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Chapter 72: I hope you can give me an answer.
With a splashing sound, the water poured out of the bathtub onto the floor; the marble floor along with the clothes on the ground became wet.
Both the people seemed to turn into jellyfish, stretching, contracting, swimming, and finally melting into the transparent water.
Chen Wengang stared at the flooded floor with his eyes downcast. After soaking in hot water for a long time, blood rushed to his face. He propped himself up halfway, saying he wanted to go out for some fresh air. However, his ankle was suddenly grabbed. Huo Niansheng lowered his head and lightly touched his lips to the inside of Chen Wengang’s ankle.
He seemed startled, immediately curling up his legs and breaking free, splashing water like a fish leaping.
Huo Niansheng smiled, propping himself up and covering him.
He placed his palm against his chest, and beneath the flesh, his heart beat strongly, pounding like a drum.
Chen Wengang pushed him away and wrapped himself in a towel before leaving the bathroom. The cool air rushed into his chest all at once.
Only now did he feel relieved.
Then Huo Niansheng took a towel to dry his hair and followed suit, casually turning on the TV.
A scene from a popular Republic of China drama appeared on the screen, with the sound system making noise in the background. The protagonist, who had been wandering since childhood, was confronting her younger sister, who had grown up as a young lady, asking why she targeted her despite already enjoying wealth and luxury.
Huo Niansheng didn’t change the channel, focusing on their verbal sparring.
Chen Wengang leaned against the bar, twisting open a bottle of juice. “Do you like watching this?”
Huo Niansheng turned his head toward him and made a “shh” sound. “Let’s listen to her explanation first.”
The sister, dressed in a dress with curled hair, had a fierce expression. “You stole Mom and Dad’s love, and you even stole Shijie’s love!”
Shijie, who knew what he looked like, was likely her fiancé.
Chen Wengang frowned deeply. This drama seemed to be inexplicably popular. Huo Niansheng, on the other hand, was completely indifferent, his eyes glued to the TV. He pointed at the supporting actress. “Look at this character. She’s actually quite similar to Huo Yingfei. He could play this role authentically. People like them seem to want to dominate everything and are not willing to let others take advantage of what they don’t want.”
Chen Wengang suddenly came to his senses. “Huo Yingfei?”
“My other cousin, with a relationship similar to Huo Zhenfei’s,” replied Huo Niansheng calmly, without further explanation.
The TV screen flickered and turned into a commercial break.
Chen Wengang placed the juice on the table, feeling like he should say something but not knowing where to start. After hesitating for a moment, he walked over and used his fingers to straighten out Huo Niansheng’s slightly damp hair.
Huo Niansheng chuckled and reached back, grabbing his hand and slowly rubbing his thumb against it.
The next day, even though it was still Sunday, Huo Zhenfei came over just to watch the game, seeking some entertainment. After exchanging greetings, he left first.
Chen Wengang went to check on Alex again.
The engine wasn’t fixed as quickly as expected, so they were doomed to return empty-handed this time. But they weren’t in a hurry; there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
As they reached the entrance of the Zheng residence, Chen Wengang got out of the car, and Huo Niansheng leaned out of the window to bid him farewell.
Chen Wengang asked, “Shall we go out to sea together next time?”
Huo Niansheng smiled and replied, “It’s up to you.”
After saying their goodbyes, he drove down the mountain.
However, Huo Niansheng received a phone call on the way and turned in the direction of the hospital.
Huo Kaishan’s complexion was still the same, dull and pale. The hospital room still had the scent of disinfectant mixed with decay and aging.
This time, Huo Niansheng was called alone. He calmly pulled up a chair and sat opposite the bed.
But at least he didn’t bring the frivolous and careless attitude from outside into the room. “Grandfather, how have you been feeling lately?”
Huo Kaishan still held the same photo frame in his hand—the one he showed to Huo Jingsheng, which Huo Niansheng had also seen before. He groped the photo with bark like hands, evading the question. “Your father, Fenglai, is the first son of me and your grandmother.”
Huo Fenglai.
Huo Niansheng smiled faintly. “I know.”
Huo Kaishan leaned against the headboard, his eyes cloudy, his breath short. “In our old-fashioned terms, it’s like having a firstborn son in the family. Naturally, I was happy… But I never thought that having a son would also require responsibility. Shouldn’t that be a woman’s duty, with your grandmother around? Wasn’t she the mother? But she didn’t take care of it either. She spent her days painting her eyebrows and playing cards with her friends.”
He changed his tone. “So… lately, I’ve been thinking that Fenglai has always been taken care of by nannies and servants since he was little. They wouldn’t care much about the young master; as long as they could please him, they’d give him whatever he wanted and indulge him however he liked. As he grew older, he was influenced by his bad friends. I remember when Fenglai was in his teens, he was dating female classmates and taking them out overnight. When their families came looking for him, I brushed it off, saying it’s just kids being kids, but it’s normal; does he even know what dating is? My secretary told me, and I only found out later that he was a platinum member at nightclubs, more familiar with the scene than his old man.”
Huo Niansheng leaned back in his chair, remaining silent and just listening.
Huo Kaishan continued, “Later, we had other children, your second uncle, third uncle, and fourth uncle, although I can’t say I’ve raised them much, at least not like before, completely neglectful. Niansheng, do you all think I’m just stubborn? No, I do have affection in my heart. Now when I see your uncles, each with a wife and children, except for Fenglai… he hasn’t even lived a full life. Your grandmother has also passed away. As a father, I can only reflect on my own responsibilities. I regret it for him.”
Huo Niansheng said, “Grandfather, you don’t need to think too much. The doctor said, excessive worrying isn’t good for your health.”
Huo Kaishan ignored him and stared at him. “So, can you understand my efforts now as a grandfather? Jingsheng doesn’t have the courage; he dares not disobey. But what worries me the most is you. If you turn out to be like your father, I wouldn’t be able to rest in peace even in death.”
Huo Niansheng met his gaze, smiling faintly.
The peach-blossom eyes were lifted up, allowing Huo Kaishan to see his charming and debonair eldest son from years past.
Struggling to breathe, Huo Kaishan spoke. Huo Niansheng approached, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a jug, pouring a glass of water and placing it on the bedside table.
Huo Kaishan said, “Before I close my eyes, I hope you can give me an answer.”
Huo Niansheng smiled and replied, “Grandfather, let’s wait and see.”
***
In the evening, Zheng Yucheng finished his social engagements and arrived home to find the clock pointing to ten o’clock.
At this time, Zheng Bingyi and Huo Meijie had already gone upstairs to their rooms. However, the television in the living room was still on, with two figures crouching there, grooming a dog.
Chen Wengang was half kneeling on the carpet, using a fine brush to groom YOYO. The proud poodle lay back, all four paws up, squinting contentedly. Zheng Baoqiu used colored yarn to tie a small braid for it, holding up her phone in an attempt to capture the moment.
Zheng Yucheng silently approached, not disturbing anyone, and observed the two from behind.
Chen Wengang laughed and gently pushed away her meddling hands, rescuing Yoyo from her grasp and smoothing out its tangled fur with a brush.
That slender figure reminded him of someone he had met recently, a girl from the He family, He Qinfang.
Zheng Yucheng’s meeting with her was somewhat arranged—being a friend of her father’s, Mr. He had treated him generously, and some of the elders in the He family also favored him. Since he couldn’t make progress with He Wanxin, they arranged for him to meet other girls of similar age.
Both sides were still young, so there was no grand arrangement, like a blind date. They simply attended a dinner together.
At the dinner, Zheng Yucheng saw this well-read and refined girl, whom Zheng Bingyi also admired. She stood quietly by the elders, exuding an air of scholarly refinement that reminded him somewhat of Chen Wengang.
But he had no intention of getting closer to her.
He Qinfang obediently approached Zheng Yucheng for conversation, and he slipped away to smoke half a pack of cigarettes.
Coincidentally, He Wanxin also attended the dinner. As Zheng Yucheng lit his cigarette behind some greenery, he caught sight of her scolding a waiter over a misplaced brooch. He watched them from the shadows, cigarette in hand, for a while before suddenly realizing and stepping out to intervene.
He Wanxin, originally aggressive, changed her demeanor as soon as she saw him, graciously excusing the waiter.
Zheng Yucheng suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly while heading to the restroom. His laughter grew louder, even causing him to bend over, struggling to catch his breath.
Then, He Wanxin became his girlfriend, at least in name.
Sometimes decisions are made in an instant. Zheng Yucheng seemed to have suddenly realized something. He couldn’t treat marriage as a business deal without desires or expectations. If he had to get married, why harm an innocent girl? He wasn’t a good person, and neither was He Wanxin. Since she was so persistent, well, two bad people locking horns would suffice. Who could be more suitable than the two of them?
He and He Wanxin established three rules—
First, in front of others, he would do his utmost to maintain He Wanxin’s dignity, fulfilling his duty of being gentle and considerate. Second, when they were alone, she could compromise, not insisting on intimacy, and even agreeing to use IVF to have a baby if they were to marry in the future. Of course, this was a matter for the future and would be specified in a prenuptial agreement.
When they settled everything, Zheng Yucheng didn’t know if he had shouldered a heavy burden or had breathed a sigh of relief.
Zheng Baoqiu finally noticed someone behind her. “Da-ge, have you been drinking? Let me get something from the kitchen for you…”
Zheng Yucheng waved his hand. “It’s okay, no need. I’ll just go back and rest.”
Zheng Baoqiu hurried away. “At least have a cup of honey water. Wait here, I’ll go make it for you.”
Chen Wengang paused in his grooming, turning to look at Zheng Yucheng. Yoyo impatiently scratched at him.
Zheng Yucheng walked upstairs without looking back. “You guys carry on, I need to rest for a bit.”
He took two steps at a time, as if afraid of regretting his decision.
Chen Wengang didn’t sense anything hidden about him. For the next ten days or so, his life was surprisingly peaceful.
The professor from the sociology department, whose research interests aligned with his, replied to his email. When he went to the school to meet with them, everything went smoothly. They talked for over an hour, and the professor welcomed him to submit his application.
On his way back, he even caught the freshman sports meet. He ran into a few classmates and, inexplicably, got dragged onto the platform to cheer for their department.
Across the field, he and You Ying saw Qi Tongzhou. But they were far away, and Qi Tongzhou didn’t notice them on the platform.
After school started, young people were busy burning with youthful enthusiasm. It wasn’t surprising at all that they enthusiastically signed up for the sports meet. What he didn’t expect was to participate in the 10,000-meter run. After winning a place, he returned like a hero, with a group of people handing him water, fanning him, and helping him off the field.
It seemed like a familiar figure flashed by. Chen Wengang remembered the gossip about Li Hongqiong and looked uncertainly in that direction several times.
You Ying asked curiously, “What are you looking at?”
He shook his head. “Nothing, I must have been mistaken.”
The professor assigned Chen Wengang a reading list. He borrowed some books from the library but didn’t need to come to campus every day. Most of the time, he stayed at Houren Special Education School. When there was work, he did it, and when there wasn’t, he studied and did homework.
One evening, Chen Wengang left late, and the office was left with only him. Someone knocked twice.
Shortly after, Jiang Wanxia walked in, timidly calling out, “Teacher Chen.”
Luo Suwei had determined that she didn’t pass the probation period and had already given her a deadline to move out as soon as possible, but she hadn’t moved yet, despite being offered help to find another place.
Chen Wengang felt wary. “Wanxia-jie, what’s wrong?”
She lowered her voice. “I want to… talk about Cai Cai.”
Chen Wengang sighed, closing his book. “Please sit—forget it, don’t move.” He got up to fetch her a chair.
Then he sat back in his own chair, and Jiang Wanxia expressed her gratitude. “I’ve always known you’re kind-hearted, so…”
Chen Wengang interrupted her. “Just get to the point.”
Jiang Wanxia lowered her voice.
After listening, Chen Wengang was stunned for a while.
She swore, “This is true. Her father’s name is Huo Fenglai. When I used to work as a greeter at the hotel… I met him. If you don’t believe me, you can verify it with the Huo family through DNA testing.”
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For every Ko-fi received for a perticular novel, I will release a new chapter!
Wait… Didn’t they previously say that she and her daughter weren’t biologically related? Am I confusing them with someone else? Also, I feel like CWG will also turn out to be someone’s lost grandson, since his mother grew up in an orphanage.