ASFSODS 78

“Mom, Dad…” Wen Chi was a little stunned. Seeing his parents staring at the hands he and Jiang Siheng were holding, he pursed his lips, not knowing what to say.

Jiang Siheng glanced at Wen Chi. Seeing that he was silent, he took the initiative to release Wen Chi’s hand and turned to his parents with a respectful and polite tone. “Good morning, Uncle and Aunt.”

Since they had already met, there was no need for further introductions.

“Good morning, Mr. Jiang.” Lin Huixiu smiled at Jiang Siheng as if she hadn’t just been frowning a moment ago.

Wen Zhengde also greeted him.

Lin Huixiu stepped forward, took Wen Chi’s hand, and led him away from Jiang Siheng. She seemed to want to have a conversation with her son, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time. “Have you had breakfast?”

Wen Chi, under his mother’s gaze, didn’t dare to look back at Jiang Siheng. He nodded and said, “Yes, I’ve eaten.”

Lin Huixiu gently patted Wen Chi’s head and asked, “Then why don’t you join us for breakfast? We can talk afterward.”

Wen Chi nodded. “Okay.”

Lin Huixiu and Wen Zhengde had never asked him to join them for breakfast before, so the reason for this request was more or less obvious.

Lin Huixiu turned to Jiang Siheng. “We’ll go have breakfast now. Mr. Jiang, please excuse us.”

Jiang Siheng’s tone didn’t change. “Mm.”

Lin Huixiu continued pulling Wen Chi along. After a few steps, Wen Chi couldn’t help but look back at Jiang Siheng, who was still standing in the same place watching them.

Upon seeing Wen Chi turn around, Jiang Siheng smiled at him.

“Xiao Chi?”

Wen Chi quickly turned back. “Mm?”

Lin Huixiu said lightly, “Let’s go eat breakfast.”

It seemed that Lin Huixiu didn’t want Wen Chi to spend another second with Jiang Siheng. She quickly found a table and sat down. Wen Chi looked around and asked his dad, “Where are  Er Qiao and A-Shi?”

Wen Zhengde replied, “I don’t know, probably still asleep.”

“Besides Xiao Nan and Xiao Shi, Tao Ge has also come.” Lin Huixiu reminded him.

Wen Chi was surprised. “Tao Ge is here? He actually came all the way here?”

Wen Zhengde replied, “Yes, I thought it was strange too.”

Lin Huixiu gave a helpless look at father and son. “Although he’s a bit of a homebody, it’s not like he would refuse to travel far.”

Not long after breakfast was served, Wen Chi heard voices from outside the restaurant. Before long, the once quiet restaurant was suddenly filled with people.

Qiao Congnan and Huo Yinshi were at the front. As soon as they saw Wen Chi, they quickly rushed over, each one grabbing one of his shoulders.

“Chi Bao, are you okay?!” Qiao Congnan anxiously looked at Wen Chi, afraid to miss any of his expressions.

Wen Chi had a blank expression. “I was fine before, but now I don’t feel as well.”

“Why?”

Wen Chi pushed their hands away. “Because you two are a bit too strong. You’re making me hurt.”

Qiao Congnan greeted Wen Chi’s parents, then very naturally pulled up a chair and sat to Wen Chi’s right, while Huo Yinshi sat on his left.

Huo Yinshi said, “Look at you still joking around, you should be fine now.”

Besides Qiao Congnan and Huo Yinshi, the other guests who hadn’t left yet all came over, surrounding Wen Chi.

“Xiao Chi, are you feeling better?”

“Your throat still seems a little hoarse. I have pear syrup in my room. I’ll give you some so you can drink it later.”

“Are you okay?”

“How are you, Xiao Chi?”

Zhou Yunbai and the others didn’t bring up the trending topics at all. They were all concerned about Wen Chi himself. Even though they already knew what the trending topic was about, they still didn’t distance themselves from Wen Chi. No matter what “Wen Chi” on the trending list was like, the Wen Chi they knew was a good and kind-hearted person.

“I’m fine, I’m okay. Thank you~” Wen Chi smiled brightly. It really felt good to be cared for.

Zhou Ruoyao walked into the restaurant yawning, and when he saw so many people gathered around a table, he didn’t even have to ask who was in the center of the crowd. He walked over without hesitation, squeezing past Tian Yang and Tong Xian’en, and leaned both hands on the table. “Xiao Chi! Why are you down here? If you wanted breakfast, you could’ve called me, I could’ve brought it up for you.”

Wen Chi looked at Zhou Ruoyao, both amused and helpless. “I didn’t hurt my leg.”

“But you must be tired, you need to rest,” Zhou Ruoyao muttered, then asked, “Where’s Jiang Siheng? Why didn’t he come with you for breakfast?”

Wen Chi: “…”

Everyone else suddenly quieted down, and Zhou Ruoyao, feeling puzzled, looked at Zhou Yunbai, who was giving him an intense look, and asked, “Xiao Bai Jie, what’s wrong?”

Zhou Yunbai: “…”

“It’s nothing, nothing at all.” Tian Yang awkwardly pulled Zhou Ruoyao aside and, with a bright smile, said to Wen Zhengde and Lin Huixiu, “Uncle and Aunt, we won’t disturb you.”

Lin Huixiu smiled and nodded. “Alright.”

Zhou Ruoyao, hearing the words “Uncle and Aunt,” suddenly realized who was sitting across from Wen Chi. His eyes widened in shock. “Uncle and Aunt…?”

Since Wen Zhengde and Lin Huixiu had arrived in the middle of the night, Zhou Ruoyao had not had the chance to meet them yet.

“Hello, Xiao Yao, Xiao Chi has mentioned you to me.” Lin Huixiu smiled gently.

Thinking about what he had just said, Zhou Ruoyao felt like running away, it was so embarrassing. He forced a laugh and said, “Haha, really? Hello Aunt, hello Uncle.”

Tian Yang couldn’t bear to look at Zhou Ruoyao and just pulled him away.

The group quickly arrived and just as quickly left. Huo Yinshi and Qiao Congnan, who had been silent before, waited until they had all left before Huo Yinshi spoke. “They’re really nice to you.”

Wen Chi nodded. “Yeah.”

After Wen Zhengde and Lin Huixiu finished their breakfast, Wen Chi knew it was time for him to be open with them.

Qiao Congnan and Huo Yinshi, seeing that the family wanted to talk, stood up and left. However, Wen Chi’s parents didn’t plan to discuss these matters in public, so they went to Wen Chi’s room afterward.

Wen Chi and Lin Huixiu sat on the edge of the bed, while Wen Zhengde sat in another chair, watching the mother and son.

Lin Huixiu’s voice was gentle as always when speaking to her son. She patted Wen Chi’s head and softly asked, “Are you really okay?”

Wen Chi shook his head. “I’m fine now.”

“Good, as long as you’re really okay.” Lin Huixiu, although not the type to lash out emotionally like some parents would when hearing about their child’s suffering, sighed. “I know you didn’t want your Dad and me to worry, but you don’t have to bear everything alone. If you’re not happy being a star, you can always change careers.”

Although Lin Huixiu had cried and felt distressed after learning about the bullying her son had suffered, she didn’t want Wen Chi to know how shattered she was last night. They were, after all, very much alike in temperament.

Wen Chi smiled slightly. “Being a star isn’t perfect, but it’s not that bad either. I’m not ready to change jobs yet.”

Lin Huixiu looked at him and asked, “Is it because of Mr. Jiang?”

The question finally came.

Wen Chi didn’t avoid Lin Huixiu’s gaze. “No, when I entered the entertainment industry, I didn’t know A-Heng yet.”

When Lin Huixiu heard her son’s affectionate way of referring to Jiang Siheng, she furrowed her brows slightly. “Xiao Chi, you… really want to be with him?”

Due to her sharp intuition as a mother, Lin Huixiu had suspected something ever since she saw Jiang Siheng still in Wen Chi’s room late last night. Even though Jiang Siheng said he was just a friend, the way he looked at Wen Chi didn’t seem like the way a friend would look at someone.

It wasn’t until this morning when she saw them holding hands that she confirmed Jiang Siheng was her son’s lover.

“Yes,” Wen Chi said with certainty. Then, puzzled, he asked Lin Huixiu, “Mom, don’t you like Teacher Jiang?”

After asking, Wen Chi quickly realized that it was impossible for Lin Huixiu to dislike Jiang Siheng, because he had never said anything bad about him in front of his parents.

Lin Huixiu looked at Wen Zhengde, who hadn’t spoken, as if silently asking him to say something.

Wen Zhengde caught his wife’s signal and said to Wen Chi, “Last night, he told us that Xu Yuqing targeted you because of him.”

Wen Chi was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Jiang Siheng to tell his parents the full truth about the cause of everything. He pursed his lips and said, “Although this matter did start because of Jiang Siheng, he’s been the one protecting me from the beginning.”

Lin Huixiu sighed and asked a hypothetical question, “What if we don’t allow you to be with him?”

Wen Chi thought for a moment and said, “Then I’ll try harder to show you his good qualities. Maybe one day, you’ll accept him.”

He paused, then added, “But I don’t know how far this relationship will go.”

What Wen Chi didn’t expect was that the second part of his sentence made his parents exchange looks.

Wen Zhengde said in a half-joking, half-serious tone, “Your Mom and I aren’t really forbidding you from being with him. Why are you being so pessimistic?”

Wen Chi, confused, responded, “But you haven’t said you agree either.”

Wen Zhengde: “…”

Lin Huixiu couldn’t help but laugh and said, “Your Dad and I aren’t unreasonable people. Although I am a bit upset, Mr. Jiang is also one of the victims in this situation. We can’t just treat him as an offender.”

Hearing this, Wen Chi looked at Lin Huixiu, who had rarely shown anger toward him, and couldn’t help but lean over and hug her. “Thank you, Mom.”

Lin Huixiu smiled, her gaze always gentle when looking at her son.

Wen Zhengde snorted and crossed his arms, looking at Wen Chi. “What about me?”

Wen Chi maintained a blank expression, with little emotion, “Oh, thanks, Dad.”

Wen Zhengde was taken aback by Wen Chi’s indifferent tone, both amused and annoyed. “You brat.”

The warm family atmosphere was suddenly interrupted by two knocks on the door. Wen Chi looked toward the door and asked, “Who is it?”

“Xiao Chi, it’s us.” It was Zhou Yunbai’s voice.

Wen Chi got up to open the door and saw not only Zhou Yunbai but also Chen Peizhi and Yao Yiling. He paused for a moment. “What’s going on?”

“We came to say goodbye to you and your parents,” Zhou Yunbai said with a smile.

Wen Chi’s parents, hearing their names mentioned, walked out to see the young group.

Zhou Yunbai waved to Wen Chi’s parents and then continued, “Uncle and Aunt, we’re leaving now.”

Lin Huixiu was surprised. “You’re leaving so soon?”

Yao Yiling replied, “Yes, we still have other work to do.”

“Well, safe travels then.” Lin Huixiu was actually quite fond of these young people, as they were genuinely good to Wen Chi.

Not long after Zhou Yunbai and the others left, Tian Yang and Tong Xian’en came over to say goodbye as well. Normally, they would just announce their departure in the group chat, but since there were elders around, it felt impolite to leave without saying goodbye.

Tong Xian’en glanced at Wen Chi, then at Wen Chi’s parents. He slightly bowed in front of everyone. “Uncle and Aunt, I’m sorry for the way I targeted Wen Chi in the earlier episodes. I apologize to him and to you.”

To be honest, Wen Chi was a little surprised. He looked at Tian Yang, who seemed unsurprised by Tong Xian’en’s apology.

Wen Chi’s parents were also shocked. Lin Huixiu gently patted Tong Xian’en’s arm and smiled, “We understand, and we accept your apology.”

In truth, Tong Xian’en’s targeting hadn’t been harmful, more like child’s play. It didn’t cause Wen Chi any real damage. However, Wen Chi still felt a bit awkward about the apology, so he nodded, “I never disliked you.”

Tong Xian’en was taken aback for a moment, then sighed with relief. “Thank you.”

Tian Yang nudged Tong Xian’en’s shoulder. “Let’s go, or we’ll miss our flight.”

“Alright.”

Wen Chi watched the two leave side by side, deep in thought. Could it be that they’re together now?

…

It was rare for Wen Chi’s parents to go on a trip, and Wen Chi hadn’t planned for them to go back today. He wanted them to stay a few more days at the farmhouse and also show them around Yangyun Island. However, Lin Huixiu and Wen Zhengde were concerned about their shop, and after some thought, they decided to decline. Wen Chi couldn’t do anything about it and had to give up.

Wen Chi walked out of his room and sent a message to Jiang Siheng, asking where he was. After receiving the reply, he paused and turned back to knock on Jiang Siheng’s door.

Footsteps soon sounded from inside, and the door opened. Wen Chi immediately squeezed past Jiang Siheng, rushing into the room, but not forgetting to turn around and say, “Quick, close the door. Don’t let my parents see me in your room.”

Jiang Siheng: “…”

Once the door closed, it gave Wen Chi a small sense of security. He wasn’t worried about his parents coming in. He immediately lay down on the bed, turning to face Jiang Siheng, who was sitting at the edge of the bed. “When are you going back?”

“This afternoon.”

Wen Chi stretched out his hand, and Jiang Siheng, following his lead, pulled him into his lap and held him close.

Wen Chi rested his chin on Jiang Siheng’s shoulder, then replied lazily, “Mm.” After a pause, he casually dropped a “bombshell” in a nonchalant tone. “I just came clean about our relationship to my parents.”

Jiang Siheng was initially stunned, but then he realized that this morning, Wen Chi’s parents had already seen them holding hands. It was hard not to figure out their relationship.

Jiang Siheng hummed in response.

Wen Chi, hearing this response, was slightly dissatisfied. He straightened up to face Jiang Siheng, frowning. “Is that it? Aren’t you curious whether my parents are against it or supporting us?”

Jiang Siheng thought for a moment. “So, are your parents against it or supporting it?”

Wen Chi: “…”

Wen Chi pouted, then leaned back again, muttering, “I knew I shouldn’t have let them agree in the first place.”

Though Wen Chi’s voice wasn’t loud, their close distance made sure Jiang Siheng heard him clearly.

There was no denying that when Jiang Siheng heard Wen Chi say that his parents had accepted their relationship, he felt a sigh of relief in his heart.

A good relationship also needs the recognition and blessings of both families.

A smile danced in Jiang Siheng’s eyes as he gently tilted his head and kissed Wen Chi’s ear. “Well, that won’t work. Once you’ve agreed, there’s no backing out.”