“You’re my dad!”
Zhong Lingyu felt a wave of dizziness; the thing he least wanted to happen had happened.
In the bright, noisy back of the classroom, for a mere 0.02 seconds, no one knew what the stiff-backed young man was thinking.
Zhong Lingyu swore he loved his daughter dearly, and he genuinely hoped that father and daughter could occasionally act like strangers, like now.
But the thought of his pampered daughter and his heartbreakingly sensible son, unable to legitimately run into their parents’ arms and act spoiled after transmigrating—how much of a psychological gap must he feel? Already forgotten by their younger mother, and now their father unwilling to acknowledge them, the children were truly innocent and pitiful.
What could he do about their tantrums? They were still his children; he could only spoil them.
Zhong Lingyu’s ruthlessness seemed to happen in an instant.
The next second after sighing, he turned around and instinctively reached out to protect the usually reckless and careless child.
The shadow looming over Zhong Lingyu was much larger than he had imagined. Looking up, he saw a colossal figure over two meters tall… no, he was clearly still a child, a tall, eighteen-year-old boy who always sat at the back of the classroom, guarding the back door like a majestic stone lion.
Yet, at this moment, this excessively strong classmate, seeing Zhong Lingyu’s slightly raised arm, seemed to receive permission and strode forward to give him a bear hug.
“Zhong, you’re my dad! I was dying of the heat! You saved my life! You’re my second parents!”
Zhong Lingyu was so dizzy from being shaken that he felt like he was going to vomit blood.
Dong Xian scoffed, “Zhang Xue’en, can’t you have some backbone? Two air conditioners and you’re already claiming fathers everywhere? What about your parents?”
Zhang Xue’en smiled happily in the cool air, “I don’t care, Zhong gave me a second life! He’s my father!”
“Okay…but…it…is…necessary.”
Zhong Lingyu said slowly, her voice trembling as Zhang Xue’en’s two strong arms pressed against her.
At the front door, the female classmate Zhong Xin had asked to find someone who seemed unwilling to help.
“What Song Chan? I don’t know her. Ask someone else.”
“It’s okay, let me describe her features. You’ll definitely remember her. She’s incredibly beautiful, with fair skin, a great figure, and very black hair…”
Before Zhong Xin could finish describing her, the classmate quickly declined, saying, “I really can’t help you.”
Zhong Xin watched her classmate’s hurried departure, feeling puzzled. “Wasn’t I detailed enough?”
Zhong Cheng stared intently into the crowd, muttering to himself, “I think I saw Dad.”
Zhong Xin looked incredulous. “No way, Dad’s abroad.”
Just then, the school bell rang, and the aisle erupted into chaos as everyone rushed towards their classrooms.
Zhong Cheng continued his relentless search: “I really feel Dad’s nearby.”
Zhong Xin pulled Zhong Cheng downstairs. “You’re just missing him too much, causing you to hallucinate. Dad’s doing great abroad, no need for homework or classes. What’s there for him to miss? He should think more about Mom.”
This little darling, what happened to running into Daddy’s arms?!
Zhong Cheng and Zhong Xin’s class, Class 7 of the first year of high school, was in the old teaching building opposite the playground. This was specially arranged by Zhong Lingyu so that the two boys wouldn’t bother their parents in class whenever they had free time.
As Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng walked in the middle of the playground, they were still discussing Song Chan’s situation.
The two seemed quite troubled.
Zhong Xin: “We can’t delay any longer. We have to reunite with Mom as soon as possible. Even if she can’t accept us yet, we must stay close to her and enter her life.”
Zhong Cheng adjusted his glasses, looking quite refined.
“Have you forgotten? Mom was terrified by us last time. We can’t be so reckless again.”
Zhong Xin said dejectedly, “I don’t want to pressure her like this, but Mom needs us, and it’s urgent.” The girl hesitated for a moment, “There’s something I haven’t told you.”
Zhong Cheng stopped, the setting sun casting shadows on his soft bangs. The boy frowned, looking like he had entered a serious mode.
“You’d better tell me the truth, don’t lie to me again.”
“If you scare me again, I won’t tell you anything.”
The siblings were at odds for a while, but Zhong Xin couldn’t help but tell him.
“Okay, okay, I’ll tell you. Do you remember that time in junior high when we went to our grandparents’ house for the Mid-Autumn Festival? I couldn’t sleep, and my grandmother told me a lot about Mom’s childhood to help me fall asleep.
“Although Mom wasn’t exactly a model child growing up, she always worked hard and even got into a good top class in high school.” But something happened in her second year of high school that caused Mom to drop out of the top class and into a regular class. Then she failed the college entrance exam and ended up in a third-rate university, entering a very difficult and painful period, even enduring much cold treatment…”
Zhong Cheng: “So what exactly happened back then?”
Zhong Xin took a sip of her strawberry milk. “She only said one sentence, ‘If only that hadn’t happened, I still regret it to this day.’ Judging from her expression, it seemed like a very serious matter.”
Zhong Cheng walked slowly forward, the setting sun behind him. “It seems Mom didn’t leave the top class because her grades dropped below fifty. If that hadn’t happened, and Mom had performed consistently, she might have had a very bright future.”
Zhong Xin observed her brother’s serious expression and said, “Zhong Cheng, I really don’t want to see Mom’s youth end in regret. Also, I want to know who hurt Mom, and I will never let that person get away with it.” ”
During evening self-study, Song Chan finished her geography exam.
After handing in her paper, she nervously flipped through her book, checking the answers.
But she was still unsure about a few answers. Song Chan glanced at Dong Xianneng, the student in first place.
How wonderful it would be to check answers with the top student!
But remembering Dong Xianneng’s sarcastic expression, she hesitated and gave up.
Her empty stomach rumbled, and hunger slowly crept in. Song Chan felt as if her stomach was filled with tiny, wriggling worms, clamoring for food.
At that moment, Zhong Lingyu tentatively offered a palm-sized chocolate pie. “Here.”
Song Chan: “Is it okay?” ”
Zhong Lingyu raised her hand.
Song Chan happily took it, tore open the wrapper, and found the chocolate shell crisp and rich, encasing a soft cream filling. She took a bite, happiness filling her heart.
At the same time, she remembered Zhang Xueen’s actions and couldn’t help but say,
“Zhong!”
Zhong Lingyu: “What is it?”
Song Chan: “You’re my father!”
Zhong Lingyu felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.
“You can’t say that, Song.”
“What can’t I say? Only this word can express my gratitude to you!” Song Chan squinted her eyes happily.
Zhong Lingyu watched her intently, chewing the chocolate pie, momentarily lost in thought.
His soul seemed to return to a memory. Living alone abroad wasn’t easy; cooking was an essential skill. The first time he demonstrated his culinary skills to Song Chan, she had eaten with the same joy.
Why did watching someone eat bring him such inexplicable satisfaction, especially food he had prepared?
His daughter’s claim that he had a feeding habit seemed true; he now felt a strong urge to feed them.
He restrained himself.
It was too early.
Song Chan had just finished one when a second appeared in front of her. She was surprised and almost laughed out loud, “There are more?!”
Zhong Lingyu: “As many as you want.”
Song Chan examined the packaging, “This is really delicious, but I don’t recognize the brand.”
Zhong Lingyu: “You can’t buy it in stores. This is something produced in a friend’s factory; it’s currently only a trial pack.” ”
The sample packs are the real gems. They use the best ingredients at this stage. Once it’s in mass production, the focus will be on preserving the flavor while creating high-tech results.
Song Chan, of course, didn’t distinguish between these things. She only knew that since it was already snacking, why worry about health?
So she ate without any guilt.
At one moment, Song Chan’s eyes met those of Dong Xianneng in front of her.
Dong Xianneng, as if caught off guard, turned his head away with a mixture of pride and panic, swallowing hard.
Song Chan, oblivious, was completely bewildered.
Having finished what she had, Song Chan was still a little hungry, her innocent eyes turning to Zhong Lingyu.
Receiving the signal, he rummaged in the drawer, “Let me find you something else.”
Then, as if by magic, he produced an egg yolk pastry.
Song Chan’s whole world lit up.
“How come all of these are my favorite foods!”
“So we like to eat the same things.” ”
“Who says otherwise? You’re so kind, I don’t even know how to thank you.”
“I’m the one thanking you. You had dinner with me and then walked me home. I’m the one who should feel bad.”
“Did I say I walked you home?” Song Chan asked, a chocolate shaving on her lips, puzzled.
Zhong Lingyu nodded, looking blank. “You haven’t forgotten, have you?”
“No, no. The school’s always under construction, it’s normal that you didn’t know how to get out of school on your first day.” Although Song Chan really had no recollection of walking Zhong Lingyu home. “Are you a day student?”
“Yes, my driver waits for me at the intersection.”
Song Chan instantly felt the difference.
She took the bus to and from school, while the young master was driven around by a chauffeur every day. The comfortable car must be perfect for napping.
Song Chan burped. “I’ll go get a glass of water. DDo youneed one?” ”
“Zhong Lingyu’s eyes crinkled into a smile. ‘No need, just take your own. Be careful not to burn your hands.’
Song Chan nodded, thinking how different this well-mannered boy was. Look how good he was at interpersonal relationships; a simple word of concern was enough to win people’s hearts.
And her younger brother, Song Qing? His best skill was acting crazy, like suddenly crawling on the ground like a maggot.
“Brother, when you enter society, remember to attend more emotional intelligence classes.”
Zhong Lingyu always believed that a truly successful man must be a refined gentleman, possessing the composure of someone who has weathered many storms, the elegance of someone well-read, and the gentleness and equanimity of someone who embraces all things.
After Song Chan left, he took a large bag of food from the cupboard and began distributing it.
Dong Xianneng was initially annoyed when Zhong Lingyu poked him in the back, until a chocolate pie was handed to him. He met Zhong Lingyu’s gaze in surprise and said uncertainly, “Is this… for me?” “Zhong Lingyu: ‘Song Chan asked you to. Please help her in the future.’
Dong Xianneng held Zhong Lingyu’s chocolate pie, completely dazed.
Zhong Lingyu sent Zhang Xueen to distribute snacks to a small group, saying they were from Song Chan.
Zhang Xueen had only one snack left when a young man carrying a black backpack walked into the classroom. Beneath his crisp school uniform were strong bones. He was also very tall, with short, soft, lazy black hair and thick eyelashes, like a character from a Japanese or Korean comic, except his face was pale and slightly sickly.
‘Are you better?’
Zhang Xueen recognized him and approached him with friendly concern.
‘Yes, the fever broke, so I came to school right away.’
The young man smiled brightly.
‘Here, Liang Zhuo, have a chocolate pie.’
‘Who gave it to you?'” ”
Liang Zhuo immediately recognized this as something that didn’t belong to Zhang Xueen.
Zhang Xueen was saying, “It’s Song Chan…”
A dark figure flashed by, and the chocolate pie was instantly in someone else’s hands.
Zhong Lingyu stood in front of Liang Zhuo, coldly staring at him: “Sorry, there’s none for you.”
Liang Zhuo, how could Zhong Lingyu forget? That was Song Chan’s first love’s name.