Chapter 74 - Flaunting Wealth
The exciting meal came to a close.
In the end, none of the Lin family stayed at the Zheng house for the night. Naturally, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s suggestions were just to tease the frightened Chen ShiYi. They didn’t actually intend to have a sleepover, because even if Lin Qian stayed, they wouldn’t be able to do anything anyway.
However, it seems that Zheng BuLu genuinely wanted his buddy to continue chatting with him for the rest of the night. He urged Lin YaZhi several times but was suppressed by Chen ShiYi.
On the way home, Chen ShiYi didn’t forget to tell Lin YaZhi not to have much contact with Zheng BuLu.
The listening Lin YaZhi: ????
Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to say those words to Chen ShiYi?
Shao SiJia, who was listening to their conversation, was much sharper than the clueless Lin YaZhi. She felt that somehow, her younger brother and his wife had something to do with Chen ShiYi’s sudden mood change. She whispered to Lin Qian: “What did you do to our stepmother, ah?”
Lin Qian: “….” How come his sister was able to find the source of Chen ShiYi’s problem so fast?
Lin Qian smiled and replied: “Nothing much, we just came out of the closet.”
After a stunned silence, Shao SiJia looked at her brother like he was some sort of lunatic. “Even if she"s our stepmother, you could"ve at least given her a good start to the year, ah.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to let her celebrate. Things just got out of hand.”
Shao SiJia: “….”
Shao SiJia thought back to Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing’s unbridled flirting at home and guessed what had happened. Shao SiJia gave Lin Qian a hateful look and asked: “What did you and Zheng PingQing do?”
“Nothing.” Lin Qian gave her a ‘you know’ look.
Shao SiJia bitterly replied: “…Don’t hint at it, ah. When you suggest things instead of saying it outright, it makes my brain conjure up all sorts of things!”
Lin Qian didn’t feel the least bit embarra.s.sed. “It’s the New Year, and we’re a couple full of sap. What do you think we did?”
Shao SiJia gave Chen ShiYi, who was sitting in the pa.s.senger seat, a sympathetic look. She sincerely wanted to invite Chen ShiYi to a girl’s night, where they would complain about boys all night long.
……
In the Zheng family home.
When the Lin family left, Zheng BuLu went to the living room to smoke, while He YiJun directed the hired housekeepers to clean the house. When she was finished, she went to Zheng BuLu and smiled. “Old Zheng, arrangements for the house are finished. For tomorrow’s itinerary….”
Since there was no matriarch in the Zheng family, He YiJun was the one who followed Zheng BuLu home every Chinese New Year and explained to him the new year’s events he had to attend. Usually, Zheng BuLu wouldn’t be able to relax until the second day of the new year. Therefore, this year, when Zheng BuLu formally started dating He YiJun, he promised her that he would go back to her home on the second day of the new year and meet her family.
When Zheng BuLu first mentioned this, although He YiJun’s expression remained graceful and elegant, on the inside, she was ecstatic. To Zheng Bulu, it might just be an ordinary act of grat.i.tude, but He YiJun perceived such an act to be an affirmation of her ident.i.ty.
Finally, this year, Zheng BuLu said he would accompany her.
This year’s celebrations started rough, mostly because of Chen ShiYi and her new family. They kept her awake for several nights, with He YiJun worrying herself to death. But those people were finally sent away. At the thought of tomorrow’s trip, He YiJun couldn’t help but show a genuine smile.
“Oh, I forgot to mention.” Zheng BuLu interrupted her thoughts. “I won’t be able to go with you tomorrow. Go back on your own.”
He YiJun’s smile froze.
Zheng BuLu pressed his cigarette into a nearby ashtray. He continued: “I’ll ask the driver to take you. Use one of the bigger cars; I bought a few more gifts you can take home with you. No need to thank me…”
Zheng BuLu’s words were generous, but the more he spoke, the further He YiJun’s face sank.
By the time Zheng BuLu finished, the smile on He YiJun’s face had disappeared entirely. In a stiff voice, she asked: “Old Zheng, why are you suddenly not going?”
“Something happened with the company. I have to go back a day in advance, so I won’t be able to spend as much time here. I decided to stay home tomorrow and spend more time with my son. After all, he’s about to take the college entrance exams.”
He YiJun stared at Zheng BuLu stupidly. This time, she didn’t have the strength to even laugh.
For years, ever since Zheng BuLu and Chen ShiYi divorced, she had helped the Zheng family with their new year’s plans. She hadn’t eaten the new year’s feast with her family for a long time now.
A few years ago, she wasn’t Zheng BuLu’s girlfriend yet. Because of this, relatives and neighbors would inevitably whisper some not-so-good words behind her back. Although no one dared to say it to her face, He YiJun knew that people regarded her as an idiot who lost money instead of being paid.
However, when she announced that she was dating Zheng BuLu, all those people changed their tune. Their whispers became words of envy and jealousy. Some people even ‘praised’ her for being so skilled.
This year, Zheng BuLu said he would go home with her. All of He YiJun’s relatives were very excited, and the matter was spread to the entire neighborhood. It seems that their daughter really was going to marry into a wealthy family.
He YiJun’s family made their preparations early. They eagerly waited by the door for Zheng BuLu’s arrival, and many of their neighbors also sat by their windows, hoping to catch a glimpse of a rich man.
But how could He YiJun foresee that on the day before departure, Zheng BuLu would suddenly change his mind? And the reason was so ridiculous.
It turned out that this very important thing for He YiJun couldn’t even be compared to spending more time with his son.
It wasn’t enough that he came home days in advance?
He YiJun bit her lip, then gently said: “Old Zheng, my family was looking forward to your visit. Just a few hours…”
Zheng BuLu sighed and replied: “What’s to look forward to, ah. Your family is too polite.”
He YiJun said: “No, no, it’s not politeness. They want to meet you. After all, we’ve been dating for so long.”
Zheng BuLu looked at He YiJun and said: “There’s nothing to see. I haven’t been a good boyfriend, so I would feel quite ashamed if I meet them now.”
His words sounded self-accusatory, but He YiJun felt like he was hinting at something. But before she could figure it out, Zheng BuLu waved a hand. “Just arrange things as you see fit. Take whatever gifts you want and say h.e.l.lo to your parents for me.”
He YiJun still couldn’t believe that the situation became like this. Unwilling, she said: “Old Zheng…”
But Zheng BuLu closed his eyes and leaned back on the sofa.
All of her unfinished words were swallowed back down. He YiJun looked at Zheng BuLu with bitterness in her eyes. It filled her eyes little by little until, in the end, there was nothing left but hate.
……
At the special request of Zheng BuLu, the students of the tutoring group went to Zheng PingQing’s home on the third day of the Lunar New Year to celebrate together.
Zheng BuLu had released He YiJun into the wild just the day before. With nothing else to do, the idle Zheng BuLu decided to put considerable effort into transforming their house into one big party venue.
So when the students arrived at the Zheng family home, they were shocked at what they saw.
The house was decorated with ribbons, lanterns, and balloons. The upstairs and downstairs was divided into several areas with paraphernalia like gaming consoles and table tennis set up. Other furniture was pushed to one side, and astonishingly, there were specific areas dedicated to food, as seen by the dedicated staff and waiters behind banquet tables. The entire scene was no different than a humongous arcade.
Moreover, there was a costumed man by the front door, giving gift bags to the students as they entered.
The students clutched at their gift bags, and dazedly looked at each other.
Jiang TingJun uncertainly said: “Is our Hardworking Zheng…showing off?”
Fu YiFei enviously retorted: “Definitely! Absolutely!”
Pan Qibo echoed: “I want to report him to the police! He wants to kill us with jealousy!”
Dong MingEn, an absolute supporter of Zheng PingQing, immediately countered: “Your hate mentality towards the rich is too extreme, ah!”
Lou XingGuang nodded. “Why are you all complaining, ah? Just smile, smile.”
It was only Xu Yao who sighed in satisfaction. “The Zheng family is so rich, ah…I feel a little relieved….”
As soon as he said this, everyone looked at him.
Fu YiFei clicked is his tongue. “I didn’t expect our Ah Yao to be such a person!”
Jiang TingJun sighed. “I guess at the end of the day, Ah Yao is just an ordinary person!”
Pan Qibo looked disappointed. “I thought our Ah Yao was a pure boy. I didn’t expect…alas…”
Xu Yao jumped up and punched them all. “Oh?! Go on, tell me what kind of person you think I am!”
Jiang TingJun rubbed his shoulder and sighed once more. “You yourself know best just what kind of person you are.”
Xu Yao: I don’t understand what you’re trying to say!
Xu Yao turned to Lin Qian for help. Lin Qian patted Xu Yao on the shoulder and said: “It’s better to become friends with people for pure intentions, ah. One shouldn’t do it for money.”
Xu Yao: “….” What does he care if Zheng PingQing is rich or not?! He’s worrying for Ah Qian’s sake! Ah Qian is already going to suffer with Zheng PingQing in the future, ah. At least now, Xu Yao knew that money was something they wouldn’t need to worry about.
Xu Yao’s heart was suffering, but he couldn’t say a word.
Dong MingEn grinned as he wrapped an arm around Xu Yao’s shoulders. “Don’t be sad, Ah Yao. I know you’re not that kind of person!”
Xu Yao: “……” First of all, your words don’t give the least bit of comfort! And second, when did Dong MingEn get into the bad habit of constantly groping him, ah?
Hearing the ruckus downstairs, Zheng BuLu came down with a stack of red envelopes in his hands. With a smile, he said: “Students, happy New Year! Welcome to our home.”
Everyone nodded in response. “h.e.l.lo, Uncle Zheng!”
Zheng BuLu raised the stack of red envelopes he was holding and said: “Uncle has red envelopes for you all! Come, come.”
“Wow-” Dong MingEn took the lead and practically flew towards him. “Uncle, I’m the Boss’ best friend!”
“Nonsense, I’m his best friend.” Not to be outdone, Lou XingGuang b.u.mped Dong MingEn to one side.
Behind them, Xu Yao shook his head. “How shameless.”
Then, Jiang TingJun stepped forward, pushing his gla.s.ses up his nose as he did so. He straightforwardly said: “Uncle, I’ll be honest; my relationship with Zheng PingQing is pretty good.”
Xu Yao: “….”
Fu YiFei and Pan Qibo rubbed their hands. “We also have a pretty good relationship with him.”
Xu Yao: “….”
And these people had the nerve to denounce him?