In other words, the only possibility is that someone came here wearing this swimsuit and then took it off here...
Finally, I gritted my teeth and said, "This... well, my girlfriend and I... accidentally dropped it here this morning..."
We're all men, so there's no need to spell things out so clearly.
Qiaoqiao's father smiled. He gave me a knowing look, and he seemed relieved.
But what happened next proved a truth:
You can't hide fire with paper forever!
The white husky that Qiaoqiao bought today, the gentle, intelligent, and loyal dog named "Xiao Wu," suddenly wobbled over from the side... The thing is, not only did it come over, but it also had something in its mouth. When I saw that thing, my heart almost stopped.
That damn dog, it's carrying... in its mouth.
Hmm. It's very simple. A bikini-clad woman's swimsuit definitely includes a bra in addition to the swim trunks.
And what the dog was carrying in its mouth was... Qiaoqiao's bra from her bikini swimsuit!
This scene was incredibly awkward.
You have guests over, and your dog runs out with a woman's bra in its mouth...
"Hahahaha..." I tried to hide my laughter. When the dog ran between my seat and Qiaoqiao's, I quickly grabbed the bra strap out of its mouth and tried to pull the bra away forcefully.
But I failed.
I didn't buy this sled dog, and I don't know it well. It doesn't treat me like its owner at all. When I pulled on the bra from its mouth, it held on tightly, struggling with me and refusing to give it up. Finally, when I pushed it too far, it made threatening, angry growls, even baring its teeth...
Finally, the dog shook its head forcefully, shook off my hand, and scurried over to Qiaoqiao's side. It raised its head, as if showing off, and picked up the bra in its mouth, intending to give it to Qiaoqiao. At the same time, it affectionately rubbed its body against Qiaoqiao's legs a few times...
This action is quite obvious...
Even the dog can attest that this bra belongs to Qiaoqiao!!
In a moment of panic, I rushed over, forgetting all about manners, and forcefully yanked the bra out of its mouth, then quickly threw it away. But this clever dog…
Sigh, it was indeed a bit too clever. It ran off, snatched the item in its mouth, and ran back, rushing to Qiaoqiao's side once more, head held high, determined to return what belonged to her…
I could no longer get close to it, because as soon as I stopped moving, it bared its teeth and barked at me several times, which was very unfriendly.
I have to say, it seems like God is deliberately messing with me today.
Qiaoqiao's father's face was already very pale when a clear voice called out from inside the house: "Xiao Wu? Qiaoqiao?"
Then Yan Di ran in with a joyful expression; she was finally back.
Yan Di seemed to be in a good mood, probably because she was enjoying driving. She didn't seem to care that there were guests at home... In fact, ever since I started to rise in my career, back when I was working at the auto repair shop, I've often had other people around me.
Yan Di probably mistook Qiao Qiao's father for someone like Zhou with buck teeth. She just smiled at us, then saw the swimming pool already filled with water and exclaimed with delight, "Ah, Qiao Qiao, you've already finished the pool? Wasn't it just cleaned this morning? Great, now we can finally swim at home..."
After a pause, Yan Di looked at "Xiao Wu," who was glaring at me with innocent curiosity, and said with a hint of amusement, "Huh? Qiao Qiao, why is it carrying your swimsuit? Isn't this the one you just bought today?"
"It's over..."
I no longer dare to look Qiaoqiao's father in the eye.
Hmm... This incident teaches us that after doing something wrong, we must clean up the scene immediately...
"Chen Yang, I think we need to calm down." Qiao Qiao's father looked at me with a livid face: "Let's talk alone."
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter Ninety-Nine: A Man's Conversation
Seeing that Qiaoqiao's father was on the verge of exploding, I quickly invited him into the house and led him to a room. It was a study. Basically, I'm not a scholar, and my study at home isn't very useful, but it's a good place to discuss things.
After Qiaoqiao's father sat down, he took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, though his face was still grim. He stared at me and asked, "Chen Yang, what exactly is your relationship with Qiaoqiao?!"
Before I could speak, Qiaoqiao's father glared at me fiercely and said angrily, "Don't tell me you're just friends! Humph, my daughter wouldn't take off her swimsuit in the swimming pool at an ordinary friend's house!"
I don't know what to say, or how to say it.
What else can I say? Admit that there's something more than friendship between me and Qiaoqiao? And that I also have a girlfriend... If I said that, probably no father in the world could tolerate his daughter being "tainted" by a man like that...
So, deny it? First of all, that's not my style, and I'm not the kind of person who would do something and then back down. Besides, Qiaoqiao's father has already made up his mind; what good would my denial do?
He slammed his hand on the table, suddenly stood up, and slowly walked towards me… Just when I thought I was about to get slapped, Qiaoqiao's father placed his hand on my shoulder. He pressed me down hard, as if making a decision, then walked away, pacing back and forth in my study several times. His face showed hesitation and contemplation.
finally……
"Chen Yang, tell me the truth." Qiao Qiao's father took a deep breath: "I've been racking my brains over Qiao Qiao's situation for a long time."
“Although my family wouldn’t dare call ourselves a wealthy and powerful clan, we do have some foundation. In a family like ours, marriages are not something to be taken lightly. In your terms, you might think this is a political marriage… Hey! Actually, I didn’t really intend to arrange a political marriage for Qiaoqiao.”
Qiaoqiao's father looked at me and said, "I only have one requirement for Qiaoqiao: the man she chooses must be a good match for our family. If he's just an ordinary guy... to be honest, I wouldn't feel comfortable letting Qiaoqiao marry him."
"Hmm..." I nodded vaguely. But I felt a little uneasy: Why is he telling me this?
“It’s not that I’m prejudiced against people from different social classes, nor that I look down on boys from ordinary families… It’s just that there are some things in this world that you young people don’t understand, and you can’t possibly understand.” He said calmly, “The proverb ‘marrying someone of equal social standing’ is a saying left to us by our ancestors, and it’s actually very true. It’s just that many kids these days don’t understand anything. They think that after watching a few romance movies and reading a few romance novels, they can think that love is everything and that all objective conditions can be ignored.”
“Those stories in movies and TV shows can be made up at will, like a rich girl falling in love with a poor boy, or a rich young master falling in love with a girl from a poor background… They can unscrupulously promote this as love supremacy, touting the greatness and nobility of love… Anyway, in this world, shouting high-sounding slogans doesn’t cost anything.” Qiaoqiao’s father said calmly, “But those inexperienced kids don’t understand the principle of marrying someone of equal social standing.”
I nodded.
He continued, "Let me give you an example. A college graduate falls for a man with only an elementary school education. At first, they might spark a romance due to occasional friction... Their families might object, thinking the man's education level is not good enough for the girl... And at this time, the young people around them, probably 'educated' by those love stories, will vigorously advocate the supremacy of love, believing that anyone who tries to stop the two from being together is a corrupt and outdated old fogey..."
I nodded; it seemed that was indeed the case.
"But in reality," Qiaoqiao's father scoffed, "the so-called 'heart-fluttering' feeling is only temporary. Over time, even if they're together, they'll gradually discover that because of their different educational backgrounds, their hobbies, interests, and lifestyles are completely different, even their speech patterns are vastly different. For example, the woman might be highly educated, enjoying opera, stage plays, ballet… but the man, with only an elementary school education, wouldn't like any of these. Or, for instance, the man might like to be loud and boisterous, prone to swearing in public… these might seem like attractive traits to the woman when they first meet, but as time goes on and the novelty wears off, she'll feel…" "I think it's vulgar. When things get to that point, even a small gesture might seem offensive. Actually…" Qiaoqiao's father smiled. "There's a saying, 'Love can encompass everything,' but that's just nonsense made up by writers to fool people. There's no such thing as love that can encompass everything. Love is very fragile; it must be built on specific environments and conditions… If two people come from different cultural backgrounds, have different qualities, different experiences, and different habits… then love cannot develop, or if it does, it won't be strong and will break down quickly. That's what I mean by 'marrying someone of equal social standing,' not just referring to money, but that all other conditions must be compatible and equal."
I admit he's absolutely right, really right, and very realistic.
Romance movies are ultimately just romance movies. I won't talk about money... The so-called "matching social status" doesn't just refer to the economic conditions and backgrounds of both parties. It also includes culture, quality, education received from childhood, lifestyle habits, and so on. All of these must be comparable.
For example, in China, it's difficult for a man from the North and a woman from the South to live together harmoniously. Even if they have a good relationship at the beginning, this kind of relationship can't withstand the test of life. The simplest example is that most Northern men tend to be more patriarchal, while Southern women are more sensitive and perceptive. When these two types of people live together, conflicts are inevitable, especially when the initial passion is worn down by the trivialities of daily life. A breakup becomes the inevitable outcome.
These words are harsh, but they are the truth.
Those who loudly proclaim "love can conquer all" are mostly young people who haven't experienced much real love.
“Actually…” Qiaoqiao’s father said, then changed his tone, “When I found out that Qiaoqiao was with you, I thought about it a lot.”
"Oh?" I smiled wryly.
“Of course, you might not understand a father’s mindset now because you’re not in my shoes. Perhaps in a few decades, you will understand.” He sighed. A hint of helplessness crossed his mature, handsome face. “Jojo’s personality is too eccentric, and I don’t want to hide that… well, or rather, she’s more eccentric than most girls. Especially her strange… ‘habits’.”
I didn't say anything—I couldn't very well say, "Yes, that's right, your daughter is a lesbian."
“So, when I arranged the marriage for her, I actually chose him carefully for a long time… You’ve met that young man, Li Wenjing. He’s outstanding… outstanding in every way, and his family background is also very good. In these respects, he’s almost flawless. And I have to admit, he’s a very charming young man.” Qiao Qiao’s father shrugged. “But unfortunately, my daughter doesn’t like him.”
"..." I looked into his eyes: "What exactly are you trying to say?"
“I’m talking about you.” He cut to the chase: “Ever since I found out that Qiaoqiao was in Canada and with you, I’ve started thinking about new issues. You, Chen Yang, a young man, you… well, you’re not bad looking. More importantly, you and Qiaoqiao get along… and of course, the most important thing is that you’re a good match.”
"Uh..." I felt like I couldn't say anything.
"To be frank, if you were only at the same level of status you had back in China, I wouldn't even need to consider it; I would reject you outright. Because I wouldn't let my daughter be with someone from the bottom of society… It's not that I'm prejudiced against people, but it's because of those four words…"
"A good match in terms of social standing." I sighed.
"That's right, it's about being well-matched. If it were a man of ordinary status, I'd have to consider too many things. Of course, I wouldn't consider whether he could support my daughter... You see, I'm not short of money. But what I'm considering is whether the two of us can truly live together. Two people from different social classes, living together, eating, wearing, using, saying, and doing things will be completely different. In the short term, when the love is still fresh, they can tolerate each other, but as time goes on... conflicts are inevitable. So, I can accept that you were my daughter's friend back in China, but if you become her man, I'll be the first to break you up." He spoke with certainty, without any attempt to hide anything: "The simplest example is that ordinary people just eat and drink with friends for leisure. But in our social circles, socializing is an art... If two people come from different social classes, sooner or later they'll find it difficult to adapt to each other's lifestyles."
He's right.
Simply put, Qiaoqiao can easily spend tens of thousands of yuan on a single piece of clothing. What ordinary man could stand having a girlfriend like that? Okay, or you might say that if she truly loved me, she would be willing to live an ordinary life with me.
Then I'll tell you, you really don't understand life.
When someone buys clothes costing tens of thousands of yuan, it's not out of deliberate showing off or extravagance... it's simply a habit formed from childhood, nothing more, and has nothing to do with "snobbery." She's used to having clothes designed by professional designers, and used to receiving the most attentive VIP service from retailers when new styles are released. In this context, asking her to accompany you to eat at a street stall or shop at a night market for clothes costing a few dozen yuan... it's not that she thinks this lifestyle is too poor, it's just that she'd feel uncomfortable and out of place.
That's all.
I've also heard of couples from the south and north of China who got together but broke up, simply because of different lifestyles: southerners prefer rice, while northerners prefer noodles. They were truly in love, but their different lifestyles made it impossible for them to cope, so they had to break up.
If you say, "Well, I can endure eating rice (or noodles) every day for my lover..." then I can only say that you don't understand life.
What is life? It's not romantic love, that infinitely beautiful illusion of love... Life is just the everyday necessities of life!
My expression changed slightly: "Could it be that you are now..."
“That’s not a problem now.” Jojo’s father looked at me. “My first thought was that it might not be a bad thing for Jojo to live with a man. At least she’s finally willing to accept a man…it’s much better than her living with a woman.”
He was very direct, so I could only smile wryly.
"Then I investigated you very carefully... the man she lives with. Finally, I suddenly felt that this might be good news. Indeed, back in China, you were at the bottom of the social ladder. But now, you've made it big, you have a certain status, you have power, and quite a bit of power at that. You're very wealthy now, and you've gradually entered the upper echelons of society. In terms of social standing, you almost perfectly fit the bill. There are no flaws... Moreover, you and Qiaoqiao are very familiar, extremely familiar. There's a possibility you two could be together." He looked at me: "As a father, especially Qiaoqiao's father, after agonizing over her marriage for a long time, I suddenly realized that you're not bad either. While you may not be as outstanding as Li Wenjing, you are indeed very capable. If you could become my son-in-law, that would be a good choice."
He looked at me and said, "Since she doesn't like the man I chose for her, why not let her choose the man she wants herself, who also meets my criteria?"
I was stunned, completely stunned. I took a deep breath before slowly saying, "Mr. Qiao... um, Uncle Qiao, do you mean you want me to become your son-in-law?"
“Absolutely right.” He smiled at me, but then frowned. “However, the fact that you have other girls around you now is a bit unexpected… Well, it’s an unexpected problem… But in my opinion, that girl named Yan Di isn’t really a big problem.”
Part Two: The Road to Success, Chapter 100: A Dilemma of Love and Righteousness
Seeing my speechless expression, Qiaoqiao's father didn't seem to be as angry as I had imagined—on the contrary, he appeared very calm and even composed.
He snapped his fingers at me: "Got any cigarettes?"
"Huh?" I paused, taken aback. "Didn't you say you quit smoking many years ago..."
“I’ve quit.” He shrugged, looking at me with a complicated expression. “But when faced with special problems, I still need to take a couple of puffs. Special problems, of course, include my daughter being caught in a love triangle with another man…”
I didn't dare say anything more, so I quickly took out a cigarette, handed it to him, and lit it for him.
"Hoo..." Qiaoqiao's father took a deep breath and then exhaled a very nice smoke ring. He then turned to look at me and said something that struck me as odd: "We are all men."
I:"……"
"So, men should talk like men, no need to beat around the bush." He flicked his cigarette ash.
"Okay, I'll listen carefully to what you're trying to say."
“We’re all men… to be precise, all wealthy and powerful men.” Jojo’s father spoke with an air of authority and confidence. He seemed quite adept at conversation, and his words were rather persuasive. “We should say we’re very lucky, because we live in a male-dominated era… no, no, no, don’t give me that feminist nonsense. I don’t believe in that. Objectively speaking, in today’s world, men are in a dominant position, and women, in many cases, are merely subordinate. I don’t mean to discriminate against women. I’m just stating an objective fact.” Then he smiled. “Even, to say something that might get me attacked by women… I think the current gender balance in this world—men are dominant, women are subordinate…—is very fair, absolutely fair.”
The conversation seems to have gone a bit off track... Although I don't understand what he means by all this, I secretly hope that he will continue to talk about things further and further away, and that he will not bring the topic back to me and Qiaoqiao!
So, all I could do was agree with him: "Oh? Fair? Why?"
"From a historical perspective," Qiaoqiao's father finally sat down on the sofa, even leaning back and crossing his legs. "Indeed, gender equality is just a slogan. But you have to understand, we, you, me, everyone in this world now, including feminists... if we look at it from a macro historical perspective, we are just a stage in history. A small stage in the vast river of history. Gender equality? What a joke... Why should we be equal? The inequality between men and women today is caused by history. It's entirely due to the normal laws of historical development... Historically, there have been times when women had a higher status than men... Well, anyone who has gone to elementary school knows that there was a period in human history called the 'matriarchal society,' right? In that era, women had a higher status than men, and men had to listen to women... But unfortunately, that era is over, it's over." It's over... Humanity has entered a new era, which is now, or rather, the 'patriarchal society era.' In this era we live in, historical laws have dictated that men currently hold a higher status than women... This is fair. Women once held a dominant position, but their era has passed, and now it's men's turn to dominate... This is entirely due to the laws of historical development. Perhaps in the future, there might be another era where women dominate... Who knows? But that's irrelevant to us now. Therefore, I say we are lucky; we are all men, and lucky to live in this era where men dominate society. Even more lucky is that in this era, women are in a subordinate position... while for powerful men... they can possess many women! Although this is illegal, no one can deny it."
I nodded, acknowledging that he was right.