Chapter 58 - Continued Shock
Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing disregarded their parents and went to the living room to open the gifts.
There was a big rug just in front of the living room sofa. Zheng PingQing conscientiously pushed the coffee table off the rug and sat down on the ground. He pulled Lin Qian to sit on the rug next to him, and the two spread all the gifts around them. Zheng PingQing looked towards Lin Qian expectantly and said: “I bought you a lot of gifts, please open them.”
Meanwhile, Lin YaZhi finally managed to react to the situation. He asked Chen ShiYi: “Little Zheng was already aware of our relationship?”
Chen ShiYi nodded and said apologetically: “I didn’t dare tell you. I was afraid of making PingQing unhappy, and I also knew that he and Lin Qian were at odds in school. I was worried that if you knew about it, things would become spiral out of control....”
But she didn’t expect things to develop in the complete opposite direction.
Sure enough, Lin YaZhi looked at her with disapproval. “You think too much, ah. Little Zheng is a good child. How can it spiral out of control; just look at how well he and Lin Qian get along.”
Chen ShiYi: “....” Although she was happy that Zheng PingQing was able to get such a high appraisal, she still very much remembers her son’s difficult personality, ah.
Chen ShiYi carefully counted the days she spent away from Zheng PingQing, attempting to figure out how much time an adolescent needed to have a complete change in personality.
At the same time, feeling that the situation was both helpless and laughable, Lin Qian began to open the gifts while Zheng PingQing looked at him with eyes bright and full of expression.
“Oh, a model car?” Lin Qian looked down at the replica of a famous brand car, then turned towards Zheng PingQing with suspicion.
Zheng PingQing replied: “I’m giving you the model first. Once you get your driving license, I’ll buy you the real thing.”
Lin Qian raised a brow. ” Alright. Then I’ll keep this with me, and when the time comes, I’ll be counting on you to give me a similar model.”
Without a change in his expression, Zheng PingQing continued: “To improve our driving skills, we should also regularly practice together, ah.”
Lin Qian patted him on the shoulder, and calmly replied: “...just be careful not to overexert yourself with all the driving.”
Nearby, Lin YaZhi laughed at the two children’s antics and said to Chen ShiYi: “It seems that our children are no different from when we were young. I remember that back when I was a kid, I often told my friend that I would gift him a tractor when I grew up. Ah, how nostalgic.”
Chen ShiYi: “......” She didn’t know if she should tell Lin YaZhi. If Zheng PingQing proclaimed that he would gift Lin Qian a car, then Chen ShiYi suspected that he would really go through with it.
But given the fact that she doesn’t seem to know her son that much anymore, Chen ShiYi wasn’t sure if the current Zheng PingQing was still as extravagant and wasteful as before. So she didn’t dare open her mouth.
Then, Lin Qian unwrapped a model of a house.
With a ‘you understand’ expression on his face, Zheng PingQing told Lin Qian: “This comes with the real thing, to be collected once we’re adults.”
Lin Qian gave him a profound look, then put the model aside without saying another word.
Lin YaZhi let out another laugh. “We really are exactly the same. My childhood friend, do you remember Zhang Zhi, that guy? When we were kids, he often told me that once Sir Li Ka Shing picks him up to inherit the property, he would buy me a few houses in Hong Kong.”
Chen ShiYi was becoming quite perplexed. When Zheng PingQing said that he would buy Lin Qian a car, she thought that Zheng PingQing was probably telling the truth. But this was a house! This can’t be true, right? He was just a child!
No, no. The point she should be focusing on was: When did Zheng PingQing and Lin Qian become such good friends that they could already promise houses and cars to each other?
While she was still confused about the situation, Chen ShiYi suddenly felt an indescribable heartache. She had really neglected her son all these years. She never even realized that Zheng PingQing had already changed into a completely different person.
In the meantime, more exciting things were still coming after the other.
“Cou-” Lin Qian almost blurted out &#k2018;couple’s clothes.’ But fortunately, he managed to react in time and changed his words. “Matching clothes?”
Zheng PingQing winked as he nodded at him. “The seasons are changing, so we should also update our clothes.”
Chen ShiYi: “???????”
So it wasn’t a coincidence that Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing were wearing the same clothes today? They bought the same outfit on purpose?
When she tried talking about it with Zheng PingQing in the elevator, didn’t he say that he loathed bumping into someone with the same outfit as him?
Lin YaZhi offered his opinion: “I agree, I think it’s time for some new ones. Actually, you should buy a matching outfit every year. Only in this way can both of you live up to your title as ‘No.12’s Best Role Models for Friendship’!
Chen ShiYi: “????????”
No.12’s best role models for friendship?
Chen ShiYi leaned precariously on a nearby chair, afraid that her soft legs would cause her to make a fool of herself.
This time, Lin Qian couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed. He looked at the other unopened gifts around him and asked: “These aren’t all for me, right?”
“Of course not.” Zheng PingQing placed the remaining gifts together and waved Lin YaZhi over. “Teacher Lin these are for you.”
“Ah? Little Zheng, you didn’t need to be so polite.” Despite saying this with a slight frown on his face, Lin YaZhi’s feet were already rushing towards them. Sitting next to Lin Qian, the old hen opened his arms and wrapped them around the gifts in front of him. “Here, let me show you my unpacking skills.”
Lin Qian: “.....”
Zheng PingQing: “......”
Lin YaZhi was just about to tear into the presents when he thought of something. He got up and pulled Chen ShiYi onto the rug. “Let’s open them together.”
Zheng PingQing pushed the pile of gifts towards them and looked at Chen ShiYi: “Half of these are yours.”
Chen ShiYi blinked, then laughed out loud. “Then, let’s tear them open.”
Lin YaZhi raised his hands. “Alright, look at this.”
So then, they all sat together on the rug and watched Lin YaZhi efficiently unpack all the gifts without damaging the outer packaging.
“It’s a pretty useless skill.” Lin Qian commented.
Lin YaZhi disagreed. “How can it be useless? I removed it so cleanly, it can definitely be reused in the future. This is saving resources, ah.”
“Teacher Lin is right.” Zheng PingQing applauded.
Lin Qian gave Zheng PingQing a disdainful look. It seems that this person is really doing his absolute best to curry favor with the old man, ah.
Zheng PingQing ignored Lin Qian’s pointed gaze. This was different from their last life. Lin YaZhi and his boyfriend were able to successfully repair their relationship this time around, so Lin YaZhi’s opinions had become more and more important in his boyfriend’s life. The ease in which they achieve their happy future marriage would most likely depend on his father-in-law’s opinion. So Zheng PingQing had to plan things early and seize the opportunity to increase his favourability before they come out of the closet!
Chen ShiYi also began to open the gifts Zheng PingQing had given to her. As she opened each one, she could tell what Zheng PingQing’s thought processes were when he selected each item. It seems that while he changed a lot, some things just never change. But for her, this change in him was in itself the best gift she had ever received from him today.
After the initial shock, Chen ShiYi began to feel genuinely happy. This morning, this kind of harmonious scene was something she only dared to imagine.
But who knew, in just a few hours, her fantasies came true.
While Chen ShiYi was feeling gratified, she happened to look at a clock. Shocked to see that time flew by so fast, Chen ShiYi quickly stood up and said: “You all continue, I’m going to start cooking.”
Zheng PingQing followed her. “I’ll come with you. Your cooking skills aren’t...”
Before he finished his sentence, Lin YaZhi exclaimed: “Ooh, crabs!”
Lin YaZhi had opened the last gift, which was a white foam box. Inside were two layers of neatly stacked crabs, with some even still struggling. They were very fresh.
Zheng PingQing leaned towards Lin Qian and puffed out his chest. “Those were given to me by Li Gao, so I got them for free. Don’t you think I’m quite thrifty?”
Lin Qian was baffled. “I don’t think this situation is quite the same as being thrifty in running one’s household.”
Zheng PingQing innocently replied: “I just wanted to learn how to bargain. I asked Li Gao to give me a five yuan discount, but who knew he would insist on giving it to me for free. What can I do?”
Chen ShiYi: “....?” No, aren’t you being a bit to contradictory, son? Just a few moments ago, you were telling Lin Qian that you were giving him a car and a house. How come you still insisted on a five yuan discount?
Lin Qian: “...You’re right. It’s all Li Gao’s fault.”
Meanwhile, Li YaZhi was eagerly rubbing his hands together. When he saw the live crabs in the container, Lin YaZhi found it hard to restrain his abominable skills. He excitedly said: “I saw this one video on cooking crabs online...”
Zheng PingQing shot him a glance. “Hm?”
Lin YaZhi immediately stopped rubbing his hands and raised them in a placating gesture. “You go ahead.”
Zheng PingQing took the box of crabs, and with the posture of a great master, said: “I’ll go cook, you can just wait for it.”
Again, Chen ShiYi was met with a surprise. Incredulous, she asked: “PingQing, you can cook?”
Lin YaZhi answered for him. “You didn’t know? Not only can he cook, but he can cook very well. He sometimes makes breakfast for Ah Qian.”
Chen ShiYi: “!!!!”
She thought she had already been frightened enough, but it seems that Zheng PingQing can still continue to shock her, ah.
She unconsciously grabbed Lin YaZhi’s hand and placed it on her forehead. “YaZhi, feel it for me, do you think I have a fever?”
Lin YaZhi seriously probed for a bit, then replied: “No, your temperature feels normal to me.”
Lin Qian gave the two a funny look, shook his head, then stood up. “You two can wait in the living room, I’ll go help Zheng PingQing.”
Soon, Chen ShiYi fell into a trance as she listened to the harmonious cooperation of the duo in the kitchen. She felt completely numb.
“Oh, move a bit. Be careful, don’t get burnt.” Zheng PingQing called out.
“Can you kill the crabs for me? Why do I feel like the crabs are looking at me with grief in their eyes?” Lin Qian said in dislike.
“It’s never going to just close one’s eyes in death and die contentedly, ah. The trick is to make sure it dies quickly and neatly, so it doesn’t lose any of its crab legs.”
“Ermmm, I feel like I should give them a small ceremony to help their souls to find peace.”
“What ceremony?”
“Maybe I can use the Great Compassion Mantra I saved on my phone.”
“Shit, why do you still have this kind of thing on your phone?” Zheng PingQing was shocked.
“Obviously, its to guard against you, ah.”
“No, no, give me that; you have to delete it.” Zheng PingQing shouted. Of course, as soon as he said this, Lin Qian ran out of the kitchen with his phone. Immediately after, Zheng PingQing flew out of the kitchen, chasing Lin Qian with an onion on the one hand, and some garlic on the other.
“Not deleting it.” Lin Qian ran towards Chen ShiYi and hid behind her, successfully stopping Zheng PingQing’s pursuit.
Zheng PingQing stared at the hiding Lin Qian hatefully: “Fine, you win! But don’t let me catch you later.” Then, with a shake of his head, Zheng PingQing returned to the kitchen to vent his anger by chopping onions.
Lin Qian grinned and pressed a key on his cell phone. Soon, the Great Compassion Mantra began to play. Lin Qian shouted: “Zheng PingQing, be at peace, OK?”
Zheng PingQing’s faint humming could be heard.
Lin Qian walked back into the kitchen, saying: “The ceremony is complete. The crabs can now die a peaceful death, go ahead and put them in a pot now.”
.........
Chen ShiYi felt like she was having another out-of-body experience as she rigidly took a seat on the sofa. While she was staring straight ahead, her eyes weren’t focusing on anything.
In her heart, she sighed: Ah, I feel like I’m the one who needs the Great Compassion Mantra right now.
The author has something to say:
This time, I’m a little worried that you wouldn’t know what a tractor is...
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Xu Yao crouches, crouches, crouches, then XinDou crouches, crouches, crouches, crouches, then...
Chen ShiYi: “......”