Chapter 33 – Contacting
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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The family would often have Liu Fan bring Chen Qian back for meals. Liu Fan, eager to fulfil his mother’s long-held wish, would bring Chen Qian home for Sun Yiyi to see.
Whenever Chen Qian was free, he never declined. Each visit, he came bearing gifts, never short on luxury skincare products and health supplements. He was attentive and helpful, assisting with cooking and cleaning at the Liu household. Once, when a light bulb went out, he even went out to buy and replace it.
Naturally, Sun Yiyi was very satisfied.
Simply by being ‘the boyfriend her son finally found’, Chen Qian had full favour with Sun Yiyi. She treated him with great care and attention, almost ignoring Liu Fan whenever they visited.
Liu Fan, perplexed, asked, “Am I your son or is Chen Qian your son?”
“What are you saying? I endured ten months of hard labor to give birth to you. You think you popped out of a balloon?” Sun Yiyi retorted. “I’m doing this for you. You finally found someone. But you don’t earn as much, you’re not as healthy, you can’t do housework. Look at him. You can’t cook, but he can. You love to eat, and he always puts the food you like right into your bowl.”
Sun Yiyi sighed, “Besides, you don’t seem like someone who’s considerate. What if someone discovers your true nature and kicks you to the curb? Where will you find another? Besides your looks, what else do you have going for you?”
Liu Fan: “…”
Mom, am I really your biological child? Why do you despise me so? I must came out of a balloon.
“Mom, nowadays looks are everything. Being good-looking is a legitimate reason, you know?”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Sun Yiyi scoffed. “I’ve told you before, looks don’t last. Can you eat beauty?”
“That’s not right, Mom. You fell for Dad because he was good-looking… Hey! Don’t get mad! I’m telling you, if Chen Qian wanted to dump me, he would have done it already.” Liu Fan said, munching on a chestnut from the roast chicken. “We’ve known each other for years. He knows what kind of person I am.”
“Well, that’s true,” Sun Yiyi said, moving the bowl of chestnuts away so he wouldn’t finish them all. “It’s good to know someone inside and out. You won’t be disliked.”
Liu Fan: “…”
“But I have to tell you, that Zhang Zhou is also very nice. He texts me from time to time,” Sun Yiyi said.
Liu Fan almost choked on his chestnut and asked in surprise, “What? Why is he contacting you?”
Sensing her son’s displeasure, Sun Yiyi smacked his arm and handed him a clove of garlic. “What are you thinking about? Do you think you’re so great that everyone misses you? He bought insurance for his parents from me. He’s really nice and reliable.”
Now that she had completed her matchmaking mission, Sun Yiyi’s interest shifted to other prospects. She asked Liu Fan, “Do you have any other friends in your circle? If I find a good one, I’ll introduce them to him.”
Liu Fan started peeling garlic on his own, “I don’t mingle in the circle, I don’t know anyone…”
Sun Yiyi was actually right. Zhang Zhou, who could face his orientation calmly and plan a future with his lover seriously, was considered a good person. But Liu Fan only had Chen Qian in his heart; no one else could compare. Among the gays he knew, there were only two: Zheng Nian and Li Yu. The former was obviously a scumbag, and the latter…
Wasn’t likely a candidate either, right?
As they were talking, Chen Qian came in. “Ayi, is there anything I can help with?”
Sun Yiyi beamed, “Oh, you just sit down…”
“Perfect timing. Come help me peel garlic,” Liu Fan said unceremoniously, handing over the bowl. Sun Yiyi secretly kicked him in the calf, feeling frustrated that her son wasn’t living up to expectations.
Chen Qian took over and skillfully began peeling, clearly knowing his way around the kitchen. Sun Yiyi listened to their conversation with a growing sense of melancholy:
“Where’s my dad?”
“He probably stayed up late watching the game last night. He fell asleep while we were chatting. I put a blanket over him and came in to help so as not to disturb him.”
Sun Yiyi: “…”
Like father, like son. Why were they both so unreliable? Last time, he chatted with someone and ended up telling them about all the blind dates his son had been on! Sun Yiyi felt extremely distressed, thinking that Liu Fan’s current state was entirely his father’s doing. It seemed any remaining proper behaviour must be her own achievement.
Chen Qian didn’t neglect Sun Yiyi. He chatted with her politely and warmly. Sun Yiyi felt at ease, seeing that her son’s boyfriend was excellent in every way.
Sun Yiyi, full of thoughts, didn’t interrupt the young couple’s bonding. She waited for them to finish peeling the garlic so she could start stewing the chicken.
At the dinner table, the stewed chicken with chestnuts was placed furthest from Liu Xing, with only a plate of vegetables in front of him.
Liu Xing, as carefree as Liu Fan, didn’t notice Sun Yiyi’s dissatisfaction at all and happily drank with Chen Qian.
“Oh, by the way, Chen Qian,” Sun Yiyi could only wait to settle the score with the old man after the two left, “Are your parents still travelling around?”
Chen Qian paused when he heard this and subconsciously glanced at Liu Fan.
Liu Fan kept his head down eating, without any reaction.
Only then did Chen Qian smile hesitantly, “They came back for a bit. But left again after a few days.”
“Oh, I see. Their mentality is really admirable,” Sun Yiyi didn’t suspect anything. She was just asking casually.
Chen Qian remained silent for a long time after that.
***
After leaving Liu Fan’s house, Chen Qian and Liu Fan didn’t immediately get in the car to leave. Instead, they wandered around the neighbourhood downstairs.
“What’s up?” Liu Fan always felt that Chen Qian had something on his mind. After thinking about it, it should be about his parents. “I wasn’t trying to expose you, why are you so worried?”
Chen Qian exhaled slowly, “Li Yu’s parents want to come live with him. It seems they’ve accepted his situation.”
“So?” Liu Fan tilted his head, “Do you want to go home?”
Going home naturally referred to the Chen family. If a family was like a book, it seemed everyone around had fulfilled their wishes and completed their tasks, while Chen Qian was still stuck in an unfinished story.
He couldn’t avoid going home forever. But how long could he delay?
Some things must be faced eventually. Even though one knows this, when it comes to choosing whether to face them, everyone hesitates.
Liu Fan held Chen Qian’s hand, “I’ll go back with you.”
“What for?” Chen Qian tugged at the corners of his mouth, “To get beaten up by the old man with me?”
Chen Qian knew very well that if it were Zhao Rou, with time, she might really come to accept his orientation more and more. But Chen Chong, since the moment Chen Qian ran away from home, had never compromised. It might have even gotten worse over the years.
“Your dad will only beat you, not me.” Liu Fan hooked his finger around Chen Qian’s and shook it. He then suddenly said, “Look at Li Yu, getting his parents back just by having appendicitis. Why don’t you try getting that? After you’re in the hospital, I’ll inform your parents.”
Chen Qian: “…Or how about this, you hire a taxi to hit me, just don’t kill me. A car accident is even more dramatic.”
Liu Fan: “…”
“Liu Xiaofan, tell me,” Chen Qian pinched his cheeks and tugged, speaking through clenched teeth, “Can you be a bit more serious? Huh? Can you come up with something more reliable?”
“Haa… I’m just trying to come up with a solution for you.” Liu Fan used his other hand to pry Chen Qian’s hand off his face. He then rubbed his face and said sincerely, “The self-inflicted injury trick is very effective. When I was little and my mom was about to hit me, I would start wailing before she even touched me. She couldn’t bring herself to hit me! Really, have you considered it?”
Chen Qian looked at him with an indescribable expression, then thought about Liu Xing and Sun Yiyi’s personalities. Suddenly, everything seemed so natural.
“Using tricks on my dad won’t work,” Chen Qian said expressionlessly, “I have to confront him head-on.”
Liu Fan: “…Hey, that’s your dad, not your enemy, okay? You talk like you’re going into battle.”
Who could deny it? Family has a significant impact on one’s personality. Liu Fan’s character clearly reflected Sun Yiyi and Liu Xing’s traits. And from Chen Qian, one could see the style of the Chen family.
Chen Qian shook his head, not sure whom he was denying. “My dad doesn’t just not accept it, he utterly despises it. He thinks that two men being together is perverted.”
“Uh…” Liu Fan couldn’t quite imagine the situation back then, “At least he didn’t beat you to death back then… If you go back this time, it’s even less likely he’ll beat you to death. It’ll be fine.”
“…” Chen Qian, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, managed not to roll his eyes. He really had no way to deal with his always exasperating lover, “Yes, you’re right about everything.”
It seemed hopeless. But finding Liu Fan had eased half of Chen Qian’s worries. He suddenly had the energy and spirit to think through the other half.
He wiped his face, took out his phone, and stared at the screen for a long time. He then said in a complex tone, “First… let me call my mom.”
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Next update: 2024.10.08
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