Chapter Twelve

Xiao Qiao was incredibly curious about his sister-in-law, dying to bring her along to play games the very next day! His rank was absurdly high!

However, Chi Yu refused heartlessly, "I'm afraid you'll scare him."

Meanwhile, Ning Nanzhou was in a great mood after seeing the news online about Qin Yong’s transfer. Just as he was preparing to make a push for Diamond rank, his phone rang.

A woman’s voice came through the line: "Nanzhou, you’ve been in Shanghai for three months now. Can Mom come see you?"

Hearing her voice, his smile slowly stiffened on his face, though his tone remained indifferent: "It's not very convenient."

"Just at the restaurant across from your school." The woman’s tone softened. "Is that okay?"

Perhaps unaccustomed to such a gentle attitude from her, he remained silent for a moment before agreeing.

The meeting place was set at a Cantonese restaurant across from his school. As he followed the waiter to the private room, he hesitated briefly before entering. Soon, he realized how ridiculous his hesitation had been.

The childish laughter of a young girl drifted from the room, and upon entering, he was met with the sight of a happy family of three.

The bespectacled, refined man was patiently soothing his daughter: "Nannan, you can't eat yet. Your brother hasn't arrived; wait a bit, and Daddy will peel a lobster for you, okay?"

The three or four-year-old girl saw him, climbed down from her father’s lap, and toddled over to him, calling out, "Brother."

Ning Nanzhou looked at the child clinging to his leg, pressed his lips together, and eventually leaned down to pat her head. At the very moment he leaned in, he caught sight of Qi Yidan’s hand tightening.

Is she afraid I’ll do something to her?

A mocking smile bloomed on Ning Nanzhou’s lips as he sat down at the table, expressionless.

Qi Yidan let out a sigh of relief and ushered her daughter to sit by her side: "Our family is finally complete. Before you came to Shanghai, Nannan would ask every single day, 'When is Brother coming?'"

The man beside Qi Yidan also spoke up: "I often tell Nannan to learn from her brother, to study hard and get into a good university just like him when she grows up."

The little girl beside Qi Yidan nodded immediately: "Nannan wants to go to college too!"

Ning Nanzhou’s hands tightened at the mention of "our family," but looking at the innocent child, he said nothing.

The waiter began to serve the dishes, and the man started peeling shrimp for his daughter.

Qi Yidan looked at the silver-haired boy: "Your father probably hasn't been keeping an eye on you. In your field, people go into biotech companies; dyeing your hair like this will give people a bad impression."

Ning Nanzhou replied calmly: "I like it."

Qi Yidan was choked by his retort. After a while, she introduced the man: "This is Uncle Wu. He works in the pharmaceutical industry and knows many people. If you want to find an internship in the future, you can ask Uncle Wu for help."

The man waved his hand dismissively: "Nanzhou is a top student! We’d be thrilled to have him at our company; there’s no need to call it 'help'."

"I don't need it," Ning Nanzhou said again.

"You’re still young," Qi Yidan said with the tone of someone who had seen it all. "You don't know how hard it is to find a job these days. Even with a degree from a prestigious school, you won't find work without connections."

"I don't need it," he repeated.

This time, without waiting for Qi Yidan’s response, he stood up and left his seat.

"Ning Nanzhou!" the woman shouted, unable to control her emotions. "Do you think you’ve had it so miserable?!"

"I didn't take custody of you, but have I ever mistreated you all these years? Everything I bought for Nannan had a share for you, but you refused it yourself! If you think you’re so miserable, go ask how many people would love to be as 'miserable' as you!"

Ning Nanzhou paused as he walked out of the restaurant. He believed that not everyone would want to know what it felt like to suffer from aphasia.

The December wind blew against his face, clearing his head significantly. In truth, Qi Yidan wasn't entirely wrong—she hadn't failed him materially, which was why he always felt powerless whenever he wanted to accuse her of anything.

*Your mother has already been very good to you, your father has been very good to you, what more do you want?*

He slowly lifted his head and saw someone selling plush toys that children liked. He walked over, bought a rabbit doll, and headed back toward the private room, clutching it.

The sound of the girl’s laughter still echoed from the room. A child of that age didn't know what an argument was. He could hear the man’s voice, trying to mediate: "You two haven't seen each other in so many years, why argue with a kid? Will you be happy if you get crow's feet from all this fighting? Give him some time."

Even if he didn't want to admit it, the man was indeed a good-natured person; Qi Yidan had found a good man.

"Where do I have crow's feet?" the woman’s voice was much steadier now. "I thought about it before, but look at his temperament—it’s better if we don't keep in touch. I’m afraid it’ll affect Nannan; it wouldn't be good for her to be as paranoid as him."

Nannan, sensing her mother was unhappy, said in a milky voice: "Mom doesn't have crow's feet!"

The boy standing outside the room tightened his grip on the rabbit doll. This was a very good family, indeed.

In his live streams, he claimed he could do anything, but it seemed he couldn't do everything. He felt an itch in his throat and instinctively reached into his bag for medicine, only to realize he hadn't brought any.

Ning Nanzhou walked to a trash can, hesitating over whether to throw the rabbit away.

Just then, someone called his name: "Ningning?"

He turned back and saw Chi Yu’s handsome face.

"Why are you here?" he asked instinctively.

"You didn't read my messages," Chi Yu said as a statement.

Ning Nanzhou’s ears grew hot. Only then did he take out his phone and realize the other had made no mention of last night, only saying he had business near the school and asking if he wanted to go out for dinner that evening.

It was fortunate that the other didn't mind what happened. Chi Yu looked at the doll in his hand, its tag still attached: "Why throw away something you just bought?"

He lowered his head, looking at the doll: "Nobody wanted it."

In reality, the girl had a doting father and a loving mother; she had no need for his doll.

The man, a head taller than him, leaned down and asked in an impossibly gentle tone: "Then, can you give it to me?"

He licked his lips unconsciously, unable to describe what he felt inside, as if a void had been filled by something incredibly gentle.

The silver-haired boy gave a heavy nod and handed the rabbit doll to Chi Yu. What he didn't know was that from then on, Chi Yu would bring this doll with him to every single competition.

Chi Yu watched the boy’s glossy lips, thinking they must be great to kiss. His gaze fell to Ning Nanzhou’s frayed cuffs and the overly slender wrists beneath them. He hadn't seen the boy wear such old clothes before.

Was he out of money for clothes, or did he only wear his best whenever he saw him? Recalling how the boy worked to give him expensive gifts, how could he have ever thought the boy was pushing him away? He was clearly the most well-behaved kid.

Unable to put his feelings into words, he stared at Ning Nanzhou and asked, "Shall we go get dinner?"

The boy said, "Okay."

"Shall we go see a movie after dinner?"

The boy said, "Okay."

"Shall we meet my teammates tomorrow?"

The boy said, "Okay."

Chi Yu smiled: "Why do you say 'okay' to everything?"

He leaned in abruptly: "Is it okay if we try a hundred different positions, too?"