ABOES 95: A Simple Request

“We haven’t sparred in a long time, have we?” Chi Ling said coolly.

Duan Yu instantly knew what he meant, and his face darkened. “You mean…”

“Are you coming or not?” Chi Ling’s face was stormy.

At that point, everyone else finally realized what was going on.

Tan Yao spoke up first. “Why do you need to spar all of a sudden?” She immediately shot Yu Qiu a look. The two men weren’t young anymore—what were they doing trying to act like they were still in their twenties?

Chi Yunxing was just as shocked. “Dad… Isn’t this a bit much?”

Sparring? Really?

He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This reaction from Chi Ling was just like his older brother Chi Xiwen’s—not a word of disagreement, just a physical solution.

Yu Qiu caught Tan Yao’s glance but didn’t immediately intervene. Instead, her eyes drifted over to Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan. Inwardly, she thought that maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea.

After all, their precious Yunxing had been “snatched” by Duan Zhiyan. As Zhiyan’s father, Duan Yu ought to do something to make up for it.

Tan Yao, seeing that Yu Qiu hadn’t said anything, looked to Grandma Chi.

Unexpectedly, Grandma Chi pondered for a moment and then nodded in approval. “You two can spar if you must but don’t go too hard on each other. You’re not young anymore. Things aren’t like they were back in the day.”

The only one left completely clueless was Duan Yu.

He hadn’t even agreed yet, and suddenly he was being volunteered for a beatdown?

He turned to Yu Qiu, utterly wronged. She gave him a big encouraging smile and even flashed him a thumbs-up.

Duan Yu: “…”

His chest felt tight. He turned to his son.

Duan Zhiyan was still standing beside Chi Yunxing, head lowered, looking complicated and unreadable. When he noticed Duan Yu’s gaze, he looked up and gave him a faintly apologetic look, followed by a quiet, “Thanks, Dad.”

Duan Yu: “…”

Thanks my ass.

Wait, that sounded wrong.

Duan Yu’s liver ached with frustration but then he thought—his son had never asked him for anything growing up. This was the first time.

Looking at Chi Yunxing, his hand tightly intertwined with Duan Zhiyan’s… well, if taking a beating meant gaining another son, maybe it wasn’t such a bad trade after all?

He took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself, and asked Chi Ling, “So… how do you want to fight?”

Chi Ling’s eyes darkened. “You still have those boxing gloves you collected years ago?”

So you’re really not planning to hold back?

Duan Yu wailed internally but whatever—he braced himself. “They’re in my study. Let’s go to the training room?”

Back in the day, both Duan Yu and Chi Ling had been fitness buffs, so the house was equipped with a large gym, including a full-size boxing ring.

They used to spar occasionally for fun, never going too hard.

But today…

Duan Yu glanced at Chi Ling again. Chi Ling noticed and gave a cold snort. “You haven’t skipped your workouts these past years, right?”

Duan Yu winced. He now understood—Chi Ling had no intention of holding back.

Thank god he’d kept up with his fitness. Otherwise, he might not survive this with his aging bones.

“Let’s go upstairs,” Duan Yu agreed.

As the two men headed up, Tan Yao panicked.

“Chi Ling!” she called.

Chi Yunxing also stepped forward. “Dad!”

Chi Ling paused, glanced at Tan Yao, then at Chi Yunxing, and said stiffly, “Don’t worry about it.” Then, not forgetting to reassure them, added, “Relax, nothing serious. I know what I’m doing.”

Chi Yunxing couldn’t help but hurry after him.

Chi Ling heard the footsteps, turned to see his son, and stopped. After thinking for a moment, he walked over and gently patted Chi Yunxing’s shoulder with his broad, steady hand.

“Don’t worry. Just loosening up a bit. Once I’m back, everything’ll be fine.”

Chi Yunxing froze for a second, but before he could reply, Chi Ling had turned and continued upstairs with Duan Yu.

Tan Yao wanted to follow but was stopped by Grandma Chi.

“It’s fine, Yao Yao. Don’t worry.”

Tan Yao hesitated. “Mom…”

“He needs to let off steam somehow,” Grandma Chi said. “If he bottles it all up and ends up taking a swing at Zhiyan one day, what then?”

Then she turned to Duan Zhiyan and said, “Zhiyan, take Yunxing out for a walk.”

Knowing Chi Yunxing was worried, Duan Zhiyan walked over and asked softly, “Want me to go to the training room with you?”

Chi Yunxing frowned slightly, then realized why his father had taken that moment to reassure him. It wasn’t just a message, it was a subtle way of telling him not to worry or overthink it.

When Dad said everything would be fine when he came back… it meant exactly that.

Chi Yunxing closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.

“No, let them handle it,” he said, pressing his lips together.

Duan Zhiyan let out a barely noticeable breath of relief and offered, “Want to check out my room?”

Chi Yunxing definitely needed a distraction. He nodded.

Seeing the two head off, Yu Qiu finally said, “Don’t worry, Yao Yao. Old Chi and Old Duan aren’t the type to lose control. After all…” She glanced toward the backs of Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan with a soft smile. “Old Chi still cares deeply for those two kids.”

That’s why, even angry as he was, he never lashed out at Duan Zhiyan—only at Duan Yu.

Tan Yao understood that perfectly well, but she couldn’t help worrying.

“They’re not young anymore, you know…” she sighed, then added, “By the way, is your family doctor around?”

Yu Qiu thought for a moment—definitely necessary. Even if the fight didn’t get out of hand, injuries were bound to happen. She quickly had the butler call for the doctor.

…

The spar didn’t take too long. About an hour later, the two men returned downstairs in fresh clothes.

Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan were still upstairs. When they heard the commotion, Chi Yunxing rushed down, forgetting all about exploring Duan Zhiyan’s room.

Downstairs, Tan Yao was fussing over Chi Ling, scanning him head to toe. “You okay?”

She glanced over at Duan Yu. “Old Duan, how about you?”

Duan Yu opened his mouth to say he was fine but just the motion tugged at the cut on his lip. He hissed in pain and said nothing, only looked pathetically at Yu Qiu.

Yu Qiu looked at him—amused and a little heartbroken. She quickly waved over the two family doctors who had been standing by to examine them both.

Chi Yunxing and Duan Zhiyan came downstairs just as one doctor finished checking Chi Ling.

“He’s fine,” the doctor said. “Just a light wrist sprain. It should heal without medicine, but I can prescribe a salve if you’re worried.”

Chi Yunxing let out a breath of relief.

Duan Yu, on the other hand, didn’t fare so well.

His lip was busted, his foot twisted, and he was now limping. The doctor was in the middle of adjusting his bones.

Duan Zhiyan had just leaned over when Duan Yu let out a loud howl.

More chaos ensued.

Once Duan Yu’s injuries were treated, Chi Ling stood up and said it was time to head back.

This time, no one stopped him.

Duan Yu stayed collapsed on the couch, lazily waving. “Then I won’t see you off. Aunt Liu, take care.”

Grandma Chi looked at him slumped on the couch and chuckled. She walked over and patted his shoulder. “You did well.”

Duan Yu perked up, winked at her, and whispered, “Aunt Liu, do you think it worked?”

She gave a knowing snort. “Don’t you already know the answer?”

Duan Yu beamed. “Then that beating was worth it. Soon, Yunxing will be calling me ‘Dad’!”

Even though he whispered it, Chi Ling still heard.

“Get lost!” Chi Ling glared. “You haven’t even paid the betrothal fee. Keep dreaming!”

Even though he still wore a sour face, the fact that he brought up the bride price made everything clear—Chi Ling had accepted it.

Chi Yunxing couldn’t stop the smile at the corners of his lips. Duan Zhiyan, too, felt his grip tighten around Chi Yunxing’s hand.

Now all that was left was a proposal and a wedding.

Yu Qiu walked them to the door and said with a smile, “Drive safe. We’ll come by again for New Year’s Eve dinner!”

Chi Ling’s mood had clearly improved. He nodded and even reminded them to come early.

The shift in his attitude was so dramatic that Chi Yunxing was both surprised and quietly thrilled.

Duan Zhiyan walked them to the gate too. Seizing a moment when no one was looking, he leaned in and gave Chi Yunxing a quick kiss on the corner of his lips.

“Message me if anything comes up,” he murmured.

Chi Yunxing was caught off guard by how bold he was. He quickly looked around. Seeing no one was watching, he finally relaxed.

“I will. Go back inside—it’s cold.” He got into the car and waved.

Since both Chi Ling and Chi Xiwen had been drinking, Chi Yunxing drove them home.

Duan Zhiyan and Yu Qiu stood there until the car slowly disappeared. Then they turned and walked back into the house together.

Yu Qiu glanced at her grinning son and scoffed lightly, “Satisfied?”

Meeting her eyes, Duan Zhiyan no longer hid his happiness. He shook his head and smiled. “Not yet. We’ve only just told the parents.”

What he really wanted was for Chi Yunxing to be his—completely, truly his.

Now that both families had given their blessing, everything else would fall into place.

Of course Yu Qiu knew exactly what he was thinking.

She smiled. “Alright. Your dad and I already have the engagement gifts prepared. Just say the word, and we’ll be at their door to propose.”

Duan Zhiyan’s heart warmed. “Thanks, Mom.”

Yu Qiu had just stepped inside when she heard that. She glanced at Duan Yu still lying on the couch and added with a grin, “Well, you should really be thanking your dad. He made the biggest sacrifice.”

Duan Zhiyan followed her gaze and met Duan Yu’s haunted eyes.

Duan Yu muttered, “Damn right I did…”

He was old enough to be retired and still got thrashed in the ring. Just to please Chi Ling, he hadn’t even dared fight back.

Now he couldn’t walk straight for half a month, he’d be limping through the whole New Year.

He’d thought maybe Chi Ling would take it easy on him but that had been wishful thinking.

Chi Ling had been genuinely furious about his baby boy getting “stolen,” and he hadn’t held back one bit.

Thankfully, the rage didn’t last long. Once he’d vented enough, the match turned into something closer to friendly sparring.

They tired out eventually and stopped naturally.

Before showering, Chi Ling looked at Duan Yu and said one thing.

“Old Duan, don’t let Yunxing suffer again. He’s already been through too much.”

That hit Duan Yu hard. Without hesitation, he replied firmly.

“Don’t worry. Whether it’s me, Yu Qiu, or Zhiyan—we’ll never let Yunxing suffer again.”

“I promise.”

Only then did Chi Ling turn and head into the guest bathroom.

Just before the door shut, his voice floated out—

“That’s good.”

As parents, they had only one simple request:

So as long as Yunxing was happy and doing well, their hearts would be at peace.