Chapter 127 - Reversed
“…” Zhu Chengqi was stunned for a while.
He was very happy that his son had a good teacher and friend like Qiao Nan. He did not intend to object to their relationship. Unexpectedly, the other party had a temperament of avoiding trouble and wanted to retreat instead.
“What do you mean? You don’t act like a father yourself, yet you don’t let me make friends with others?” Zhu Baoguo inferred from what he heard that Qiao Nan intended to break off friendship with him. He was so anxious that he wanted to bang Zhu Chengqi a few times.
“Then, who do you want?”
“Can what I want be done?” She knew how to play Tai Chi as well.
Zhu Chengqi raised his eyebrows with interest. Compared to the young lady before him, his own son seemed like a fool. “Alright, if there are any unfavorable rumors of you from the quad, I will personally bring the members of the Zhu family to explain to you. Is this fine with you?”
Zhu Chengqi’s position in the army was not low. The reason Wang Yang plotted against Zhu Baoguo was also because Zhu Baoguo had a formidable father.
Most people in the quad had to bow and nod when they saw Zhu Chengqi. Whoever dared to make him initiate a visit to their doorstep would always pay a visit to him instead. Whether they could see Zhu Chengqi during the visit would also depend on their luck.
“This is fine,” Qiao Nan replied in a serious manner.
Given Zhu Chengqi’s status in the quad, who dared to not believe what he said.
“Are you relieved now?” Zhu Chengqi looked at Zhu Baoguo and asked.
As long as it was a good friend, he would not stop his son from mixing with them. Obviously, Qiao Nan fell into this category.
However, Zhu Chengqi had taken the issue regarding his nephew to heart. He did not expect that his nephew, who was seemingly sensible and obedient, actually had these ill intentions.
Judging by this, the grandson did not inherit the qualities of the Zhu family at all. He inherited the Wang family’s temperament.
Many years ago, he disagreed when Zhu Qin wanted to marry Wang Qinglin.
“Hmph,” Zhu Baoguo snorted in disapproval. What was there to be satisfied with? If not for the fact that everyone believed Wang Yang but not him, this comedy would not have come about. Subsequently, Xiao Qiao would not be angry with him. At the end of the day, it happened all because of his family.
Given Zhu Baoguo’s character, Zhu Chengqi had to hint Qiao Nan with his eyes. Qiao Nan nodded her head to express that she would not reveal that matter to Zhu Baoguo.
Zhu Baoguo had been vigilant enough toward Wang Yang because of the incident during the middle school examination.
Unless Zhu Baoguo and Wang Yang abstained from interacting with each other for the rest of their lives, or Wang Yang no longer visited the Zhu’s residence, it was really inappropriate for Zhu Baoguo to know about this matter.
“Baoguo, can you go back with me now?” Zhu Chengqi felt more assured gradually that his son was learning together with Qiao Nan. No wonder people often say young ladies are much more mature than boys.
Clearly, this young lady was younger than Baoguo by a year, yet her manners and thoughts were similar to that of an adult. It was really rare.
At Zhu Chengqi’s position and level, he had seen a lot of people.
Not to mention having such a conversation with a child, Zhu Chengqi had encountered many grown-ups who could not even understand what others were talking about. A hint notwithstanding, they might not even get it if the matter was explained in an outright manner.
Therefore, Zhu Chengqi normally found it most annoying to interact with others.
For today’s visit to the Qiao family, Zhu Chengqi had put in great efforts and preparation. The reason was that the other party was not only his son’s friend but also someone who had helped his son many times.
In the end, the interaction process was unexpectedly smooth.
The father and son were walking on the road, one at each side. They were at least about one meter apart, ignoring each other and silently walking on their own.
Soon after, Zhu Chengqi spoke, “This little classmate of yours is quite interesting. You should learn more from her. She definitely has the ability to be your teacher. Your grandpa has a good judgment of character.”
Naturally, Zhu Chengqi knew his father-in-law was the one who found his son this little teacher, Qiao Nan. Unexpectedly, his father-in-law found a really suitable teacher for his son.
“That is indeed true. Xiao Qiao is very good, and she is so smart. She clinched the first place in the provincial essay writing competition during the last semester. Xiao Qiao’s English is excellent. I think she can fulfill the role of a diplomat or something in the future.” At the mention of Qiao Nan, Zhu Baoguo’s eyes lit up and had a lot more to say to Zhu Chengqi. “You will see. We can probably check the grades tomorrow. Xiao Qiao will definitely do well for this middle school examination. Don’t always say that Wang Yang is good in his studies. Compared to Xiao Qiao, those grades of Wang Yang are nothing.”
His son’s words were not graceful, nor did it have the decency and seriousness of a soldier.
However, Zhu Chengqi was never close with this son of his. Although his family tried hard to create bonding time for just the two of them, he and Zhu Baoguo would always sit at both ends of the sofa each. There would be space for at least two or three people to sit between them.
Surrounding the father and son was silence and nothing else.
Zhu Baoguo was deliberately not talking to him to show his displeasure. Zhu Chengqi had so much to say but did not know how to begin.
It was rare that his son had so much to tell him. As such, Zhu Chengqi did not bother to correct Zhu Baoguo on his minor poor manner of speech.
At the thought of how his son’s earlier word ‘your father’ had provoked Qiao Nan’s displeasure, and the way that son of his shut up in return, Zhu Chengqi knew that it was certainly not because of him. In the past, his son would always sing the opposite tune of him for anything Zhu Chengqi objected to. Thus, the reason his son was willing to shut up today was undoubtedly because of the young lady.
Upon these thoughts, Zhu Chengqi suddenly felt that even if what Wang Yang said was true—that his son really had a romantic relationship with the young lady—there was nothing bad about it. They would be considered childhood sweethearts, just like his wife and him.
Putting aside other matters, it was a fact that the young lady could tame his son.
“Hey, are you really listening to what I said?” Zhu Baoguo spoke like a never-ending stream for a long time but did not get any reaction from Zhu Chengqi. This seemed to have stirred up a nest of hornets and made Zhu Baoguo unhappy. “You were the one who asked me about Xiao Qiao, but you were in a daze afterward. Don’t listen if you don’t want to. I will not force you to. You all are really too much. Why didn’t anyone in the family give me such a sensible and good sister like Xiao Qiao? As a result, I had to find a sister from outside the family. That’s where you all did not fulfill your responsibility!”
“…” Zhu Chengqi sighed and was stunned by the fact that his son had not been enlightened. He only wanted a sister, not a girlfriend. What could he say? “Alright, it is time to go home. Grandpa is still waiting for you.”
“Why wait for me? Does he still want to scold me or say that I wronged Wang Yang? Wang Yang is so merciless and full of bad intentions. He actually thought of boiling the sleeping pills and soaking the fruits in the dissolved solution. Damn, such a person is most suitable for the role of a spy or traitor during war times!” As he said that, Zhu Baoguo acted as if he had a whip in his hand and pretended to whip someone.
“Alright, do not bring up this matter again when we are back.” The slight curve at the stiff corners of Zhu Chengqi’s eyes revealed his amusement. That young lady was so calm and steady, but his son behaved like a child. The picture of the two of them together obviously did not seem like that of an elder brother and younger sister; their roles should be reversed.