Chapter 24: I Hoped My Father Would Succeed, Part 9

The drowsiness in his mind vanished instantly.

Qin Zhan opened his eyes, a little helpless. “I won’t let an early relationship get in the way of my studies.”

“I know. I just want you to realize—your friend doesn’t have the slightest bit of affection for you. To her, you’re just a dispensable acquaintance.”

Qin Zhan fell silent.

Qin Ye didn’t seem to mind.

Good son, it’s time to wake up. Being a self-sacrificing, lovesick fool is out of fashion. Whatever affection you’re missing, your old man can provide. There’s no need to get tangled up in the affairs of the main characters—let’s not become a piece in their game.

He gave Qin Zhan a heads-up in advance. Now that Qin Zhan had been warned, surely he wouldn’t get involved with the protagonist and heroine anymore, right?

It wasn’t that Qin Ye was timid. He’d built everything from scratch; making a fortune in stocks took time and effort. It wasn’t as simple as getting rich overnight.

And as for the Shen family behind the male lead…

Well, Qin Ye had looked into it. The Shens were the wealthiest in the province. Their businesses spanned every aspect of life in every city—a true empire.

Once the plot began, if his good son got entangled, Qin Ye feared he couldn’t withstand the Shen family’s overwhelming power.

After all, just because children have conflicts, it doesn’t mean parents should go out of their way to ruin one side’s family.

Qin Ye didn’t consider himself especially virtuous, but to destroy a group with holdings across the province, without any follow-up plan, seemed reckless. What about all those who’d lose their jobs due to the company’s collapse? Who would take care of them?

Toppling the Shens was one thing; managing the aftermath to avoid chaos was another, and not something Qin Ye could handle.

Children should behave like children: focus on their studies and strive to improve. There’s no need to indulge in the melodrama of adolescent pain.

The hero and heroine will eventually find happiness after their trials—their suffering is always tinged with sweetness. As for a supporting character destined to be abandoned, there’s no need to join them in their bittersweet drama.

Having said his piece, Qin Ye closed his eyes and fell asleep, leaving Qin Zhan sitting alone, overwhelmed by mixed emotions.

A teenage heart isn’t hard to understand; he did, in fact, have a fondness for Ruan Jiaojiao.

At first, he truly just saw her as a friend.

Because of his family background, Qin Zhan was a bit awkward. If others tried to approach him, he might not respond; if they avoided him, he definitely wouldn’t make the first move. So, since childhood, the only real friend he’d had was Ruan Jiaojiao, who bossed him around and shamelessly took advantage of him.

Yes, that’s right—Ruan Jiaojiao took advantage of Qin Zhan, not the other way around.

Though Qin Zhan’s family was poorer, while Ruan Jiaojiao’s was relatively well-off.

Qin Zhan wasn’t stupid. He knew Ruan Jiaojiao was using him, but he’d never called her out on it, nor had he distanced himself because of it.

He also knew that, in her heart, he wasn’t a particularly important friend.

If he barely counted as a friend, how could there be any deeper feelings?

Qin Zhan knew all this. Yet, Ruan Jiaojiao was the only one who willingly approached him.

He might seem indifferent on the surface, but that didn’t mean he truly didn’t care.

He cared about not having anyone to play with, about not having friends, about those who could have been friends drifting away after his repeated rejections.

How could he not care?

He tossed and turned for a long time before finally falling asleep.

Qin Ye, on the other hand, slept soundly until dawn.

Yang Xiufen couldn’t sit still—idleness made her anxious.

With her child about to start university and not a penny at home, how could she possibly rest easy?

She couldn’t even sleep well, let alone relax.

So, the next morning, as usual, Qin Ye took Qin Zhan to school. Yang Xiufen insisted on not joining them, but as soon as the father and son left, she went out herself to look for work.

Qin Ye began considering moving house.

Yang Xiufen would never agree. The house was shabby, yes, and a bit cramped—especially with Qin Ye back, it felt even more crowded.

But really, why move? Wouldn’t it be better to save any spare money for their child’s college expenses?

No, not at all.

If there were no other options, Qin Ye could endure hardship. But if there were, why make himself suffer?

“It’s not about being fussy. I earned that house working with the old man. Is it about comfort? No, it’s for Tuan Tuan’s sake.

You know how far we are from his school. If we move closer, won’t he be able to sleep a bit more each morning?

I can’t bear to see him so tired. That’s why we have to move.

Besides, with Tuan Tuan about to enter his final year, it’s a crucial time. He can’t afford any distractions.

If we can provide him with a good environment before senior year, it will help his studies.”

If Qin Ye used Yang Xiufen as an excuse, she’d never agree. Hardship was second nature to her; she didn’t see the point in such a fuss over a small matter.

But if he brought up Qin Zhan and his studies, Yang Xiufen hesitated.

Qin Ye pressed on: “Besides, Tuan Tuan is a good kid. There’s something I wasn’t going to tell you, but I think you should know now.

He always says he’s going to a classmate’s to study, but he’s actually going to work odd jobs.”

“What? I told him his studies were the most important—he shouldn’t worry about anything else…”

“How could he not worry? Even if you were healthy, how much could you earn from hard labor every day?”

Yang Xiufen said nothing.

Her silence meant she’d been persuaded.

With hands clasped behind his back, Qin Ye called a moving company.

Yang Xiufen was reluctant to part with anything.

The bed, she said, was custom-made from wood back when she married Qin Ergou; over ten years old, still sturdy—she insisted on taking it.

The bowls and chopsticks, all chipped and cracked, yet she wanted them too.

Qin Ye didn’t argue. If she wanted to bring them, so be it; he wouldn’t use them anyway.

Once they arrived at the new house, Yang Xiufen hesitated at the door.

The old home had a cement floor and lime-washed walls, worn and mottled after more than a decade.

The new home was different: gleaming tile floors, snow-white walls, and a sparkling crystal chandelier overhead.

Everything felt so out of place to Yang Xiufen that she didn’t dare step inside.

Qin Ye gave her a gentle push. Once in, she grew even more uneasy.

Qin Ye ignored her discomfort. He had the movers bring everything in, paid them, and then took the uneasy Yang Xiufen to see the room prepared for Qin Zhan.

The bed was a spacious king-size with brand-new linens.

Yang Xiufen touched the sheets—they were so smooth she feared her rough hands might tear them and quickly withdrew.

Qin Zhan’s room had a desk for homework, and he could also use the study.

The study was lined with bookshelves and equipped with two computers and office chairs.

Yang Xiufen didn’t understand any of this. Qin Ye showed her Qin Zhan’s room and the study before taking her to her own room.

As for Qin Ye himself, he declared proudly, “I’m going to sleep with my son. After being apart for so many years, and not knowing how long I’ll live, I don’t want to be separated from Tuan Tuan for a moment.”

Yang Xiufen: …

As if she’d object, insisting he share a room with his proper wife.

Truth be told, Yang Xiufen wasn’t keen to share a room with Qin Ye either.

The master bedroom was furnished just like Qin Zhan’s; Yang Xiufen sighed again and again. “I don’t need such fine bedding or this big wardrobe. I don’t even own enough clothes to fill it.”

She mumbled, and Qin Ye pretended not to hear.

Next up was the kitchen. The brand-new pots and pans instantly turned the old, chipped tableware Yang Xiufen insisted on bringing into a heap of junk.

Now, she couldn’t bring herself to take out those battered dishes.

Using the same bowls and chopsticks for over a decade, she suddenly felt unworthy.

As for the other junk, best left unmentioned.

In the end, Yang Xiufen stored it all in the utility room.

When she went to hang up her few clothes, she opened the wardrobe and was dazzled by the rows of garments inside.

“Ergou, did the previous owner forget to take their clothes? The wardrobe is full!”

“This is a new house,” Qin Ye clarified, then added, “I bought all those clothes for you. They’re new—wear one and toss one if you like.”

Yang Xiufen: …

Even a pauper made rich overnight wouldn’t be so extravagant.

Qin Ye had prepared a full wardrobe for everyone, including himself.

That afternoon, when he picked Qin Zhan up, the boy was stunned.

Qin Ye flung the door open theatrically. “Surprise!”

Qin Zhan: …

The surly child’s face betrayed nothing—who knew if he felt any surprise at all.

Feeling somewhat deflated, Qin Ye lowered his hand.

Just as he did, Qin Zhan recited in a flat tone, “Wow, what a big surprise.”

Seeing his parents both stunned, he added, equally monotone, “I’m really happy.”

Qin Ye: …

If you don’t want to react, just don’t—no need to make it awkward.

That evening, Qin Ye drove Qin Zhan to his part-time job.

It was simply out of respect for the boy’s wishes. Yang Xiufen, too, refrained from scolding him for secretly working behind her back.

That was due to Qin Ye’s persuasion. A child who cares for his parents is a filial one—willing to endure hardship to help the family.

If parents can’t appreciate that, but instead pour cold water over it, what kind of lesson are they teaching?

If they really raised a child who took their sacrifices for granted and only knew how to demand without giving back, would they be happy then?

Yang Xiufen, thankfully, could see reason. After Qin Ye’s explanation, though she still didn’t approve of Qin Zhan working instead of focusing on his studies, at least she didn’t scold him for it.