Chapter 10

Chapter 10

It wasn't clear if it was because Jiang Cheng’s expression was too obvious, but Shang Zenian read his thoughts and couldn’t help but laugh.

He raised his hand and flicked him lightly on the forehead. “Where’s your head at? I just want to confirm our relationship. I don’t want to keep getting friend-zoned by you anymore.”

Whew, that scared me.

Jiang Cheng covered his forehead, quietly letting out a sigh of relief, then started darting his eyes again. He pulled out his phone and typed: “I haven’t decided yet! It’s only been one day!”

This time, Shang Zenian didn’t let him off that easily. He stepped closer, his tall shadow looming over him. “When will you be able to decide?”

With his back against the door, Jiang Cheng wasn’t used to being this close to a man, so he pressed himself against the door, almost standing at attention.

He quickly typed: “Give me two weeks!”

Shang Zenian’s voice was cold. “That’s too long.”

Jiang Cheng shot back: “This is about being responsible. This is a lifelong decision—you can’t rush it. I don’t want to be bound by an engagement and end up with someone I don’t like, half-heartedly—that would be irresponsible to both of us.”

So Shang Zenian, you should snap out of it too! Don’t sacrifice your lifelong happiness for some benefit!

“I have a business trip for the next week. Give me your answer when I get back,” Shang Zenian cut the time in half decisively. Seeing Jiang Cheng look down to type, he added fiercely, “No bargaining!”

“...” Damn it, feudal dictatorship! What a double standard!

Jiang Cheng was unconvinced, but when he looked up and saw Shang Zenian’s rolled-up shirt sleeves revealing solid, muscular arms that looked strong enough to send him flying with one punch, he swallowed hard and could only submit, nodding in agreement.

Satisfied, Shang Zenian graciously let him go.

His gaze followed the girl until she opened the small gate, went in, and closed it. A moment later, he heard the heavy main door deep in the courtyard open and close, knowing she had gone home; then, in a good mood, he got into his car and drove home.

He wasn’t worried that Chen Yin would refuse. To be blunt, as long as Chen Pingzhou wanted to control the Chen family, he would never allow Chen Yin to reject this marriage.

As for whether Chen Yin liked him, they'd figure that out as they spent time together.

Early the next morning, good news came from the hospital: the old man was awake. But he was very weak, so he was kept in the ICU for another day’s observation before being moved to a regular ward, though he was mostly unconscious.

Meanwhile, it was time for Jiang Cheng to submit his college application. Using the excuse of having dinner at Chen Pingzhou’s house, he used Pingzhou’s computer to submit his choices.

Other than that, he mostly stayed at the hospital.

It wasn’t until two days later that the old man truly regained consciousness.

The first thing he saw when he woke up was Jiang Cheng, and he reached out his hand. Jiang Cheng hurried over and took his hand.

“Were you scared?” the old man asked in a hoarse voice.

Jiang Cheng nodded.

The old man gave a weak smile. “Don’t be afraid. I haven’t heard Xiao Yin call me ‘Grandpa’ yet, so I can’t bear to leave.”

Even though the old man before him wasn’t his real grandfather and shared no blood relation with him, hearing those words still made Jiang Cheng’s heart ache. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the real Chen Yin, and he was destined to leave the old man with that regret.

Mrs. Chen had been resting in the adjacent family companion room. When she heard the old man had woken up, she rushed over and saw this tender moment between grandfather and granddaughter.

Her eyes darkened for a moment, then reddened. “Old man, you’re finally awake. You scared me to death.”

As she spoke, she quickly walked to the bedside, tears streaming down her face.

“These past few days you were in a coma, I couldn’t eat or sleep. I was so afraid you’d leave me like that, without even a proper goodbye.”

Mrs. Chen was about sixty years old. She wore a cheongsam, with her hair elegantly twisted up. Years hadn’t left heavy marks on her face, probably due to good maintenance; she looked as young as a woman in her forties.

Her tears gave her a delicate, pitiful look, and she still showed a trace of lingering charm. The old man’s eyes softened instantly.

He raised his hand—bony like a withered branch—and wiped her face a couple of times. “Don’t cry, don’t cry.”

Jiang Cheng silently stepped back, leaving the stage to Mrs. Chen for her performance.

But she clearly didn’t want to put on a solo show. Using the back of her hand to wipe away the tears, she broke into a smile and said, “You’re awake, that’s good, that’s good. It seems Xiao Yin really is a lucky star. I stayed here day and night, not even taking a break, and you didn’t wake up. The moment she came, you woke up. If I’d known it would be like this, after you passed out, I shouldn’t have let her go on dates and cozy up with Little Shang. I should have made her stay and watch over you with me.”

Jiang Cheng: ???

That sounded really off to him.

And besides, he had been there yesterday and today too, except for the day before when he filled out his college application.

Maybe Mrs. Chen was just trying to emphasize how much she loved the old man, so he didn’t argue.

The old man said, “Oh?” and looked at Jiang Cheng. “You went on a date with Little Shang?”

“That’s right,” Mrs. Chen chimed in. “On the day you collapsed, they went out together and came back very late. At the doorstep, they lingered affectionately for half an hour, reluctant to part.”

Jiang Cheng: “...”

Jiang Cheng’s face instantly turned red. There was nobody at the door that day—how did Mrs. Chen know about it?

And besides, who... who lingered affectionately with Shang Zenian for half an hour? Don’t slander people!

He quickly typed on his phone: “We just talked for a few seconds! Not half an hour!”

“Maybe Ye Ping exaggerated. That night, Duoduo was upset because you were hospitalized, crying nonstop and refusing to sleep. Ye Ping got up to comfort her and saw it. Oh, and speaking of it, Duoduo has been frantic these past two days. When she hears you’re awake, she’ll definitely be happy and clamor to come see you.”

“...” Jiang Cheng was a bit slow, but he wasn’t stupid. Hearing this, he finally got it.

Mrs. Chen was putting him down and praising her own granddaughter!

—Look: The night you collapsed, your three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter was so upset she couldn't sleep. But your other granddaughter was out on a date, all lovey-dovey, not giving you a thought.

He quickly typed: “I was also very worried about Grandpa.”

“Take it easy, no one said you weren’t worried,” Mrs. Chen said. “It’s just that Master Shang has so much charm, you were naturally drawn to him more. Everyone understands.”

Jiang Cheng: “...”

Jiang Cheng wanted to type an explanation, but just then the doctor arrived to check the old man’s vital signs. After the doctor left, Chen Pingzhou and the others, having heard the old man was awake, also hurried over.

They crowded the ward, all concerned and asking after him. The old man was still weak, and soon fell asleep again. Jiang Cheng never got a chance to explain.

So infuriating.

Chen Pingzhou saw his dejected look and called him into the family room, closing the door, and asked what was going on.

Jiang Cheng quietly recounted the whole thing.

After hearing it, Chen Pingzhou stomped his foot in fury. “That woman is so venomous and vicious. Next time you can’t win with words, don’t bother trying to explain forcefully. Just put on a pitiful, wronged expression—that’s how you make the old man believe you’re the victim.”

Jiang Cheng nodded.

“You just said that the old man wants you to call him Grandpa?”

Jiang Cheng nodded again.

Chen Pingzhou thought for a moment. “Here’s an idea—learn to change your voice and call him Grandpa once.”

“...I’m a man, how am I supposed to do that? By squeezing my voice?”

With that, Jiang Cheng pinched his throat and let out a “Grandpa,” only to shock himself, quickly adding, “No way, no way, the trick is too obvious.”

Chen Pingzhou paced back and forth. After a moment, he had an idea: “That piano school you go to—there’s a teacher there who was my high school classmate. She studied vocal music in college and knows voice-changing techniques. I’ll reach out to her and ask her to teach you.”

Originally, Jiang Cheng was supposed to have his piano lesson a few days ago, but since the old man was in a coma, he hadn’t been going.

Jiang Cheng hesitated. “I’m not sure I can learn it.”

This kind of technique sounded way too advanced.

“It’s not hard—you just need to learn to call him Grandpa. Once you learn it and call him without raising suspicion, I’ll throw in an extra ten thousand!”

At the mention of money, Jiang Cheng’s eyes lit up once more.

Alright, a voice change—just learning to say “Grandpa,” how hard can it be?

For that ten thousand, he could do it!

Shang Zenian heard that the old man had woken up and directly video-called Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng hesitated, then declined the call.

Shang Zenian: Are you avoiding me again?

Shang Zenian: I just want to say hello to the old man.

Of course, he also wanted to see her.

Three days apart—though they chatted on WeChat every day, he missed her a little—no, a lot.

Chen Yin: Just call my grandpa directly to ask, don’t use me as a go-between, or else Grandma will start making up stories about how I only have eyes for you!

Mrs. Chen was Chen Rou’s stepmother; Jiang Cheng didn’t know what to call her, but he figured Grandma was fine.

Shang Zenian saw the words “I only have eyes for you” and found them extremely pleasing, his mood brightening instantly.

Shang Zenian: What do you mean by that?

Jiang Cheng roughly typed out the whole story to him.

After reading it, Shang Zenian’s lips curled into a barely contained smile.

Shang Zenian: I think she’s right.

Chen Yin: [Angry emoji]

Chen Yin: If you can’t speak properly, just donate your mouth!

Shang Zenian: Alright, I’ll stop teasing you.

Shang Zenian: Want to get back at her?

Of course, he did. Just thinking about it made Jiang Cheng feel frustrated.

Chen Yin: How?

Shang Zenian: Call me something affectionate.

That really stumped Jiang Cheng. He frowned for a moment, then typed out three words.

Chen Yin: Darling.

Shang Zenian: Something else.

Not even that sappy nickname was good enough?

Jiang Cheng was frustrated. He thought of the nicknames his classmates used for their partners...

No way, no way, that would be too embarrassing.

But... why not? It’s not like he had to say it out loud. Steeling himself against the cringe, he sent two more words.

Chen Yin: Baby.

Shang Zenian: ...

Huh? Still not happy? Did he want to be called “hubby”?

Not even boyfriend and girlfriend yet, and he already wants to be called husband? Dream on! Not even in a million years!

Probably realizing that Jiang Cheng wouldn’t guess the answer he wanted, Shang Zenian sent another message.

Shang Zenian: Call me big brother.

Chen Yin: But... I heard you’re about half a month younger than me? (twiddling my fingers)

Yes, the bitter truth was that although Shang Zenian was actually three years older than Jiang Cheng, right now, Jiang Cheng was pretending to be Chen Yin!

Chen Yin was 16 days older than Shang Zenian.

As for why Shang Zenian’s mother had said to treat Chen Yin like a younger sister back then—it was because she had actually gotten pregnant earlier than Chen Rou, with a due date nearly two months earlier. Theoretically, Shang Zenian was older.

But Chen Rou had a premature birth.

Chen Yin was born at just 31 weeks, the size of a palm, staying in the incubator until nearly the time Shang Zenian was a month old. She was much smaller than the chubby and healthy Shang Zenian, looking pitifully small.

So Shang’s mother and Chen Rou, being good sisters, agreed that the earlier conceived Shang Zenian should be considered the older brother, responsible for protecting the weak younger sister.

But no matter how they saw it, the fact remained that Chen Yin was born 16 days before Shang Zenian, haha.

Just thinking that he was now older than Shang Zenian gave Jiang Cheng a quiet thrill.

Inspiration struck, and with a clever idea, he typed out another similar nickname.

Chen Yin: Little bro!

Shang Zenian: ...

Forget it, let’s talk about getting even.

Author’s note:

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