Chapter 8 (1/2)
Black-Bellied Dad Chapter 8
The fact that Xu He Jun and Huang Shang Rong are cohabiting doesn’t stay hidden for long, having run into colleagues several times at the markets, pus.h.i.+ng a baby’s stroller between them. Not to mention a reliable informant from human resources had pointed out that the address Xu He Jun recently moved to, was also coincidentally Huang Shang Rong’s home.
Xu He Jun hadn’t intentionally hidden this matter, but it wasn’t something he deliberately mentioned either. Since most of the staff at Jing Xiang knew Huang Shang Rong, he could only thank everyone for their concerns and that their relations.h.i.+p had entered a stable period.
“I had no idea! To think Xu He Jun was eaten up by Huang Shang Rong!”
“Not to mention it’s buy one get one free – buy a husband and get a son thrown in!”
“Like this and she still wants him!”
“She’s a strong career woman! Normal people can’t comprehend what she wants.”
“When you put it like that, isn’t it Xu He Jun who benefits the most?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Although Huang Shang Rong is older than him, she’s maintained herself well. Anyway when he turns the lights off, all women are pretty much the same! But this way, Xu He Jun’s struggle is shortened by 10 years! Look, there’s someone to help him raise his son, not to mention Huang Shang Rong’s income and position are higher than his, and there’s even a house waiting for him. If it were me, I’d also throw my pride away and let Huang Shang Rong raise me as a kept man!”
“But Xu He Jun also works hard on his own, he wouldn’t sink to being a kept man!”
Xu He Jun had always been an approachable gentleman with a smiling face, who got along with everyone. Even when he leapt up to the position of general manager, he had kept his good temperament. Only, after interacting with everyone for a long time, everyone can sense that he isn’t as harmless and unimposing as he seems. Compared to Huang Shang Rong’s short fuse, it’s fine once her tantrum’s over, Xu He Jun is harder to fathom since no one knows what he’s really thinking.
And since he had worked so long in the lower levels, secretly observing changes in their affairs, he’s developed a keen eye and the ability to read people. Rather than saying he never goes against others, it’s more accurate to say no one dares to provoke him since his specialty is understanding people, while simultaneously keeping them in his grasp.
“What you’re saying isn’t wrong, but with the female Emperor’s personality, wouldn’t the mild mannered Xu He Jun be completely devoured?”
“For his own and his son’s sake, he’ll endure!”
Since Huang Shang Rong and Xu He Jun started growing closer, Xu He Jun had also shown noticeable changes. Not only was he promoted, his salary had followed in suit. He also had more style, no longer wearing or using cheap second hand goods. Recently, not only does he seem triumphant, his brow seems more refined, displaying as much elegance as it can, completely different from his previous poor state. Everyone was saying Xu He Jun had bet on the right horse and truly profited. Huang Shang Rong might be fierce, but she’s lavish with her husband, and extremely lavish at that!
Once these things reach his previous girlfriend, Su Xiao Dai, she feels 2 million percent dissatisfied, as though they were saying Xu He Jun wasn’t at all fortunate to be with her, and was only happy after being with Huang Shang Rong.
Or maybe it’s her female pride struggling. She refuses to believe it.
If she had encountered Xu He Jun a little bit later, and dated him later as well, she wouldn’t have been so stupid to let go of the big fish in front of her. Although being with Weng Yu Jie satisfies her material needs, the person he cares for most is himself. He was only warm and considerate while chasing her, no longer bothering once he’s caught her!
If she had known earlier, she would’ve stayed beside the frugal and pragmatic Xu He Jun. Even if they had to suffer more, at least it’s stable.
Since Xu He Jun’s real girlfriend is far away, while she’s right in front of him, she still has a chance! People say that it’s hardest for men to forget their previous girlfriends, not to mention she’s younger than Huang Shang Rong, so there should be plenty of opportunities.
Today, Xu He Jun’s secretary took half a day for sick leave, so she voluntarily took over the secretary’s work, using all her abilities to act cute and enticing when no one else was around. Yet whether he hadn’t known it was deliberate or decided to turn a blind eye, Xu He Jun remained unmoved the whole time.
Even to the end of the day….
“General manager, are you free tonight?”
“Today I’m leaving work on time, there’s something I need to do at home. What’s the matter?” Xu He Jun busily sorts the doc.u.ments in his hands, asking without even lifting his head.
“Then what about tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” He finally lifts his head to face her. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes…. I have something I need to speak to you about…” Su Xiao Dai lowers her head, deliberately or unintentionally sweeping her long hair behind her ear, revealing a blueish-silver drop earing, his first gift to her.
Xu He Jun purses his lips, not calling her out despite realizing her intentions, since he isn’t a petty person.
“If you have something to say, you can say it now.”
“It might not be very convenient to say it here.”
“… if it’s not convenient in the office, then I doubt it’ll be more convenient anywhere else.”
The resentment that had acc.u.mulated from being ignored since noon finally erupts, unable to tolerate any more.
Su Xiao Dai approaches him, loudly asking him, “Xu He Jun, do you even know what I’m trying to say?”
“I know.”
“Then you’re refusing me?”
“Xiao Dai, I’m not the type who loves to hold a grudge, but I don’t long for past affections either.”
His sentence was stated so clearly. Su Xiao Dai couldn’t imagine the normally gentle man would speak so harshly.
“Well the fact that you’re with Huang Shang Rong is only because she can keep you. One day if she suddenly loses everything, you won’t even get the chance to dump her if you wanted to!”
“You’re right.” He rarely answers so seriously, sinking into a depressing mood.
“The one who’s afraid of being dumped is me.”
“Well of course. If she can’t look after you anymore, you couldn’t be as lavish as you are now.”
“Xiao Dai, I’ll just continue along by myself, and won’t look for anyone else. Only being with Shang Rong do I know what I want to do, and what I should be doing. She has everything I lack, and it’s not something I can find in any woman. You’re right, I can’t be without her. I can’t lose her, not because of materialistic reasons, but spiritually.”
“Rubbis.h.!.+ You’re just a poor, penniless brat, who do you think you are? You think I can’t find another man if I wanted to?” Unmoved even after she invited him so blatantly, forget it! It’s not like she, Su Xiao Dai, lacks men. Xu He Jun should be delighted she even gave him a chance.
She packs her things, turning to leave the general manager’s office, when she adds “The way I see it, deep down you actually like men, that’s why you’re so infatuated Huang Shang Rong, that type of masculine woman!”
Xu He Jun bitterly smiles. To think that’s how everyone saw him and Shang Rong!
He knows that public opinion regarding his relations.h.i.+p with Shang Rong can be harsh. That’s why he had wanted to keep it under wraps. If he can marry her earlier, this type of idle gossip would lessen! Mnn… he also wants Shang Rong to marry into his family earlier, but he should first train his skin to be a little thicker.
If she knew he was the Xu family’s young master, and Xu Ying Zhang’s only son, would she break his legs, or throw his corpse into a ditch?
Very likely, she will.
After dinner, Xu He Jun accompanies his son in mock brain training games in the living room, when Huang Shang Rong carries a laptop out, in the midst of tackling their family plan.
“Before the next personnel change, if we combine our salaries and sell this place, we would be able to afford the down payment for a larger apartment.”
“Why do we need to buy a new apartment?”
“Are you stupid? I bought this apartment so I could live there alone. It’s small and only has one bedroom. Once Hao Hao grows up, he needs his own room. And if we have more kids, there definitely won’t be enough s.p.a.ce! If you don’t think of a solution now, do you plan on having all our kids live in our room?”
Holding his son, Xu He Jun actually wants to tell her she doesn’t need to worry so much, but listening to her list her plan step by step, he can’t help but find it meticulous and moving.
“We’re a dual income family, and our salaries aren’t low. With the company’s salary and year-end bonus, if we save more and allocate a portion to our child’s education fund, saving a million[1] each year, after 10 years we can own our own home in Taiwan.”
“Darling, how many kids do you want?”
“We already have Hao Hao as a son. While it’s better for sons to be the older child, I actually really want to have a daughter. Why don’t we have two more daughters then?”
He had wanted to praise her, when Huang Shang Rong continues to develop her thoughts.
“Forget it, we shouldn’t have two! While having 3 kids is just right, the burden is too much. Even though the government will subsidize the 3rd child, I don’t want you to work too hard, later having to pay for their tuition, education, and if they want to study abroad in the future—- heavens! Ah, it’s enough just to have one daughter next.”
Listening, Xu He Jun pulls her into his embrace as she remains immersed in her thoughts. Leaning against her shoulder, he asks “If you didn’t need to worry about money, how many kids would you want?”
“Four. Two boys and two girls, that way they’d each have a partner.”
Wrapping around her thin waist, he places his warm hand against her abdomen “Having four kids, it’ll be hard on you!”
“True, bring pregnant is really tiring! Carrying around such a huge stomach, you can’t even cut your toenails. Normally 4-5 flights of stairs is nothing, but pregnant, even 2 flights is too much… ah, but it’s even harder to care for a child. Even if it’s a joy to have kids, it’s better to forget it! Four is too many. If we halve it, and have one son and one daughter, it’s enough.”
“Darling, was it painful to give birth?”
“Of course! It’s not because I love to complain! I couldn’t even feel it when the doctor tore my perineum, it’s really too…..”
Mnn? Something’s not right! Huang Shang Rong immediately stops, stiffly turning her whole body to glance at Xu He Jun. She… did she just … let slip something?
She had thought Xu He Jun’s face would stiffen, and he’d fall into a rage. She hadn’t thought he’d still have a light smile on his face, looking at her warmly, even stealing a kiss when she turned her head towards him.
“Since it’s that painful, then it’s fine if we don’t have anymore, okay?”
Did he realize? Then why isn’t he angry? Huang Shang Rong starts to develop a guilty conscious, with her palms turning sweaty.
In fact, since they’ve already progressed to this point, she should tell him the truth. But will He Jun think she’s deliberately using their child to tie him to her?
At first, she had felt sympathetic seeing a grown man like He Jun clumsily rus.h.i.+ng about to care for the baby, and wanted to help him take care of the infant, taking up her responsibility as a mother. At that time she really hadn’t thought she’d reach this stage with He Jun!
“He-He Jun, there’s something I need to tell you….”
“What is it?” He raises his brow, indicating for her to continue.