Chapter 25

A wave of soreness tightened in Qiao Zhenzhen’s chest. In her previous life, when she was a teenager she’d only been busy avoiding Chi Shen and messing around with Zhao Lianqiao; she’d never thought to care about her mother’s feelings. She had assumed that after falling out with the Qin family, her mother stopped mentioning Grandpa and Uncle because she was utterly disappointed and wanted no further ties.
Only when she truly grew up did she realize it wasn’t that her mother didn’t want contact, it was guilt born of the fallout, and as the guilt rolled and grew she lost the courage to face her closest relatives.
When she was a child she could throw tantrums and beg for forgiveness after hurting her family; adults, however, can only curl up and shut themselves away. Like today, she could walk through that door without hesitation, while her mother could only type “I miss him too” into her phone.
“Zhenzhen, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you leaving now?” Qin Zhao’s voice sounded.
Qiao Zhenzhen snapped back to herself and looked up in confusion. “Huh?”
“It’s already past ten. I’m asking whether you’re leaving, if you are, I’ll drive you. If not, stay the night here.” Qin Zhao finished, and Qin Sheng casually glanced at her without the usual sharp words, a rare softness.
Clearly, he wanted her to stay.
Qiao Zhenzhen sniffed, thought for a moment, and answered, "I'd better go back."
Qin Sheng snorted coldly, instantly annoyed.
A hint of a smile flickered in Qiao Zhenzhen's eyes. "But I'm going to stay a little longer."
Qin Sheng's expression finally looked better.
Qiao Zhenzhen rubbed her eyes, stared at her mother's text for a long time, and finally replied: "Mom, can you pick Chi Shen and me up later? Grandpa won't take us, and it's hard to get a taxi here."
Adults always need a reason for everything; once there's one, things get simple.
Sure enough, after a few minutes' silence Qin Jing replied with one word: "Okay."
Qiao Zhenzhen brightened at once. When she looked up she met Chi Shen's intent gaze. She paused, glanced around, and quietly warned him, "Don't keep staring at me. If Grandpa and Uncle see, they'll read too much into it, and we'll have to explain, it's too much trouble."
Chi Shen pressed his lips together and shifted his gaze from her face to the snacks.
Watching him, Qiao Zhenzhen felt a little odd. She cleared her throat and said, "Fine, you can look at me."
Chi Shen hesitated, then looked at her again.
"...But don't stare for too long," Qiao Zhenzhen reminded him.
Chi Shen clearly didn't know where the right limit was, so he would look at her for a moment, then down at the snacks, and repeat.
After three or four repetitions, Qin Sheng said impatiently, "If you want some, just take it, don't ask her!"
Qiao Zhenzhen: "..."
She was silent for a moment. On her way to the bathroom she suddenly thought of something: she set her phone to stay on, opened her chat with her mother, placed it on the table, and left.
Chi Shen's eyes flickered at the gesture; he lowered his head and kept eating the cookies.
Qin Zhao soon came over, picked up the cup on the table to leave. Chi Shen accidentally brushed the phone, making a small sound; Qin Zhao paused and looked toward it. Seeing Qiao Zhenzhen's phone screen still lit, he was about to look away politely, but when he saw the chat he froze.
"Why does it take you so long to grab a cup?" Qin Sheng frowned.
Qin Zhao came back to himself, handed him the cup, but his expression showed an indescribable sadness.
Qin Sheng frowned. "What's wrong?"
Qin Zhao opened his mouth, then fell silent.
"What's going on?" Qin Sheng grew impatient again.
After hesitating for a long time, Qin Zhao finally brought her phone over to him.
Qin Sheng glanced at it casually; after reading the contents he paused. The normally stern man was suddenly at a loss for words.
"Dad..."
"Don't call me that." Qin Sheng's face went cold as he turned back into the room.
The door slammed shut. Qin Zhao sighed helplessly and put the phone back on the table.
When Qiao Zhenzhen returned, she looked at Chi Shen expectantly.
"He saw it," Chi Shen answered.
Qiao Zhenzhen grew even more hopeful. "How did he react?"
Chi Shen said nothing; he silently stared at the closed door.
Qiao Zhenzhen was instantly disappointed, sighed, and sat down. Seeing how clearly upset she was, Chi Shen didn't know how to comfort her.
After the day's events, he already knew most of her troubles and vaguely understood why she had changed so much. He wanted to help, but his own chaotic, limited life left him at a loss for ways to do so.
After a long pause, he carefully extended a finger and lightly tapped the back of her hand, his expression solemn, as if any further contact would be an impertinence.
Qiao Zhenzhen was startled, then laughed. "What, do you think you're an alien?"
Chi Shen looked at her; his eyes were a clear, honest black.
Qiao Zhenzhen rubbed her eyes. "I'm fine, take your time."
Seeing her mood lift, Chi Shen slowly withdrew his hand.
Half an hour later Qin Jing's text arrived. Qiao Zhenzhen perked up and looked at Qin Zhao, who was playing with his phone. "Uncle, my mom is here to pick us up."
Qin Zhao came back to himself. "Ah... then let's go back."
Qiao Zhenzhen nodded and ran to Qin Sheng's door, knocking. "Grandpa, I'm going home, aren't you going to walk me out?!"
"Get out!" Qin Sheng said with a single word.
Qiao Zhenzhen pouted. "Just walk me to the gate of the complex, it's a bit dark outside and I'm scared."
"Cut it out, I won't walk you," Qin Sheng refused. After a pause he added, "Have your uncle take you."
"Fine then." Expecting his refusal, Qiao Zhenzhen didn't press. She took Qin Zhao and Chi Shen and headed out.
Night had fallen and the complex was quiet. The three walked in silence until Qin Zhao suddenly asked, "Zhenzhen, has your mom been all right these past few years? How has your dad treated her?"
"She's fine, I guess. She often misses you guys," Qiao Zhenzhen said, knowing he'd tell Qin Sheng, she exaggerated a little. "Sometimes I've even seen her hiding under the covers and crying because she misses you so much."
Qin Zhao felt pained. "Sigh, if we'd known it would end up like this, we never should have..."
What they shouldn't have done he couldn't bring himself to say.
Qiao Zhenzhen pressed her lips together and, obediently at his side, said, "Uncle, could you try to persuade Grandpa? My mom really misses him."
"...I'll try, but you know your grandfather's temper, don't hold out too much hope," Qin Zhao said helplessly.
Qiao Zhenzhen nodded obediently.
The three of them soon reached the gate; Qin Jing was already waiting outside. Her eyes lit up when she saw Qin Zhao, then she looked past him, when she didn't see that familiar figure behind him, a flash of disappointment crossed her face.
"Sis," Qin Zhao greeted.
Qin Jing's eyes were warm. "Oh, has Zhenzhen been a bother to you?"
"No, she's been well-behaved," Qin Zhao said, then glanced at Chi Shen. "Both of them have been very well-behaved."
Qin Jing smiled, then thought better of saying anything; Qin Zhao, too, was on the verge of speaking but held back, and suddenly the atmosphere grew quiet.
"Mom, didn't you say you missed Grandpa? Why don't you ask Uncle how Grandpa has been these past few years?" Qiao Zhenzhen reminded them candidly.
Qin Zhao couldn't help laughing.
Qin Jing shot her a reproachful look. "I have my own mouth, why use yours to ask?"
"Dad is in good health, don't worry," Qin Zhao offered.
Qin Jing nodded, embarrassed, and didn't dare ask more. After a few polite words she hurried off with the two children.
On the way back she drove in silence, lost in thought.
"Mom, you're the driver, don't zone out," Qiao Zhenzhen warned anxiously from the backseat.
Qin Jing came to and snapped to attention. "Don't worry, I'm not zoning out."
Qiao Zhenzhen nodded, glanced at the quiet Chi Shen beside her, and after a moment said, "Why don't we go to Grandpa's for a study session tomorrow? He still has snacks, if we don't eat them, no one will."
Chi Shen paused. "Okay."
"Don't trouble Grandpa like that," Qin Jing said, giving her a look in the rearview. "If you want snacks, I'll buy them, no more visits."
Chi Shen lowered his eyes quietly. All day he had been lumped together with "you" by the elders, an experience he had never had before, a strange sensation, as if... he had become a normal person.
"It's fine, Grandpa doesn't mind," Qiao Zhenzhen said, then looked at Chi Shen. "Right?"
Chi Shen was silent for a moment, thinking of the old man's disappointment when they said they wouldn't stay overnight, and he nodded quietly.
Seeing he felt that way, Qin Jing agreed. Qiao Zhenzhen leaned over and murmured in Chi Shen's ear, "Why do I feel like they trust you more?"
Chi Shen looked at her uneasily.
"I'm complimenting you, I think you're more trustworthy too," Qiao Zhenzhen said, her eyes curved in a smile, showing none of the displeasure of having affection shared.
Chi Shen watched her quietly and, like her, let the corners of his mouth lift, subtle, as always.
[Affection +20, now 210]
Qiao Zhenzhen blinked and felt even more cheerful.
The next morning at eight she rose on time. Downstairs she found a pile of health supplements. Without Qin Jing saying a word, she called Chi Shen over and the two of them carried the boxes away together.
Qin Sheng had gone out for his morning exercise at six. Afterward he sat in the courtyard playing chess with a few friends. As they were pondering a move, an elderly gentleman chuckled, "Well, whatever next, now even plastic boxes can grow legs and walk."
The others looked over and saw that beneath two small, mound-like heaps of supplement boxes, pairs of legs were straining as if trying to walk.
An older woman was speechless. "What do you mean the supplement boxes are walking? Those are just two people carrying things."
"Let me see... who's so well-off? Bird's nest, abalone, thermal clothes, waist pillows...everything. Never seen anyone this filial," the gentleman laughed.
This villa district housed the city's elite, everyone there was wealthy or influential, and even so, none had seen such an extravagant purchase of supplements. For a moment everyone praised it.
The more Qin Sheng heard, the more his mood soured. He glanced at the two slow-moving mounds and sneered, "Only a fool would buy things like that!"
"Grandpa! Save me!" Qiao Zhenzhen cried for help.
Qin Sheng: "..."