Chapter 114 - 107: I Absolutely Support

Chapter 114: Chapter 107: I Absolutely Support

"Oh, um, I just thought you looked really cool playing the claw machine, so I’m just taking a video... It would be even better if you let me post it." Yan Xici’s voice was soft, worried she might anger Brother Xiao Ran. Her eyes held a pleading look.

She looked so pitiful.

Xiao Ran hesitated for a moment before smiling at her. "Alright, then. Just remember to give me a like!"

’She’s already started. I shouldn’t spoil her fun.’

’Besides, it’s not like I’m a celebrity, so it doesn’t matter if she films me. If it really helps Yan Xici, then I don’t see why not.’

Having gotten his permission, Yan Xici was overjoyed. Her eyes curved into crescents, and her smile was bright and radiant.

"I knew you were the best!"

’Now I don’t have to film in secret. I can do it right out in the open!’

’I’ll just lift my phone up a little... From this angle, Brother Xiao Ran looks even more handsome!’

Claw machines are fun, but if you try a few times and can’t grab anything, most people assume they’re a scam and walk away.

Very few people keep trying. Right after they finished talking, Xiao Ran spotted a couple walking away from a machine.

He quickly walked over, decisively dropped three tokens in, and began to play.

Sure enough, he was right again!

Xiao Ran pulled out a small baby doll wearing pink bunny ears.

He bent down, retrieved the doll from the prize chute, and walked over to Yan Xici. "Here, for you."

The girl beamed, taking the cute plush toy and hugging it to her chest. "Thank you, Brother! You’re so amazing today. You’ve already won four! Just six more and we’ll have won a doll from every single machine!"

"You’re so greedy!"

Xiao Ran said that, but his actions spoke otherwise as he walked over to the next claw machine.

Their claw machine run today was exceptionally successful. Within an hour and a half, Xiao Ran had actually managed to win a doll from every single machine—a total of ten machines, a total of ten dolls.

At first, the girl held the dolls, but soon there were too many for her to carry. So, they found an attendant and asked for a large bag. The two of them then dragged the sack of dolls to the counter to save their ninety unused tokens, leaving the mall completely satisfied.

It was past seven by the time they got back. After grabbing a bowl of noodles at a shop on the corner, Yan Xici couldn’t wait to get home.

She was dying to edit the videos from today and post them!!!

She took out her laptop and sat cross-legged in her hanging chair.

Outside, neon light spilled in as the city lights began to glow. The sky was a gradient of blue and yellow at the horizon.

This little courtyard was her own small world.

Xiao Ran also went back to his room to continue writing. His typing speed was incredible, the keyboard producing a constant CLICK-CLACK.

...

Ever since Qiu Yuru had returned home and told Xiao Shengrong about Xiao Ran and his sister-in-law, the matter had been weighing on the old man’s mind. After mulling it over for several days, he finally decided to give his son a call.

’After all, a relationship between a man and his sister-in-law is completely unconventional.’

He sat on the sofa, picked up his phone, and dialed Xiao Ran’s number.

Xiao Ran, who was in the middle of writing, saw the caller ID. His hands, which had been flying across the keyboard, stopped instantly. His brow furrowed slightly.

Xiao Shengrong rarely called him. Xiao Ran’s intuition told him something was wrong with this particular call.

He put the phone to his ear. "Hello, Dad."

"Listen to me. You’d better not get together with that sister-in-law of yours. Don’t listen to your mother!" Xiao Shengrong’s tone was stern.

’As the old saying goes, gossip is a terrifying thing. Getting involved with his own sister-in-law... the whole thing is just wrong.’

’People in the know will be snickering behind his back, and who knows what those who don’t know will say. The entire family will be shamed by his immature actions!’

Xiao Ran swallowed hard. "Well, Dad... I think your call might be a little too late..."

Hearing this, Xiao Shengrong felt his blood pressure spike.

"I’m telling you, don’t listen to your mother! She’s a woman; her thinking is flawed!"

’She only cares about her son’s happiness. She hasn’t considered what this will do to the family’s reputation!’

’I can take the shame, but what about Xiao Ran’s grandparents? People in their seventies and eighties, are they supposed to hang their heads in shame because of him?’

The more Xiao Shengrong thought about it, the more agitated he became.

’This is absolutely unacceptable!’

Xiao Ran frowned, trying to reason with his father. "Dad, Xici is actually a great person."

Xiao Shengrong’s tone was firm. "There are plenty of good people in the world! We’re not discussing whether she’s a good person, but whether this is permissible. Forget you—even your mother thinks the girl is great. The problem is, you two are not suitable for each other!"

’You can’t just act without considering the consequences!’

Xiao Ran sighed. ’If Yan Xici isn’t right for me, then there’s no girl in the world who is.’

"I think we’re a great match."

"I’m talking about your reputation! Not about personality. You’re in your twenties now, how can you make a mistake like this?" Xiao Shengrong continued, "In any case, I don’t approve. And your grandparents won’t approve either!"

’Besides his impulsive mother, not a single other person in the family would agree!’

Qiu Yuru was just getting back from her walk. Before she even opened the door, she could hear her husband lecturing their son through it.

She sighed, took out her keys, and unlocked the door.

"I’m telling you, you’re just being too old-fashioned about this."

’At first, she’d found it hard to accept too, but after thinking it through, she realized this might be the best possible outcome for Xiao Ran.’

Hearing Qiu Yuru return, Xiao Shengrong spoke into the phone, "Alright, I’m done talking. You’re a grown man now; you can’t just act without considering the consequences."

With that, he hung up the phone.

He plopped down on the sofa, a sour expression on his face.

"Don’t you start. That’s all just twisted logic."

To be honest, the two of them had been arguing about this for days.

On any other matter, Xiao Shengrong was never one to argue; he usually just did whatever Qiu Yuru said.

But on this matter, he simply couldn’t give in.

Qiu Yuru didn’t back down. "And I think *your* logic is twisted. Is it your own mind that’s complicated, or is the relationship itself really that complicated?"

’Over the past few days, she had thought it all through.’

’The relationship isn’t what’s complicated—it’s people’s minds.’

’Besides, they’re the ones who have to live their lives. As long as the kids are happy, that’s all that matters. As for everyone else, let them think whatever they want!’

’People will talk, but she didn’t care.’

By now, Xiao Shengrong was practically fuming. He glared at Qiu Yuru, his voice rising several octaves.

"How can you say that? Do you want to watch our son be misunderstood and looked down on for the rest of his life?"

"I’m starting to think you’re the selfish one. Just think, what can you even do for our son at this point?"

"Find him a wife?"

"Protect him for the rest of his life?"

"Or can you make him three meals a day, every single day, without fail?"

Xiao Shengrong looked indignant. "He’s a grown man! Does he need me to do any of that? I’m over forty and he’s in his twenties. How am I supposed to protect him?"

’He was getting old. Forget getting into a fight, even an argument left him winded.’

’He couldn’t protect his son anymore, much less make him three meals a day. And even if he could, he would die eventually. What would Xiao Ran do then?’

"Fine. So you admit you’re old. That’s a start. Since you can’t do anything for him, why can’t you support him, just this once?"

Qiu Yuru wasn’t a fool. She knew if word of this got out, there would be no shortage of vicious gossip.

But she wasn’t afraid.

’There’s something new under the sun every day. Who lives their whole life without being gossiped about?’

’As long as no one says it to your face, you can just pretend you don’t hear it.’

’But if anyone dared to mock her son to his face, she would tear their mouth right off.’

’Not even the King of Heaven himself would get away with it!’

’Since there wasn’t much else she could do for him now, she would put all her strength into protecting him on this part of his journey.’

Xiao Shengrong had to admit, Qiu Yuru had a point. But her reasoning couldn’t tip the scales of his own judgment. As a parent himself, he understood better than ever how hard it was. He didn’t want the elders to be badmouthed and shamed in their old age because of their grandson.

"Easy for you to say! Do you think I’m worried about my own reputation? This isn’t just about one person; it’s about the entire family!"

"Fine, I’m done talking to you. In short: I give them my absolute support!"

"You..."