Chapter 63 – Interlude: Xu Xing (2)
Xu Yunhui turned toward the third floor and called out to Zhong Yuhuan, “Huanhuan, why don’t you come down and join us?”
Slowly, Zhong Yuhuan responded with a, “Okay.”
After she said that, she turned to Huo Chengming and asked, “Where’s Li Jinyuan?”
“I don’t know what he is doing.”
“Go get him, we will go downstairs together,” said Zhong Yuhuan as she opened up the door to the staircase.
Huo Chengming nodded and turned around to get Li Jinyuan.
The three of them slowly went downstairs.
Zhong Chi had also arrived home at the same time.
He hadn’t seen this son for a long time so he had on him a very tender and fatherly smile.
“Great, the whole family can spend New Year together!” said Zhong Chi happily.
Xu Xing only grunted an acknowledgement.
That made Zhong Chi somewhat disappointed, and his fatherly love was half gone immediately.
Especially after Zhong Chi saw Zhong Yuhuan and the other two sitting on the other side of the couch.
Even though Huo Chengming and Li Jinyuan were adopted kids from the welfare services, they were both very attractive individuals. Even with just simple sweaters and long pants, they already exuded the aura of wealthy young masters.
On the other hand, Xu Xing, with the baggy uniform of 13th Secondary School compounded by his skinniness, make him looked ridiculous.
He did not look like a wealthy young master at all.
The drastic contract made Zhong Chi even more unhappy.
His face darkened and he said, “I have said this many times before. Studying is your duty, as is getting good grades. But you shouldn’t be a nerd. What good is a nerd? You can’t manage business with just knowledge from textbooks.”
Xu Xing’s face started to darken as well, but he slowly responded with a “Mmm.”
Xu Yunhui didn’t interject. She had always wanted Zhong Chi to be more like a father to Xu Xing and to give him more guidance.
The stricter Zhong Chi was to him, the more it meant that he held him to a higher standard, right?
Zhong Yuhuan looked at the scene unfolding in front of her and couldn’t help but laugh to herself.
So, this “family of four” all have their own ideas, they weren’t really that close of a family.
Xu Yunhui didn’t understand her son and daughter, neither did her son and daughter understand her. And they couldn’t see eye to eye with Zhong Chi.
The only reason that they looked like they were getting along happily was all Xu Yunhui’s doing. In truth, any slight pressure could make the whole thing come crumbling down.
That night, everybody had dinner together.
Huo Chengming and Li Jinyuan’s dinner table etiquette was taught personally by Zhong Yuhuan.
Looking at Xu Xing, again, he did not measure up to the other two.
Zhong Chi’s face continued to darken progressively.
He couldn’t stand the fact that his own son was inferior to the kids from the welfare services!
Seeing that Zhong Chi wasn’t in the best of moods, Xu Yunhui decided against bringing up the issue of officially making Xu Xing a Zhong.
Zhong Yuhuan and the other two had a good time at dinner. The others, not so much.
Zhong Yuhuan put down the utensils, wiped her mouth, and said in a low voice, “We are going back upstairs now.”
Zhong Chi had intended to take this opportunity to teach Xu Xing some skills, so he didn’t even look up before he said, “Go.”
Zhong Yuhuan had the soul of an adult so she could tell what’s good and what’s not. She could put up with many things, such as studying hard, or reading difficult books…
Huo Chengming and Li Jinyuan, on the other hand, were naturally talented so they picked up many things faster than others and didn’t always need to be taught.
Xu Xing, on the other hand, was not particularly talented, nor had a soul that did not belong to his age. The sterner Zhong Chi was with him, the worst results he would get. Any criticism would only bring about his rebellious side.
Zhong Yuhuan smiled and said, “Bye.”