Chapter 67: Xue Yan Side Story (Part One)

March 15th, clear skies.

My dad is out of his mind.

Today is my sixth birthday, and once again, my dad asked if I wanted a wife. He said that once I find a wife, I can move out and live on my own. For as long as I can remember, he’s asked me this question every single day.

But I’m only six! I’m still at the age where I drink AB calcium drinks, how could I possibly be looking for a wife!

Mom said that girls only like boys who have ambition, so right now I should set my sights on the great mission of becoming class monitor, not on finding a wife like Dad says!

Mom also told me that Dad actually loves me a lot. Before I was even born, he bought me a house outright, and even had it renovated. Unlike other kids, I won’t have to worry about mortgage payments when I grow up.

I think what Mom says makes a lot of sense, so I gave back the candies I’d hidden from Dad before.

March 20th, overcast.

My dad is out of his mind.

Today after school, Dad asked if I wanted to play marbles, and said the loser would have to give the winner one yuan. I said I didn’t want to, so he threatened to tell my classmates about how I wet the bed last night. So I agreed to play.

I won the first round. Dad said best two out of three. I won two games. Then he said best three out of five. When I won three games, Dad suddenly ran to Mom and complained that I hadn’t finished my homework and was here playing games for money!

He was the one who forced me to play!

But that old man said he was just testing me, and who would have thought I’d fall for it!

Luckily, Mom saw right through him. She bought me a little cake and locked Dad in the room to give him a good talking-to. I lay by the door for a while, and every now and then I heard Dad making muffled, pained sounds. I was thrilled.

Dad really needs to be taught a lesson!

But after seeing Dad come out with Mom, covered in red marks, I felt a little sorry for him. He may be a bit foolish, but after all, he’s still my dad. Seeing him get beaten so badly, I decided to give him the last piece of meat from my bowl at dinner.

April 18th, rainy.

My dad is out of his mind.

Uncle Dong brought us some freshly cut roses. They were beautiful. I’d just gone to the door to take the flowers, and when I turned around, Dad, who’d been curled up in the living room playing video games, was nowhere to be found.

Thank goodness my nose is sharp. I followed the scent to the bedroom, opened the closet door, and there he was, secretly eating shaved ice behind my back!

Strawberry flavored, no less!

So that’s why the shaved ice keeps disappearing from the freezer—it’s all him!

I asked Dad for half, but he quickly licked both halves, so they were all covered in his saliva!

He wouldn’t even share half with me!

I couldn’t stand the injustice, so I decided that tonight I’d pester Mom to let me sleep with her.

In the middle of the night, Dad secretly put a handful of candies in my arms. Alright, I decided to forgive him, and went back to sleep in my own room.

But the next day, I had diarrhea all day!

The candies Dad gave me were expired!

May 20th, overcast.

My dad is out of his mind.

Dad said he was worried I’d be bored during the holidays and that if I didn’t learn a skill, I wouldn’t be able to support myself when I grew up. He asked if I wanted to learn a trade.

I was surprised—was Dad finally going to be a responsible adult and show his fatherly love?

Then Dad took me to his workplace, the neighborhood committee. Everyone there was so nice; a lot of uncles, aunts, and grandparents bought me tons of snacks. Dad said I couldn’t carry them all, so he’d keep them for me.

Then he taught me how to fix pipes and windows. I may be short now, but I learn fast. Dad told me something very sensible: “True knowledge comes from practice, don’t get cocky.”

So when a resident came seeking help, Dad sent me to their home to assist.

When I came back after fixing everything, more than half the snacks in my bag were gone!

I wanted to fight Dad for them!

But the evil forces were too strong. He grabbed me by my “tail” and swung me back and forth, humiliating me and calling me a “little meat worm”!

Unforgivable!

I swear I won’t be a real man if I don’t avenge this!

When I grow up, I’ll have Mom get me a new dad!

To make Dad realize the seriousness of the problem, I decided to run away from home!

Bai Yao finished reading the diary her son had deliberately placed on the table. She looked silently at the man kneeling on the floor.

Xue Yan was tugging at his earlobe, his face uneasy, sneaking a nervous glance at Bai Yao before quickly bowing his head in fear.

Bai Yao folded her arms. “Do you know what you did wrong?”

Xue Yan nodded. “I know.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Use your nose and sniff out where our son ran off to!”

Xue Yan pointed in a direction. “That way.”

Bai Yao looked over; it was toward the hotel.

Sure enough, in the only hotel in Arctic Town, a six-year-old boy sat on a sofa chair, sipping iced rose milk tea and nibbling on a sweet little cake. He swung his short legs, living the good life.

Manager Shu chuckled and asked, “So you ran away from home just because you couldn’t beat your dad?”

The little boy lifted his face and huffed, “Uncle Shu, it’s not about winning or losing. This is about a man’s dignity! It’s very important!”

Manager Shu laughed, “You’re so young, and you already know about a man’s dignity?”

The little boy grinned innocently. “Only the strongest men can marry someone as wonderful as my mom. If you’re not strong enough, you have to resort to underhanded tricks to force girls, like you did.”

Manager Shu’s smile froze for a moment. Looking at the rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed boy in front of him, he thought—he really looks too much like Xue Yan when he smiles. Makes you want to give him a good smack.

Stay calm. He was a mature adult, he couldn’t stoop to bickering with a child.

Manager Shu composed himself with effort. “Xue Xiaobao, is it your dad who called me underhanded behind my back?”

“Nope, I guessed,” Xue Xiaobao swung his little legs, tilting his head with a giggle. “I know you once sent a woman to the Rose Manor a few years ago, Uncle Shu. You only did that once, but even though you let her go, I bet you’ve tormented her in your dreams ever since. Poor lady, I really sympathize.”

Manager Shu smiled, saying nothing.

Xue Xiaobao was only six, with black hair and snowy skin, strikingly pretty. Bai Yao doted on him, dressing him with care. Today, he wore a white shirt, black tailored shorts, and little leather shoes—an exquisite little gentleman.

He looked as innocent as any other child, his eyes curving into crescents when he smiled, his grin radiant. But his learning ability was astonishing, his intelligence uncanny, and there was a mischievous darkness in his bones.

No one could say who he took after.