Chapter 50: Unexpected Kindness

Chapter 50: Unexpected Kindness

"Mom, I—"

"Don't interrupt, can't you see we're in the middle of a conversation?"

"..."

Fu Yining shot Yu Mingze a glare, and he obediently fell silent.

He quietly watched the two of them, wondering when their relationship had become so close.

Yu Mingze had this strange feeling as if he had traveled through time. In just a few days, how had his family changed into something he no longer recognized?

Seeing that his presence was unwelcome, Yu Mingze prepared to leave, only to realize that no one was paying attention to him.

Fine, he was clearly the third wheel. He'd leave—wasn't that what they wanted?

Feeling deflated, Yu Mingze trudged out, only to bump into his father.

"Dad?"

Yu Zhili nodded. "What are you doing here?"

"Mom is inside talking, so I came out."

"Hmm, that works out then. I have something to discuss with you."

"What is it?"

Just as Yu Mingze was about to approach, he heard the question, "What have you decided about you and Song Qingyu?"

Him and Song Qingyu?

Yu Mingze was taken aback. Could he admit that he hadn't really thought it through?

"Haven't thought it through, have you?" Yu Zhili saw through his foolish son's thoughts, regretting that he hadn't disciplined him strictly enough, allowing him to develop this indecisive nature.

"Dad, I—"

"Don't tell me you don't want the child Song Qingyu is carrying."

"No, I do."

Yu Mingze shook his head without thinking, only to fall into silence after realizing what he had just said.

Strange, was this really what he had been thinking all along?

At first, Yu Mingze had been sure he didn't want Song Qingyu to keep the baby, but when he saw her at home, he couldn't bring himself to say that cruel answer.

Song Qingyu was wearing loose clothing, so her pregnancy wasn't obvious yet, but Yu Mingze had been staring at her belly for a long time. The longer he stared, the stronger the urge grew inside him.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a kid who calls him Dad?

Noticing his son lost in thought, Yu Zhili snapped him back to reality. "I'll give you a little more time to think it through, but don't make things difficult for Qingyu."

"Dad, I, I understand." Yu Mingze gave a sheepish smile, wondering why he had started daydreaming again.

Yu Zhili bypassed him and left.

Yu Mingze turned around, and a dazzling black light flashed before his eyes.

Huh?

What was that just now?

Yu Mingze froze for a moment, beginning to doubt his own eyes. Was that actually an earring on his always stern and serious father?!!

Was this any less shocking than seeing aliens invade Earth?

Yu Mingze swallowed hard, wondering if he had somehow ended up in an alternate universe.

==========

By dinner time, Yu Mingze sat at the dining table, his eyes occasionally glancing at his father's face—more accurately, the area near his earlobes.

Unfortunately, he was seated just to the left of Yu Zhili, and to see the earring on his father's right ear, he would have to contort himself into an awkward position to see it clearly.

Yu Zhili remained calm and composed, but Fu Yining, noticing the strange behavior across the table, couldn't help but ask, "What are you looking at?"

Yu Mingze licked his lips and said, "Mom, did you notice something on Dad's ear?"

"I saw it."

"Then—"

"I gave them to him. Aren't you happy?"

"You, you gave them to him?"

Yu Mingze was utterly shocked, unsure whether he should be more surprised that his father had accepted a gift from his mother or that his mother knew his father had pierced ears.

Until now, he hadn't realized his father had a fashionable side.

Overhearing their conversation, Song Qingyu also became curious and glanced over. At first, she was somewhat surprised to see Yu Zhili wearing an earring, and then she praised Fu Yining's good taste.

"Mom, the earrings you gave Dad are really beautiful!"

"You think so too?" Fu Yining felt proud.

The shine of these earrings outshone any ordinary gem.

The earrings were made of black obsidian, not just ordinary black glass.

Fu Yining could have afforded better, but she had taken a liking to this pair for no particular reason.

Since Dad loved them, why should she worry?

Curiosity got the better of Yu Mingze, and after a few bites, he asked, "Dad, when did you get your ears pierced?"

"A long time ago."

"..."

What exactly does "a long time ago" mean?

Yu Mingze tilted his head, hoping his father would elaborate.

But Yu Zhili did not indulge his curiosity.

Looking at Fu Yining, he said to her, "There's a charity gala tomorrow night, will you accompany me?" Fu Yining blinked. "Me?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Still not sure?"

"The emerald jewelry I gave you would look perfect at tomorrow's gala."

"……？"

Fu Yining was speechless.

No wonder he gave me such an expensive gift! This was his plan all along!

There’s no such thing as a free lunch!

Fu Yining inwardly cursed him for being so calculating, always looking out for himself. Typical of a ruthless businessman like him!

"Is it okay?"

"Mm, I'll go with you."

Could Fu Yining refuse? No, she couldn't.

After some mental math, she figured that going to the gala in exchange for a set of jewelry wasn't such a bad deal!

Having received Fu Yining's agreement, Yu Zhili nodded in satisfaction. "Good, I'll come back early tomorrow."

"Understood." She could ask Wu Yuan to do her hair and wear the emerald jewelry he gave her. That should work, right?

Beside them, Yu Mingze and Song Qingyu exchanged a puzzled glance.

Yu Mingze really didn't know what had happened in the family during his absence. How did their relationship improve so suddenly?

After dinner, he stopped Song Qingyu, wanting to get some information from her.

"When did my parents become like this?"

"Aren't you happy to see Mom and Dad getting along?" Song Qingyu looked at him calmly, and before he could say another word, she turned and left.

Yu Mingze: "……?"

Shouldn't that be his line? Also, what was her attitude?

"Song Qingyu, wait! Song Qingyu!"

Without a backward glance, Song Qingyu headed straight upstairs to her room.

She had a stack of videos to edit, and Mom (Fu Yining) was waiting to see them. No time to waste on him!

Downstairs, Yu Mingze was left in disbelief.

Was she seriously just walking away? Since when did she start ignoring him like that?

"Song Qingyu!"

Seeing the young master still shouting, Hu Ma handed him a glass of water. "Young master, please keep it down. You might upset the young mistress and the baby."

Yu Mingze: "……?"

Was he even part of this family anymore?