ABOES 93: Still Future-in-Laws

“How the hell could I be with him?!” Chi Xiwen reacted explosively, shooting up from his seat and snapping, “I’d rather be with a dog than with Duan Zhiyan!”

Chi Ling: “……”

Everyone else: “……”

Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan, who had just arrived at the doorway: “……”

The air around the dining table turned deathly silent—so quiet you could probably hear a pin drop.

Chi Ling was completely baffled. He never expected Chi Xiwen’s reaction to be this extreme.

At that moment, Duan Yu and Yu Qiu also noticed that Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan had walked in. Tan Yao, meanwhile, didn’t know what on earth to say.

Thankfully, Grandma Chi was the first to break the silence with a smile. “Oh look, Yunxing and Zhiyan are back.”

Chi Yunxing’s smile was a bit stiff, but he greeted her anyway. “Grandma.”

Chi Xiwen’s face instantly went even darker when he heard Yunxing’s voice. He wasn’t sure if Yunxing had heard what he said just now.

Nervous, he turned back toward them, trying to catch a glimpse of Chi Yunxing’s expression but before he could, he met Duan Zhiyan’s amused gaze.

Chi Xiwen: “……”

Alright. Clearly, they’d heard everything.

Chi Xiwen opened his mouth, trying to explain. “Yunxing, I didn’t mean it like that…”

Before he could finish, Duan Zhiyan interrupted, “Mm, I know. I wouldn’t be with you either,” Then he looked past Chi Xiwen and addressed Chi Ling. “Uncle Chi, there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m already with someone.”

If Chi Yunxing hadn’t already realized that most people present knew about their relationship, he probably would’ve just felt a little shy hearing that but knowing now that everyone did know, he felt too embarrassed to handle it. His ears turned red, and he tightened his grip on the bouquet in his arms.

Chi Ling was momentarily stunned by Duan Zhiyan’s words, but then he gave a good-natured laugh. “Is that so? You’re already with someone? How come you never mentioned it?”

Duan Zhiyan led Chi Yunxing into the room. “We weren’t planning on telling the family just yet but it looks like there was a bit of an accident today.”

In other words—they were kind of forced to say it now.

Chi Ling clearly didn’t catch the subtext. He just frowned and turned to Duan Yu. “That’s a shame. I was hoping our two families could become in-laws.”

Duan Yu was internally screaming. How many more hints do we have to give this man?!

He took a deep breath and finally said, “…Actually, we still can become in-laws.”

Chi Ling had been drinking for a while with Duan Yu. His face and even his neck were flushed red from the alcohol. Hearing that, his eyes lit up. “What do you mean?” he asked with a smile, glancing between Chi Xiwen and Duan Zhiyan. “Don’t tell me things aren’t settled yet?”

Duan Yu cleared his throat. “Well… there’s something we’d like your and Tan Yao’s approval on.”

There was something going on.

Chi Ling suddenly got excited.

These two kids were practically raised under his nose.

He and Tan Yao had long suspected something might be up between them. Why else would they fight every time they met or bicker endlessly if not outright fighting?

They had tried to step in before, but it never helped.

Later, when Duan Zhiyan moved back with Yu Qiu and Duan Yu, Chi Ling thought the two had lost contact but then, when Chi Xiwen started his company, the first artist he signed was Duan Zhiyan.

That was when Chi Ling realized these two had been secretly in touch all along.

What he didn’t understand was—why keep it a secret?

It’s not like the family wouldn’t support them.

Chi Ling had wanted to sit down with Xiwen and tell him he wasn’t against him being with Duan Zhiyan. If he liked him, he should just go for it.

Yet every time this topic came up, Chi Xiwen would get impatient or annoyed. Since he was the type to make his own decisions anyway, Chi Ling didn’t push further.

What he didn’t expect was that he would be waiting all the way until both Chi Xiwen and Duan Zhiyan were nearly thirty before anything happened between them.

Of course he was excited—his son, practically single for thirty years, was finally seeing someone!

This was cause for celebration!

The more he thought about it, the more emotional he got. He even grabbed Duan Yu’s hand and said excitedly, “Old Duan, if this really works out, I might just hand over my company shares as a dowry!”

Duan Yu saw how excited he was and instinctively pulled his hand back.

Then he swallowed nervously and glanced at Duan Zhiyan and Chi Yunxing—only now noticing that his son was still holding Chi Yunxing’s hand!

Duan Yu immediately held his breath and shot Duan Zhiyan with a sharp look.

Let go! Let go of his hand right now!

Your future father-in-law hasn’t even agreed yet, and you’re already holding hands?!

Duan Zhiyan clearly didn’t get the message. Instead, he held Chi Yunxing’s hand and walked right up to Chi Ling.

Chi Ling looked at them curiously as they approached. His attention was soon drawn to the flowers in Chi Yunxing’s arms.

“Yunxing, where are those flowers from?” he asked.

Everyone at the table looked over.

Chi Yunxing was blushing furiously, his ears practically burning.

He took a deep breath and said softly, “Zhiyan Ge gave them to me.”

Only then did Chi Ling look up at Duan Zhiyan—just in time to spot their interlocked hands.

It was winter, and when Chi Yunxing had gone out with Duan Zhiyan, he’d bundled up in a thick coat, scarf, and hat. They were standing close together, and their hands weren’t immediately noticeable.

If they hadn’t walked up to him, Chi Ling might not have seen it at all.

Now that he had, he stared at their joined hands for a long moment before turning to Duan Yu in confusion.

Duan Yu, meanwhile, was panicking, completely at a loss for words. It was Duan Zhiyan who finally spoke—

“Uncle Chi, I’m with Yunxing.”

The words dropped like a bomb. Chi Ling just stood there, stunned, his mind ringing.

What… did he just hear?

Did he hear that right?

While Chi Ling stood there questioning his own sanity, Duan Yu finally came to his senses—thanks to a smack from Yu Qiu.

He abruptly stood up and rushed out of the room.

Tan Yao was confused and about to ask something, but Yu Qiu quickly tugged her hand and shook her head.

Chi Ling watched Duan Yu leave, then saw him return moments later—this time holding a rattan cane in his hand.

Duan Yu slammed the cane down in front of Chi Ling and practically growled through gritted teeth. “Old Chi! I’ll be honest with you—my son has won Yunxing over. I know we should’ve told you earlier, and I get that this is sudden, but they’re together now. So what do you say, should we start discussing the wedding?”

Chi Ling stared blankly at the cane, then looked up at Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan.

“Yunxing?” he asked hoarsely, finally speaking after a long pause. “You mean… Yunxing and Zhiyan are together?”

Duan Yu nodded nervously—more anxious than his own son. “Yes.”

Chi Ling stared at their hands again, silent for a while, then turned to Duan Zhiyan. “Is it true?”

Duan Zhiyan, for once, looked a little nervous. He nodded. “I’m sorry, Uncle Chi. Yunxing and I weren’t ready to tell anyone before, so we kept it quiet. But now…” He gave Yunxing’s hand a light squeeze, and Yunxing smiled back at him. That calmed him down a bit. “Now we’re ready. So we wanted to tell you the truth.”

Chi Ling fell silent.

No one else spoke either except for Chi Xiwen, who let out an annoyed huff.

Chi Ling finally came to his senses, albeit slowly. “Not Xiwen… it’s Yunxing who’s with Zhiyan?”

Duan Yu nodded again. “Exactly. That’s why I said—we’re still future in-laws, right?”

He gave a sheepish laugh, trying to lighten the mood.

Just as he started laughing, Chi Ling let out a cold chuckle.

“In-laws?” he repeated, pointing straight at Duan Yu’s face. “Pah! I’m cutting ties with you! Who the hell is in-laws with you?!”