my own thing now. Why can’t you accept that? Do you really want me to be some model citizen and get an award at the Jiang City Commendation Ceremony?”
“Did I say anything about an award? I didn’t say anything about an award! I just want you to get a proper job!”
“You two, give it a rest,” Zhou Suzhi said, coming out with a plate and signaling towards Jiang He with her chin.
They were arguing without any consideration for the girl who was still there.
Jiang He seemed focused on the TV, but her ears were perked up, and her mind was elsewhere.
“Have an orange.”
Xu Qing sat back down and peeled an orange for her, breaking off a segment and holding it up to her mouth. Jiang He, still pretending to watch TV, instinctively opened her mouth and ate it. She chewed, then froze and turned to look at him.
“Is it good?” Xu Qing asked.
“...Sour.” Jiang He was a bit dazed.
“Then I’ll eat it.”
Xu Qing popped a piece into his mouth, glanced at Xu Wenbin, and saw him huff and leave for the study with his tea cup.
“Another bite?” Xu Qing smiled and asked Jiang He again.
If his dad’s attitude didn’t change, every visit home would be just as chaotic.
Games were recognized as the ninth art form, but these people still thought they were a poison. They were out of touch.
“I...”
Jiang He pressed her lips together tightly, hesitated, then, as if under a spell, opened her mouth again when he offered another piece.
“Do you prefer sour or sweet?” Xu Qing asked, handing her another segment.
“I’m done.” Jiang He shook her head, avoiding his gaze and turning away.
“You did well earlier, fooling my dad.”
Xu Qing chuckled, eating the orange himself. The sourness chilled him a bit.
Jiang He stayed silent.
When he had taught her those things at home, she had asked why it was so complicated. Xu Qing had said it was just in case she realized she really liked him...
Thinking of this, she lowered her head, blinking her eyes.
Maybe she really did.
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