When Fang Zichen didn't answer, Zhao Ger released his grip and doubled over in anguish, clutching his head between his hands.
"Daddy~" Guaizai, seeing him like this, wriggled out of Fang Zichen’s arms and ran to hug him, sobbing too. "Daddy don’t cry, Guaizai will be good, Daddy don’t cry~"
The father and son cried silently, only quiet sniffles escaping, but their tears fell in heavy drops.
Fang Zichen sighed, feeling out of place—the two of them huddled together crying while he stood there.
Should I go over and cry a little too, just to fit in?
"I’ve said it before, I won’t leave. And if I do, I’ll take you and Guaizai with me. You call me husband, he calls me father, so I have a responsibility to you both. This is the last time I’ll say it."
A familiar voice spoke up. Zhao Ger lifted his head and saw Fang Zichen crouched in front of him, his expression serious—completely different from his usual carefree self.
"You’re my fulang. As long as you don’t betray me, I won’t abandon you. If you still don’t believe me, from now on, I’ll carry you around tied to my belt, how about that?" Fang Zichen pretended to be solemn, patting his head like he was comforting a child. "If anyone bullies you in the future, tell me, and I’ll deal with them. This is the last time I’ll say it. Understood?"
Zhao Ger wiped his eyes, taking a while to clear the blurriness. "...Really?"
Fang Zichen had given this assurance more than once. With Zhao Ger, he displayed unprecedented patience: "Really. A real man keeps his word. If I break it, you can call me ‘grandson’ next time you see me."
Zhao Ger held his breath. "You can’t lie to me."
"Mm. Won’t lie. If I do, I’m a dog." Fang Zichen said. "Such a serious oath, do you believe me now?"
"And may five thunderbolts from heaven strike you dead," Zhao Ger added.
Fang Zichen: "......" They say "no poison is more venomous than a woman's heart," but this ger's heart is quite ruthless too.
"Fine, fine," Fang Zichen pinched Zhao Ger’s nose. "Whatever you say, alright?"
Zhao Ger’s nose hurt from the pinch, but he didn’t stop him. He let out a small laugh, tears threatening to fall again, but he held them back. "Mm."
"Don’t do this again," Fang Zichen released him and picked up Guaizai, his gaze softening unconsciously as it landed on the boy. "You scared our son, and I don’t feel like comforting you again."
Just as Zhao Ger was about to stand, Fang Zichen added, "You’re a year older than me, yet you cry so easily—aren’t you ashamed?"
Zhao Ger: "......"
Fang Zichen: "If it were me, crying at nineteen, I’d personally find it pretty embarrassing."
"......"
"Are you ashamed? Probably not—your face isn’t even red. But some people blush in other places when they’re embarrassed. Turn around, pull your pants down, let me see."
"......"
Fang Zichen watched Zhao Ger’s expression darken, as if he were about to explode and punch him. He chuckled and took a few steps back, keeping a safe distance before saying: "I'm just joking. It's not shameful for men to cry. Cry however you want. I won't laugh at you."
Just as Zhao Ger’s expression was easing—
"But... are you even a man?"
Fang Zichen tilted his head, feigning confusion.
Zhao Ger heard him mutter to Guaizai in a low voice, "Son, did you ever see your daddy's..."
The rest was too quiet to catch.
Guaizai, now understanding many things, had tears in his eyes, his voice trembling: "Yes... I bathed with Daddy before."
"Really?" Fang Zichen glanced back at Zhao Ger, then turned away, thinking he’d been quick enough to go unnoticed.
"Next time, I’ll take a peek. I’m kinda curious. But wouldn’t that be kinda perverted?"
Zhao Ger: "......"
He'd never met anyone like Fang Zichen—one moment melting your heart with warmth, the next making your teeth itch with anger. No sooner would he finish coaxing you with gentle words than that mouth of his would start begging to be disciplined.
Every time Zhao Ger started feeling moved, Fang Zichen would say something to piss him off.
This Fang Zichen...is truly rotten to the core.
That night, as predicted, a thunderstorm rolled in, fiercer than the one at noon. Fang Zichen moved some wooden planks, and the three of them slept in the main hall.
The house had been built during the village chief's grandfather's era - at the very least, several decades old by now. The rain fell heavy and relentless, its clamor leaving Fang Zichen restless throughout the night. Only when the downpour eased toward dawn did he finally slip into fitful sleep.
Naturally, he overslept the next day.
Zhao Ger brought him a bowl of noodles, but Fang Zichen was in a rush, changing clothes hastily. "I won’t eat. You two have it."
Zhao Ger was puzzled. "You didn’t wake up that late today. You can eat before leaving."
"The foreman told me to come early today."
"Then at least buy a steamed bun in town," Zhao Ger said.
Fang Zichen agreed verbally, but once in town, he headed straight for the docks. The roads were muddy from the rain, and he’d woken up late—how could he afford to waste time?
All he could think about was those three taels of silver!
Fang Zichen felt a pang of frustration. He’d originally planned to treat himself to something nice after earning the money, but now...
Dammit. After work, I have to pay the Ma family a visit and beat the shit out of them.
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