Chapter 0007: A Little Flustered

As the saying goes, a son knows his father best. Having been Zhao Aiguo's son for decades in both his past and present lives, Zhao Fusheng knew his father's character all too well.

Zhao Aiguo was the kind of person who rarely made promises, but once he did, he would keep them earnestly, even at a loss.

That was precisely why, the moment his father said he wouldn't let him follow Jiang He, Zhao Fusheng knew he definitely wouldn't give the money to Jiang He for investment.

The reason was simple: right now, in his father's heart, what mattered more was saving the money for him and Fan Baobao to study.

"Dad, don't worry. Once Baobao and I graduate from college, you won't have to work so hard," Zhao Fusheng said earnestly to his father.

Zhao Aiguo was taken aback. He gave Zhao Fusheng a long, hard look, feeling that his son seemed a bit different today. He gave him the impression of having matured a lot.

"What secrets are you two whispering about?" Zhao's mother walked over and asked curiously.

"Nothing, Mom. I'm going back to sleep," Zhao Fusheng said sheepishly.

Having been reborn, he always wanted to do something for the people close to him, but for some reason, Zhao Fusheng felt that when facing his parents, he easily became shy.

Watching Zhao Fusheng flee back to his bedroom, his parents didn't think much of it and began chatting with Li Yuan about household matters.

…

…

Zhao Fusheng was immensely grateful that the next day was Thursday, with no major classes, giving him ample time to sort out everything he was facing now.

As the saying goes, since you're here, make the best of it. The important people in his life were still around—that was enough.

One must be content. This was a truth Zhao Fusheng had only come to understand after more than twenty years.

Zhao's father had gone to his workplace early in the morning to handle the buyout of his seniority, and Zhao's mother had also gone to work. She and Li Yuan were both originally nurses at the city's First People's Hospital, but Li Yuan had taken early retirement due to poor health.

Eating the breakfast his mother had left on the table, Zhao Fusheng was in a fairly good mood. For him, starting over meant he could do what he could in the best era of his life.

Furthermore, he could continuously enrich himself, do meaningful things, and live a meaningful life.

Of course, he also wanted to earn money he could never spend all of.

Remembering the adorable expression on Fan Beibei's face when she said that sentence in his arms yesterday, a smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of Zhao Fusheng's mouth.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

A pounding on the security door jolted Zhao Fusheng, who was lost in thought.

Frowning slightly, Zhao Fusheng stood up, just as a childish voice came through the door: "Brother, brother, come out! Beibei's here to play with you!"

The innocent voice filtered through the door, instantly lightening Zhao Fusheng's mood.

He walked to the door and opened it to see Fan Beibei standing there, with Fan Baobao, her face cold, and Li Yuan, looking tired, behind her.

"Aunt Li, why are you here?" Zhao Fusheng was a bit surprised.

"Baobao and I are going out. Fusheng, can you look after Beibei for the morning?" Li Yuan said to Zhao Fusheng, her face somewhat pale.

Before Zhao Fusheng could respond, the little girl rushed over like a swallow returning to its nest and hugged his leg tightly: "Brother, brother..."

"Take good care of Beibei!" Fan Baobao shook her fist at Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng blinked, watching the mother and daughter turn and walk away, silently thinking to himself: "I haven't agreed yet..."

…

…

In the summer of 1999, Zhao Fusheng and his future sister-in-law sat in the living room of his home.

Bored, really bored.

Accustomed to smartphones and computers, suddenly without them, Zhao Fusheng, after the initial novelty, quickly found it dull.

More importantly, he didn't know how to entertain children.

Fan Beibei sat on the sofa, blinking her dark eyes, just staring at Zhao Fusheng.

She was very well-behaved. Before leaving, her mother and sister had told her to listen to her brother.

"Beibei is a good girl. She'll listen to her brother," the little one said suddenly, sitting there.

Zhao Fusheng was startled, then grew even more nervous. He could face something as absurd as rebirth, adopt a 'since you're here, make the best of it' attitude, and use his foreknowledge to change his parents' fate, but he really didn't know how to entertain a child.

In his previous life, he and his wife had a poor relationship and never had children.

"Um, Beibei, would you like some cookies?"

After thinking it over, Zhao Fusheng pulled out his 'trump card.' In his view, no child disliked snacks.

"No, no, I can't eat anymore," Little Beibei shook her head like a rattle drum, even raising her hands, upon hearing Zhao Fusheng's words.

This brother was so strange; he had just made her eat a bunch of cookies a moment ago.

Well, Zhao Fusheng really wasn't good at entertaining children.

The key was that there were no toys in the Zhao household, and he didn't know what to have Fan Beibei do.

So, the two of them, one big and one small, just sat on the sofa staring at each other.

Fortunately, children couldn't sit still. Fan Beibei soon broke the awkward atmosphere between them, but her words nearly made Zhao Fusheng faint.

"Brother, what is a brother-in-law?"

Fan Beibei looked at Zhao Fusheng and asked seriously.

Pfft!

Zhao Fusheng sprayed out a mouthful of water, staring at the little one in shock, as if she were a super monster.

"Who, who taught you that?"

"Mommy told me to call you that, but I think 'brother' sounds better than 'brother-in-law,'" Fan Beibei said to Zhao Fusheng, blinking her big eyes.

Zhao Fusheng nodded, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. They say children speak without thinking, and it was true.

Maybe Li Yuan was just teasing her, but the little one had taken it seriously.

Gently rubbing the little one's head, Zhao Fusheng smiled and said, "A brother-in-law isn't a thing, but if anyone bullies you in the future, you can tell me."

"Mm!" Fan Beibei nodded vigorously.

"Brother, can you sing?" Before long, the little one couldn't sit still again.

"No," Zhao Fusheng shook his head.

"Big sister can," Fan Beibei said, clearly disappointed, having hoped her brother could sing.

Zhao Fusheng looked helpless. A child of a few years was like a book of a hundred thousand whys, full of curiosity about everything.

"Brother, can you dance?"

"No."

"Brother, can you have a baby?"

"No, no..."

"Brother, why can't you do anything?"

Most of the time, Fan Beibei asked questions and Zhao Fusheng answered. Though reluctant to admit it, Zhao Fusheng had to say he was growing fonder of the little one in his arms. Her innocent questions and pure smile made him feel that perhaps this was the taste of happiness.