Chapter 0109: Mom, Listen to Me

How to soothe a three-year-old child is a rather challenging problem.

Many people often think that children are the easiest to fool, but that's not the case. Children speak without guile; their world has no concept of good or evil. They simply remember every word the adults around them say and every action they take. Simply put, if you deceive a child, the child will deceive you in return.

Therefore, Zhao Fusheng never lied to Fan Beibei, because he didn't want the little girl to grow up crooked.

"Beibei, why are you angry?"

Sitting on the sofa, looking at Fan Beibei who was gulping down juice, Zhao Fusheng asked cautiously.

The little princess was angry, and clearly he was the culprit. He dared not be negligent. After greeting his mother, who was cooking in the kitchen, he quickly sat down beside Fan Beibei to "offer a humble apology."

"Brother is a bad guy!"

While drinking juice, Fan Beibei's slurping was utterly adorable. Her little nose wrinkled, and her face was clearly written with the words "I'm not happy."

"How is brother a bad guy?" Zhao Fusheng asked with a full smile.

"You didn't play with me," the little girl hummed, muttering softly.

Clearly, because Zhao Fusheng had been busy with school matters recently and hadn't had time to come home, the little girl was very unhappy.

That's how children are; when things don't go their way, they have no other means besides crying and throwing tantrums.

Zhao Fusheng thought, I'm desperate too.

No matter how he explained, Fan Beibei remained in a state of "I'm unhappy, I'm displeased," immersed in her own little grievances, her mouth pouted so high it could hang an oil bottle.

"Women are such a hassle," Zhao Fusheng silently lamented.

At this moment, he deeply missed the world ten years from now, because back then, basically any problem that could be solved with money wasn't a problem.

But now, Zhao Fusheng had no way to deal with the little girl before him.

Gritting his teeth, looking at Fan Beibei, Zhao Fusheng said softly, "Beibei, how about next week, I'll take some time to bring you to the amusement park, okay?"

"Really?"

The little girl looked up, hesitantly gazing at Zhao Fusheng, clearly still uncertain.

Zhao Fusheng then noticed that her eyes were red, her big eyes flickering, her tear-streaked face showing she had been crying. His heart softened, and he hugged the little girl, saying, "Really, brother promises you."

Though still feeling wronged, the little girl was quick to act, hugging Zhao Fusheng back: "Brother must not lie; liars get long noses."

Zhao Fusheng chuckled, picked up the little girl, and began pacing around the room, finally managing to soothe her.

At that moment, he felt even more exhausted than when he had negotiated with Zhu Yushi.

After dinner, Li Yuan went to put Fan Beibei to bed. Though reluctant to part with her brother, the little girl obediently followed her mother to the bedroom, leaving only Zhao Fusheng's family in the living room.

"Mom, you called me back. Is something up?" Zhao Fusheng asked his mother while eating grapes.

Given his mother's personality, she wouldn't call him back for no reason.

She had always let him be, especially after he started college. As his mother put it, after serving him for so many years, he was finally grown up. Before he gets a wife, he should try not to appear before her too often.

"Well, your father and I, along with Aunt Li, discussed it. How about you go to Beijing during the National Day holiday to see Baobao?" Zhao's mother blinked, speaking in a casual tone.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback and instinctively shook his head: "No."

"You brat, if you don't go, you'll lose your wife!" Zhao's mother didn't hesitate, reaching out and smacking Zhao Fusheng on the head.

"Huh?" Zhao Fusheng covered his head, looking bewildered.

"Look at your brain. Baobao went to Beijing to study. She's so pretty; what if someone pursues her? You go during National Day, treat her roommates to a meal, and let them know she's already engaged. Get it?" His mother said, pointing at him with an expression of disappointment.

Huh?

Zhao Fusheng suddenly felt that his mother's tactics were quite deep.

He was about to refuse, but then remembered his promise to Mu Qingqing, and nodded almost involuntarily: "I understand."

Since he was going to Beijing anyway, he might as well go see Fan Baobao, just in case she got bullied or something. Though Zhao Fusheng knew the probability of that happening was almost zero—that crazy girl was lucky if she didn't bully others.

In fact, before Zhao Fusheng started elementary school, his definition of danger in the world had only two categories: bad guys and Fan Baobao.

Later, in middle school, they went to school together one day. Fan Baobao noticed Zhao Fusheng walking with a slight hunch and couldn't help correcting him: "Zhao Fusheng, walk with your chest out, like me."

Zhao Fusheng had casually replied, "Neither of us has boobs; what's there to stick out!"

Consequently, Fan Baobao chased him for a whole week.

For the most part, in Zhao Fusheng's adolescent memories, Fan Baobao left behind nothing but a fierce image and a fleeting silhouette.

"Oh, Mom, take this money," Zhao Fusheng said, taking fifty thousand yuan from his bag and placing it on the coffee table.

"Huh?"

Both Zhao's mother and father were stunned, looking at their son in surprise, completely at a loss.

"Where did this money come from?" Zhao's father's expression turned serious. Zhao Fusheng was only a junior in college; bringing home so much money made him instinctively think his son had gone astray.

Zhao's mother was slightly calmer, looking at Zhao Fusheng with concern, clearly waiting for his explanation.

With a wry smile, Zhao Fusheng quickly said before his father could explode: "Teacher Zheng gave it."

"Huh?" Zhao's father and mother almost simultaneously thought of the previous incident. Then Zhao's father frowned: "Didn't she already give a bonus?"

After all, Zheng Yao was Zhao Fusheng's advisor. They still trusted what she said about the previous matter. Although they found the thirty-thousand-yuan bonus a bit hard to understand, they believed that Zhao Fusheng wouldn't dare to drag his advisor into lying to them.

But now, their son had brought back another fifty thousand yuan. The couple was truly taken aback.

It was 1999. While being a "ten-thousand-yuan household" was no longer a novelty, a college student who hadn't even graduated casually pulling out thirty or fifty thousand yuan in cash and claiming he earned it—what parent would accept that calmly?

Time-travel novels are all lies. If you really treat your parents, who have lived half their lives, as fools, then you're the real fool.

Sometimes Zhao Fusheng envied those novel protagonists. After time-traveling, they were not only omnipotent, but everyone around them seemed to have low IQs. When they needed money, they could make up any excuse and their parents would hand it over. When they wanted to start a business, everyone around them gave full support. Even if they encountered an official, relying on foreknowledge, a twenty-something kid could toy with a forty-something county or city mayor.

It seemed that after encountering the protagonist, those adults had lived their years in vain.

Zhao Fusheng didn't have such great abilities. He had to be cautious even when earning a little money, afraid of being cheated. He didn't have that many memories in his head either. In his view, anything he didn't remember clearly, he wouldn't attempt.

His boldest attempt was the cooperation with Zhu Yushi. Even then, Zhao Fusheng's plan was just to give it a try. If Zhu Yushi agreed, great; if not, he wouldn't lose anything.

Now, seeing his parents' suspicious expressions, Zhao Fusheng said directly to them, "It's like this. Do you know about Brain Gold?"

"Brain Gold?" Zhao's mother and father were startled, looking confused.

"It's a health product company. Haven't you heard of it?" Zhao Fusheng asked his mother.

"I've heard of Brain Platinum, but it seems to have disappeared recently," Zhao's mother nodded.

"That was their previous product. Now it's called Brain Gold," Zhao Fusheng quickly said.

"What does that have to do with you?"

"Well, they held an advertising bidding conference in Beijing a while ago. Teacher Zheng took one of my proposals there, and then..."

"It was selected?"

"Yes."

Zhao's father and mother were both stunned, staring at Zhao Fusheng in amazement. They suddenly realized that their son seemed to have undergone significant changes in the past few months.

It was as if the talent he had accumulated over the years had burst forth in an instant.

"Dad, Mom, you must promise me that no matter what, you won't tell anyone that I came up with that ad," Zhao Fusheng said, taking a deep breath.

Zhao's father and mother were taken aback: "Why?"

"Well, you'll understand when you see it," Zhao Fusheng said with a wry smile.

In fact, that was exactly what he thought. The reason was simple: that ad was way too catchy and memorable, but more importantly, it had no class at all.

The thought of people talking about him and associating him with two old people singing "This year, holidays, no gifts" and such made Zhao Fusheng refuse to admit he designed that ad, even at the cost of his life.

Zhao's father and mother still didn't quite understand at the moment, but after seeing the ad a month later, they decisively believed their son.

Now, Zhao's father looked at his son with some hesitation: "Fusheng, tell me the truth. If you've done something wrong, it's not too late to turn back."

Zhao Fusheng smiled and gently shook his head: "Dad, don't worry. I'm really fine."

Then he said with a smile, "From now on, you and Mom just wait to enjoy life."