Chapter 53 - President Xie Will TeaChapter You How to be a Dad
Translated by Eve
Edited by Kara
18. President Xie Will Teach You How to be a Dad
Deng Jingwen clenched his fists tightly, expression glacial. He would never let off any man who dared to steal his boy away!
Only, there was no need to let the boy know about this.
Ning Qi didn’t know that his every action was being watched by Deng Jingwen very closely. He took the umbrella from the boy, happiness emerging within his heart. He could feel that the boy had gradually become closer to him. He had already thought it through. He would wait for an appropriate opportunity to take the boy away from the city. They would go somewhere no one recognized them and begin anew.
He could earn money and support them. He would ensure that the boy could live a life without worries.
Ning Qi bid goodbye to Xie He with a beautiful idea in his head. He carried the umbrella and embarked through the rain.
Xie He smiled while watching him leave. After some time, he went back into the cafe.
【Xie He：Xuezhang is truly a good person. It’s just a pity that he’s about to be out of luck.】
【444：That’s because you set him up well! \(^o^)/~】
【Xie He：You’re flattering me.】
【444：……】He thought that he had sounded satirical. It couldn’t be that he had been too tactful, so Host dada couldn’t make out the sarcasm? Was that what happened? _(:зゝ∠)_
【Xie He：I placed a tracking device on Ning Qi just now. If there’s news, let me know. I’m going to go back and take a nap first. 🙂 】
【444：…Oh.】
………………………………
Ning Qi wanted to take Deng Zhuo away. This wasn’t a sudden impulse, but a thought that had undergone careful deliberations. Although Deng Zhuo said that Deng Jingwen no longer had any interest in him, Ning Qi still felt extremely uneasy. Living under Deng Jingwen’s eyes was still a hidden danger in the end….Moreover, his father would not allow him to be with Deng Zhuo. If he wanted to have a peaceful life with the boy, they had to leave here. So, he prepared to leave the country.
Since he had a goal, he would prepare everything in advance. Ning Qi liquidated the majority of his assets and deposited it into a foreign bank account without batting an eyelid. He also secretly had passports and other documents made for the two of them. Now, he just had to wait for the boy to agree before he could take him and leave.
While he was at it, he handled some other matters. By the time he returned home, it was already very late.
Xie He went back to his room and slept for awhile. He was then awoken by 444.
【444：Host dada! Deng Jingwen went to Ning Qi’s home and captured him!】
【Xie He：OK. I’ll head over.】
【444：But, what reason do you have to go over there? +_+】
【Xie He：Baby, why so serious? We can casually come up with some excuse, ah. When I get there, Deng Jingwen will naturally help me imagine up some excuse. For me to go to another man’s house in the middle of the night all on my own, hehe…the most sorrowful and helpless thing in this world is angst that you imagine up for yourself, ah.】
【Xie He：All men and women will tend to indulge in flights of fancy once muddle-headed by love. :)】
【444：……】
Xie He had been to Ning Qi’s place once before, so he easily got there in a flash. When he reached the door, he noticed that the lock was broken. The door was partially open and was easily opened all the way with a slight push.
As soon as he entered, someone kicked the backs of his knees, causing him to fall! Soon after, a pair of hands covered his mouth!
Xie He was constricted by someone from behind. He could also see another man-in-black before him and couldn’t help but reveal a fearful expression. In one glance, he recognized them though. These two were Deng Jingwen’s bodyguards!
Deng Jingwen’s bodyguards also recognized Xie He. They were so frightened that they broke out in a cold sweat. One of them had unexpectedly kicked Deng Zhuo! Would Mr. Deng kill him? He promptly thought about letting go, but when he thought about what was happening inside, he was afraid that Deng Zhuo would scream. Immediately, he found himself stuck between a rock and a hard place!
The two bodyguards exchanged glances. Very quickly, the other one entered the study.
Then, Xie He watched as Deng Jingwen came out of Ning Qi’s study. His eyes widened in shock as if he didn’t understand why he would encounter Deng Jingwen in such a place. Soon after, he seemed to have thought of something. He was so frightened that his body began to tremble, and anger emerged from within his eyes.
There was hate and fear intertwined within his eyes. His gaze was like a sharp knife directly plunging into Deng Jingwen’s heart. Deng Jingwen then thought about the cash and documents he had found in Ning Qi’s room. Ning Qi had unexpectedly been planning on eloping with his boy, taking him out of the country!
Moreover, why had the boy appeared here in the middle of the night? If he hadn’t come here today, would they have secretly left?
He would not permit this…absolutely would not!
Deng Jingwen forced himself to suppress the bubbling jealousy and pain in his chest. His gaze was complicated as he said, “Let go.”
This was directed towards his bodyguard.
The bodyguard hadn’t wanted to be touching this hot potato for a while now anyway. He let go and retreated in haste. No longer bound, Xie He nearly ended up face-planting onto the floor. He crawled up from the floor. His feeble body seemed to be on the verge of collapse. He gritted his teeth and asked, “Why…are you here…?”
Deng Jingwen sucked in a deep breath, voice low, “What about you? Why are you here?”
Xie He didn’t speak. He only cast a guarded gaze at him.
Deng Jingwen tightened his fist, the emotions in his voice extremely constrained as he spoke, “You came looking for Ning Qi.”
This was not a question but a statement. Actually, there was nothing to ask…the boy had come here. Aside from coming to see Ning Qi, what other reason would he have had for coming here? He had unexpectedly asked this kind of superfluous question….
Probably because he was unwilling to admit this fact and thus held a meagre sliver of laughable hope, ba.
When he heard Ning Qi’s name, Xie He couldn’t help but reveal a worried and nervous expression. Although he was really afraid of Deng Jingwen, he still drummed up the courage to ask, “Where’s Xuezhang? What did you do to him?!”
Deng Jingwen’s gaze darkened as he looked at the boy, “You shouldn’t have come.”
You shouldn’t have seen this, you shouldn’t have tried to leave with another man, you shouldn’t…Deng Jingwen’s face was stretched taut. It seemed like he was doing his utmost to maintain the remaining trace of calm he had left.
Xie He watched as Deng Jingwen’s expression darkened. He suddenly felt an ominous premonition and had no time to even feel afraid! He darted into the study behind Deng Jingwen. No one stopped him. Deng Jingwen only stood there, watching the boy run past him…quiet like a statue.
As soon as he entered, Xie He saw Ning Qi on the ground. Both his hands were tied behind his back, and there was tape over his mouth. His clothes were dishevelled, and there were clear marks from having been beaten. Xie He’s eyes reddened. He quivered as he ripped the tape off of Ning Qi’s mouth and sobbed, “Xuezhang….”
Ning Qi forced himself to smile, “I’m fine.”
Xie He bit his lips. Xuezhang had sustained such heavy injuries, how could he be fine…his fingers clenched into two fists until his knuckles turned white. He then suddenly stood up!
Xie He turned and walked until he was facing Deng Jingwen. He stubbornly looked up and used his reddened eyes to stare at him, voice hoarse, “It’s because of me, right?”
Deng Jingwen felt that this version of the boy was piercing to the eye.
It turned out that his boy…had finally become brave and dared to criticize him, fight against him…unfortunately, it was for the sake of another man. He wanted to reply, but he discovered that his face seemed to have frozen and no longer listened to his commands. Therefore, he couldn’t say anything.
He was afraid that he would lose control, that he would grab the boy and lock him up. Even if the boy went crazy, even if he died, he could not leave his side!
After a while, Deng Jingwen’s eyes stilled, and he finally said, “Yes.”
Pain and despair suddenly appeared in Xie He’s eyes. What “let him go?” It was all a lie! He had been lying! He gnashed his teeth and spat out, “Fine. I’ll go back with you. Let Ning Qi leave.”
He didn’t struggle; he didn’t hesitate; it was as if this was a whimsical decision, and he wasn’t actually handing himself over to the most despicable person ever.
Since he would never be able to break free from this nightmarish cycle, then why bother fighting it? Isn’t it much easier to just give up?
Deng Jingwen finally heard what he wanted to hear. He had so easily gotten his boy back, but he didn’t feel even an ounce of joy. Instead, he only felt a profound pain.
His boy was willing to go back to those desperate circumstances that had nearly driven him mad for the sake of another man.
If he was admirable enough, then at this time, he should help the boy succeed, help him and Ning Qi leave…he knew that that was the right choice to make. However, he discovered that he could not say such words.
Even if you killed him, even if he died, he would not be able to do it.
Deng Jingwen shut his eyes, lips parting. His seemingly indifferent voice held an imperceptible tremble. He said, “OK.”
Xie He nodded, voice apathetic, “Thank you, Sir.”
He turned and returned to the study. He helped Ning Qi up but did not untie his restraints. He gently wiped away the blood at Ning Qi’s forehead, flashing a handsome and gentle smile, “Xuezhang, I’m leaving now.”
Ning Qi looked at him, eyes full of deep grief and loneliness. He said, “I don’t need you to do anything for my sake.”
I would rather die than watch you fall into Deng Jingwen’s hands again.
Xie He smiled. He gazed at Ning Qi, expression soft with a slightly ambiguous emotion in his eyes. He said, “Xuezhang, it has always been you helping me, taking care of me…have you ever thought that I wanted to do something for you too?”
Ning Qi’s gaze was fixed on him.
Xie He didn’t evade his gaze. His black eyes reflected his figure, and his gentle voice fell into his heart, “Let me help you this once, OK?”
After speaking, he lowered his head. Those soft lips brushed against Ning Qi’s lips for only a touch before parting.
Ning Qi felt like a soft feather had just caressed him. He wanted to do everything he could to make the feather stay, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to do it. He wasn’t strong enough. He could only watch on helplessly as the feather was blown away by the wind, landing somewhere he could not go. This time…he thought that he might be crying, “Xiao Zhuo….”
Why was it like this?
He finally had the answer that he had yearned for day and night, but this was also the moment he was about to thoroughly lose him.
Clearly, they were so close…so close….
【Ding, Ning Qi’s Favourability Value+4. The current Favourability Value is 100.】
Deng Jingwen had stood at the door all this time. He stared blankly as the boy gave another man such a gentle goodbye. He had to do everything he could to stay where he was and not go over…that was until he saw the boy kiss Ning Qi. At that point, he went mad from jealousy and could no longer restrain himself. He pulled the boy up by the arm!
He sucked in a deep breath, voice controlled but stern, “It’s time to leave.”
Ning Qi glared at Deng Jingwen with eyes full of hate, shouting, “No! Don’t take him away!”
Deng Jingwen glanced at Ning Qi. His gaze was like what one would use to look at a dead man. He originally wanted to kill Ning Qi. If he still didn’t know what was good for him….
At this moment, Xie He suddenly moved. He said, “Sir, if you kill him, I’ll die with him.”
These words were like a hammer striking against Deng Jingwen’s chest, making him unable to stand steady. It was also the last straw. Deng Jingwen finally could no longer maintain his expression. His face paled. After a long time, he gave a bitter laugh, “Fine. I won’t do anything to him.”
Xie He did not say anything else. He turned and went outside. No one had to force him. He took the initiative to pull the car door open and sat inside.
The bodyguards, who had been abandoned, exchanged glances. Since Mr. Deng said that they wouldn’t do anything, then they should honour that promise, ba…? Thus, they didn’t concern themselves with Ning Qi and quickly left as well.
………………………………
Xie He once again stood in the Deng Residence. Only a few months had passed, and yet, he had already returned here again.
This was what he used to yearn for. The home for which he was willing to give up anything to stay in. Now, it was like a grave he could not escape from, causing him to suffocate while alive with no means of freeing himself.
He used a gaze with no lingering within to look at Deng Jingwen and said, “Sir, do you need my services right now? Should I turn off the light, or would you prefer that I covered my face?”
Deng Jingwen looked agonized. He said, “I don’t need you to be like this.”
Xie He went “Oh.” He looked at Deng Jingwen coldly, “Then, may I ask what you need me to do? Aside from this body of mine, I can’t imagine what I could do for you.”
Deng Jingwen looked at the boy, at the boy’s despair, at the boy’s sharpness, at the boy’s every iota of suffering…all of that pain was reflected back at him, hurting him tens—no, hundreds of times more. Clearly, he was hurting so much that he didn’t want to live anymore, but he still couldn’t let go…so long as he could bring the boy back under his wings, so long as he could possess the boy again, no matter with what identity…no matter through what method, it didn’t matter.
Deng Jingwen was willing to give the boy what he wanted the most.
Deng Jingwen could not hide the pain in his eyes. In those eyes, there was a hidden, dense love. That dense love and pain mixed together into an indescribable emotion.
You, who I love the most…from now on, I’ll use another way to love you, OK?”
He slowly parted his lips and let out a hoarse voice, “I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry. Dad shouldn’t have treated you like this.”
Instantly, shock appeared in Xie He’s eyes. The word “Dad” seemed to rip open his heart’s deepest wound, the wound he didn’t want people to touch the most. His lips began to tremble, “W-what are you saying….?”
These words were like the most painful, hardest steps Deng Jingwen had ever taken in his life…and it was just the first step. However, he could not retreat, he could not hesitate. He would hold onto the bitter consequences of his actions and walk until the very end.
He took a step forward, lowering his head to look at the boy, and said, “That DNA test was wrong. You’re Dad’s son….”
“Dad will always protect and love you. From now on, I’ll always be with you…I’ll never let you be hurt again.”
【Ding, the target, Deng Jingwen’s Favourability Value +1. The current Favourability Value is 99.】
【444：………………】
【Xie He：In Dad’s eyes, I’m an idiot. Smile.JPG】
【444：From your performance, that seems to be the case…._(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：Anyway, it seems that Dad has been enlightened. This is truly something worthy of celebrating.】
【444：That’s because your teaching was good!】
【Xie He：This admission of the error of his ways has a bit of sincerity in it. I can give him 90 points.】
【444：Then, do you plan on accepting it? O(∩_∩)O~】
【Xie He：At this time, I recall an old phrase. “If an apology had any use, then what do we need the police for?”】
【444：……？】
【Xie He：Furthermore, Baby, you should know that the price to get me to call someone “Dad” is extremely high.】
【444：…So, to sum it up, you finally taught him, but you don’t want this dad anymore?】
【Xie He：Baby, your comprehension ability these days has improved a lot, ah. I feel very gratified.】
【444：That’s because you taught well. Silly smile.GIF】
【Xie He：You’re flattering me.】
【444：……】
………………………………………………
Deng Jingwen reached out, pulling the boy softly into his arms. He suppressed all his emotions in his voice and said, “I’m sorry, Dad was wrong….”
Xie He stiffened up like a log in Deng Jingwen’s arms. It was like he was completely stupefied and therefore could not react.
Deng Jingwen could perceive the stiffness of the boy in his arms. His heart was full of regret. He really wanted to hug the boy with all his might, kiss him, and comfort him. However, that was not something a father should do, so he maintained his original action and used a soft whisper to say, “I’m sorry it took me so long to find out…I just want to protect you now.”
After a long time, Xie He finally came back to himself. His shuddering body moved, and then, he used great strength to shove Deng Jingwen away. With red eyes, he shouted himself hoarse, “Enough! Enough! Will you only be satisfied after playing me?! Isn’t it enough that I’m obeying you?!”
Sadness flashed through Deng Jingwen’s eyes, and he said, “I’m not playing you. I’m your dad. I’ll never hurt you again.”
Xie He glared at him, unwavering. His voice was stern, “No! You are not!”
Eve: Ouch. Right in the heart. 🙁 My poor Ning Qi. In related news, there’s been so many calls for happy fics, I made a collection for fluffy fics/ficlets/drabbles/art dedicated to SCSG on Ao3 and have posted two little drabbles to start us off. Dear Readers, it’s set so that any members of Ao3 can add works. Don’t worry. No matter how self-conscious you are about your writing, be assured that it’s likely better that mine. Story writing is not my forte. ORZ. I look forward to seeing more as the novel goes. Since there’s no comfort for our hurt, let’s make some of our own.
Kara: Ning Qi’s #1 fan over here is sobbing… ｡･ﾟﾟ･(>д<)･ﾟﾟ･｡ DJW, YOU WEAK MAN!!! YOU SHOULD HAVE LET HIM GO!! YOU FOOL!!