26. Seek benevolence and you will find it
Although Feng Simiao thought he understood human nature and was confident in making this bet, believing that Yang Ziqi didn't break up with Eric because she was young and ignorant, and was angry with her parents, Feng Simiao actually didn't understand the situation.
Yang Ziqi is planning to bring her boyfriend home to meet her parents - the reason she doesn't call him "fiancé" is because she knows that the engagement ceremony is a joke. In essence, it is just a protest with her parents. For her, it is equivalent to a real-life script-killing.
How can such a major event in life be celebrated without the presence of parents? Besides, the ceremony would be far too inadequate.
She believed that any difficult problem could be solved by acting coquettishly.
When she was in school, she wanted to buy a sports car. Her mother thought it was too dangerous for a girl to drive fast and refused to agree. After a few words, she burst into tears and got what she wanted in a few days.
It seemed as if nothing in her life had been difficult to achieve.
The same goes for this fiancé whom my parents don't approve of yet.
She knew his family was far less well-off than hers, but she didn't think it was a big deal. Some of her friends had married down, but as long as they were assertive enough, the men would often bow down to them. Even when conflicts were inevitable between husband and wife, with their father's support, the man would always bow down.
She didn't care about money, but her boyfriend had been looking gloomy lately, and even when he acted attentive and gentle, she felt he wasn't being sincere.
This dinner was also meticulously planned by her. It was the eve of her father's birthday, and she had begged her mother to bring her boyfriend home for the occasion. Unable to persuade her, her mother agreed to go to her father to make the arrangements. However, her father only agreed to a simple dinner the day before the birthday; he would return home for a grand banquet on the actual day.
She felt that her parents' previous anger towards her was over now that they had agreed to it. In her heart, this was a great show of tolerance from her parents, and also a recognition of Eric.
But under the crystal chandelier, cold faces swept past him one by one, and he didn't feel happy at all.
In addition to Yang Ziqi's parents, there was also a man who was about her age, with regular features and dark skin. Yang Ziqi was very surprised to see him:
"Brother Tongxin!"
Yang Ziqi's parents watched with smiles on their faces. The man named Tong Xin came forward, patted Yang Ziqi's shoulder affectionately, and shook hands politely with Eric.
Yang Ziqi's parents were polite to Eric, but the coldness beneath the politeness was familiar to him. Growing up in his aunt and uncle's house, he had seen this kind of impeccable indifference many times, like a piece of eternal ice, chilling him to the bone.
He handed over a carefully selected gift. It was his first visit, so he had to be attentive. He had previously asked Yang Ziqi what gift to buy, and she wasn't nervous at all: "It doesn't matter what I buy, he has everything anyway."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "It's okay to buy a gold Rolex. Even though I think it's tacky."
Gold Rolexes are a favorite among Guangdong and Hong Kong businessmen, not only because they maintain their value but also because they carry a good reputation. Even if some think they look a bit like nouveau riche, they remain enduringly popular. He obeyed orders and bought one.
Meeting Yang Ziqi's father, his eyes, though small, were intensely focused, and his sharp gaze, swept across from behind thick, dark eyebrows, was a bit intimidating. Eric had often seen his face in financial news, always kind and smiling, but now it seemed strangely unfamiliar.
"Uncle, happy birthday to you. It's just a small token of my appreciation." He handed over the dark green box.
"Thank you, it's thoughtful." Father Yang took it, not paying much attention to it, and handed it to Yang Ziqi's mother without saying a word.
He was embarrassed, wanting to say something but not knowing how to start.
Over there, Yang Ziqi was chatting happily with the man named Tongxin. Seeing his slightly awkward expression, Yang Ziqi's mother felt a little sorry for him and started chatting with him about family matters: "Qiqi and Tongxin grew up together. Tongxin has been studying in the United States for many years and just returned to China. His father sent him to Hong Kong to buy a house, so he came to visit."
"Brother Tongxin said to buy a house near us because the environment here is good." Yang Ziqi interrupted across the table.
"That's great, of course. You can come over for dinner anytime in the future. I'm not bragging, but Sister Liu is an amazing Cantonese cook." Father Yang suddenly put away his serious expression and said with a smile.
Eric was on pins and needles, but he could only put on a smile. The meal felt like an eternity. No matter how much he prided himself on being a smooth talker, it was useless in front of a hostile elder. Yang Ziqi's father had worked his way up from the bottom of a garment factory for decades to become the renowned entrepreneur he was today. He had dealt with every situation, and it was all too easy to embarrass a young man.
Yang Ziqi didn't notice his emotions. Either she didn't notice, or she didn't care, or maybe it was both. Between the two of them, he was always responsible for taking care of their emotions. She was younger than him, and her mindset was superior; she didn't need to, and didn't, read his expressions.
Yang Ziqi kept chatting with that Tong Xin, and it took Eric a while to understand that his full name was Ding Tong Xin. The Ding and Yang families had always had a good relationship and had also cooperated in business. Therefore, Yang Ziqi and Ding Tong Xin were childhood sweethearts.
"Brother Tongxin, do you remember when I was little and people bullied me, you always helped me fight?" Yang Ziqi was particularly excited. Her mother also laughed happily: "Yes, back then girls without brothers were often bullied. Qiqi always lied to others and said that Tongxin was her brother to provoke other children."
"At that time, I was beaten by my father many times because I stood up for Ziqi." Ding Tongxin smiled innocently.
"Brother Tongxin is coming over today, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"After returning to China, my father asked me to go to the factory for an internship as soon as possible and rotate between different workshops. He said that people who don't understand the front line will not understand management, and he didn't give me any vacation. I originally planned to come next month, but Uncle Yang said you would come back today, so I made arrangements in advance." Ding Tongxin replied.
"Uncle Ding is still like this, so unkind." Yang Ziqi pouted.
"Qiqi, don't talk nonsense. Tongxin is so motivated that he can help your uncle Ding manage the company now. Unlike you, you just play around all day and do nothing serious." Yang Ziqi's father said.
"Oh, why do you only know how to teach me a lesson?"
It seems that the engagement controversy has disappeared between the father and daughter.
It was a harmonious scene of loving fathers, filial daughters, and friendly brothers. Eric was the only outsider here—not even a guest. After all, even ordinary guests were to be treated with the utmost care by a respectable family. Yang Ziqi's parents weren't particularly rude, after all. Ding Tongxin nodded and smiled politely at him from time to time, as if she didn't understand why he was there.
He wasn't particularly angry. He'd been neglected at home since childhood, and he'd experienced this situation hundreds, if not thousands. His cousins never considered him family, and his uncle wasn't as direct, but he was just putting on a front. Only his aunt truly cared for him. But no matter how much she loved him, he wasn't her own child. In a family like this, there wasn't much she could do.
The scene at this moment was incredibly familiar. A massive, intricate crystal chandelier hung overhead, shimmering and shimmering, casting dancing shadows on everyone's face. On the massive mahogany table lay a full menu, enough for twice as many people. Yet, he even had to mentally rehearse which dish to pick up.
Thinking back to this, he couldn't help but shake his head. Yang Ziqi happened to see this and said coquettishly, "What's wrong? Are you not used to it?"
Father Yang's sharp eyes, like a searchlight, had already swept over.
He quickly replied: "No, no, it's delicious."
Whether he was at his uncle's house as a teenager or at the Yang family mansion now, under the bright light, he seemed to be stripped naked. Everyone could see through him, and his embarrassment had nowhere to hide, but no one really cared about him.
Including this girlfriend.
He suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, as if waking from a long dream. What he had been striving for might not be what he truly wanted.
It's not impossible to force it, but it will come at a huge cost.
He had originally thought this was just a short sprint that could be achieved through hard work, with the finish line looming just ahead. However, he had no idea it was a difficult journey that would last a lifetime.
During a meal, he could certainly behave properly and smile appropriately.
But can people accept being so unhappy all their lives?
He recalled reading Stephen King's novel, The Great Walk. It was a national racewalking competition where participants were chosen by lottery. There was no finish line. Once started, runners could not stop, or they would receive a warning. Three warnings would result in their being shot, and the competition would continue until someone emerged victorious.
The person who perseveres to the end is the only winner and can realize any wish.
And everyone else will die.
He was full of thoughts at the moment, not because Yang Ziqi's family was cruel or dark.
They weren't bad people. They were just being themselves, and that was enough to make him, or any outsider, feel uneasy.
At that moment, he truly wished he could escape back to before he was eight, when his mother was still alive. Even though life was harder than it is today, children didn't really care about wealth. What mattered was that at least there was a small, dimly lit spot, a place where he could live freely and call home.
As an adult, he rarely felt so relaxed and carefree, because he had no one to rely on. For years, he often needed sleeping pills to fall asleep. The deepest sleep he had recently was on the sofa at Vivian's house.
He really hadn't had such a good sleep in a long time.
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