Withdrawal

Just for this word, “handsome”, Fu Zhi Zhou paid a heavy and painful price.

Qiao Luo’s confidence exploded. Everything he did was full of crazed excitement.

Every morning after washing up, he would first take a selfie and send it to Fu Zhi Zhou and his caption would be: The handsome Luo Luo is here to report! Good morning!

Every night just before sleeping, he would take another selfie, sending the picture to Fu Zhi Zhou again with his captions being: The handsome Luo Luo is here to report once again! Good night!

There was still a time difference that Qiao Luo didn’t consider. Fu Zhi Zhou’s phone was constantly ringing and making lots of noises. After enduring for a week, he basically couldn’t hold back any longer as he replied: If you send me another selfie, you won’t be handsome anymore.

Qiao Luo sent a sad, crying emoji and spoke truthfully: I’ve already sent so many selfies, why don’t you understand that you have to send a selfie back too?

Fu Zhi Zhou furrowed his brow.

He flipped his camera into selfie mode, then tried to find a good angle for a while. He exited the app and changed to the WeChat world: What nonsense are you saying? Go to sleep now.

Qiao Luo: Oh.

However, this did not influence Qiao Luo too much. Other than not sending anymore selfies, he still continuously, without a break, broadcasted his entire itinerary.

Fu Zhi Zhou was almost forced to, through the screen, tour the whole of Europe.

The good thing was that the 20 days trip was going to end, if not, Fu Zhi Zhou’s camera storage space was about to explode—— Whatever Qiao Luo sent, he had all secretly saved them, including the selfies that made Fu Zhi Zhou disdainful of for a period of time. 

As mentioned, Father Qiao was a very romantic person. This did not apply to just the relationship with Mother Qiao; it was also applicable for the whole Qiao family.

The Qiao family had a house rule: No matter who left the house doors, they must bring back some gifts for the family members. The size and price weren’t important. Instead, what was important, was the joy when receiving the presents.

And so, as it was a full family trip this time round, Father Qiao suggested that each person prepare two gifts for the others, then present it when they were back. Before that, they couldn’t leak any information about their gifts.

No one disliked joy, so Qiao Luo and Mother Qiao gladly agreed.

With this, Qiao Luo received a credit card to use.

In total, these were the presents he bought for: Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Mom, Dad, Grandpa Fu, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege and lastly, Zhou Zhou gege1.

After going through the experience of airsickness, Mother Qiao prepared some medications and a scopolamine skin patch for Qiao Luo during the return flight. Qiao Luo suffered no loss on the journey.

Back in the embrace of his mother country, Qiao Luo was in high spirits.

The other thing that made Qiao Luo even happier was actually seeing Fu Zhi Zhou at the arrival hall entrance.

Fu Zhi Zhou was close to 1.9m. Standing in a crowd of receivers, he stuck out his rigid head, with a super cool poker face on while dressed in a super handsome white t-shirt and jeans.

Qiao Luo dragged his small luggage along as he broke out into a run, as quick as a little bird who flew out of its cage, flying straight towards Fu Zhi Zhou’s front as he began to rub the other’s arm, “Are you here to fetch me?”

He asked again, “We haven’t seen each other in so long, did you miss me to death?”

Fu Zhi Zhou took Qiao Luo’s luggage and didn’t reply the sentimental Qiao Luo. He walked up a few steps to welcome and to take the luggage from Mother Qiao. He smilingly said, “Uncle, Aunty, I went to visit Grandfather today and since you guys are also back today, Grandfather asked me to fetch you all.”

Mother and Father Qiao had watched Fu Zhi Zhou grow up and the intimacy between them was no less than a biological child. Smiling as they walked with Fu Zhi Zhou towards the carpark, they commented, “Zhi Zhou is getting more and more handsome.”

Another question was asked, “Are you very busy with school? What good timing that you’re back! How about we put our things down first, then pick up Uncle Fu on the way and eat out tonight?”

Without waiting for Fu Zhi Zhou’s reply, Qiao Luo hugged his arm, “Okay, okay, okay, that’s settled then.”

Fu Zhi Zhou, “……”

He watched Qiao Luo’s expression and confirmed that the little rascal wasn’t ‘game over’ from the airsickness, then agreed, “ Okay, then I’ll let the Auntie at home know so that she won’t make dinner tonight.”

Waiting for Fu Zhi Zhou to end the call, Qiao Luo said unhappily. “Why did you ignore me?”

Fu Zhi Zhou was at war in his heart.

Regarding airsickness, one would be slowly adapted to it with habit, but Qiao Luo had such a tiny body. Fu Zhi Zhou felt that if Qiao Luo felt faint for the first time, the second time would not be any better.

In the car, he sneakily hid and prepared a scopolamine skin patch, a cooling ointment, plum juice, dried prunes, bite-sized bread and many such things, afraid that he would have fetched a shriveled little tail.

In the end, the little bastard was full of energy, still able to give him a headache, not at all looking like someone suffering from airsickness.

Fu Zhi Zhou was now very suspicious of Qiao Luo’s previous sickness.

It wasn’t the first time the little rascal had faked illness.

That was when he had first entered college. Qiao Luo wasn’t used to not having Fu Zhi Zhou in the house all of a sudden, so when it was the first 2 weeks of school, he sent a message to Fu Zhi Zhou, claiming that he was sick.

Fu Zhi Zhou could even recite the message that Qiao Luo had sent at that time, backwards.

Qiao Luo had said: I’m so pitiful, I’m so sick that I’m almost dying. I can only contact you by phone, but can’t see you, can’t touch you, can’t get your hugs. 

Although his biological parents were always right in front of him, the little rascal had always kept his illness to himself since young and many little episodes of sickness went unknown to Qiao parents.

For example, when the little rascal was on an intravenous drip, he would silently speed up the drips, then his little paws would be as cold as ice.

For example, the little rascal would clearly have a tummy ache when he eats too much cold food, but he would forget about it and still secretly eat ice cream.

For example, when the little rascal was feeling unwell, he liked to eat sour food, especially that specific brand of dried prunes.

Fu Zhi Zhou had not gotten a car at that time, so he sat for close to two hours of train ride, crossing over half the city to get home, only to see Qiao Luo dancing in his room and doing splits as if writing out a word. His complexion was so ruddy that he was even gleaming, so Fu Zhi Zhou reckoned that his (QL) waist was no longer sore, legs were no longer in pain and he even had enough strength to climb more than 10 floors worth of stairs.

How was this even called “near death”?

This made Fu Zhi Zhou so angry that he didn’t give Qiao Luo any attention for more than a whole month.

Actually, after that episode, Qiao Luo was punished so severely that he didn’t dare to lie even a little to Fu Zhi Zhou. 

But just like the story of “A boy who cried wolf”2, Fu Zhi Zhou had the mindset of: Once the crime had been committed, he no longer held trust towards those with criminal records.

Fu Zhi Zhou took a deep breath and asked, “Aren’t you having airsickness? Just lie down and rest for a while, stop making trouble.”

Qiao Luo lifted up his slightly long hair to reveal his round and tender little earlobes, and turned his head to the side to show Fu Zhi Zhou, “Look! A patch for airsickness!”

Fu Zhi Zhou, “……”

He really didn’t lie.

Fu Zhi Zhou responded with an “En”, then reminded, “Put on your seatbelt properly. You are not allowed to look at your phone. The car has music playing. If you’re bored, talk to yourself.”

Qiao Luo obediently put on his seatbelt, reached out a hand to find songs and even foolishly asked, “Eh? My favourite singer? Didn’t you say that he sings like a bird chirping, sounding like ‘jijichacha’? Why are all of it his songs?”

Fu Zhi Zhou, “….Do you still want to listen to it?”

Qiao Luo regained his senses, then immediately bounced his little slender legs happily while seated in the front passenger seat, and delightfully repeated, “I’m listening, I’m listening.”

 

T/N: Humu’s here to report! Good night!

 

Editor: Musk

1

really thought that this was a typo or something

2

A personal childhood story I’ve heard since young of a boy who was tasked to take care of his family’s sheep. He was feeling bored just from staring at the sheep, so he would cry out, “The wolf is here!” and the villagers would rush down, all prepared to fight. But there wasn’t any wolf. It was a prank. The villagers were obviously raging since the boy wasted their time. The boy didn’t learn his lesson and cried out again, “The wolf is here!”, and the villagers came once more, and left fuming because of the empty lie. After that, when a real wolf came, the boy cried “The wolf is here!”, but none of the villagers came to his rescue. Only when the wolf ate all the sheep, did the villagers realise that the boy told the truth this time round. Moral of the story: Once you lie, trust is ruined and when you really need help, no one will believe you.

Just for this word, “handsome”, Fu Zhi Zhou paid a heavy and painful price.

Qiao Luo’s confidence exploded. Everything he did was full of crazed excitement.

Every morning after washing up, he would first take a selfie and send it to Fu Zhi Zhou and his caption would be: The handsome Luo Luo is here to report! Good morning!

Every night just before sleeping, he would take another selfie, sending the picture to Fu Zhi Zhou again with his captions being: The handsome Luo Luo is here to report once again! Good night!

There was still a time difference that Qiao Luo didn’t consider. Fu Zhi Zhou’s phone was constantly ringing and making lots of noises. After enduring for a week, he basically couldn’t hold back any longer as he replied: If you send me another selfie, you won’t be handsome anymore.

Qiao Luo sent a sad, crying emoji and spoke truthfully: I’ve already sent so many selfies, why don’t you understand that you have to send a selfie back too?

Fu Zhi Zhou furrowed his brow.

He flipped his camera into selfie mode, then tried to find a good angle for a while. He exited the app and changed to the WeChat world: What nonsense are you saying? Go to sleep now.

Qiao Luo: Oh.

However, this did not influence Qiao Luo too much. Other than not sending anymore selfies, he still continuously, without a break, broadcasted his entire itinerary.

Fu Zhi Zhou was almost forced to, through the screen, tour the whole of Europe.

The good thing was that the 20 days trip was going to end, if not, Fu Zhi Zhou’s camera storage space was about to explode—— Whatever Qiao Luo sent, he had all secretly saved them, including the selfies that made Fu Zhi Zhou disdainful of for a period of time. 

As mentioned, Father Qiao was a very romantic person. This did not apply to just the relationship with Mother Qiao; it was also applicable for the whole Qiao family.

The Qiao family had a house rule: No matter who left the house doors, they must bring back some gifts for the family members. The size and price weren’t important. Instead, what was important, was the joy when receiving the presents.

And so, as it was a full family trip this time round, Father Qiao suggested that each person prepare two gifts for the others, then present it when they were back. Before that, they couldn’t leak any information about their gifts.

No one disliked joy, so Qiao Luo and Mother Qiao gladly agreed.

With this, Qiao Luo received a credit card to use.

In total, these were the presents he bought for: Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt, Mom, Dad, Grandpa Fu, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege, Zhou Zhou gege and lastly, Zhou Zhou gege1.

After going through the experience of airsickness, Mother Qiao prepared some medications and a scopolamine skin patch for Qiao Luo during the return flight. Qiao Luo suffered no loss on the journey.

Back in the embrace of his mother country, Qiao Luo was in high spirits.

The other thing that made Qiao Luo even happier was actually seeing Fu Zhi Zhou at the arrival hall entrance.

Fu Zhi Zhou was close to 1.9m. Standing in a crowd of receivers, he stuck out his rigid head, with a super cool poker face on while dressed in a super handsome white t-shirt and jeans.

Qiao Luo dragged his small luggage along as he broke out into a run, as quick as a little bird who flew out of its cage, flying straight towards Fu Zhi Zhou’s front as he began to rub the other’s arm, “Are you here to fetch me?”

He asked again, “We haven’t seen each other in so long, did you miss me to death?”

Fu Zhi Zhou took Qiao Luo’s luggage and didn’t reply the sentimental Qiao Luo. He walked up a few steps to welcome and to take the luggage from Mother Qiao. He smilingly said, “Uncle, Aunty, I went to visit Grandfather today and since you guys are also back today, Grandfather asked me to fetch you all.”

Mother and Father Qiao had watched Fu Zhi Zhou grow up and the intimacy between them was no less than a biological child. Smiling as they walked with Fu Zhi Zhou towards the carpark, they commented, “Zhi Zhou is getting more and more handsome.”

Another question was asked, “Are you very busy with school? What good timing that you’re back! How about we put our things down first, then pick up Uncle Fu on the way and eat out tonight?”

Without waiting for Fu Zhi Zhou’s reply, Qiao Luo hugged his arm, “Okay, okay, okay, that’s settled then.”

Fu Zhi Zhou, “……”

He watched Qiao Luo’s expression and confirmed that the little rascal wasn’t ‘game over’ from the airsickness, then agreed, “ Okay, then I’ll let the Auntie at home know so that she won’t make dinner tonight.”

Waiting for Fu Zhi Zhou to end the call, Qiao Luo said unhappily. “Why did you ignore me?”

Fu Zhi Zhou was at war in his heart.

Regarding airsickness, one would be slowly adapted to it with habit, but Qiao Luo had such a tiny body. Fu Zhi Zhou felt that if Qiao Luo felt faint for the first time, the second time would not be any better.

In the car, he sneakily hid and prepared a scopolamine skin patch, a cooling ointment, plum juice, dried prunes, bite-sized bread and many such things, afraid that he would have fetched a shriveled little tail.

In the end, the little bastard was full of energy, still able to give him a headache, not at all looking like someone suffering from airsickness.

Fu Zhi Zhou was now very suspicious of Qiao Luo’s previous sickness.

It wasn’t the first time the little rascal had faked illness.

That was when he had first entered college. Qiao Luo wasn’t used to not having Fu Zhi Zhou in the house all of a sudden, so when it was the first 2 weeks of school, he sent a message to Fu Zhi Zhou, claiming that he was sick.

Fu Zhi Zhou could even recite the message that Qiao Luo had sent at that time, backwards.

Qiao Luo had said: I’m so pitiful, I’m so sick that I’m almost dying. I can only contact you by phone, but can’t see you, can’t touch you, can’t get your hugs. 

Although his biological parents were always right in front of him, the little rascal had always kept his illness to himself since young and many little episodes of sickness went unknown to Qiao parents.

For example, when the little rascal was on an intravenous drip, he would silently speed up the drips, then his little paws would be as cold as ice.

For example, the little rascal would clearly have a tummy ache when he eats too much cold food, but he would forget about it and still secretly eat ice cream.

For example, when the little rascal was feeling unwell, he liked to eat sour food, especially that specific brand of dried prunes.

Fu Zhi Zhou had not gotten a car at that time, so he sat for close to two hours of train ride, crossing over half the city to get home, only to see Qiao Luo dancing in his room and doing splits as if writing out a word. His complexion was so ruddy that he was even gleaming, so Fu Zhi Zhou reckoned that his (QL) waist was no longer sore, legs were no longer in pain and he even had enough strength to climb more than 10 floors worth of stairs.

How was this even called “near death”?

This made Fu Zhi Zhou so angry that he didn’t give Qiao Luo any attention for more than a whole month.

Actually, after that episode, Qiao Luo was punished so severely that he didn’t dare to lie even a little to Fu Zhi Zhou. 

But just like the story of “A boy who cried wolf”2, Fu Zhi Zhou had the mindset of: Once the crime had been committed, he no longer held trust towards those with criminal records.

Fu Zhi Zhou took a deep breath and asked, “Aren’t you having airsickness? Just lie down and rest for a while, stop making trouble.”

Qiao Luo lifted up his slightly long hair to reveal his round and tender little earlobes, and turned his head to the side to show Fu Zhi Zhou, “Look! A patch for airsickness!”

Fu Zhi Zhou, “……”

He really didn’t lie.

Fu Zhi Zhou responded with an “En”, then reminded, “Put on your seatbelt properly. You are not allowed to look at your phone. The car has music playing. If you’re bored, talk to yourself.”

Qiao Luo obediently put on his seatbelt, reached out a hand to find songs and even foolishly asked, “Eh? My favourite singer? Didn’t you say that he sings like a bird chirping, sounding like ‘jijichacha’? Why are all of it his songs?”

Fu Zhi Zhou, “….Do you still want to listen to it?”

Qiao Luo regained his senses, then immediately bounced his little slender legs happily while seated in the front passenger seat, and delightfully repeated, “I’m listening, I’m listening.”

 

T/N: Humu’s here to report! Good night!

 

Editor: Musk

1

really thought that this was a typo or something

2

A personal childhood story I’ve heard since young of a boy who was tasked to take care of his family’s sheep. He was feeling bored just from staring at the sheep, so he would cry out, “The wolf is here!” and the villagers would rush down, all prepared to fight. But there wasn’t any wolf. It was a prank. The villagers were obviously raging since the boy wasted their time. The boy didn’t learn his lesson and cried out again, “The wolf is here!”, and the villagers came once more, and left fuming because of the empty lie. After that, when a real wolf came, the boy cried “The wolf is here!”, but none of the villagers came to his rescue. Only when the wolf ate all the sheep, did the villagers realise that the boy told the truth this time round. Moral of the story: Once you lie, trust is ruined and when you really need help, no one will believe you.