Chapter 45 – As it Turns Out
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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After going to work, Liu Fan deliberately observed Li Yu.
Li Yu always seemed a bit aloof and didn’t like joking around with others. So from just looking, there didn’t seem to be any difference in his mood compared to usual.
This fate is truly wonderful. Unfortunately, Liu Fan had lost contact with Zhang Zhou long ago. Zhang Zhou’s meaning was clear. If it really felt impossible to work out, then being friends wouldn’t make much sense. Their social circles and professional networks didn’t intersect. So it would purely be a waste of life efficiency and unnecessarily cause trouble for future partners.
Liu Fan particularly agreed. In blind dates, one must have the determination to say goodbye if things don’t work out.
As the company’s automatic door opened, Chen Qian accompanied the bank’s client manager out for a meal. Before leaving, he also sent a message to Liu Fan, saying that he should be able to return to the company to pick him up in the evening and to wait a bit.
The bank’s client manager had come over a few times. And Chen Qian and the finance team always had to meet with him. The other people in the company had limited roles in this regard. However, after several rounds of review, this loan was likely to be approved.
Although Liu Fan knew that Chen Qian wouldn’t be truly disheartened by these matters, there was still a lot of pressure. Now that things were looking like they would be resolved, Liu Fan also breathed a sigh of relief.
A message popped up on QQ. It was Li Yu sending him a real-life image of the upper frame for processing, which could be included in the PPT for better visualisation.
Liu Fan received it, typed a few words in the input box, then deleted them.
Forget it, I’ll just ask his mom when I get home!
“Liu Ge, did you bring lunch today too?” Jiang Wenying came over asking if anyone needed to order takeout. Seeing Liu Fan take out a big bag of food, she asked with a slightly fervent tone, “Did you make it yourself, Liu Ge?”
Liu Fan: “……”
Why would she think that? Do I look very domestic?
“It was made by my family member. Do you want to try some?” Liu Fan and Chen Qian, two grown men, occasionally cooking at home was their limit. Bringing food to the company was something they would never think of or do. However, Zhao Rou was different. She said eating out could lead to nutritional imbalance. So she made a bit more food every night, took out two portions to freeze, and had Chen Qian bring them to the company the next day.
But Chen Qian couldn’t always eat it. So sometimes Liu Fan had to handle two people’s portions.
Jiang Wenying was very happy and brought Du Yuchan over to help Liu Fan heat up the food. Who knows what they talked about. But when they returned, they were holding the lunch boxes with faces of pure bliss.
Liu Fan: “……”
I really can’t understand what girls are thinking more and more.
Zhao Rou was considerate of their hard work, so the lunch box was well-balanced. Considering that both Chen Qian and Liu Fan had a preference for strong flavours, it usually included a spicy meat dish and a light vegetable dish, along with a cup of soup and a box of rice, making it very appetising.
Jiang Wenying and Du Yuchan surrounded Liu Fan’s desk: “This spicy chicken is so delicious.”
Du Yuchan, eating her own lunch box, said, “I really hope General Manager Chen always has business meals so we can enjoy Liu Ge’s meals. Haa.. after work, there’s no time to cook. Living with family is such a blessing.”
Liu Fan laughed and said, “It’s better for girls to stay out of the kitchen. The fumes can damage your skin. Let your boyfriends cook instead.”
The girls hugged each other and cried out, “Boohoo! Please don’t torture us, we’re still single!”
The two little single poodles were very cute, making Liu Fan very happy. He ate a piece of spicy chicken, and it did taste very good. In terms of cooking skills, Chen Qian probably inherited Zhao Rou’s strengths.
For both him and Chen Qian, Zhao Rou took great care without overly interfering in their lives, which was completely different from Sun Yiyi. From his time with her, Liu Fan could clearly understand her personality. She was gentle and soft, a typical virtuous wife and loving mother.
For someone who had been a virtuous wife and loving mother for decades, leaving home for her son was indeed not easy.
Thinking of his own parents, and then thinking of the parents of Li Yu and Zhang Zhou, it all comes back to the old saying: the hearts of parents in the world are always so compassionate.
***
In the afternoon, as expected, Chen Qian returned to the company. He confidently gathered the sales team for a motivational meeting and the meeting continued until it was time to get off work.
Liu Fan was in the office working on Photoshop, waiting for him. He glanced at the time and called Zhao Rou to inform her that they might be late. But just as he finished the call, his colleagues poured out of the meeting room, each packing up and heading home.
Liu Fan thought to himself; Well, that timing was pretty spot on.
Li Yu left slowly by himself. Liu Fan watched him all the way, his imagination running wild. Li Yu’s personality combined with Zhang Zhou made him alternately feel thunderstruck and amused. After mentally crafting about ten thousand words of fanfiction about them, a snap of the fingers brought him back to reality.
Chen Qian stood in front of him, looking wise and imposing: “What are you daydreaming about? Shut down the computer, let’s go home. Mom should have started to cook.”
Liu Fan’s mind was still in word-processing mode. Without thinking, he responded: “I just called Mom and told her we’d be a bit late. Besides, there’ll be traffic on the way, so no rush.”
Chen Qian raised his eyebrows. He didn’t correct him and helped Liu Fan carry the lunch boxes. Liu Fan realised his slip of tongue, looking at Chen Qian’s expression: “Why are you laughing?”
With one hand on Liu Fan’s shoulder, Chen Qian watched the elevator floor lights lazily: “Call her whatever you like. I won’t laugh at you.”
Liu Fan didn’t feel like dealing with him.
Once they reached the parking lot, Chen Qian suddenly spoke: “My mom really accepts you now, truly.”
The seriousness in his tone was touching. Liu Fan squeezed his hand, looked at him, and said just as seriously: “I know. And I’ve never felt uncomfortable around your parents.”
Chen Qian smiled at this. He displayed a smile carrying both the wistfulness of an adult and the stubbornness of a teenager: “Yeah, I know you have a big heart.”
“Not really.” Liu Fan touched the ring on Chen Qian’s ring finger. It was warmed by body heat and had lost its metallic coldness. He looked down, “You’re probably too important to me. So no matter how uncomfortable it gets, it’s not really uncomfortable.”
Liu Fan thought for a moment and continued: “Actually, the most uncomfortable thing is when you inexplicably get mad at me. After you get mad, you still expect me to comfort you. Don’t you think that’s infuriating?”
“Yeah.” Chen Qian tightened his grip on Liu Fan’s hand, looking down at him like a gentle big dog who had recognized its master, “I won’t lose my temper for no reason anymore, I promised you. In the future, you can even get mad at me.”
Liu Fan laughed: “Yeah, right. If you don’t provoke me, why would I get mad?”
Chen Qian thought about it and agreed. Liu Fan hardly ever lost his temper. So he sighed sorrowfully and led Liu Fan to find their car.
***
Today, the traffic during rush hour was particularly bad. They got home half an hour later than usual. After parking the car, Liu Fan and Chen Qian chatted and laughed as they took the elevator home. As soon as the elevator doors opened, they were stunned.
Chen Qian frowned deeply. He strode forward and pulled Chen Chong away: “Let her go!”
Chen Chong’s face was icy, showing he was extremely angry. He immediately tried to hit Chen Qian. But Zhao Rou’s sharp cry stopped him: “Don’t you dare!”
That wasn’t all. Zhao Rou, in her agitation, inserted herself between the two of them, trying to shield Chen Qian with her relatively small frame compared to the father and son: “Chen Chong, if you want to hit him, hit me too!”
Not only Liu Fan, but even Chen Qian and Chen Chong had never seen Zhao Rou so upset. Her eyes were red, staring at Chen Chong’s fist: “I’ve already told you. Think it through before we talk. If you hit my son again, then there’s no need for us to talk anymore!”
Chen Chong took a few heavy breaths, hatefully lowered his hand, then pointed a finger at Chen Qian: “Well done. You’ve grown up, daring to instigate your mother to divorce me.”
Chen Qian and Liu Fan were both shocked, exchanging glances. Liu Fan saw the same feelings on Chen Qian’s face as he had. They had never expected Zhao Rou’s resolve to be so strong, even mentioning divorce.
Chen Qian’s eyes reddened. His hand rested on Zhao Rou’s shoulder: “Mom…”
Zhao Rou slightly turned her head, reassuringly patting his hand. Liu Fan walked over to Chen Qian’s side, holding his arm.
“You unfilial son!” Chen Chong, losing his composure, angrily said to Zhao Rou, “A doting mother raises a spoiled child. It’s because you’ve indulged him that he’s so unruly and disregards everything!”
Zhao Rou straightened her back and said to him: “In your eyes, what does it mean to be unruly and disregard everything? Just because he didn’t listen to you? Why must he live his life according to your wishes? Do you see him as your son or a dog you’re raising?”
This might be the harshest thing Zhao Rou had ever said in her life. Chen Chong, more shocked than angered, stared at Zhao Rou in disbelief. Then, he stared at Chen Qian behind her, and Liu Fan beside him. His gaze shifted back and forth, as if shaking his head to deny something. He took a few deep breaths, closed his eyes, and actually swayed, leaning against the wall.
Once. Twice. This time, even his wife of decades stood against him. Chen Chong turned his head away, not looking at them. He almost weakly turned around.
He didn’t even want to stay within their sight any longer. Not even waiting for the elevator, his figure disappearing at the staircase entrance.
Liu Fan patted Chen Qian, signalling him to quickly comfort Zhao Rou. Chen Qian then placed both hands on Zhao Rou’s shoulders: “Mom, are you okay?”
Zhao Rou, startled by his words, nodded and forced a smile. She said to the two of them: “Don’t worry. Your dad will come around.”
It was unclear whether she was comforting them or herself.
Liu Fan stepped forward, holding her hand. He smiled: “Yes, I believe he will. He just needs some strong medicine. Mom, don’t worry. In the end, you will surely be reunited. Our families will be so lively by then.”
Him calling her ‘Mom’ made Zhao Rou’s already red eyes brim with tears. She opened her mouth, then used the back of her hand to wipe her eyes. Liu Fan continued to console her: “Mom, let’s go home first.”
With a nasal “mm,” Zhao Rou glanced down the empty hallway, then with Chen Qian and Liu Fan on either side, they entered the house.
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*Translator’s Note: I also hope he’ll come around… Guys, two more chapters before we hit the end! -K
Next update: 2024.10.20
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