DLRAS Chapter 138

Chapter 138: Thank you, Mr. Huo, for reuniting us, father and son.

The table was piled high with crayons and drawing paper. Chen Wengang was surrounded by a gaggle of little ones, though no one cared to draw anymore; they were all chirping excitedly, huddled around him to look at the photos on his phone.

“Because its ears are so long…”

“A puppy that looks like a bunny!”

“Bunny-dog!”

“No, silly, it’s just a puppy!”

“Teacher Chen, I want to play with the puppy!”

When nap time arrived, the children finally went to the dorms. Chen Wengang untied his apron and went to say goodbye to the director.

Director Liu shook his hand with mock formality. “Oh, I almost forgot to congratulate you. From now on, it’s ‘Dr. Chen’.”

Chen Wengang felt bashful and smiled modestly. “Not yet. I’ll have to wait until the semester starts.”

Director Liu laughed; the wrinkles on her forehead deepened. She had gotten new reading glasses this year and wasn’t quite used to them yet—she had to take them off after wearing them for a while. After they said their goodbyes, Chen Wengang left the orphanage. The parking lot was mostly empty, save for his Lexus.

Above him, cicadas hummed incessantly, and the summer sun was blindingly bright.

Chen Wengang drove all the way to Moon Road. Yuanchai School had just started summer break. He waited at the gate for a while before he spotted her—while the other students were heading home lugging suitcases, she strolled out looking effortlessly cool in a crop top and denim shorts, with a small shoulder bag slung across her body.

Chen Wengang parked the car in the shade. He stood outside waiting, his refined, handsome appearance making him stand out in the bustling crowd.

As Jiang Cai walked toward him, a male student chased after her, asking, “Who’s that? Your boyfriend?”

Jiang Cai gave the guy a disdainful middle finger. “Boy-boy-boy your head! What’s it to you? Scram!”

By the time she reached him, Chen Wengang had gallantly opened the car door for her. They got in and left the boy far behind.

Jiang Cai now went by the name Huo Jiangcai externally—at Huo Zhenfei’s insistence—but she hadn’t accepted it herself and still went by her original name; the two were still bickering about it. After graduating high school, her grades had been mediocre, but Huo Zhenfei didn’t just pack her off overseas. Since she had managed to get into a vocational school on her own merits and was willing to attend, he let her enroll.

Halfway there, Chen Wengang asked, “Was that your classmate just now? He wasn’t trying to pursue you, was he?”

Jiang Cai was dismissive. “Who does he think he is? Do you really think I’d have a crush on a sleazy punk like that?”

Chen Wengang said, “Dating is fine, but you have to keep your eyes peeled. That boy just now had a shifty look in his eyes; I don’t think his intentions were good.”

Jiang Cai chided him for being a nag. “How old do you think I am? Do you think I’d give him a chance to take advantage of me?” She added, “Besides, I can’t compare to your real sister. She’s a top student, straight off to Singapore to study abroad. As for me, I only got into a mediocre school, so I’m stuck with people like that.”

Chen Wengang smiled, intentionally teasing her, “You’re quite self-aware.”

Jiang Cai felt he had picked up some bad habits from Huo Niangsheng. “By the way, I’m going to your place for dinner today. Is ‘that guy’ really okay with it?”

Chen Wengang smiled. “Yes, your brother has no objections. He welcomes you.”

Jiang Cai said, “That’s probably because you’re the boss of the house and he doesn’t dare have an opinion, right?”

Chen Wengang was about to reply when a car ahead cut into their lane illegally. He reacted quickly, swerving the wheel to the side.

The car turned onto Jiangchao Street.

The street had been renovated over the last two or three years; it was much easier to navigate than before, with more traffic lights and crosswalks. It wasn’t completely leveled and rebuilt; instead, it followed the principle of “protective development,” preserving the traditional city feel while improving infrastructure. They had carved out a commercial district to attract tourists.

The renovation was government-led and built by the Li Group. It wasn’t fully complete, but the area from Jiangchao Street to Chunchao Street was finished. At first glance, it still looked like it always had—the layout hadn’t changed much, retaining its ancient charm—but it was no longer dilapidated or desolate.

Chen Wengang didn’t drive straight home. He parked the car by the street. Inside a low wall, over a dozen dogs were chasing and playing.

This used to be a wasteland covered in tall grass, but the stinking ditches had been filled in, and a pet park had been built.

Leaning against the low wall was a tall, imposing man. He had already seen them arrive and waved lazily. In his other hand, he held a puppy—a small, black-and-tan ball of fluff, its four paws paddling in the air.

As soon as the puppy saw Chen Wengang, it lifted its head and started yapping.

Chen Wengang quickly rushed over to “rescue” it. “You brought it out to play, why do you keep carrying it instead of letting it run on the ground?”

Huo Niangsheng raised an eyebrow and placed Halley into his arms.

Chen Wengang chided him, but once he had the dog in his arms, he didn’t let go. Jiang Cai watched as the German Shepherd, acting like a baby, nestled quietly in his arms—it was both funny and cute. She asked Huo Niangsheng, “What’s wrong? Now that there’s a ‘child’ in the house, you’ve lost your status?”

Huo Niangsheng scratched his chin and just smiled, watching Chen Wengang kiss Halley’s forehead over and over.

He tucked his hands into his pockets. “As a parent, isn’t it normal to be like this when you have a kid?”

Chen Wengang smiled and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Huo, for reuniting this father and son.”

Jiang Cai thought he was just joking, unaware of the deeper meaning.

Not far away, the owners were chatting in small groups. The regular dog walkers had become friends through their dogs and were quite familiar with one another. Chen Wengang put Halley on the ground, but since it was still a puppy, it didn’t like playing with the others; it just trotted on its four legs, circling him. Chen Wengang squatted down, took treats from his pocket, shook hands with the dog, and taught it how to sit and roll over.

Jiang Cai thought it was fun, watched for a while, and couldn’t help but join in, having a blast teasing the dog.

Huo Niangsheng sat on a stone bench, hands resting on his legs, looking down at the strings of shadows in the sunlight.

In this life, Chen Wengang had been missing Halley for years. When the day finally came to go pick it up, he had actually been anxious, insisting on going with Huo Niangsheng. He was so afraid he wouldn’t be able to find his dog that he had stayed up all night, as if waiting for the results of a major exam.

It turned out he had worried for nothing. Chen Wengang had spotted that ball of fur the moment he walked in. It was as if they shared a telepathic bond; the dog, which had been licking a milk bowl in the corner, suddenly pricked up its ears, saw Chen Wengang, rolled over, and ran to him, nuzzling his pant leg and refusing to leave.

Chen Wengang crouched down to touch it and ended up with milk stains all over his hand. He picked up Halley, and the warm little bundle burrowed into his arms. They didn’t even need a cage; on the way back, Chen Wengang had carried it in his arms the entire time.

But in this life, he was almost obsessively focused on Halley. Since bringing it home, he hated to have it out of his sight for even a second. Even when going out to teach or work, he was reluctant to leave it, and after two hours apart, he’d have separation anxiety, demanding Huo Niangsheng send him videos of the dog.

Huo Niangsheng teased him, saying the dog really was like his biological child.

Chen Wengang hugged his neck. “When a child is small, they only have these few months where they change every day. If you don’t watch them, they grow up in the blink of an eye. How can you ever make up for the regrets of their childhood?”

Huo Niangsheng asked skeptically, “What, you mean once it’s grown, we old married folks can finally have our private world?”

Chen Wengang just smiled without answering.

He simply looked at Huo Niangsheng like that, saying nothing, and Huo Niangsheng let him have his way.

The three of them stayed in the pet park for a while. Dog walkers came and went. Suddenly, a young couple arrived, leading a Poodle.

The man, broad-faced and portly, recognized Chen Wengang and called out, “Old classmate!”

Jiang Cai was confused, and Chen Wengang whispered to her, “He’s my elementary school classmate.”

Halley wanted to go sniff the Poodle, but the Poodle barked quite fiercely, so Chen Wengang held it back with one hand. He hadn’t been in touch with Cheng Bo for many years; after living at the Zheng family home, he had drifted away from his old friends. It was only a few years ago, when Cheng Bo was getting married and bumped into Chen Wengang, that he insisted on inviting him, and they had maintained a surface-level civility since.

Now that Chen Wengang and Huo Niangsheng lived in the old Chen house, the dense residential area of the old town meant they saw each other often, maintaining a traditional neighborhood vibe. Cheng Bo lived nearby, so they occasionally ran into each other in the streets.

Cheng Bo was in business and doing quite well—the most successful among their old classmates. He was a proactive person who often organized reunions and had even started a group chat to keep in touch. This time, he was planning another class reunion and reminded Chen Wengang to watch for notifications in the group.

Chen Wengang was polite. “If I have time…”

Cheng Bo clapped him on the shoulder, overly familiar. “You have time! Of course you have time! Let me tell you, my company closed a big deal in the first half of the year. This reunion,” he pulled his hand back to pat his own chest, “don’t worry, all expenses paid, it’s on me. The venue is at Lingyun Pavilion—ever heard of it? It’s a high-end club; regular people can’t even book a room even if they have the money! You have to come see it for yourself!”

Before leaving, he suddenly remembered something. He glanced at Huo Niangsheng, then said to Chen Wengang, “This time it’s just us classmates! We’re going to have a blast and drink until we drop, so it’s settled, okay? No spouses allowed! Remember, just us!”

When Chen Wengang turned back, he saw Jiang Cai hiding behind Huo Niangsheng, snickering to herself, unable to straighten up from laughing.

Chen Wengang smiled. “What’s so funny?”

Jiang Cai said, “I’m obviously laughing at that guy. He wants to show off as a big spender, but he’s too stingy to actually spend money. ‘It’s settled, no spouses allowed’—isn’t that just ‘puffing up his cheeks to look fat’? If he can’t afford it, he shouldn’t act like a tycoon. Oh my god, I’m laughing so hard I can’t breathe.”

She asked Huo Niangsheng on purpose, “So, what are you going to do? Can’t you go?”

Huo Niangsheng said, “What can I do as a spouse? I wasn’t invited.”

Chen Wengang led Halley away, and they headed back to the Chen house.

Dinner had already been prepared in the kitchen, kept warm under a mesh cover. Huo Niangsheng cooked himself; his movements were practiced, and he soon had dish after dish stir-fried. Chen Wengang was responsible for carrying them into the room. Jiang Cai sat on the sofa; she appeared carefree on the surface, but inwardly, she was amazed.

The Huo Niangsheng before her, wearing an apron and looking incredibly domestic, truly exceeded the bounds of a normal person’s imagination.

She looked up—this was actually Jiang Cai’s first time visiting the Chen house—and saw a wall of frames opposite them, a photo wall. Some were of Chen Wengang, but before she could look closer, Huo Niangsheng glanced at her and tilted his chin. “Wash your hands.”

Jiang Cai jumped up with an “Ah,” realized what he meant, and obediently headed for the bathroom.

Huo Niangsheng scooped three bowls of rice.

He looked across the courtyard into the main room, where Chen Wengang was talking to Jiang Cai.

His biological father, Huo Fenglai, had been a romantic and sentimental man who left behind many illegitimate children—one here, one there, probably more than he could even count. So far, the only ones who had been recognized were himself, Huo Jingsheng, and this younger sister. Huo Niangsheng hadn’t really cared about Jiang Cai initially, but because she was young, Chen Wengang hadn’t had the heart to abandon her. That being the case, he was willing to accept her as well.

If there were any other reason, Huo Niangsheng felt that, deep down, Chen Wengang yearned for this kind of family life.

Huo Niangsheng brought the bowls and chopsticks over. “What are you talking about?” he asked Jiang Cai. “You’re a guest in someone else’s house; don’t just sit there. Help bring the dishes.”

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