Lin Ruoxi didn’t answer Mo Qianni’s question immediately.
After keeping silent for a while, Lin Ruoxi shook her head,
I don’t know.
You don’t know?
That’s right. That day when Auntie asked me, I thought about it for a long time, but I didn’t know how to describe Yang Chen, so I’ll let Auntie see for herself.
Many thoughts cropped up in Mo Qianni’s mind,
I guess so, actually, I don’t know how to describe him either. That’s just how liking someone is like, you don’t know what merits the person has, though you can pinpoint the faults the person has. However, you can’t bring yourself to actually hate those faults, and always feel that if that person changed those faults, it would feel weird. But if that person doesn’t change, he would make others feel anxious. It’s all so vexing.
Lin Ruoxi looked at Mo Qianni who was thinking deeply with a smile that wasn’t a smile,
Qianni, you seem to have very deep understanding of it.
Ah?
Mo Qianni suddenly realized just who she was talking to regarding Yang Chen, and her face became so flushed like it could burst,
I… I’m just casually mouthing off, Ruoxi you meanie, why are you looking at me like that! I… I’m not the type who is hoes before bros! Besides, that fellow isn’t that handsome, it’s better to leave him to you! You’ll have a horrible headache!
With that said, Mo Qianni turned away and pretended to be concentrating on driving, and drove towards the company.
Lin Ruoxi turned towards the direction Yang Chen left, and softly sighed.
Yang Chen’s mood hadn’t improved since he smoked while strolling alone, he still felt stifled.
Looking around, he unwittingly found himself in Zhonghai’s famous shopping district. There were rows and rows of huge signboards and deafening music, all to attract customers go in to spend money at their stores and restaurants.
In the middle of the street was an area filled with green plants, and alongside them were dark red tables and chairs made of wood for pedestrians to rest at.
Yang Chen wasn’t interested in buying anything, and planned to take a seat to arrange his thoughts. However, right as he was about to take a seat on a red stool, a petite and cute figure charged over!
Uncle!
Wearing a yellow tank top, white jacket, and washed ripped jeans, this young lady looked like a delectable little doll. She leaped into Yang Chen’s embrace, and hooked her arms around Yang Chen’s neck. She was practically hanging on Yang Chen’s body!
Seeing the beautiful face that he hadn’t seen for a while this closely, Yang Chen couldn’t help but blink his eyes several times, he doubted his own eyesight,
Tangtang?
Tangtang nodded with the both emotions of anger and joy. Releasing her fair arms, she cutely drummed on Yang Chen’s chest with her little hands,
How mean! Uncle you’re so heartless, you haven’t called me out to play for so long! If I hadn’t I bumped into you today, do you plan on never contacting me again in this lifetime!?
What are you talking about? Aren’t you studying hard for your finals? I figured that you’re busy, so I didn’t disturb you from your studies, it’s for your own good!
Said Yang Chen.
Excuses!
Tangtang stuck her tongue out,
Those are just excuses. Do you hate me, hold me in contempt, and no longer consider me a friend!?
Yang Chen forced a smile, this brat had begun spouting gibberish,
Can you not overthink things? I was just busy with my own matters, and knowing how strict your mother is with you, I didn’t contact you. Besides, I’m not all that great, on what basis could I hold you in contempt?
But you can’t stop meeting me for such a long time still……
Tangtang resentfully spoke like a hurt little flower.
Yang Chen casually tossed away the cigarette butt, and counted with his fingers,
I don’t think it has been that long? It hasn’t even been a month.
A month isn’t considered long!? Do you know just how many months there is in a year, and how many months a person can experience in a lifetime!? Even if a person lives till a hundred years old, that’s just a mere thousand and two hundred months, what you’re doing has thoroughly hurt my fragile and youthful heart……
Tangtang angrily said.
Stop right there!
Yang Chen gestured her to stop with his hand,
In the end, what I owed you in my previous life, I will never be able to pay back in full in this life. My dear boss, please bluntly tell me what you actually want.
Yang Chen didn’t even need to guess that this brat was thinking of a way to make him do what she wanted.
Tangtang laughed out loud,
Uncle you truly understand me. It’s nothing much, I just forgot to bring my wallet out today. Uncle, would you please treat me to a meal? I’m really hungry……
Yang Chen couldn’t help but laugh and rubbed Tangtang’s head,
After beating around the bush so much, all you wanted was a free meal. Why not just say that from the start?
I actually really miss you, Uncle, but as a girl I have to be more reserved. I never expected that you’d be such an ungrateful and disloyal man that wouldn’t even take the initiative to contact me……
Tangtang grudgingly said.
Alright alright, I was ungrateful to whom? Let’s go eat, what do you want to eat? Just say it, I haven’t had lunch either.
Tangtang rubbed her chin and pondered,
Let’s have McDonalds then.
Can we have something else? They’re both burgers, but I think the local roujiamo is tastier.
Said Yang Chen.
[TL: Roujiamo is a type of burger from china, it typically uses steamed buns and pork, a popular street food https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roujiamo]
Tangtang stared at Yang Chen with an expression like she was looking at an alien,
If you can find a place nearby that sells roujiamo, then we can have that.
Let’s just go to McDonalds then……
-2: Looking for another man
The two entered a nearby McDonalds. Yang Chen ordered four McSpicy burgers for himself, while Tangtang ordered a chicken wrap and a beverage. The two sat by a window, and started eating.
Yang Chen watched as Tangtang annihilated the chicken wrap in a minute, and curiously asked,
Why not eat more? You seem very hungry.
Even if I’m hungry, I have to maintain my figure, otherwise I’d be unattractive to people.
Tangtang earnestly said.
You’re so young, yet you care so much about that?
Yang Chen helplessly shook his head.
Tangtang stood up, and stuck out her developing chest. She didn’t seem to care about the gazes of surrounding customers and said,
So what if I’m young? I already have all I need to have, there are those older than me who can’t even compare with me in terms of size!
To be honest, it may be due to this brat’s fortunate family circumstances that she was able to eat food that was of higher quality compared to children of other families. Her front and back were both well developed and beautifully shaped, yet she also had the charm of a teenager.
But Yang Chen couldn’t bear this brat’s brazenness, he didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry as he urged her to sit,
Don’t always be so deranged, let’s talk about what on earth you’re actually doing, why did you leave house without a wallet?
Hearing this question, Tangtang became like a deflated ball, she limply sat back down,
What else could it be? I got into an argument with Jie, My wallet got confiscated and I was grounded, but I still sneaked out of home.
Yang Chen took some effort to recall, and remembered that Tangtang’s
sister
was actually her mother.
Why argue with your mother? Besides, since you snuck out without a wallet, are you intending to become a beggar if you didn’t bump into me?
Yang Chen said with a frown.
Tangtang pouted,
What is there to be afraid of? This lady is born beautiful, would I be afraid that there wouldn’t be a rich man who would sugar me?
What drivel are you spouting
Yang Chen couldn’t help slamming the table,
You’re so young, yet you spout such nonsense! Do you know what being sugared means? If other people hear this, do you know what they will assume you are!? Are such words to be casually spoken!?
Tangtang lowered her head in a pitiful manner,
Don’t be so angry, Uncle…… I was just speaking thoughtlessly, I’m just in a bad mood……
Seeing that the young lady was about to cry, Yang Chen didn’t choose to continue harping on that subject,
Tell me, why did you argue with your mother?
I don’t want to say……
Tangtang pinched her clothes and mumbled.
Great, after chatting for so long, I ask about the crux of the issue, but this brat refuses to say it!
Yang Chen finished his final burger in vexation. Right as he was about to take out a cigarette, he realized that this place didn’t seem to allow smoking. While cursing how rigid this Western fast food restaurant was, he was at a loss as to how to continue the conversation. This brat seemed to have run away from home, and had argued with her family.
According to prior experience, Tangtang didn’t seem to be safe alone, and could be found by people with bad intentions, so he couldn’t just leave her here alone.
Uncle.
Tangtang saw that Yang Chen was silent, so she softly inquired,
Have I brought trouble to you? Actually, if you’re busy you could just leave first, I can stay over at a classmate’s house.
Can your classmate deal with the people trying to kidnap you?
Yang Chen asked with a smile.
Hearing the word
kidnap,
Tangtang’s face paled,
Nothing happened recently, I think the dangerous period has passed.
That’s because you’ve been very well-behaved recently and haven’t come out to play, that doesn’t mean that this matter is completely over.
Yang Chen sighed and said,
I think that it’s better if I send you back, what is there that you and your mother can’t talk over? Minor quarrels will just pass after a while, can the two of you actually end up becoming enemies?
Tangtang creased her brows tightly together. With an unwilling face, she said,
I don’t want to see her, Jiejie is too much.
What did your mother do that was too much?
Yang Chen couldn’t understand.
She… she looked for other men behind my back!
Tangtang finally couldn’t help but blurt out, with a sobbing tone she said,
She would look like she’s in love sometimes, and even dress up like she was a teenager. Last night, she asked me if I would like it if she found me a daddy……
How did you answer her?
I said that unless it’s my biological father, I would firmly decline!
Tangtang angrily said,
My Dad has chased her for over twenty years, and she never agreed. How could she treat my father so heartlessly and get together with another man!?
Yang Chen finally understood, and asked with a smile,
Which means that you’ve not seen your mother with another man?
I indeed haven’t seen that, but do I even need to!? I’m already this old, yet for the first time she asked me whether it’s okay if she found me a daddy, she’s definitely been committing adultery outside!
What adultery? How unpleasant, you’re not allowed to say such a thing about your mother. No matter what reason there is, do you think it’s easy for her to give birth to you and raise you as a single mother?
Yang Chen unhappily lectured.
Tangtang refused to accept this,
That’s not the case! Without her, I still have Daddy! Because of the two of us, Daddy still hasn’t married someone else. Daddy has sacrificed so much, how is it fair that he has to face an ending like this!?
Which means that you’re crying out a grievance for your father?
Yang Chen felt that this matter was rather complicated.
Tangtang pondered over this for a while, then shook her head,
Actually that isn’t true. Uncle, don’t assume that just because I’m young, I don’t know a thing. The matter of love cannot be forced, but… but for Jie to suddenly become like this and be unwilling to tell me whether she has a man or not, it makes me feel like she no longer loves me……
Therefore, you decided to use your dad’s matter to argue with her?
Yeah… I just casually made that remark, and we ended up quarrelling……
Tangtang said with embarrassment.
Yang Chen smiled, for this quarrel was way too insignificant,
Such a small matter made you run away from home!?
No, it’s not that……
Tangtang hesitated for a moment, then said,
The main reason is because I feel really tired these days, other than going to school, I’m grounded at home. I feel like I’m being treated like a prisoner, so I haven’t been happy at all.
Yang Chen looked at Tangtang like he was deep in thought,
That is what you are truly unable to accept, right?
Maintaining silence, Tangtang obediently nodded in agreement.
