The Long Road Ahead: C47
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This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)
Xiao Suling looked as though she wanted to head to the grocery store, but at some point, she spotted Xiao Ning. She walked closer to see if she saw him right, and upon realising she wasn't mistaken, she was honest-to-god shocked.
Xiao Ning's head swayed as he nodded, some things were known without the need to be spoken. In the past, Xiao Ning hadn't taken any living expenses or tuition fees from his aunt's house, but this was also due to a tacit understanding on both their parts. Xiao Suling never mentioned how much money Xiao Ning's mother had given to her to care for him, and they both silently agreed matters concerning that money, were something Xiao Ning wouldn't pursue.
She then smiled as she asked, "And this is?"
"Back then, she just threw her son aside and ran away on her own. So many years had passed where she never cared and never asked about you. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, she calls to ask about you. Even I can't imagine what on earth is going through Chen Ying's mind." The blow her words dealt left Xiao Ning broken, and perhaps on account of her pleasure by this sight, Xiao Suling was more enthusiastic as she spoke. "We had no idea where you were all this time, so she didn't ask much else beyond that."
And Xiao Ning was shocked all the same.
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
What am I supposed to do, then?
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
"Make the long story short," Shan Haiming interjected, "We're in a rush."
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
The more she spoke, the more out of character she seemed, and it was because of this that the incredulity on Xiao Ning's face was all the more evident. "Your uncle is at home right now, too, so I'll just hurry to the grocery to buy a few things for us to have a nice meal together, alright?"
Shan Haiming was the one to ask, "Is this your aunt?"
Shan Haiming was the one to ask, "Is this your aunt?"
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
"It's not necessary to go, but my brother probably wishes for us to show up together since it'd be advantageous to him, serving as his foil." Shan Haimng shrugged. "I don't care either way, but I have no intention of having you being used to work in his favour.
"Alright." Shan Haiming dropped the matter, moving to take a sip of the unsweetened mocaccino in front of him. "We should stay in and not go anywhere tomorrow as well. We can just stay at the hotel then head straight for the airport in the afternoon."
His tone was flat, lacking any hint of feeling.
N/A
His tone was flat, lacking any hint of feeling.
"Go if you want to go, or don't you don't want to. It's perfectly alright either way."
Xiao Suling gulped, making her displeasure in bringing up the topic obvious. "Chen... Your mother called me to ask about you."
N/A
That call Shan Haiming received had come right in the nick of time, for Xiao Ning. This matter wasn't one he could conceal when facing Shan Haiming, but it was something he simply wanted to cast aside and ignore.
Xiao Suling gulped, making her displeasure in bringing up the topic obvious. "Chen... Your mother called me to ask about you."
Xiao Ning's head swayed as he nodded, some things were known without the need to be spoken. In the past, Xiao Ning hadn't taken any living expenses or tuition fees from his aunt's house, but this was also due to a tacit understanding on both their parts. Xiao Suling never mentioned how much money Xiao Ning's mother had given to her to care for him, and they both silently agreed matters concerning that money, were something Xiao Ning wouldn't pursue.
It was also a buyout fee for any familial ties between them.
And, of course, with regard to asking any of Xiao Ning's teachers or classmates, which would've given them news of him, was something Xiao Suling had conveniently left out.
Xiao Ning simply felt such a revelation was a bit ridiculous.
Xiao Suling gulped, making her displeasure in bringing up the topic obvious. "Chen... Your mother called me to ask about you."
"When did it all get settled?"
News
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
As far as Xiao Ning was concerned, regardless of what happened between them, Xiao Suling did raise him for a period of time and that money could just be considered payment for her hard work.
Looking at that satisfied guy before him, Xiao Ning instantly understood the feelings of Xiaohei, who got teased every day until his fur stood on end.
And with that, the two turned and left.
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
It was also a buyout fee for any familial ties between them.
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
Xiao Suling now smiled awkwardly before she again spoke, "It... it really has been quite long. Your uncle and cousin ask how you've been doing all the time. We had no idea how you were getting along. How can you be such a kid, huh? Not even keeping in contact with your family."
"Xiao Ning!" Xiao Suling regained her composure and called out to them from behind, "Wait!"
So, now, given his feelings towards this aunt of his were not the kind which could be described as good, he wasn't all that sure what would be the proper thing to say to her right then and there with this impromptu reunion of theirs.
iana: this is why that b!tch didn't get an Auntie. This boy got more kindness from strangers than his relatives. Humph![]Mini note: That 'read the room' bit was the best I could come up with, but the line in literal English is "be more conscious/aware". It's still clunky but...:/
Xiao Suling now smiled awkwardly before she again spoke, "It... it really has been quite long. Your uncle and cousin ask how you've been doing all the time. We had no idea how you were getting along. How can you be such a kid, huh? Not even keeping in contact with your family."
There weren't any feelings left between them, and he believed Xiao Suling would silently comply with his words since she would feel the same way. He never expected Xiao Suling to not follow along with him, and even more so, for her to blurt out enthusiastically: "So what? It's rare for you to come back here, so how about you come back 'home' with me for a bit?"
"Mhm..." Xiao Ning nodded speechlessly as he thought: What kind of trip did this guy come for, huh? We might as well have just stayed at home and gone anywhere.
Shan Haiming was the one to ask, "Is this your aunt?"
He seriously didn't know how to respond to such words, so Xiao Ning said nothing and only smiled while remaining silent. It was actually Shan Haiming who spoke up on his behalf, saying, "I asked him to bring me here for a stroll, so we came here to have a look around."
She then smiled as she asked, "And this is?"
His tone was flat, lacking any hint of feeling.
Xiao Suling noticed Shan Haiming earlier, she couldn't help it, because there were just some people that had an aura about them which was hard to miss. It was as clear as a blue sky this guy had belonged to that category. What's more, he didn't seem to consider himself an outsider to the slightest degree as he spoke on Xiao Ning's behalf to a family member. The relationship between those two should be pretty close, no?
"Xiao Ning!" Xiao Suling regained her composure and called out to them from behind, "Wait!"
"There's an elderly choir, I think?" Xiao Ning replied.
"Today. My dad, mom and brother just finished having dinner with Zixin's parents." Shan Haiming clearly did not care in the slightest about his exclusion from this matter, with him then adding, "They decided to hold it next weekend. Are you going?"
"Alright." Shan Haiming dropped the matter, moving to take a sip of the unsweetened mocaccino in front of him. "We should stay in and not go anywhere tomorrow as well. We can just stay at the hotel then head straight for the airport in the afternoon."
Xiao Suling noticed Shan Haiming earlier, she couldn't help it, because there were just some people that had an aura about them which was hard to miss. It was as clear as a blue sky this guy had belonged to that category. What's more, he didn't seem to consider himself an outsider to the slightest degree as he spoke on Xiao Ning's behalf to a family member. The relationship between those two should be pretty close, no?
"Is it necessary for me to go?" Xiao Ning asked.
Turning her attention back to Xiao Ning once more, although it hadn't seemed as though he had received great success in his career, the quality of the clothes he wore couldn't be considered bad either. And most importantly, his attitude seemed calm, much unlike the nervous expression he had as a child as though something was chasing him. That look from back then seemed to have completely disappeared. Clothes could be worn as a costume, but the feelings a person gives to another weren't something that could be masked. The Xiao Ning before her prompted praise and brought the following line to mind: what a fine-looking man, he seems to be doing pretty well.
Xiao Ning: "..."
N/A
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
Xiao Suling now smiled awkwardly before she again spoke, "It... it really has been quite long. Your uncle and cousin ask how you've been doing all the time. We had no idea how you were getting along. How can you be such a kid, huh? Not even keeping in contact with your family."
◈◇◈
Xiao Suling now felt a complex range of emotions. Life truly is unexpected in a lot of ways, isn't it?
"Back then, she just threw her son aside and ran away on her own. So many years had passed where she never cared and never asked about you. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, she calls to ask about you. Even I can't imagine what on earth is going through Chen Ying's mind." The blow her words dealt left Xiao Ning broken, and perhaps on account of her pleasure by this sight, Xiao Suling was more enthusiastic as she spoke. "We had no idea where you were all this time, so she didn't ask much else beyond that."
She then smiled as she asked, "And this is?"
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
She then smiled as she asked, "And this is?"
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
What am I supposed to do, then?
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
Xiao Ning was still in a stupor by her words, saying nothing in response as yet, so it was Shan Haiming who cocked his head to the side and asked abruptly, "There's a reason you've been looking for Xiao Ning, isn't there?"
Xiao Ning, quite unlike his polite self, wanted to tell her outright it was none of her business, but using courtesy to maintain the distance between them he replied, "A friend. I brought him to C-City for the holiday. Aunt, it looks like you're busy, so we won't delay you any further."
"Alright." Shan Haiming dropped the matter, moving to take a sip of the unsweetened mocaccino in front of him. "We should stay in and not go anywhere tomorrow as well. We can just stay at the hotel then head straight for the airport in the afternoon."
There weren't any feelings left between them, and he believed Xiao Suling would silently comply with his words since she would feel the same way. He never expected Xiao Suling to not follow along with him, and even more so, for her to blurt out enthusiastically: "So what? It's rare for you to come back here, so how about you come back 'home' with me for a bit?"
Truth be told, Xiao Ning never held any hopes of reuniting with Chen Ying. As far as he was concerned, both his mother and father were people he had severed ties with long ago.
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
"Make the long story short," Shan Haiming interjected, "We're in a rush."
Xiao Ning: "..."
"When did it all get settled?"
The more she spoke, the more out of character she seemed, and it was because of this that the incredulity on Xiao Ning's face was all the more evident. "Your uncle is at home right now, too, so I'll just hurry to the grocery to buy a few things for us to have a nice meal together, alright?"
Possibly catching wind of these unspoken criticisms launched towards him, Shan Haiming set down his coffee and reached over to pinch Xiao Ning's cheek. But he had practised this move of his so much that Xiao Ning was able to unconsciously evade him.
"Today. My dad, mom and brother just finished having dinner with Zixin's parents." Shan Haiming clearly did not care in the slightest about his exclusion from this matter, with him then adding, "They decided to hold it next weekend. Are you going?"
After the impact of the blow, Xiao Ning couldn't put into words what exactly it was he was feeling.
Come to think of it, it was from then that his overcautious personality had begun to develop.
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
Xiao Ning was still in a stupor by her words, saying nothing in response as yet, so it was Shan Haiming who cocked his head to the side and asked abruptly, "There's a reason you've been looking for Xiao Ning, isn't there?"
Xiao Ning brought all his thoughts about this matter to a stop, and finally let out a long-held breath. He had no desire to change anything about the life he had at present, so just doing this much was enough.
That was another way the matter between them could be stated.
Shan Haiming's tone carried a distinctive kind of ordinariness, it was neither taunting nor thrilled, it was as though it simply spoke the normally polite phrase "I will be leaving first" and nothing more. Quite frankly, this tone of his threw Xiao Suling off guard for a moment, so she was slow to react just then, while her face to the contrary exploded, in heat.
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
Come to think of it, it was from then that his overcautious personality had begun to develop.
After Shan Haiming hung up the phone, he gave Xiao Ning the news, "My brother and Zixin will be having an engagement ceremony next week."
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
He stayed just like that, with his hand outstretched. He showed no intention of withdrawing and lifted a brow as if to say: read the room.
After Shan Haiming hung up the phone, he gave Xiao Ning the news, "My brother and Zixin will be having an engagement ceremony next week."
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
After being with Shan Haiming for so long, he understood Shan Haiming's greatest merit was that every word he spoke had the highest amount of reliability a word could get. So when he says he doesn't have to go to this function, it really means there was no need for him to go.
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
Xiao Suling looked as though she wanted to head to the grocery store, but at some point, she spotted Xiao Ning. She walked closer to see if she saw him right, and upon realising she wasn't mistaken, she was honest-to-god shocked.
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
Come to think of it, it was from then that his overcautious personality had begun to develop.
Xiao Ning couldn't help it, but a smile curled his lips. He then politely told the woman, "Aunt, we'll be leaving first, then. Send uncle and cousin my regards."
◈◇◈
Shan Haiming's tone carried a distinctive kind of ordinariness, it was neither taunting nor thrilled, it was as though it simply spoke the normally polite phrase "I will be leaving first" and nothing more. Quite frankly, this tone of his threw Xiao Suling off guard for a moment, so she was slow to react just then, while her face to the contrary exploded, in heat.
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
The more she spoke, the more out of character she seemed, and it was because of this that the incredulity on Xiao Ning's face was all the more evident. "Your uncle is at home right now, too, so I'll just hurry to the grocery to buy a few things for us to have a nice meal together, alright?"
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
And Xiao Ning was shocked all the same.
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
Xiao Ning: "..."
Xiao Ning couldn't help it, but a smile curled his lips. He then politely told the woman, "Aunt, we'll be leaving first, then. Send uncle and cousin my regards."
After Shan Haiming hung up the phone, he gave Xiao Ning the news, "My brother and Zixin will be having an engagement ceremony next week."
Xiao Ning was still in a stupor by her words, saying nothing in response as yet, so it was Shan Haiming who cocked his head to the side and asked abruptly, "There's a reason you've been looking for Xiao Ning, isn't there?"
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
And with that, the two turned and left.
"Mhm..." Xiao Ning nodded speechlessly as he thought: What kind of trip did this guy come for, huh? We might as well have just stayed at home and gone anywhere.
"Back then, she just threw her son aside and ran away on her own. So many years had passed where she never cared and never asked about you. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, she calls to ask about you. Even I can't imagine what on earth is going through Chen Ying's mind." The blow her words dealt left Xiao Ning broken, and perhaps on account of her pleasure by this sight, Xiao Suling was more enthusiastic as she spoke. "We had no idea where you were all this time, so she didn't ask much else beyond that."
"Is it necessary for me to go?" Xiao Ning asked.
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
"When did it all get settled?"
Shan Haiming: "..."
iana: this is why that b!tch didn't get an Auntie. This boy got more kindness from strangers than his relatives. Humph![]Mini note: That 'read the room' bit was the best I could come up with, but the line in literal English is "be more conscious/aware". It's still clunky but...:/
And with that, the two turned and left.
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
"There's an elderly choir, I think?" Xiao Ning replied.
And, of course, with regard to asking any of Xiao Ning's teachers or classmates, which would've given them news of him, was something Xiao Suling had conveniently left out.
Xiao Ning couldn't help it, but a smile curled his lips. He then politely told the woman, "Aunt, we'll be leaving first, then. Send uncle and cousin my regards."
Possibly catching wind of these unspoken criticisms launched towards him, Shan Haiming set down his coffee and reached over to pinch Xiao Ning's cheek. But he had practised this move of his so much that Xiao Ning was able to unconsciously evade him.
"Xiao Ning!" Xiao Suling regained her composure and called out to them from behind, "Wait!"
Shan Haiming pulled Xiao Ning by the arm, not sending so much as a glance Xiao Suling's way before turning to leave, their exit blunt. It left Xiao Suling taken aback, so much so, that it took a few seconds before the older woman was left staring at their departing figures boiling over with rage. "How disgustingly insolent... Like mother like son! A pair of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
Mother was a word that was just as unfamiliar to him as the name Chen Ying. Then from as far back as he could remember, the relationship between his parents wasn't good. There were often fights, but more than that there cold wars between them. The young Xia Ning had no idea what a 'cold war' was back then, but he still clearly felt the vacuous frost between them. It was potent enough to always give that young Xiao Ning the ever-present fear of something important being lost.
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
And Xiao Ning was shocked all the same.
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
As far as Xiao Ning was concerned, regardless of what happened between them, Xiao Suling did raise him for a period of time and that money could just be considered payment for her hard work.
So, now, given his feelings towards this aunt of his were not the kind which could be described as good, he wasn't all that sure what would be the proper thing to say to her right then and there with this impromptu reunion of theirs.
So, now, given his feelings towards this aunt of his were not the kind which could be described as good, he wasn't all that sure what would be the proper thing to say to her right then and there with this impromptu reunion of theirs.
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
Xiao Ning then looked to the left and then right, they were in a corner of the shop, and the place was crowded, but everyone was minding their own business, so no one was paying attention to where they were. With a sigh, Xiao Ning bent his body forward slightly, pouting, as he reluctantly moved his face close.
Xiao Suling looked as though she wanted to head to the grocery store, but at some point, she spotted Xiao Ning. She walked closer to see if she saw him right, and upon realising she wasn't mistaken, she was honest-to-god shocked.
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
"Make the long story short," Shan Haiming interjected, "We're in a rush."
After the impact of the blow, Xiao Ning couldn't put into words what exactly it was he was feeling.
Xiao Suling gulped, making her displeasure in bringing up the topic obvious. "Chen... Your mother called me to ask about you."
What am I supposed to do, then?
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
He stayed just like that, with his hand outstretched. He showed no intention of withdrawing and lifted a brow as if to say: read the room.
N/A
N/A
Xiao Suling looked as though she wanted to head to the grocery store, but at some point, she spotted Xiao Ning. She walked closer to see if she saw him right, and upon realising she wasn't mistaken, she was honest-to-god shocked.
What am I supposed to do, then?
"Xiao Ning!" Xiao Suling regained her composure and called out to them from behind, "Wait!"
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
"Back then, she just threw her son aside and ran away on her own. So many years had passed where she never cared and never asked about you. Then all of a sudden, out of the blue, she calls to ask about you. Even I can't imagine what on earth is going through Chen Ying's mind." The blow her words dealt left Xiao Ning broken, and perhaps on account of her pleasure by this sight, Xiao Suling was more enthusiastic as she spoke. "We had no idea where you were all this time, so she didn't ask much else beyond that."
◈◇◈
She failed to mention that the chat with Chen Ying actually had lasted for a quite long time, where the main topic during their conversations was about how hard she and her family had worked to raise Xiao Ning and how much money they had to spend to do so. In short, she yammered on about how they earnestly spent every cent she had given on Xiao Ning, that there was not a dime left. That Xiao Ning had gone to A-City to study after graduating high school and they didn't stay in contact via the phone any more; that even the school refused to tell them where he was, and they had searched diligently for a long time but never found him, so they regrettably had to give up in the end.
Xiao Suling now smiled awkwardly before she again spoke, "It... it really has been quite long. Your uncle and cousin ask how you've been doing all the time. We had no idea how you were getting along. How can you be such a kid, huh? Not even keeping in contact with your family."
Truth be told, Xiao Ning never held any hopes of reuniting with Chen Ying. As far as he was concerned, both his mother and father were people he had severed ties with long ago.
Turning her attention back to Xiao Ning once more, although it hadn't seemed as though he had received great success in his career, the quality of the clothes he wore couldn't be considered bad either. And most importantly, his attitude seemed calm, much unlike the nervous expression he had as a child as though something was chasing him. That look from back then seemed to have completely disappeared. Clothes could be worn as a costume, but the feelings a person gives to another weren't something that could be masked. The Xiao Ning before her prompted praise and brought the following line to mind: what a fine-looking man, he seems to be doing pretty well.
And, of course, with regard to asking any of Xiao Ning's teachers or classmates, which would've given them news of him, was something Xiao Suling had conveniently left out.
Xiao Suling looked as though she wanted to head to the grocery store, but at some point, she spotted Xiao Ning. She walked closer to see if she saw him right, and upon realising she wasn't mistaken, she was honest-to-god shocked.
Xiao Ning, quite unlike his polite self, wanted to tell her outright it was none of her business, but using courtesy to maintain the distance between them he replied, "A friend. I brought him to C-City for the holiday. Aunt, it looks like you're busy, so we won't delay you any further."
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
Possibly catching wind of these unspoken criticisms launched towards him, Shan Haiming set down his coffee and reached over to pinch Xiao Ning's cheek. But he had practised this move of his so much that Xiao Ning was able to unconsciously evade him.
Shan Haiming: "..."
Shan Haiming pulled Xiao Ning by the arm, not sending so much as a glance Xiao Suling's way before turning to leave, their exit blunt. It left Xiao Suling taken aback, so much so, that it took a few seconds before the older woman was left staring at their departing figures boiling over with rage. "How disgustingly insolent... Like mother like son! A pair of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"
"Make the long story short," Shan Haiming interjected, "We're in a rush."
◈◇◈
After the impact of the blow, Xiao Ning couldn't put into words what exactly it was he was feeling.
Can somebody tell me what kind of habits this guy has?
Mother was a word that was just as unfamiliar to him as the name Chen Ying. Then from as far back as he could remember, the relationship between his parents wasn't good. There were often fights, but more than that there cold wars between them. The young Xia Ning had no idea what a 'cold war' was back then, but he still clearly felt the vacuous frost between them. It was potent enough to always give that young Xiao Ning the ever-present fear of something important being lost.
So, now, given his feelings towards this aunt of his were not the kind which could be described as good, he wasn't all that sure what would be the proper thing to say to her right then and there with this impromptu reunion of theirs.
Truth be told, Xiao Ning never held any hopes of reuniting with Chen Ying. As far as he was concerned, both his mother and father were people he had severed ties with long ago.
Xiao Ning: "..."
Xiao Ning was still in a stupor by her words, saying nothing in response as yet, so it was Shan Haiming who cocked his head to the side and asked abruptly, "There's a reason you've been looking for Xiao Ning, isn't there?"
"Today. My dad, mom and brother just finished having dinner with Zixin's parents." Shan Haiming clearly did not care in the slightest about his exclusion from this matter, with him then adding, "They decided to hold it next weekend. Are you going?"
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
Xiao Ning: "..."
Come to think of it, it was from then that his overcautious personality had begun to develop.
Shan Haiming: "..."
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
Truth be told, Xiao Ning never held any hopes of reuniting with Chen Ying. As far as he was concerned, both his mother and father were people he had severed ties with long ago.
Xiao Suling now felt a complex range of emotions. Life truly is unexpected in a lot of ways, isn't it?
"Today. My dad, mom and brother just finished having dinner with Zixin's parents." Shan Haiming clearly did not care in the slightest about his exclusion from this matter, with him then adding, "They decided to hold it next weekend. Are you going?"
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
The more she spoke, the more out of character she seemed, and it was because of this that the incredulity on Xiao Ning's face was all the more evident. "Your uncle is at home right now, too, so I'll just hurry to the grocery to buy a few things for us to have a nice meal together, alright?"
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
N/A
Shan Haiming pulled Xiao Ning by the arm, not sending so much as a glance Xiao Suling's way before turning to leave, their exit blunt. It left Xiao Suling taken aback, so much so, that it took a few seconds before the older woman was left staring at their departing figures boiling over with rage. "How disgustingly insolent... Like mother like son! A pair of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
He seriously didn't know how to respond to such words, so Xiao Ning said nothing and only smiled while remaining silent. It was actually Shan Haiming who spoke up on his behalf, saying, "I asked him to bring me here for a stroll, so we came here to have a look around."
News
Xiao Ning, quite unlike his polite self, wanted to tell her outright it was none of her business, but using courtesy to maintain the distance between them he replied, "A friend. I brought him to C-City for the holiday. Aunt, it looks like you're busy, so we won't delay you any further."
That was another way the matter between them could be stated.
She failed to mention that the chat with Chen Ying actually had lasted for a quite long time, where the main topic during their conversations was about how hard she and her family had worked to raise Xiao Ning and how much money they had to spend to do so. In short, she yammered on about how they earnestly spent every cent she had given on Xiao Ning, that there was not a dime left. That Xiao Ning had gone to A-City to study after graduating high school and they didn't stay in contact via the phone any more; that even the school refused to tell them where he was, and they had searched diligently for a long time but never found him, so they regrettably had to give up in the end.
"Alright." Shan Haiming dropped the matter, moving to take a sip of the unsweetened mocaccino in front of him. "We should stay in and not go anywhere tomorrow as well. We can just stay at the hotel then head straight for the airport in the afternoon."
After being with Shan Haiming for so long, he understood Shan Haiming's greatest merit was that every word he spoke had the highest amount of reliability a word could get. So when he says he doesn't have to go to this function, it really means there was no need for him to go.
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
Xiao Ning simply felt such a revelation was a bit ridiculous.
"It's not necessary to go, but my brother probably wishes for us to show up together since it'd be advantageous to him, serving as his foil." Shan Haimng shrugged. "I don't care either way, but I have no intention of having you being used to work in his favour.
What am I supposed to do, then?
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
What am I supposed to do, then?
Xiao Ning: "..."
Possibly catching wind of these unspoken criticisms launched towards him, Shan Haiming set down his coffee and reached over to pinch Xiao Ning's cheek. But he had practised this move of his so much that Xiao Ning was able to unconsciously evade him.
What am I supposed to do, then?
"Xiao Ning!" Xiao Suling regained her composure and called out to them from behind, "Wait!"
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
Xiao Suling now smiled awkwardly before she again spoke, "It... it really has been quite long. Your uncle and cousin ask how you've been doing all the time. We had no idea how you were getting along. How can you be such a kid, huh? Not even keeping in contact with your family."
What am I supposed to do, then?
Xiao Ning brought all his thoughts about this matter to a stop, and finally let out a long-held breath. He had no desire to change anything about the life he had at present, so just doing this much was enough.
As far as Xiao Ning was concerned, regardless of what happened between them, Xiao Suling did raise him for a period of time and that money could just be considered payment for her hard work.
Shan Haiming was currently on the phone opposite him, and because of the unforeseen incident earlier, the part visit was off the table and a trip to another scenic spot not far away from there had taken its place. Now, they were sitting in a cafe, ordering a cup of coffee each.
"Go if you want to go, or don't you don't want to. It's perfectly alright either way."
What am I supposed to do, then?
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
Xiao Suling now felt a complex range of emotions. Life truly is unexpected in a lot of ways, isn't it?
That call Shan Haiming received had come right in the nick of time, for Xiao Ning. This matter wasn't one he could conceal when facing Shan Haiming, but it was something he simply wanted to cast aside and ignore.
Xiao Ning simply felt such a revelation was a bit ridiculous.
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
Truth be told, Xiao Ning never held any hopes of reuniting with Chen Ying. As far as he was concerned, both his mother and father were people he had severed ties with long ago.
Shan Haiming's tone carried a distinctive kind of ordinariness, it was neither taunting nor thrilled, it was as though it simply spoke the normally polite phrase "I will be leaving first" and nothing more. Quite frankly, this tone of his threw Xiao Suling off guard for a moment, so she was slow to react just then, while her face to the contrary exploded, in heat.
There weren't any feelings left between them, and he believed Xiao Suling would silently comply with his words since she would feel the same way. He never expected Xiao Suling to not follow along with him, and even more so, for her to blurt out enthusiastically: "So what? It's rare for you to come back here, so how about you come back 'home' with me for a bit?"
After Shan Haiming hung up the phone, he gave Xiao Ning the news, "My brother and Zixin will be having an engagement ceremony next week."
Shan Haiming was currently on the phone opposite him, and because of the unforeseen incident earlier, the part visit was off the table and a trip to another scenic spot not far away from there had taken its place. Now, they were sitting in a cafe, ordering a cup of coffee each.
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
After the impact of the blow, Xiao Ning couldn't put into words what exactly it was he was feeling.
Shan Haiming pulled Xiao Ning by the arm, not sending so much as a glance Xiao Suling's way before turning to leave, their exit blunt. It left Xiao Suling taken aback, so much so, that it took a few seconds before the older woman was left staring at their departing figures boiling over with rage. "How disgustingly insolent... Like mother like son! A pair of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"
Truth be told, Xiao Ning never held any hopes of reuniting with Chen Ying. As far as he was concerned, both his mother and father were people he had severed ties with long ago.
"An engagement ceremony?" Something else became the topic at hand and Xiao Ning felt his spirit refreshed. He was neither surprised nor unsurprised by Shan Haihiong and Ye Zixin's success with this matter. Because matters between those two involve a lot of inner workings that were far from the usual and much simpler: 'I like you' or 'Do you like me or not?'
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
"When did it all get settled?"
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
As they walked side by side, Shan Haiming asked Xiao Ning, "Is there anything interesting at that park?"
Xiao Suling gulped, making her displeasure in bringing up the topic obvious. "Chen... Your mother called me to ask about you."
"Today. My dad, mom and brother just finished having dinner with Zixin's parents." Shan Haiming clearly did not care in the slightest about his exclusion from this matter, with him then adding, "They decided to hold it next weekend. Are you going?"
And Xiao Ning was shocked all the same.
"Is it necessary for me to go?" Xiao Ning asked.
Shan Haiming's tone carried a distinctive kind of ordinariness, it was neither taunting nor thrilled, it was as though it simply spoke the normally polite phrase "I will be leaving first" and nothing more. Quite frankly, this tone of his threw Xiao Suling off guard for a moment, so she was slow to react just then, while her face to the contrary exploded, in heat.
Xiao Ning simply felt such a revelation was a bit ridiculous.
His tone was flat, lacking any hint of feeling.
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
"An engagement ceremony?" Something else became the topic at hand and Xiao Ning felt his spirit refreshed. He was neither surprised nor unsurprised by Shan Haihiong and Ye Zixin's success with this matter. Because matters between those two involve a lot of inner workings that were far from the usual and much simpler: 'I like you' or 'Do you like me or not?'
"It's not necessary to go, but my brother probably wishes for us to show up together since it'd be advantageous to him, serving as his foil." Shan Haimng shrugged. "I don't care either way, but I have no intention of having you being used to work in his favour.
"Xiao Ning!" Xiao Suling regained her composure and called out to them from behind, "Wait!"
The more she spoke, the more out of character she seemed, and it was because of this that the incredulity on Xiao Ning's face was all the more evident. "Your uncle is at home right now, too, so I'll just hurry to the grocery to buy a few things for us to have a nice meal together, alright?"
Xiao Ning really didn't want to go either, and thanks to Shan Haiming, he had developed the ability to answer honestly. "Then, I'm not going."
"Go if you want to go, or don't you don't want to. It's perfectly alright either way."
Xiao Ning couldn't help it, but a smile curled his lips. He then politely told the woman, "Aunt, we'll be leaving first, then. Send uncle and cousin my regards."
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
"It's not necessary to go, but my brother probably wishes for us to show up together since it'd be advantageous to him, serving as his foil." Shan Haimng shrugged. "I don't care either way, but I have no intention of having you being used to work in his favour.
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
Xiao Ning simply felt such a revelation was a bit ridiculous.
What am I supposed to do, then?
After being with Shan Haiming for so long, he understood Shan Haiming's greatest merit was that every word he spoke had the highest amount of reliability a word could get. So when he says he doesn't have to go to this function, it really means there was no need for him to go.
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
He has no interest in going to such a banquet himself, but if Shan Haiming needs him to accompany him... It was too complex a matter so Xiao Ning figured it was easier to ask Shan Haiming directly instead.
She then smiled as she asked, "And this is?"
Xiao Ning really didn't want to go either, and thanks to Shan Haiming, he had developed the ability to answer honestly. "Then, I'm not going."
He was aware that Xiao Suling lived right across the road, but running into her with no prior warning struck him with one hell of a blow.
"Since there's nothing, we'll be leaving first." Shan Haiming patted Xiao Ning on the shoulder then half turned to Xiao Suling, nodding. "There's no need to mind us, there's nothing more to say."
Come to think of it, it was from then that his overcautious personality had begun to develop.
"Alright." Shan Haiming dropped the matter, moving to take a sip of the unsweetened mocaccino in front of him. "We should stay in and not go anywhere tomorrow as well. We can just stay at the hotel then head straight for the airport in the afternoon."
"There's an elderly choir, I think?" Xiao Ning replied.
"Mhm..." Xiao Ning nodded speechlessly as he thought: What kind of trip did this guy come for, huh? We might as well have just stayed at home and gone anywhere.
Xiao Ning, quite unlike his polite self, wanted to tell her outright it was none of her business, but using courtesy to maintain the distance between them he replied, "A friend. I brought him to C-City for the holiday. Aunt, it looks like you're busy, so we won't delay you any further."
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
Possibly catching wind of these unspoken criticisms launched towards him, Shan Haiming set down his coffee and reached over to pinch Xiao Ning's cheek. But he had practised this move of his so much that Xiao Ning was able to unconsciously evade him.
That was another way the matter between them could be stated.
Come to think of it, it was from then that his overcautious personality had begun to develop.
And Xiao Ning was shocked all the same.
There weren't any feelings left between them, and he believed Xiao Suling would silently comply with his words since she would feel the same way. He never expected Xiao Suling to not follow along with him, and even more so, for her to blurt out enthusiastically: "So what? It's rare for you to come back here, so how about you come back 'home' with me for a bit?"
She then smiled as she asked, "And this is?"
Xiao Ning: "..."
Xiao Ning really didn't want to go either, and thanks to Shan Haiming, he had developed the ability to answer honestly. "Then, I'm not going."
Xiao Suling grimaced as she looked at him and then at Shan Haiming, seeming embarrassed and unwilling to say what she intended. "Yes, there is something else I need to tell you."
It was a question that made the other two simultaneously stunned, but it was only Xiao Suling's face that turned unsightly. "What other reason could there be, huh? We're just family that haven't seen each other in so long. So if we finally got a chance to meet up after all that trouble, it's only natural that we must have a get-together. Xiao Ning, your friend is..."
Shan Haiming: "..."
Shan Haiming then picked the cheek right next to his fingers then withdrew his hand with a look that said: now, that's what I'm talking about.
Xiao Suling looked as though she wanted to head to the grocery store, but at some point, she spotted Xiao Ning. She walked closer to see if she saw him right, and upon realising she wasn't mistaken, she was honest-to-god shocked.
So, now, given his feelings towards this aunt of his were not the kind which could be described as good, he wasn't all that sure what would be the proper thing to say to her right then and there with this impromptu reunion of theirs.
"There's an elderly choir, I think?" Xiao Ning replied.
Shan Haiming: "..."
He stayed just like that, with his hand outstretched. He showed no intention of withdrawing and lifted a brow as if to say: read the room.
His tone was flat, lacking any hint of feeling.
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
They were people who had nothing to do with him.
Xiao Ning took one last step before stopping in his tracks and turning to look at her. "Aunt? Is there something else?"
After Shan Haiming hung up the phone, he gave Xiao Ning the news, "My brother and Zixin will be having an engagement ceremony next week."
She failed to mention that the chat with Chen Ying actually had lasted for a quite long time, where the main topic during their conversations was about how hard she and her family had worked to raise Xiao Ning and how much money they had to spend to do so. In short, she yammered on about how they earnestly spent every cent she had given on Xiao Ning, that there was not a dime left. That Xiao Ning had gone to A-City to study after graduating high school and they didn't stay in contact via the phone any more; that even the school refused to tell them where he was, and they had searched diligently for a long time but never found him, so they regrettably had to give up in the end.
She failed to mention that the chat with Chen Ying actually had lasted for a quite long time, where the main topic during their conversations was about how hard she and her family had worked to raise Xiao Ning and how much money they had to spend to do so. In short, she yammered on about how they earnestly spent every cent she had given on Xiao Ning, that there was not a dime left. That Xiao Ning had gone to A-City to study after graduating high school and they didn't stay in contact via the phone any more; that even the school refused to tell them where he was, and they had searched diligently for a long time but never found him, so they regrettably had to give up in the end.
Xiao Ning: "..."
"Today. My dad, mom and brother just finished having dinner with Zixin's parents." Shan Haiming clearly did not care in the slightest about his exclusion from this matter, with him then adding, "They decided to hold it next weekend. Are you going?"
"Make the long story short," Shan Haiming interjected, "We're in a rush."
◈◇◈
Xiao Ning then looked to the left and then right, they were in a corner of the shop, and the place was crowded, but everyone was minding their own business, so no one was paying attention to where they were. With a sigh, Xiao Ning bent his body forward slightly, pouting, as he reluctantly moved his face close.
Xiao Suling noticed Shan Haiming earlier, she couldn't help it, because there were just some people that had an aura about them which was hard to miss. It was as clear as a blue sky this guy had belonged to that category. What's more, he didn't seem to consider himself an outsider to the slightest degree as he spoke on Xiao Ning's behalf to a family member. The relationship between those two should be pretty close, no?
After the impact of the blow, Xiao Ning couldn't put into words what exactly it was he was feeling.
Shan Haiming pulled Xiao Ning by the arm, not sending so much as a glance Xiao Suling's way before turning to leave, their exit blunt. It left Xiao Suling taken aback, so much so, that it took a few seconds before the older woman was left staring at their departing figures boiling over with rage. "How disgustingly insolent... Like mother like son! A pair of ungrateful white-eyed wolves!"
Shan Haiming then picked the cheek right next to his fingers then withdrew his hand with a look that said: now, that's what I'm talking about.
"When did it all get settled?"
So, now, with him suddenly being told Chen Ying had inquired about him.
What am I supposed to do, then?
And Xiao Ning was shocked all the same.
Xiao Ning: "..."
Can somebody tell me what kind of habits this guy has?
And with that, the two turned and left.
Looking at that satisfied guy before him, Xiao Ning instantly understood the feelings of Xiaohei, who got teased every day until his fur stood on end.
Xiao Ning was still in a stupor by her words, saying nothing in response as yet, so it was Shan Haiming who cocked his head to the side and asked abruptly, "There's a reason you've been looking for Xiao Ning, isn't there?"
iana: this is why that b!tch didn't get an Auntie. This boy got more kindness from strangers than his relatives. Humph![]Mini note: That 'read the room' bit was the best I could come up with, but the line in literal English is "be more conscious/aware". It's still clunky but...:/
Xiao Ning couldn't help it, but a smile curled his lips. He then politely told the woman, "Aunt, we'll be leaving first, then. Send uncle and cousin my regards."
Her words were like a hammer, ones that nailed Xiao Ning in place, and tossed his mind into a frenzy.
Xiao Suling now smiled awkwardly before she again spoke, "It... it really has been quite long. Your uncle and cousin ask how you've been doing all the time. We had no idea how you were getting along. How can you be such a kid, huh? Not even keeping in contact with your family."
Author's Note:
Notes:
Mini note: That 'read the room' bit was the best I could come up with, but the line in literal English is "be more conscious/aware". It's still clunky but...:/
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