TPIL - 49

Due to her career before retirement, Qi Xiaochuan’s mother was particularly skilled in cooking and, at the same time, strongly disliked hiring domestic help. Although among the employers she had encountered, there were indeed individuals like Mrs. Luo who were empathetic and considerate, most were still the type who gave orders arrogantly. In short, no matter how much money her son offered, she insisted on not hiring any domestic help.

They were sitting at the dining table enjoying dinner when they learned this fact. Luo Andi turned back in surprise and smiled at Qi Xiaochuan: “Auntie Qi is just like you; you don’t like hiring people either. This must be a mother-son thing.”

“I just don’t like bumping into unfamiliar people at home,” Qi Xiaochuan said while focusing on eating his meal.

Their conversation was brief, yet it effectively caught the attention of the other two elders present.

Qi Xiaochuan’s father, who had been drinking soup, held his spoon mid-air and accidentally fed himself an empty spoonful. Qi Xiaochuan’s mother outright dropped her chopsticks.

Both Qi Xiaochuan and Luo Andi were puzzled. One raised an eyebrow and looked at them as if they were crazy, while the other looked at them with confusion.

It was Uncle Qi who first asked: “Uh, what... Andi, do you know what kind of family Xiaochuan comes from?”

“Yes, I do,” the young woman replied with a smile.

Luo Andi didn’t quite understand, but Qi Xiaochuan did. However, he remained calm and wiped his mouth with a napkin. He then leaned back, waiting for them to ask their questions openly. He was always composed in handling such situations. Sure enough, Qi’s father couldn’t hold back any longer, especially since Qi’s mother kept sending him anxious glances. Finally, under his wife’s urging, he reluctantly spoke up: “Qi Xiaochuan, did you let Andi go to your house?”

If one wanted to say something harsh, Qi Xiaochuan could think of countless scathing remarks. However, for Luo Andi’s sake, he needed to phrase his words carefully.

But Luo Andi herself didn’t have such concerns. With a light tone and a bright expression, she straightforwardly answered, “Yes, actually, I’ve been staying at Xiaochuan’s place recently.”

Qi Xiaochuan’s mother closed her eyes, trying hard not to react the way she did during her last meeting with a young lady. Unfortunately, she wasn’t religious; otherwise, she would have surely started praying by now. Lord, why does she call someone who constantly shocks her “my son”?

Qi Xiaochuan’s father widened his eyes, then stood up and swung his hand toward Qi Xiaochuan. This action stopped halfway because Luo Andi had more to say.

With a smile, she added, “We’ve been dating recently.”

Mr. Qi paused for a moment, but his hand continued its swing, landing heavily on Qi Xiaochuan’s back. He exclaimed, “Great! Qi Xiaochuan! You’ve really made something of yourself!”

The plates on the dining table rattled and made noise. Qi Xiaochuan endured the pain of being struck internally and calmly replied, “I wouldn’t say I’ve made something of myself—”

“Xiaochuan,” even Mrs. Qi dabbed at the corners of her eyes, shaking her head with tearless sorrow.

Luo Andi was also taken aback, completely unprepared for this situation. Nevertheless, she immediately comforted Mrs. Qi, handing her tissues and speaking softly. On the other hand, Qi Xiaochuan remained calm, got up, picked up his plate, and left the dining room, hoping to quickly escape this dangerous battlefield-like scene.

He knew he wasn’t worthy of Luo Andi, and he didn’t need anyone to remind him of that. Qi Xiaochuan wasn’t so sentimental as to waver in his decision due to such doubts. What others thought was of no interest to him, and he wouldn’t change his mind because of it. As he placed his plate into the dishwasher, the kitchen door creaked open. His mother, who had cleared the dining table, moved inside to join him. She stood beside him, repeating the same task. Qi Xiaochuan didn’t rush out but stayed put with his arms slightly raised. After a while, he realized there was nothing he could help with, so he turned around. His mother then spoke.

“Xiaochuan,” the woman said with her head bowed, looking at her hands gradually being cleaned in the sink, “to be honest, Mom doesn’t want you to be with Andi.”

This was not surprising.

From the beginning, Mom had doted on Luo Andi. She wished she were her own daughter but was also glad she wasn’t. The former wish was easy to understand—what one likes, naturally, one wishes belonged to their own family. The latter was also understandable; compared to her working-class status, it was certainly better to be born into the Luo family with better material conditions.

Qi Xiaochuan felt he couldn’t possibly apologize, so he ambiguously responded, “Hmm.”

But what followed was entirely different from what he had guessed.

“You grew up under my watch. I know you are a stubborn and independent child who never relies on others and prefers to solve everything on your own. Even though everyone depends on you, you only complain verbally but take care of everything yourself. Xiaochuan, that’s just the kind of child you are.” Mom kept her head down, her once strong back now appearing frail after years of toil. The woman who used to cry and complain to others was her, and now she was sternly teaching her son. “We named you this not to make you filial but to remind you of the adults who helped you along the way. We can help you too. Your dad and I just want you to know that.”

When he first came here, the boy was silent, neither crying nor laughing, rarely smiling. He never got close to anyone but quickly accepted calling them “Dad” and “Mom.”

But precisely because it was so easy, the truth was obvious. He wouldn’t consider them as Dad and Mom.

“Mom hopes you find someone with a more complete family, someone who can take care of you, a girl who likes you more than you like her.” Sweat flowed into her eyes, stinging painfully. She said, “You like Andi too much. The one who loves more will suffer—”

Qi Xiaochuan’s awkward and strange expression finally caught her attention. Mother glanced at him questioningly, and he had no choice but to respond: “...I thought Mom liked Luo Andi very much.”

“Of course I like her...” The woman hesitated, repeatedly affirming her fondness as if lost in thought, but soon fell silent again. Mother stuttered, struggling and sorrowful, admitting the imperfect side of her humanity. She said, “But...you are my son.”

He was at a loss.

Even when threatened with having his limbs cut off or surviving on thin vegetable porridge for a month, Qi Xiaochuan had never felt so bewildered. A person without blood ties to him, who initially only remained silent, bit her lips and lowered her face. Mom wept uncontrollably.

He stepped forward, his body moving on its own. Qi Xiaochuan didn’t understand why, but somehow, he just did it. He stiffly hugged her, feeling her trembling thoughts, fears, and unease within his arms.

After dinner, Qi Xiaochuan drove Luo Andi back.

Throughout the journey, thanks to the earlier little incident, Luo Andi didn’t break the silence as she usually did. Instead, it was Qi Xiaochuan who couldn’t bear the quiet and casually turned on the car radio. Classical music surged forth like a flood, and she finally cheered up, lightly tapping the rhythm and humming softly. Seeing her happy, he relaxed too.

“They...they mean no harm, they’re just afraid I’ll affect you,” Qi Xiaochuan said.

“Hmm, is that so?” Luo Andi leaned against the car window, sighing idly, “Actually, they’re worried I’ll drag you down.”

“...”

She closed her eyes and continued as if talking to herself: “Parents who truly love their children wouldn’t want their partner to be someone like me. My experiences are pitiful enough, but they also make people want to avoid any connection.”

Qi Xiaochuan didn’t want to lie to Luo Andi, but he also didn’t remain silent: “I’m willing.”

It was his own choice, and even if it required a price, he was content to pay it. He hadn’t expected himself to be so foolish. But beneath her fragile exterior lay immense destructive power. So-called principles—he had already personally handed them over, allowing her to obliterate them as easily as tearing apart a fan or silk.

In life, he didn’t deny that a career had meaning, but only now did he feel differently, living a life he had never imagined before.

This wasn’t the road back home. It wasn’t until much later that Luo Andi noticed, turning to look at his profile, wanting to ask a question. But Qi Xiaochuan solemnly kept his gaze forward.

This homeward journey took longer than expected, and the destination upon return was farther than before. Standing outside the manor, Luo Andi slowly got out of the car, stepping onto the soft, thick layer of fallen leaves, gazing at the familiar roof that occasionally appeared in her dreams. She struggled to feel grounded, so she tentatively looked at the originator of this dream.

Qi Xiaochuan waited a long time for her to walk forward on her own, but eventually, he had to shake his arms and push the door open himself. The courtyard was extremely vast, and they used to drive through it. But since he hadn’t arranged for cleaning personnel yet, he decided to walk and sightsee. Returning to this old place felt like another world. The vegetation was overgrown, the pond dried up, and passing through the barren muddy area where not even a single lotus leaf remained, he couldn’t help but stop his steps.

The roof gradually emerged from its concealment, and Luo Andi approached the mansion in a daze.

There was much she wanted to say, but her throat felt blocked, her eyes dry and unable to shed tears. It had been a long time since she last recalled this place. She turned her head and smiled at Qi Xiaochuan. Her smile lit up.

“I’m home,” her voice trembled faintly, her laughter shattering like bloody beads, finally merging into a drizzle that quietly trickled down. Luo Andi lowered her head, resembling Cinderella after midnight, shaking her skirt, with only dust falling. Luo Andi joked, “But how did I end up like this?”

She said it casually, yet it felt like a knife repeatedly carving through his bones. Luo Chui Shun—it was so embarrassing. Even after death, she’d have no face to see him. Qi Xiaochuan thought darkly, simultaneously feeling repulsive about himself. He thought she was doing well, that she would receive plenty of love. Strictly speaking, she had indeed managed it, but he couldn’t help blaming himself.

“The Luo family went bankrupt, and this place was auctioned off and bought. It was supposed to be developed into a resort, but the industrial and commercial department didn’t approve, so it was delayed... I bought it. You can do whatever you want with it. Leave it idle, flatten it, or resell it—it’s all up to you,” Qi Xiaochuan said, “As long as you want.”

Rarely, Luo Andi didn’t notice his discomfort and struggle, and asked with a smile, “Suddenly treating me so well, you’re not asking me for something, are you? Is it that thing you mentioned before?”

He no longer concealed anything and went straight to the point: “It’s about Qu Guochong.”

At the mention of this name, Luo Andi’s smile didn’t fade. She replied, “Go ahead.”

“I want to ask for your forgiveness,” Qi Xiaochuan struggled to describe his actions on that day, “He wanted to contact you through me, and I got a bit emotional and had a falling-out with him. If he gets angry and directly returns to India, never coming back to China again... uh, sorry.”

Luo Andi blinked hard, not expecting him to be so serious about this: “It’s okay, really, it’s fine.”

“...”

“Really,” she deepened her smile, “I don’t want his property at all.”

It was surprisingly smooth, and he became uncertain: “Really?”

“Mm,” Luo Andi gestured to the residence of the Luo family from over a decade ago behind her naturally, saying, “Besides, you’ve already given me the estate. My boyfriend is so capable; what do I need all that money for?”

Although reluctant to admit it, Qi Xiaochuan briefly felt pleased by her referring to him as her boyfriend. He suddenly said, “Anytime, anywhere.”

“What?”

“Just once, tell me you need me,” he frowned at her, as if about to lower his head, “and I’ll come to help you.”

Author’s Note: Last time, I wanted to say that all the timelines and backgrounds of my stories are set in modern China within the “Little Central World,” so there may be some dialects and cultural elements that feel out of place. Please don’t mind them!

Recommendation: Check out Yinhuashui’s story The Tragic True Rich Girl Returned After Cultivating Immortality .

Cheng Muyin is the true rich girl who was replaced by her adoptive mother in a false-rich-girl novel. She poured her heart out to both sets of parents, only to be betrayed by them, falling from the pinnacle of fame to becoming a scandal-ridden disgrace despised by everyone. Ultimately, she died in a car accident, disfigured and crippled.

Filled with resentment, she entered the cultivation world after death, on the verge of ascending when she unexpectedly returned to her past life!

Thinking of the once prosperous sister and both sets of parents from the novel, Cheng Muyin prepared for vengeance.

If that’s the case, then she won’t hold back!

Starting gravely injured and imprisoned by the fake rich girl’s admirer in the wilderness?

Clad in flowing white robes, with a commanding presence, she unleashed her righteous fists to eradicate evil.

Police: The suspect confessed with a good attitude and provided intelligence actively. According to the confession, thanks to Ms. Cheng’s persuasive reasoning.

Once a screen legend, now with only one supporting role in a female drama?

With exquisite acting skills and a graceful demeanor, wielding a fierce sword technique, she exploded in popularity online.

Everyone: Is this a celestial being?!

Her best friend from her previous life was framed, poisoned to the bone, and plagued by illness?

Top-tier medicinal pills cleared the toxins in a day.