Chapter 76

Chapter 76

Senior year was exhausting for Yuanting. To get into Sichuan-Hai University, he needed to be among the top ten in his class.

Even after joining the advanced class, he was just barely hanging on. Securing a top ten position there was an incredibly daunting task.

Yuanting's days started and ended with studying. Even in his sleep, he found himself mumbling in English.

Fortunately, his years abroad in his previous life had honed his English skills, which remained exceptional.

Yuanting's greatest pleasure was watching Duan Wenze endure hardships on the sports field.

No matter how hard Duan Wenze studied, he could only maintain a rank around thirtieth in class, a score barely sufficient for an average university. Thus, his father decided to let him focus on sports, perhaps Duan's best opportunity.

Therefore, Duan Wenze was subjected to rigorous training on the field every day.

Seeing Duan Wenze in such agony brought a sense of solace to Yuanting. After all, there were others worse off than him in the world.

The torment Duan Wenze endured was not just physical but also mental, especially since Gu Yuqi probably didn’t like him.

Look at that, a truly pitiable fate.

"Come on, five yuan a shot, hurry up for group photos," Yuanting called out during the PE class, holding his Polaroid camera.

With college entrance exams looming, nobody wanted to attend PE class, so the homeroom teacher usually forced everyone out, forbidding them to stay idle in the classroom.

Yuanting wasn’t taking photos for profit; it was more because too many people wanted pictures, and he couldn’t accommodate everyone.

The five yuan was just a threshold. After all, isn’t your friendship or love worth more than five yuan?

"Yuanting, can we take a photo together?" a girl timidly approached and asked in a soft voice.

"What?" Yuanting pondered for a moment. "That's a different price, how about an extra five yuan?"

The girl silently stared at Yuanting for a few seconds before stomping her foot and running away.

Yuanting touched his handsome face, bemused. "Really, am I not even worth five yuan?"

Gu Yuqi, witnessing this, fist-bumped him in admiration, "Respect."

Yuanting, watching Duan Wenze running on the field and glancing their way, schemed. He nudged Gu Yuqi, "We've been desk mates since the second grade of primary school. It's been over a decade of twists and turns. For the sake of our sturdy bond, shouldn't we take a photo to commemorate?"

"I'll pose, but I'm not paying," Gu Yuqi declared.

"How could I take your money?" Yuanting handed the Polaroid to a classmate, and stood with Gu Yuqi for a snapshot.

After the shot, Yuanting called out to Duan Wenze, who was watching them, "Hey, Doggie, come here, it's photo time."

Duan Wenze, initially resentful of seeing them together, immediately scampered over upon hearing this.

"The three of us, classmates in the same class, should take one, right?" Yuanting asked Gu Yuqi, raising an eyebrow.

Gu Yuqi glanced at Duan Wenze, hesitating to respond.

Yuanting cleared his throat subtly, "We absolutely respect the lady's wish. If you don't want to, then never mind."

Gu Yuqi pursed her lips, "We're all classmates, so let's take it. It's just a photo."

"Then the lady should stand in the middle," Yuanting immediately suggested.

Yuanting and Duan Wenze positioned themselves on either side of Gu Yuqi, and their classmate took the photo for them.

"Let's auction off this photo," Yuanting said to Gu Yuqi. "Are you going to bid?"

Gu Yuqi: "...Who would even want it?"

"Alright, you forfeit," Yuanting raised his hand, "I bid five yuan."

"I bid ten yuan," Duan Wenze immediately shouted, raising his hand.

Yuanting declared, "I bid one hundred."

Duan Wenze quickly countered, "I bid two hundred."

Yuanting: "Then I'll bid three hundred..."

Duan Wenze: "I'll bid..."

"Are you out of your mind?" Gu Yuqi, unable to watch this anymore, glared at Duan Wenze.

Scratching his head with a nervous laugh, Duan Wenze said, "I bid five hundred."

Gu Yuqi: "..."

Indeed, everyone who gets along well with Yuanting seems a bit off. Finding a normal guy these days is really tough.

In the end, Duan Wenze won the photo for five hundred yuan.

Yuanting stuffed the five hundred yuan into his pocket, "I'll save this money. After the college entrance exams, I'll treat you both to a meal."

"Great!" Duan Wenze's eyes lit up, thinking, 'True brotherhood, even arranging dates for me.'

Yuanting patted his shoulder, whispering, "I've always said my studies are to help you get a girlfriend. Remember my kindness, okay? Now, let's go for a run."

Duan Wenze, holding the photo, joyfully ran off and found a corner to cut Yuanting out of it, deeming him superfluous.

After school, Yuanting stuffed the Polaroid into his backpack and left the school gates. Today was a holiday, and Cheng Nanyi was coming back.

This was the last trip back before the college entrance exams. The exams were next week, and liberation was near.

Spotting the familiar car, Yuanting ran over, opened the door, and got in, then instinctively looked at the back seat.

Cheng Nanyi always brought him something on his returns.

"Where's the food?" The back seat, besides a luggage bag, was empty.

"You have exams soon, you can't eat just anything. I didn’t bring anything this time," Cheng Nanyi said.

"There's still a week to go."

"Better safe than sorry," Cheng Nanyi started the car. "But I can still take you out for some clean and tasty food."

Cheng Nanyi took Yuanting to a private restaurant they had frequented many times before without any issues. It was the safest choice.

After Yuanting ordered from the menu, he propped his chin and looked at Cheng Nanyi, "What if I don’t do well in the exams?"

"If not, you can retake the year," Cheng Nanyi said, pouring him a cup of water from the teapot.

"I want plum juice."

"No."

"Hmph," Yuanting scoffed coldly, "Then I must do well this time, aiming to get into Yuan Xiao's school."

"I wish you success," Cheng Nanyi clinked his cup against Yuanting's.

Yuanting: "..." Pfft.

What an act.

"Nanyi? What are you doing here?"

A familiar voice startled Yuanting, and he turned his head to look.

Cheng Nanyi had already stood up, "Uncle, Aunt, you're here for dinner too?"

"Yes, aren't you supposed to be in Sichuan-Hai? Why are you back? Uncle Liu didn't mention your return… Yuanting?" Cheng Shaolin, approaching them, recognized Yuanting and stopped in surprise.

Since Yuanting left the Cheng family, the two hadn't seen each other again.

Occasionally, he would see Yuan Qingguang, but as Yuanting refused to meet him, and he didn't want to impose, especially being the ex-husband of his former wife's son, also wary of Qingguang's feelings.

Sometimes, when idle, he would wait outside the school, seeing Yuanting happily leaving, which reassured him. After all, what's more important than happiness?

Yuanting stood up, touched his neck, and opened his mouth, unsure of what to call him.

"Weiwei, this is Yuanting, the boy I've mentioned to you," Cheng Shaolin introduced, wrapping his arm around the woman beside him.

Yuanting looked over and was so shocked his jaw almost dropped to the floor.

Goodness... Why is Dr. Zhong's belly so big???

That's not just weight gain; she's pregnant…

Cheng Shaolin, seeing Yuanting's astonished expression, felt a bit awkward and touched his nose.

Zhong Wei greeted Yuanting warmly, waving her hand, "Hi, Yuanting."

"Hello, hello…" Yuanting was so stunned he couldn't think straight.

Wasn't his stepfather infertile?

"By the way, Nanyi, how come you two are together?" Cheng Shaolin turned to Cheng Nanyi.

"Yuanting has his college entrance exams soon, so I came back to see him," Cheng Nanyi walked over to Yuanting, giving up his seat for Cheng Shaolin and Zhong Wei.

Cheng Shaolin pulled out a chair for Zhong Wei to sit first, then seated himself.

"You two... made up?" Cheng Shaolin's gaze shifted between them.

When Yuanting had left, they were completely estranged, and his name was still a taboo in the family.

Cheng Nanyi gestured for the waiter to bring tableware, not responding to Cheng Shaolin's question.

Zhong Wei nudged him gently, indicating it was a silly question. The two were sitting together, obviously reconciled.

After the waiter set the tableware, Cheng Shaolin helped Zhong Wei with the sanitizing, while Yuanting kept his gaze on her.

Zhong Wei glanced at Yuanting and smiled at him.

Cheng Nanyi frowned slightly and reached out to turn Yuanting's face towards him.

Meeting Cheng Nanyi's gaze, Yuanting blinked.

"Be more composed," Cheng Nanyi whispered.

Yuanting took the opportunity to whisper in Cheng Nanyi's ear.

To prevent others from overhearing, Yuanting's lips almost brushed against Cheng Nanyi's earlobe.

Cheng Nanyi felt the warm breath from Yuanting pouring into his ear, an intimacy he had never experienced before. Yet, the words Yuanting spoke were even more unsettling than the gesture.

"Is the child my stepfather’s?"

Cheng Nanyi looked at him expressionlessly.

Yuanting pinched his thigh in response.

Cheng Nanyi held down his mischievous hand, whispering, "What are you thinking?"

Yuanting: "..."

He wondered how Cheng Shaolin, who was supposedly infertile, could father a child.

Suddenly, Yuanting burst into laughter. "Dr. Zhong really is incredible."

Raising his tea cup, Yuanting clinked it with Cheng Shaolin's, "Congratulations."

Cheng Shaolin sighed, "Ah…" realizing there was no familiar form of address left.

Yuanting also pursed his lips.

Although he had only spent a few years with Cheng Shaolin in this life, in his previous life, it had been a solid decade. In his heart, Cheng Shaolin was his real father.

"Thank you," Cheng Shaolin raised his cup in return, looking at Yuanting with a hint of emotion, "It’s been years, and Yuanting has grown up so much."

Yuanting paid no heed, his focus solely on Zhong Wei, "Is the baby coming soon?"

"Two more months to go," Zhong Wei smiled, gently touching her belly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Yuanting nudged Cheng Nanyi with his elbow.

Cheng Nanyi remained silent. He wasn't sure how to break the news to Yuanting, fearing it might upset him, especially given Yuanting's previously close bond with Cheng Shaolin, even closer than that of a real father and son.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Yuanting asked.

"A girl, and they're twins," Cheng Shaolin couldn't hide his joy.

"Really?" Yuanting's eyes widened in surprise. "Dad, twins, that's so wonderful!" he blurted out. Impressive! From infertility to twins – what a remarkable twist of fate!

"Yes," Cheng Shaolin chuckled, "My good son."

Yuanting just stared at him.

Cheng Nanyi let out a soft chuckle.

"These are your two little sisters. As their big brother, you’ll need to take good care of them," Cheng Shaolin said, affectionately ruffling Yuanting's hair. His little curly-haired boy was still the same, just taller now.

Yuanting pursed his lips, glancing covertly at Zhong Wei.

Zhong Wei, hand on her belly, spoke gently, "This is your brother, Yuanting. Nanyi is the elder brother, and Yuanting is the younger. He'll play with you in the future."

Yuanting grinned until his eyes nearly disappeared.

The four of them enjoyed a harmonious lunch together. When parting, Cheng Shaolin asked Cheng Nanyi, "Will you come home for dinner tonight? I’ll have the chef make your favorite dish."

"Of course, we will," Yuanting interjected before Cheng Nanyi could respond, "Make egg yolk chicken wings, his favorite."

After a glance at Yuanting, Cheng Nanyi said to Cheng Shaolin, "I won't be coming back tonight; I'm staying over at Yuanting's place."

Yuanting turned and glared at him. 'What's wrong with you?'

How could he explain to his grandparents about Cheng Nanyi's frequent visits and not returning home every fortnight?

"That makes sense. Yuanting's exams are approaching, and you should be there to support him, keep him from getting nervous," Cheng Shaolin reasoned, then turned to Yuanting, "Son, do well in your exams. After they're over, I'll give you a big gift."

"Thanks," Yuanting grinned at him, thinking it unwise to call each other 'son' and 'father' in front of Dr. Zhong, lest she feel uncomfortable.

Dr. Zhong couldn't help but laugh at Yuanting's reaction, then patted Cheng Shaolin's shoulder, "Let's go home."

Cheng Shaolin, assisting her, didn't forget to give Yuanting a thumbs-up as they left.

Watching their departing figures, Yuanting felt a sense of clarity in his heart; his stepfather was finally getting his happiness.

He knew he'd be an exceptionally good father.

"Did your mother know about my uncle's infertility?" Cheng Nanyi whispered into Yuanting's ear, bending slightly.

Yuanting turned abruptly to look at him, bumping foreheads in the process, causing both to exclaim in pain.

Cheng Nanyi, exasperated, rubbed Yuanting's forehead, "You're about to take exams, and you're already not the brightest. Don't make yourself dumber."

"How did you know he couldn't have children?" Yuanting stared wide-eyed. Wasn't that supposed to be a secret?

"The whole family knows," Cheng Nanyi said, walking towards the car. "Thinking back, your mom often drank herbal medicine for this reason." He was too young then to understand.

"In these past two years, it's been my uncle drinking the herbal medicine."

"Didn’t he not want children?" Cheng Shaolin used to have a childfree mindset.

Yuanting frowned in speculation, "Could it be that after I left, he realized having a lively, adorable, smart, and charming child, loved by all and making flowers bloom at the sight, wasn’t so bad, so he started treatment more actively?"

Cheng Nanyi: "..." Quite a summary.

"No," Cheng Nanyi shook his head, opened the passenger door to let Yuanting in, then walked around to the driver’s side.

"...” As Yuanting buckled up, he urged, "Then tell me, quick."

"My aunt said it was a rare opportunity to test her skills, so she wanted to prove her medical expertise," Cheng Nanyi’s lips curled slightly, "As it turns out, she’s indeed very skilled."

Yuanting: "..."

Dr. Zhong, accept my utmost respect.

Yuanting, in a particularly good mood, began humming as he looked out the window, noticing even the scenery seemed brighter.

Yuanting’s joy was undeniable. Cheng Nanyi, who had been with him all along, knew his happiness stemmed from learning about his aunt’s pregnancy.

He couldn’t quite understand why Yuanting was happy about his aunt being pregnant.

"Do you really like kids?" Cheng Nanyi asked.

"Not at all," Yuanting replied without hesitation. "Kids are annoying. If they were like me – well-behaved, sensible, and pretty – it might be okay. But most kids are mischievous and not as cute, which is just irritating."

Cheng Nanyi: "..."

He couldn’t find an angle to respond to that, so he chose silence.

The eighteen-year-old Yuanting didn’t need a magic mirror to praise him; he was already adept at self-admiration.

"Brother, do you like kids? How many do you plan to have in the future? Could it be twins? Do you think Dr. Zhong’s medical skills could lead to someone having twins or even fraternal twins right off the bat?"

At a red light, Cheng Nanyi braked and turned to Yuanting, saying indifferently, "I won’t have children."

Yuanting's heart skipped a beat. He touched his nose and turned to look out the window, "Oh…"

Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, surprised Yuanting didn’t ask why.

The kid... was intriguingly resilient.

As Cheng Nanyi was about to look away, he noticed a Polaroid sticking out of Yuanting’s pocket. Thinking it was a photo taken by Yuanting, he casually took it for a glance.

It indeed was a photo, but not taken by Yuanting – someone else had helped take it.

In it, a young boy and girl were smiling at the camera.

The girl looked somewhat familiar, while the boy was right beside him, happily singing in the passenger seat.

"Is this your girlfriend?" Cheng Nanyi waved the photo in front of Yuanting.

"Ah?" Yuanting focused on it and recognized it as the photo he and Gu Yuqi took during PE class, which he had casually stuffed into his pocket.

"Not... exactly."

Cheng Nanyi raised an eyebrow, "Why not?"

"She doesn't like me," Yuanting said.

"You're lively, adorable, smart, and quick-witted. How could she not like you?" Cheng Nanyi looked at him, "So, do you like her?"

Yuanting snatched the photo back and stuffed it into his backpack, calmly stating, "It's a secret."

Cheng Nanyi accelerated the car, and after a while, he suddenly clicked his tongue.

Impressive, the kid's using the Polaroid I gave him to take photos with other girls. He's grown up.

Oh, right, even the photo paper was swiped from me.

In just over a month, he's asked for several boxes of photo paper from me, and this is what he's been up to.

Author's Note:

Thank you to the angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solution from September 18, 2023, 19:13:36 to September 19, 2023, 17:47:48~

Thanks to the angels who dropped landmines: '10086 Wives Across the Net’, 'Don't Look, This is My Wife' 1 each;

Thanks for the nutrient solutions: 'Reading Books' 35 bottles; 'Passerby No.2', 'My Nobility, You're Unworthy' 20 bottles; 'Yu Han', 'Messenger.', 'Dream Beyond the Horizon' 10 bottles; 'Bu Qiu' 5 bottles; '1', '67132556', 'Man Mi', 'Hetun Gua', 'A Single Berry', '404 Big Ghosts', 'Bo Bo Zan Zan Nie' 1 bottle each;

Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard!