CW: homophobia. And also, a man threatening a woman by saying that he’ll spread rumors that she slept with multiple men. I think that should be warned, considering on real-world misogyny.
Peng Jiahui never expected the dramatic twists of a social breaking news to unfold in his own family.
When he first heard about the madman roaming the streets, Peng Jiahui didn’t give it much thought. He didn’t even bother to call his son to offer a few words of caution.
In his mind, such people would eventually be caught. What were the chances it would affect them directly?
—Turns out, those chances were high.
The day of the incident, Peng Xingwang was brought back to Peng Jiahui’s home. Jiahui helped him bathe, dried his hair, and coaxed him to sleep. Throughout, Xingwang was obedient and well-behaved, not causing a single ounce of trouble.
This wasn’t the boy Peng Jiahui remembered.
He was painfully aware of the things he’d done in his darker moments.
Back when work was rough, and he spent his days swallowing his pride and being humiliated at the office, he would come home and vent his frustrations on his child. Without any reason, he might lash out with a sudden kick or a harsh word.
Back then, Peng Xingwang was scrawny, timid, and too afraid to even meet his father’s gaze, let alone speak confidently.
Bathing his son that night, Peng Jiahui found himself wondering if he was dreaming.
How could a child not hold a grudge like this?
Shouldn’t Xingwang hate him?
Shouldn’t he hate his father for driving his mother away, for the years of abuse, and for being shuffled off to live with relatives even now?
But Peng Xingwang seemed to carry no thorns in him.
Whenever Peng Jiahui found himself thinking clearly, his first instinct was to brace himself, fearing the day his son might retaliate for his past actions.
Yet it had never happened — not even once.
Xingwang seemed to have forgotten all the bad things as if they’d never existed, living every day with a natural cheerfulness.
Peng Jiahui even brought this up with Jiang Wang once.
He felt almost like he had some strange masochistic tendencies, undeserving of his son’s affection.
“Xingxing… why doesn’t he hate me?”
Jiang Wang had taken half a cigarette before finally responding.
“You already know the answer to that.”
Even Jiang Wang couldn’t quite make sense of this child.
It was as if his heart were made of bulletproof glass. No matter how many rotten eggs or spoiled tomatoes were thrown at it, a simple wipe would leave it as clear and pure as ever.
“Dad, when I saw that madman, I just thought – if something happened to me, you’d be so sad.”
Peng Xingwang scrubbed at the suds in the tub, then continued, “Luckily, Teacher Ji is really good at sports. He threw a few balls and knocked that guy senseless!”
Peng Jiahui responded awkwardly, rinsing the bubbles off his son with the showerhead.
From the balcony, Guan Hong smoked silently for a while before leaving without a word.
The next day, after sending Xingwang to the hospital for a check-up, Peng Jiahui invited his girlfriend over and even prepared a box of pastries as a token of appreciation.
That night, as he lay beside his son, he came to terms with many things.
“Honghong, I don’t want to waste your time either.”
“There are things we just don’t align on, so let’s not force it. Let’s part ways amicably.”
Guan Hong didn’t take the gift. She glared at him instead.
“Say that again?”
Peng Jiahui was baffled. “Didn’t you say—”
“I’ve only been dating you for a few days, and you’re already calling it quits?” Guan Hong’s temper flared, her tone accusatory. “Oh, I see. That girl named Lin from HR who’s always hanging around you — already caught your eye, huh? Using your son as an excuse to dump me?”
Peng Jiahui was utterly baffled. “What Little Lin or Little Wang? I’m bringing this up because of my son! You’re the one who said you wouldn’t stay if he was around. Get your facts straight, will you?”
“Who are you trying to fool?” Guan Hong laughed, as though she’d just heard the most ridiculous joke. “For your son?”
“If you really cared about your son, what were you doing all these years? Now you suddenly remember him?”
“You didn’t raise him yourself, didn’t let your ex-wife raise him either. You handed him over to two homosexuals. Aren’t you afraid your son might turn out gay too?!”
Peng Jiahui’s mind went blank. He fumbled with the box of pastries in his hand, and it crashed to the floor, scattering everywhere.
“You—what nonsense are you spouting?!”
His anger flared. “My brother’s not like that, and Teacher Ji is a decent man too. Don’t you dare slander them! Where’s your proof?”
“Proof? You need proof for this?” Guan Hong sneered. “Just like my ex-boyfriend. Always glued to another guy, almost face-to-face. Have you ever seen straight men sticking to another man with an intimate look on their faces all day long?”
Before she could finish, Peng Jiahui, as though provoked, stormed forward and slapped her across the face.
“Smack!”
“You—you hit me?!” Guan Hong screeched. “Have you gone mad, Peng Jiahui?!”
“Oh, you don’t want the neighbors to know, huh?” She cupped her hands around her mouth, ready to shout. “Jiang Wang is a homo—”
Another slap landed squarely on her cheek.
“Shut up!”
His body trembled as he spoke, having not hit anyone in years.
“Listen here, you crazy bitch. Stop gossiping about people behind their backs!”
“Even if Jiang Wang turned out to be a woman in disguise, or—hell—even a transgender person, it’s none of your damn business!”
“You want to tell the neighbors, right?” He flung open the front door, even the screen door, giving her no chance to respond. “Go ahead. Say it. And I’ll yell back about how you were caught having sex with four or five men by Jiang Wang. Let’s see who the neighbors believe!”
Guan Hong shivered. She hadn’t expected Peng Jiahui to be so fiercely protective.
She realized she’d gone too far, but she was equally shocked by how aggressive he could be.
Before she could muster up a word of compromise, Peng Jiahui roared, “Get out!”
Disheveled and humiliated, his ex-girlfriend fled. The middle-aged man slowly sat down, his movements shaky.
“Achoo!”
“Got a cold?”
“Doesn’t seem like it. I haven’t been out in the cold lately.” Jiang Wang rubbed his nose, oblivious to the fact his own father had just referred to him as a “transgender person.” “Maybe some reporter outside is cursing me out?”
Initially, Jiang Wang was only supposed to stay for two days. However, the property management company had hired a psychologist to counsel him and the child, hoping to avoid a court dispute and excessive compensation demands. They went so far as to provide a VIP single room with attentive care.
As if they were afraid that their sincerity wasn’t clear enough, the flowers on the bedside table were changed daily, and every meal came with freshly sliced fruit, four dishes, and soup. After learning Jiang Wang had a minor kidney stone issue, they even moved a water dispenser into the room.
Ji Linqiu stopped by regularly to keep him company and helped liaise with advisors to finalize the teacher contracts.
After a few knocks at the door, Jiang Wang, engrossed in editing a document on his laptop, said casually, “Come in.”
Peng Jiahui entered, carrying a thermos of soup and a bag of fruit.
“I thought it was my assistant,” Jiang Wang chuckled, raising his head in greeting. “Sorry, I’ve been swamped with work.”
Awkward and visibly restrained, Peng Jiahui nodded briefly, politely inquiring about Jiang Wang’s recovery.
Sensing something off, Jiang Wang’s mind instinctively turned to a familiar scenario.
Perhaps his father had come to borrow money.
Rumor had it the machinery company he worked at was expanding and seeking new investors. Maybe he needed funds to become a shareholder.
…Actually, Jiang Wang wouldn’t be opposed to lending the money, depending on the purpose.
Peng Jiahui, overwhelmed by Jiang Wang’s natural friendliness, found himself unable to broach the topic. Instead, he stiffly served a large bowl of soup.
“I haven’t broken any bones, so drinking bone marrow soup isn’t needed.” Jiang Wang joked, keeping his tone light as he polished off the entire bowl.
Thankfully, Xingwang was at school. Otherwise, he would’ve fought Jiang Wang over the soup.
Reflecting on his behavior, Jiang Wang sighed at his own lack of self-control.
Despite the beatings and scoldings he had endured as a child, when a bowl of soup was offered, he couldn’t help but drink it.
Ah, people.
Peng Jiahui sat by Jiang Wang, idly chatting, debating internally whether he should even ask about it. ‘Even if they’re really dating, could it harm Xingxing?’
Jiang Wang, growing slightly impatient, thought, ‘It’s just borrowing money. Why not just say it outright?’
“If there’s something on your mind, just say it. We’ve known each other long enough. What’s there to be afraid of?” he said casually. “No need to overthink. It’s not a big deal.”
Peng Jiahui froze for a few seconds. ‘Did he figure it out already?’
After squirming in his seat for a while, Peng Jiahui finally mumbled, “I feel awkward even bringing it up.”
“What’s there to feel awkward about?” Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow. “Everyone has moments like this.”
…What?
Peng Jiahui struggled for a long time before blurting out, “I broke up with Honghong.”
“That was fast,” Jiang Wang remarked, starting to reassess why his father might need money. “Did something happen to her? Or you?”
“Nothing happened,” Peng Jiahui quickly waved his hand. “It’s just… because of my kid. No other reason.”
“She doesn’t like children and didn’t want Xingxing around. Sure, she’s beautiful, but beauty doesn’t count for much in the end.”
He sighed heavily. “I did think about finding another wife. But no matter what, Xingxing is my son. How could I just give him up?”
Jiang Wang’s mood inexplicably lifted. “Glad to hear it.”
“Actually,” Jiang Wang continued after a pause, “Xingxing came to me about you wanting him to transfer schools.”
Hearing this, Peng Jiahui hung his head, looking even more unsure.
“I want him to go to the provincial capital and see more of the world, but…”
“But what?”
“Don’t laugh at me,” Peng Jiahui said, fidgeting nervously. “I’m afraid that if he goes, the neighbors will gossip, saying I don’t want my own son anymore.”
“But if I keep him here just to save face, that’s holding him back from attending a better school, isn’t it?”
Jiang Wang listened patiently.
He found himself enjoying conversations about Xingxing with Peng Jiahui.
Whenever Peng mulled over how to care for Xingxing, what to buy for him, or where to take him, Jiang Wang would feel inexplicably happy for days.
After all, Peng Xingwang is Jiang Wang. If it was to be rounded up, it meant that his thirty year old biological father was trying hard to make amends with him.
“So after thinking it over, I’ve decided to go along with whatever you two think is best,” Peng Jiahui declared with resolution. “If people gossip, I’ll find a way to explain. It’s not like I haven’t dealt with rumors before.”
Peng took a deep breath, as if setting aside his pride, and looked at Jiang Wang earnestly. “Brother, before meeting you, I was living a muddled life, just drifting from one day to the next.”
“I’m truly grateful I met you. Following your advice step by step got me to where I am now—a stable job, steady income, and the chance to take my kid places. I mean it, thank you.”
Jiang Wang felt his face grow hot. He coughed a few times, unsure how to respond to such sentimentality.
“You catching a cold?” Peng Jiahui asked quickly.
“…Maybe,” Jiang Wang muttered, trying to cough away the awkwardness. “Been sneezing a lot the past few days too.”
This heartfelt confession seemed to ease the tension in Peng Jiahui’s mind.
He chuckled dryly and joked, “When we broke up, Honghong said the craziest thing. She was claiming you and Teacher Ji are dating.”
Jiang Wang’s heart skipped a beat. His instincts took over, and he immediately masked any reaction from his face.
“What did you say?”