Male Sing and His Pet Owner: Chapter 105

When returning to Province A, Feng Biqin’s eyes were red. Zhan Hang had thought she was like him, reluctant to part with his grandfather. Only later did he learn that at that time, she had already discovered Zhan Hongyuan was seeing someone outside. But she had no family members by her side, nowhere to speak of it, and didn’t know what to do. She could only pour out her grievances to her own father when she went home.

Having not lived with his parents for many years, Zhan Hang was initially quite at a loss. He was very unaccustomed to the traffic noise that would come early in the morning in the city. He was also very unaccustomed to the neatly planned and crisscrossing roads. Even more unaccustomed to those tall buildings that seemed about to pierce into the clouds.

When night fell, he sat in his own small room, blankly looking at the sea of lights outside the window, missing his grandfather beyond measure.

Feng Biqin brought in fruit to see him, calling his childhood name.

Zhan Hang had originally wanted to call out Mom, but when he saw Feng Biqin’s face, he somehow couldn’t call it out no matter what.

“Missing grandfather?” Feng Biqin sat to one side, holding his hand, a faint smile hanging on her face: “It’s only the first day, and you’re already missing grandfather so much you cry. If he knew, he’d scold you again.”

Zhan Hang said: “I’m not crying.”

Feng Biqin used a toothpick to spear a piece of apple, wanting to feed him, asking from her mouth: “Did you make any new friends at school today?”

“No.” Zhan Hang moved back uncomfortably: “Zhou Jiyang is in the same class as me. No need for new friends.”

Feng Biqin was stunned for a moment, then laughed at herself, directly handing it to him: “Baby, eat by yourself.”

Zhan Hang frowned somewhat disgustedly: “I’m not a baby anymore.”

Feng Biqin couldn’t help laughing upon hearing this. Her brows and eyes were no longer as tangled as at first. She only sat to one side watching him eat.

Zhan Hang felt a bit embarrassed from being watched by her. He speared a piece of apple and gave it to her, indicating she should eat some too. But this action somehow touched some fragile nerve of Feng Biqin’s. Her eyes instantly reddened again. She pulled Zhan Hang into her embrace in one move, sobbing softly.

Zhan Hang was at a loss, bewildered for a moment before finally mimicking an adult’s gesture, patting her on the back, completely confused.

In the first month, under Zhan Hongyuan’s intense sugar-coated cannonball offensive, Zhan Hang finally reluctantly accepted him. He would call out Dad when he came home from work. Couldn’t blame him, after all, boys at this age were the easiest to buy.

Feng Biqin and Zhan Hongyuan would also often act very affectionate in front of their son. This was their agreement.

But paper cannot wrap fire forever.

Finally one day, school let out early. Zhan Hang came home excitedly and opened the door. Just as he wanted to call out, he heard fierce arguing coming from the bedroom.

“Zhan Hongyuan, you’ve grown capable now, daring to bring people into our home?” Feng Biqin’s voice was full of anger, and when she spoke, she was clearly still trembling slightly.

Zhan Hongyuan said impatiently: “Can you stop being suspicious all day long? That hair might just be something you or I accidentally brushed against outside and brought home. One hair and you want to convict me? Are you being reasonable?”

“I’m not being reasonable?” Feng Biqin was clearly about to be angered to tears: “You think I don’t know about those things you do outside? Your dirty business is almost spreading everywhere! Do you know what looks my colleagues give me when I walk into the unit??”

Zhan Hongyuan pressed her shoulders, frowning: “Stop being hysterical, Feng Biqin. You look like a madwoman right now. Do you want to see your son in this state?”

Feng Biqin shook off his hand in one move, screaming as if collapsing: “Don’t touch me! Disgusting! Disgusting!”

Zhan Hongyuan’s face immediately darkened. He raised his hand and gave her a slap.

That slap was exceptionally crisp. Both of them were stunned.

Feng Biqin covered her face in disbelief, her eyes wide open, tears streaming down continuously. No matter what conflicts they had before, no matter how fierce their arguments, Zhan Hongyuan would never lay a hand on her. Now this crisp slap made her thoroughly wake up from the beautiful dream she had woven for herself. Zhan Hongyuan truly had no feelings for her anymore.

Zhan Hongyuan panted as he looked at her for a moment, wanting to reach out to support her, but she dodged him in terror.

At this moment, both of their hearts simultaneously fell to the bottom of the valley. They both knew their marriage was probably at its end.

From outside the door came the sound of a schoolbag falling to the ground. Zhan Hongyuan turned back in surprise. Zhan Hang had already kicked the door open, his face full of anger as he rushed in, fiercely pushing Zhan Hongyuan.

Zhan Hongyuan was completely unprepared, staggered by his push, followed by a set of completely unmethodical random punches, raining down on him like a storm. It didn’t hurt to speak of, after all the one exerting force was still a child. But being pinned down and beaten by his son like this, it somewhat offended his dignity as a father.

“Enough!” Zhan Hongyuan reached his limit of endurance, grabbing Zhan Hang by the back of his collar with one hand, trapping his two wrists with the other, roaring in anger.

Feng Biqin feared her son would also be affected, and hurriedly reached out from behind to embrace Zhan Hang, one hand protecting his forehead, her voice trembling: “Baby, Mom is fine, Mom is fine.”

Zhan Hang’s chest heaved violently, gritting his teeth as he said to Zhan Hongyuan: “You hit a woman, you’re a piece of trash!”

“I am a piece of trash……” Zhan Hongyuan was practically going to laugh from anger, pushing Zhan Hang back into Feng Biqin’s embrace in one move, sitting back on the mattress in disarray, lowering his head and panting: “Everyone in your old Feng family looks down on me, right? From the very beginning when I entered your family’s door, your father was picking at me left and right. Do I owe your family?”

Feng Biqin hurriedly wiped her tears and said: “Don’t say these messy things, the child is here.”

Zhan Hang couldn’t understand their emotional entanglements, only knew one thing. Feng Biqin had been hit. He had to protect his mother.

After this, no matter how Feng Biqin explained to Zhan Hang that the conflicts between Mom and Dad were just small quarrels that ordinary couples would have, Zhan Hang was unwilling to give Zhan Hongyuan a good face. Zhan Hongyuan knew that forcibly trying to repair the father-son relationship with Zhan Hang was also futile. When he came home every day, he only treated himself as a guest. But he didn’t skimp on Zhan Hang’s clothing, food, and expenses. Sometimes Zhan Hang would also fall into contemplation amid the envy of his classmates for having such a good father, wondering if he had really wronged Zhan Hongyuan.

During the first winter vacation in Province A, Zhan Hang excitedly packed his things, expectantly waiting for Feng Biqin to take him back to his hometown.

However, Feng Biqin was sent on a business trip. Zhan Hang had no choice but to sit at home with Zhan Hongyuan, looking at each other in speechlessness. One unwilling to ask the other for anything, the other complacent, certain that the other would eventually beg.

It was still Feng Biqin who called back and coldly cursed out Zhan Hongyuan: “A child holds grudges and you also hold grudges? You take him there first, I’ll buy a direct ticket and go back in a couple of days.”

After one round of twists and turns, father and son finally set off.

Zhan Hang absolutely refused to speak to Zhan Hongyuan, only expressionlessly nodding or remaining silent when the other asked him questions. Zhan Hongyuan was driven to lose his temper by his resistant attitude, laughing and crying at the same time.

Driving until past eight at night, Zhan Hang finally got his wish and returned to his longed-for hometown.

But when getting out of the car, he felt this dilapidated old-style building had become quite unfamiliar again. He carried his schoolbag on his back and excitedly rushed through the door. The light on the first floor was on, but he didn’t see his grandfather sitting properly in the main hall as usual, wearing reading glasses and leisurely reading the newspaper.

Zhan Hongyuan carried gifts in and said to him: “Grandfather is upstairs.”

Zhan Hang made an oh sound, awkwardly following behind him.

The heater was on in the bedroom. Feng Xinghuai was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, seemingly sleeping soundly. There was also an unfamiliar woman keeping watch beside him, whom Zhan Hang didn’t recognize.

“Mr. Zhan.” That woman rose, greeting them softly, then said: “He just fell asleep. Let’s talk outside.”

Zhan Hang was completely baffled. In his memory, Feng Xinghuai had never gone to bed this early. Sometimes he would even accompany him with homework until ten o’clock. Zhan Hongyuan put down the gift box, then bent over to tuck in the quilt for Feng Xinghuai.

The two adults went to the next room to discuss matters. Zhan Hang understood only half of what he heard, only knowing that after he left, his grandfather had fallen ill, but refused to go to the hospital. His parents had no choice but to hire an auntie to take care of him. Zhan Hongyuan also used his connections to invite a family doctor with good reputation to make regular house calls to check his condition.

“He’s awake for less time, and when awake, he’s also muddleheaded, doesn’t recognize people.” The woman said to Zhan Hongyuan: “Sometimes when he’s a bit clearer, he wants to get out of bed. But with his condition, where does he have the strength to walk? The old man is also stubborn, throwing temper tantrums at me all day.”

Zhan Hongyuan said: “He’s been independent all his life, Auntie Lian. Please bear with him more.”

Auntie Lian also said: “I can take some anger, that’s nothing. But as soon as he gets angry, he throws medicine bowls and pulls out needles. Isn’t this abusing his own body??”

“Yes, when Biqin comes, I’ll have her persuade him more.” Zhan Hongyuan smiled at her.

In outsiders’ eyes, he was forever the Feng family’s filial and sensible son-in-law, a big boss, successful, good at handling matters.

When the conversation ended, Zhan Hongyuan stuffed a red envelope for Auntie Lian. Auntie Lian pushed back several times, then embarrassedly accepted it, going downstairs to tidy up a room for father and son.

When Zhan Hang heard that Zhan Hongyuan had hired a doctor and an auntie for his grandfather, he had already somewhat forgiven him, but still couldn’t get over his pride.

“Will grandfather get better?” Zhan Hang asked as he sat beside him.

Zhan Hongyuan saw that he was willing to take the initiative to speak, knowing a turning point had come, and smiled bitterly.

Zhan Hang asked again: “What does doesn’t recognize people mean? He doesn’t recognize me anymore?”

Zhan Hongyuan said: “He won’t. Even if grandfather doesn’t remember anyone, he will remember you.”

“Oh.” Zhan Hang glanced at him, wanting to say something, but holding it in and unable to say it.

Zhan Hongyuan couldn’t help laughing, reaching out to rub his head. Zhan Hang didn’t dodge.

The indoor lighting was gentle and yellowish. Outside, a bit of snow quietly fell. Father and son didn’t speak, tacitly reaching a temporary reconciliation.

The next day, waking up from the small bed he had slept in for several years, Zhan Hang still found it somewhat hard to believe, thinking he was dreaming. He came back to his senses, scrambling out of bed in a flurry, putting on his clothes and going upstairs to see Feng Xinghuai.

Inside the room, Auntie Lian was feeding him porridge with a sour face, occasionally scolding him like a child. Feng Xinghuai leaned against several layers of soft pillows, expressionless, only mechanically moving his mouth, as if this tiny movement would exhaust much of his strength. His eyes were cloudy, his gaze not knowing where it landed.

Zhan Hang felt pained watching. His heart was suddenly gripped by an invisible hand, making him almost unable to breathe.

Was that still his grandfather?

In just this short time of not seeing him, how had grandfather become like this?