Chapter 23 – Family Dinner
Novel Title: 我们已经分手了 (We Have Broken Up)
Author：御小凡 (Yu Xiaofan)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 刘帆 (Liu Fan -MC), 陈谦 (Chen Qian -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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Liu Mengjiao noticed that Zheng Nian’s gaze seemed off all day. She messaged Liu Fan on QQ: I got her brother’s phone number and told him everything.
Liu Fan: What did he say?
Liu Mengjiao: He said we’ll meet and talk tonight.
Liu Fan: He’s a guy… Should I come with you?
Liu Mengjiao: Yes, please! I heard from Zhou Xiang that her brother is hard to deal with. I’ll feel more confident with you there. And you being there will make it more convincing.
Liu Fan replied out of habit, not yet used to being in a relationship. But quickly realised: Ah, sorry, I forgot! I’m supposed to bring Chen Qian home to meet my parents tonight.
Liu Mengjiao: Oh! Meeting the parents already… Are you doing this on purpose?! Will you die if you don’t show off your love?! Tell me, will you die if you don’t show off?! Why are you hurting me like this?!
Sensing a resentful glance from the side, Liu Fan made an apologetic gesture before typing: I’m with you in spirit. Call me if anything happens. I’ll be there anytime (づ￣ 3￣)づ
Liu Mengjiao: Get lost! No emoticons allowed! It’s not cute at all!
Their expressive faces caught the attention of the two people sitting opposite them. Liu Fan met Zheng Nian’s gaze and smiled politely. Zheng Nian smiled back.
You never really know what’s in someone’s heart.
After work, Liu Mengjiao nervously went to her appointment. Liu Fan had already called Chen Qian and was waiting downstairs. Chen Qian arrived right on time.
Liu Fan opened the car door and was shocked when he saw Chen Qian. “Are you going to a banquet or something?”
Chen Qian had clearly made an effort. His hair was trimmed and he had changed into a new outfit. While he was usually handsome, now he was absolutely radiant, almost blinding Liu Fan.
After helping him fasten his seatbelt, Chen Qian casually checked his watch and asked, “What time did you tell your mom?”
Liu Fan replied, “I said we’d go after work. It’s fine if we’re a bit late.”
“Half an hour should be fine,” Chen Qian continued, “Let’s call your mom and dad to let them know.”
Seeing the seriousness in Chen Qian’s meticulous behaviour, Liu Fan obediently called Sun Yiyi in advance.
Like mother, like son – they said the same thing: “Don’t rush, take it slow on the road, okay? It’s fine if you’re a bit late.”
Sun Yiyi’s voice was a bit tense. She was clearly excited.
Liu Fan: “…”
Why is everyone acting like this?! It’s making him a bit nervous too.
They both fell silent. Chen Qian anxiously licked his lips but didn’t reach for a cigarette. His phone rang in his pocket and he tilted his head, “Can you get my phone for me?”
Liu Fan reached over and took it out. Seeing who was calling, he thought; This guy has impeccable timing, always calling at sensitive moments. He said aloud, “It’s your assistant.”
“Answer it,” Chen Qian instructed briefly, “Ask him what he wants.”
“He’s going to be unhappy if I answer it again,” Liu Fan said with a smile. Before Chen Qian could react, he answered the phone, “Hello? What is it? General Manager Chen is driving.”
As expected, there was another moment of silence. “Are you with Chen Ge?”
“Where else would I be?” Liu Fan looked at Chen Qian. They had just stopped at a red light, so he handed over the phone. Chen Qian looked confused, as if he didn’t quite understand the situation. “Li Yu? What’s wrong?”
After listening for a while, Chen Qian said unhappily, “I’m not going. I told you I have a very impor-” He glanced at Liu Fan and turned away slightly, “Ehem, I have something going on tonight. How did you arrange it?”
Whatever he heard made Chen Qian frown, “How many times do I have to say it? I’m not going!”
Just from Chen Qian’s tone, Liu Fan could tell he was getting angry. “What do you mean it’s important?! It can’t be that important. Isn’t it just another dinner? Can’t you do any real business? Let them figure it out themselves! You can go swipe the card when it’s time. Can’t you handle even that?”
Chen Qian hung up the phone after saying that. “What a pain. Setting up a dinner meeting at this time. I don’t know what’s wrong with him lately.”
Liu Fan clicked his tongue, “I’m telling you, Li Yu is gay too, right?”
Chen Qian paused, then smirked, “Isn’t it a bit late to be worried about that now?”
His attitude was as good as confirming it. Liu Fan crossed his arms and tilted his head, “If it’s really too late, then I guess I’m out of the picture. Keeping a bottom by your side, what are you playing at, General Manager Chen?”
Chen Qian, hands on the steering wheel, looked at him amusedly. He shook his head, ruffled Liu Fan’s hair, and smiled like a mischievous boy, “What are you imagining now? Alright. I know you care about your Da Ge a lot, hm?”
As the light turned green, he unbuckled his seatbelt, leaned over to grab Liu Fan’s chin for a kiss. He only let go and started driving the car after several honks from behind. His profile, with a curved smile, looked warm and handsome.
Liu Fan thought, no wonder he attracts people.
“He likes you,” Liu Fan finally broached the subject. He didn’t doubt Chen Qian. But having someone covet his boyfriend wasn’t ideal. “He’s very hostile towards me, haven’t you noticed?”
“What?” Chen Qian was stunned for a moment. “Liu Xiaofan, you really are…-“
Then he burst into laughter, leaving Liu Fan speechless.
The whole way, all Liu Fan could hear was this guy laughing. He didn’t know what to say. Chen Qian laughed until they parked in their community. Then, with a face that said ‘how can you be so silly’, he teased, “You’re improving, knowing how to be jealous now.”
Liu Fan: “…”
“Alright. Da Ge promises you, I’ll keep my distance from him and let you know about any private interactions.” Chen Qian said with a very smug smile, his tone indulgent. He pinched Liu Fan’s cheek with a ‘what am I going to do with you’ expression. “You’re worrying for nothing.”
Liu Fan: “…”
Although he had somewhat achieved his goal, why did it feel so unsatisfying?
Chen Qian went to the trunk and took out a large bag filled with everything from health supplements to skincare products and tea. Liu Fan went to help him carry it. But Chen Qian waved him off, “There’s more in the car, you can get those.”
He looked inside and indeed, there was a lot more.
Chen Qian, sharp-eyed, instructed, “Don’t touch those boxes over there.”
Liu Fan glanced at the area further inside, where there was another pile. “Oh.”
As they climbed the stairs with their hands full, Liu Fan noticed Chen Qian’s breath hitch nervously when the door opened.
Sun Yiyi, wearing an apron, greeted them with a big smile, “You’re here? Oh my, you bought so much! I told you to tell Chen Qian not to buy so many things.”
Chen Qian politely replied, “It’s only right. I used to come over and trouble you often, Ayi.”
Sun Yiyi seemed startled by Chen Qian’s appearance, then her eyes lit up. She enthusiastically stepped aside to let them in, “Chen Qian, you’ve changed so much. I wouldn’t recognize you on the street.”
“You haven’t changed at all, Ayi. You’re still so young and beautiful,” Chen Qian said as Liu Fan led him to put the things in the room. Coming out, he saw Liu Xing sitting on the sofa, “Shushu, long time no see.”
“Chen Qian, you used to come over to play with Fan Fan all the time,” Liu Xing kindly gestured for him to sit on the adjacent sofa. “Why haven’t you been in touch with Fan Fan for so long?”
Liu Fan came over with a cup of tea and sat next to Chen Qian, “Mom says dinner’s almost ready.”
Chen Qian respectfully answered, “After high school graduation, there was a family issue I had to deal with. Then I was busy with work, didn’t have time to contact old friends. I kept thinking I’d do it when I had more free time. But before I knew it, so many years had passed.”
Although Liu Xing had accepted that his son would be with a man, seeing his son sitting next to a man like a little wife was still visually jarring. His attitude became a bit awkward, “So you two… how did you…-“
Liu Fan interjected, “-Like I said, we met again at a class reunion. We found out we had the same sexual orientation. We already had an emotional foundation, so it was easy to develop into this.”
“I see,” Liu Xing said dryly. “It’s all fate.”
“Dinner’s ready, everyone go wash your hands,” Sun Yiyi called, taking off her apron and bringing dishes to the table. Chen Qian automatically went to help. The table was set with several main dishes, a full spread of chicken, duck, fish, and meat.
Sun Yiyi invited everyone to sit down and said kindly to Chen Qian, “I don’t know if your tastes have changed. Fan Fan didn’t tell me what you like to eat, just told me to buy more meat. So I had to improvise.”
Chen Qian quickly replied, “I like all kinds of meat, and everything you cook is delicious, Ayi.”
“Good, good. Then eat more,” Sun Yiyi said, smiling at the two of them. “Fan Fan, put some braised pork on Chen Qian’s plate, he’s sitting far away. It’s better to know someone well. How are your parents doing now?”
Liu Fan was about to say something. But Chen Qian pressed his hand under the table and said, “They’re doing well. They’re both retired now and love to travel everywhere.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. You’re so successful, your parents should be enjoying life,” Sun Yiyi nodded. “We were saying our two families should have a meal together sometime. We can arrange it when they return from their travels.”
Chen Qian put a piece of fish on Liu Fan’s plate, “Certainly.”
Liu Fan looked at him but didn’t say anything.
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*Translator’s Note: Sometimes, among gay couples, they used ‘Ge’ and ‘Da Ge’ as well to show intimacy. By the way, CQ is so stupid not to notice LY’s feelings! -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Gege/Ge/Da Ge = (Big) Brother
- Shushu/Shu = Uncle
- Ayi = Auntie
- Didi = (Little) Brother
- Jiejie = (Big) Sister
- Meimei = (Little) Sister
☝🏻Reiteration…
Next update: 2024.09.28
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