ABOES 11: Despicable Parents

[You’re only getting home tomorrow?]

Xia Huaiming replied quickly.

Ye Xinian: [Yes. The recording ended late today, and my assistant can only come pick me up tomorrow.]

Seeing the message, Xia Huaiming frowned impatiently and immediately dialed a call.

Ye Xinian hesitated for two seconds between hanging up and answering, but in the end, he chose to pick up.

“Why didn’t you call me to come get you?” Xia Huaiming demanded the moment he spoke.

Just hearing Xia Huaiming’s voice now made Ye Xinian feel a visceral disgust. He forced himself to suppress the nausea rising in his chest and replied, “The recording just ended, and I only just got my phone. How was I supposed to contact you?”

Xia Huaiming was silent for a moment, then said, “But I really want to see you now. Send me your address, I’ll have the driver pick you up.”

Xia Huaiming was a textbook egotist. Everything he did came from his own point of view, without a shred of consideration for others.

Hearing this, Ye Xinian couldn’t help thinking: Why the hell did I ever fall for trash like this?

“It’s too late now,” Ye Xinian paused briefly, then added, “and I’ve already gone to bed. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

Xia Huaiming’s dissatisfaction was obvious in his tone. “Then what time tomorrow? Should I come to your apartment?”

His intentions were all too clear that it made Ye Xinian want to laugh.

Ye Xinian kept his tone calm, not giving a direct answer. “Shouldn’t we eat first? I’m earning now too, I’d like to treat you. Let me choose the place, okay?”

Xia Huaiming’s tone finally softened a bit. “You’re treating me to dinner?”

“Why not?” Ye Xinian asked.

“Alright,” Xia Huaiming chuckled and agreed immediately.

He had chased Ye Xinian for so long, and now Ye Xinian was finally responding, even publicly acknowledging their relationship on a show. Xia Huaiming had been a little upset about Ye Xinian not returning right away, but deep down, he was actually happy.

After dealing with Xia Huaiming for so many years in his past life, Ye Xinian naturally understood what he was thinking. After exchanging a few more words, Ye Xinian finally hung up.

No sooner had he ended the call then another one came in.

Seeing the caller ID, Ye Xinian’s brows immediately furrowed.

He hesitated for a long time, then tossed the phone aside. He didn’t pick it up until the ringtone ended.

But Mother Ye wasn’t about to give up so easily. Since he didn’t answer, she kept calling again and again.

It wasn’t until the fifth time that Ye Xinian finally picked up.

Before he could even speak, a shrill woman’s voice came through the phone—

“Ye Xinian! Getting cocky now, are you? I’ve called you how many times? Are you ignoring me on purpose?”

Ye Xinian’s temples throbbed. He took a deep breath to suppress the frustration boiling inside him.

“No,” Ye Xinian replied flatly. “I was showering. It’s pretty late, what did you call about?”

Hearing the excuse, Mother Ye snorted twice in disapproval before speaking again. “You’d better have been showering! You’re really something now, huh? I called you that many times and the first thing you do when you get your phone is shower instead of calling me back.”

Ye Xinian pressed his lips tightly together and said nothing.

Although the production team had taken their phones during the recording, Ye Xinian’s phone had never been turned off.

When he got it back, he saw a long list of missed calls, aside from one or two from college classmates, the rest were all from his mother.

Ye Xinian didn’t even need to ask. He already knew why she was calling.

Sure enough, when Ye Xinian remained silent, Mother Ye stopped pretending and continued, “Right, I heard from Teacher Yu that you went on some variety show?”

Ye Xinian’s face instantly darkened.

She didn’t care if he was listening or not. She continued, “I didn’t call for anything serious. You’re older now, you can go on whatever shows you like. Your dad and I won’t interfere. But just remember, raising you cost us a lot of money. You can’t forget where you came from.”

Ye Xinian let out a short laugh. “So you’re calling because you want money?”

Being exposed so directly made Mother Ye furious. “Is that any way to talk to me? I paid for your education all these years, and this is how you talk to me? I’m your mother! No respect at all! I swear, it’s like sending you to college was a waste! I should go ask Teacher Yu what kind of student she’s been teaching! I—”

“Enough!” Ye Xinian cut her off, taking several deep breaths to hold back the burning anger in his chest. “The first episode just finished filming, the company hasn’t sent the payment yet. Once I get the money, I’ll transfer it to you.”

“That’s more like it.” Mother Ye snorted. “Your dad and I worked so hard to raise you, it’s only right you show some gratitude. And—”

“Yeah, must’ve been real hard,” Ye Xinian interrupted coldly, his tone hardening. “I’ll send the money when it comes. But let me make this clear: if you ever go to school again and bother Teacher Yu, don’t expect to get another cent from me.”

Mother Ye’s tone immediately shifted. “What kind of attitude is that? You think I’m that unreasonable—”

Ye Xinian didn’t feel like arguing anymore and just hung up.

He tossed the phone onto the bed and took several deep breaths to calm himself.

Then he picked it up again to check his bank balance.

He hadn’t lied to her, the show’s payment really hadn’t come in yet but it was due the next day.

Even so, he had no intention of sending that money to his mother.

They didn’t deserve it.

Ye Xinian’s family was in the capital. His father owned an advertising agency. It’s not a famous one, but in a place where every inch of land cost a fortune, they had an entire floor for an office, with over a hundred employees.

Everyone said Ye Xinian came from a good background, that he was rich. But in truth, the words he heard most growing up were—“Mom and Dad don’t have money.”

Aside from tuition, he never got a penny of allowance. Even the red envelopes from relatives during the New Year were confiscated by his parents under the excuse of “saving it for him.”

As a child, Ye Xinian was naive. He genuinely thought they were poor. That’s why he wore socks with holes and jeans faded to white.

Little Ye Xinian never complained. He even started doing chores at five to “ease the burden” on his parents.

But that illusion shattered when Ye Nan was born.

That year, Ye Xinian was six, just starting first grade.

It was the first time he had ever seen his parents so happy. They hired a high-end nanny and a maternity nurse to care for his mother.

Every few days, his father would come home with bags full of imported toys, foreign baby formula, brand-name clothes, and all kinds of expensive supplements.

At first, Ye Xinian didn’t know what was in the bags. His parents always stored them away on high shelves and sternly told him not to touch.

Eventually, curiosity got the better of him. One day when everyone was home, he sneaked a peek and memorized all the brands.

Ye Xinian looked them up later at school during a computer class. He immediately recognized the items from his home.

He counted five times, just to be sure. Five digits.

He didn’t really understand money back then and only that these things were extremely expensive.

Far beyond what a “poor” family like his should be able to afford.

Mother Ye must’ve noticed something in him changed. From that day on, they were more cautious. And they started repeating things in his ear.

“Xinian, you’re the older brother. You need to take care of Nannan.”

“Nannan’s still a baby. We buy him better clothes because his skin is sensitive.”

“Nannan’s growing, of course his formula is more expensive.”

Ye Xinian looked down at his too-short pants and didn’t argue.

What stuck in his memory most clearly was the start of his first year in high school.

His homeroom teacher, Yu Jun, was collecting applications from students in financial difficulty. She quietly asked why he hadn’t submitted one.

Ye Xinian blushed and squeezed out, “Sorry, teacher… My family… isn’t poor.”

He would never forget the look of surprise on Yu Jun’s face.

She seemed to realize how embarrassed he was and didn’t press further.

Ye Xinian didn’t know how Yu Jun found out about his situation but after that, she often helped him out.

She would find excuses like needing help moving things and bring him home for meals.

She asked him to “tutor” her one-year-old daughter and paid him for it.

And when Ye Xinian was hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis, she covered all the medical bills.

As for his parents?

They never showed up. Not once.

Yu Jun even lied to spare his feelings, saying his parents were just busy.

But Ye Xinian knew the truth. They weren’t busy. They just didn’t want to come.

Because showing up meant spending money.

They never wanted to spend a cent on him.

It had always been that way.

Even after he got into college and started earning on the side, they still found ways to take his money.

That’s the kind of despicable parents they were.

They even… sold him to Xia Huaiming for money.

Thinking of that, Ye Xinian clenched his teeth.

He wasn’t the same Ye Xinian as before. This time, he wouldn’t stay silent.

And he’d never let them hurt the people he cared about again.

…

The next morning, Ye Xinian woke up early and after getting up, he called Xie Yi.

After hearing his plan, Xie Yi didn’t hesitate. “No problem. I’ll arrange everything. Just send me the address.”

Ye Xinian was a little moved. “Thanks, Yi Jie.”

Xie Yi smiled. “It’s the least I can do.”

After hanging up, Ye Xinian received a notification from the bank that his payment had arrived.

He immediately transferred half of it to Yu Jun.

He packed up and got ready to meet Xia Huaiming after that.

At the same time, Duan Zhiyan had just finished his morning workout when he got a call from Chi Xiwen.

“What’s up?” Duan Zhiyan answered.

Chi Xiwen’s voice was filled with exhaustion. “I’m at the hospital.”

Duan Zhiyan’s face changed. “What happened?”

Chi Xiwen gave an address. “Come over. Grandma… she might not last until Yunxing gets back.”