Chapter 111
The certificate was clearly Qiao Shao’s, but Qiao Shao has lost all control over it. Let alone grab it back, they wouldn’t even let him have a glance!
Qiao Zongmin said, “It’s time to eat.”
They took a look in the dining room and good heavens…
King Crab Three Ways, a large lobster, fresh sea urchin sashimi, eel shipped directly from Kansai …
Qiao Shao was shocked. “Are we having New Year’s Eve dinner?”
Qiao Zongmin said, “This is a very joyous occasion so, of course, we must celebrate.” He also took out a cherished bottle of wine from his collection. With a pop, he instantly opened the three hundred thousand dollars worth bottle.
Qiao Shao gave up. “It was just an amateur competition. It was completely meaningless!”
He Shen said, “It was very meaningful.” He was now very adept at placing down the tableware.
Qiao Zongmin poured red wine into the decanter: “It is an important event that must be recorded into the Qiao Family’s history.”
Listening to his words, Qiao Shao’s heart went both soft and sour. He tried his best to crack a joke. “Seems like our Qiao Family history is pretty cheap then.”
Actually, Qiao Shao knew why Da Qiao placed so much importance on this. He also knew the significance of that certificate.
But the more clearly he knew, the more he felt unwell.
After five or six years of living in a nightmare, who knew that there would come a day when they could feel so at ease. This fearful family finally ushered in new hope.
Such a day like this, when they had stepped past the wire rope and reached the opposite side was truly a day worth celebrating.
Minors weren’t allowed to drink alcohol but today Da Qiao made an exception and he let them have a sip.
The sweet-smelling red wine entered through the throat and the slight bitterness remained in the chest, slowly turning into a dense warmth that reverberated in the blood for a long time after.
After the pain and suffering, a rainbow appeared especially beautiful.
As long as you press on, you will be able to push away the clouds and mist to see the sun and sky.
Today’s diary entries went like this —
Da Qiao: My son won first place!
He Shen: Shao Shao got a perfect score.
Qiao Shao: ………………
It really was recorded into the Qiao Family’s “history”.
Later, the certificate really was also framed. Qiao Zongmin and He Shen didn’t need to talk about it. By tacit agreement, they hung it in a place where Qiao Shao absolutely wouldn’t be able to reach without the help of a stepstool.
Qiao Shao was so angry his insides were starting to hurt. That night he secretly found a chair and tried to reach it but to no avail. After that, he simply chose to ignore it!
By the time he grows tall enough to take it down, he would have long gotten used to it. This kind of thing would only increase more and more. Who could have expected that his two “dads” would tag-team him like this his entire life…
Back in the classroom the next day, Qiao Shao felt like a giant panda.
Silly Husky Song was very dramatic. “Shao Ge, what’s going on? Didn’t we agree to be slackers together? To walk hand-in-hand into the last exam room!”
Qiao Shao said, “Who wants to walk hand-in-hand with you?”
Silly Husky Song said, “I know, you only have eyes for Shen Ge. He’s the only one you want to hold hands with!”
Qiao Shao: “&#k2026;” He knew that Silly Husky Song knew absolutely nothing but he still felt quite guilty.
Chen Su’s eyes were filled with smiles. “I knew you didn’t have any problems.” He didn’t say much but the comfort in it was very touching.
Qiao Shao explained to him, “Before, my mental state wasn’t very good. I was so nervous during the exams so I always performed badly.”
Chen Su said, “It’s okay, as long as you’ve already managed to go past that.”
Qiao Shao’s heart felt very warm. “En, I’m fine now!”
Chen Su smiled and said, “I also signed up for the Math Society. Next time, we’ll go together.”
Qiao Shao’s eyes lit up. “That’s great!”
No one was happier about this than Liang Zhu. Liang Zhu had tried to get Chen Su to join four or five times already and Chen Su had always refused citing his studies. Now, he has taken the initiative to sign up, he might just cry from happiness. Their East High was about to take off!
Other students also gathered around to join in the fun. Although Qiao Shao ran away yesterday, it was more because of shyness and not because he hated it. Being able to get closer to his classmates was a very enjoyable thing for him.
Song Yixu was still not reconciled and kept nagging, “Shao Ge, how did you do it? How’d you get so powerful? This is just too incredible!”
He Shen, who had been silent for a while, suddenly answered. “He’s mine. How can he not be incredible?”
A sentence caused multiple shockwaves. Several of the girls gasped.
Qiao Shao instantly turned his head to look at him. His heart was pounding like crazy. What was this guy doing!
Fortunately, there was the Silly Husky among the crowd. Hearing this, Song Yixu said, “God He Shen, I want to be one of yours too. Please accept me, I will be your concubine ~” This way of speaking, he truly was beyond shameless.
His classmates were instantly broken and they directed all their attacks towards Song Yixu, spraying him until he had to cover his head and scurry away.
Once class started, Qiao Shao lowered his voice and said to He Shen. “Behave yourself. Don’t talk nonsense!” He had nearly scared him to death!
He Shen leaned in close to him and whispered, “Don’t be angry, I won’t say that in the future.”
Qiao Shao had just let out a sigh of relief when he heard this scoundrel say, “Next time, I’ll tell them that I’m yours.”
Qiao Shao: “……………………”
What was the difference between these two statements!
The first monthly test of the second year of high school was still a very important event. Old Tang spent forty minutes to provide mental preparation for everyone. The effect was excellent. The students weren’t the least bit nervous, some were so relaxed they were even starting to get drowsy.
Qiao Shao was answering exercise sheets while listening. His condition was great.
The monthly exam proceeded without much fanfare. They changed classrooms and got to work. They answered the tests from morning til evening and was finally dismissed.
After Qiao Shao got in the car, he was completely paralyzed. “I didn’t know the exam required so much physical energy. I’m going to have to catch up on exercise.”
He Shen suggested, “Let’s jog to school in the future.”
Qiao Shao was excited by the idea. “Will Da Qiao agree?”
He Shen smiled slightly. “I’ll talk to him.”
Qiao Shao: “…………”
Fine, you’re more convincing that I am! Qiao Shao thought bitterly, ‘Da Qiao, you’re really no good. Did you already forget who it was that picked up an ashtray and threw it at someone?’
On the day the results of the monthly exams were announced, Old Tang ran in so fast, it was like he was flying. In his excitement, he ran all the way up to the fifth floor in one go. He entered the classroom and began to recite poetry: “A double-edged sword is sharpened on the grinding stone, the fragrance of plum blossom emerges from the bitter cold! Diligence creates a path up the mountain of knowledge, hardship is the boat across the sea of learning! With his head attached to a beam and stabbing his thigh with an awl, a willful man must have his way! ”
Line after line, if they didn’t know any better they would have thought Old Tang was a language teacher!
Tang Yu slammed his hand on the table and said, “Our class’ Qiao Shao Tongxue has achieved an epic feat. From last in the year, he has charged into the top ten in one fell swoop! He has achieved excellent results, landing him in eighth place!” Seriously, Old Tang, you should quit teaching Math and just switch to language studies!
Qiao Shao turned very timid. Although he had known for a long time, he still couldn’t bring himself to lift his head.
Tang Yu again said, “By his own efforts, Qiao Shao Tongxue has increased the average score of our class by a full three points!”
Although he wasn’t implying anything else by it, when Qiao Shao thought of how his abysmal grades had lowered the class’ average before, he found it even harder to look up!
Tang Yu also hinted, “A certain classmate should also study hard. There’s no need to enter the top ten but just don’t fall to last place anymore.”
Silly Husky Song wanted to cry but had no tears.
His seatmate patted this doggo’s head. “It’s okay, we’ve worked hard. It can’t be helped if you have a bad brain.”
Song Yixu: “………” He cried even louder!
After he received his test papers, Qiao Shao did a bit of self-assessment. His grades were completely lopsided. His math and English scores were extremely high, but his language score was only 99, he wasn’t even able to get over a hundred. General Sciences was also quite problematic because there were a lot of questions this time, he ran out of time to answer several of the questions.
He Shen looked at him. “Wait until the final exam, you’ll definitely be in the top three.”
Qiao Shao remembered their agreement and his lips curved into a smile. “Will I have to pay you back by then?”
He Shen remembered. “Two thousand for the tuition fee is really too low.”
Qiao Shao said, “Is 20 million enough?”
If Qiao Shao had said this before, it would have been a joke, but now…
He Shen pinched his hand in the table drawer. “Not enough.”
Qiao Shao: “He Shen Shen, you’re a bit greedy.”
He Shen was still in high spirits. “En, that was my on the spot starting price.”
Qiao Shao laughed. “Then how much do you want?”
He Shen suddenly leaned in close. He whispered almost right into his ear: “Promise me you’ll marry me.”
Qiao Shao: “!”
He Shen made a timely retreat. He relied on that fact that they were in the middle of class and Qiao Shao wouldn’t dare do anything.
Qiao Shao blushed and wrote a note to him. ‘If you dare, then go ask Da Qiao.’
He Shen was stunned and asked, “So does that mean that you’re willing?”
Qiao Shao: “………………” Ah, I knew it! I really shouldn’t pay attention to this scoundrel!
Regardless of how thick-skinned he was in school, at home, He Shen was a rare perfect citizen.
Honest, pure, sincere without overstepping the bounds and particularly well-behaved … No matter what Qiao Shao thought, he could easily coax Da Qiao!
When they got home, they found that something was different than usual.
Qiao Shao’s eyes brightened. “Granddad’s back!”
He rushed into the house and saw the gift-filled room as well as his always fashionable and dashing granddad.
Only when he saw his grandson did the taciturn Qiao Ruan’s lips twitch up into a smile. “I’m back.”
Qiao Shao threw himself at him and gave him a big hug. “When did you get back?”
Qiao Ruan’s clothes were all wrinkled from his welcome but he didn’t care. He said warmly, “I just got off the plane.”
Qiao Shao immediately said, “You must still be jet-lagged. Hurry and get some rest!”
Qiao Ruan: “It can wait. Let’s eat first.”
Qiao Shao: “Okay!”
He still wanted to say something but Yang Xiaolong, who had been neglected next to him, said quietly, “Grandpa, grandpa, true enough no one cares for outsiders…”
Qiao Shao quickly turned to coax his grandpa.
After all three did a little catching up, Qiao Ruan looked at He Shen. “The Xie Family’s child?”
He Shen greeted them.
Yang Xiaolong had already seen He Shen, and called out his relative. “His surname is He!”
Qiao Ruan: “Oh.”
The two old men brought a lot of gifts. It used to be that there was only one copy of each gift, now there were two. Qiao Shao got one and He Shen also got his.
Today, Qiao Ruan brought his own tailor to take He Shen’s measurements from head to toe.
Qiao Shao laughed. “From now on, you will never be short on clothes again.”
He Shen said his thanks.
Qiao Ruan sized him up. “You have a good figure.”
Qiao Shao was shocked and whispered to He Shen. “Granddad likes you a lot!”
Qiao Ruan has dealt with fashion all his life. These five words were the highest praise he could ever give anyone. For Qiao Ruan, to praise someone’s build was equivalent to saying that he likes that person.
He Shen still felt a little diffident and gave a very restrained acknowledgement.
Qiao Ruan and Yang Xiaolong were so good to He Shen because they both knew that this child had cured Qiao Shao. As for how he had cured him, Da Qiao hadn’t told them the details.
So at dinner, Da Qiao gave his daily reminder. “Dinner is for eating, not for flirting!”
Qiao Ruan raised his eyebrows, Yang Xiaolong blinked, Qiao Shao: “!”
He Shen lowered his head. Now, this was him truly being submissive.
Qiao Zongmin didn’t plan on hiding it and he simply laid down his cards on the table. “Ah, that’s right. They’re dating.”
As soon as these words came out, Qiao Ruan and Yang Xiaolong’s eyes turned around with a swish. Their eyes originally filled with fondness and appreciation immediately changed.
What was the dead of winter? What was the passing of autumn? What was icing over overnight?
At this moment, Qiao Shao almost suspected that granddad and grandpa would pack up and take back all the gifts they brought for He Shen!
The author has something to say: There is not much left in the text ~ Although I am reluctant to have this end, all good things must come to an end. I will always love you.
Translator’s note: Yes, it’s sad but there’ll be 2 more chapters in the main text followed by 9 extras and the story’s finished. Awwwww…..