Chapter 58: You Live With Him Then
Chapter 58: Chapter 58: You Live With Him Then
"Xiangjun, your car is incredible. You know what? It’s a pain to charge at home, but I don’t mind driving a bit farther to a fast-charging station. I’ll bring my car over tomorrow and you can let me drive this one. It’s not like you use it much anyway, just working at the shop all day!"
Zhao Xiangjun couldn’t be bothered with him. "Where’s this apartment of yours?" she asked. "Let’s see it and get going. Do you know what time it is?"
Zhao Hui then remembered the task at hand and led the way upstairs. Mr. and Mrs. Zhao had already been here once in the afternoon. Knowing their son’s true intentions, they remained silent the entire way, feeling a little guilty.
"Look at this, even the elevator is pretty fancy!"
Zhao Xiangjun had no idea how he could tell. The outside of the elevator was covered in wooden boards, likely put there by property management to protect it from damage during residents’ renovations.
When they reached the 10th floor, Zhao Hui went ahead to a storage closet to get the key. After unlocking the door, he said, "Come on, Xiangjun. Let your big brother show you this ’mansion.’"
"You’re looking at an apartment without the owner or even a real estate agent present?"
’Who sells an apartment like this?’ she thought. ’All the furniture is still here, and they just hand over the key to anyone who wants to see it? What if something goes missing?’
Zhao Hui stuttered, unsure how to explain. He decided to just brazen it out. "Hurry up and come inside! Take a look at the renovations and tell me what you think!"
She had no opinion. She generally avoided commenting on things that didn’t belong to her.
"It’s fine."
"’Fine?’ Look at these floor tiles—they’re Brand X! And look at the furniture—it’s all Brand Y! This is a luxury remodel. It cost 300,000 yuan in total!"
’How could she just say it’s ’fine’?’ he thought. ’Shouldn’t she be looking at all this with longing and desire?’
He knew his sister’s personality, but he still couldn’t accept how she could see things so differently from him.
Mrs. Zhao chimed in at the perfect moment. "That’s just how she is. Everything is just ’fine’ to her. She doesn’t care about other people’s things. If it were her own, she’d think even her farts smelled sweet."
And that really was Zhao Xiangjun’s personality. She always thought her own things were the best.
Zhao Hui added, "Come look at the huge bed in the bedroom! And look how fancy the toilet is!"
Zhao Xiangjun ignored him, plopping down on the living room sofa. She said to her parents, "Dad, Mom, you two go ahead and look. I’m going to rest for a bit. We can leave once you’re done."
"Why are you sitting down? Get over here and look at this!" Zhao Hui yelled.
"I’m not looking. You’re the one buying it, so you make up your own mind. As long as you like it, that’s all that matters."
"Buy an apartment my ass! Where would I get the money for a place like this?" Zhao Hui retorted huffily.
Zhao Xiangjun stared at him, bewildered. "If you’re not buying it, then why are we here?"
Mr. Zhao had no choice but to explain. "Xiangjun, this is Wang Hao’s apartment. Your brother wanted you to see what kind of family situation he has."
Zhao Xiangjun’s expression instantly turned cold. She stood up and said, "His situation has nothing to do with me. And another thing, I don’t need anyone meddling in my personal life!"
"I’ll wait for you in the car." With that, she walked out without a moment’s hesitation.
Mr. Zhao sighed and said to his wife, "Let’s go. I knew she’d react this way."
Zhao Xiangjun sat alone in the car, her expression seemingly placid. But anyone who knew her would know she was truly furious.
When she got angry, she had a habit of stewing in silence. Ever since she was a child and her parents fought every day, she would hide off to the side, looking exactly like this.
She couldn’t choose the family she was born into. For years, she had faced her circumstances with fortitude, doing her best to take care of every single person at home.
But when it came to her personal, romantic life, she absolutely would not allow anyone to interfere. That was her one firm boundary.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhao got into the car first, while Zhao Hui stood outside, making a call.
"Xiangjun, please don’t be angry," Mr. Zhao began. "We just feel that... well, you’re 25 now. It’s about time you started thinking about your personal life."
Mr. Zhao spoke to his daughter in the gentlest tone he could muster. He knew he and her mother hadn’t been good role models when Xiangjun was little, so he felt he had no right to preach to her now.
Every day of Zhao Xiangjun’s childhood could be described as an utter mess; a new "action movie" would be staged in her home on a daily basis.
Because of this, she had sworn as a child that if she couldn’t find someone she truly loved, she would rather grow old alone.
That was why she always told her parents she would never get married. Finding a man who could meet her standards was just too difficult.
Zhao Hui, having botched the whole affair, was on the phone with Wang Hao, promising to try and persuade her again. In truth, he was powerless. You could ask his sister for money or for things, and she’d usually agree. But when it came to her personal life, she gave no one an inch.
"Ah Hui, your sister really isn’t playing ball, is she? Maybe we need to try something a little more... forceful?"
"Fuck off, Haozi!" Zhao Hui snapped. "Listen to me. I can say what I want about my sister, but I won’t let anyone else say a word. If you dare try any funny business, don’t blame me if I fuck you up!"
Zhao Xiangjun was silent in the car for a moment, then said in a calm voice, "I’m seeing someone."
Mr. and Mrs. Zhao hadn’t even dared to consider such a possibility. Their jaws dropped. "You’re what?"
"I have a boyfriend," Zhao Xiangjun repeated.
The elderly couple exchanged a look, both seeing the utter shock in the other’s eyes. Ever since their daughter had become an adult, matchmakers had practically worn a path to their door. After she started working, she spent all her time with her best friend, Xu Jia. The two ate together, lived together, and were completely inseparable, to the point that her parents had worried about her sexual orientation, since she never showed any interest in men.
’Was this a miracle, or had their daughter finally seen the light?’ They couldn’t believe she had actually started dating someone on her own initiative.
Just then, Zhao Hui finished his call and got into the car, immediately sensing the strange atmosphere inside.
Zhao Xiangjun was silent, and his parents looked as if they’d seen a ghost.
"What’s wrong?" Zhao Hui asked, trying to break the tension.
Mrs. Zhao said, "Your sister says she’s dating someone."
"..." Zhao Hui was stunned for a moment.
Then, with an air of exasperation, he said, "You passed on a great catch like Wang Hao? I can’t even imagine what kind of boyfriend you’ve found. Look at what he has to offer! If you married him, you’d be set for life!"
"If you think he’s so great, you go marry him," Zhao Xiangjun said coolly.
"I..." Zhao Hui was so angry his stomach started to hurt.
"Bring him home sometime so we can check him out for you. Make sure you’re not being scammed!"
"As long as I like him, that’s all that matters. Why would I need you to vet him? It’s not like you’re the one who has to be with him."
"I..." Zhao Hui felt his stomach churn.
"Should I take you all home now?" Zhao Xiangjun asked, glancing at the time. It was almost 7:00 PM.
"What’s the rush? Let’s go to your place to rest for a bit before we head back." He hadn’t given up. He had just told Wang Hao on the phone to follow Xiangjun’s car. They could still have him come up to her apartment and talk.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhao had no idea their son had another scheme in mind. They figured since they were already out, they might as well stop by their daughter’s place for a bit and head home later.
Seeing that her parents also wanted to stay for a while, she figured that since she’d already told them she was seeing someone, she might as well lay all her cards on the table. It would save her brother from all his pointless worrying and scheming.
She set the voice navigation for home, and the car’s autopilot began driving toward Bihu Twin Seals. The "home" address currently saved in her car was, in fact, at Bihu Twin Seals.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Zhao Hui texted the car’s color and license plate number to Wang Hao, telling him to follow.