A few days after I handed the exercise book to Ai Mi, I received a strange phone call at home.

It was already 10 pm and I was planning to go to sleep. My dad was still in his study answering the customer’s questions, and explaining why a blow up doll is a hundred times better than a girlfriend.

“Hello? This is the Happy Valley Love Shop...”

I proficiently introduced our shop because I thought it was a call from an impatient customer. Does he want his blow-up doll that bad?

Unexpectedly, the other end was taciturn for a while before Peng TouSi’s voice came:

“Lin, I hope you’re mentally prepared...”

Huh? Why are you calling me in the middle of the night? Mentally prepared? Are you sending a hundred homos to burst my chrysanthemum? I never offended you! I only did not personally send Obama back, is there a need to be this heartless!

“I’m going to put you through to Madam Ai ShuQiao in America. Although it’s unlikely, I hope you can calmly hear her out till the end.”

Who? Who is Ai ShuQiao? From America? Can we even accept long-distance calls? Put through? Is that when two phones are put side by side, or is it something more advanced? It’s fine as long as we do not have to pay for the long-distance call, we would not be able to handle it!

Following a rustle of electric current, the other end changed to a female’s voice. The speed of her speech was neither slow nor fast, it revealed the maturity and confidence of an elite individual.

“Tell your dad to pick up the phone.”

As an elite American, her opening remarks were not the least bit charming.

“My dad is busy with his business! If you have anything to say, say it to me! Also, who are you?”

“...Tell your dad to pick up the phone.”

She repeated, and you could faintly hear the anger in her voice.

Eh? Quite a bit of anger for someone who called us in the middle of the night! Even though it looks like my dad is only chatting in front of his computer, some customers only frequent our store because of his patient explanations! My H expert dad is loved by the customers! We will go cold and hungry if you interfere with our business!

“My dad is not available right now, I can help you pass on a message. Also, since you were transferred by Peng TouSi... You should be someone from Ai Mi’s side, right? You should be looking for me since my dad has never even met Ai Mi!”

“It’s best he never met her....” The women’s voice had a faintly discernible mocking tone, “If you don’t know who I am, I can tell you. I’m Ai Mi’s manager, and I’m also her mother.”

“Oh, so you’re Mom Ai-sama (-daren)! Please excuse my rudeness!”

I have never had a favorable impression of Ai Mi’s mother. Isn’t she a tiger mom who forced her daughter to play the piano and would not even let her eat cola or chips? Also, when you introduced yourself, you said you were her manager before you said her mother. Was there a need to explicitly state your profession?

“Mom Ai-sama, what business do you have with my father? Although I’ve been under the care of your daughter, I don’t think we’ve done anything that needs interference from the parents?”

The other end was silent for a while, and I could hear the nasally sounds of her ridiculing laughter.

“Ye Lin... That’s the name, right? I never thought you would be so garrulous... But, it’s a bit similar to your dad when I went to school with him....”

What does that mean? Based on her tone of voice, it seems she knows my dad? Perhaps they were classmates! This world is too damn small!

“.... Anyways, tell your dad to pick up the phone, just tell him it’s Ai ShuQiao.”

historical

I pushed open the door to my dad’s study and pointed to the phone on his desk.

“A woman called Ai ShuQiao is looking for you....”

I was stunned before I was able to finish my sentence because my dad’s expression could not be easily descried. It was a complex blend of horror, pain, sadness, and confusion.

He picked up the phone as if he was a drowning person grabbing whatever they can to survive.

I was not sure what Ai ShuQiao said to him. It was only enough time for a greeting, but my dad started crying.

He rarely cries in front of me when he was not drunk.

He spoke to the woman on the phone in a trembling tone: “Shu Qiao, you...”

After finally stopping his endless flow of tears, my dad asked with deep sadness: “These few years.... How have you been?”

I was held back by fear. Perhaps it was the expression on my dad’s face, or perhaps because the cursed name gradually began to awaken from my childhood memories...

Both my legs trembled. Was it because of anger, or was it due to other emotions? I don’t know, the only thing I did was go to the living room and pick up the phone and put it next to my ear.

Though it’s unethical to eavesdrop on in someone’s conversation, this time, I feel that I have the right.

My eyes swept across the room, and I could not calm down. I saw Xiao Qin’s thermos with the listening device on the top of the TV. I forgot to put it away after I broadcasted the news to her as usual —— But I was not in the mood to do anything else. My mind and body were focused in the dialogue between my Dad and Ai ShuQiao.

“.... Is that right, did you have a daughter with John? Did he bully you in America?”

Is John the foreign teacher who NTRed my dad? Even though I can only hear my dad’s voice, I could feel his heart crying!

“Bully me?” Ai ShuQiao sneered, “He doesn’t have the guts nor the ability. Back then, I was the one who seduced him first. Although he used to be the sole heir to a large financial company, he’s now only a mere figurehead and a stay-at-home husband.”

My dad’s voice seemed like it aged ten years, “Shu Qiao, tell me, please tell me.... Did you love him that much? Was it worth leaving me and our son?”

“Love?” It was as if Ai ShuQiao heard the most ridiculous word in the world, “When did I ever say I loved him? When did I ever say I loved you? I clearly told you when you proposed: I don’t believe in love. Love is only an unreliable chemical reaction between two sexes. The chemical reaction can begin at any time, and it can also stop at any time. It is not affected by an individual’s will.”

“I... I thought you were joking....”

“Ai ShuQiao doesn’t make jokes! Don’t forget I only married you after you accepted my stance. At the time, I was indeed interested in you, but the interest did not last long. I quickly realized John was more interesting. As the heir to a large company, he was obliged to teach at his own expense because his head was filled with idealism... At the time, his cheerful personality and handsome appearance made many young college girls fall for him, but he scrupulously abided by the rule that prevented a relationship between teachers and students. He did not have a relationship with any girls...”

“I thought his perseverance was interesting, so I used my status as a teacher and tempted him to do even more unethical things.... (TN: adultery)”

It was hard to my imagine what my dad felt when listening to his ex-wife flaunt her extramarital relationship.

“Idealists are different from others. He interpreted my ‘interest’ towards him as ‘love’ and he believed he sullied his ideals and the occupation of a teacher. Thus after I gave birth, he hurriedly took me back to America.”

“A very interesting guy, isn’t he? He ignored his father’s opposition and married me, then he became the chairman of a large company after his father had a heart attack... The luxury of the American upper-class and the idealist made me satisfied for quite a while.”

“But as I’ve said before, interests do not move according to one’s will. My interest in him slowly declined after I gave birth to his daughter, and I slowly took control of his company. The only times he can satisfy me now is probably a fried egg in the morning and a foot massage at night.” (TN: Tbh, Ye Lin’s dad dodged a bullet. If only he wasn’t always so sorry for himself...)

“My current interests lies in the entertainment industry. I went into management and I’m interest in my daughter’s path to stardom.”

So, Ai Mi wasn’t just a transliteration? Did she have to name her with her own surname because she views her daughter as her property? Although Xiao Qin and Auntie Ren was in a similar situation, Auntie Ren was hurt by an indecisive husband, whereas John probably has not offended you?

It was hard to believe that I actually sided with John in my mind.

I felt there was no difference between my dad and John. They were both pitiable people who were dancing on top of Ai ShuQiao’s palms.

And the this person, who I should call my mom, still plans on toying with her own daughter, my sister.

I felt my heart squeeze tightly.

Since I slightly lost focus, I did not hear some of the conversation between them. When I brought back my focus, I heard my dad say:

“.....It’s been a long time, do you still recognize my handwriting?”

“Isn’t that one of your few strong points? My interest in you began from the beautiful words written on the love letters.”

“... Shu Qiao, you said your daughter.... is close with our son?”

“Correct, although I was anxious about it when Ai Mi went to DongShan city with the cast & crew, I never thought my nightmare would come true.”

“Nightmare? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? Although Xiao Lin isn’t outstanding, he’s not a bad child...”

“Let’s stop with the pleasantries!” Ai ShuQiao’s tone became serious and cold in an instant, “I didn’t call you to reminisce about the past! Let me make it clear: I don’t want anybody to interfere with Ai Mi’s path to stardom. She will do the right thing at the right time, she will also marry a suitable person chosen by me —— she doesn’t need to have a brother appear all of a sudden!”

“That’s why, please don’t give us any trouble. Move away as far as possible. It would be best if we don’t meet anymore.”

Every word that came out of Ai ShuQiao’s mouth was like a sharp needle stabbing my dad’s heart. I could feel it.

“I’ll compensate you. Other than relocation fees, there’s also some hush money. It should be enough to satisfy you guys if you’re not too greedy.”

“5 million USD. In exchange, move at least 4000 km away and you have to keep it a secret. You can’t talk the media or come back to us, or I’ll hire people to take care of you guys —— please remember Ai ShuQiao doesn’t joke around.”

I have never been this angry.

I have never been this angry even when the Little Tyrant pushed me into a pit and forced me to drink the dirty water.

You turned away and left us without the tiniest bit of reluctance. Now, when we incidentally disturbed your peace and quiet, you want to unreasonably force us out of our hometown?

Although I do not have many friends in this city, it is a cherished city where I am familiar with and have many memories!

Do you think money solves everything? Do you think you can change people’s lives at will as long as you have money? Do you think your husband and son should bow down on their knees to your favor?

I squeezed out a few words between the gaps of my teeth like a wild beast: “You’re the one... who should scram as far as possible!”