Chapter 36 – Father and Son’s Fight
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 Fan had mixed feelings about Chen Qian’s family.
To be honest, Liu Fan never had a good impression of Chen Qian’s father, Chen Chong. Chen Chong believed in the saying ‘spare the rod, spoil the child’, while Chen Qian was the type to rebel more when pressured. As a result, Chen Qian often got beaten by Chen Chong. And it was not just light punishment but severe beatings. If it weren’t for Zhao Rou mediating, Chen Qian might have ended up in the hospital.
In retrospect, Chen Chong’s actions bordered on domestic violence. But back then, it was seen as a father’s natural right to discipline his son.
As for Zhao Rou, Liu Fan didn’t have strong memories about her. She didn’t leave a strong impression, being a very typical housewife—gentle and soft-spoken, as her name suggested. But otherwise, nothing noteworthy of remembering.
Although Chen Qian had been visiting home frequently and hadn’t clashed with Chen Chong recently, Liu Fan was pessimistic about the outcome of this showdown.
He just hoped they wouldn’t start a fight—or at least not a serious one.
Liu Fan waited downstairs on a bench near the building’s exit. He kept checking his watch, feeling restless.
Five minutes, ten minutes, half an hour passed.
Lost in thought, Liu Fan wondered how the conversation was going.
Suddenly, a loud door slam echoed from the stairwell, making Liu Fan jump up. He was startled but also relieved, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. He hesitated whether to go up and check. But before he could decide, a commotion of footsteps came from upstairs.
“What happened?!” Liu Fan watched in shock as Chen Qian hurried down, carrying someone in his arms, followed by a vaguely familiar middle-aged man.
“My mom’s in trouble.” Chen Qian, with a bruise on his mouth, managed to say this before rushing towards the parking area. Liu Fan quickly followed. As they walked, he observed Zhao Rou in Chen Qian’s arms. She looked pale and unresponsive, seemingly unconscious.
Liu Fan glanced at the man following closely behind them and finally recognized him—it was Chen Chong.
Chen Chong looked just like Chen Qian, probably having been quite handsome in his younger days. However, deep lines on his face made him look older and harsher, like a stern, emotionless old man.
He also had bruises on his face, clearly having just been in a fight.
But how did a fight between father and son result in the mother collapsing?!
As Chen Qian was about to open the car door, Chen Chong tried to help. But Chen Qian, with red eyes, shouted, “Don’t touch her!”
Chen Chong didn’t glare at his son. Instead, his expression was very calm. However, his eyes were terrifying, as if he was ready to lash out at any moment. Liu Fan was worried that Chen Chong might start another fight with Chen Qian right there, so he quickly stepped forward to support Zhao Rou, saying, “Ayi can’t afford any delays. Come on, let’s get her in the car.”
He opened the car door with his other hand, urging Chen Qian to move quickly.
Fortunately, both Chen Chong and Chen Qian were equally concerned about Zhao Rou’s condition. They worked together, gently placing Zhao Rou in the back seat.
Chen Chong got in after her.
Chen Qian’s lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something. But Liu Fan grabbed his arm just in time, “Getting her to the hospital is the priority.”
“Yeah.” Chen Qian swallowed, barely containing his emotions. “I know.”
Liu Fan sat in the passenger seat, afraid that Chen Qian might be too agitated and cause an accident. He placed one hand on Chen Qian’s leg to comfort him. Chen Qian’s breathing was heavy, either from urgency or anger. But his hands on the steering wheel were steady as he drove everyone safely to the nearest hospital.
Once Zhao Rou was taken into the emergency room, Chen Qian and Chen Chong nearly clashed again over who would stay by her side. Liu Fan, overwhelmed, insisted that they both stay while he went to pay for the various tests.
As soon as Liu Fan left the emergency building, Chen Qian came running after him. “I’ll go with you.”
Walking side by side, Liu Fan asked, “What exactly happened?”
“My mom accidentally fell.” Chen Qian’s face was tense with anger. “That old bastard tried to hit me, and my mom stepped in… I’m such an idiot for arguing with him in front of her.”
His breathing was heavy. Liu Fan, worried, held his hand. Chen Qian looked at him and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Right now, my mom is what matters.”
Liu Fan didn’t say much more. After paying the fees, they returned to accompany Zhao Rou through various examinations along with Chen Chong.
Zhao Rou remained semi-conscious. After completing the basic checks and a CT scan, the doctor reviewed the reports. “The patient has a concussion and also low blood sugar. She needs to be admitted for observation.”
Chen Qian ran off to handle the admission procedures, ignoring Chen Chong completely as if he wasn’t there. Chen Chong, silent and stern, stood stiffly like a stone, his posture always impeccably straight. Despite his calm demeanour, he exuded an aura of impending violence, making him seem unapproachable.
When Zhao Rou was brought to her hospital bed, Chen Chong tried to help. But Chen Qian blocked him. Chen Chong shot a cold glance at Chen Qian before stepping aside, allowing him to assist the medical staff in getting Zhao Rou into bed.
After the nurse set up the IV drip and made her notes, she instructed, “When this IV finishes or if the patient wakes up, press the call button.”
Chen Qian nodded, seeing the nurse out. Turning back, he found the atmosphere in the room had become extremely tense with the three of them standing there.
Chen Chong slowly spoke, “Is this Liu Fan?”
“It’s me.” Liu Fan was startled. The Chen and Liu families used to be neighbours on the same street before it was redeveloped when he was in elementary school. He hadn’t been to the Chen family’s house much since then. Despite Chen Chong’s cold demeanour, he remembered Liu Fan. “Shushu, it’s been a long time.”
Chen Chong’s gaze scrutinised Liu Fan until Chen Qian intercepted it. The father and son locked eyes, neither willing to back down.
Chen Chong asked, “What is your relationship with Chen Qian?”
Chen Qian replied, “We are partners.”
“Ridiculous,” Chen Chong hissed in a low voice. He then turned to Liu Fan, “You are not welcome here. Please leave.”
As a well-mannered and sweet child, Liu Fan had never faced such obvious coldness from an elder. He was at a loss for how to respond.
Chen Qian was clearly furious. Though his voice was also low, it was full of menace. “I know you don’t want me here either! Just as well, I don’t want to see you too! I’m only here with the person I love to watch over my mom. What does it have to do with you?”
Chen Chong’s glare was terrifying, making Liu Fan instinctively want to hide behind Chen Qian. But he noticed Chen Qian’s muscles tensing and quickly held him back, “Ayi hasn’t woken up yet. Let’s talk later. Chen Qian, this is enough for now. I’ll go get us something to eat?”
He wanted to ask Chen Chong if he wanted anything. But given Chen Chong’s dismissive attitude, he figured it would be futile. Chen Qian hugged Liu Fan’s shoulder, intending to go with him, but hesitated when he saw Zhao Rou still unconscious. He patted Liu Fan’s back, “Alright.”
Liu Fan hurried downstairs and bought some food that Chen Qian would like. Despite Chen Chong’s unkindness, Liu Fan couldn’t completely disregard him and bought an extra portion.
When he returned to the ward, he noticed someone pushing a meal cart away and smelled the strong aroma of food, which made him even hungrier.
Chen Chong was already holding a hospital meal box, eating quickly. Liu Fan sighed internally, knowing Chen Chong wasn’t a friendly person. But his extreme aloofness was unexpected.
Chen Qian sat on the other side of the bed, took the food from Liu Fan, and handed him a pair of disposable chopsticks. “You should eat. Normally, you would have eaten by now.”
“Am I only capable of eating in your eyes?” Liu Fan joked lightly, trying to ignore Chen Chong. Because he was in a hurry, he bought some rice bowls with toppings and some pickles. It was a makeshift meal but still much better than the bland hospital food Chen Chong was eating.
Liu Fan gave the stir-fried pork to Chen Qian, keeping the braised pork with potatoes for himself. As he ate, he picked out the ribs for Chen Qian and took the peppers from Chen Qian’s dish. Their interaction was so natural and intimate. They didn’t even notice anyone else.
Chen Chong snorted heavily, “This is disgraceful. Chen Qian, are you ignoring everything I’ve told you?”
“Did I ever say I was going to listen to you?” Chen Qian, already filled with anger, didn’t even look at him as he picked up a piece of meat and gave it to Liu Fan. Liu Fan ate it nervously, thinking to himself; Please don’t start arguing. But even if you do, please don’t start a fight…
Chen Chong asked in a stern voice, “Did you come back just to defy me? You haven’t grown up at all these years! A few rounds in society, and you’re even more out of control? Do you think I can’t handle you anymore?”
“Handle me? You mean beating me?” Chen Qian sneered, putting his bowl down. “Come on then. Do you think I’m afraid of you?”
Liu Fan almost choked and started coughing.
Chen Qian immediately reached out to pat his back and clicked his tongue, “How can you not eat properly?”
Although it was a complaint, the affection was evident. The tension in the room eased a bit.
Chen Chong narrowed his eyes.
Liu Fan wished he could turn into a fire extinguisher. The way these two spoke was so intense, it was hard to imagine how bad their relationship was.
Fortunately, even if he couldn’t be a fire extinguisher, someone else could.
Zhao Rou groaned weakly, showing signs of waking up.
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*Translator’s Note: This kind of father…hmm… better not have one instead. P/S: My prayer goes to all of those affected by the Hurricane Milton. Hope all is well for you guys. -K
*GLOSSARY:
- The Chinese saying “spare the rod, spoil the child” (不打不成器) emphasises the idea that discipline is essential for a child’s proper development. It suggests that if children are not corrected or disciplined when they misbehave, they may grow up spoiled or unruly. In essence, it underscores the belief that some form of punishment or correction is necessary to guide children towards becoming well-behaved and responsible adults.
Next update: 2024.10.11
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