Chapter 58: Apology (Part One)

“Hmph, just because I called you, you act like you've seen a ghost? Shouting so loudly—are you trying to kill someone?” Chu Qitong, who was driving beside me, declared with righteous indignation, “My ears are about to burst, you lecherous pig!”

“Watch your mouth. Who are you calling a lecherous pig?” I replied coldly, not even glancing at her, turning my gaze back toward the window. Such ill fortune—here I thought I’d spend a happy National Day holiday, but I’ve really taken a tumble. Not only did Zhang Jing turn my morning upside down, but now Chu Qitong’s phone call has nearly scared me out of my wits. This eccentric woman actually called to say she wanted to come to my house and apologize to my foster sister Siya? Even more outrageous, she had her cousin notify Siya so she’d arrive at my house early! Has the sun risen in the west today? I didn’t force her, didn’t threaten her—how could someone as proud as her be so eager to repay her gambling debt and apologize at my place? Conspiracy—absolute conspiracy! Along the way, her attitude was much improved, far from the sharp and biting manner she had downtown last time. Naturally, when she called me a lecherous pig, I retorted. Who knows what scheme she’s hatching in her mind?

“Let me warn you: if you dare mention Su Xin in front of my mother at my house, I won’t let you off!” After much deliberation, I turned to give her a stern warning.

“Tch, is that a threat?” Chu Qitong turned the steering wheel, made a turn, and shot me a sly smile that, no matter how I looked at it, seemed sinister. She shrugged, “Well, I wasn’t planning to say anything, but since you reminded me…”

“Don’t you dare!” I grabbed her fair arm and squeezed hard. “I knew you weren’t up to any good. If that’s your plan, you can forget about apologizing—after all, spoiled princesses like you never admit fault to anyone, right?”

“Oh, so you know, do you? You know everything! Qiang, stop being so self-righteous. Ow, let go—it hurts.” Chu Qitong rolled her eyes at me in annoyance. When I released her, her beautiful eyes were filled with reproach. “Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. You can’t take even the slightest joke—are you even a man?”

“I…” I was so angry I nearly spat blood. Is this woman insane? Last time, she openly challenged Su Xin and me in the street, now she acts as if nothing happened, claiming she was just joking? I’ve finally realized that women are all more inscrutable and terrifying than the last—except my adorable, beautiful Su Xin.

Chu Qitong seemed to relish my discomfort, laughing sweetly. I looked at her, charming and radiant, but had no mood to appreciate her beauty, so I shot her a cold glare and fell silent.

Soon, Chu Qitong drove as if she’d been to my house before, smoothly entering the old district and parking beneath my building. When she stepped out, eyes curious as she examined the dilapidated residential block, I became certain she’d never been here before. I snorted, “What’s the matter, never seen what a poor person’s home looks like? Sorry to disappoint you, princess—shall we go?”

“Who says I haven’t? When I played in the countryside, I stayed in houses even older and more rundown than this. I’m not as snobbish as you think,” she retorted, dissatisfaction clear, locking the car and swaggering up the stairs.

Watching her ascend, I had to reassess her—perhaps she wasn’t as pampered as I’d imagined.

“Hey, aren’t you coming? What floor is your apartment on? Ugh, it stinks—who dumped garbage in the corridor?” Her complaints echoed from above, prompting me to roll my eyes. Seems I should be cautious about my earlier evaluation.

With me leading, we soon arrived at my door. Just as I was about to ring the bell, I turned once more to remind her not to reveal anything about Su Xin and me, then pressed the button.

The door opened quickly. My mother immediately recognized me, her smile vanishing as she tightened her expression. “Qiang, what’s with you? Didn’t I tell you to come home early? Look at the time! How does it take five minutes from school to now? You must have overslept again, right? Get inside—your godmother and foster sister have been waiting for you to eat!”

Before I could utter a word, my mother’s tirade left me battered and bruised. Just as I was about to explain my innocence, a burst of girlish laughter behind me made my scalp tingle. Is this little devil so happy to see me scolded?

“Hm?” My mother heard the laughter, then noticed Chu Qitong standing tall behind me. If I’m honest, Chu Qitong is indeed beautiful, on par with Zhang Jing and Su Xin. But since she’s become my nemesis, her beauty holds no appeal for me. My immunity, however, doesn’t extend to my mother. Upon seeing Chu Qitong’s lovely blush and radiant smile, my mother’s eyes sparkled like she’d found a gem. She hurriedly asked, “Qiang, is this girl behind you your classmate?”

I replied weakly, feeling as if it were still midsummer with cold sweat beading on my forehead.

“Hello, Auntie, I’m Xiao Qiang’s classmate, Chu Qitong. You can call me Tongtong—everyone in my family does.” With remarkable poise, Chu Qitong squeezed past me, beaming as she took my mother’s hand. “Wow, Auntie, you’re so pretty and young! Xiao Qiang never told me he had such a young mom—your skin is so fair. What skincare products do you use?”

“Hey, who are you calling an idiot—” Hearing her, I nearly fainted, struggling to keep my composure and about to scold her, but my smiling mother interrupted, “Qiang, shut up! How can you be so rude? Get inside now!” After glaring at me, she warmly held Chu Qitong’s hand. “Ah, Tongtong, is it? You’re so sweet! I’m hardly beautiful, just an old woman, but you’re really a beauty. Come, Auntie has been using this skincare lately, but I’m worried it’s not good—can you take a look?”

Stunned, I watched Chu Qitong sneak a silly face at me before following my mother into the living room and then her bedroom. At that moment, I really wanted to slap myself twice. Damn, my mom is so easy to win over—how did I never realize? This girl is too clever, managing to charm my mother in just a minute. Now I want to shout, “Hey, whose mother is she—mine or yours?”

Dragging myself in silence to the living room, I found my godmother and foster sister Siya sitting on the sofa, staring in shock toward my mother’s room. Embarrassed, I forced a laugh, “Siya, my mom is helping that culprit figure out how to apologize to you, haha, let’s watch TV, let’s watch TV…”

Just as I wiped cold sweat from my brow at my awkward excuse, the smell of burnt food wafted from the kitchen, making my vision go black as I collapsed onto the sofa, wailing, “Mom… the food’s burnt…”

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