To be honest, Zhuang Hanxue wasn’t the least bit surprised that his father had an affair and fathered a love child. He even felt it was inevitable.
His own philandering was clearly inherited from his old man.
His mother wasn’t any better, frequenting host clubs with her girlfriends, sometimes blowing hundreds of thousands in a single night. She even had her regular young lovers. He’d seen them, some even younger than him. It was beyond ridiculous.
Like father, like son. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
His family was a complete mess. When crows land on a pig’s back, neither can accuse the other of being black.
So, as his parents got older, they each did their own thing, managing to coexist harmoniously since they rarely crossed paths anyway.
Their only mutual agreement was to avoid producing illegitimate children.
Thinking about this, he particularly envied Jiujiu’s parents. The Lin family was even wealthier than theirs, yet they weren’t nearly as chaotic. Their household was orderly and proper.
Perhaps it was because his family was nouveau riche, lacking any real class or refinement.
Now look at them – the eldest son came out and ran off, the second daughter took her team to split from the company and start her own business, and him? A good-for-nothing idiot, living off others, and just waiting to die.
See? This is what happens when people marry carelessly and have children they don’t bother to raise properly.
But now, his father had produced an illegitimate child.
It proved that men were ultimately more ruthless than women. His father could hide an illegitimate child, while his mother couldn’t conceal another pregnancy even if she wanted to.
He figured this also meant his father had completely given up on him.
Ah, so that’s how it was.
Well, what could he do? Haha, who told him to be such a disappointment?
Haha, hahahaha.
This wasn’t something he could tell Qiu Zheyan.
Zhuang Hanxue vented to Little Master instead: [Little Master, the adult world really is filthy, isn’t it…]
Little Master: [What’s wrong?]
Zhuang Hanxue asked: [Are your parents still very much in love?]
Little Master: [Don’t even start. During the New Year holiday, they went on a trip without my brother and me. Ever since I started elementary school, they’ve often gone off to play by themselves. I feel like I’m just a light bulb.]
Zhuang Hanxue smiled. See? Not all lovers end up loathing each other. Some remain devoted through it all: [Your parents’ relationship is really great. I remember Lin Yanchen’s hair turned white overnight when he thought Chu Xun had died.]
Little Master: [Really???]
Zhuang Hanxue: [You didn’t know?]
Little Master: [I had no idea! I thought my dad’s hair turned white from overwork, or it was just premature graying. I worried about it for so long. I even worried I’d start going gray in middle school. So it wasn’t hereditary after all.]
Zhuang Hanxue: [Do you think I should contact my mom?]
Little Master: [What’s wrong with your mom? Is she sick?]
Zhuang Hanxue: [My mom has three children. My older brother eloped abroad with a man and cut ties with the family. My second sister left home after marriage because they favored sons over daughters and didn’t keep in touch. You know my situation. I’ve been away for a long time because I don’t get along with my parents. Now that my dad’s fathered a love child, I feel… my mom must be quite pitiful. Sigh, I should give her a call.]
He wasn’t really seeking advice from an elementary schooler; ultimately, he had to make the decision himself.
While Qiu Zheyan was out, Zhuang Hanxue went to a phone booth. He still remembered his home number perfectly.
He dialed his mother’s cell, his heart pounding.
He was such an unfilial son, avoiding contact with his family for so many years.
His mother answered, sounding weary, “Hello? Who is this?”
Zhuang Hanxue said timidly, “Mom, it’s me…”
The person on the other end paused, then exclaimed joyfully, “Hanhan??? Is that you?”
Zhuang Hanxue grunted an affirmation, “It’s me.”
Mom asked, “Where are you now? Are you planning to come home? I won’t pressure you anymore…”
Zhuang Hanxue felt a lump in his throat. “Mom, I… I heard about Dad… Did Dad really have an illegitimate child?”
Mom spoke through gritted teeth, “Don’t even mention it. That old bastard had it planned all along, hiding it from me for years. I’m furious. And that mistress, enduring for over a decade. She’s quite the patient one. Don’t worry, I’m still strong. I won’t let that hussy succeed. Everything at home is for you.”
Zhuang Hanxue was bewildered. Everything was for him? What for? He lacked the ability to manage such a large enterprise. He was self-aware enough to know he’d never been particularly clever. Why not mention his older brother or second sister? They were both far more capable than him. Was it just because his brother was gay and his sister was a woman?
Zhuang Hanxue didn’t ask.
Mom spoke sympathetically, “Hanhan, are you doing alright on your own out there?”
Thinking of Qiu Zheyan, Zhuang Hanxue said, “I’m fine. I’m very happy now. I just heard about your situation and was worried about you.”
Mom asked tearfully, “You still don’t plan to come home? Even after what your father’s done. He might even bring that bastard child home.”
She was desperately hinting for him to return.
Zhuang Hanxue stated frankly, “I’m no match for Dad… Mom, why don’t you ask my older brother to come back? I can’t manage the company, but he can.”
Mom’s tone instantly cooled. “You dare mention your older brother? He’s with a man, bringing such shame to our family! If it weren’t for his disobedience, would our family be in this state? He’s so headstrong, even more disobedient than you!”
Zhuang Hanxue: “What about my sister… She’s very capable, too.”
Mom irritably said, “Don’t even mention your sister. That good-for-nothing girl will remarry sooner or later. Won’t all that money end up with outsiders then?”
Zhuang Hanxue suddenly caught on. “Remarry? What happened between my sister and brother-in-law?”
Mom said, “They divorced last year. I told her not to, but she insisted. She even bled a lot of money to get custody of the child.”
Zhuang Hanxue: “Why did they divorce?”
Mom said: “Why else? He got busy with work, started having wandering eyes, and couldn’t resist fooling around. She insisted on divorcing, so be it. Your sister wasn’t young when she first married, and now she’s got a kid in tow. I’ve introduced her to some good prospects, but she won’t have any of them. I don’t know what’s going on in your sister’s head. Of the three children I bore, each one is stranger than the last.”
“Hanhan, come home. Mom won’t pressure you anymore.”
“What kind of good life could you possibly have out there? Isn’t work tiring?”
“Mom knows you well. How much could you possibly earn working yourself to the bone?”
Zhuang Hanxue said, “I don’t find it tiring, Mom. It’s true I don’t have much money now, but I’m really quite happy.”
He still had no intention of going home.
He thought for a moment and said, “Mom, why don’t you divorce Dad? Take half the money for yourself.”
Mom exploded in anger. “What are you saying? Me, divorce? At my age? If I divorce now, won’t that just benefit that little slut! Why should I?”
Zhuang Hanxue tilted his head back, looking at the dust-covered top of the phone booth, listening to his mother curse the scumbag and the mistress for twenty minutes.
See? This was why he couldn’t get married.
Zhuang Hanxue had grown accustomed to scolding since childhood. Whenever he was berated, his mind would wander, the words going in one ear and out the other. His thoughts drifted to the Christmas family gathering at Qiu Zheyan’s hometown.
How warm and harmonious their family was.
Qiu Zheyan’s mother was a food columnist who learned culinary arts at cooking school after marriage. Her husband, Qiu Zheyan’s father, was exceptionally open-minded and supported his wife’s education.
Xiao Qiu said that when he was young, while his mother was in school, his father would bring him to the classroom and let him sit in a corner with a book.
Xiao Qiu and his sister were very close, unlike him and his sister. Xiao Qiu said his parents always told him to be considerate of his sister and to be gentlemanly towards girls.
But in his family, it was different. Even when they were no longer short of money in his childhood, his sister still had to do housework. Any delicacies were always given to him first. His mother would spend thousands or tens of thousands on new clothes for him, buying him whatever he wanted. His sister always had to beg, and even then, their parents might not agree.
Back then, his brother was studying abroad and couldn’t intervene in family matters, not always returning even for holidays.
In his naive childhood, he didn’t realize how cruel this favoritism was to his sister. By the time he realized how dysfunctional their family structure was, it was too late. As the beneficiary, trying to comfort his sister and asking her to let go of her resentment would have seemed hypocritical.
Qiu Zheyan said he agonized for a long time before coming out to his family. When he finally mustered the courage, his father only said: “So what? You’re still my son,” accepting it matter-of-factly.
Unlike his older brother, who was berated by their mother as if he were less than an animal.
The Zhuang family had only a beautiful, glossy shell; inside, it had long since rotted and become riddled with holes.
He was lazy and indulgent.
But he still didn’t want to return to that dreadful home.
Zhuang Hanxue sincerely wished he had been born into the Qiu family.
He would surely be happier than he was now.
Nevertheless, out of humanitarian concern, Zhuang Hanxue relayed the family drama to his older brother.
His brother calmly said, “Oh, that? I’ve known about it for a while. Didn’t you know?”
Zhuang Hanxue: “I had no idea!!”
His brother said, “I’ve kept in touch with friends back home. They told me.”
Zhuang Hanxue: “Brother, are you worried about Mom?”
His brother asked, “Why? Are you planning to go home? Aren’t you and your Xiao Qiu inseparable? With my experience as a warning, do you dare go back?”
Zhuang Hanxue replied bluntly, “I don’t.”
His brother said sarcastically, “Right? You’d rather be someone’s kept man than return to that home.”
Zhuang Hanxue thought about it and felt there was no need to worry about his parents. Whether they divorced or not, they had plenty of money. They hardly needed concern from someone with only a few thousand in his bank account.
He did want to see his sister, but he couldn’t help even if he went back. His presence would probably just upset her more.
Zhuang Hanxue mulled it over with his rusty brain:
Sure enough, staying by Xiao Qiu’s side was the most comfortable.
This was truly a heavenly life!!!
As long as Xiao Qiu didn’t chase him away, he’d stay another day!
A few days later.
He saw the schedule for the Youth Go tournament. His Little Master would be coming to compete.
He made plans with Little Master to treat him to a meal.
Then, Zhuang Hanxue said to Qiu Zheyan, “Why don’t you come along?”
Qiu Zheyan recalled the misunderstanding caused by his jealousy and said, “You go ahead. I won’t be jealous, really.”
Zhuang Hanxue said, “I’m not worried about you being jealous. Little Master’s father is a very powerful person. He’s the chairman of the Lin Group. You should meet him.”
Qiu Zheyan: “???” He had never paid attention to the family background of Zhuang Hanxue’s Little Master. How did Zhuang Hanxue make such friends? Never judge a book by its cover.
Qiu Zheyan asked, “If his father’s surname is Lin, why is his Chu?”
Zhuang Hanxue answered, “He takes his other father’s surname, Chu Xun. Have you heard of him? He’s also very impressive. I think he might be coming too. I used to work with him.”
As Zhuang Hanxue spoke, he remembered something and burst out laughing. “I even proposed to him once.”
Qiu Zheyan couldn’t laugh. What did that mean? Zhuang Hanxue said he didn’t want to get married, but he had actively proposed to another man before?
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