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Chapter Seventy-Eight: The Break
At dusk, students, having finished a long day of classes, filed out of the school gate in small groups. Their still-childish faces, initially showing signs of fatigue and numbness, transformed into joy and relief the moment they stepped out. The milk tea shops and snack stalls along the street saw their peak business hours. Boarding students from the city, dragging suitcases filled with dirty clothes and workbooks, waited by the roadside, one after another getting into the cars that came to pick them up.
Two tall boys in school uniforms were carrying milk tea as they walked towards a group of chattering female classmates not far away. When they passed by San San, who was standing by the roadside, and caught sight of the cool road bike he was holding, they both gave him envious looks.
San San watched as the two boys walked past and were immediately surrounded by female classmates. The two boys, heads down, patiently rummaged through their bags, distributing different flavors of milk tea to the girls. The setting sun cast long, slanted shadows on the ground, and the constant laughter made San San feel a sense of disorientation. He had once thought he would never see such a scene again, never return to school, and never experience such carefree and beautiful youth again. He had once thought of himself as an insignificant speck of dust in the afterglow, disappearing into the darkness with the setting sun, never to be seen again.
San San turned to look at the entrance of the milk tea shop. Chen Yunqi was standing in the crowded queue with his backpack on, intently staring at the order number on the TV screen. His height advantage was particularly evident at this moment—when you have a 190cm boyfriend, no matter how crowded it is, you can spot him standing out from the crowd at a glance, without worrying about getting lost.
After waiting for a full twenty minutes, Chen Yunqi finally returned briskly, carrying a piping hot cup of pudding milk tea. He held the cup up to San San, waving it around, and asked with a smile, "What are you daydreaming about? What are you thinking about?"
Just as San San came to her senses and was about to take the milk tea, Chen Yunqi withdrew his hand and said, "It's too hot. You help me push the cart. I'll hold it for you for a while. Let's go."
Road bikes not only lack a rear seat, but to reduce wind resistance and increase speed, the handlebars and head tube are also much lower than the seat, requiring riders to lean forward almost 90 degrees. The sloping top tube of the frame also offers no space for a passenger. Chen Yunqi was practically crying with self-reproach. When buying the bike, jealousy got the better of him; he was only focused on making a stunning appearance in front of Class Monitor San San, completely neglecting practicality.
The anticipated scene didn't unfold as expected. The squad leader rode out on an ordinary bicycle, and upon seeing Chen Yunqi's professional attire, assumed he was going to some competition. He immediately asked San San if she wanted a ride home. After Chen Yunqi made up an excuse that the bicycle was a Christmas present for San San, he immediately suggested that Chen Yunqi get a more suitable model and size for San San's daily use. Before leaving, he thoughtfully reminded Uncle Chen that road bikes are prone to tire blowouts on non-professional tracks, and that he must be very careful.
Feeling like crying but unable to, Chen Yunqi watched the class monitor leave, then led a bewildered San San to the roadside to catch a ride. After finally figuring out Chen Yunqi's intentions, San San, suppressing a laugh, said he had been sitting in class all day and asked Chen Yunqi to accompany him for a walk. Chen Yunqi readily agreed, pushing the bike and slowly walking San San towards home.
After leaving the school and turning two corners, they entered a commercial street. The number of pedestrians suddenly increased, and all kinds of restaurants were full of diners waiting for a table. Chen Yunqi was pushing his cart and didn't have a free hand to hold San San's hand, so San San tugged at the hem of his shirt, drinking milk tea at just the right temperature to warm her hands, and walked along while looking at the bustling and prosperous scene on the street.
Chen Yunqi would occasionally turn to look at San San, who would then offer him a sip of milk tea. As night fell and the city lights began to twinkle, they strolled along the bustling streets, their steps illuminated by colorful neon lights. They would stop occasionally in front of shops to look at the fish tanks displayed outside, sample the snacks, and comment on the decor of each store. Chen Yunqi suddenly felt that he hadn't lost; this pleasant night seemed even more romantic than he had expected.
Along the way, San San accepted all the flyers and small fans with advertisements handed to him. Chen Yunqi asked him with a smile if he planned to work part-time selling scrap. San San said very seriously that he should respect every worker and asked Chen Yunqi not to refuse him coldly or give him a disdainful look, even if he didn't need it.
"I understand, I will definitely keep your teachings in mind," Chen Yunqi readily agreed. Watching San San carefully fold a flyer advertising a 30% discount on all male health products at a certain pharmacy and put it in his pocket, he asked with a wry smile, "San San, you'll be graduating in half a semester. Have you thought about what major you want to choose? Have you discussed it with your classmates?"
After his mother's reminder, Chen Yunqi took some time to visit the school. San San's homeroom teacher said that based on San San's mock exam scores this semester, he was more than qualified for a second-tier university in the province, and not too far from the first-tier university cutoff. San San was weak in math, physics, and chemistry, but had improved significantly after half a semester of intensive tutoring. Regarding his major, the teacher suggested science. Chen Yunqi didn't know San San's own thoughts, and knew that the household registration issue was the biggest obstacle preventing him from even considering it. Not wanting to put pressure on him, he took advantage of the relaxed atmosphere to ask him.
As expected, San San fell silent upon hearing the question, even slowing her pace. Seeing this, Chen Yunqi quickly reassured her, "San San, don't worry about the household registration issue. We'll find a way. If all else fails, you can go back and take the exam. I'll be with you. Remember, don't let this affect your mindset. Think about the effort and hard work you've put in; they deserve a good result, right?"
San San nodded, hesitated for a long time before speaking, "Brother, actually... I've thought about it, but I've never dared to tell you. I want... I want to stay here. Several classmates in my class are going to apply to S University, and I also want... I want to go to the university you went to, and I want to major in ethnology. It's just that the score requirements are too high, and I don't know if I can do it. I only dare to think about it secretly..."
Ethnology is a specialty of S University, and only a few universities in ethnic autonomous regions and provinces across the country offer this major. Chen Yunqi had some understanding of it when he was in school. This major is relatively niche, and the employment prospects are generally in ethnic and religious administrative agencies, ethnic cultural exchange, and news and publishing enterprises and institutions, where they can work in administration, publicity, ethnic economic development, public relations, and other related fields.
Thinking about it that way, this major does seem quite suitable for San San. Chen Yunqi said approvingly to him, "That's great, I support you. You are from an ethnic minority, so you should have an advantage in studying this. If you've really thought it through, let's work hard for another six months. Don't feel pressured, just give it your all."
Although San San needed encouragement, Chen Yunqi didn't want to give him empty platitudes. Instead, he realistically analyzed San San's current situation, pointed out his weaknesses and shortcomings, and offered some effective tutoring suggestions. This finally gave San San the courage to stop just thinking about it and to make up his mind to strive towards his goal, even if he couldn't achieve it, so as not to have any regrets.
The future is no longer just a beautiful picture; it is gradually becoming clear, traceable, and within reach. San San put aside her worries and smiled at Chen Yunqi, saying, "Brother, you're like the sun."
"Huh?" Chen Yunqi looked at San San in confusion and asked, "Why?"
San San wanted to say that it was you who brought light and hope back into my world, ensuring that I wouldn't be alone for too long after each time I hid in darkness, and giving me the chance to see the light again and again. But these words were too sentimental and formal, and he was embarrassed and didn't know how to organize his thoughts to express them, so he simply replied, "Because you are full of positive energy."
Chen Yunqi stopped and reached out to pinch San San's cheek, saying with a smile, "I used to be a real decadent youth, you are the little sun that gives me positive energy."
"With such a sweet tongue, are you hungry and want something delicious to eat?"
San San chuckled, revealing a set of white teeth, and said, "I'm hungry, I want to eat hot pot."
“Okay, let’s go eat hot pot,” Chen Yunqi said to San San, looking at a bustling Sichuan-Chongqing hot pot restaurant not far away. “Today is Christmas. After you eat, go home early. I have a present for you.”
"Huh?" San San pointed at the bicycle in surprise and asked, "Isn't this the gift?"
Mentioning this made Chen Yunqi feel down again. He stammered, "Uh, well, it's also...good things come in pairs...two gifts..."
"Ugh..." San San complained softly, "Don't spend so much money."
"Alright, alright, let's go, I'm starving," Chen Yunqi quickly changed the subject, took San San's hand and made him grab his clothes again, and led him quickly toward the hot pot restaurant.
Many hot pot restaurants in the south have adjusted their spiciness levels to cater to local tastes. Chen Yunqi didn't expect this restaurant to be so authentic; even the mild spiciness was hard for him to handle. San San, who was a bit stronger than him, was also teary-eyed and had a bright red mouth from the spiciness, and drank four cans of cola during the meal.
In the movie *Mermaid Legend*, the mermaid, wanting to retrieve the pearl from the male lead's belly, tries every possible way to kiss him. Hearing that romantic men know to use kisses to relieve the spiciness of spicy food, she asks him to take her to a street food stall for stir-fried clams with chili peppers, hoping to use this as an excuse to kiss him. Ever since watching this movie, whenever she eats spicy food, San San imitates the mermaid, fanning herself with her hand while pouting, signaling Chen Yunqi to kiss her. Chen Yunqi, however, is no innocent, clueless man. He's already waiting nearby, chin in hand, and before San San can even make a move, he leans in, shamelessly asking, "Is it spicy? Drinking cola won't help, will it? Only a kiss from your husband will do, right?"
This art style is more like "Pigsy Wants to Get a Wife" than "The Mermaid Legend"...
The temperature was low at night, and San San was dressed lightly. He had just been sick, and Chen Yunqi didn't dare let him catch a cold again. After dinner, they took a taxi and spent a lot of effort loading the bicycle into the car. They drove home with the trunk door half open.
The management of Chen Yunqi's residential community is very strict. Apart from registered private cars, all other vehicles can only park outside the gate, which is a kilometer away from the building. After getting off the car, he took off his cycling jacket and, without saying a word, let San San put it on. He himself was only wearing a short-sleeved quick-drying shirt and pushed the bike back.
The night air was chilly, and Chen Yunqi shivered from the cold. He took out a cigarette, lit it, and smoked as he walked. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he ran into the floor supervisor, Xiao Xie. Just as Chen Yunqi was about to greet him, Xiao Xie hurried over, saying urgently, "Mr. Chen! You're finally back!"
As Chen Yunqi recalled that he had turned off everything he needed to before leaving home and there were no signs of leaks in the pipes, he replied, "You're back. Is something the matter?"
Xiao Xie pointed to another gate in the community that was for pedestrians only and not for vehicles, and said, "Someone came looking for you this afternoon, but he couldn't say which building you lived in. He seemed suspicious. He kept calling your video doorbell but no one answered. The security guard didn't dare let him in, and he hasn't left. It seems like he's still here!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Yunqi frowned and asked in confusion, "Looking for me? Who is it?"
“Yes,” Xiao Xie said, fiddling with the name tag pinned to her chest, and continued, seemingly puzzled, “It was a man, dressed rather poorly, who looked like he came from a construction site.”
Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration, looked up at Chen Yunqi with wide eyes, and asked, "Hey? Mr. Chen, are you behind on your migrant workers' wages? Have they come knocking on your door? This is a real problem! Should we call the police?"
Chen Yunqi said, half-laughing and half-crying, "I'm not a contractor."
"Oh, I don't know what he does then," Xiao Xie said to Chen Yunqi as he pulled out his vibrating phone from his pocket and pressed the answer button. "Mr. Chen, why don't you go and take a look? That person has been waiting for you all day, he might have something urgent. I have to go now, the husky in Building 5B has run away again, the owner is very worried and asked us to help look for it. If you need any help, just give me a call."
Before Chen Yunqi could answer, Xiao Xie hurriedly left. Chen Yunqi heard him complaining to the person on the other end of the phone as he walked away, "Hey, he'll be here soon! What's the rush! Xiao Congming has gotten lost so many times, he's always hiding in the kitchen of that braised meat shop, hurry up and go check on him..."
After Xiao Xie left, Chen Yunqi racked his brains but couldn't think of anyone who would come looking for him. Not only did he have few friends, but according to Xiao Xie's description, this person seemed to have come from afar and looked somewhat like a migrant worker. He never knew any migrant workers or construction workers, except for those who worked on the riverbanks in the mountains.
Could they be people from the mountains?
Thinking of this, Chen Yunqi's expression immediately turned serious. He took off his schoolbag and handed it to San San, frowning as he said to him, "It's cold outside, you should go home first. I'll go out and take a look."
San San noticed that his expression was strange and wanted to go with him, but she knew that it would be useless to object, so she could only nod and push her bicycle into the building.
Chen Yunqi walked quickly towards the gate, his mind heavy with thoughts, countless possibilities swirling in his mind. He knew it couldn't be Tang Yutao or Li Hui, because both of them had their own phone numbers and would have contacted him beforehand, not just waited foolishly outside. He also thought it might be his mother, Li Jun, or even the mute man coming to seek refuge with him. But when he reached the gate and saw the figure squatting outside, smoking with a tattered bag on his back, Chen Yunqi suddenly stopped in his tracks, his mind blank for a moment, filled with a jumble of thoughts.
The security guard came out of the guard post and called his name several times. He finally came to his senses, took a few more steps forward with heavy steps, but eventually froze in place, unable to lift his feet anymore.
Upon hearing Chen Yunqi's name, the person outside immediately stubbed out his cigarette, rubbed his sore and numb legs, and stood up. He stared intently at Chen Yunqi through the heavy iron gate with his dim eyes, and after a long while, asked, "Where is Sanwa?"
Chen Yunqi calmed himself and replied, "What do you want to do?"
Sensing the tense atmosphere between the two, the security guard nervously glanced left and right, gripping his walkie-talkie tightly, ready to call for help at any moment. Just as the people outside were about to speak, they suddenly heard someone anxiously call out from behind Chen Yunqi, "Dad..."
Chen Yunqi turned around and saw San San following behind. He immediately took two steps back, shielding San San behind him. San San gently tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother, that's my dad, right? Let me through..."
Chen Yunqi frowned and shouted to San San and Sheng Xuelu outside the door, "Say what you have to say like this!"
Sheng Xuelu didn't respond, standing outside the door like a statue, watching them. San San pleaded again in a low voice, "Brother, let me through...that's my dad..."
After a full three minutes, Chen Yunqi, who had been on high alert, finally let out a sigh of relief and stepped aside to let San San out.
Watching San San walk over slowly, Chen Yunqi signaled to the security guard that he could open the door and told him to call the police immediately if the people outside showed any signs of violence.
San San couldn't understand why Sheng Xuelu had come, or how he had gotten there. He thought of his father, just like he had done years before, having traveled for over ten hours by train, arriving weary and worn. Seeing his father standing before him in his worn-out coat, his eyes filled with exhaustion, San San felt a pang of sadness and couldn't speak. Sheng Xuelu had never left the mountains in his life, nor had he ever traveled far. He himself never imagined that his first time would be to travel thousands of miles to find his runaway son.
Holding back tears, San San called out again, "Dad..."
Sheng Xuelu, with a cold face, didn't even look at Chen Yunqi beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Sanwa'er, come home with me."
Chen Yunqi became extremely vigilant. He could no longer tolerate any harm to San San, so he stepped forward and angrily said, "Uncle Lu! San San isn't leaving! He's an adult now! Let him make his own decision!"
Sheng Xuelu ignored Chen Yunqi and stared intently at San San, his gaze so intimidating that Chen Yunqi dared not look up. Chen Yunqi thought San San was scared and wanted to say something for him, but suddenly he heard him turn around and say firmly, "Brother, you don't need to speak for me, I'll speak for myself."
Chen Yunqi was stunned by San San's unexpected aura. He swallowed the words he was about to say and retreated to the side of the security guard. San San took a deep breath, bravely raised her head and looked at Sheng Xuelu, saying, "Dad, I'm sorry, I'm not going back. I want to go to university. I like Teacher Chen, and I want to stay and be with him."
This wasn't the first time Sheng Xuelu had heard San San talk about these things, but this time, San San's tone wasn't pleading at all; it was just a calm statement.
“Dad, I’m an adult now, and I want to make my own decisions. I don’t want to go back to farming. I want to study, find a good job, earn more money, and support you, Mom, and my sister. I’m not with Teacher Chen for anything. I’m just like this by nature, and even if I go back with you, it won’t change.”
The changes in his son, both in appearance and behavior, were so drastic that it was unbearable. Sheng Xuelu's lips trembled with anger, but he knew that using violence now would only bring him trouble. After all, he was unfamiliar with the place, powerless, and would gain no advantage under any circumstances. He struggled to suppress the urge to beat his son, gritting his teeth as he said, "I'm asking you one last time, are you coming back with me or not?"
San San clenched her hands and answered firmly, "I'm not going back."
Still clinging to a sliver of hope, he continued, "Dad...please give me another chance. I ranked in the top fifteen in my class last week, and my overall grades this semester are in the top fifty in the grade. You see..."
As San San spoke, he took off his schoolbag and rummaged through his test papers. He so hoped that after seeing the results of his hard work, his father could give him a word of affirmation and encouragement, just like Chen Yunqi, Chen Yunqi's mother, Xue Meng and Kevin, or even Aunt Li.
"Dad, I can do it! Look, this is my report card. My scores have all improved, and the teacher even wrote some comments for me..." San San frantically pulled out a thick stack of test papers, about to unfold them for Sheng Xuelu to see, when Sheng Xuelu suddenly pulled something out of his pocket and slammed it hard on San San's head.
San San picked up the household registration book that had fallen to the ground, looked up at Sheng Xuelu, her eyes filled with despair and helplessness.
"dad"
"Don't call me Dad!" Sheng Xuelu pointed at San San's nose and shouted angrily, "You're not leaving, are you? Fine, you're all grown up now, I can't control you anymore. If you want to stay, do things that will disgrace our ancestors and bring shame to the Yi people, I'll grant your wish! From now on, I, Sheng Xuelu, have no son like you! Didn't you want to change your household registration? Our Sheng family can't tolerate someone like you. Don't ever say you're Yi when you go out! Get out!"
Without glancing at his son again, Sheng Xuelu turned and left after finishing his sentence.
San San's tears finally welled up. He looked at the household registration book with only one page left, looked up at his father's receding figure, dropped what he was holding, got up and chased after him.
San San chased after him for a long, long way outside the door. Chen Yunqi followed closely behind, watching him stagger and cry all the way, but he couldn't get Sheng Xuelu to stop or show any pity. He rushed over and stopped him, and they stood together on the cold street, embracing each other and crying bitterly.
Chapter Seventy-Nine Pride
San San's Christmas present was a brand-new laptop, which he didn't open until more than a week after Christmas. All the necessary software was already installed, and the wallpaper was the teacher-student photo that Song Feifei had taken last Christmas. In the photo, Chen Yunqi and San San were secretly holding hands in front of a low wall, each harboring a budding crush. They never imagined that a year later, their lives would be so intertwined, and their destinies would undergo such a dramatic transformation.
Her father's heartlessness extinguished San San's last vestige of attachment to her hometown on that cold night. That night, Xue Meng's bar held a Christmas party, and Chen Yunqi declined her and Kevin's invitations. He held the heartbroken San San in his arms and lay on the bed, not closing his eyes all night.
Chen Yunqi saw in Sheng Xuelu countless typical Chinese parents who habitually treat their children as their private property, believing that they not only gave their children life but also held the power of life and death over them, thus harboring a strong desire for control and unwarranted expectations. Sheng Xuelu's tyranny and despotism stemmed from the fact that San San was his flesh and blood; he believed he had the right and reason to discipline San San—meaning he still acknowledged San San. Precisely because of this, regardless of how he had previously beaten and scolded San San, whether out of concern for his own reputation or genuine concern for San San, San San always held onto a sliver of hope that he would one day accept and forgive her, foolishly hoping for a happy ending.
After that night, San San finally understood that day would never come.
San San was too naive and innocent. All he saw was his father, utterly disappointed in him, and the clansmen behind him who were equally disappointed in him. Words are often more damaging than actions, especially when such deep-seated hurt comes from parents, from loved ones. Chen Yunqi knew that a wound had been left in San San's heart, a pain that he could not heal no matter what he did, only carefully nurture it for the rest of his long life, covering it with a lifetime of tenderness.
An expected turn of events seemed to kill the timid child from the mountains. After a long night, what awoke again was the fearless young man about to embark on a new path in life.
Xue Meng attended the last parent-teacher conference of the first semester of senior year in place of Chen Yunqi. San San's grades had improved dramatically, ranking in the top ten of her class in the final exams, and she received special praise from the teacher at the conference. Xue Meng heard about San San's falling out with her father. Besides expressing regret, she earnestly told San San that the relationship between parents and children is a matter of fate and a journey of self-cultivation. Some relationships are deep, some shallow; some lead to fulfilling happiness, while others ultimately end badly. Regardless of the outcome, they will eventually drift apart. She advised San San not to dwell on the past, but to cherish the present and seize the future since she had already decided to move forward.
The busy and fulfilling days flew by, and the Spring Festival was just around the corner. Besides their academic progress, the most comforting news for Chen Yunqi and San San was Liu Xin's arrest.
Liu Xin's molestation of San San could not be prosecuted due to insufficient evidence, and he escaped punishment by chance. Overjoyed, he soon repeated his actions, raping a singer who performed at a bar. His arrogance was excessive; he didn't even bother with protective measures. After being arrested and faced with overwhelming evidence, this spoiled brat even demanded his father intervene. The Liu family were also prominent businessmen. Faced with his son's repeated disregard for family reputation and moral boundaries, Liu's father ultimately allowed his unfilial son to go to jail. At the same time, he quickly launched a public relations campaign, establishing himself in the public eye as a stern father who upheld justice and protected the people. His stock price rose instead of falling, and he even garnered widespread praise.
Chen Yunqi was busy until the day before Lunar New Year's Eve. On the morning of Lunar New Year's Eve, he and San San said goodbye to Kevin's family at the airport. Kevin and Xue Meng took their daughter to the United States for vacation, while Chen Yunqi and San San embarked on their journey home.
It was San San's first time flying, and he was nervous and uneasy in the face of the luxurious environment and attentive service of first class. For the entire flight, he anxiously looked out the window, and whenever the plane encountered turbulence, he immediately gripped Chen Yunqi's arm tightly. Chen Yunqi couldn't soothe him to sleep, so he turned on the in-flight TV and found a movie for him. Ten minutes later, San San's attention was finally completely drawn to the film. Chen Yunqi took the opportunity to coax him into eating something and watched two episodes of *Pacific Rim* with him, finally allowing him to be safely and peacefully brought back to the ground without him even realizing it.
The moment San San stepped out of the terminal, the intense sunlight reflecting off the ground blinded her. Although the winter air in the north was frigid, the dry afternoon sun made the snow shimmer with tiny golden rays, warming her heart despite the chill. Snow is rare in the southwestern mountains; the occasional flakes only fall briefly, melting as soon as they touch the ground. San San had never seen such a silver-clad landscape before. She stared in awe, leaving Chen Yunqi behind, and jumped straight into the roadside greenery, hopping and skipping on the snow like a playful little sparrow, her face flushed with excitement.
It had been a long time since Chen Yunqi had seen San San's innocent smile. Ever since Sheng Xuelu's visit, San San's face had been shrouded in a misty haze, damp and wet, making it hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. Today, the bright sunshine had finally dispelled the mist, and Chen Yunqi saw that he had returned to being that innocent and naive boy, like a newly grown emerald green pine tree standing on the white snow, vigorous and beautiful.
The driver who was supposed to pick them up was already waiting by the roadside. Chen Yunqi took out a scarf from his backpack and put it on San San. He pinched San San's frostbitten little face, looked at the white breath he kept exhaling, and said gently, "Let's go. Our family is waiting for us to go back for New Year's Eve dinner. I'll take you out to enjoy the snow later."
Still savoring the scenery, San San clung to the car window the entire way, not even blinking, afraid of missing a single view. Taking advantage of the driver's inattention, Chen Yunqi quickly leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Our Chen family's little wife is officially entering the family today," which made San San drop his longing expression and immediately become nervous.
Chen Yunqi did not expect that his grandmother would be waiting for them at the gate of the compound. He also did not expect that, in addition to his aunt and uncle, his mother had also returned to his grandmother's house early in the morning. When Chen Yunqi led San San into the house, she was wearing an apron and rolling out dumpling wrappers in the kitchen. She was sweating profusely and her waist was sore. Her rolled-up sleeves were covered with white flour. It was a sight that Chen Yunqi had not seen since she was six years old.