CH 40

Old Yang was a fashionable old man from Qingdao.

He prided himself on keeping up with the times, since his son worked in the internet field after all. During any gatherings, he would be able to utter a trendy phrase every now and then, causing him stand out among the old men and women there, making him look good.

An old man like this, really liked Han Shi Yu when he first met him. That child was handsome and always smiling, his tongue was sweet as if pickled in a honey pot and constantly able to spit out flowers when he was by an elder’s side.

Old Yang was not at all surprised why Yang Mo would drag him home for Chinese New Year’s Eve. Only this type of people would be used to his son’s temper after all.

However, on that winter night many years ago, Han Shi Yu took Yang Mo’s hand and half-jokingly announced their relationship. Old Yang didn’t believe in it at first, only blurting out a. “Don’t joke with me like that.”

Han Shi Yu’s expression settled down into a serious one as he said, “Dad, I’m not lying to you.”

That sound of ‘dad’ rang out painfully obvious, too ear-splitting that his brain went blank for a minute.

Old Yang hugged Zhou Yi’s husky dog and thought about it quietly all night.

He wondered if Yang Mo had missed the maternal love from his mother since he was a child, and that Han Shi Yu made it up to him.

Or maybe Yang Mo had leaned towards this side since he was a child, that was possible too.

He thought about it over and over again, somehow in the end, he pushed the responsibility onto himself. His heart surged with a feeling of guilt that would not fade no matter what.

He found it hard to accept it at first too, tossing and turning for many nights, unable to fall asleep due to insomnia. However, softened down with time, he eventually adapted to it and realized it wasn’t such a big deal either.

He went to talk to the two, advising them to take all the safety precautions, especially Han Shi Yu, not to always accommodate Yang Mo’s grumpy, explosive temper and to bring up any opinions if he had any.

At that time, Han Shi Yu only answered with a lot of ‘en’ and ‘mhm’ without realizing why Old Yang emphasized on “especially Han Shi Yu”.

But Han Shi Yu understood now.

The price to pay for being enlightened was truly very painful.

Han Shi Yu’s cup of tea was placed by his mouth as he fell into a long state of stillness, to the point of the tea bubbling up from his breath.

No matter how painful it was, a question from his dad could not be left unanswered.

Han Shi Yu mumbled, “Sometimes on top, sometimes…on the bottom.”

Old Yang might not have understood things like body positions, nor did he hear what he said clearly, so he leaned his body forward and asked, “What…speak louder.”

Yang Mo served the remaining dishes, realizing things didn’t seem right with the two of them. One side of his eyebrows went up in suspicion as he wiped his hands on his apron and said, “What are you two…up to.”

Han Shi Yu who saw him return, rushed to calm himself and threw out something random, “Mo! Mo Mo…we ran out of salt at home.”

Yang Mo: “There’s still two big bags in the kitchen.”

Han Shi Yu hurriedly added, “…Then that’d be vinegar that ran out.”

Yang Mo was puzzled, “What exactly do you want to say.”

Old Yang saw Han Shi Yu’s reaction and things felt even more off to him now. He clicked his tongue, “No need to send him away. How big of a deal is it? Just say it.”

Yang Mo: “?”

Old Yang stared at Han Shi Yu.

Finally, Han Shi Yu, who had been holding it in for a long time, spoke as if he was walking towards death, “Dad, I was the one who forced Yang Mo.” He lowered his head, solemnly put his teacup on the table and said, “I’m sorry. I’m the sinner.”

Old Yang: “……”

Old Yang’s brain fell into a minute-long blankness.

Yang Mo still didn’t understand what the two of them were talking about until he saw the fanfiction on Old Yang’s phone screen.

Yang Mo: “.”

On his first time of experiencing such sweet pleasure, Han Shi Yu’s brain was flooded with alcohol, so he didn’t know how to spoil and gently treat Yang Mo; his movements were rough and reckless.

Throughout the process, Yang Mo felt like a man on death row who was nailed on the execution rack. He wished he could just hit his head on the bedframe and die.

While both his body and mind felt like it was no better to live than to die, the criminal suspect was still lying in the nook of his neck, pitifully calling out ‘ge’, as if he was the one being bullied instead.

Humans lived in constant regret. For example, Yang Mo really wanted to strangle the him from half an hour ago to death, the same him who silently agreed to Han Shi Yu’s request from half an hour ago.

The next day, Han Shi Yu was on his knees in bed. He stretched out his fingers towards the heavens and swore that he would practice his skills and not rush into things like he did the next time.

Yang Mo turned his back on Han Shi Yu, unable to move with his heart burning up with a handful of flames. He said hoarsely, “Did you misunderstanding something.”

It took him a lot of effort to turn around and look at Han Shi Yu, “Next time we’re switchi—” Before he could finish his words, Yang Mo was stunned.

He noticed that Han Shi Yu’s eyes were red and he had a wilted look like his soul was about to be squeezed out of him. With a nasally voice, he choked out, “It was intentional…I was drunk last night so I couldn’t control myself well…I…”

The more he listened, the more shame he felt so Yang Mo could only swallow his words and hurriedly cut him off, “Enough!”

He turned his head towards him, his mouth twitching nonstop.

What kind of world was this.

It was obviously Han Shi Yu who took advantage of him, yet he was also the one crying his eyes out here too.

Yang Mo hadn’t shed a tear himself yet, to boot. How was it his turn first.

Han Shi Yu leaned his head forward and tested the waters, asking softly, “Does it hurt?”

Yang Mo was still angry and didn’t want to talk.

Han Shi Yu said, “I’ll give you a massage, okay?”

The longer they were together, with more time spent together for comparison, the more Yang Mo thought Han Shi Yu was actually quite good.

The thickness of his face was increasing nonstop as well.

For the first few times, he still knew guilt and would shed tears as apology whenever he didn’t do well. Later on, as his techniques matured and improved, the dirty talk would be endless beside his ears.

It was akin to raising a dog. The owner needed to teach him not to be overly protective of what was his own from the beginning. If he wasn’t taught that just because of the drooping ears and pitiful-looking eyes, then this beast would only grow up to bare his teeth in arrogance later, telling you it was too late.

When Yang Mo suddenly came to realize it had been 17 years since things dragged on and he kept letting Han Shi Yu do what he wanted, their positionings in bed were no longer changeable.

In the living room, Old Yang’s eyes were filled with hundreds of emotions that one experience across life. Like a projector, all the memories of his son’s proud life experiences from childhood to adulthood were played all at once, ultimately stopping at 19 years old when Yang Mo made a careless ‘mistake’.

Old Yang said to him, “Weren’t you capable of it?”

One careless ‘mistake’ caused him to be interrogated and executed by his own daughter and father over and over again. He himself had nothing to say and had committed a social suicide already.

Two days later.

Yang Han sneezed. There were still a few days till the Dragon Boat Festival holiday break and she was bundled up in her blanket in bed, scrolling through her phone before going to bed. Han Shi Yu sent her a message.

Han Shi Yu: “Comrade Xiao Yang.”

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It was surely up to no good whenever Han Shi Yu took the initiative to message her. Yang Mo was ready to block him but still asked, “What is it.”

“Good news.” Han Shi Yu said, “Your grandpa came over to stay for a few days. You can meet him when you come home this weekend. He’ll return before the holidays.”

Yang Han exclaimed with surprise, “Really! That’s great.”

“And another bad news.”

Han Shi Yu was trying to tell her not to rejoice too early and said, “Your dad. He, following the company’s arrangement, will be studying abroad for two months. He’s leaving the day after tomorrow.”

July holidays were around the corner. This would mean she won’t get to see Yang Mo for half of her summer break. She said, “Why does my dad have to go to study?? Isn’t he already the best at computers and stuff?”

“Well, learning is an endless journey. People will need to keep learning if they wanted to improve themselves.” Han Shi Yu said in a serious tone, “It’s normal.”

The sharp Yang Han sniffed out something.

She frowned and asked, “Did you do something.”

Han Shi Yu quickly replied, “I didn’t.”

He followed with an explanation, “The company really had this arrangement recently, but the date was moved up a little.”

Yang Han: “It was moved up earlier?”

Han Shi Yu: “En.”

Yang Han was still half skeptical, “Okay then.”

“Then…” Yang Han’s text was still in the typing bar when Han Shi Yu sent another text, “But I’m free these few days. I can be at home.”

He added, “To keep you company.”

Yang Han: “.”

T/N: Short chapter, so I didn’t split it into two parts! Hope y’all are still enjoying this so far. We have about 16 more chapters to go!