Just in Time Chapter 98
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 98 Having a Meal
"Xiao Yi, as your friend, I fully support your decision to sue Su Shengwen. But as a lawyer, I must also tell you—" Huang Chu told him seriously, "the best outcome would only be to cut ties with Su Shengwen's family, and considering your complex situation, turning eighteen in a year, you might not get much compensation."
"Cutting ties is enough for me," Yi Chenliang nodded. "I don't need anything from them."
He didn't need the money, power, or status that Su Shengwen talked about, nor did he need their sincere or insincere apologies. All he ever wanted was to live quietly with Yun Fang, undisturbed.
"Alright," Huang Chu clapped his hands. "I'll have my father handle this lawsuit."
Yi Chenliang looked puzzled.
"Brother Huang's father is the famous lawyer Huang Huishan in the industry," Yun Fang explained to him. "Very formidable."
Yi Chenliang hadn't heard of this name, but that didn't stop him from admiring; if even Yun Fang said he was formidable, then he must be a very impressive lawyer.
Coming down from the second floor, Yi Chenliang saw Zhao Fang whom he hadn't seen in over a year. Zhao Fang was pleasantly surprised to see him. "The little boss was right; Xiao Yi, you're really back!"
"Zhao Jie, long time no see," Yi Chenliang smiled at her, and his leg was immediately hugged by someone.
Yi Chenliang lowered his head and met the gaze of a chubby little girl, looking up at him with a smile.
"Xiao Xiao?" Yi Chenliang recognized the little girl at a glance, her hand still wearing the small silver bracelet he and Yun Fang bought for her.
Comrade Zhao Xiaoxiao said a few words to him excitedly, "....brother?"
"It's Uncle," Yi Chenliang smiled and picked her up, kissing her cheek, "Have you missed Uncle?"
Zhao Xiaoxiao blinked her big eyes at him, obviously not recognizing who he was, as children her age don’t remember much. But that didn't stop her from liking him. She smiled foolishly at Yi Chenliang.
"Yun Yun, Yun Yun hug!" Zhao Xiaoxiao reached out her arms towards Yun Fang standing behind him.
Yun Fang skillfully held her in his arms, took out a piece of milk candy from his pocket and handed it to her to nibble on, smiling at Yi Chenliang, "You see, Xiaoxiao has really learned to run around."
Yi Chenliang remembered the joke he made to hurry Yun Fang back before and couldn't help but laugh, "Hey."
The two of them played with Xiaoxiao in the shop for a while before saying goodbye to Zhao Fang.
It was still hot in September, and the two of them walked slowly under the shade of the trees.
Yi Chenliang had recently cut his hair short and hadn't quite gotten used to it yet. He couldn't help but touch his hair, and Yun Fang looked at him amusedly, saying, "No matter how much you touch it, it won't grow longer."
Yi Chenliang lowered his hand. "I'm just not used to it."
"Don't think about it, and you'll get used to it," Yun Fang held his hand, continuing to walk as if nothing had happened.
Yi Chenliang glanced at their intertwined fingers and smirked, interlocking his fingers with Yun Fang's.
He had been quite anxious before coming back.
After reconnecting with Yun Fang, they could only communicate through text, unable to see or touch each other. They were both not very good at expressing themselves verbally, so reading their chat logs felt stiff and cold.
Even though he knew Yun Fang wouldn't change, he couldn't help but worry. After the initial joy of meeting passed, there were inexplicable and unnecessary speculations. He knew they weren't true, but he couldn't control his thoughts.
It was only when Yun Fang, bit by bit, gently and patiently showed him that nothing had changed.
"Xiao Yi," Yun Fang turned to ask him, "Do you want ice cream?"
"Yes," Yi Chenliang nodded.
It was their favorite chocolate-coated ice cream. They each held one in their hands.
"Your household registration and school records might have to wait until after the lawsuit is settled to be transferred back," Yun Fang said. "But the documents you brought back are complete. Old He can help you enroll temporarily in No.1 High School."
"Okay," Yi Chenliang took a bite of the ice cream, feeling the cool sweetness. "I kinda miss Old He."
"Old He is still good, but he's losing more hair," Yun Fang joked. "Ever since senior year started, he's been throwing tantrums every day, almost jumping up and down."
Yi Chenliang chuckled without much sympathy, then sighed slightly. "Senior year already."
He had met Yun Fang in his freshman year, then he left during the first semester of his second year, and now was back in the first semester of his senior year. He had missed an entire sophomore year of high school.
There was some regret, more or less.
"It's okay," Yun Fang reached out to pat his head. "Take some extra classes, and you'll catch up on what you missed."
Yi Chenliang: "..."
Feeling overwhelmed suddenly.
Tang Yi was ecstatic upon hearing Yi Chenliang was back. She and Yun Heyu both took a day off specifically to cook at home, waiting eagerly but in vain. Tang Yi couldn't contain her excitement and called Yun Fang.
"Mom?"
"Tangtang, didn't you say you picked up Xiao Yi? Why hasn't he come back yet?" Tang Yi glanced at the vase's position and felt it wasn't harmonious, so she moved it to the TV cabinet.
"I took him out for something, and we'll be back soon."
"Why not deal with it tomorrow? He must be tired from the flight, and you're taking him around everywhere." Tang Yi placed the vase on the TV cabinet again, hands on her hips, and said, "Hurry back, the food is getting cold."
"Okay," Yun Fang chuckled and hung up the phone.
Yi Chenliang asked, "Auntie?"
"Yeah, let me take you back home for dinner," Yun Fang patted his stomach, "Are you hungry?"
"A bit." He had flown in the morning, had a simple lunch with Yun Fang, spent the afternoon at Huang Chu's place, and now he was indeed hungry.
"Then let's go home for dinner."
****
Tang Yi and Yun Heyu had roughly heard from Yun Fang about what happened to Yi Chenliang and felt extremely sorry for him.
Yun Heyu was slicing ham. "Promotion and wealth are more important than their son. I've seen it all now."
"That's just how people are. Qi Shuang's first husband—Qi Huo's biological father—had several affairs outside, even fathered four or five children who were already in elementary school by the time Qi Shuang found out." Tang Yi sat on a stool and plucked celery. "Qi Shuang is fierce. She divorced him on the spot and took Qi Huo back. She found out that Xiao Huo was also there that day, almost carrying a knife and chopping his biological father."
"What kind of people are these?" Yun Heyu shook his head. "Qi Huo’s temper really takes after his mom."
"A biological son naturally takes after his mom." Tang Yi sighed. "Even tigers won't eat their cubs. What was Xiao Yi's biological parents thinking? Xiao Yi is such a good kid; if they talked to him properly, would he refuse? They must think highly of themselves, dragging him away without a word. Even if Xiao Yi were an adult, it would be outrageous."
"It's not something a normal person would do, especially someone in an official position." Yun Heyu chuckled. "But don't mention this in front of Xiao Yi when he comes. He doesn't say anything, but he understands, bringing it up will only hurt him."
"I know." Tang Yi handed him the celery she had picked. "I'm just angry. How could such a good kid end up with such a family?"
"Sigh, it's fate." Yun Heyu took the celery, washed and cut it. "Stir-fried celery with meat or ham?"
"You've already cut the ham, and you're asking me?" Tang Yi glared at him.
"Oh, I got carried away chatting with you." Yun Heyu muttered. "I remember Xiao Yi likes ham."
"Xiao Yi likes braised pork." Tang Yi said. "Tangtang also likes it. They both love meat."
Yun Heyu chuckled. "Just like raising two sons."
"Hurry up; is the fish steamed yet?" Tang Yi asked.
"It's almost done; just waiting for you to show off." Yun Heyu said. "If you keep scolding me like this, I'll go out and find three or four—"
Tang Yi pinched his waist. "Find three or four what?"
"Three or four soda cans to sell for two yuan each and buy you a flower." Yun Heyu winced in pain. "Ouch ouch, wife, that hurts."
Tang Yi gave him a look. "With you like this, even if it's free, no one would want it."
"Hey, he wants to but I'm not willing!!" Yun Heyu swung the spatula vigorously. "Back in the day, I was known as the handsome young man in the villages and areas adjacent to it!"
"Don't be shameless all the time," Tang Yi teased, chuckling. "Hurry up, they should be back soon."
As Tang Yi spoke, the door swung open, and Yun Fang entered, calling out to the kitchen while changing shoes, "Mom, we're back!"
Tang Yi and Yun Heyu came out of the kitchen. Yun Heyu was still wearing Tang Yi's pink floral apron, holding a spatula. "Xiao Yi is back!"
"Uncle, Auntie," Yi Chenliang greeted them with a smile.
"Oh, let Auntie have a good look at our Xiao Yi." Tang Yi pulled him over to examine him closely. "How did you grow up all of a sudden and become so tall?"
Yi Chenliang smiled somewhat embarrassedly.
"I've been telling you, kids at this age change so quickly. You wouldn't notice it if Tangtang wasn't always by your side," Yun Heyu shouted from the kitchen while cooking, peeking through the window to talk to Tang Yi.
Tang Yi looked Yi Chenliang over, feeling extremely protective. "You make Auntie worry too much."
Ever since Yi Chenliang moved in, Tang Yi worried that he wouldn't eat well alone, so she called him over for meals every day. At most, it was just adding another pair of chopsticks, but when he wasn't around, it felt like their home was missing a family member. She had even secretly shed a few tears a couple of times. Now that she saw Yi Chenliang, she couldn't help but feel relieved.
Yi Chenliang sat on the sofa chatting with Tang Yi, while Yun Fang brought dishes out of the kitchen and Yun Heyu enthusiastically tried to show off his spoon flipping skills, almost dropping the food. Laughter and teasing filled the kitchen, with father and son poking fun at each other, which earned Yun Heyu a scolding from Tang Yi for being too playful.
Sitting on the sofa, Yi Chenliang suddenly felt at ease.
The noise, the cooking, the mundane tasks—it was the kind of home he longed for.
****
"What kind of home is this?" Chu Xia pushed everything on the table onto the floor, shattering the precious tea set. She looked at the person sitting on the sofa in despair. "Liang Liang is gone! And you're still focused on other things!"
"Xia Xia, I've sent people out to look for him." Su Shengwen rubbed his forehead in frustration. "He took all his identity documents with him. We can't keep restricting his freedom."
"I don't care!" Chu Xia's voice turned sharp. "Liang Liang must stay by my side, he's still so young!"
"Chu Xia!" Su Shengwen stood up abruptly, took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "I have some work issues, can you let me have a moment of peace?"
"What's more important to you, your work or your son!?" Chu Xia, her eyes red with anger, questioned him. "You've already lost him once, do you want to lose him a second time!?"
"Haven't you realized it yet? He doesn't want to recognize us at all!" Su Shengwen, visibly frustrated, uncommonly lost his temper with Chu Xia. "Now, because of your impulsive decision to recognize him, I've gotten into trouble!"
"I don't care! I just want Liang Liang back!" Chu Xia's crying voice was piercing. "I just want my son back!"
Slap!
The crisp sound of a slap abruptly silenced her cries. Chu Xia stood there dumbfounded, holding her face, staring at Su Shengwen in disbelief.
Su Shengwen also seemed stunned, his hand froze in mid-air. "Xia Xia, I—"
The ringing of the phone interrupted what he was about to say. Su Shengwen looked down at his phone on the table, saw the caller ID, and his expression changed suddenly. He picked up the phone and walked to the balcony.
"Hello, Secretary Yang... Where did you hear this from? No, there's absolutely no such thing... That child is an orphan from a friend of my wife... It's not true... Yes, I will cooperate with the investigation from the organization... Alright, I understand."
Su Shengwen hung up the phone with a smile, remained silent for a few seconds, then kicked the chair next to him.
There was no sound from behind him, which felt odd. He turned around and saw only broken pieces of porcelain on the floor. Su Shengwen frowned. "Xia Xia?"