Chapter 132 – The Son-in-Law Dungeon (Part 3)

The most thrilling thing in life isn’t doing someone else’s son in their own home, nor is it having the lights suddenly turned on while you’re taking their son into your mouth in their home. No, it’s using a prone position instead of kneeling while taking their son into your mouth, so that when the lights suddenly blaze on, your two legs and a quarter of your snow-white ass illuminate the entire living room.

Later, the Deputy Commander would often recall this as the most radiant moment of his life. Just like how the Olympics always needs a grand torch-lighting ceremony to complete the spectacle, he used his own handsome physique to ignite an eternal flame in the hearts of his future in-laws.

Fang Liangang had been persuaded by his wife for half the night and reluctantly agreed to this so-called “talk.” But then he was met with a sight that could shatter the worldview he’d built over fifty years. Instantly, his blood surged, his eyes turned red, his entire body trembled uncontrollably, and his words came out in stammers: “Wh-what the hell are you two doing…?”

Fang Zheng struggled to stretch out an arm, grabbed the phone beside his pillow, raised it, click, then looked up at Father with innocent eyes: “Taking… artistic photos?”

The steel furnace exploded.

“Fucking hell, I’ll beat you to death—” Fang Liangang, now completely unhinged, took two steps forward and kicked the blanket with all his might!

Fang Zheng no longer cared about face, dignity, thighs, or ass—if that kick landed, his family jewels might survive, but Birdy’s head would be turned into a pancake. Gritting his teeth, he rolled over with the blanket, taking Birdy with him!

Fang Liangang’s foot landed on the thin mattress with a loud, dull thud! He was about to step over for another kick when he suddenly felt something odd under his foot. Wiggling his toes, the sensation remained strange. Looking down, he saw that while he was indeed stepping on the mattress, between it and his foot was firmly wedged a pair of men’s boxers…

By then, Birdy had already shed all worldly constraints in the tussle, completing the glorious transformation from a wardrobe malfunction to full-frontal sunbathing. The change in circumstances brought a shift in mentality—poetically called returning to innocence, or more bluntly, embracing the mess—

“Mine.”

One soft word settled the ownership of the boxers.

Fang Liangang’s last shred of rationality evaporated. He felt an irresistible urge to grab the nearest object and hurl it at the pair!

Fang Zheng only saw darkness flash before his eyes. Before he could even process it, bang—something whizzed past his face and smashed onto the floor. Looking up, he saw that Birdy had somehow jumped up and grabbed Father Fang’s arm, causing the throw to go wide.

Fang Zheng glanced at the floor—holy shit, that was a solid mahogany chair. If that had hit him…

“What are you spacing out for? Run!” Seeing the guy’s gaze drifting off to some distant fantasy land, Meng Chudong was furious. His slight frame was no match for his future father-in-law—this was a death wish.

Fortunately, Fang Zheng snapped out of it. After the yell, he pulled up his boxers, flipped up like a carp, and bolted bare-chested to a corner of the room, gripping the bathroom door handle tightly just in case.

Meng Chudong’s PvP stamina was at its limit. The moment Fang Zheng was in position, he let go of Fang Liangang and ran!

Now free, Fang Liangang’s fury only intensified after being held back by a kid he couldn’t overpower: “You little shit, don’t you dare run! I’ll fucking break your legs or else I’ll take your surname!”

Where could the Deputy Commander, now firmly holding aggro, run to? The living room wasn’t that big. The only cover was the dining table, so he and the boss began a chase around it.

One lap.

Two laps.

Three laps.

“You motherf— you motherf— if you’ve got the guts, don’t let me catch you…”

Four laps.

Five laps.

Six laps.

“Fuck… you little bastard…”

Seven laps.

Eight laps.

Nine laps.

“Can’t… fucking… take it… gotta… rest…”

Fang Liangang was at his limit. Meng Chudong wasn’t faring much better, though he had slightly less clothing resistance. Seeing the older man genuinely stop to catch his breath, he seized the moment to recover his MP.

The Commander, who had watched the entire spectacle, forgot his own predicament. All he saw was the miraculous, heartwarming, harmonious tableau of Father and Husband panting across the table from each other.

Liu Shuxian, who had also watched the whole thing, lacked her son’s romanticism. She simply walked forward, neither too fast nor too slow.

Meng Chudong watched her approach Fang Liangang, but she didn’t stop. Instead, she continued around the table until she stood in front of him. Then, she slowly raised her hand as if to pat his head. The long-abused Deputy Commander felt a warmth in his chest and instinctively leaned in—

Slap!

A firm but not brutal slap.

“Had enough fun?” Liu Shuxian asked, her tone neither loud nor soft, just conversational.

But Meng Chudong distinctly heard the clatter of all his gear shattering. This wasn’t an ordinary slap—it was a new skill with a special debuff. The Deputy Commander was convinced, so he nodded obediently.

Liu Shuxian turned to her husband.

Meeting his wife’s gaze, Fang Liangang instinctively covered his cheek. The words “I wasn’t fooling around” nearly burst out, but at the last second, he swallowed them and settled for a melancholic hmph.

Liu Shuxian was satisfied. She turned back to Meng Chudong.

Meng Chudong snapped to attention, sensing that divine instructions were forthcoming.

The Deputy Commander’s instincts were as sharp as ever. This time was no exception. Liu Shuxian offered her first smile since their meeting—subtle but gentle, like a mother’s: “Put your underwear on first. Then we’ll talk.”

Upstairs, Room 1

Aunt: They went inside, I think.

Uncle: Finally, we can get some sleep.

Aunt: I still can’t accept two men being… No, I just can’t.

Uncle: Who can? Your brother and sister-in-law have it rough. But that kid, what’s his name… Dong? Doesn’t look like much, but he’s got guts.

Aunt: How can you tell?

Uncle: Didn’t you hear your brother wheezing like he couldn’t breathe? If he’d had the upper hand, would he be in such a state? Ah, if only I’d been bolder back in the day…

Aunt: Hm?

Aunt: …Sleep.

…

Upstairs, Room 2

Second Aunt: “Mmm… ah… ahhh…”

Second Uncle: “…”

Second Aunt: “Mmm… ah… ahhh…”

Second Uncle: “…”

Second Aunt: “Mmm… ah… ahhh…”

Second Uncle: “Oh, they went inside, didn’t they?”

Second Aunt: “IS NOW THE TIME TO BE DISTRACTED?!”

…

Downstairs, Master Bedroom

As the saying goes, family scandals shouldn’t leave the house. Though the opening act had been rather flamboyant, clinging to the comfort of damage control, the family moved four chairs into the bedroom for a closed-door discussion.

Now dressed in thermal underwear, Fang Zheng and Meng Chudong sat side by side against the wall. Fang Zheng’s parents sat opposite them, separated by a nightstand with a small lamp. The bedroom was dimly lit, but Mother Fang adjusted the lamp’s angle to create the perfect atmosphere for a heart-to-heart.

“How long have you two been together?” Liu Shuxian asked.

Fang Zheng instinctively glanced at his father, but Fang Liangang turned his head away, as if looking at his unfilial son would shorten his lifespan.

Fang Zheng knew he’d hurt him. But better a sharp pain than a lingering one. In the past, he’d only known how to run away, leaving both himself and his parents emotionally exhausted over the years.

But now, facing his family, he suddenly realized he couldn’t even remember what he’d been so afraid of. Truly—not a single thing came to mind. He didn’t know whether time or something else had changed him, but he knew the fear was gone. He still felt guilty, but he could make up for it with a lifetime of filial devotion. The old Fang Zheng couldn’t bear it, so he left. The new Fang Zheng could, so he returned.

“Six months,” he answered, his voice quiet but firm.

“Six months?” Liu Shuxian chuckled, a hint of skepticism in her tone. “It took you seven months to learn how to swim, eight months to ride a bike. Six months? You probably don’t even know his background yet.”

Fang Zheng wanted to argue, but no words came to him.

“No need to rush to defend yourself,” Liu Shuxian said gently, as if telling a bedtime story—except this one starred monsters under the bed, designed to traumatize children. “I know what you’re thinking. You’ve been out there for two years, so you think you’re independent now, an adult, ready to come back and clash head-on. Let me tell you something: even if you’d brought home a girl, whether she’d be allowed through this door would still be up to me.”

At first, Meng Chudong had mentally applauded Fang Zheng’s steady “six months.” But seeing how the guy’s head drooped lower and lower under his mother’s words—nearly sinking into his underwear—he knew he’d been too hasty.

“So what do you mean…?” The Commander’s response was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.

Liu Shuxian replied unhurriedly, “Before, I thought you were just going through a phase, that sooner or later you’d go back to liking girls. But after seeing you two under the covers just now…”

“Liu Shuxian!” Fang Liangang clutched his forehead in warning.

Liu Shuxian shrugged and skipped the scene description that might upset her husband. “I believe you’re set on this path now. But that doesn’t mean you can just casually bring someone home. Do you know what it means to bring someone home for the New Year? Did you think showing off in front of all those relatives made you look brave? Let me tell you, if not for this kid’s dumb luck being mistaken by your grandma, do you think you two would’ve made it through New Year’s dinner with all your limbs intact?”

“Mom…”

Liu Shuxian held up a finger. “No, don’t back down now. Weren’t you so bold earlier? Stay bold a little longer.”

Then she turned to Birdy, still smiling faintly. “And you…”

Meng Chudong gulped, pressing his back against the wall.

“I don’t care how your parents raised you, and it’s none of my business. But showing up at a man’s house on New Year’s Eve and picking a fight with his parents—I’m pretty sure that wasn’t part of their teachings. If you’ve got any sense at all, think hard about this: since you stepped into my home, apart from fighting his dad twice, what have you accomplished? Did you come here to help my son reconcile with his parents, or did you come to make sure this fight escalated and our New Year was extra lively?”

“Mom, I dragged him here!” Fang Zheng interjected anxiously. He could take his mother’s criticism, but Birdy had been forcibly brought along—he shouldn’t have to endure this.

Liu Shuxian raised an eyebrow. “You dragged him here? That explains it. I was wondering how my precious son—jobless, penniless, short, pudgy, spineless, with a brain the size of a walnut—could land someone so presentable. Now it all makes sense~”

Fang Zheng finally understood—this wasn’t his mother. This was a high-tier troll…

Liu Shuxian ignored him and continued addressing Birdy: “Alright, no need to tough it out. Getting beaten twice in one night—regretting coming here yet? I don’t care how you were tricked into this, but I’ll make it up to you. Tell me how you want to leave. Train? Soft sleeper. Plane? First class. Or I can hire a car if it’s nearby…”

“I’m sorry,” Meng Chudong suddenly said.

Liu Shuxian paused, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Meng Chudong looked up at her, his voice low—different from his usual calm or sarcastic tone. “You’re right. I didn’t really want to come. Fang Zheng insisted, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. After arriving, I didn’t plan to take the initiative either, because your reactions were exactly what I expected. Parents can only vent their anger through scolding or hitting when faced with this situation. Up until just now, I thought this trip was pointless. After the New Year, we’d leave, and your family would stay the same. You’d still refuse to accept your son liking men—just like my family…”

Fang Zheng was stunned. He suddenly realized his mother was right—his brain really was walnut-sized. No, maybe even smaller.

Fang Zheng’s dazed expression made Meng Chudong’s heart ache. He hadn’t planned to say any of this. He’d thought that whether his in-laws accepted him or not, he could handle it himself. Fang Zheng just needed to be happy. So when Fang Zheng wanted him to come and help win his parents’ approval, he came—even though deep down, he didn’t care much about their “approval” or whether they succeeded.

But Liu Shuxian saw through him. She saw his indifference, his lack of concern.

“Up until just now? Has that changed?” Liu Shuxian asked casually, as if it were an unimportant question.

But Meng Chudong knew better. He took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, then met her eyes again. “Yes. I thought you were like my parents—that you’d never accept your son not being able to like women. But that’s not the case—at least not for you. Just now, when Fang… Father Fang was hitting me in the living room, you didn’t even blink. If you weren’t already prepared for this, you must’ve looked into it privately. You didn’t say anything, but in your heart, you’ve already accepted it. So now,” Meng Chudong paused before continuing, “now you’re just worried about me…”

Liu Shuxian’s nonchalance faded. Her expression gradually smoothed into neutrality—no joy, no anger, just quiet contemplation as she studied the boy in front of her.

“I’m sorry,” Meng Chudong repeated.

“The first apology was for your indifference. What’s this one for?”

“For not knowing what to do. I’ve never been in this situation. I always thought that as long as Fang Zheng was okay, other people’s opinions didn’t matter.”

“He’s okay because he’s dumb.”

“…”

Fang Zheng widened his eyes at Birdy: Dude, refute that!

Birdy’s sidelong glance replied: Absolutely no way to refute that!

Great, just great. At least you two agree on my IQ… TAT

Meng Chudong sighed inwardly. How could he make Fang Zheng believe that actions spoke louder than words? And given tonight’s performance, he had no right to ask for his in-laws’ trust.

Seeing Birdy fall silent, Liu Shuxian didn’t press further. She turned to her neglected son and asked another question: “How did you two get together?”

Fang Zheng was caught off guard. He was still tangled in the complicated emotions of this guy didn’t even want to come with me and he’s already admitted his mistake but Mom’s still grilling him. Anger and heartache warred within him, and when his mother’s question came, heartache won out. Unconsciously, he started defending Birdy: “I—I seduced him!”

Liu Shuxian froze, suddenly understanding how her husband felt with that lump of blood stuck in his chest.

How the hell did you seduce anyone with that spherical body? Explain yourself!

Without needing a mind-reading device, Fang Zheng obediently launched into the love story: “First, I ambushed him in-game. Then I realized how amazing he was, so I kept teasing him and getting close. Later, I recruited him into my guild and even sent him my photo on QQ…”

Some key terms were lost on her, but the general pattern was clear: her son had been the one chasing. Fang Liangang, who’d been playing the silent, brooding role, could no longer stay quiet: “You shameless little shit, have you no dignity?!”

“Nope.”

The instant, shameless reply put immense pressure on Fang Liangang. =_=

Fang Zheng scratched his head and grinned. “But he likes me this way~~~~”

Meng Chudong couldn’t help but chuckle before straightening up and giving a sincere thumbs-up: “Yep, I do.”

Fang Liangang turned away, refusing to look at these two little bastards. He was so frustrated he wanted to bang his head against the nightstand.

Liu Shuxian, however, studied her still-grinning chubby son with surprise.

Two years had changed him. Not in obvious ways like weight, but something far deeper. The boy who’d hidden his insecurities behind smiles was gone. The coward who’d only dared to cry at night was gone. Now, he could lay his flaws bare—let others laugh, even laugh along with them—and truly not be hurt. Not only that, but he’d occasionally jab back, making them hurt. This inner resilience was far stronger than any outward toughness.

Her son had become a man. Liu Shuxian was relieved, though she’d always worried he’d be bullied out there. Now, she was starting to worry for other people’s kids. What to do? =_=

The late-night heart-to-heart didn’t seem to yield any clear results. The Fang parents neither accepted nor rejected them, and after everyone started yawning, they called it a night.

As they carried chairs out of the bedroom, Fang Zheng caught a glimpse of his mother’s slightly reddened eyes. The dim lighting made it hard to be sure, but his heart ached as if someone had squeezed lemon juice into it.

Back in the living room, the night was still deep—winter mornings always came late. Meng Chudong and Fang Zheng obediently settled into their respective bedding, half a meter apart, engaging in pure conversation.

Meng Chudong said, “Your mom’s sharp.”

Fang Zheng sighed. “Too bad I didn’t inherit any of it.”

Meng Chudong stared at the ceiling. “You don’t need to. I’ll tell you everything from now on.”

Fang Zheng pouted but stayed silent.

“Don’t believe me?”

“I can’t tell if you’re holding back. I’ve surrendered to my own IQ.”

“Alright, sleep.”

“Wait, that’s it? Shouldn’t you promise repeatedly to never hide anything again, then give me a guilty ‘sorry’ kiss, or at least a hug—”

“What are your aunt and uncle like?”

“Huh?”

“Do they like hitting people?”

“Uh… probably not…”

“You hesitated…”

“No, no, they’d never hit me, and they definitely wouldn’t hit you, but whether they’ll accept…”

“We’re going tomorrow.”

“Huh? Tomorrow’s New Year’s Day. Usually, we visit on the second day…”

“The sooner we settle this, the better.”

“No, no, I’m perfectly at ease, really!”

“I’m not.”

“What exactly are you trying to settle…?”

“My official status.”