Chapter 885: I’m a Blank Tile (1/2)
I grew slowly under my father’s wings, but my father aged quickly because of the responsibilities weighing down on his shoulders. Over time, my father stopped scolding me. I never knew how much he missed me because I was always away for work; never knew that I, to an old man like him, was his pride and everything.
……
”Ah, Lu Chen! You’ve come…”
My father pulled my sleeve before pointing at the first-rate desktop computer on the display before asking me, ”Do you like this PC? If you do, then I’ll buy it for you. Work is always hard, and the rent and bills are very expensive these days. Your salary isn’t even higher than us farmers’, right? We at least have some money to save every month.”
I watched the glowing display and the price tag in blood-red font.
Father was looking as well.
The snow fell on our heads and shoulders. My father’s palms were shaking because of how cold it was.
”It’s fine, dad. I have a notebook now, so I don’t need a desktop computer anymore. Plus, I promised you that I won’t play Starcraft anymore.”
Father blew his palms to warm himself before replying, ”Are you still angry with me about that day? Three years ago, you wanted to go to Beijing to compete, but I didn’t give you a single yuan, and I scolded you harshly. In the end, you weren’t able to attend that competition.”
I shot my father an apologetic look before saying, ”Dad, I… I actually went and snuck off to Beijing that day. Third uncle’s the one who paid the 400 yuan taxi ride for me…”
My third uncle immediately chided me, ”Why are you spilling the beans now!?”
But my father smiled through his shivering. ”That’s good, that’s good… what happened afterward?”
I thought for a moment before replying, ”Well… I was disqualified in the first round…”
That was a lie. The truth was, I spent seven days sleeping at the subway stations and rationed every meal, but I still wasn’t able to save enough money to pay the registration fee. What can you do? Life is like this sometimes.
……
It was at this moment He Yi showed up and smiled at the three of us. ”Uncle, third uncle, Lu Chen, why are you three standing in the snow? Let’s head home already, it’s really cold outside. Oh right, uncle and third uncle haven’t eaten yet, right? In that case, let’s go look for a restaurant first…”
Father was surprised to see He Yi. He gave his eyes a rub before asking, ”Are you… manager He Yi?”
He Yi nodded and shot him a sweet smile. ”That’s me. Lu Chen and I are living in the same company apartment, and I suppose that you can call us flatmates? Anyway, let’s go find a warm place to have dinner already.”
For some reason, father and third uncle looked a bit caught off-guard by He Yi. I supposed that her graceful aura wasn’t something they were used to seeing. Father even shook his head and said, ”It’s fine, Third… third and I already ate some food!”
I pressed the question, ”What did you guys eat, third uncle?”
Third uncle pointed at a nearby stall and said, ”We ate two roasted sweet potatoes each.”
”There’s no way you’re full with just that! Come on, let’s find a place to eat,” I said while holding my father’s arm.
Father and third uncle had no choice but to follow us then.
The X12 was very spacious, enough so that my father could be comfortable even with his bad leg. However, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sorrow when I saw how much effort it took for him to climb into the back seat. I owed him far too much, and I had failed to perform my responsibilities as a son completely.
……
”This car is pretty spacious…” third uncle praised immediately after he got into the car.
He Yi looked back from the front passenger seat and replied smilingly, ”Mn, it’s Lu Chen’s car. His eye for cars is pretty good.”
”What? This car is Lu Chen’s?” third uncle exclaimed in astonishment. ”The first time I saw it, I thought this was your company car, and that Lu Chen’s your driver…”
It was He Yi’s turn to be astonished. ”Of course not! Lu Chen is an elite employee in our company. Of course he can afford a car.”
Third uncle then looked at the logo on the steering wheel before commenting, ”This is a BMW, right? From what I heard inside the village, this car is expensive as all hell. How much did you spend to buy this, Lu Chen?”
I hurriedly replied, ”Not much, not much at all…”
He Yi interrupted that line of conversation with a question, ”So, uncle, third uncle, why didn’t you inform us before you came over?”
My father replied smilingly, ”We didn’t want to disturb you while you’re working. Also, it’s a nice experience to tour the city once in a while.”
Third uncle added, ”The only issue is that it’s a bit too cold, and the cars don’t care about passersby when they drive.”
He Yi chuckled. ”I see. Anyway, please give us a notice before you visit Suzhou next time. This way, Lu Chen will be able to receive you.”
”Mn…”
……
After a brief discussion with He Yi, I took us to a Hot Pot City restaurant. The weather was really cold today, and my father and my third uncle desperately needed to eat something hot to warm themselves up.
We ordered a lot of food after we took a seat. Father and third uncle ate a lot as well.
”Lu Chen… are you coming home for New Year this year?” father asked tentatively before adding, ”It’s fine if you’re too busy.”
I shot him a smile and said, ”Yes, I’m coming home. I already applied for leave, so no worries.”
”Mn.”
He Yi nudged me beneath the table, and I added, ”Er, also… He Yi doesn’t have anyone to spend New Year with because her mom is travelling overseas. If possible, she would like to celebrate New Year at our home while she visits Yangzhou. Is that fine, dad?”
Father hurriedly nodded. ”Of course, of course! That is no problem at all.”
However, my third uncle seemed to notice something and laughed. ”Old Lu, you remember all that ranting you did about Lu Chen not having a girlfriend not long ago? I don’t think you need to worry about that anymore, haha…”
He Yi blushed and bit a pitiful piece of lotus root repeatedly.
Father smiled a happy smile that I had never seen before until now.
……
After we returned to the workshop, we arranged so that my father and third uncle would sleep in my room, I in He Yi’s room, and He Yi in Murong Mingyue’s room. He Yi and Murong Mingyue would be sharing a room tonight.