Chapter 13

Will you leave me? (Includes announcement of being a paid seller)

The courtyard gate was half open, and He Zongxun pushed it open with an imposing air and entered.

Meow—

An orange cat jumped down from the wisteria trellis and ran off with graceful, alluring steps.

Immediately afterward, a snow-white Pekingese rushed out of the doghouse next to the flower stand, raising its head and barking loudly at He Zongxun and the others.

He Zongxun stopped and did not go any further.

He Jingyang stared in astonishment at the scene in the courtyard, asking incredulously, "This...is this where my eldest brother lives?" He scratched his head and looked at He Zongxun, "Second brother, have we come to the wrong place?"

He Zongxun didn't speak, but a strange look flashed in his eyes.

"There are cats and dogs here, how could this be where my brother lives?" He Jingyang was very puzzled. "I remember that my brother hates pets the most. He always looks disgusted when he sees cats and dogs."

He had barely finished speaking when a voice rang out from the courtyard.

"He Qingzhao, you're back?"

It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

He Zongxun turned his head sharply and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a golden birdcage hanging under the wisteria trellis, and inside the cage was a green parrot that could talk.

The parrot was speaking human language in a very serious and deliberate manner.

"Is He Qingzhao tired?"

"He Qingzhao, you've worked hard."

"Go wash your hands and eat."

He Jingyang was so shocked that his mouth dropped open and his eyes widened like copper bells.

He Zongxun kept a straight face and didn't say anything.

He Qingzhao walked out of the main house, having changed out of his suit and into a black casual home outfit: black pants and a black silk shirt. His all-black attire exuded a cool and aloof aura.

With a cigarette between his fingers and the other hand in his pocket, he walked gracefully toward He Zongxun.

He Jingyang snapped out of his shock, still unable to believe it, and asked blankly, "Brother, is this really where you live?"

He Qingzhao didn't reply to him, but looked at He Zongxun with a calm expression and asked with a cold smile, "Are you planning to braise or steam these little things?"

He Zongxun didn't say anything, turned around and walked out.

He Jingyang felt very uncomfortable and called out, "Big Brother."

He Qingzhao's voice was icy: "Get out."

He Qingyang was so frightened that he quickly ran out.

The courtyard suddenly became quiet, with only the rustling of the autumn wind.

"He Qingzhao, don't be sad."

The green-feathered parrot stood on the gilded perch, hopped around twice, and spoke clearly and fluently in human language.

He Qingzhao stood in front of the cage, tapped the golden birdcage with the hand holding the cigarette, and said in a low, cold voice, "Little thing, I'm very sad right now."

"I'm very sad."

"I'm very sad."

He Qingzhao taught it: "Silly bird, you should say, 'Don't be sad. He Qingzhao, don't be sad.'"

Don't be sad.

"He Qingzhao, don't be sad."

The green parrot had been tamed by him and quickly learned to say, "He Qingzhao, don't be sad," over and over again.

He Qingzhao chuckled in a hoarse voice, relaxed his back, and sat down on the wooden chair under the wisteria trellis.

The cigarette between his fingers had burned to the end, but he still put it in his mouth and took a deep drag. The strong smell of nicotine filled his mouth, entered his lungs, and stimulated his heart and lungs.

He threw the cigarette butt on the ground, lifted his toe and crushed it out, then gave a self-deprecating smirk.

"Fool, I need to teach you to speak before you'll learn."

-

On the way back to "report back," He Zongxun remained silent, and He Jingyang also didn't speak again; the silence in the car was suffocating.

Back at Xiyuan, He Zongxun got out of the car and was about to go inside to report when he saw Zhuang Jing walking out of the main house.

Zhuang Jing used to be a singer. In the year 2000, she became a household name across China with her song "Break Up Again in Spring". Later, she retired due to relationship problems and now lives in Vancouver.

"Sister, when did you get back?" He Zongxun stepped forward to greet her.

He Jingyang also called out "Sister" and quickly walked over to take Zhuang Jing's arm.

Zhuang Jing replied casually, "I just got back a little while ago." She raised her hand and patted He Jingyang's head, "It's been years since I last saw you, Jingyang has grown so tall."

He Jingyang smiled and said, "Sister, I'm twenty-two this year. I was already this tall three years ago when you first met me!"

He Zongxun asked, "How long will you be staying this time?"

Zhuang Jing said, "I'll leave after attending my grandfather's birthday celebration."

In just two weeks, it will be Grandpa He's 90th birthday. All of Grandpa He's relatives will be coming back, even those who are abroad.

"Oh, I see!" He Jingyang belatedly realized, "No wonder Grandpa and Second Uncle are so concerned about Big Brother's personal relationships. It's probably because Grandpa's birthday is coming soon, and Second Uncle wants to arrange Big Brother's marriage during the birthday celebration, so he doesn't allow Big Brother to find a woman he likes."

Zhuang Jing replied calmly and without emotion, "Maybe."

He Jingyang laughed heartily: "They all thought that Big Brother was keeping women in his courtyard in Xihai, but they never expected that he was keeping a house full of pets."

"Pets?" Zhuang Jing's face finally showed some expression as she asked, "What kind of pets does he keep?"

He Jingyang said, "An orange cat, a white Pekingese, and a talking green parrot, which is probably an Amazon parrot."

Zhuang Jing smiled and said, "Then I guess he also keeps turtles and goldfish, and the goldfish must be bubble-eye goldfish, and the turtles must be grass turtles."

He Jingyang asked, "Sister, how did you know?"

Zhuang Jing said, "I guessed."

He Jingyang grabbed Zhuang Jing's arm and shook it: "Sister, have you been to Big Brother's place?"

Before Zhuang Jing could answer, He Zongxun said, "My sister hasn't been back for years, how could she possibly go to his place?"

Zhuang Jing said in a calm tone, "He may be making up for the regrets of his childhood."

"What do you mean?" He Jingyang asked.

Zhuang Jing didn't want to say any more and changed the subject: "Alright, you should go in and report to Grandpa."

He Jingyang said, "Second Brother can go."

He pulled Zhuang Jing's hand and walked towards the backyard, pleading and begging as they went.

"Sis, tell me about my older brother. What about making up for his childhood?"

In the backyard, there is a pavilion with a grape trellis and a tea table inside. When guests come to visit, Grandpa He will entertain them here with tea and conversation.

He Jingyang pulled Zhuang Jing into the pavilion and wiped the chair for her with his sleeve. Actually, the tables and chairs were clean, and someone cleaned them every day, but he still wiped them to show his respect.

Zhuang Jing sat down, and He Jingyang dragged a chair over to sit in front of her, urging impatiently, "Sister, tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"

After He Zongxun finished his report, he rushed over and pulled out a chair to sit on the other side of Zhuang Jing.

Zhuang Jing is the daughter of He Zongxun's eldest aunt, and is twelve years older than him.

The He brothers were all held by her and played with by her when they were little, so they all respected her as their eldest sister.

When Zhuang Jing saw the two of them sitting on either side of her, both looking at her with expressions of anticipation for a story, she couldn't help but want to laugh.

“You guys,” she shook her head and smiled, “Actually, you’ve spent more time with Qingzhao, so there’s no need to ask me about many things; you should know the answers.”

He Jingyang shook his head: "I don't know, sister, we really don't know anything about brother's affairs."

Zhuang Jing said, "Maybe he doesn't want you to know."

"So what exactly happened? My brother clearly seems to hate cats and dogs, so why did he buy a house and secretly keep them?"

Zhuang Jing sighed and said, "This story has to start with Grandpa. You all know that he was dismissed from his post and sent to the forest farm."

He Jingyang nodded heavily: "Yes, I know. It's just that we're not allowed to mention this at home."

"When my maternal grandfather was logging in the forest, he was framed and hit by a century-old tree. It was Zhong Jin's adoptive father, who is also Qing Zhao's maternal grandfather, Zhong Guangming, who saved him."

“Zhong Guangming is a demobilized soldier who injured his male genitals in the war and could no longer marry and have children. He adopted an abandoned baby girl. In those days, many girls were given away or abandoned in the mountains after they were born.”

“When Zhong Guangming found the girl, his grandfather had not yet been recalled and was still at the forest farm. His grandfather also helped raise the girl for two years, and even her name, Zhong Jin, was given to her by his grandfather.”

“When I was seven years old, my grandfather received a letter and the next day he hurriedly took a train south to the southern province.”

"A week later, Grandpa came back with a girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen years old. That girl was Zhong Jin."

"Zhong Guangming was diagnosed with cancer. Before he passed away, he asked someone to send a letter to his maternal grandfather, asking him to help take care of Zhong Jin and find her a good husband."

"Grandpa was grateful to Zhong Jin's adoptive father for saving his life, and since he had also raised Zhong Jin for more than two years and liked her very much, he wanted Zhong Jin to become the daughter-in-law of the He family."

"At that time, my eldest uncle, second uncle, and third uncle were all unmarried."

"Grandpa actually wanted my third uncle to marry Zhong Jin, because the age difference between them wasn't that great. But Zhong Jin liked my second uncle, so Grandpa arranged for my second uncle to marry Zhong Jin instead."

"My second uncle had a girl he liked back then. She was the most beautiful girl in the performing arts troupe, and she also came from a good family."

"My second uncle didn't want to marry Zhong Jin, a girl from the countryside, and asked my grandfather, 'Why him?'"

"Grandpa didn't say it outright because Zhong Jin liked him. He was afraid that if he said it, his second uncle would dislike Zhong Jin. So he said that his eldest uncle was the eldest son of the He family and had more responsibility. His third uncle was too young and not mature enough. Only he was the most suitable."

"My second uncle was unwilling, so he lived outside every day and no longer came home."

"Just when my second uncle and my grandfather were at an impasse, the most beautiful girl in his performing arts troupe suddenly left and went abroad."

"My second uncle thought that my grandfather had forced Tuanhua to leave, but actually Tuanhua herself wanted to leave."

"Back then, the He family was far from being as prestigious as it is now. In addition, there was a craze for going abroad in those years, and anyone with ambition wanted to go overseas. So Tuanhua quietly left."

"My second uncle confronted my grandfather for several years. In the end, he gave up and married Zhong Jin. However, he was always cold to her after the marriage. Even after Qing Zhao was born, he still didn't treat her well. He was also cold to Qing Zhao. Before he was three years old, he never held him or smiled at him."

"It wasn't until Qingzhao was three years old, at his second uncle's thirtieth birthday banquet, that he cleverly recited a long string of birthday wishes, making everyone laugh. Only then did his second uncle show a smile to Qingzhao, and even his attitude towards Zhong Jin became slightly better, no longer as indifferent as before."

"Everyone thought it was because Zhong Jin taught him well, even Grandpa and Second Uncle thought so. Actually, it's because Qingzhao is precocious. He is intelligent and sensitive. When he was just over two years old, he could sense that his parents' relationship was not good. He could see that Second Uncle was very cold to him and his mother, so he showed his intelligence at Second Uncle's 30th birthday party to make Second Uncle happy."

"From then on, Zhong Jin seemed to have discovered a business opportunity. In order to please her second uncle, she devoted all her energy to Qing Zhao, and tried her best to cultivate him and make him more outstanding."

"She knew that her second uncle had spent a few years in a cultural troupe and had an artistic side, so she enrolled Qingzhao in all sorts of extracurricular classes, including music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and arithmetic."

"Qingzhao started practicing calligraphy at the age of three, copying Wang Xizhi's Preface to the Orchid Pavilion. Every day after practicing calligraphy, she would practice piano, then learn to draw, and before going to bed, she would memorize pi."

"No matter how smart he is, he is still just a child. In the long run, he will get tired."

"When he was five years old, he found an orange stray cat on a rainy day. That afternoon, he didn't practice playing the piano and played with the cat all afternoon."

"The next day, Zhong Jin threw the cat away and punished him by making him practice the piano until midnight."

"When he was six years old, he won first place in a children's calligraphy competition and asked Zhong Jin to buy him a dog as a reward. Zhong Jin agreed and bought him a gentle Pekingese."

"However, less than half a month after we bought the dog, it was my grandfather's birthday, and many guests came that day. One of my second uncle's friends brought his daughter to the birthday party, but it turned out that the friend's daughter was allergic to dog hair. Afterwards, my second uncle was furious, slapped Qingzhao, and also scolded Zhong Jin."

"After the banquet, Zhong Jin gave the dog to someone else."

She paused, then sighed, "I advised Zhong Jin not to give the dog away, and not to focus all her attention on my second uncle. She should pay more attention to Qing Zhao. But Zhong Jin wouldn't listen. She felt that she was doing this for Qing Zhao's own good."

"Qingzhao watched the dog being taken away, without crying or making a fuss, and obediently returned to the music room to practice the piano."

"When he was seven years old, he won the national championship in the Go tournament, and Zhong Jin bought him an Amazonian green parrot."

"Those parrots are very intelligent; they only recognize one owner for their entire lives. If trained properly, they can cleverly mimic their owner's speech, like little chatterboxes—they're incredibly clever and adorable."

"Qingzhao really likes that parrot. With the parrot by his side, he has become much more cheerful."

"At this time, the family had already begun to groom Qingzhao as their heir."

"One day, my second uncle came home and found Qingzhao playing with the parrot. He scolded Zhong Jin and said a lot of things about how playing with things was a waste of time."

"That parrot has been sent away again."

"After that, he also kept bubble-eye goldfish and grass turtles, but without exception, he didn't keep them for long before they were all given away."

-

He Qingzhao returned to the house, pinched a yellowed photo, and pressed it against the wall on the right-hand side of the entrance.

This wall is covered with photos, all of them of animals.

A photo of an orange cat, labeled: 05.

A photo of a Pekingese dog, labeled: 06.

A photo of a bubble-eyed goldfish, labeled: 07.

Behind that goldfish photo were many other photos, labeled: 071, 072, 073, 074, 075.

Above that is a picture of an Amazon parrot, labeled: 09.

A picture of a grass turtle, labeled: 10.

He pasted the photo next to the picture of the grass turtle, pinned it on with thumbtacks, and marked it with the number: 24.

This is a photo of Cheng Jiamo when she was sixteen years old. She had thick bangs and was wearing a green dress with a peacock pattern.

He just printed it out, and had it specially aged to look like it had been weathered by time.

Then he took out a photo of Cheng Jiamo when she was nineteen, which is what she looks like now, and pasted it next to her, labeling it with the number: 27.

Cheng Jiamo waited all afternoon but He Qingzhao didn't return to the hotel. As it was getting dark, she was about to call him to ask if he was coming back when she received a text message from an unknown number.

Will a lost cat come back on its own?

Cheng Jiamo thought someone had sent it to the wrong person and ignored it.

Then another message came in, from the same number.

Will you leave me?

[Author's Note]

Babies, we're going to be a VIP page tomorrow! There will be a 10,000-word update and 66 red envelopes.

--

Boss He is somewhat mentally unstable and may go crazy later on.