Chapter 0295: A Sudden Self

At dinner, Zhao Fusheng felt even more hurt. His parents kept fussing over Fan Baobao, constantly piling food onto her plate and showering her with concern about taking care of herself.

As for their own son, apart from Fan Beibei occasionally acknowledging him, everyone else treated him as if he were invisible.

"Are your roommates doing okay?"

"Has anyone been bullying you?"

"Is living with Fusheng alright?"

Questions like these. At first, Zhao Fusheng envied Fan Baobao, but later, as Li Yuan and his mother began probing into the details of their cohabitation, he decisively retreated. He exchanged a glance with his equally embarrassed father, put down his chopsticks, and indicated he was full.

The father and son went to the balcony. Zhao's father glanced at his son and said calmly, "Your mother and Aunt Li mean well for you both."

"Yeah, I know." Zhao Fusheng smiled and nodded.

If he were twenty years younger, he might have been rebellious. But after all, he was decades old mentally; if it were him, he would do the same.

Children never understand their parents because it's hard to grasp that feeling until they have their own kids.

Everyone is the same; without being in that position, they often think they are right.

Life is really strange. Often, when we think we understand the true meaning of life and feel mature, it's precisely when we are powerless to change anything.

Take the relationship between men and women, for instance. Perhaps in Fan Baobao's view, her mother and Aunt Zhao encouraging her to live with Zhao Fusheng seemed somewhat calculating, but Zhao Fusheng understood it was perfectly normal.

Relations between men and women are inherently full of calculation; sweet nothings are just illusions. Don't be fooled by Qiong Yao; take time to read more Zhang Ailing and understand some real truths.

"When young, we always think we'll meet many people. But as we age, we realize that opportunities like that come only a few times in a lifetime." Zhao's father suddenly said something Zhao Fusheng never expected.

"Dad, I..." Zhao Fusheng hesitated, wondering whether to tell his father the truth.

But Zhao's father waved his hand: "Seizing happiness actually takes more courage than enduring pain. Son, I know you think a lot, but I want to tell you, many things really don't need to be overthought. Just follow your heart."

Zhao Fusheng was completely stunned. In his memory, his dad was never this literary. Where did all these lines come from?

He opened his mouth to speak, but Zhao's father's expression shifted, and he waved his hand: "You go back first. I need to think about something."

Zhao Fusheng was puzzled, feeling something was off, but he turned and went back to the living room.

Watching his son's back, Zhao's father let out a long sigh, inwardly complaining: his wife really made him memorize such a long speech, and he didn't know where she found it—it was too hard to remember.

When Zhao Fusheng returned to the living room, Fan Baobao was blushing and saying something to his mother. Seeing him, she shot him a fierce glare.

Zhao Fusheng was utterly confused. What was going on? What did it have to do with him? He hadn't done anything.

But unfortunately, when a woman is being unreasonable, she doesn't care who is right or wrong. Especially now, Fan Baobao was on the verge of collapse. She glanced at Zhao Fusheng and said, "Didn't you say you had to go back to write something?"

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback and was about to shake his head when he saw Fan Baobao's murderous glare. He coughed and nodded: "Ah, yes, well, we have things to do, so we'll head off."

Whatever the reason, he was genuinely intimidated by the elders.

Li Yuan and Zhao's mother exchanged glances, then smiled and nodded: "Alright, you two go back first."

The two looked at each other, not knowing what they were talking about. Zhao Fusheng felt something was off but obediently packed up and went downstairs with Fan Baobao.

Watching their backs, Zhao's mother looked at her husband: "Did you say what I told you to our son?"

Zhao's father nodded: "Yes, yes. But where did you find those lines? So cheesy..."

"What do you know? That's called being literary." Zhao's mother glared at her husband, her gaze falling on the copy of *Zhiyin* on the table, looking smug.

At that moment, already downstairs, Zhao Fusheng looked at Fan Baobao in bewilderment: "Why did you hit me?"

Fan Baobao snorted: "Do I need a reason to hit you?"

"Not necessary?"

Zhao Fusheng was completely thrown off. Since when did hitting someone not require a reason? This was too tyrannical.

"Do you know what Auntie and my mom just asked me?" Fan Baobao stared at Zhao Fusheng and asked.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: "What did they ask you?"

"They asked if we live together." Fan Baobao said grumpily.

Hearing this question, Zhao Fusheng felt he might be falling into another trap. He looked at Fan Baobao and said with a hopeful tone: "Um, you must know how to answer that, right?"

Fan Baobao nodded: "Of course, I'm not stupid."

"So what did you say?" Zhao Fusheng sighed with relief and asked casually.

"I said yes, we live together." Fan Baobao nodded indifferently, then giggled and ran a few steps, kicking a snowball into the air.

Darkness flashed before his eyes. Zhao Fusheng felt his heartbeat quicken. If reason hadn't told him not to kill, he would have wanted to smother Fan Baobao in a snowdrift and suffocate her to death.

"Miss, do you really not understand or are you pretending? How can you casually admit to that?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Fan Baobao with an incredulous expression.

Fan Baobao's cheeks flushed slightly: "Why are you yelling? I was telling the truth."

"Huh?"

Zhao Fusheng was stunned, then stared at Fan Baobao with his mouth agape, full of surprise.

In that moment, he understood what Fan Baobao meant.

According to Fan Baobao's logic, she indeed lived with Zhao Fusheng; there was no mistake.

Clearly, what Zhao's mom and Li Yuan meant was not what Fan Baobao understood, and Zhao Fusheng's thoughts aligned with the elders'.

"Am I the one being too dirty-minded?" Zhao Fusheng blinked. His understanding of the phrase 'live together' felt somehow off.

Recalling what his dad had said to him today, and connecting it to the questions Zhao's mom and Li Yuan had grilled Fan Baobao with, Zhao Fusheng shook his head helplessly. In life, the most terrifying thing isn't an uncertain future, but having a bunch of relatives who set you up.

"Anyway, my mom meant for me to be good to you. Auntie meant for you to take care of your health, and for me to take care of mine too. I really don't get them. We're both young, what's there to be careful about?" Fan Baobao muttered discontentedly. Clearly, the elders' words annoyed her greatly.

Zhao Fusheng slapped his forehead and looked at Fan Baobao's back with a helpless expression.

People really are different. Or rather, at this moment, Fan Baobao was so naive in some ways that it was speechless.

"Forget it, I won't think too much about it." Feeling a bit ashamed of his own dirty thoughts, Zhao Fusheng decided not to dwell on this issue with Fan Baobao anymore, because sometimes, reasoning with girls just doesn't work.

Zhao Fusheng had understood this after he turned thirty.

A man who argues with a woman is simply an idiot.

...

...

Back at the residence, just as Zhao Fusheng entered his room, Fan Baobao walked in.

"Miss, can you knock before entering a guy's room?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Fan Baobao speechlessly. Luckily, he didn't have a habit of walking around naked in his room, or else she would have seen everything.

But the next moment, Fan Baobao's words left him both amused and exasperated.

"What's there to be afraid of? I've seen you countless times since we were kids. Is there any part of you I haven't seen?" Fan Baobao said grumpily, then plopped down on Zhao Fusheng's bed. The mattress bounced her up, and she giggled: "I remember you have a scar on your butt, from when you chased the neighbor's dog as a kid and got bitten."

The expression on Zhao Fusheng's face twisted instantly. After a few seconds of silence, he said: "You were the one who hit the dog with a stick first."

"Really?" Fan Baobao paused, then waved her hand: "Oh, don't sweat the small stuff."

Looking at this girl, Zhao Fusheng was filled with helplessness. Sometimes he even thought that in his previous life, he must have done something terrible, otherwise why would heaven send such a character to torment him?