Chapter 28 (1/2)

The older man’s expression remained stiff, but in fact, his mind was completely blank. This state lasted until they left the campus and entered a nearby teahouse.

Actually, Lin Jingzhe knew that Lin Runsheng preferred drinking coffee; when he was young, he was sent abroad and many traces of his time in foreign lands remained in his habits and daily routine. Unfortunately, though in the future the street behind Yan University’s campus would be full of trendy cafes and other such establishments, transforming into a famous holy land for hipsters, it had yet to develop to that scale.

However, Lin Jingzhe liked to drink tea, or rather, he liked the quiet and sense of peace he felt when going through the process of brewing tea. He ordered a pot of—judging by the price—inauthentic Longjing tea, and asked his father, “This should be fine, right?”

Lin Runsheng stared at him in a daze. Of course, no trace of the turbulent feelings raging in his heart was visible on his face.

Lin Jingzhe’s temperament was far beyond what he had originally imagined. He knew that his son was a fine boy. When they talked on the phone, Mr. Jiang often praised his excellent character and academic achievements—ever since elementary school, his grades had always been among the best.

Once, the old man heaved a sigh, saying that Lin Jingzhe was a very good child, but was a little introverted, somewhat cynical, and that while it wasn’t obvious, his personality was a bit rebellious.

But seeing his son again, he noticed that in the youth’s eyes, there was a maturity and composure that he shouldn’t have at his age.

Lin Runsheng was silent for a long time, and when he finally opened his mouth, what came out was, “Uh-huh.”

Lin Jingzhe had given up on normal communication with him a long time ago. The only long conversation they had ever had happened when Lin Runsheng was dying of a heart attack; Lin Jingzhe was nearly 30 at that time. It was only then that he learned that his father had been voluntarily paying for child support, and not a low amount.

But before that, Lin Runsheng had never mentioned it during their many arguments. The man was stuffy and stubborn; like a smelly, hard stone in a cesspit, unless it was thoroughly cracked open, no one could see what was hiding inside.

Lin Jingzhe remembered that as a kid, whenever he had shown some rebellious tendencies, his grandfather had often reminded him not to hate his father, and that adults had their own difficulties.

At that time, he didn’t know what “difficulties” the old man was referring to and why he always avoided giving a straightforward explanation, but as the time went by and he became more worldly-wise, he understood.

How could Jiang Jiping explain? After all, it was his daughter who was in the wrong. Lin Jingzhe often thought that his grandpa had basically no shortcomings, except for the fact that he really didn’t know how to properly raise children.

It was to the extent that Jiang Qiaqia, Jiang Xiaoyun, Jiang Zhi, and Lin Jingzhe all developed somewhat eccentric personalities and sets of morals that didn’t quite follow societal standards.

The tea was served. Although the tea offered by the small teahouse wasn’t authentic, it still had a nice aroma. No one at their table spoke. Lin Jingzhe was quite comfortable in this familiar silence; he took the pot, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it slightly forward, offering it to his father.

“Thank you,” Lin Runsheng thanked him subconsciously, accepting the tea. Then his mind finally caught up with the situation and he reacted by freezing with the hot cup in his hand, completely at a loss.

Lin Jingzhe didn’t look at him anymore. After pouring the tea, he took his cup and quietly watched the street outside the window, his face serene.

His attitude gradually relaxed Lin Runsheng, who was so nervous that his back was sweating. The middle-aged man sipped some tea, his face set in its naturally fierce expression, then asked, carefully choosing his words, “You know me?”

One of Lin Jingzhe’s hands cradled the cup that was resting on the table as his other hand propped up his cheek, his gaze still fixed on the lush wall of trees framing the campus. “Yeah.”

Lin Runsheng felt his mouth go dry. He took another sip of the tea, using this action to secretly peek at the youth. “Did your mother show you my picture?”

“My grandfather did.” Lin Jingzhe turned back around, staring fearlessly at the face that could scare rebellious students into behaving with a single look. “Are you still paying child support?”

The change of a subject was too abrupt and Lin Runsheng’s response was delayed by a beat. “What?”

“Just stop.” Apparently, Lin Jingzhe didn’t bring up this topic in order to have a conversation about it as he went on by himself, “It’s useless for you to remit money to Jiang Qiaqia, she won’t spend it on me. She never has.”

It took Lin Runsheng about five seconds to comprehend the meaning of this sentence, and his stern expression finally changed a bit, but it only made him look more ferocious. “What?!”

He startled the teahouse worker and she hurriedly ducked into the corridor, peeking out to watch. She sympathized with the young and handsome guest who was clearly being bullied, but at the same time feared that the two would fight and destroy the furnishings.

However, in the face of the other man’s fierce emotions, Lin Jingzhe was still astonishingly calm. In his last life, he and Lin Runsheng had fought for many years. The first time he came to Yan City and saw his father act like this, he inevitably thought that he wasn’t welcome. By the time he realized Lin Runsheng was just a paper tiger, the rancor accumulated on both sides had already grown too big for either of them to back off gracefully.

In the end, his father was an opponent who usually suffered defeat in his hands; Lin Jingzhe felt guilt towards him but no reverence. “Don’t blame Grandpa, he was good to me and I was not lacking for anything. After he and Jiang Qiaqia became estranged, he never gave her a penny, but she was his flesh and blood after all—he couldn’t find it in himself to completely cut off all her sources of income.”

He still overestimated Lin Runsheng’s reaction time—after everything had been said, the other side had only finally finished digesting his previous statement. “She never spent it on you? How could this be?!”

Lin Jingzhe sighed. With his father’s dullness, he was really curious to know how this man was able to study abstruse ICT technology. “Shouldn’t you know? Her actions are only natural since my existence is not important to her. By the way, she’s just decided to have a second child, with Qi Qing.”

What Lin Jingzhe was telling him was quite different from the information Lin Runsheng had received in the past ten years. He sat there, stunned, as the order established in his mind was completely collapsing. “But we signed an agreement…”

“Agreement?” Lin Jingzhe sneered, wondering if he should laugh at his stupidity or at Jiang Qiaqia’s methods. “Professor Lin, do you think you’re still abroad? Your bullshit agreement on not having any more children is not legally binding in our country.”

He paused, his chest filled with an indescribable rage. He couldn’t believe how easily he had been played by that woman in his last life; really, it was a farce deserving of a thunderous applause.

He stood up abruptly and drank all the tea left in his cup. The still hot liquid entered his stomach but failed to quench the flames of his anger.

“Anyway, I’m just informing you so you can stop wasting money, but the decision of what to do belongs to you.” Lin Jingzhe glanced at his watch. He didn’t want to stay here any longer or he was afraid that he would lose control of his temper as he often had in his last life. He should hurry up and leave. “I have something to do in the dormitory, I need to go back now.”

Lin Runsheng was stuck in a stupor from the huge amount of information he had yet to digest, but when he saw that the young man wanted to leave, he still stood up inadvertently.

He opened his mouth, his expression determined and his face flushed with agitation, and uttered, “…Evening… would you like to come over for dinner this evening?”

“Thank you.” Lin Jingzhe saw the uneasiness hidden under his appearance, and his mood turned a little complicated. After a moment of hesitation, he still rejected the invitation. “But no.”

Lin Runsheng opened his mouth wanting to say something more, but he didn’t know what to say. Lin Jingzhe gritted his teeth and passed by him. When he came down to the first floor, he looked back from the foot of the staircase.

The tall middle-aged man was still standing where he had left him, his back illuminated by the light, apparently watching him leave. Lin Jingzhe couldn’t see his expression, but from his posture, he could sense a deep loneliness.

After pushing open the doors of the teahouse and coming out into the scorching sun, Lin Jingzhe stood absentminded for a moment, and then determinedly walked towards the side entrance of the campus.

That was it. His father already had a new family. In his past life, his ending had been too tragic—Lin Jingzhe didn’t want to repeat it again.

The best thing he could do for the man he’d been feeling guilty towards for so many years was to stay far away from him.

When Lin Runsheng got back, his whole body emanated a ‘you’d better keep away from me’ aura, so strong that the sentries at the intersection were intimidated and instinctively stood up even straighter. He got out of the car and entered the front door. As he was taking off his shoes in the hall, his second wife, Shen Juanying, came down the stairs. At the sight of him, she was stunned.

“Ah!” Exclaiming in shock, she rushed to his side. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Lin Runsheng glanced towards the inside of the house. Shen Juanying followed his gaze, immediately understanding, and said, “Tiantian has gone out to play and Aunt Li isn’t here now.”

In response, the tears in Lin Runsheng’s eyes fell down and he began to sob.

Shen Juanying was both frightened and distressed. She touched her husband’s face, which was still set in a scary expression, wiped his tears, and tugged at him to sit down on the sofa, soothing him with a gentle voice.

Lin Runsheng cried for a long time before slowly calming down. Shen Juanying gave him a sidelong glance. “How come you always cry at the drop of a hat? Come on, tell me what happened—did the professors in the research lab bully you again? Those damn people, I’ll help you get back at them!”

“No.” Lin Runsheng took his wife’s hand and sobbed out what Lin Jingzhe had told him.

“What?! It can’t be! You send her thousands of yuan every month. Jiang Qiaqia is a mother after all, would she really be so callous?” Looking shocked, Shen Juanying passed him several tissues. “Shouldn’t it just be a child talking nonsense? You have to be careful not to accuse her unjustly.”

Eyes red, Lin Runsheng stared at the phone. “You can call her and ask.”

“If you want to pick a fight with her, you should do it personally. What reason do I have to ask her?” his wife said helplessly.

Lin Runsheng was usually afraid to talk to Jiang Qiaqia, but now his outrage overcame his timidity. Bristling with anger, he dialed the phone under Shen Juanying’s worried gaze.

Jiang Qiaqia’s voice was as pleasing to the ear as ever. {Hello?}

“Qiaqia, it’s me.”

The pleasant voice fell silent in an instant and there was some kind of a muffled commotion on the other side of the phone. After a moment, Jiang Qiaqia said with impatience, {You? Haven’t I told you, don’t call me if there’s nothing.} She paused, then continued, {Why haven’t I received the remittance slip this month? Did you forget?}

Lin Runsheng sniffed and said loudly, “You dare to ask me about that? Let me ask you, how do you spend the money I send you every month? Is it used for Jingzhe?”

After a moment of hesitation, Jiang Qiaqia replied as if nothing was wrong, {What do you mean? Did someone say something to you?}

Lin Runsheng banged his hand against the table. “Don’t try to lie to me! I’ve met Jingzhe, it was he who told me!”

Jiang Qiaqia’s voice immediately came to a halt, then she quickly replied, {And you actually believed him?! What does a child understand!}

She sounded so full of confidence that Lin Runsheng’s anger was suppressed. Probably guessing his reaction, her words came out in a rush, bringing out a tone of deep grievance and resentment, {You called me just to ask this? That’s what you think of me? Lin Runsheng, you haven’t seen your child for over a decade yet you have the audacity to question me like this? Did he grow up with you or me? He’s my own son, how can I treat him badly? Search your conscience and ask yourself if you are qualified to ask me such a question!}

Lin Runsheng had never been able to successfully argue against her. Hearing the barrage of questions, he countered weakly, “It’s because you asked me not to disturb his life…”

{So what?! What does it matter?!} Jiang Qiaqia rebuked. {I’m asking you who raised him!}

Lin Runsheng was silent.

Jiang Qiaqia’s words became increasingly aggressive. {Open your mouth and speak! Why are you still like this even after all these years, silent and gutless? And you call yourself a man? I gave you all my youth, I married you and bore a son for you. I accompanied you through thick and thin, even when you were a poor teacher in Qunnan City. I’ve endured for so many years and this is how you repay me?! Is Lin Jingzhe your son or isn’t he? Then shouldn’t you pay for his upkeep? Have I asked you for anything else all these years? No? Then how can you begrudge this small amount of money!}

She took a breath and continued to scold, {And why did you go see him? We signed an agreement, do you plan not to abide by it any longer?!}

Lin Runsheng said anxiously, “I didn’t, he… It was him who recognized me, I…”

{Bullshit!!!} Jiang Qiaqia rudely interrupted his explanation, reducing him to silence.

Shen Juanying, who was sitting beside him listening to the conversation, narrowed her eyes. Seeing that her husband was really falling for this sophistry and that he was about to cry again, her fury rose and she snatched the receiver from him. “Jiang Qiaqia, you better speak politely. Can’t we solve this peacefully?” she said.

Jiang Qiaqia just sneered. {Who are you to concern yourself with this matter? This is between me and Lin Runsheng, don’t just butt in. Aren’t you taking yourself too seriously?}

“Am I? I don’t think so. Jiang Qiaqia, don’t forget why you two divorced in the first place.” Unlike her husband, Shen Juanying wasn’t someone easy to pick on. Not afraid of Jiang Qiaqia at all, she stabbed right back, “I really don’t know how you have the audacity to speak as if justice is on your side. You couldn’t have possibly forgotten that you were caught in bed with Qi Qing?”

Jiang Qiaqia choked up, feeling as though she was suffocating, but because of Shen Yuanying’s status, she didn’t dare speak rashly. She could only gnash her teeth and snap back, {With Lin Runsheng being the way he is, who wouldn’t look for a better man? You must be the only one who could be satisfied with his personality!}

“We aren’t talking about that.” Shen Juanying calmly switched the receiver to her other hand. “Today, we’re calling you to check on what happened to Lin Jingzhe’s living expenses we have remitted to you over the years. Manager Jiang, both you and your husband are entrepreneurs—you must understand what I mean by that, right?”

Jiang Qiaqia was far less confident when facing her than when facing her former husband. She really couldn’t figure out how Lin Runsheng, who had been transferred to Yan City after their divorce, could climb such a high branch like Shen Juanying. She couldn’t understand Shen Juanying either—she came from a wealthy and powerful family and held a high position. She must’ve met all kinds of excellent men, so why would she fall in love with Lin Runsheng? After living together for many years, Jiang Qiaqia knew her ex-husband’s character all too well; although he looked like a serious and capable man, in fact, he was really just an embroidered pillow! He didn’t know how to do anything except research, he could neither make money nor climb the social ladder, and when he was wronged, he’d go home and cry!

Jiang Qiaqia felt almost sick enough to throw up when she thought about the cold and hard-looking man shedding tears at her behind a closed door!

{Check? How?} she said crossly. {All the money has been spent, on his living expenses and tuition. Do you still need to check?}

“Why not?” Shen Juanying replied. “I might not have any other skills, but checking a few personal accounts shouldn’t be a problem. Manager Jiang, if you don’t have any objections, why don’t I ask someone in Qunnan City to go to your house and get your account book? Oh, but perhaps you didn’t keep a record—that’s fine, the remittance slips proving you were sending the money to Lin Jingzhe will work as well.”

Jiang Qiaqia felt weak—how could she have something like that? But she also knew that if Shen Juanying dared to say this, she definitely had the ability to follow through on her words.

She found herself riding a tiger.

After a long pause, she said stiffly, {Why should I need to prove it to you? I’m Lin Jingzhe’s mother—is it any of your business how and when I gave him the money? What right do you have to take this up with me? Did you give birth to him?}

Shen Juanying was a shrewd and experienced reader of people; hearing Jiang Qiaqia’s reply, she knew at once that the other woman was indeed guilty. Though she didn’t want to believe it, she had no choice but to acknowledge that the news her husband brought back was true.

She was horrified—she never expected that in this world, there could be a “mother” such as Jiang Qiaqia. Consequently, she lost her usual good temper. “What funny things you say, Manager Jiang. Of course I didn’t give birth to him, but as for what right do I have to take this matter up with you—you haven’t forgotten who remits money to you every month? If you refuse to cooperate, don’t blame us for doing the same starting from next month.”

{What do you mean? You don’t plan to pay child support anymore?!} Jiang Qiaqia asked, shocked.

“Not necessarily. Take out either your account book or the remittance slips to prove that the money went to the right place and all will be well.”