DBTHDCAR Chapter 73

“I’m telling you, this whole family’s crazy. The kids have issues, and the adults aren’t exactly normal either.”

In the restaurant corridor, a few waitresses huddled together, whispering as they pointed toward Ning Xiaobei’s private room.

“I just went in to serve the dishes… oh my god, I’ve never seen people eat like that. Such a huge private room, four of them sitting in each corner, not saying a word. Even a funeral dinner would be livelier than this.”

“The two boys looked pretty good after changing their clothes. Now the two adults look awful—one pale green and the other gray.”

“Wasn’t one of you just saying the boss looked like Fei Xiang?”

“Well, this Fei Xiang is kind of scary.”

When the female manager clicked in with her heels, the giggling waitresses immediately straightened, returning to their assigned room doors, eyes forward, noses down, hearts cautious.

The female manager gave them a sharp look, holding a fruit tray in one hand and knocking on the private room door with the other. When she saw it was Zhao Jingwen who opened the door, her face instantly brightened into a smile.

“Sorry about earlier, we didn’t recognize Boss Zhao right away. Our boss asked me to deliver a fruit tray first. She’ll personally come upstairs to apologize to you shortly.”

Zhao Jingwen froze for a moment, then hurriedly asked the name of the shop owner. When he heard it was Lin Yaping, a regular at his qipao store, he quickly explained that he just had some family matters to handle and didn’t want to trouble her to come in personally. They would be leaving not long after finishing their meal, and next time Boss Yaping visited the store, he promised to give her a proper reception.

The female manager was a competent professional, smoothly stepping aside and taking the other waitstaff with her.

After all, Boss Zhao was borrowing their private room to handle some personal business, that counted as a favor. Shanghai is a city of small circles: today I owe you, tomorrow you owe me, and that’s how friendships are built.

“You can ask whatever you want,” he said.

To be safe, Zhao Jingwen locked the door from the inside. Then he turned back and sat down right next to Ning Jianguo.

Ignoring Ning Jianguo’s protests, Zhao Jingwen took his hand. Their fingers interlaced tightly.

“Yes, we are in that kind of relationship. I don’t see anything shameful about it.”

“Jingwen… don’t scare the kids,” Jianguo said.

Ning Jianguo tried several times to pull his hand away, but Zhao Jingwen held on firmly.

“What kids? They’re not kids anymore. When I was their age, I had already been sent to settle in Yunnan. You were serving in the army in Heilongjiang. Some things they ought to know by now.”

Ning Jianguo, flustered, covered his mouth with both hands.

Zhao Jingwen had long been looking for the right moment to make their relationship public, but Ning Jianguo had always worried about alarming the older generation or frightening the younger.

As for the older one in their household; well, she had lived long enough to become a real expert in human nature. A top salesgirl at one of the best department stores in old Shanghai, she had seen every kind of scene imaginable. Revealing their love history? Who knows who’d be scared of whom.

And the younger two…

Zhao Jingwen looked at Ning Xiaobei, who had been silent the entire time, and Fan Xia, who squirmed like a nail driven into the floor, and thought: We’ve raised you two with all our effort. Not our biological sons, but better than sons.

If they both opposed it… oh, whatever. At worst, I’d grow old and alone with Jianguo. No one to see us off when we die? Fine. At least we’d be together in life and death.

“When did you two get together?”

Seeing their hands clenched tightly together, Ning Xiaobei asked calmly.

“Huh?”

“Weren’t you saying we could ask whatever we wanted? I just want to know this.”

“It… it was back when you were in middle school.”

Ning Jianguo lowered his head, feeling an unbearable shame.

Would Xiaobei look down on him? Would he stop recognizing him altogether?

For some reason, he thought of Ma Guixiang, who had just left not long ago.

What if Xiaobei thought he was dirty, shameless, disgusting… and went running to his biological mother? Fan Xia and Zhao Jingwen were uncle and nephew by blood, connected even through broken bones, but him and Xiaobei… if Xiaobei rejected him, wouldn’t he be left with nothing?

Thinking this, Ning Jianguo’s nose ached and he nearly cried.

“So… it was when I was in first year of middle school?”

Ning Xiaobei licked his lips and asked tentatively.

What he saw next made both parents look like they’d just been struck by lightning.

“Boss… you’ve known all along?”

Fan Xia realized too, his eyes widening as he looked at Xiaobei.

“Mm…”

Ning Xiaobei nodded.

First year of middle school, that was a full five years ago? Boss had kept it from him for five whole years! He hadn’t said a word for five years?!

Fan Xia felt even more heartbroken than when he learned his uncle was gay. He had thought there were absolutely no secrets between them. Last week, he even told Xiaobei about a pimple on his butt, and yet Boss had been hiding this from him for five years!

Fan Xia pressed a cold hand to his chest, slumping in the chair, staring up at the little plaster cherubs on the ceiling with their trumpets, feeling like all these years he had been completely misled.

“In first year… there was one time I came home with a fever from a cold.”

“How come I never knew?”

Ning Jianguo, as always, was most worried about his son’s health and asked anxiously.

“No one was home, so I went downstairs to Uncle Zhao’s to find you… and then, well, I found out.”

Ning Xiaobei finished speaking and quickly lowered his head, his cheeks burning as if on fire.

“You… saw what?”

“There was music playing. You forgot to lock the door.”

“You… I… ah!”

Ning Jianguo felt so ashamed his face could bleed.

What had happened that day had been so intense that Zhao Jingwen, driven by jealousy, had really thrown everything he had at him. Just thinking about it made him shiver all over, his legs weak— and a child only twelve or thirteen had witnessed it?

“I’m dying…”

Even Zhao Jingwen, usually thick-skinned as a city wall, now had no words and covered his face with one hand.

“Wait… that Xiaobei…”

Soon, Zhao Jingwen realized—the kid had known for five years and never said a word, acting like nothing had happened, even letting his father maintain contact with him. Could it be that he had already accepted it?

“Xiaobei! Xiaobei!”

Zhao Jingwen practically leapt out of his seat. He went over to Ning Xiaobei, grabbed his shoulders, and rubbed his chin against Xiaobei’s head, just like old times.

“Good child. Uncle’s kindness for you wasn’t wasted. You really are a good child.”

Responsible, considerate, always knowing when it’s hot or cold… unlike my stupid dark-skinned one at home, who actually ran off to Chongming at the first scare? A high school junior can’t even compare to a first-year middle school kid in courage — what a disgrace to the Zhao family!

“Dad.”

Ning Xiaobei raised his hand toward Ning Jianguo, finally saying the words he’d held in his heart for years: “No matter what, you’re my dad. Whoever you love, whether a man or a woman, I will always support you unconditionally.”

So this time, Dad, please stay with Uncle Zhao for life. Don’t sacrifice yourself for me anymore.

Ning Xiaobei recited quietly in his mind.

Clutching his son’s hand, Ning Jianguo lifted his head, his smile full of emotion.

“That’s wonderful, Jianguo. From now on, we really are a family. A real, proper family.”

Zhao Jingwen held Ning Xiaobei with one hand, Ning Jianguo with the other. Even a lifelong tough guy couldn’t hold back his tears of joy—finally, his life felt settled.

Fan Xia sat alone, silently watching the three of them crying and laughing together, feeling utterly abandoned.

So… am I the only abnormal one?

Zhao Jingwen, sitting between Ning Jianguo and Ning Xiaobei, with his wife on one side and his son on the other, felt like the ultimate winner in life.

The emotional rollercoaster of the day had been far more thrilling than anything he’d encountered in his ten-plus years of business. Luckily, it ended well… now only the matter of this little rascal remained.

“Fan Xia. Today I’m going to make things clear for you right here.”

Zhao Jingwen lifted his chin, full of pride.

“If you’re going to accept me as your uncle, then you have to accept Jianguo as your aunt, and this guy as your cousin… hey, what are you hitting me for?”

Ning Jianguo had just patted his shoulder; Zhao Jingwen took it as a playful shyness.

“Anyway, if you don’t accept it, there’s nothing I can do. Today you go back, pack your things, and stay at your Dad Fan’s place. If your mom ever comes to Shanghai, we’ll just have meals together and keep up appearances. Don’t worry, your uncle will still give you red envelopes during holidays.”

“Uncle…”

“If you accept it, everything will stay as it was. Your uncle will still love you as his own son. You also know now that I won’t have my own child. But now, I already have Xiaobei as my son…”

“Uncle, you’ll always be my dad… no, my uncle.”

Fan Xia couldn’t take it when he heard talk of moving out of the Workers’ New Village. He would never allow himself to be separated from his uncle or from Xiaobei.

“I accept it, I understand. Blood is thicker than water; we’re connected by family. Whatever you do, Uncle, I understand. Running off to Chongming Island was my fault. I’m cowardly, inexperienced, unprepared for storms and hardships. I’ve never faced the big waves of life. I’m not a proper Shanghai person. Please forgive me, Uncle. Let me always be your nephew.”

Determined to cling to Ning Xiaobei, Fan Xia’s mind was racing faster than when he tackled the last two math problems on the monthly exam. Even if his uncle now laid in front of him a year-long unequal household chores contract, he’d sign it without a word.

“Aunt!”

He shouted at Ning Jianguo.

“Boss… Cousin!”

Ning Xiaobei’s lips twitched. He wasn’t entirely ready to accept that title.

Fan Xia’s heart hardened.

Fine, be gay!

So what? Did he steal someone’s rice? Take someone’s water or electricity?

Endanger public safety or national security?

No one was going to separate him from Ning Xiaobei, not even if the President of the United States sent a warship!

The restaurant owner, Lin Yaping, stood at the door of the private room, followed by a manager holding a teapot. From inside came faint sounds of laughter, crying, and commotion. She couldn’t hear clearly, but it was a little frightening.

She hesitated, then lowered the hand she had raised to knock.

“Families like theirs, doing art and creative work… they’re just not like ordinary people, right?”

“Yes, yes, exactly. I was just thinking the same. Artists are always like that, they’re quirky and strange,” the manager said, flattering her with a smile.

Although she herself wasn’t quite sure if the owner of a qipao shop could really be called an artist.

Earlier in the hall, Lin Yaping had been startled when she first saw the two kids. She thought they were some kind of street punks. Later, when she saw that Mr. Zhao from the small Western-style villa on Changle Road went into the same private room with them, she realized they were Zhao’s children.

She had eaten with Mr. Zhao and several VIP clients before, and they occasionally spoke on the phone. She knew a bit about the Zhao family.

She’d heard he had never married and lived with his nephews; an undisputed diamond bachelor.

Speaking of which, she herself had been single for years, always wanting someone to be with.

Mr. Zhao was tall, handsome, successful, and especially gentle toward women; typical of a Shanghai refined gentleman.

Unlike some men, who, the moment they have a few coins in their pocket, get boastful and treat all women as either slept with or haven’t had the chance yet, which is truly disgusting and yet all too common.

It wasn’t that Lin Yaping was conceited, but of all the women who came and went at Zhao’s small Western-style villa, many had the same idea to get close to him. Yet in terms of wealth and appearance, none could match Lin Yaping herself.

Earlier, the moment she saw them, she had gone off to touch up her makeup and fix her hair, hoping to find a chance to get closer to Zhao’s family. Especially his nephews, she didn’t know which one of the dark or fair,  but she figured to capture them first, as long as the kid liked her, bringing Mr. Zhao around would be easy.

But now…

The ruckus inside, the screaming and shouting, was louder than a Shaoxing opera troupe, and though she didn’t know the reason behind it, it all seemed a little… abnormal.

“Oh, I just remembered, this month’s accounts aren’t settled yet. I need to get back to work. When Mr. Zhao pays, make sure he gets a discount, just tell him I said so,” Lin Yaping said, smoothing the hairspray-fixed strands of her hair and turning to the manager.

“Hey, Xiao Mei… the qipao I ordered on Changle Road last time? Just bring it back for me. I won’t go myself. The restaurant is busy at the end of the month, there is no way I can go there personally.”

Lin Yaping headed upstairs to the office, pulling out her palmtop mobile phone to give instructions to her housekeeper.

……………… 

After leaving the restaurant, the four of them got back into the car to head home.

It was the same vehicle as before, but the atmosphere was completely different.

Uncle Zhao’s smile hadn’t left his lips since getting in; sometimes it was for Ning Jianguo sitting beside him, sometimes he caught Ning Xiaobei and Fan Xia in the rearview mirror and just grinned foolishly.

Ning Jianguo didn’t show it as plainly, but the relief in his eyes was unmistakable.

Ning Xiaobei suddenly felt a twinge of regret. If he had admitted earlier that he had long accepted this relationship, would this joy have arrived sooner? Would making his father happy sooner have meant they could change their fate a little earlier?

“Boss, what are you thinking about?”

Fan Xia nudged Ning Xiaobei with his shoulder.

“I’m wondering… how come you came around so easily?”

Ning Xiaobei tilted his head to look at him.

He wasn’t looking down on anyone, was this kid really that open-minded?

‘Boss, if you only knew the emotional rollercoaster I went through at the internet café the night before last…’ Fan Xia thought bitterly to himself.

“I can’t even control my parents’ divorces and remarriages, so how could I control my uncle? Besides, someone’s finally looking after him, making sure he doesn’t go off and do stupid stuff. I should even thank your dad on my grandparents’ behalf,” Fan Xia said sincerely.

Those words were heartfelt enough to fully convince Ning Xiaobei.

“Thank you, Fan Xia.”

Ning Xiaobei rested his arm on Fan Xia’s shoulder, giving a sincere expression of gratitude.

Without his approval, no matter how hard he tried, this relationship would still have felt incomplete.

“No need to thank me,” Fan Xia said, leaning forward from the front seat to whisper into Ning Xiaobei’s ear. “I’m not doing this for free either. Uncle just promised me that if I recognize auntie, my allowance gets doubled.”

Ning Xiaobei couldn’t help but laugh. These two, uncle and nephew, really were a pair of characters.

“Fan Xia, let me hug you again.”

Ning Xiaobei had a feeling that after today, once he returned to the real world, his dad would finally be able to come alive again.

At this very moment, it might be his last day in this parallel world.

He was filled with both anticipation and a touch of melancholy.

Melancholy for what? After thinking it over, he realized it was because he wouldn’t see Fan Xia so young ever again.

Fan Xia, somewhat unsure, lifted his hands and hugged him back.

Spring sunlight fell across the boy’s figure, carrying the scent of grass and leaves. Seventeen-year-old Fan Xia was the sun in this world.

Goodbye, little dark-skinned one.

Ning Xiaobei closed his eyes.

I’m going back to see my dad.

………………

Author’s Note:

Not over yet!! Don’t go away!

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