Chapter 43: Dad, you've become sensible and a mature father!
Qiu Ming's first experience of falling in love was like a fleeting shooting star; it flew away before it even had a chance to warm up.
On the last day he saw Meng Zhiyao, the once shy boy's face was almost beaming with joy, and the way he looked at her had completely changed.
Sensing something amiss, Meng Zhiyao felt a chill run down her spine. Had she been mistaken before? Did Qiu Ming not mean that to her?
Perhaps she had misjudged him, but in any case, Meng Zhiyao felt relieved.
The old classmates got along much more naturally. Meng Zhiyao was no longer tense, but it was Pei Yiyan's turn to feel uncomfortable.
If he tried to explain, it would only make things worse, like trying to hide something obvious. Qiu Ming was convinced that he and Meng Zhiyao were having an affair, and the look on his face was one of utter disbelief.
Even looking at him for a second is harmful to his eyes.
Pei Yiyan decided to go with the flow and make the best of a bad situation.
This incident also indirectly reminded him of their changed status. Now, Meng Zhiyao is healthy and cheerful, and stands out more brightly and attractively in the crowd than before. She probably has countless suitors.
Besides, they are already at an age and in an environment where they can freely date. Pei Yiyan lowered his eyes and pondered whether he should let her get too involved in Xi Xi's affairs, so as not to affect her starting a relationship.
Meng Zhiyao spent the entire seven-day National Day holiday with Xixi, without having any time to hang out or go shopping with her girlfriends.
Pei Yiyan felt more and more that this was wrong.
On the last day, the three adults accompanied Xixi to see the movie "Boonie Bears". At Pei Yiyan's prompting, Qiu Ming led Xixi to queue for tickets, leaving him and Meng Zhiyao a little time alone.
He wasn't one to mince words, and without much hesitation, he said, "You've worked hard these past few days. After this National Day holiday, unless it's absolutely necessary, I won't bother you anymore. You can use your rest time as you like, and I'll take good care of Xixi."
Without any prior setup or context, Meng Zhiyao was caught off guard and stood frozen in place.
Why are you suddenly telling me all this?
"I just remembered and said it." Pei Yiyan pondered, "You travel back and forth during the seven-day holiday and every weekend, it must be very tiring for you."
Summer is bearable, but winters in Beijing are very cold. There's no heating outdoors, and it's not good to catch a cold if you're not careful.
Meng Zhi didn't respond for a moment.
Her long eyelashes drooped, and after a moment of contemplation, she slowly raised her face:
"Is your next-door apartment empty?"
The girl's eyes were bright and clear, and her cheerful voice rang out with a smile: "Then please send me the real estate agent's contact information, I'll rent it."
Pei Yiyan paused for a moment, then frowned and said slowly, "The apartment is far from your school. If you're only staying there on weekends, a monthly rent of 10,000 is not worth it."
He was able to afford this two-bedroom apartment because he made a profit from stock trading during the summer vacation, enough to cover his rent for three years of university.
As far as he knew, Meng Zhiyao's living expenses came from her family, and he felt that girls should spend more of their money on themselves and to please themselves.
"I think it's totally worth it."
Meng Zhiyao said in a relaxed tone, "You don't need to worry about money. My living expenses and part-time jobs can support this kind of life."
Seeing that the other person didn't quite believe her, she opened her phone's photo album and lightly tapped the screen with her slender white fingers: "I am Zan Niang, a Grade 10 pianist. This is my Grade 10 certificate and Zan Niang's artwork."
If it weren't for her poor health, she should have successfully taken the classical dance exam and might now be working part-time at a dance studio.
Pei Yiyan doesn't follow the Hanfu community or watch dramas, but that doesn't stop him from having perfectly functioning eyes. The hairpins on the screen, with their classical beauty, do indeed have the ability to amaze people at first glance.
He remembered the headdress that Meng Zhi had given to Xi Xi.
Pei Yiyan had always thought she was just saying it casually to amuse the child, but it turned out she really knew how to make hairpins. His cheeks flushed slightly.
"I understand." He reluctantly looked away. "I'll contact the agent later. When are you planning to look at apartments?"
"The sooner the better."
Pei Yiyan took out his phone: "Then I'll contact him now."
He turned his back and dialed the real estate agent's number. As soon as the agent heard that he wanted to rent a room, he immediately said that he was available and could view the room anytime.
They agreed to meet in three hours, just in time to go back after watching the movie.
Meng Zhiyao smiled faintly, seemingly in a good mood: "Do you have any favorite songs? I'd like to invite you to listen sometime."
Pei Yiyan politely replied, "That's fine, thank you."
The two were quite far apart, so Qiu Ming couldn't hear their conversation, but he could glean some clues from their expressions.
Wow, I've found the real deal!
As soon as the movie ended, the four of them hurried back.
Having already rented a house next door, Pei Yiyan is now completely unable to clear his name, and has a sense of giving up and abandoning his principles.
"Yan-ge, you've finally come clean and stopped pretending." Qiu Ming grinned mischievously, nudging his shoulder and whispering with a wink, "Want me to stay and help your wife move her things?"
Pei Yiyan tensed up and glared at him warningly: "Shut up, don't talk nonsense."
He glanced indifferently at the clock on the wall and rudely told them to get out: "It's time to leave."
Qiu Ming chuckled as he packed his small bundle and came out, bidding a friendly farewell to Xi Xi. Everything was normal up to this point.
The next second, as he walked to the door, he suddenly gave a dramatic, childish salute and shouted loudly into the room:
"Sister-in-law, thank you and Brother Yan for taking good care of me these past few days. Xiao Qiu had a great time. See you next time!"
"Sister-in-law, greetings."
Before he could finish speaking, the door slammed shut just before the slippers touched his face.
Pei Yiyan didn't expect Qiu Ming to pull such an awkward stunt before leaving. Turning to face Meng Zhiyao, he was so embarrassed that he didn't know where to look.
His usual cool and composed demeanor was almost crumbling.
Without thinking twice, Xixi asked, "Mom, you and Dad have made up, right? Are you going to get married?"
The little girl's eager gaze was fixed on the two of them. Meng Zhiyao hadn't recovered from the sudden calls of "sister-in-law" when her daughter's words jolted her awake.
She instinctively denied it: "No, no."
They're nowhere near there.
Pei Yiyan forced a blank expression and ran his fingers through the little guy's thick eyelashes: "Of course not, he's just making noises, don't listen to him."
Xi Xi rubbed her eyes, still not believing her father's words, and asked again, "Then why didn't Brother Qiu call Mommy Sister-in-law yesterday, and why didn't he call Mommy Sister-in-law tomorrow, but only today?"
If he had known Qiu Ming would have such a tantrum, he would have blown him away beforehand.
Pei Yiyan and Meng Zhiyao exchanged a glance.
“I’ll give him a call, and you can ask him yourself.”
"Sorry, the number you dialed is currently switched off. Please try again later."
"You brat," Pei Yiyan gritted his teeth. "You've gotten too bold, daring to trick me like this."
"It's like you didn't want to eat cake yesterday, but suddenly you want to eat it today. Humans are creatures that are easily swayed by their whims," Pei Yiyan explained earnestly. "Do you understand what Dad is saying?"
Xi Xi's two curved eyebrows were furrowed.
"I can, but I want to eat cake every day."
"I'm just giving an example; you just need to understand the meaning."
Xi Xi's chubby fingers gripped her father's clothes: "I understand, it means Mom and Dad don't want to get married today, but they want to get married tomorrow, right?"
Pei Yiyan's brow twitched violently. Was that what he meant?
That's truly top-notch understanding.
The contract had already been signed, and Meng Zhiyao paid three months' rent upfront and received her access card.
Besides the basic bed, washing machine, wardrobe, and refrigerator, the room is furnished with other items that you have to buy yourself.
Meng Zhiyao used a distraction tactic, bending down and saying softly, "Xixi, would you like to come with Mom to the mall to buy some new furniture later? Mom thinks you have excellent taste in choosing things."
Sure enough, the little girl immediately stopped worrying and happily dragged her mother to the mall to show off her taste.
Meng Zhiyao moving next door was the biggest surprise for Xixi since she came to Beijing, and she had to carefully choose the furniture.
Despite her questionable taste in clothes, Xixi is a master designer when it comes to furniture.
At first glance, it doesn't seem to care about matching, but in fact, every piece of furniture and decoration is exceptionally harmonious. Meng Zhiyao originally wanted to decorate in a pastoral style, but as Xixi picked out more and more childlike things, it was as if she had filled the room with an entire spring and summer.
Meng Zhiyao thought the dopamine rush was pretty good too; the vibrant atmosphere everywhere made people feel cheerful.
From small items like pots and pans, decorative stickers, to large items like sofas and coffee tables, everything was carefully selected by Xixi. As the three of them strolled around, Meng Zhiyao unconsciously developed a wonderful feeling of decorating their new home together as a family of three.
She put all her effort into getting into a university in Beijing, 2,000 kilometers away from home, not only for her own dream, but also because she had secretly harbored this fantasy.
I left the mall at exactly 10 p.m. The large items, the sofa and coffee table, were delivered to my door by the store, but I had to pick up the rest myself.
Pei Yiyan's left hand, right hand, and neck were covered with a lot of things.
The mother and daughter each held a light bouquet in their arms. Meng Zhiyao was somewhat uneasy and kept glancing back.
Xi Xi was afraid of falling flower petals, so she stopped jumping and walked with unusually steady steps.
During this time, he raised his head to comfort Meng Zhi, saying, "Mom is fine. Dad is a big man and won't be exhausted by those few small bags."
With a tote bag bigger than twice his head hanging around his neck, Pei Yiyan:
Even someone who isn't your biological child wouldn't say something like that.
Pei Yiyan rolled his eyes secretly from an angle where Xixi couldn't see him.
By sheer coincidence, Meng Zhi turned around and shook her head.
Pei Yiyan silently turned his head, pretending nothing had happened, and quickly took two steps: "The flowers must be heavy, let me carry them."
"Hmm, it's not heavy either."
"Mom, look, Xixi is right, isn't she? That little thing is no challenge for Dad."
Xi Xi's pride was mixed with a hint of relief, and her tone was just like that of a father who has grown up: "Dad, you've become sensible and a mature father."
"Are you the father or am I the father?" Pei Yiyan's handsome face turned into a donkey's face as he pulled out two fingers and pinched her cheek. "Is that how you talk to your father? Hmm?"
After all, he was once a cool and aloof school heartthrob who dominated the area; how could he possibly lose face in front of girls?
The stubborn school bully kept a straight face to maintain his dignity and authority as a father.
"Xixi is praising you." The little girl didn't understand her father's roundabout thoughts, and coaxed him in a soft voice, "Daddy, be good, we're almost home, and you won't be tired anymore soon."
Pei Yiyan felt deeply helpless, looked up to the sky and sighed, "Fine, let it be."
Back in their rented studio apartment, the father and daughter helped Meng Zhiyao pack her things and clean, working until midnight before finally coming out from next door.
Xi Xi was so excited that the ginseng root coiled on top of her head almost revealed its true form several times.
"Dad, can I sleep with Mom from now on?"
"Hmm." Pei Yiyan squeezed a swirl of toothpaste onto the children's toothbrush. "It should be fine. Brush your teeth first."
The little girl brushed her teeth vigorously, and the toothpaste scent gradually dissipated, filling the entire bathroom with the aroma of peaches.
"Then I want to sleep with my mom tomorrow."
"It's probably not possible tomorrow; the earliest it will be is the weekend."
Pei Yiyan knew that Xixi was going to ask why again, so he added, "Because your mother has to go to class tomorrow, and the school is far from here, so she can't stay here tonight and has to go back to school."
Xi Xi looked disappointed.
"It's only a few days, don't look so sad. Time flies, it'll be over in the blink of an eye."
Xi Xi blinked hard: "Are we there, Dad?"
“Showing off doesn’t count.” Pei Yiyan closed the door. “I’ve prepared the water for you. Take a bath by yourself. Don’t play for too long.”
Tonight I'll use the new blueberry-scented body wash I bought for her. The little girl loves new things, she'll definitely be playing with it.
In the summer, things were fine; the old father turned a blind eye to his little girl playing in the water. But in the winter, he made it a rule that she had to finish washing and come out within fifteen minutes.
Even if the Heavenly King himself came, the little ginseng spirit would have to obediently follow the rules.
While Xixi was taking a bath, Pei Yiyan scooped the cat litter and massaged Orange's hind legs.
When no one was around during the day, Orange knocked over the cat's food and water bowls. As the kitten became more agile, its destructive nature could no longer be hidden.
My cat scratching post, which I bought just a week ago, is now completely ruined by it.
Pei Yiyan complained about the spendthrift kitten while rubbing its soft pink paws and browsing online for a new scratching post.
A super-sized cat scratching post that a cat weighing up to 20 pounds can lie on—great, this is it.
When Xixi came out of the bath, the living room was clean and tidy, the floor was shiny and reflected her chubby little body covered in water vapor.
The little girl was wrapped in a cream-colored bathrobe, her shower cap drooping crookedly to one side, her stray tufts of hair sticking out messily, letting out air.
Pei Yiyan was startled.
What's wrong with you?
Xi Xi casually explained, "Oh, they're bored and want to come out and rest for a bit."
Pei Yiyan found it a bit strange: "I've never seen them bored before."
“It’s different, it’s too hot now.” Xi Xi touched her head with concern. “They’ll get suffocated if we don’t let them out.”
Pei Yiyan thought about it and agreed.
"Should I fan them?"
"No need." Xixi waved her little hand, her face serious. "They're very delicate. If I fan them today, they won't go back tomorrow if I don't."
"Never mind then."
Pei Yiyan turned around and went into the bathroom to take a shower without hesitation.
Even after we came out, I was still worried and gave them a few more instructions: "Don't let them out at night, but don't let them out during the day."
Did you hear that?
The child's voice was muffled and strained in the bedroom.
The child was quiet, probably up to no good. Pei Yiyan didn't bother to dry his hair and hurriedly slipped into the house in his slippers.
"Clang clang clang"
"Dad, you've been doing well lately. After careful consideration, Xixi has decided to award you a certificate."
Xi Xi held up an A4 sheet of paper with flowers, birds, and trees drawn on it: "Here, this is for you. Don't be arrogant, keep improving!"
Pei Yiyan looked closely and saw a string of words for "award certificate" written in gold watercolor pen hanging at the top.
Good Dad Improvement Award
The six childish characters below gave Pei Yiyan a slight, indescribable shock.
He accepted the child's certificate with both hands, his dark eyes shining: "Well done, thank you."
Upon closer inspection, he smirked, "Why do you even use pinyin for your father's name?"
"Can't write?"
The little girl complained, "It's all because your name has too many strokes, Daddy. Can you give me a simpler name?"
Pei Yiyan carefully put the certificate away: "No, my name was given to me by your grandmother."
"Starting tomorrow, you will learn to write my name."
"I will check it every day from now on."
Xi Xi lay down on her side with her back to him, leaving him with a round, resentful back of her head.
Pei Yiyan learned to offer sweet words: "If you write it correctly, I'll take you to the amusement park, how about that?"
The little girl didn't react.
"How about another KFC meal as a reward?"
"?"
None of this worked. Pei Yiyan wondered, was learning to write his name some kind of hellish difficulty?
He sat down on the edge of the bed, leaned over and nudged Xixi, and the sleeping little girl rolled right under his eyelids.
Pei Yiyan: "
Being young is great; you can fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow.
Pei Yiyan dried his hair and lay down on the bed, scrolling through his phone out of boredom, his mind involuntarily replaying the events of the day.
Only later did I realize something was wrong.
Wasn't his original intention to let Meng Zhiyao have less contact with Xixi and enjoy more of the free and wonderful university life?
How did we suddenly become neighbors?
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