Chapter 47 – The Object of the Lullaby

Bian Ji’s home was actually a few hundred meters from the subway station, but he didn’t want to involve Yan Ankuo in his family affairs. Firstly, it wasn’t necessary; secondly, it would be embarrassing; thirdly, he didn’t want to sully Yan Ankuo’s ears with it. If Bian Cheng saw him still with a man, who knew how harsh the scolding would be.

After Tang Pingxia left, Bian Cheng remarried quickly. Because his new wife disliked her predecessor’s child, he sent Bian Ji to live with relatives for schooling, only bringing him back to Guangdong for high school. Bian Cheng’s new wife was in the foreign trade business, and as her territory expanded, the focus of her work gradually shifted to Shanghai. Thus, the entire family moved there.

Bian Ji understood this father, who had a low presence in his life, which was why he didn’t want Yan Ankuo to get involved too early.

In the elevator, Bian Ji sent a message to Bian Cheng, saying “I’m almost there.” A few minutes later, a door on the sixth floor opened. Bian Ji felt that its color seemed to have changed, but he couldn’t remember clearly — it had been a while since he’d last come.

“Why did you come so late? Was the plane delayed?” Bian Cheng chatted at the door, pointing at the clock, “How did you come over?”

Bian Ji brushed it off, “I was nearby, walked over.”

Bian Cheng didn’t ask further, letting him enter the house. A woman sat alone on the sofa in the living room, and Bian Ji called her “Auntie” indifferently, standing aside and getting straight to the point, “Did you call me here for something?”

Bian Cheng’s words made Bian Ji find it quite amusing, “Can’t I just have a meal with you if there’s nothing?”

What were you doing earlier. Bian Ji said in his heart.

“Where’s Bian Liangxing?” Bian Ji asked.

Bian Liangxing was his half-brother, also Bian Cheng’s precious son. Hearing this name, Bian Cheng’s expression became much gentler, “He went downstairs to buy fruit, he’ll be back soon.”

Bian Ji stopped talking, silently sitting by the dining table watching TV.

They were family, yet Bian Ji felt like an unwelcome guest, someone they had to invite over.

At the dinner table, Bian Cheng first circled around the topic of the previous fire, then praised his wife’s cooking skills, before finally turning to Bian Ji’s job, “By the way, Little Ji, have you heard of any airlines recruiting pilots recently?”

“Aren’t civil aviation recruitment notices found online?” Bian Ji had food in his mouth, wolfing it down, a habit formed from years of eating crew meals.

Bian Liangxing took over the conversation, “I applied for pilot training after graduating, but I didn’t pass the physical examination. Dad said you’ve been in the airline industry for ten years, wondering if you know any cooperative training institutions. If so, I can pay to learn myself.”

“…” So it was for this reason, Bian Ji was speechless, “I don’t know any.”

“How could that be? Aren’t many of your friends captains? Don’t they have any connections?” Bian Liangxing became anxious, no longer speaking so politely.

Bian Ji had a cold face, but continued eating, “They all graduated from Civil Aviation University or entered through the graduate pilot recruitment program, they don’t know any cooperative training institutions.”

“But…” Bian Liangxing wanted to say more, but was stopped by Bian Cheng.

“Liangliang.” After gently reprimanding him, Bian Cheng smiled at Bian Ji again, “It’s like this, although the assessment standards for self-funded training aren’t that high, Liangliang will still have to apply to the airlines himself after training, right? Our idea is that if you have connections in the company, let him go and study. Money isn’t an issue, that way he’ll have you looking out for him, making it easier to find a job in the future.”

Bian Ji was caught off guard by this, chewing stiffly on two bites of food, “Airlines aren’t run by my family, I can’t hire whoever I want. Besides, pilots are responsible for passenger lives, he couldn’t even pass the pilot recruitment, isn’t it a bit too early to talk about this?”

Bian Liangxing had been in a bad mood lately, and being repeatedly poked at his sore spot by Bian Ji, he stood up angrily, “I just didn’t pass this time, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future! Unlike you, serving tea and water to people for the rest of your life!”

“?” Bian Ji was so exasperated that he laughed, “Since you’re so capable, why did you call me here.”

“It was Bian Cheng who insisted on calling you, I never agreed. Now it seems I was right, you’re just an ungrateful brat, heartless.” The woman who had been silent finally spoke, raising her eyes, her tone filled with disdain, “If it weren’t for your long time in the circle, who would think to look for you!”

Bian Ji finished the last piece of meat on his plate, wiped his hands, and said, “Since that’s the case, I’m leaving.”

“Hold it.” Bian Cheng stopped him, his voice stern, “What attitude is that towards Auntie?”

Bian Ji shrugged indifferently, “Whatever attitude she has towards me, that’s how I treat her.”

Bian Cheng’s hand shook in anger, “Who taught you to speak to your elders like that?”

Bian Ji smiled and shrugged, “Sorry, when I was young, no dad taught me.”

Bian Cheng flew into a rage, slammed his chopsticks down, stood up, and pointed at Bian Ji’s nose, his words faltering, “You!”

“Just as I said, this son of yours is just like your ex-wife,” the woman frowned, shaking her head, “impolite.”

Bian Liangxing obviously hadn’t seen his father get so angry before, stunned and scared, he hurriedly consoled him, “Dad, it’s okay, I won’t take the exam if it’s a big deal. Don’t be angry, let’s eat.”

Bian Ji realized he was an outsider, got up again, ready to leave. Seeing this, the woman said in a sarcastic tone, “Bian Ji, aren’t you going to eat some more? I saw you eating quite happily just now.”

Bian Ji pretended not to understand, “Full.”

“Brother should have someone waiting for him, right?” For some reason, Bian Liangxing suddenly mentioned, “I saw someone send him over just now.”

Bian Ji gave him a sharp glance, inwardly cursing.

Bian Cheng indeed cared, “Who?”

Bian Liangxing said innocently, “I don’t know, wasn’t I buying fruit at the subway station just now? I happened to see Brother get out of a car, it looked pretty nice.”

Bian Ji was seething with hatred, his words laced with thorns, but smiling on the surface, “Liangliang’s eyes are so good, why didn’t you go for the physical examination then?”

“…” Bian Liangxing had never been mocked so coldly, tears welling up instantly, swirling in his eyes, looking pitifully at Bian Cheng.

Bian Cheng was imposing without anger, lowering his voice, “Bian Ji, apologize.”

“Sorry I told the truth.” Without waiting for a reaction, Bian Ji picked up his coat, striding across the door. Once outside, he shouted from a distance, “Next time, don’t call me over, so the neighbors won’t all know about your past shenanigans.”

His voice wasn’t loud or soft, just enough for the neighbors to hear. Bian Ji, not one to sulk, didn’t stay for even a moment. He didn’t wait for the elevator and walked straight down the stairs.

His good mood for the day was thoroughly ruined, Bian Ji felt that this matter should be mentioned to Tang Pingxia, so he called her after returning home, telling her about it.

He didn’t mention Bian Liangxing and Auntie’s attitude, but Tang Pingxia was already very furious. She cursed, “Is Bian Cheng even human? Why does he need you to solve problems concerning his own son?”

Perhaps due to being stimulated, Bian Ji rarely revealed a hint of weariness to his mother, lacking energy as he said, “This favor I really can’t do, it’s something I can’t help with.”

“Even if you could help, it wouldn’t be worth it!” Tang Pingxia gritted her teeth, “When you were studying and working, I didn’t see him care much, he even had to ask me for tuition fees.”

Tang Pingxia’s curly hair hung in front of the camera, appearing gentle in the dim light. Bian Ji watched, feeling dazed, just as he was about to say something else, he suddenly heard a few cries from a girl.

“Xiao Rui, wait a moment, Mom will be right there.” Tang Pingxia covered the lens, turned around to finish speaking, then released her hand, asking Bian Ji, “What were you about to say?”

Bian Ji swallowed the words that had reached his lips, shaking his head, “Nothing. What happened to Xiao Rui?”

“The school is organizing a study camp recently, and she bumped her knee at the museum, her dad is treating her wound.” Tang Pingxia mentioned her youngest daughter’s mischievousness, concern mixed with tenderness, “Sigh, none of them are worry-free.”

Bian Ji was silent for a while, saying, “There’s nothing else on my end, you should go take care of her.”

“Alright, I’ll hang up then, I’ll scold Bian Cheng later.” Tang Pingxia waved at the camera, then hung up the call.

Bian Ji froze for a moment, thus unable to finish saying goodnight to his mother, the screen turned black, reflecting his bewildered face.

He was a stranger in the lives of his closest kin, although he had long been accustomed to this, being pricked twice in one night by the same thing, anyone would have some emotions.

He tapped his phone, the homepage showed that it was now 10:50 PM, and Yan Ankuo had sent him two messages two minutes ago.

Yan Ankuo: [Are you home?] Yan Ankuo: [I wanted to say goodnight before sleeping.] Bian Ji mustered his spirits, dialing his number.

Yan Ankuo answered quickly, asking, “Just got home?”

Bian Ji said, “No, something came up.”

“Unhappy?” Yan Ankuo asked perceptively.

Bian Ji was curious, “Why do you ask?”

Yan Ankuo said, “Your mood doesn’t seem high.”

Bian Ji wasn’t someone whose emotions showed on his face, so he didn’t know whether Yan Ankuo had unusually keen perception or if Bian Ji was indeed out of character tonight.

“No.”

“Liar.”

“…Bian Ji conceded defeat, “Okay, a little.”

“Wanna talk about it?” Yan Ankuo didn’t push him, just asked.

Bian Ji thought about it, answering, “Just had a disagreement with my dad, we had a fight.”

It was an ambiguous answer, and Yan Ankuo didn’t know how to comfort him, but he felt that what Bian Ji needed wasn’t just comfort, so he whispered softly into the receiver, “Close your eyes.”

“What for?”

“Close them.”

Bian Ji obeyed, closing his eyes, asking, “Closed, then what?”

Unexpectedly, Yan Ankuo began singing a lullaby for him, as if soothing an insomniac child.

Bian Ji considered that tonight wasn’t a total failure, chuckling quietly, “You’re not really treating me like a kindergartner, are you?”

“Not at all.” Yan Ankuo stopped humming, also laughing, “Treating you like a baby.”