#52: Fried Chicken

◎ I LOVE YOU. ◎

After getting off the plane and turning on her phone, a flood of notifications greeted Fu Jiaxi.

Yue Mingxin: “Sister Jiaxi, are you back yet? Jiayi is crying uncontrollably, and no one can calm him down. Please hurry over.”

Then came more than twenty voice messages from Yue Jiayi.

The moment she played them, his cries tore through her heart—loud, desperate, and filled with anguish:

“Mom! I want to go home!”

“I don’t care! I just want Mommy!!”

“Waaah! I don’t want to stay here anymore! Not even for one second!!”

By the last few words, his voice cracked from screaming so hard.

Though she didn’t know the full story, hearing her son in such pain made Fu Jiaxi’s heart ache. Tears welled up in her eyes as they threatened to spill over.

The car sped toward the Yue family villa.

On the way, Fu Jiaxi called Yue Mingxin first.

Yue Mingxin said, “Oh, Sister Jiaxi, it’s all because of a KFC issue.”

Today was Saturday, and Jiayi had been brought back to visit Yue Pu.

The bond between grandfather and grandson had always been strong, and Fu Jiaxi never spoke ill of or criticized the Yue elders in front of her child. The unpleasantness and grievances she endured were adult matters; there was no need to drag the child into it. He deserved to enjoy the affectionate relationship between grandparent and grandchild.

In fact, Yue Pu’s attitude and care toward Jiayi were quite good. Though he had three sons, Jiayi was his first grandson, and Yue Pu held high hopes for him.

In the afternoon, Jiayi was deeply engrossed in building LEGO when Yue Pu called him to play Go.

Jiayi wasn’t particularly fond of Go, especially since he was in the middle of assembling a helicopter.

Yue Pu called him twice, his tone slightly stern.

Jiayi, sharp and clever, put down his LEGO and asked, “Grandpa, if I play chess with you, can Aunt Mingxin take me to eat KFC?”

Yue Pu replied, “It’s junk food.”

“But… I’m playing chess with you, right?”

“At such a young age, where did you learn to negotiate?” Yue Pu frowned. “You’re becoming quite the little troublemaker.”

Jiayi walked over, tugging at his hand and pouting adorably. Looking up with pure, innocent eyes, he pleaded, “Grandpa, please? Just one piece of fried chicken!”

Yue Pu agreed.

In the study, Yue Pu continued teaching him Go. The complex moves were difficult for a child of this age to grasp.

Jiayi found it boring but still obediently tried to learn.

Feeling drowsy in the afternoon, he let out a long yawn.

Yue Pu lightly tapped his hand with a ruler. “Your attitude isn’t right. You’re not focused on learning.”

“Grandpa, I’m so sleepy. I want to take a nap.”

“Do you still want that fried chicken leg?”

“Yes!” Jiayi immediately perked up and focused on the game.

Two hours later, it finally ended.

Jiayi jumped up excitedly. “Yay! I can have my chicken leg now!!”

At the door, Yue Mingxin stretched out her hand with a smile. “Come on, little one. Auntie will take you.”

“It’s almost dinner time. Don’t go,” Yue Pu suddenly said. “We’ll do it next time.”

“But Grandpa, you promised! You can’t break your promise!” Jiayi protested.

“You’re just a child. Why are you making such a fuss?” Yue Pu refused to let his authority be challenged. “It’s all junk food. It’s bad for you.”

Tears welled up in Jiayi’s eyes. “But Grandpa, you promised! You can’t break your word.”

Yue Pu frowned. “Is your mother always taking you to eat this kind of thing?”

Jiayi stubbornly wiped away his tears. “I don’t care! I just want to eat it! Mommy says that a promise is a promise. Once you make a commitment, you must keep it!”

Yue Mingxin chimed in, “It’s fine, Uncle. I’ll take Jiayi for just a little while. I promise he won’t eat too much.”

Yue Pu remained unmoved. “No. After dinner, we’ll continue studying Go. Stop playing with those toys—they’re making you wild.”

“No! No! I want fried chicken!!” Jiayi burst into tears.

“Look at how your mother raised you—such an unruly child,” Yue Pu scolded.

“Don’t talk about my mom like that! Grandpa is mean! I don’t want Grandpa—I want to go home!!”

Jiayi had always been an emotionally stable child, but when he lost his temper, it was explosive.

For a while, chaos erupted in the villa.

Everyone took turns trying to comfort him, but Jiayi cried loudly, refusing to listen to anyone.

When Fu Jiaxi arrived at the Yue residence, she rushed out of the car before it even came to a full stop.

“Fu Jiaxi!” Yu Yanqing called out from the car window. “Take care of yourself. Safety first.”

Fu Jiaxi quickly thanked him and disappeared into the garden.

As soon as she appeared, Jiayi stumbled toward her, crying and calling for “Mommy.”

“Jiayi.” Fu Jiaxi picked him up, holding him close and soothing him through her own tears. “Mommy’s here. Everything’s okay now.”

Jiayi clutched her clothes tightly with his fists, sobbing until he could barely breathe.

Fu Jiaxi carried him outside to the courtyard to calm him down.

Once Jiayi’s emotions stabilized a bit, she asked, “Do you want to go back inside with Mommy?”

Jiayi nodded tearfully. “Yes.”

Fu Jiaxi took a deep breath and held his hand.

Inside, Yue Pu was surrounded by others who consoled him.

“Jiayi is still young. When he grows up, he’ll understand your intentions.”

“Don’t let this upset your health.”

“We all see how much you love this grandson.”

“Yes, junk food really shouldn’t be eaten.”

Standing at the doorway, Fu Jiaxi coldly questioned, “Is this really about ‘junk food’? What’s wrong with him wanting fried chicken? He earned this reward by fulfilling a promise and completing a task. Why should it be taken away?”

For a moment, the room froze.

Someone tried to smooth things over. “Hey, Jiaxi, Grandpa was only thinking of Jiayi’s well-being.”

“Is this what you call ‘well-being’?” Fu Jiaxi retorted. “This completely goes against my understanding.”

An elder expressed dissatisfaction with her sharp tone. “What’s with your attitude? Coming in and throwing a tantrum like this?”

Yue Mingxin immediately jumped in. “Why can’t Jiaxi come? Her son is here—of course, she has every right to be here!”

Mingxin’s maternal grandfather’s family was a leading force in the chemical industry. In this family, she had unparalleled backing and always spoke frankly without fear of reproach.

Fu Jiaxi glanced at the person who had spoken, vaguely recognizing him as some distant uncle-in-law.

She calmly said, “I’ve been coming here longer than you. If you’re speaking on someone’s behalf, say it outright. From now on, Jiayi and I won’t set foot here again.”

The man hesitated for a few seconds, glancing faintly at Yue Pu.

But Yue Pu gave no response.

This family was no longer entirely under his control.

“Are you saying I can’t discipline my own grandson?” Yue Pu leaned on his cane, scoffing. “That’s absurd.”

“If it’s discipline, then lead by example. A promise made must be kept.”

Fu Jiaxi shielded Jiayi behind her, her entire demeanor bristling with defiance. She showed no extreme reactions or harsh words, but her gaze was resolute and fearless. Anyone who dared to challenge her would face her full resistance.

“He was happily playing with his LEGO, and you insisted he play Go. Of course, he can learn Go, but why couldn’t you give him fifteen more minutes to finish what he was doing? Why couldn’t you accommodate him?” Fu Jiaxi spoke slowly, enunciating each word. “He wants fried chicken—that’s all. It’s not something he has to earn by learning Go, by being obedient, or by waiting until after lunch. If he wants it now, then let him eat it. No conditions, no deception, no excuses to trick a child.”

By the end, Fu Jiaxi’s voice trembled slightly, on the verge of breaking.

Little Jiayi clung to his mother’s leg, perhaps sensing her strength. He peeked out bravely, looking at everyone.

His tightly clenched little fists represented his anger.

Promises—no matter the age, no matter the context—deserve respect.

Fu Jiaxi lowered her head, locking eyes with her son. Her voice was gentle yet firm as she addressed the room full of people: “Let’s go. Mommy will take you to get fried chicken right now.”

Yue Mingxin quickly followed. “Sister Jiaxi, I’ll drive you there.”

Fu Jiaxi’s eyes softened with gratitude, but she gently declined. “No need. I don’t want to put you in a difficult position.”

As they stepped out of the villa gates, the air suddenly felt freer, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden, wafting past their noses in waves. It was as if they had been released from a suffocating cage. Only then did Fu Jiaxi realize her entire body was trembling uncontrollably.

The screeching sound of tires grinding against the pavement pierced the air—sharp and jarring.

Before the car even came to a full stop, the door swung open, and Yue Jincheng emerged, his brow furrowed with worry.

“Dad,” Yue Jiayi murmured softly.

Yue Jincheng reached out to pick him up.

Instinctively, Fu Jiaxi pulled her son behind her.

Her resistance was unmistakable.

Yue Jincheng’s expression darkened as he glanced back at the Yue family mansion, his eyes filled with cold determination.

“I’m late,” he said, reaching for Fu Jiaxi’s hand.

Fu Jiaxi took a small step to the side, her face calm as though nothing had happened. “It’s fine. You should go inside. Things might not be easy to clean up in there.”

Yue Jincheng ignored her words. “Let’s go.”

Fu Jiaxi didn’t move. Her demeanor remained composed, as if untouched by the events. “No, I’m a bit tired from my flight. I’ll take my son home to rest first.”

Yue Jincheng’s voice dropped low, his tone laced with unspoken restraint. “I only just found out. Mingxin called me.”

Fu Jiaxi replied, “It’s fine. Everything’s resolved.”

“Jiaxi,” Yue Jincheng said, frustration creeping into his voice.

The wind picked up, weaving through the space between them, carrying a chill that settled on Fu Jiaxi’s features while pushing his pleas further away.

Just as the tension peaked, a soft honk sounded from the right.

A black Mercedes-Benz, no less luxurious than Yue Jincheng’s car, pulled up alongside them.

The window rolled down, revealing Yu Yanqing. “Need a ride?”

“Jiaxi,” Yue Jincheng instinctively tightened his grip on her hand.

Without a word, Fu Jiaxi gently extracted her hand and got into Yu Yanqing’s car with Jiayi.

Inside the car, upbeat English songs played one after another, soothing their scattered thoughts. Yue Jiayi nestled into his mother’s arms, his bright eyes darting curiously between Yu Yanqing and Fu Jiaxi.

Fu Jiaxi’s voice was slightly hoarse. “Are you busy? Could I trouble you to take us home?”

“No,” Yu Yanqing replied curtly. “Work isn’t done yet—you’re not allowed to leave.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not in the mood to discuss work today.”

“Who asked you to work overtime?” Yu Yanqing turned on the headlights. “Let’s go eat fried chicken. Right now.”

Yue Jiayi shot his hand up excitedly. “Yay!! Uncle Yu is the best!!”

At the mall, the line for the fried chicken shop was long.

Fu Jiaxi scanned the QR code to place an order. In the meantime, Yu Yanqing disappeared from sight.

“Where’s Uncle Yu?”

“He went over there.” Yue Jiayi pointed, his eyes lighting up suddenly. “Look, Uncle Yu’s back!”

When Fu Jiaxi saw what he was holding, she froze.

Yu Yanqing had scoured the entire mall, purchasing every type of fried chicken leg from all the fried chicken and burger joints.

“Eat up. If it’s not enough, I’ll buy more.” Yu Yanqing’s voice was gentle, his patience endless when it came to Yue Jiayi.

“Thank you, Uncle Yu. You should eat too!” Yue Jiayi politely offered the first piece of fried chicken to Yu Yanqing’s mouth.

After Yu Yanqing took a bite, Jiayi immediately held the same piece up to Fu Jiaxi. “Mommy, you should eat too.”

Children’s words were innocent, without hidden meanings.

Fu Jiaxi smiled. “Go ahead and give it to Uncle Yu.”

Yu Yanqing remarked lightly, almost imperceptibly. “Hmm, Mommy rejects it.”

Yue Jiayi opened his mouth wide. “I don’t reject it.”

And true to his word, he took a big bite.

For a brief moment, Fu Jiaxi and Yu Yanqing locked eyes before bursting into laughter.

Even the store staff couldn’t help but admire the scene. “What a beautiful family.”

Fu Jiaxi wanted to explain, but Yu Yanqing stood up at just the right moment, blocking her view.

Yue Jiayi was well-behaved.

Despite how much he had craved those fried chicken legs, when it came time to eat, he maintained proper manners, consuming only two small pieces.

Yu Yanqing asked, “Only eating this much?”

“I promised Grandpa I’d only eat two. I have to keep my word,” Yue Jiayi replied earnestly.

With time still to spare, the little one enjoyed himself thoroughly at the indoor playground.

Trampolines, playmates, slides, ball pits—all served as efficient remedies for emotional distress.

Yue Jiayi played wildly, utterly delighted, completely forgetting the earlier unhappiness.

Only then did Fu Jiaxi feel like she had returned to herself, finding some peace of mind.

“You haven’t left yet?” she asked Yu Yanqing.

“No. I overheard your call earlier and roughly knew what happened,” Yu Yanqing said. “You were on someone else’s turf. I stayed outside just in case something went wrong and you needed me.”

Fu Jiaxi sincerely thanked him. “Thank you, Yu Yanqing.”

“Of all the things you’ve said to me, that’s the one I dislike hearing the most,” Yu Yanqing commented lightly, though he didn’t make it too obvious.

“But you charging in alone to confront such a powerful family… commendable courage,” Yu Yanqing joked.

“My son was wronged. Wherever he is, if he needs me, I’m not alone,” Fu Jiaxi said calmly. “For him, I could take on ten thousand foes. Do you believe me?”

“I do.” Yu Yanqing looked at her. “Then why didn’t you get into Yue Jincheng’s car?”

“What do you want to hear? I know,” Fu Jiaxi said honestly. “But I don’t blame him, hate him, or resent him. He didn’t know either—it was news to him too. The fact that he rushed here so quickly shows how much he loves our son as a father. I don’t doubt that.”

Yu Yanqing asked, “And what about you?”

“Me?” Fu Jiaxi paused. “I… never mind. I won’t tell you. You’re unmarried—you wouldn’t understand. Marriage is complicated, and I don’t want to scare you off.”

Yu Yanqing pressed on. “So are you saying the marriage he gave you was… frightening?”

“No.” Fu Jiaxi was certain. “Between him and me, there were no fatal issues. But marriage isn’t something that can be resolved by simply having ‘no problems’ between two people. More often, it’s about encountering different challenges. Over time, those challenges can make you mistakenly think they’re your own problems.”

Yu Yanqing homed in on the key point. “So… am I completely out of the picture?”

Fu Jiaxi met his gaze openly, smiling. “Yu Yanqing, thank you. Someone as excellent as you has given me so much affirmation. To indulge in vanity for a moment, you’ve made me feel like I’m actually quite good.”

Yu Yanqing chuckled. “Your way of rejecting me is truly unique, and you even managed to compliment yourself in the process.”

In the playground, children’s laughter rang out like jade beads falling onto porcelain plates—one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.

“I won’t force you,” Yu Yanqing said with equal candor. “Since your heart is set, I hope you’ll consider my suggestion. You’re suited for trading. You should try stepping onto a better, broader, and more systematic platform.”

Yue Jiayi played until the playground closed, drenched in sweat, ecstatic and completely forgetting the day’s troubles.

The return journey encountered some traffic. By the time they reached the neighborhood, Jiayi had already fallen asleep.

Fu Jiaxi couldn’t lift him and struggled to get out of the car.

Yu Yanqing walked around to the back seat, opened the door, and gently took Jiayi into his arms.

Noticing Fu Jiaxi’s arm was numb from being pressed, Yu Yanqing said, “You go open the door. I’ll carry him upstairs.”

Standing close together, they appeared—for a fleeting moment—to be the perfect couple, a harmonious family of three.

Suddenly, blinding headlights flashed repeatedly.

Instinctively, Yu Yanqing shielded Fu Jiaxi, preventing the glare from hurting her eyes.

This gesture ignited a firestorm of anger in Yue Jincheng.

He stepped out of his car, loosened his suit jacket with one hand, and strode toward them with long, purposeful steps.

“Dad,” Yue Jiayi woke up in Yu Yanqing’s arms, groggily reaching out to Yue Jincheng.

The flames in Yue Jincheng’s eyes extinguished in an instant.

If it weren’t for that one word—”Dad”—he might have truly lost control.

“President Yue, your son is returned to you,” Yu Yanqing said politely and gracefully. “This little guy is quite heavy—he’s been well taken care of.”

Yue Jincheng responded with equal nonchalance. “Thank you for your efforts today, Mr. Yu. Another time, our family of three will treat you to dinner.”

“President Yue, you flatter me.”

“It’s only right.”

Yu Yanqing bent down slightly, extending his hand to Yue Jiayi.

Jiayi immediately shook it like a little adult.

“Uncle Yu, let’s meet again next time, okay?”

“Sure, anytime.”

“I had so much fun today. Thank you for everything you’ve done for my mom.”

Yu Yanqing was thoroughly amused. “Sweet dreams.”

After Yu Yanqing left, there was a brief silence.

Yue Jiayi became the bridge between the two adults, holding Yue Jincheng’s hand with his left and Fu Jiaxi’s with his right.

The atmosphere had just begun to ease.

“Mommy,” Yue Jiayi looked up, his tone both innocent and serious. “If you could have two husbands, I’d have two cool dads at the same time.”

Yue Jincheng: “…”