Chapter Forty-Four: Mother, You Created This Trouble Yourself—Now Face the Consequences

***Please add to your favorites***

At the strong request of readers, here is an extra chapter!

Zhuo Nan genuinely liked Fu Xinxin from the bottom of his heart and didn’t want her to be upset. But judging from Fu Xinxin’s behavior today, not only was she rather timid, she was also fiercely jealous. Clearly, he needed to come up with a good solution. At this moment, Zhuo Nan thought of his best friend...

“Come out and help me—this is about Xinxin...” Zhuo Nan called out silently in his mind.

“Do you even need to ask? Just take both of them,” his brain, that damned rascal, always had nothing decent to say when it came to women.

Zhuo Nan was exasperated. “Can you please speak like a normal person?”

“I’m not even a person...” The superbrain sounded innocent. Though emotionless, Zhuo Nan could sense it through his words.

“I’m too lazy to argue with you. Let’s talk business—do you have any ideas?” Zhuo Nan pressed again.

This time, the brain finally got serious. “Matters of the heart are beyond my calculations, but I do have a way for you to win over both women.”

At that, the lustful Zhuo Nan perked up and quickly asked, “What way?”

“Practice a secret martial art from our Longhua star system. Anyone who masters this skill will be irresistible to countless women. For example, after you sleep with Fu Xinxin, she won’t be able to go a day without you. By then, once you’ve slept with both Fu Xinxin and Lan Qian, they’ll be fighting to come to you themselves.”

Zhuo Nan said nothing, clenching his fists...

“You bastard, what do you take me for? Get lost! I ask you for a solution and you want me to become a lecherous scoundrel!” Zhuo Nan cursed furiously in his mind, so much so that the brain didn’t dare make a sound.

When Zhuo Nan finally finished, the brain wanted to say something, but Zhuo Nan interrupted, “Damn it, why are you only bringing this out now, you scoundrel...”

“Zhuo Nan, you—”

“What you? Hurry up and give me the practice manual. But I don’t want something that turns me into a sex fiend. Pick me a technique like the ‘seven times a night’ one. Is there such a thing?” Zhuo Nan asked.

“Heh heh... no problem, I guarantee at least seven times a night...” At this point, everyone should understand—Zhuo Nan and the superbrain were able to fuse so well precisely because both were equally lustful.

*****Dividing Line*****

Lan Zhenghao was in a great mood today. His daughter, who had been rather distant lately, had called to say she was coming home for dinner. He’d originally had a social engagement that evening, but canceled it, returning home early to cook. As a single man, he hadn’t hired a housekeeper, fearing it might spark gossip... He hadn’t cooked in years, so he had his secretary buy some groceries and brought them home himself...

But when he arrived, he discovered Lan Qian had already prepared a table full of delicious dishes and opened a bottle of wine, setting it on the table. He put down his own groceries and went to the kitchen, where he saw Lan Qian still busy cooking, and the delicious aroma filled him with an indescribable warmth...

“Dad, you’re back.” Surprisingly, Lan Qian greeted him of her own accord.

Seeing his daughter seeming so grown up, Lan Zhenghao felt relieved. “Qian Qian, it’s just the two of us—why did you make so much food? Don’t wear yourself out.”

“It’s fine, Dad, go sit down. I’ll be there as soon as I finish this dish,” Lan Qian replied softly.

Hearing his daughter’s words, Lan Zhenghao smiled. The girl had finally grown up...

He sat at the table, poured himself a glass of wine. All these years as an official, he cared little for money or women, but had always loved a good drink... He savored a sip, had a bite of food, “Hmm, this is really well-cooked.”

Suddenly, as if remembering something, his face darkened. He put down his chopsticks, sighed, and waited for Lan Qian to join him... When Lan Qian brought out the last dish and saw her father hadn’t started eating, she asked, “Dad, why aren’t you eating? Is it that bad?”

She set down the dish, picked up her chopsticks, and tasted it. “It’s fine.”

Lan Zhenghao looked up at her and asked gravely, “Qian Qian, did you come home because there’s something you need?”

Lan Qian was momentarily stunned. With a sharp clatter, she threw her chopsticks on the table. “You’re always like this. Do you think you’re such a big shot that everyone comes to you for favors? Even your own daughter? Yes, I did come for something, but it’s not for myself, and I’m not helping someone else either.” As she spoke, she stood up, took a floppy disk from her bag on the sofa, and tossed it in front of Lan Zhenghao. “A friend gave me this disk. Out of curiosity, I opened it and found evidence of a state-owned enterprise official’s corruption and kickbacks. Tell me, is this my personal business? My friend’s business?”

After speaking, Lan Qian sat down across from her father, cheeks puffed in anger. Lan Zhenghao was startled, hurriedly picking up the disk. “Is this true?”

“Can’t you check for yourself?” Lan Qian snapped back.

Lan Zhenghao no longer cared about the food or wine, but rushed into his study, turned on the computer, and the more he read, the more shocked he became. The sums involved were enormous, the number of people implicated unprecedented in Deqing’s history. But whether the contents were real remained to be seen; an investigation was imperative...

Returning to the living room to find Lan Qian still fuming, Lan Zhenghao was filled with guilt. He walked over, put a hand on her shoulder, and said softly, “Qian Qian, it was my fault. Let’s eat.”

At his words, Lan Qian flared up. “Eat? How can I eat? This is my way of bribing you. I’m going to throw it all out...” She stood up, reaching for the plates.

“Qian Qian, what are you doing? Put that down!” Lan Zhenghao shouted, unable to accept her attitude.

But Lan Qian ignored him, stubbornly doing as she pleased...

A loud slap rang out—Lan Zhenghao had struck her across the face. He stared at his own hand, while Lan Qian, tears streaming down her cheeks, sat motionless, the red mark of his fingers visible on her right cheek, her eyes fixed unblinking on her father.

“Qian Qian, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have...” Lan Zhenghao tried desperately to explain his impulsiveness.

But Lan Qian didn’t listen. “Go away, I want to leave...”

“Where will you go? This is your home,” Lan Zhenghao roared.

“My home?” Lan Qian turned back, her eyes vacant. “This isn’t, this isn’t my home. I have no home, none at all...”

“Qian Qian, what are you talking about? What nonsense...” Lan Zhenghao exclaimed, eyes wide, helpless before his daughter.

“What am I talking about? Fine, I’ll tell you. Where were you when Mom died in the hospital? You were working, attending to your superiors, paving the way for your career... When I was in elementary school and needed a parent to accompany me on a school outing, where were you? Still working, still with your superiors, still focused on your career... Four years at university—did you visit me once? You didn’t. You were busy being an official, a young and promising member of the Party’s Political and Legal Committee... I started working—yes, you arranged it, but when I wanted to join the criminal police, you told me to read the newspaper and drink tea. When I caught a few criminals, you forbade me from participating. Is that what a father should do? You’ve contributed nothing to this family, given no happiness to your wife, no paternal love to your daughter. I still can’t forget what Mom looked like on her deathbed—she just wanted to see you one last time, but where were you? Tell me, where were you?” Lan Qian screamed hysterically. Forced by her words, Lan Zhenghao could only retreat step by step...

Another slap—this time, Lan Qian didn’t react, just touched her face, then laughed hollowly. “Well done, well done...” She grabbed her bag and walked out the door without looking back.

“Qian Qian... Qian Qian...” No matter how he called, she didn’t return.

He shut the door weakly, collapsed on the sofa, and looked at the untouched meal. What should have been a good dinner was ruined by a single sentence from him... He fumbled for a cigarette, lit it, and looked out at the empty house, sighing helplessly... No matter how impressive he seemed in official circles, how could Lan Qian ever understand the loneliness in her father’s heart?

Lan Qian suddenly realized how pitiful she was—pitiful to the point of having no one to confide in. Her colleagues kept their distance because of Lan Zhenghao; her relatives rarely visited, and as for friends, she had none at all. Wandering aimlessly through the streets, Lan Qian didn’t know where to go. Back to her rented place? That wasn’t home, not her home...

Suddenly, Zhuo Nan’s face flashed through her mind. Perhaps at this moment, only Zhuo Nan could give her comfort...

BB... The distinctive beeping sound rang out, and Wang Liru was puzzled. “Nannan, where did you get a pager?”

Zhuo Nan smiled as he checked the pager. “Lan Qian bought it for me. Said it was for convenience.”

The moment he mentioned Lan Qian, Wang Liru perked up. “Son, how far have things gone?”

“Mom, please, let it go. I already have a girlfriend.” Zhuo Nan, unable to endure her questioning, confessed honestly.

“A girlfriend? Which family’s girl? Someone from the factory?” Wang Liru guessed correctly. If Zhuo Nan had a girlfriend, it could only be someone from the school.

“Yeah, it’s Fu Xinxin,” Zhuo Nan replied truthfully.

Wang Liru searched her memory for Fu Xinxin. “Oh... I remember now. Section Chief Fu’s daughter. I liked that child too. Nannan, you have good taste...”

Zhuo Wengang, who wasn’t on the night shift tonight, couldn’t stand his wife and son’s conversation any longer and came out from the inner room. “Liru, what are you teaching the child? Now is the time to study, not fall in love. Besides, you’re speaking so loudly Lanlan can hear you.”

Zhuo Lanlan poked her head out from her room where she was doing homework. “Dad, I don’t think it’s a big deal for my brother to have a girlfriend. Lots of girls at school like him. There’s even one in my class.”

“See? Even Lanlan says so. Nannan is handsome—no wonder girls like him. Besides, if Nannan finds a wife, she’ll be one of the Zhuo family. Aren’t you happy?” Wang Liru teased Zhuo Wengang.

“When did I say I wasn’t happy? He’s still young. Let’s wait until he gets into high school...” Wanting to say more, Zhuo Wengang saw Wang Liru glaring at him and wisely fell silent, moving aside.

Wang Liru gave Zhuo Nan a victorious look. “Nannan, mom supports you...”

“Brother, I support you too...” The little girl had slipped out and chimed in.

Wang Liru quickly pulled her aside. “Stop it... Listen, you’re not like your brother. You can’t date so early...”

“Mom, why can’t I?”

“No reason. Just can’t. Girls suffer if they date too early.”

“Mom, why would they? Xinxin’s dating brother, so she’s at a loss?”

Wang Liru: “...”

Zhuo Lanlan: “Why...”

And so it went, endlessly...

Listening to the banter between mother and daughter, Zhuo Nan was delighted. He called out to Wang Liru, “Mom, you made this mess, you clean it up. I’m going to return a call...”

“Are you free? Want to meet up and talk?” From her tone, Zhuo Nan could tell Lan Qian wasn’t in a good mood. But after all the trouble he’d gone through at noon to win over Fu Xinxin, he hesitated about going to see Lan Qian now...

“What’s wrong, is it inconvenient? Is your little girlfriend keeping a close eye on you?” Lan Qian teased over the phone.

Damn, was that supposed to provoke him? Who was afraid of whom? “Tell me where you are. I’ll come now,” Zhuo Nan replied without flinching.

“See you at the entrance of Caesar Palace.” With that, Lan Qian hung up. This only made Zhuo Nan more certain that something was wrong. He’d better make sure nothing happened. Thinking this, he quickly changed clothes, said goodbye to his parents, and hurried out.