Pandora’s Box

I suddenly received another message from my dad that day.

“How have you been recently?”

“Fine.”

“That’s good, that’s good. Drink more water.”

“…..”

“Have you eaten a meal yet?”

“Already ate.”

“What did you eat? Rice?”

“….. = = Yes.”

A while ago, my dad also had another awkward conversation with me for a few times. He didn’t chat about anything meaningful; he just hewed and hawed on various things.

I knew he was trying to test my reaction by testing the waters. Cheng Yichen probably informed him of what I found out and that was normal. I didn’t have a problem with their honesty to each other.

And I also hoped they would be honest with me.

Regardless of what my dad wanted to do, I was willing to directly face any consequences, even if the consequences may be difficult for me to accept.

After all, I was already an adult, and I felt that I had learnt and grown quite a lot in merely six months. Even if he felt that there wasn’t a need to continue the father-son saga and was no longer willing to deal with me, I thought I could find my own way to survive.

At worst, I could apply for student loans and learn part-time work experiences from Yuan Keke.

However, the strange thing was that my dad had not shown any indifference so far. Instead, he was careful so that his words did not display unintended meaning and nonsense.

After a long time, he said, “In a couple of days, Uncle Yi Chen and I will come to T City again. What do you want and we can bring it to you?”

“……”

Here was the problem. Who was my “Uncle Yi Chen?”

I didn’t really dislike Cheng Yi Chen, but this forceful approach was very intrusive.

Also, this time, when my dad came to T City with Cheng Yi Chen, the tense atmosphere was exacerbated compared to last time.

Perhaps it was because I already knew that he was not my father, and he also knew that I was not his real son, the self-evident embarrassment was ingrained in the great silence as the two sat together.

Ultimately, he mostly raised me up and no amount of blood relations would erase my subtle attachment to him. However, small actions and petty tempers that a father and son could share were now impossible for us to do at will.

It was Cheng Yi Chen who broke the silence. He asked me, “Xiao Jing, do you need a new computer?”

“No need.”

“The performance is better when playing games on a desktop computer with dual screens. It’s more convenient for you to livestream.”

My dad nodded again in agreement, “Yes, yes.”

“???” Was there something wrong?

“After dinner, let’s go to the store to choose the desktop you like.”

My dad echoed without thinking much, “Okay, okay.”

“…..”

Cheng Yi Chen was leading the conversation.

This quickly magnified my rejection of him. He was essentially an outsider so what was his deal?

This was supposed to be a time for my dad and I to be alone and have a heart-to-heart conversation. But he was ignorant. He just hung around here and was pointing fingers. What type of presence was he trying to achieve?

As a third party, did they all like to show off their status by turning against their guests so much?

Huffing out of breath, I went to find Cheng Yichen cooking with Lu Feng in the kitchen. Seeing my raised eyebrows and eyes scanning all over his face, he filled a bowl of soup and asked Lu Feng to take it out first. Then, he asked me, “What’s wrong?”

“Uncle Chen, can you go and tell your brother that as long as he gets along well with my dad, there’s really no need for him to have a good relationship with me?”

Cheng Yichen put down his spoon from his hand and looked at me, “My brother, what’s wrong with him?”

“I don’t understand why he keeps dangling in front of my eyes. People like him doesn’t really need to please everyone. It’s enough for my dad to like him. Don’t be too greedy.”

Cheng Yichen was quiet for a moment and said, “Maybe he just wants to get close to you. He likes you-”

I quickly waved my hand and injected, “Thank him for me but I really don’t need it. I think he is quite annoying.”

Cheng Yichen sighed and said, “Xiao Jing, actually…”

I suddenly felt something and reactively turned my head.

Cheng Yi Chen stood at the kitchen door, maintaining a stiff posture of holding a plate.

“…..”

I seldom talked about people’s rights or wrongs behind their backs and I was a little embarrassed to be caught. Yet, he seemed more at a loss than I was.

We looked at each other and he stared at me hard. His lips moved again and again, as if he wanted to say something to me. However, he ended up not saying a word after all. He simply turned around and hurried away.

I suddenly felt slightly uncomfortable.

The next day, my dad and the others set off to go back, escaping as if they were fleeing from famine.

I felt slightly guilty.

Although I was easily angered and rebellious, I did not want to hurt anyone like this.

After they returned to City S, after a while, I suddenly received a large package from SF Express. There was a new mobile phone inside, the top of the line model 512G. In addition, there were several Gucci autumn clothes, two pair of shoes, and a new bag.

I couldn’t help but wonder. Wasn’t this a bit much for revenge?

When Zhuo Wenyang returned back, he found me staring at the pile of items in a daze. He asked, “Huh? Did you buy this?”

“No, my dad sent this to me.” Up until now, I was still used to calling Qin Lang “my dad.” In reality, I did not know who else this title could be given to.

Zhuo Wenyang put down his bag and laptop, went to make tea, and poured it for me. I was still pondering, “Why are they still buying me stuff?”

I thought I offended Cheng Yi Chen with my rude words and that they would plan to get rid of me when they got back.

After deliberating about it for a while, I asked Zhuo Wenyang, “Tell me, could my dad be, in fact, infertile?”

Zhuo Wenyang took a sip of tea.

“Why do you say that?”

“Otherwise, why else does he care so much about me, a cub that isn’t even his own? It’s fine to have another one. After all this, he is still trying to mend his relationship with me. What is he trying to do? It can only be because he can’t produce one himself?”

“…..,” Zhuo Wenyang said, “Lin Jing, you shouldn’t think of him that way. Not everyone treats you with hidden intentions.”

I immediately felt embarrassed for my habitual thinking.

“No matter what, your dad doesn’t expect you to take care of him when he’s older. With his financial ability, he doesn’t need to rely on you,” he looked at me. “You have to understand that there are people who want to be good to you and don’t expect anything in return.”

“But he really didn’t care about me before.”

“Not caring can turn into caring. Caring can also turn into not caring,” Zhuo Wenyang explained, “Human emotions are fluid. Not loving can become love, and love can turn into hate.”

I thought for a while, “Can hate also turn into love?”

He smiled, “Maybe, yes.”

I looked at his profile. He was always so clean, handsome, smart, and elegant like a lonely swan.

During this period, Zhuo Wenyang had spent a lot of time with me, so much that it felt like a privilege.

I wonder, did I mean something to him too?

This thing was too difficult to detect. He looked like he would not like anyone; he was that cold flower that belonged in the ancient temples.

Additionally, most men like women. There were certainly my type of people but the numbers were pitifully small.

First of all, he had to be the same kind. Second, he had to be interested in me. If the probability was superimposed on top of the other probability, the chances were even slimmer.

However, I didn’t feel lost because of this vagueness. This moment of ambiguity was enough to make me feel very happy.