TVDC 25: Not a Good Boyfriend (2)

Qiu Haiyan’s face darkened. “Are you actually talking back to me now!?”

Neck stiff, Qiu Shuohai shot back, “Talking back? The hell, I’m just telling the truth! If it weren’t for that Zheng guy, what could you even do? You can’t accomplish a damn thing. If I had some rich partner like you, do you think I’d still be stuck at home? I’d already be a boss by now!”

Qiu Haiyan was furious. “You think I’m living off a man? If I really were, I’d already have a house, already be married, maybe even have kids by now! What the hell do you know!? All you do every day is whine for money, like a useless leech, eating my flesh and sucking my blood. I’m twenty-five! That Zheng guy is rich as hell, but the moment he hears about my situation, he gets scared! He won’t marry me! If you had even one strength, just one, like Ningning, I wouldn’t still be stuck unmarried to this day!”

Qiu Shuohai stared in shock. “You’re blaming me now? You can’t get married and won’t look at your own problems, so you blame me? You’re insane!”

Qiu Haiyan’s eyes burned red with anger. Seeing the fight escalate, Qiu Xuning quickly said, “Stop arguing, dinner’s ready so let’s just eat, okay?”

Qiu Shouhai said, “Shut up! I’m talking to your jiejie, what are you butting in for?!”

Qiu Haiyan snapped, “Now you’re yelling at Ning Ning too?! Do you measure up to even half of him? You’re nothing but a leeching waste! Useless since you were a kid, and now you’ve grown into the same piece of trash, still shamelessly asking me for money! Mom wants me to pay your down payment and you really think you can live off me forever? Dream on! Let me tell you, even if I save up money in the future, I’ll give it all to Ningning. I won’t give you a single cent!”

Qiu Shuohai’s face turned red, neck bulging, spit practically flying as he shouted, “Ningning, Ningning—your mouths are always full of his name! You think he’s better than me? Rotten bamboo can’t grow good shoots. However I turned out, that’s what he’ll become too! You think just because he studies well he’ll make something of himself? Keep dreaming! You look down on me? Well, I look down on you! An old maid, already past your prime and still not married!”

Qiu Haiyan ground her teeth. “Qiu Shuohai!!”

Qiu Xuning was so frightened he didn’t even dare speak. When he saw Qiu Shuohai step forward a few paces, shouting, “I’m right here, so what!?”

Qiu Xuning quickly turned, ready to run for Zhou Mingmei but as soon as he did, he heard her voice coming lightly from the kitchen. “Enough fighting. Haiyan, come help me carry the dishes.”

So Zhou Mingmei had been in the kitchen all along and had heard every word of their quarrel.

Qiu Xuning was confused. Searching through his memories, he realized that the two of them quarreled every two or three days. Almost every time they met, eight or nine times out of ten would end in a fight. If Qiu Haiyan was in a good mood, she would give Qiu Shuohai some money and if not, she wouldn’t and instead would curse him out until his head spun.

During those fights, no matter how viciously Qiu Shuohai insulted her, Qiu Haiyan would forget it all afterward.

“…” Qiu Xuning found it a little unbelievable.

At Zhou Mingmei’s call, Qiu Haiyan immediately dropped the argument and turned to the kitchen to carry dishes.

Qiu Shuohai was still breathing heavily, his face and neck flushed crimson, looking rather frightening.

Noticing Qiu Xuning staring at him, he snapped his head around and glared. “What are you looking at!? Keep staring and I’ll teach you a lesson!”

Frightened, Qiu Xuning immediately lowered his head and followed Qiu Haiyan into the kitchen.

Inside, Qiu Haiyan said, “Mom, you really need to make Qiu Shuohai get a job. Him loafing around at home every day like this, it’s infuriating just to look at him!”

Zhou Mingmei said faintly, “Your brother can’t do anything. What do you expect him to do?”

Qiu Haiyan replied, “He can learn! He has hands and feet, how could he really not know anything?”

Zhou Mingmei said, “We’ll see.”

Qiu Haiyan said angrily, “You always brush me off like this. If Shouhai doesn’t find a job, how am I supposed to explain it to Zheng Youqing? You know that!”

Zhou Mingmei asked her, “Zheng Youqing still won’t marry you?”

Qiu Haiyan replied, “It’s not that easy! When he heard I have a brother at home who’s living off of us, he hasn’t brought it up again. I know he’s afraid I’ll use his money to support Shouhai. If Shouhai’s situation doesn’t get fixed, I won’t be giving any money to the family anymore.”

Zhou Mingmei said, “Your brother really can’t do anything, you know that.”

Qiu Haiyan said softly, “The pig farm business isn’t doing well now, so it’s impossible to get married this year. If Shouhai doesn’t get a job, I can’t bring up marriage with him. Mom! You have to help me solve this. Shouhai has hands and feet, why can’t he do anything? Worst case, he can work as a cleaner or sanitation worker. Even if it’s just a thousand or so a month, he can live at home, and it won’t cost much, right?”

Zhou Mingmei said, “How could that be? Your brother at least went to high school, how could he go do that kind of work?”

“Then tell me, what can he do?” Qiu Haiyan shot back.

Zhou Mingmei was stumped and left speechless for a long moment.

Qiu Haiyan sighed and said nothing more. Turning her head, she saw Qiu Xuning and beckoned him over. “Our Ningning just needs to study hard. Your brother-in-law likes you too. If he and I can get married, it’ll all be thanks to you. He admires good students the most. He says if we marry, then our children will be smart too. Next year, if you can get into No.1 High School and even win a scholarship, your brother-in-law and I can finally get married.”

Qiu Xuning pressed his lips together and said softly, “I’ll study hard and bring honor to our family.”

Qiu Haiyan smiled and said to Zhou Mingmei, “If Shouhai could be half as sensible as Ningning, I’d probably have a child by now.”

Zhou Mingmei said, “Why don’t you just get him to do it the other way around? Have a child first, then get married. Isn’t that the usual way?”

Qiu Haiyan replied with annoyance, “Can you not talk about these things in front of Ningning?!”

Zhou Mingmei fell silent for a moment, then said, “Ningning is not a little kid anymore, what’s the harm in talking about it?”

Qiu Haiyan replied, “Forget it, let’s just eat.”

Qiu Xuning quickly helped by bringing the dishes to the table.

Except for Qiu Shunming and Qiu Zhaozhao, and He Zhiyuan, everyone else sat down at the table.

Qiu Haiyan even took the bowl from Qiu Xuning and served him some rice, saying, “This is the only time I can serve you. When you get into university, I won’t be able to follow you around and help you anymore.”

Qiu Xuning held the bowl and obediently said, “Thank you, jiejie.”

A smile appeared on Qiu Haiyan’s face. Probably because of the tone, when Qiu Xuning called her sister, it made her feel soft-hearted, and she responded, “What are you thanking me for? I’m your jiejie.”

Qiu Xuning pressed his lips together and smiled briefly before lowering his head to start eating.

Qiu Shouhai spoke sarcastically, “Some people really have a filthy nature.”

Qiu Haiyan snapped, “What are you saying now? Shut your mouth and eat your food, alright?”

Qiu Shouhai replied, “I wasn’t talking to you.”

Qiu Haiyan glared at him. “Eat your food!”

Zhou Mingmei also said, “Shouhai, stop talking so much.”

Qiu Shouhai fell silent but continued to stare at Qiu Xuning with a dark, almost menacing look.

Every time Qiu Xuning looked up, he met Qiu Shouhai’s gloomy gaze, as if he wanted to devour him.

Qiu Xuning was startled, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t eat the food in his mouth. “I–I’m not eating anymore.”

“Why aren’t you eating? Is it not to your taste?” Zhou Mingmei asked.

“It’s not… I just… I don’t have much of an appetite,” Qiu Xuning replied, not daring to look up.

Qiu Haiyan also put down her utensils and asked, “Then do you want KFC? Don’t you like KFC? I’ll go buy it for you.”

Qiu Xuning glanced at Qiu Shouhai for a moment before quickly averting his gaze. He mumbled, “No need, I can’t eat anymore. I–I’ll go back to my room to do my homework.”

As he said that, he turned to run, but after taking just a few steps, he suddenly remembered that he needed to bring food to He Zhiyuan.

He quickly changed direction, entered the kitchen, and scooped a bowl of rice. Then he walked to the table and started serving He Zhiyuan some food.

Zhou Mingmei frowned and said, “You’re not eating, so why are you still serving rice?”

Qiu Xuning lowered his eyes and said, “It’s for He Zhiyuan. He’s really great. There were two questions that were really hard, and he taught me how to do them. So I wanted to thank him.”

Zhou Mingmei said, “But you’ve put too much rice in. Rice prices have gone up this year, it’s five yuan per kilogram now. Don’t serve him so much, pour some back.”

Qiu Xuning paused, then hesitantly asked, “Should I pour the rice back into the pressure cooker after it’s already in the bowl?”

Zhou Mingmei said, “Yes, pour it back. Your ge has a big appetite, he can eat two more bowls. If that’s not enough, your jie will be back from her evening study session later, and she can fry some rice for a late-night snack. It’s better than letting that good-for-nothing eat it.”

Qiu Xuning hit a wall with Zhou Mingmei, and instinctively considered following her instructions. He quickly stopped himself and said softly, “But I still have questions I want to ask him. If he’s not full, I feel like I can’t ask him.”

Zhou Mingmei replied, “What’s the big deal? If he won’t teach you, just tell him to watch out, or I’ll send him to the third floor to sleep!”

Qiu Xuning: “…”

His face turned red from holding back his emotions. “Mom, this isn’t right.”

“What’s wrong with it? He eats for free and still demands so much?” Zhou Mingmei said with dissatisfaction.

Qiu Xuning took a deep breath, his voice soft and weak, almost pleading, “Mom, I’m not eating anymore. Can you give him my portion instead? I don’t want him to be hungry and still have to teach me.”

Zhou Mingmei frowned, and Qiu Haiyan, who was standing nearby, said, “Mom, it’s not like we’re missing out on one more person eating plain rice. Whether one eats or two eat, what’s the difference? You’re so focused on controlling your nephew, but you should also look after your own son! At least he’s your nephew, my cousin, Ningning’s cousin. The way you treat him like dirt, isn’t that just creating another enemy?”

Qiu Xuning listened, his eyes widening in surprise as he looked up at Qiu Haiyan. She met his gaze, smiled at him, and said, “Don’t believe in that nonsense about being unlucky or cursed. This year, there’s been a swine flu outbreak across the country. Do you think He Zhiyuan could bring misfortune to everyone in the country? My bad luck is just from doing this business, it has nothing to do with He Zhiyuan. The economic situation this year is tough, and it’s not just Dad’s factory laying off people, everywhere is cutting jobs. If you blame all of this on He Zhiyuan, won’t that make him feel bad? Qiu Shouhai isn’t a reliable brother, but can’t we find a reliable one? Honestly, I think if they get along well, it’s not a bad thing. Fewer enemies and more allies—it’s all for the good. Don’t block it all. If it ends up hurting Ningning, even if you’re my brother, I’ll still turn against you.”

Zhou Mingmei said, “So, can’t his parents die together too? Isn’t it still his fault?”

Qiu Haiyan replied, “In our country, how many people die in car accidents every year? There’s probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands, right? Do you think all of their relatives have some bad luck star hanging over them? If that was the case, that bad luck star wouldn’t be worth anything, it would be everywhere!”

Zhou Mingmei, rebutted at every turn, said angrily, “You’re really defending him.”

Qiu Haiyan said, “I know He Zhiyuan. His academic performance is good. Mom, people like Zheng Youqing don’t value anything else, they only care about good grades and potential. After he saw Ningning’s test paper, he turned around and told me that if Ningning ever needs money for anything, he should feel free to ask him. He even praised our family’s genes, saying we’re capable of having good children. If we get married in the future, and our kids take after their uncle, they’ll surely do well and bring honor to the family.”

Qiu Xuning paused, then asked, “Was it my test paper?”

Qiu Haiyan replied, “Yes, I showed your test paper to your brother-in-law. He was really happy when he saw it. He admires people who study hard. Keep studying well, and I won’t say anything meaningless. As long as you can rank in the top three at the First High School and get a scholarship, your brother-in-law promised to reward you with 20,000 yuan.”

Zhou Mingmei was surprised. “He really said that?”

Qiu Haiyan replied, “Of course it’s true. Why would it be fake?”

Zhou Mingmei immediately became excited. “A scholarship at First High School can be worth several tens of thousands! If he really does rank in the top three, our family could earn seventy or eighty thousand in one go!”

Qiu Haiyan said, “So, Mom, don’t be too hard on He Zhiyuan. I haven’t even told Zheng Youqing that your nephew is also studying at First High School. If I tell him, he might be even happier.”

Hearing this, Zhou Mingmei softened her attitude. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. Ningning, go ahead and serve him some rice. Don’t give him too many vegetables, though. Pork is thirty-six yuan, I bought it specially for you to eat, so don’t give He Zhiyuan any.”

Qiu Xuning let out a sigh of relief, looking at Qiu Haiyan with gratitude. He started serving the food, but under Zhou Mingmei’s watchful gaze, he could only keep adding simple dishes. There’s pickled tofu with dried plum, green beans, and bamboo shoots. He forced himself to add two chopsticks of stir-fried pork with chili, then three pieces of fish. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Zhou Mingmei’s expression slightly changed as if she was about to say something. He quickly murmured, “I’ve served it.”

Once he finished, he didn’t give Zhou Mingmei a chance to speak and quickly ran off.

Zhou Mingmei watched him disappear from sight, furrowing her brows, and said, “He got beaten up so badly by that good-for-nothing, and now he’s suddenly acting like they’re as close as brothers.”

Qiu Haiyan responded indifferently, “Boys’ friendships can come and go easily, Mom. Don’t stop him. The fact that he’s close with He Zhiyuan isn’t a bad thing. Don’t be too harsh on He Zhiyuan either. If you make him dislike studying, and his grades drop, I won’t even be able to explain it to Zheng Youqing.”

Zhou Mingmei listened, then said in dissatisfaction, “I understand.”

Qiu Haiyan glanced at Qiu Shouhai and said, “Shouhai, you have to get a job, do you hear me?!”

Qiu Shouhai coldly responded, “I want to work, but I need a job that suits me. Don’t try to get me some exhausting and low-paying job. Who do you think I am?”

Qiu Haiyan was so angry that her chest tightened. She didn’t want to argue at the dinner table, so she held back her frustration. She glanced at Zhou Mingmei but didn’t say anything more.

On the surface, Zhou Mingmei seemed to dislike Qiu Shouhai, but deep down, she still cared more for her son than her daughter. In matters like this, Qiu Haiyan could never convince her.

Qiu Shouhai was the type of person who would only learn the hard way after a major fall.

Qiu Xuning, unaware of the undercurrent of tension at the dinner table, carried the rice, and before it could cool down, quickly entered his room and placed it in front of He Zhiyuan.

“You must be hungry. Hurry up and eat,” Qiu Xuning said, placing the chopsticks in He Zhiyuan’s hand.

He Zhiyuan glanced at him and asked, “Are they arguing downstairs?”

Qiu Xuning wasn’t sure how to explain the things he overheard, but there was one thing he needed to tell He Zhiyuan. “Did you know? My jiejie defended you!”

As he mentioned this, Qiu Xuning’s cheeks turned red, and his eyes sparkled with genuine happiness. He looked into He Zhiyuan’s eyes and said, “Do you know what she said? She praised you! She said you’re smart!”

He Zhiyuan’s expression remained calm, showing no signs of excitement or any other emotion.

Qiu Xuning watched his expression, and his own mood slowly settled. “…Why aren’t you happy?”

He Zhiyuan asked, “Do I need to be happy?”

Qiu Xuning was taken aback and stammered, “I… I don’t know, but my sister praised you. If I were praised, I’d be really happy.”

He Zhiyuan looked at him and said, “You shouldn’t lack praise, but you act like you’ve never been praised before.”

Qiu Xuning’s face stiffened, and he stammered, “It’s… it’s different. Who doesn’t love being praised, right?”

He Zhiyuan lowered his head and didn’t say anything.

Qiu Xuning also fell silent, but then, he secretly glanced at He Zhiyuan and said, “You’re very handsome.”

He Zhiyuan lifted his eyes, gazing at Qiu Xuning intently.

A faint pink hue spread across Qiu Xuning’s fair, delicate face, like the soft blush of a peach. Gradually, a sweet feeling began to fill the air. “…You’re very charming. When you smile, you have this magnetic aura. Your hands are nice, and you’re tall—people must really like you. If I were a girl, I might secretly have a crush on you… You’re also very gentle and thoughtful. I feel like you’d make a great boyfriend, or maybe even a great dad someday…”

He Zhiyuan listened to his words, a shadow crossing his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”

Qiu Xuning didn’t dare look at him. He mumbled, “I’m complimenting you. Aren’t you happy about that?”

He Zhiyuan didn’t respond.

Qiu Xuning gathered his courage and glanced up at him. “You really… really aren’t happy?”

“…” He Zhiyuan said, “I wouldn’t be happy, because what you said isn’t true.”

Qiu Xuning froze. “Not true?”

He Zhiyuan replied, “I won’t be a good boyfriend, or a good father.”

Qiu Xuning was confused. “Why do you say that?”

He Zhiyuan didn’t answer.

Qiu Xuning softly added, “Then if I praise you for being handsome, you should be happy, right?”

He Zhiyuan said, “That’s the truth. Why should I be happy?”

Qiu Xuning: “……..”

“You’re really hard to compliment,” Qiu Xuning mumbled, his eyes lowering in frustration.

A small smile tugged at the corner of He Zhiyuan’s lips, and his voice grew softer. “When you compliment me, maybe just a little, I might feel happy.”

Qiu Xuning froze, then suddenly looked up at him with wide eyes. “Really? You’re happy?”

He Zhiyuan’s gaze darkened slightly as he looked at him. “Really.”

Qiu Xuning caught the smile at the corner of his mouth and couldn’t help but smile back, though there was still a hint of shyness. His clear, bright eyes kept flickering, wanting to look away but not being able to resist, instead continuing to gaze at the smile on He Zhiyuan’s face. The more he stared, the redder his cheeks became. After a few seconds, he hurriedly said, “You should eat quickly, the food’s getting cold.”

He Zhiyuan responded with a soft “Mm,” and, holding his bowl, began to eat slowly.

After he finished eating, Qiu Xuning took out the phone that Qiu Haiyan had given him and said softly, “Look, I have a phone now.”

He Zhiyuan glanced down at the phone resting in Qiu Xuning’s palm, took a sip of water, and said nothing.

Seeing that he didn’t respond, Qiu Xuning bit his lip and softly asked, “Do you want to add each other on WeChat? Or maybe exchange phone numbers?”

He Zhiyuan took the phone from him, entered his phone number, and added his WeChat.

Qiu Xuning glanced at his WeChat profile and asked, “Do you like cats?”

He Zhiyuan’s gaze darkened, his voice low, “No.”

Qiu Xuning then said, “But your profile picture is a cat.”

He Zhiyuan replied, “My Mom changed it a long time ago. I never bothered to change it back.”

Qiu Xuning said, “Oh… I’m sorry, I didn’t know it was your Mom who changed it.”

He Zhiyuan didn’t respond immediately. After a pause, he finally said, “No need to apologize.”

Qiu Xuning changed the subject, asking softly, “If I were to contact you, would you reply?”

He Zhiyuan seemed to be thinking about it.

Qiu Xuning’s gaze grew a little anxious, “You wouldn’t reply, would you?”

He Zhiyuan probably wasn’t that busy, right?

After thinking for a long time, He Zhiyuan finally said, “It depends on what it is.”

Qiu Xuning saw the slight curve of his lips and realized he was probably teasing him again. Feeling a bit embarrassed and irritated, he pouted and muttered, “If nothing’s wrong, I wouldn’t contact you.”

He Zhiyuan let out a low laugh.