Chapter 34 – Take It Slow
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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Although they were outside, there was no one on the garden path within the residential area, making it a good place to make a phone call. Liu Fan pulled Chen Qian to sit on a long stone bench and watched as Chen Qian pulled up his contacts.
After a few seconds of mental preparation, just as Chen Qian was about to press the call button, Liu Fan suddenly said, “Wait!”
Chen Qian, who was fully focused, nearly dropped his phone from the shout, “What!?”
“Nothing,” Liu Fan looked at him in horror, “I’m just nervous.”
Chen Qian looked at him as if he had seen a ghost, “What the hell are you nervous about! I’m the one making the call! Go away! You’re affecting my call!”
“But…” Liu Fan, long accustomed to Chen Qian’s contradictions, caught a glimpse of the lit phone screen from the corner of his eye, “Hey? It’s connected!”
Now it was Chen Qian’s turn to be nervous. His face, like a startled husky, stared at the call timer on the screen. Apparently, he had accidentally pressed the call button.
Since it was already connected, there was nothing more to say. Chen Qian straightened his face and pressed the phone to his ear, “Hello?”
Liu Fan leaned on his shoulder, ears perked up to listen.
There was a moment of silence on the other end before a gentle female voice slowly asked, “Chen Qian, how are you doing now?”
Chen Qian responded softly, “Mom, I’m sorry.”
Hearing something off in his voice, Liu Fan quietly hugged him.
“Let bygones be bygones. Don’t say that.” Zhao Rou said softly, “Since you called, let’s turn the page, okay?”
Chen Qian took a deep breath, steadying his voice, “It’s been unfilial of me not to contact you all these years. How are you and Dad?”
Zhao Rou replied, “We’re okay. Your dad has always been healthy. He exercises every morning. I’m doing fine too. Let’s not talk about us. How about you?”
Throughout her conversation with Chen Qian, Zhao Rou remained calm. It was as if her son had just been away on a business trip and hadn’t parted with her so drastically for seven years.
Finally, Zhao Rou suggested gently, “Your dad’s temper has softened a bit over the years. When the time is right, come home for a visit, okay?”
“That’s my plan too.” Chen Qian glanced at Liu Fan, “Mom, there’s something I need to tell you. This time, I want to introduce my partner to you.”
There was silence on the other end for a long while.
Then Zhao Rou asked, “Are you still firm in your decision?”
She didn’t spell it out. But all three of them understood what she meant.
Chen Qian said, “Yes.”
“Your dad probably still won’t accept it. I think it’s best to take things slowly. Chen Qian, don’t bring that gentleman back yet. It might be too much for him.” Zhao Rou said, “Honestly, I was just shocked back then. To be truthful, accepting it is really hard. Your dad is so traditional… But you know, I’ve always supported your and your dad’s decisions. Although you’re still young, you’re very much like your dad. You’re both strong-willed people who wouldn’t say something so important just for fun.”
Chen Qian closed his eyes, “Thank you, Mom.”
“These past years, I’ve researched a lot about this. I believe that instead of trying to change an unchangeable fact, it’s better to find ways to understand it, which makes it more acceptable,” Zhao Rou sighed. “Chen Qian, I still hope you can get married and have children though.”
Chen Qian remained silent.
In a gentle and soft tone, Zhao Rou advised, “I’m reasoning with you. So I hope you will reason with me. When you come back, don’t go head-to-head with your dad. Speak more gently.”
“Okay,” Chen Qian said, “I’ll listen to you.”
Seizing the moment, they agreed that Chen Qian would go home this weekend. After hanging up the phone, Liu Fan, seeing Chen Qian’s tense expression, was the first to smile and said, “I’ll go with you, then. I’ll wait in the car.”
Chen Qian said in a deep voice, “I don’t know how long I’ll be there. What’s the point of you coming?”
Liu Fan, unconcerned, replied, “Oh, I know the address anyway. I can just take a taxi there.”
Having no way to argue with him, Chen Qian patted his head, which was his way of agreeing with him.
***
Early on Saturday morning, Liu Fan, contrary to his usual behaviour, got up early and chose clothes for Chen Qian. Chen Qian, with his regular biological clock, woke up with him.
The two didn’t talk much. After breakfast, they quietly waited until 10 in the morning before leaving. The neighbourhood was old and had less parking spaces. So Chen Qian parked the car in the nearest parking lot and handed the keys to Liu Fan, “Go find something to eat, stroll around if you want, or sit in the car if you prefer.”
He was treating Liu Fan like a child. Liu Fan, used to this, took the keys, “Okay. Call me if you need me. I’ll walk you to the entrance first.”
As they walked to the entrance of the neighbourhood, Chen Qian’s expression changed slightly, showing a bit of the nervousness that comes with returning home. But he tried to remain calm as he said to Liu Fan, “I won’t stay long. I’ll come down after lunch.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll look for an internet cafe nearby,” Liu Fan hoped he would stay longer, which would mean he was getting along well with his family. “I’ll wait for you.”
He was a bit worried that Chen Qian might lose his temper after a few words upstairs. But saying comforting words now would be like talking to a wall. Chen Qian knew everything he needed to know. They could only hope everything would go smoothly.
Liu Fan watched Chen Qian go upstairs. He still stood downstairs, afraid he’d hear Chen Qian’s angry footsteps in less than ten minutes. Fortunately, his worries were unnecessary. Twenty minutes passed peacefully, indicating that things were probably going well.
After wandering around to find a place to eat, Liu Fan went to an internet cafe to catch up on new episodes of his favourite shows. He watched through several of them. But Chen Qian still hadn’t messaged him, which seemed like a good sign.
However, on second thought, maybe he was beaten to death at home…
Imagining a scene of domestic violence, Liu Fan stopped his wild thoughts. It was almost mealtime again. Chen Qian sent a text, telling him to take care of dinner himself and go home afterward.
It seemed like he was going to stay for a while.
Liu Fan was quite pleased with this outcome. He ordered a simple meal at the internet cafe. After eating, he lost interest in staying there. So he went back to the parking lot, got into the car, and played with his phone.
As it grew dark, Liu Fan was woken up by a knock on the car window. He yawned groggily and unlocked the car, “What did you have for dinner?”
“A big feast.” Chen Qian got into the driver’s seat and scolded, “Didn’t I tell you to go home first? Did you sleep in the car all afternoon?”
“I played on my phone for a bit.” Liu Fan wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and made a gesture asking for a hug, “I had nothing to do at home anyway. So, how did it go? What did you and your dad talk about?”
Chen Qian, who hadn’t seemed very happy, hugged him. The tension in his body visibly eased, “Nothing much. Just talked about recent happenings.”
This meant they hadn’t touched on the core issue. But the fact that Chen Chong hadn’t immediately started yelling at him did indirectly confirm Zhao Rou’s words that his temper had indeed mellowed.
And Chen Qian, for his part, hadn’t been as sharp-tongued in their conversation, giving both sides a reason to back down.
Liu Fan patted his back and then let go, “The first step is always the hardest. Take it one step at a time. We’re in no rush.”
After dragging it out for so many years, things couldn’t possibly be worse than before.
After a long while, Chen Qian nodded reluctantly.
***
The relationship between Chen Qian and his father started to thaw from then on. Chen Qian began visiting home two or three times a month. Before long, summer was almost over. Yet the most important topic still hadn’t been brought up. Sometimes, Chen Qian felt like he should just say it and get it over with, even if it meant another fight. But Zhao Rou clearly didn’t want any more turmoil in their newly reconciled family and always gently persuaded Chen Qian to wait a bit longer.
Liu Fan didn’t think it was a big deal. But Chen Qian was anxious about it.
“What’s the big deal? I think your mom is right. Wait until your relationship with your dad is a bit better, and it’ll be easier to discuss.”
Chen Qian didn’t fully agree with this, “If it’s something he can’t accept, it won’t matter the time when I tell him.”
Liu Fan somewhat agreed with him but couldn’t think of a more tactful approach. From what Chen Qian had said, Chen Chong seemed like someone who wouldn’t budge no matter what. Even if Chen Qian tried a pity strategy, it likely wouldn’t work. Chen Chong might even make things worse.
“Haa…” Liu Fan rubbed the furrow between Chen Qian’s eyebrows. “Relax a bit, will you? Look at how anxious you’ve been lately.”
He hadn’t paid much attention before. But now that he mentioned it, he realised Chen Qian had been overly worried. Recently, Chen Qian often seemed deep in thought. Liu Fan couldn’t tell what was on his mind.
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*Translator’s Note: Mommy and Daddy Chen, you can’t avoid the issue forever, darlings… -K
Next update: 2024.10.09
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