Chapter 78 – Cut Off
When the child finished everything, Cheng Ming went to pick him up.
With a gentle and fatherly demeanor, he distributed red envelopes to the coach and team members.
It means, “I’ll take the person away first.”
Cheng Che reluctantly glanced at Lin Xingling, his eyes seemingly seeking help.
To speak or not to speak, he himself had no idea.
He wanted to leave the decision to Lin Xingling, but unfortunately, that guy couldn’t grasp his point at all.
Lin Xingling: “Take care, take care.”
“Remember to check your phone messages,” Cheng Che helplessly instructed before getting into his father’s car.
They remained silent throughout the journey.
Until they got off the car and approached the doorstep of their house, Cheng Che suddenly asked about his own sister.
I won’t accept it, but…I should still meet her.
Cheng Ming said, “I promised you, and I haven’t changed my mind.”
His father had promised that he wouldn’t have any other children…and when Cheng Che saw that so-called sister who looked so much like him, he accepted that his father’s words were indeed true.
Because it was just a cat.
A Maine Coon with blue eyes and white fur.
Yes, if he had a sister in this life, then he should have had one in the previous life too; and his information from the previous life always indicated that he was an only child. If he really had a sister, how could she have gone three years without being registered?
The white cat squatted on his lap, rubbing its furry little head against his thigh. It seemed to really like him.
The woman nervously looked at Cheng Che and after a while, she pursed her lips and said softly, “My sister’s name is… Jiao Jiao.”
Cheng Ming added, “Bai Jiao, that’s her nickname.”
…Just like his marriage with the woman, having children was impossible due to his own physical problems.
“Jiao Jiao…” Cheng Che was speechless.
“Yeah… Che Che…”
“…Do you want some juice? I’ll go get it.”
Cheng Ming waved his hand and let her go.
The woman went to the kitchen happily as if she had received a pardon.
Cheng Ming petted the cat, his expression blank.
The cat was well-behaved…the woman didn’t seem to have any ulterior motives as he had suspected. She was like an ordinary and shy housewife, kind and fragile, unsure of what to do in front of her stepson.
It made him feel like the bad person in their lives.
“I watched your competition…you played well.”
Cheng Ming sighed and asked, “If you win the championship this time, will you still continue?”
Bringing someone back was for the purpose of grooming a successor.
“We’ll continue,” Cheng Che gently placed his tender white hand on the cat’s back, looking at the cat’s fur that seemed even softer than white satin.
Grooming a successor could be put on hold.
“Okay…by the way, that captain of your team…”
There were rumors online claiming that his son was in a relationship with the captain, but their team had not been in a hurry to debunk them…Cheng Ming was very concerned about this.
Cheng Che could inherit the family business a little later, but he couldn’t…
If he liked men, then it would be over.
The captain…what else could he ask about the captain?
Weren’t those online rumors both true and false, saying that they were together, saying that they were just friends?
Sooner or later, he would have to let him know, and Cheng Che didn’t beat around the bush: “I’m with him…together.”
“Clang—“
The sound of cups and plates falling to the ground.
The woman panicked and picked up the things on the floor, apologizing repeatedly.
Cheng Ming frowned but refrained from losing his temper out of consideration for his wife’s face.
He just shook his head and said, “You’re young and don’t understand anything. It’s easy to be deceived…there are too many malicious people in this world.”
Malicious? Cheng Che didn’t argue.
If Lin Xingling was still considered malicious, then everyone in the world would be ill-intentioned.
“Please…unfreeze the money my mother left me. I…I’ll handle this myself.”
Cheng Che sent a message to Lin Xingling:
[DCT-Clear: Come pick me up.]
The other party replied instantly:
[DCT-Stars: Actually, I’m already at the entrance of your residential area.]
Idiot…it’s such a cold day…
[DCT-Clear: I’ll try to come over as soon as possible.]
…
“Che Che, be obedient…”
Over the years, the child had suffered a lot because of his willfulness, and as a father, he wanted him to understand it himself, so he didn’t interfere much.
But now he couldn’t just watch him go astray.
Cheng Che shook his head expressionlessly.
“I’ve made up my mind to be with him.”
The relationship between father and son is ordinary, almost devoid of that warm familial bond.
When Cheng Che, at the age of twelve, saw his father with another woman, that sense of closeness disappeared without a trace, replaced by deep disappointment.
Cheng Che is not a saint. At that time, as a child, he simply felt that his father was unfaithful… Now that he has grown up, he no longer thinks that way, but still cannot become close to Cheng Ming.
Even on his eighteenth birthday, he didn’t come back.
… Not even for a glance.
Cheng Ming prepared a house and a car for him, but there was no chance to give them.
…
The atmosphere in the living room dropped to freezing point.
After a long silence, Cheng Ming sighed.
“I can unfreeze the bank card your mother left, but the condition is that you have to think carefully.”
“Think about what?” Cheng Che narrowed his eyes.
The cat in his arms sensed his change in mood and quickly struggled to jump out, landing steadily on the floor.
Cheng Ming said, “I promised you that I wouldn’t have another child, and you promised me…”
His words were interrupted by Cheng Che’s response, “That’s not true.”
“You should think about your future… I’ve checked his background. His family is ordinary, his education is average, and what will he do after retiring from his career… Can he bring you happiness in the future?”
“Not to mention the fact that he’s a man, how much discrimination will you face if you’re together?”
“What if the worst outcome is that he just wants to play around? What will you do after you break up? How will you continue living?”
Cheng Che didn’t look at him and sent a message to Lin Xingling:
[DCT-Clear: Miss you.]
“Cheng Che! You’re only eighteen!”
After saying this, all of Cheng Ming’s mental defenses collapsed. He was so angry that his teeth were chattering, and he clenched his back molars.
The woman hurriedly came over to calm him down, while on the other side, knowing that she had no qualifications but still wanting to offer advice, she said, “Good child, listen to your father.”
“Meow~~~”
The cat stretched and let out a long meow, lazily.
[DCT-Stars: Have a good talk with your dad.]
[DCT-Clear: ?]
[DCT-Stars: Have a good talk with your dad. I’m not in a hurry. There’s a sweet potato stand here, the roasted sweet potatoes are delicious.]
[DCT-Clear: ……]
You’re still thinking about eating roasted sweet potatoes at a time like this, you really have a big heart.
[DCT-Stars: Are you eating?]
[DCT-Clear: Yes.]
In this vast world, eating is the most important thing.
…After a while, Cheng Ming gritted his teeth and asked, “One last time, are you breaking up or not?”
Cheng Che said, “Breaking up.”
If he asks again, the father-son relationship will be severed.
The father didn’t react for a while, but when he did, he was almost infuriated.
“Cheng Che, oh Cheng Che, you really have your own way. Have you ever thought about how sad your mother would be if she knew…”
“You’re not qualified to mention my mother!”
Like a small dragon whose reverse scale was touched, Cheng Che exploded.
“I’m leaving these words here. Unfreeze the bank card. I’ll handle my own affairs. Let’s part ways.”
…
Cheng Ming felt like his world had collapsed.
He had hoped to communicate with his rebellious son, to use love to influence him, but he hadn’t expected to almost give himself high blood pressure from anger.
His son was with another man.
His son wanted to use the bank card his mother had left behind.
His son even wanted to sever their relationship.
Now, the 18th birthday gift wasn’t given to him, but instead, it successfully ignited the child’s hatred.
Toward him and toward his mother’s memory.
“I’m such a failure…”
Cheng Ming pounded the sofa cushion beneath him.
Qin Xiaowan… you gave birth to a good son.
“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry.”
…
The woman’s persuasive words, appealing to emotion and reason, did make some sense, but it was difficult to accept at the moment.
He had to think carefully.
…Even if Cheng Che was with a man, he could still inherit the family business.
Moreover, the child liked him.
Cheng Ming was not an unreasonable and narrow-minded father.
He just…
When Cheng Che went out, Lin Xingling was squatting near the lawn not far from the door, nibbling on a sweet potato.
He didn’t tell him in advance, wanting to see what he was doing outside.
…This result could be anticipated.
Curling up and happily munching on the sweet potato, he suddenly had his coat and hat lifted from behind, covering his head… Lin Xingling looked up in confusion, and burst into laughter.
“I’m back~”
Without saying a word, he stuffed a sweet potato into his hand. “Try it, it’s really sweet.”
How can such a man be called treacherous?
Using a phrase from his fans: “I will be the one to protect Dad Star’s smile!”
Cheng Che silently made up his mind.
“Hmm? Why aren’t you eating? It’s still warm.”
“Alright, alright.”
Just keep eating, my family.
The two of them rode an electric scooter to the cemetery in the chilly breeze of early winter.
It was Cheng Che’s request.
Along the way, Lin Xingling listened as Cheng Che talked about his childhood, feeling particularly sympathetic.
…
In Cheng Che’s memory, his mother’s image was extremely blurry.
The clearest memory was the gentle and pleasant voice of his mother calling him “good cub.”
…Qin Xiaowan had a stutter.
Some people with a stutter can find true love, and some… cannot.
When Qin Xiaowan’s father outright rejected this marriage proposal, Qin Xiaowan resorted to severing ties and married Cheng Ming with a dowry of twenty million.
Since then, the father and daughter had no contact.
Qin Xiaowan inherited her father’s stubbornness. If she decided to ignore someone, she would truly ignore them. Every time her father tried to reconcile, she remained indifferent.
The last time they saw each other was on the second day of the lunar new year in the first year of Cheng Ming and Qin Xiaowan’s marriage. It was the day when the married daughter returned to her parents’ home.
During lunch, Qin Xiaowan and her father got into an argument because of Cheng Ming, and they truly severed their father-daughter relationship.
Her father never visited her until Qin Xiaowan passed away.
A heart of stone, and stubborn…
…
“It’s not common for parents to completely sever ties with their children. Can they really let go…” Lin Xingling frowned.
Cheng Che said, “But I have never seen my grandfather from birth until now.”
“I haven’t seen my mother much either. For six years, my father always restricted my contact with her because she stuttered. The longest time I spent with her was not more than an hour.”
Lin Xingling said, “Maybe… reluctantly speaking, your dad was afraid that you would imitate the stutter. After all, children are very good at imitating.”
“I used to think that too, but it’s not the case.”
Cheng Che gritted his teeth and cursed, “That idiot never loved my mother. He married her for her dowry… He won’t divorce her because he’s afraid of my grandfather’s side. He can’t afford to provoke them.”
As he spoke, he tightened his hold around Lin Xingling’s waist.
This child… Lin Xingling made an abrupt stop at the entrance of the cemetery. “Who did you hear all this from?”
“I figured it out myself.”
Cheng Che didn’t let go, nor did he get off the scooter.
“I see… So you really dislike your dad?” (Star)
“…It’s complicated.” (Che)
“But I can’t accept him marrying someone else. I used to dream about him not finding a woman.” (Che)
Once upon a time–
(Drunk) “D-don’t… don’t marry a woman…”
(Helpless) “Alright, alright, I won’t marry.”
Lin Xingling: I was being presumptuous.
Lin Xingling didn’t want to continue this topic. “Why are you speaking so fluently now?”
“After my mother passed away, I tried to stutter when speaking. At first, it was because I missed my mother… then it was to scare my father, but after that… I couldn’t go back.”
Cheng Che rubbed his head against Lin Xingling’s back. “Now… it’s probably a bit better.”
“After all, it’s a relief to get it off your chest.” Lin Xingling eased the situation for him.
“Never mind.”
Cheng Che got off the scooter and held Lin Xingling’s hand, leading him to visit his mother’s grave.
In front of the grave, Lin Xingling silently vowed to himself that he would protect Cheng Che and treat him well for the rest of his life.
Perhaps it was an illusion, but he actually heard the gentle voice that Cheng Che described, as if the wind was brushing against his face.
She said, “Good child, my dear, you must be happy.”
…
They still felt a bit dazed after leaving the cemetery.
“What are you thinking, Xingling?” Cheng Che embraced his arm when he saw him looking worried.
Lin Xingling smiled and said, “I’m thinking about how to turn you into a cute little stutterer.”
After hearing his words, Cheng Che was confused, and the next moment Lin Xingling kissed him.
This time, it wasn’t as gentle as before; it was slightly more passionate.
Cheng Che was kissed to the point of breathlessness, his eyes filled with stars, feeling as if the air was being stolen from him… He barely managed to grab onto Lin Xingling’s sleeve to prevent himself from falling.
“Xingling… mmm…”
His knees weakened from the kiss; it was the first time it had happened.
…
Afterward, Cheng Che sat on the backseat of the scooter, eating a lollipop.
Lin Xingling rode the scooter, taking him back.
They had a slight issue with the direction, possibly because they couldn’t find the way.
Cheng Che kindly reminded him, “We… we’ve taken the wrong way.”
Lin Xingling shook his head and said with a smile, “No, we’re going in the direction of my home.”
“Y-Your home?!”
As if making my dad angry wasn’t enough?… Cheng Che’s head was spinning. “Let’s not go there for now, in case… in case it makes your parents angry too…”
“Hmm? Why would they be angry… Is it your dad who’s angry?”
Lin Xingling was a bit confused.
Oh no… I let it slip.
Cheng Che had no choice but to confess honestly, “Y-Yes, my dad… knows that we’re… together. I admitted it myself…”
“And how did your dad react to that?” That was what Lin Xingling was most concerned about.
“He said… what else could he say? He just mentioned that your family is ordinary, with an average education background, and that you can’t do anything after retiring…”
The retelling was smooth.
Lin Xingling fell silent.
After a while, he said, “Your dad is right.”
He didn’t really have any outstanding abilities… but what he said was a bit… excessive.
“You… you shouldn’t underestimate yourself!” Cheng Che became excited and dropped the lollipop from his hand. Suddenly, his happiness vanished.
“My lollipop…”
“We can buy another one tomorrow.” (Xing)
“What my dad said is wrong.” (Che)
The two of them were not on the same page.
Finally, they reached a consensus: Cheng Ming was wrong, and they would buy another lollipop tomorrow.
Nonsense.
“Let’s go to my home. My parents are very kind… um… we don’t have to rush to come out… we can just pretend to be teammates, good friends.”
“Okay…”