Male Sing and His Pet Owner: Chapter 106

Zhan Hang spent a very long time accepting the fact that his grandfather had grown old. He discovered that when people grow old, they become just like children.

When Feng Xinghuai was confused, although he couldn’t say Zhan Hang’s name, he would still call out ai ai, beckoning him over, and hand him the scattered snacks hidden under his pillow. The pillow and his hands were both sticky. Then without exception, he would receive a scolding from Auntie Lian. When clear-headed, he would be like before, putting on a stern face and asking about his studies, his homework, and how he got along with classmates. After receiving answers, he would point out where he had done poorly and where he was insufficient, ordering him to correct them one by one.

If it were before, Zhan Hang would only perfunctorily agree, letting it go in one ear and out the other. But now he didn’t dare anymore. No matter what Feng Xinghuai said, he wished he could engrave every word and sentence in his heart, as if he already knew in some mysterious way that the time his grandfather could stay by his side was not much longer.

The entire winter vacation, Feng Biqin’s eye circles were red.

She didn’t want to cry in front of her son either, so she could only take advantage of when Zhan Hang was doing homework to sit beside Feng Xinghuai, sitting for whole afternoons, chattering on her own by her father’s side. Sometimes cursing Zhan Hongyuan, sometimes cursing herself, sometimes blaming heaven, her complexion visibly haggard. Zhan Hongyuan still had business to attend to, running back and forth every few days. When he came back to stay, Feng Biqin also refused to share the same pillow with him. The couple slept separately, but in front of outsiders still acted more or less affectionate.

Before New Year, the Zhou family came to visit Feng Xinghuai. The adults sat in the main hall talking, and the two children were chased outside to play.

The two went to the small woods at the foot of the back mountain to find their secret base they had built before, discovering it had been washed away by several heavy rains. Cardboard box fragments and branches were scattered all over the ground. The most decent small wooden table had been taken away by who knows who, leaving only a scene of devastation.

Zhou Jiyang sighed, both hands in his pockets, white breath coming from his mouth.

Zhan Hang said: “Let’s build another one.”

“Build it, and it’ll be gone when we come back next year.” Zhou Jiyang said to him: “Forget it.”

Zhan Hang stood silently in place, his ears, nose tip, and finger joints all red from the cold.

He didn’t move, and Zhou Jiyang didn’t move either. Two silly children stood for a while in weather of several degrees below zero, neither making a sound.

New Year’s Eve, the whole family sat around the main hall eating.

Feng Xinghuai was still somewhat confused. Auntie Lian sat to one side feeding him, very difficult to get food in, chewing half and spitting it out was also common. With the masters present, Auntie Lian also couldn’t act up in front of them, and could only sigh and coax. Feng Biqin watched with heartache, taking the bowl and spoon from Auntie Lian, saying softly: “Let me do it. You go eat.”

“Ah.” Auntie Lian also didn’t refuse, going to eat on her own.

Zhan Hongyuan moved over upon seeing this, and together with Feng Biqin attended to Feng Xinghuai eating from left and right, still occasionally scolding her a few sentences, saying how would she know these things, normally she was the one being served, his words full of intimacy. Feng Biqin didn’t say a word, only focused on feeding Feng Xinghuai, letting Zhan Hongyuan perform his one-man show on his own. She knew he was performing for Auntie Lian this outsider to see, but she was truly very tired and didn’t want to play along.

After several such gloomy years, Zhan Hang entered high school. His voice changed, and his stature shot up by a large margin.

This was the last winter vacation Zhan Hang spent in his hometown.

Feng Biqin had changed a lot. She seemed no longer to be sinking in this failed marriage, no longer that little woman who would become completely at a loss when she lost a man’s love. She thought for a long time, and proactively proposed divorce to Zhan Hongyuan.

The couple had a night talk in the study.

“Let’s divorce after the baby finishes the college entrance exam.” Feng Biqin said to Zhan Hongyuan: “I won’t fight you for anything else, but you have to give me custody of our son.”

Zhan Hongyuan frowned and said: “Impossible.”

Feng Biqin looked at him indifferently, as if looking at a complete stranger.

“You spend money so extravagantly yourself, do you really think that little salary of yours can support your son?” Zhan Hongyuan said with slight mockery: “Would you let the child starve with you?”

” Feng Biqin frowned and said: “Which stepmother would truly love a child not born from her own womb? Zhan Hongyuan, I know you still have a pile of rotten business outside. After the divorce, you’re not allowed to bring those shady women into the home, dirtying our son’s eyes. If you want to find someone, find someone presentable…….”

She spoke and then choked up again. The moment she thought that then Zhan Hang would live a life where neither father nor mother loved him, her heart was cut by a knife, and she couldn’t continue no matter what.

Zhan Hongyuan let out a long sigh, saying in a low voice: “Then don’t divorce. Just keep living like this.”

Feng Biqin covered her eyes, sobbing and shaking her head.

Zhan Hang heard clearly outside the door. Footsteps sounded inside, and he hurriedly slipped back to his room, lying on the bed with his eyes open looking at the ceiling, unable to sleep the whole night.

He didn’t understand why his parents wanted to live in such a stalemate, clearly already having no feelings. He also didn’t understand why they would one-sidedly maintain the illusion of affection and harmony for his sake.

When he was a bit younger, after chasing a love drama that was hot during the holidays, he had asked Feng Biqin such questions. Does Dad love Mom? Does Mom love Dad? But she always awkwardly diverted the topic, yet her eyes carried a bit of happy smile.

Perhaps at that time, she still loved Zhan Hongyuan.

The next day, Zhan Hang woke to Auntie Lian’s surprised and delighted voice, vaguely hearing her say that the old master had gotten up by himself, put on clothes, and eaten breakfast.

Hearing this, he woke up, hurriedly putting on his jacket to go to the main hall to look. Feng Xinghuai was indeed sitting properly at the table, wearing those reading glasses and reading the newspaper.

This scene was truly long unseen. Zhan Hang thought he was still dreaming, and couldn’t help pinching his own arm.

Feng Xinghuai raised his head to look at him, his face so thin he was almost unrecognizable, but his eyes were very spirited. He scolded his grandson with full vigor: “What are you standing there for? Eat.”

“Okay.” Zhan Hang responded from his mouth, but didn’t dare stray too far from him for a moment. After rapidly washing up, he sat beside him holding his bowl and eating, occasionally picking up the thread of Feng Xinghuai’s conversation.

During the conversation, the couple also came downstairs. Feng Biqin also had an expression of disbelief upon seeing this, but quickly understood something, sitting silently at the dining table and beginning to eat. Zhan Hongyuan called out Dad, which counted as greeting, then carried his jacket out to make a phone call.

In Feng Xinghuai’s eyes, no matter how old his daughter was, she was still a child. Therefore, he didn’t save face for her in front of her son, scolding impartially: “Why are you holding your chopsticks so high? Do you only have one hand? Hold your bowl and pick up food.”

Feng Biqin responded, picking up her bowl as told, slightly turning her head away, tears dripping into her rice.

Zhan Hang asked: “Grandfather? Are you feeling better?”

“Of course I’m fine.” Feng Xinghuai said: “Grandfather’s health is very good. Waiting to see you grow up and take a wife.”

Zhan Hang didn’t understand the implication, only feeling it was exaggerated, laughing haha: “That’s still early.”

Feng Xinghuai also said: “Not early. When grandfather was young, at your age we could already be talking about marriage.”

Grandfather and grandson chatted intermittently, and outside it began to snow lightly.

At night, Feng Xinghuai began coughing, but it wasn’t too serious. He went upstairs to rest on his own, calling Zhan Hongyuan alone into the room to talk. Feng Biqin went to the Zhou family to see the old lady. Zhan Hang found the Zhou family had too many womenfolk and wasn’t willing to follow, so he went outside to play with firecrackers.

Feng Xinghuai leaned against the headboard, examining this son-in-law he had never thought highly of from the very beginning, saying in a low voice: “Hongyuan, these past few years have troubled you.”

“Dad, why say these polite words.” Zhan Hongyuan slightly drooped his brows and eyes, seeming very sorrowful.

Feng Xinghuai was after all not Feng Biqin. He knew from the very beginning what kind of person Zhan Hongyuan was. Only Feng Biqin, after being hurt repeatedly, was willing to accept the truth. If he still had that strength, he would definitely take action to teach this scoundrel a lesson for his daughter. But he ultimately no longer had such opportunity, and could only use emotion as bargaining chips to have a talk with him.

“Dad knows, before I said those unpleasant words, hurt your feelings.” Feng Xinghuai coughed a few times, speaking with difficulty: “Your filial piety, the villagers and neighbors can all see. Whoever comes to our home, they must praise the old man for his good fortune, having gained such a good son-in-law as you.”

Zhan Hongyuan hurriedly said: “Dad, don’t say these. This is all what I should do.”

Fhan Xinghuai murmured: “But how can you mess around outside? Do you know how heartbroken Biqin is?”

Hearing this, Zhan Hongyuan’s expression finally slightly darkened. He had originally thought Feng Xinghuai had been confused all along and shouldn’t know about this matter. If he had known about this all along, didn’t that mean he was the only one performing with all his might, while the other treated it as a joke?

“Dad doesn’t have much time left. Before leaving, I want to ask you for something.” Feng Xinghuai looked at him, his face pale, almost only breathing in, not breathing out: “If you don’t want her anymore, don’t use words to provoke her. Her temper is too great, she can’t take this. You must speak properly with her……. leave some money for her. She’s a woman, how would she know how to live…….”

Zhan Hongyuan stood before the bed, motionlessly watching his dying father-in-law, his eyes were filled with sarcasm as he asked, “But Dad, didn’t you always complain that my money was dirty and refuse to use it? Now your daughter complains too. She doesn’t want it.”

Feng Xinghuai seemed stimulated by his words, suddenly coughing violently, his cloudy eyes staring at him dead, his breathing becoming extremely difficult.

Zhan Hongyuan had been suppressing himself for a long time. Upon seeing this, almost instinctively, a kind of pleasure close to having a great revenge fulfilled arose from the bottom of his heart.

The image of the countless times Feng Xinghuai had shown him disdain when still healthy flashed through his brain. His body was instantly as if controlled by some other thing, and he murmured to Feng Xinghuai like a demon: “It was all because you raised her so well, that’s why Feng Biqin was raised to be so easily deceived.”

Feng Xinghuai finally couldn’t support himself, suddenly coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.

Zhan Hang outside the door, who was still trying to figure out the situation, finally realized something was wrong. With a bang, he pushed open the door. Zhan Hongyuan froze in place. Feng Xinghuai closed his eyes, losing all strength in his body, the bedding by his pillow all bloodstained.

A buzzing sound rang in Zhan Hang’s ears. His legs went weak, and he knelt down unknowingly before Feng Xinghuai’s bed, his mind blank..

Author’s note:
The flashbacks end here.