The Couple Returns to the In-Law’s Home
Translator: NancyEditor: Sae & Sienna
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Midway on the road, Gu Hai turned to look at Bai Luo Yin and asked, “What do you think I should buy?”
“What is there to buy?” Bai Luo Yin said casually, “We’re not short of anything at home.”
“I can’t be like before and go empty-handed, okay? Since I was a student then, freeloading here and there was somewhat reasonable. But now that I’m older, it’s utterly shameful to visit empty-handed!”
The corner of Bai Luo Yin’s lips slightly rose into a smirk. “That thick skin of yours has already been deeply ingrained in my dad’s heart long time ago.”
“I’m not joking with you.” Gu Hai urged, his voice reflecting his mindset, “Hurry up and think for a second. There won’t be any more shopping center around if I don’t get it now.”
Bai Luo Yin’s brows twisted tightly as he pondered, but in the end, a helpless expression remained on his face. “I can’t think of anything.”
“There’s nothing at all that your dad likes?”
“There is.” Bai Luo Yin said.
Gu Hai asked, “What is it?”
“A big grandson!”[1]
Hearing that particular word, Gu Hai’s expression immediately froze before he suddenly stepped on the brake and park the car along the side of the road.
“How about we have a baby now?” A mischievous smile appeared on Gu Hai’s lips as he leaned in closer to Bai Luo Yin.
Unperturbed, Bai Luo Yin shot him a glance, “Are you giving birth then?”
“That’s right, hold my clothes for me! I’ll give birth right away.” Gu Hai said with utmost truthfulness.
Looking at him, Bai Luo Yin couldn’t help but to glare, “Let me see you lay an egg first!”
Gu Hai gritted his teeth, “Did Jiang Yuan hatch you from an egg?”
“You f.u.c.king…..!!”
Bai Luo Yin immediately threw his fist at him, causing the two to tussle in the car. Then when the car started to shake violently—attracting the attention of the pedestrians who pa.s.sed by and gave a strange side glance—Gu Hai gripped Bai Luo Yin’s wrist to stop him. “Stop fooling around. stop fooling around…our hairdos will be messy if we continue.”
“Get out of the car!” Bai Luo Yin order as he adamantly pushed Gu Hai.
Build like the stern rock that he was, Gu Hai did not budge and simply looked in the rearview mirror to fix his hair. “Why do I need to get out of the car?” He asked absent-mindedly.
“To go shopping! Isn’t there a shopping center over there? Let’s take a walk and see if we can buy my dad some clothes. I always see him wearing my hand-me-down clothes.”
Gu Hai couldn’t help to tease him, “You and your dad still wear each other’s clothes?”
“Since we were born in a low-cla.s.s society, we haven’t been able to get rid of that kind of mentality. Even if we had money, we still wouldn’t have the heart to spend it. We can’t compare to your family.” Bai Luo Yin insinuated with a mockery.
Gu Hai fiercely patted the back of Bai Luo Yin’s head, “As if you’re low cla.s.s? Have you ever seen any low-cla.s.s people letting a capitalist pull their pants off?”
Bai Luo Yin, “……”
The two entered the shopping center and headed straight to the men’s section. Gu Hai founded one to his taste and pointed it for Bai Luo Yin to see. “What do you think of that coat?”[2]
“It doesn’t suit my dad, but it does suits your dad.”
“Oh, let’s go then.”
Bai Luo Yin pulled Gu Hai back, “Don’t go yet! Let’s buy it!”
“Why are we buying it if it doesn’t suit him?” Gu Hai looked at Bai Luo Yin.
“Isn’t your dad also a dad?” Bai Luo Yin said, giving him a death stare.
Just as Gu Hai realized what he meant, Bai Luo Yin had already walked away to pay for the item. Looking at the size of the garment, Gu Hai laughed and asked, “How did you know what size my dad wears?”
“I don’t know. I’m just blindly guessing.”
In truth, Bai Luo Yin actually knew what the exact size was. Once, he has to go on a mission in another province and—just by chance—Gu Wei Ting also had a meeting there, and as a result, they ended up returning to the base together. When Gu Wei Ting needed to use the restroom, he had asked Bai Luo Yin to hold his jacket for him, to which he unintentionally glanced at the tag. From then time on, the size remained in his mind.
In regard to everything about Gu Hai…he never had to purposely put much effort into remembering it—the second he learned of anything, it would be etched in his memory as if second nature.
“What do you think of this one?” Bai Luo Yin asked, seeking Gu Hai’s opinion.
Gu Hai’s brows knitted, “Doesn’t it look too old-fashion?”
“He’s already fifty. Even if you bought him something fashionable, he wouldn’t have the guts to wear it out!”
Thinking that it was true, Gu Hai nodded. “It will do then!”
“Don’t be so anxious to buy it. My dad has put on a bit of weight, so it might not fit him…you should try it on first.”
“Why don’t you try it?” Gu Hai ridiculed, “Don’t you and your dad always wear each other’s clothes?”
“Since he gained weight, it’s only natural for his shoulders to become wider than before. What’s more, my frame isn’t as big as yours. So even if it fits me right now, it might be too tight on him.” Bai Luo Yin said, pa.s.sing the garment to Gu Hai.
When Gu Hai walked into the fitting room, Bai Luo Yin looked around in boredom—suddenly his gaze froze on a silhouette, causing his eyes to light up.
“You Qi!”
Not too far off in the distance, an extremely handsome guy, adorning a pair of sungla.s.ses subconsciously looked over. His expression froze for a second as he watched Bai Luo Yin waving energetically at him before he quickly walked toward him in large strides.
The two gave each other a long-awaited hug after not haven’t met in such a long time. It wasn’t hard to guess that they were exceptionally excited at the others’ unexpected appearance.
You Qi took off his sungla.s.ses and the most handsome face—that could wreck the country and bring misfortune to its people—was revealed.
“Yin Zi, what are you doing here?”
Bai Luo Yin pointed at the store behind him, “I’m buying clothes for my dad.”
Just as he finished saying that, Gu Hai walked out of the fitting room and was looking at the mirror with his back facing Bai Luo Yin—who then dragged You Qi into the store. Before he even opened his mouth to call for Gu Hai, You Qi had spoken first.
“Uncle, it has been a long time since we’ve last seen each other.”
Gu Hai, on the other hand has already caught sight of You Qi in the mirror as he turned around to face him with an insincere smile. “Aren’t you being too polite?”
You Qi was completely stunned, “Oh, it’s just you!”
Keeping an indifference att.i.tude, Gu Hai took off the jacket and looked at Bai Luo Yin. “This fit quite well so I’m going to pay for it now.” He said, walking toward the checkout counter.
Giving Gu Hai a glance, You Qi lowered his voice and asked, “You’re still with him?”
“Yeah, but we’ve only been in contact with each other not long ago.” Bai Luo Yin deliberately gloss over the details a bit.
It was then that You Qi noticed the military uniform Bai Luo Yin was wearing and stared at him with open eyes in utter disbelief.
“Did you….”
Bai Luo Yin generously admitted, “I had enlisted in the military and I’m a pilot now.”
“That’s amazing!” You Qi looked at Bai Luo Yin in astonishment. “What’s your rank?”
“I’m just a Major.”
“You’ve already managed to work your way up to a Major at such a young age?” You Qi asked, still rather startled. All the while, a man—standing beside You Qi looked at Bai Luo Yin with great admiration.
“Oh, that’s right. I forgot to introduce you guys. This is my manager, Mr. Ma.” You Qi said, pointing at the middle-aged man to his side.
Bai Luo Yin politely shook his hand.
Afterwards, he continued tease You Qi. “Honestly, I haven’t kept up with the entertainment news for ages. I nearly forgot that you are a celebrity now. Whenever you hold a concert or something, don’t forget to give me a ticket.”
“Listen to yourself. At most, I’m just an actor with small roles. Ah, since you mentioned that, this is the movie I took part in. It will premier in a couple of days! Here’s the admission ticket, you have to come if you have time!”
“Since you acted in it, of course I will come and support you!”
Just as Bai Luo Yin’s voice sounded, Gu Hai’s voice sailed through from behind.
“Isn’t it inappropriate to only give one ticket?”
You Qi poked his forehead with his finger, “Geez, I’m looking my memory already. Wait a second, let me get another one for you.”
Just as the You Qi handed the ticket over, Mr. Ma spoke. “You must be Mr. Gu Hai, correct?”
Although he did not recognize the other person, Gu Hai still politely shook his hand.
“Do you know each other?” You Qi looked at his manager with confusion.
Mr. Ma faintly smiled, “I’ve heard a lot about him and have been looking forward to meeting him.”
The four chatted for a while until You Qi gave Bai Luo Yin and Gu Hai a business card and cheerfully said goodbye. “I have to go since I still have some things to do. We’ll chat another day!”
“Go do what you have to!”
Looking at You Qi’s fading back, Bai Luo Yin couldn’t help but to sigh. “He has become more handsome than ever!”
“Okay, yeah…” Gu Hai sneered coldly on the side, “…so handsome that he doesn’t even look human.”
Bai Luo Yin shot him a glance, “Let’s go quickly. Your brother is still waiting for you at home!”
“My brother?” Gu Hai asked with a frozen expression.
Bai Luo faintly smiled, “Since You Qi called you ‘uncle’, you must be from that generation! Doesn’t that make my dad your brother?”
“Are you asking to be f.u.c.ked?”
“Hehe……”
The two bought a set of outfits for Aunt Zou, but being unsure of what to get for Meng Tong Tian, they ended up getting him a tablet. By the time they arrived at the house, the sky has already fallen into darkness.
Upon hearing the doorbell, Bai Han Qi hastily went to open the door.
“You two are here?”
The emotions Gu Hai felt when he saw Bai Han Qi now compared to when he saw him at the engagement was completely different.
“Uncle.” He called out in an extremely sincere and warm tone.
Bai Han Qi’s heart couldn’t help but to trembled unintendedly; it was as if he had not heard that tone in ages.
“Quickly come in!”
As the four sat on the sofa and chatted, Gu Hai didn’t know what he could say since it has been so long, and he was not the silly boy from the past; there were things he could no longer dared to speak so freely of anymore.
Aunt Zou didn’t take her eyes off Gu Hai as she spoke cheerfully. “Oh my, you have grown so much! Even now, I still when you used to come here all the time to eat. You were able to eat six bowls of zhajiangmian[3] all by yourself, and after walking around the backyard for a bit, you’d get hungry again.”
Gu Hai laughed, “If you make it for me now, I can still eat six bowls.”
Aunt Zou immediately stood up in excitement, “Then, I’ll quickly go knead the dough, we will eat zhajiangmian tonight.”
Bai Han Qi looked at Gu Hai, then looked at Bai Luo Yin—a gratified smile appeared on his face.
“Every time I see you, the chances I get to see you again lessens.”
Bai Luo Yin’s face darkened, “Dad, what are you saying?”
“Did I say something wrong?” Bai Han Qi’s gaze turned toward Bai Luo Yin, “How many times do you come home in a year? How many more years do I have left to live? If I calculate it that way, there’s not a lot of time for me to see you, right?”
Bai Luo Yin couldn’t help but to be upset hearing Bai Han Qi speak like that.
Sitting to the side with an aching heart, Gu Hai hastily put in a few good words for Bai Luo Yin.
“Uncle, you’re not familiar with the rule and regulations placed on each soldier in the military. For the first few years since the day that he enlisted, it is mandatory for him to live on the base. But in a couple more years, when his rank is higher than it is now, he can definitely move out.”
Bai Han Qi’s eyes lit up, “Really?”
“Didn’t I already say the same thing to you before?” Bai Luo interrupted from the side in foul mood.
“Your words are not reliable. I can see clearly that Da Hai have changed a lot after all these year. At least, he looks a lot more composed than you!”
Bai Luo Yin silently rebuked, that’s because you haven’t seen the way he acts in bed…
Soon Bai Han Qi turned his gaze toward Gu Hai and looked at him with a guilt-ridden expression.
“Da Hai, Uncle didn’t mean to deceive you on purpose. During the first two years that Yin Zi was enlisted, Uncle has already felt very bad. That day you came to look for me at home, and I told you that Yin Zi died, once you left, I cried for the whole night!”
Gu Hai’s heart skipped a beat when he heard those words; he quickly held Bai Han Qi’s hands.
“Uncle, I don’t blame you. I know you have your own difficulties.”
Bai Luo Yin kept his head hung low without uttering a word.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit depressing, Gu Hai quick-wittedly joked with Bai Han Qi instead. “Do you still have the black and white photo of Yin Zi that you had made for the memorial tablet?”
Bai Luo Yin firmly lifted his head, “What? You made a memorial tablet with a black and white picture of me? How come I don’t know about this?”
Bai Han Qi smiled and spoke honestly, “I secretly put it away every time you came home!”
“Did you put it out here every day?!” Bai Luo Yin was in a state of utter confusion.
Bai Han Qi responded with a lack of confidence, “Not every day…I only put it out on Sat.u.r.days and Sundays so that it can soak up some sunlight. I was afraid it would become moldy if it was kept inside the cupboard.”
At that point, Bai Luo Yin was fuming with anger, “What are you keeping it for, huh?”
“What? I think it’s a waste to just throw it away! That photo frame is very st.u.r.dy and I didn’t have the heart to throw away that photo of you either, so I left it there as an artistic photo! Aren’t youngster nowadays fond of getting their photos taken in black and white on purpose?!”
“But, their black and white photos doesn’t have any snacks or food placed in front of it!”
“Pfffttt……” Gu Hai nearly spat out the water in his mouth as he tried to contain his laughter.
—
Translator’s Note:
[1] 大孫子 Lit Trans: Big grandson. Calling someone grandson is actually cursing them in Beijing. Meaning, they are low, despicable, not genuine. BLY was actually cursing GH in this context.
[2] 褂子 Guà zi : Northern china uses this word, it literally means “outerwear”. It can be a top, winter coats or jackets. It can also be eastern style like this:
[3] 炸醬面 Zhajiangmian: OMG I’m drooling.