Chapter 497 Chenchen’s Friends Are Coming

Chapter 497 Chenchen's Friends Are Coming

"Apologize to him? That's the prize you're after? You competed with me all this time just for this?" Zhou Liqian was so angry he almost laughed.

Chenchen blinked. Who competed with you? I just spent a few minutes casually memorizing some stuff. What's the big deal?

"You were so rude to him. Shouldn’t you apologize? Look at you—you can’t outdo me reciting pi, you can’t beat me at poetry, and I’ll bet you can’t beat me at chess either or score higher on tests. But have I ever called you stupid?

Stuff you can just memorize with a few more tries—what does that have to do with intelligence? You’re so much older than him. Shouldn’t you be better? What’s there to be smug about?"

Chenchen hadn’t planned to interfere, but he liked Xiao Pang so much that he couldn’t help imagining how upset he’d feel if someone talked to him like that.

Chen Zigui stepped beside Chenchen and said unhurriedly, "Chenchen, I’m much older than you, but I can’t beat you at anything. Yet you’ve never called me stupid. You’re so nice."

Chenchen: "..." Well, I’ve never met anyone smarter than me anyway. Why would I say that?

Oh, except for my dad.

Chenchen felt bummed. He just couldn’t win against his father.

"Ch-Chen Zigui?" Zhou Liqian lived in the same compound as Chen Zigui, the compound’s child prodigy. But he was aloof, hardly talked to anyone, and never played with them.

Chen Zigui’s parents were extraordinary, and so were his grandparents, uncles, aunts… everyone in his family. The whole compound knew it.

Zhou Liqian’s parents had drilled into him since childhood: "Never provoke Chen Zigui. We can’t afford to offend him."

So no one in the whole compound would dare cross Chen Zigui.

Chen Zigui frowned. "You know me?"

Zhou Liqian said, "We live in the same compound. We’ve crossed paths before."

Chen Zigui shook his head. "I don’t know you. Even if you know me, you still have to apologize."

Zhou Liqian took a deep breath and bowed to Xiao Pang. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things to you."

*Thud.* The chocolate Chenchen had given Xiao Pang fell to the ground.

Xiao Pang’s heart sank as he quickly bent down to pick it up, but it was already dirty.

Chen Zigui handed him a new piece of chocolate. "Don’t eat that one. Have this instead."

Xiao Pang finally perked up. "Thank you, big brother!"

Chen Zigui patted Xiao Pang’s head. "You’re welcome. Go have fun."

Xiao Pang thanked Chenchen too before bouncing off, not saying whether he forgave Zhou Liqian or not.

"Let’s go play basketball," Chen Zigui said, pulling Chenchen along.

Chenchen shook his head. "You forgot it’s Friday? I’m going with Mom to see Dad."

Chen Zigui had forgotten.

Ever since the weather warmed up, Su Taotao would take Chenchen to the research institute every Friday to visit Fu Zhengtu, usually staying over at his place.

On Saturday mornings, Su Taotao would sleep late while Fu Zhengtu would take Chenchen running, then out for breakfast before bringing him back to the lab to help out.

Chenchen was sharp with numbers, so Fu Zhengtu often had him checking data. Sometimes, when small mistakes got by the entire team, Chenchen would catch them right away.

Chenchen has a keen interest in scientific research too.

In his downtime, Fu Zhengtu lets Chenchen tag along for simple experiments.

They even let Chenchen handle some basic tasks.

The kid's got great focus and a quick mind, never making mistakes and completing everything perfectly.

Fu Zhengtu's teammates often tease that Chenchen is their lab's unofficial member and joke that the boss should put him on payroll.

Chenchen often gets snacks from the uncles, becoming the lab's favorite.

Even Fu Zhengtu's bosses have dropped hints that Chenchen is a rare talent, urging him to nurture the boy as their future successor.

Fu Zhengtu brushes it off with a laugh.

Chenchen is still young, and until he discovers his true passion, Fu Zhengtu won't steer his career path.

The work is rewarding but tough, demanding many sacrifices.

Some researchers handle top-secret projects, going years or decades without seeing outsiders—sometimes even their own families.

"Dedicating your life to research isn't just talk—it's the reality."

This profession requires absolute discipline and perseverance.

Not that Chenchen lacks these qualities, but he's simply too young.

On Saturday afternoons, Fu Zhengtu usually knocks off early. The three of them might go straight home or take short trips to hike or enjoy nature.

However packed Su Taotao and Fu Zhengtu's schedules are, they always carve out time for Chenchen.

So despite their busy semester and not living together daily, Chenchen never feels shortchanged on time with his parents.

Chenchen befriended Chen Zigui and formed a basketball team with like-minded kids, occasionally playing friendly matches with his uncles.

He still makes time to help out at the shop, keeping every day fulfilling.

Chenchen thrives on the shop's hustle and bustle. He especially loves manning the register with Grandma, chatting with customers from all over, and gladly knocking a little off their totals.

When he takes a shine to certain kids, he gifts them coconut sweets or origami cranes.

As he tallies up the day's earnings, he counts the drawer money, ready to report the profits to Mom at dinner.

Fu Yuanhang pitches in at the shop whenever he's free.

Su Taotao tells them to go have fun or pursue hobbies, but the two just prefer sticking around the shop.

With Chenchen handling the register and Fu Yuanhang waiting tables, Su Taotao counts it as part-time work—letting them earn pocket money.

When Bai Hua heard Su Taotao started a restaurant, she began bringing classmates to support on weekends.

She's not one to sit around, so after meals, she stays to help serve.

Su Taotao tries to pay her, but she waves it off, laughing that her pay wouldn't buy two decent meals there anyway—she's getting the better deal.

Su Taotao lets it go.

Here's the improved translation incorporating all expert suggestions:

Bai Hua looked like he was born for the silver screen—handsome, charismatic, and dazzling with just a smile. Especially after entering university and broadening his horizons, his already confident demeanor became even more radiant.

Fu Yuanhang, needless to say, possessed looks and stature that were one in ten thousand. Reserved since childhood and emotionally steady, he grew even more composed after high school, carrying himself like a seasoned commander.

This formed a stark contrast with Bai Hua's warm and exuberant personality, yet they balanced each other out perfectly, never feeling out of place.

As they took orders and served dishes, their busy yet graceful figures moved through the serene and elegant surroundings. Guests found the sight downright pleasing, often remarking how the people in Su Taotao's restaurant were the perfect match for the place's vibe.

Apart from his fixed elementary school schedule, Chenchen spent most of his time tagging along after his uncle, attending classes with him.

Fu Yuanhang's classmates no longer saw Chenchen as just his little nephew but as one of their own—a genius classmate who always had textbook-perfect answers.

Whenever they encountered questions they couldn't solve and Fu Yuanhang happened to be absent, they'd go straight to Chenchen.

This led to a weird sight in Class 1, Grade 10.

Passersby would often see a group of teenagers huddled around a young boy, eagerly asking questions without a shred of shame.

Chenchen, totally forgetting he was still in elementary school, would flip through textbooks or review example problems if a question went beyond his current curriculum. Moments later, he'd effortlessly explain the solution without skipping a beat.

Even passing teachers would marvel at the sight.

Upon learning that Chenchen was only eight years old and still in elementary school, some teachers would shake their heads and walk away, muttering about all those years they'd wasted in comparison.

Occasionally, subject teachers would forget Chenchen was just an auditing student. When no one raised their hand to answer a difficult question or the chosen student failed to respond, the teacher would call on Chenchen.

Then, pointing at the others, they'd say, "Look at you all—even an eight-year-old elementary schooler can answer this. And you call yourselves high schoolers?"

It was only at times like these that poor Chenchen became public enemy number one.

So, what could they do?

Naturally, they'd get their payback on the basketball court.

No matter how smart Chenchen was or how much taller he stood compared to his peers, he was still at a disadvantage against high schoolers in terms of strength and height.

Every time he got schooled, he'd yell for his uncle to bail him out.

Fu Yuanhang, the undisputed king of the court, never missed a shot—whether it was a three-pointer or a rebound. Once the ball was in his hands, its fate was sealed: nothing but net.

This uncle-nephew duo remained crazy popular, whether for their looks, academic prowess, or basketball skills.

Between classes, kids would peek, bump into them by chance, or even walk into trees while gawking—even after a whole semester, the antics never ended.

Especially with Chenchen now tagging along after Fu Yuanhang, the pair turned heads everywhere they went.

By final exam season, Chenchen was pulling double duty—one day finishing elementary school papers, the next tackling Grade 10 tests.

Even the Old Principal got a kick out of it.

He asked if Chenchen planned to skip middle school and go straight to high school.

Chenchen said no—after elementary school, he'd spend a year in Grade 9 because he wanted a junior high diploma.

Before they knew it, in the blink of an eye, Chenchen graduated from elementary school.

On the day he finished his Grade 10 finals, his uncle got a call from Uncle Mumu—he and Uncle Kang Zi were coming to the capital to visit them during summer break!

Not only are they coming themselves, but they're also bringing Dongdong and Chubby along!

Chenchen was overjoyed to hear the news—after so long, he was finally going to see his long-awaited playmates!

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Making up the word count we missed last chapter! Night, folks!