Chapter 186 Random Remarks

Mo Qianyi's question left Lin Ruoxi speechless for a moment.

After a long silence, Lin Ruoxi shook her head. "I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"Yes, when Aunt asked me that day, I thought for a long time, but I really don't know how to describe him. So, I let Aunt see for herself." Lin Ruoxi said weakly.

A multitude of thoughts flickered in Mo Qianyi's eyes. "Exactly, I also don't know how to describe it. Matters of the heart are always like this. You don't know what's good about this person, but there are plenty of flaws. Yet, you can't bring yourself to truly dislike those flaws. You always feel like if that person suddenly changed, you wouldn't be used to it. But if they don't change for the better, it makes you anxious. It's so irritating."

Lin Ruoxi looked at Mo Qianyi with a smile that wasn't a smile. "Qianyi, it seems like you understand deeply."

"Huh?" Mo Qianyi suddenly realized that she was talking about Yang Chen with whom, and her face turned red as if it was about to drip juice. "I-I was just speaking casually. Ruoxi, why are you looking at me like that! I-I'm not the kind of person who forgets loyalty for looks! Besides, that guy isn't even that good-looking, so I'll leave him to you! He's such a headache!"

After saying that, Mo Qianyi immediately turned around and pretended to focus on starting the car seriously, heading back to the company.

Lin Ruoxi turned her head to the direction where Yang Chen had left, sighing softly.

And Yang Chen, who had gotten out of the car and was strolling down the pedestrian street with a cigarette in his mouth, wasn't feeling any better at the moment, feeling somewhat choked up.

Looking around, he found himself in the well-known commercial district of Zhonghai, surrounded by dazzling billboards and deafening music, all aimed at attracting customers to shops and department stores.

In the middle of the avenue was a green belt with flower beds and plenty of red-painted wooden tables and chairs for pedestrians to rest.

Yang Chen wasn't interested in buying anything. He intended to sit down and sort out his thoughts, but he didn't expect that just as he was about to sit on a red stool, a delicate figure rushed over from the opposite side.

"Uncle!"

Wearing a yellow camisole, a white shirt as a coat, and a pair of light-colored ripped jeans, the girl looked like a fragrant little doll as she threw herself into Yang Chen's arms, her two arms hooking around his neck, her body almost hanging onto him!

Seeing the pretty face that he hadn't seen for a while up close, Yang Chen couldn't help but blink, wondering if he was seeing things. "Tangtang?"

Tangtang nodded, her expression a mix of joy and annoyance. She released her two fair arms and pounded on Yang Chen's chest with her pink fists. "Meanie! Uncle, you're so heartless! You haven't contacted me for so long. If I hadn't run into you today, would you never plan to contact me for the rest of your life?!"

"What nonsense is this? Aren't you in your senior year studying hard? I saw you were busy, so I didn't disturb you, all for your own good!" Yang Chen replied.

"Excuses!" Tangtang stuck out her tongue. "You're just making excuses. Do you hate me now? Do you despise me? Are you not considering me a friend anymore?!"

Yang Chen smiled bitterly; this girl was starting to throw a tantrum again. "Don't overthink it. I've been busy myself. I know your mom keeps a close eye on you, so I didn't contact you. Besides, I'm not that great of a person, why would I despise you?"

"But you can't just disappear for so long!" Tangtang complained, looking like a wilting flower.

Yang Chen flicked away his cigarette butt and counted on his fingers. "It hasn't been that long, not even a month."

"Not long?!" Tangtang pouted. "Do you know how few months a person has in a year? How few in a lifetime?! Even if you live to be a hundred, it's only twelve hundred months! You've seriously wounded my fragile little heart."

"Enough!" Yang Chen gestured to stop her. "Ultimately, I owe you from my past life, and I'll never be able to repay it in this life. So, just say it, what do you want from me this time?"

Yang Chen didn't need to guess; he knew this girl was trying to find a way to make him accompany her to do something.

Tangtang giggled. "Uncle, you know me so well. Actually, it's nothing much. I forgot my wallet when I went out today, so would you please treat me to a meal? I'm starving."

Yang Chen couldn't help but laugh as he ruffled Tangtang's hair. "After all that talk, you just wanted a free meal? You could've said it earlier."

"I actually really miss you, Uncle. But as a girl, I have to maintain some dignity. Who knew you, this heartless man, wouldn't take the initiative to contact me." Tangtang said with a touch of melancholy.

"Alright, alright, whose heart did I break? Let's go eat. What do you want? Just say it, I haven't had lunch either," Yang Chen said, not wanting to hear more.

Tangtang tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Let's go to McDonald's."

"Can we get something else? Both are meat wrapped in bread, but I think the Chinese roujiamo is tastier," Yang Chen suggested.

Tangtang looked at Yang Chen as if he were an alien. "If you can find a place nearby that sells roujiamo, then I'll go with you."

"Then let's go to McDonald's."

The two found a nearby McDonald's. Yang Chen ordered four chicken burgers, while Tangtang only asked for a chicken wrap and a drink. They sat by the window in a corner, leisurely eating.

Yang Chen watched as Tangtang quickly finished off her chicken wrap and asked curiously, "Why don't you eat more? You seem hungry."

"I have to watch my figure even when I'm hungry, or else no one will want me in the future," Tangtang replied seriously.

"You're still so young, why are you thinking about these things?" Yang Chen shook his head helplessly.

Tangtang stood up proudly, ignoring the stares of some customers around her. "What's wrong with being young? I've got everything I need at my age. Some older people don't even have half of what I have!"

To be honest, perhaps because this girl grew up in a wealthy family and ate better than other children, she was indeed delicate and had a unique youthful charm.

But Yang Chen couldn't stand her audacity. He sighed and urged her to sit down. "Stop acting so recklessly. Tell me what you did and why you didn't bring your wallet when you went out."

At this question, Tangtang deflated like a balloon and slumped onto the table. "What else could it be? I had a fight with my sister, and she confiscated my wallet and wouldn't let me go out. But I managed to escape."

Yang Chen thought carefully and remembered that Tangtang's "sister" was her mother.

"Why did you fight with your mom? And besides, even if you had no money, if you hadn't bumped into me, would you have resorted to begging?" Yang Chen frowned.

Tangtang pouted. "What's there to be afraid of? This miss is naturally beautiful. I'm not afraid of not finding a sugar daddy."

"Nonsense!" Yang Chen couldn't help but hit the table. "You're still so young, yet you keep talking nonsense like this! Do you even understand what 'sugar daddy' means? Do you know how people will perceive you if they hear you say that? Is this something you just casually say?!"

Tangtang lowered her head in grievance. "Uncle, don't be angry. I just said it casually, but I feel uncomfortable too."

Seeing the girl almost about to cry, Yang Chen didn't want to say anything more. "Tell me, why did you fight with your mom?"

"I don't want to talk about it," Tangtang muttered, clutching her clothes.

Sure, here is the translation of your Chinese novel excerpt:

After all that talk, just when things were getting to the point, this girl stopped talking again! Yang Chen, feeling frustrated, finished the last hamburger. Just as he was about to light a cigarette, he suddenly realized that smoking might not be allowed here. He sighed heavily at the lack of courtesy in Western fast food joints, simultaneously unsure of how to continue the conversation. It seemed this girl had either run away from home or had a fight with her family.

Based on past experiences, Tangtang wasn't exactly safe herself. There was a good chance that someone who meant harm to her could find her. He couldn't just leave her like that.

"Uncle," Tangtang, seeing Yang Chen's silence, whispered, "Am I causing you trouble? If you're busy, you can leave first. I can stay at a classmate's house."

"Can your classmate handle the people who want to kidnap you?" Yang Chen asked with a smile.

Tangtang's face paled at the word "kidnap." "Nothing has happened recently. Maybe the danger has passed," she said.

"Just because nothing has happened lately doesn't mean the danger has passed," Yang Chen sighed. "I think I should take you back. What can't a mother and daughter talk about? A little quarrel, a little disagreement, and everything will be fine. Can't you two reconcile?"

Tangtang frowned tightly, looking reluctant. "I don't want to see her. My sister is too despicable."

Yang Chen was puzzled. "How can your mom be despicable?"

"She... she went to see men behind my back!" Tangtang finally said reluctantly, her voice choked with tears. "She's been acting all youthful lately, dressing up as if she were ten years younger. She asked me last night if I would like it if she found a dad for me."

"What did you say?" Yang Chen asked.

"I said then he'd have to be my real dad, otherwise, I'd strongly oppose it!" Tangtang said indignantly. "My dad has been chasing after her for over twenty years, and she never agreed. Why does she have to be so cruel to my dad and go find other men?"

Yang Chen suddenly realized something and asked with a smile, "So, you haven't seen your mom with other men?"

"I haven't seen it, but do I need to see it?!" Tangtang exclaimed. "I'm already this old, and she only asked me for the first time if I wanted her to find a dad for me. She must be keeping a man outside!"

"What's with the talk of keeping a man? That's rude. You shouldn't talk about your mom like that. No matter what the reason was back then, she, as a woman, bore the pressure to give birth to you and raise you. Wasn't that hard enough?" Yang Chen scolded, displeased.

Tangtang retorted, "That's not true! Even without her, I still have my dad! My dad, for her and for me, has never married another woman until now. He has sacrificed so much, why should he face this kind of outcome?!"

"So, you're pleading for your dad?" Yang Chen felt the relationship was getting complicated. After some thought, Tangtang shook her head slightly. "Not really, Uncle. Despite my young age, I know that you can't force feelings. It's just that my sister suddenly became like this and refuses to tell me if she's with someone. I feel like she suddenly doesn't love me anymore."

"So, you used your dad's situation to confront her?"

"Yeah, I just said a couple of things off the cuff, and then we started arguing," Tangtang said embarrassedly.

Yang Chen chuckled. "And you ran away from home over such a trivial matter?!"

"Not exactly," Tangtang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mainly, I've been feeling exhausted lately. Besides going to school, I'm not allowed to go out after class. I feel like I'm being confined like a prisoner, so naturally, I'm not very happy."

Yang Chen looked at Tangtang meaningfully. "That's what you're most averse to, right?"

Tangtang nodded silently, obediently.