FT DR Chapter 20: The Annoying Father-in-Law

Chapter 20: The Annoying Father-in-Law

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Wu Chenghe had rested for a full two weeks before Hannibal allowed him to go back to school. His post-estrus symptoms had improved a lot, his senses were returning to normal, and his consciousness was gradually coming under control. He would occasionally still be disturbed by other people’s mental noise, but it wasn’t severe when he was awake during the day.

On the day Wu Chenghe returned to school, Hannibal said he would come to pick him up. So, Wu Chenghe got up early to get ready. However, when he was putting on his school uniform, he realized his tie was missing. That’s when he remembered that Jin Xuan had forgotten to return it.

Just as he was about to call Jin Xuan to ask for it, the doorbell rang, and the door was opened from the outside. There stood Jin Xuan, carrying a thermos and a neatly ironed tie.

Wu Chenghe had grown accustomed to his intrusive behavior and gave him a disdainful look. Jin Xuan, on the other hand, was used to his boyfriend’s (not really) tsundere and foolish behavior. He proceeded to open the thermos, set up the tableware on the counter, and said, “I’ve prepared breakfast for you. Fresh shaomai, corn soup, and appetizers. Come and eat.”

Wu Chenghe had no intention of having breakfast with him. “You should leave. My dad is about to come and pick me up!”

Seeing that there was still plenty of time, Jin Xuan asked, “Won’t you invite me to eat together? I made it, you know.”

“Then take it back and eat it yourself. I’m not hungry anyway!” Wu Chenghe didn’t want Hannibal to know that the president’s punk brother was pursuing him.

“You’re so heartless.” Jin Xuan put down his chopsticks, looking slightly hurt. “Fine, I’ll leave.”

As Wu Chenghe looked at the exquisite shaomai and steaming corn soup, he felt a twinge of guilt. After all, preparing such a complicated breakfast took a lot of time, and Jin Xuan had a lot of homework to do. But before he could say anything to comfort him, Jin Xuan said, “Who asked me to care about you?”

Wu Chenghe swore he wouldn’t feel guilty about anything Jin Xuan did anymore. He angrily opened the door and waved him away, “Go on, go on!” But as he turned around, he was horrified to see a tall figure standing at the doorway.

Hannibal stood there with a briefcase in one hand and his other hand on the door lock, ready to open it. He saw his son rushing out with an angry expression, and on the steps of the entrance stood a familiar young man.

Their eyes met, and both of them froze, feeling like they were seeing an illusion. How could this person be here?

It was Jin Xuan who reacted first. He descended the steps and greeted, “Hello, Commander.”

“Oh, it’s you.” Hannibal had met Jin Xuan several years ago at a cocktail party in the capital. Children grow up too fast, and he could hardly recognize him now. He hesitated, “Are you Jin Xuan? President Jin Zhe’s brother?”

“Yes, Commander.” Jin Xuan immediately resumed his mysterious and cool style in front of outsiders (except for his brother and Wu Chenghe), nodding coldly. “I’m sorry to disturb you.” He then turned his gaze to Wu Chenghe and showed a hint of warmth. “I’ll leave now. Goodbye.”

“Wait.” Hannibal stopped him and looked at his son inquiringly. “Do you two know each other?”

Wu Chenghe sighed internally. Jin Xuan spent all day doing performance art against the Voyager Army and against Hannibal. How was he going to explain this to his adoptive dad? Dad, let me introduce you. This is a friend of mine whom I wish were dead?

Luckily, Jin Xuan’s appearance today was somewhat normal. His hair was tied back, and he wasn’t wearing a T-shirt against the Voyager Army; he only had a lot of holes and patches on his shirt. So Wu Chenghe had to reluctantly say, “Yes, he lives in the east district.”

“I’m here to return his tie.” Jin Xuan explained simply. “I’m going to be late for school. Goodbye.”

Seeing Jin Xuan’s shabby appearance, Hannibal’s expression darkened. He asked Wu Chenghe, “How did your tie end up at his place?”

Wu Chenghe had never seen him so serious before and couldn’t help but shiver. He stammered, “N-no, I didn’t go to his place. I lost it outside, and he found it.”

Hannibal didn’t say anything and went inside silently. Seeing the breakfast on the bar counter and the tableware set for two, his expression became even more unpleasant. “Were you planning to have breakfast together?”

Wu Chenghe was in a terrible situation, not knowing how to explain to his adoptive dad.

Hannibal picked up a shaomai, looked at it, then put it back on the plate. After a pause, he suddenly asked abruptly, “Do you like boys?”

“What?” Wu Chenghe choked on his saliva, his face turning red. He had never been in a relationship before and had never thought about his sexual orientation. He immediately denied, “N-no, that’s not true!”

Hannibal looked into his son’s big, dark eyes and saw the instant embarrassment and panic. He spoke with seriousness, “Charlie, I’m not trying to interfere with your friendships, but you’re still young. Can you focus on your studies?”

Wu Chenghe was incredibly embarrassed. Being caught by a parent for having an early relationship was a humiliating scene. He nodded with a mournful face, “I understand. We’re not what you think, and I’m not thinking about dating anyone.”

“That’s good.” Hannibal sighed quietly with relief, patted his son’s head, and softened his tone. “Sorry, I might have been too harsh just now. It’s just that all fathers are like this. Charlie, when you have a son in the future, you’ll understand my worries.”

“No, no, I understand.” Wu Chenghe said sincerely. “You’re right. I’ll focus on my studies.” Especially when it comes to men, especially when it comes to such special men.

“Okay, it’s getting late. Eat quickly, and let’s go.” Hannibal’s face cleared up slightly. He took the tie and personally tied it for him. After Wu Chenghe had a few bites of shaomai, they left for school.

From across the fountain garden, Jin Xuan watched Hannibal’s hovercar slowly rise, passing over the canopy of plane trees. His thick eyebrows furrowed.

“Did you feel it too?” He telepathically communicated with his Barbary lion, “He’s very averse to me.”

The big golden-haired lion snorted and let out a low growl, which made the black-chestnut eagle fluff up its feathers and emit a threatening screech. If it weren’t for Jin Xuan’s suppression, it would have pounced on the lion and bitten it.

“This doesn’t make sense. Even if he disagrees with brother politically, he shouldn’t dislike me so much. Is it because of Wu Chenghe? Does he not like his son having a boyfriend like me? How come?” Jin Xuan found it unbelievable. As an idol superstar so handsome that he had no friends, his fans were all over the universe, okay? How many boys and girls were infatuated with him?

The Barbary lion rolled its eyes at its master. What parent would like their child to have a boyfriend who ruins morals?

Feeling the mockery from his companion, Jin Xuan glared at it unhappily and muttered to himself, “Dads are really troublesome. Fortunately, I don’t have…” He was raised by his brother since childhood and had no concept of a father. In his impression, fathers were either boring middle-aged men or rigid old men. Even if it were someone like Hannibal, he still didn’t find him threatening.

“Anyway, the one I love is not him.” Jin Xuan plucked at the lion’s fur intermittently. “Since he already knows, it’s a clear path now. I can openly pursue Wu Chenghe in the future, right?”

The lion stared blankly at its master and shook its head, indicating that it didn’t agree with his opinion.

“Why are you shaking your head?” Jin Xuan glared at it. “I didn’t ask for your opinion. You’re so stupid. You still haven’t found his quantum beast.”

The Barbary lion, knees shot through, teary-eyed, silently turned its head and crawled away.

On Wu Chenghe’s first day back at school, he received several classmates’ concerned inquiries, including Marlow, who condescended to ask him, “The old man said you were seriously ill. How are you now?”

“I’m fine, all better now.” Wu Chenghe still felt a bit uneasy around Marlow. After all, judging from that day’s events, Marlow and he were compatible. Their compatibility might even exceed sixty percent. Although he was underage now and wouldn’t secrete pheromones, it was still nerve-wracking to be in the same classroom as this time bomb.

“Do you want to join the baseball club? You’re too weak; some practice might help.” Marlow still felt a bit guilty about forgetting to help him apply for leave that day. He said awkwardly, “I’m not in the baseball club, but the president is my friend. I can talk to him for you.”

“Thanks, but no need. I’m not interested in baseball.” Wu Chenghe felt that with his height, he shouldn’t challenge such intense sports. But seeing Marlow’s displeased expression, he added, “I’m not fast, so I might lag behind. How about playing table tennis or something?”

“Suit yourself.” Marlow felt he had done his duty and returned to his seat with a cold face. Shortly afterward, he sent him a message through the holographic courseware: “I’ve prepared notes for the past two weeks for you. Remember to review them tonight.”

Wu Chenghe didn’t expect his adopted brother to have such a caring heart beneath his stoic facade. He felt grateful and replied, “Thank you!”

Perhaps because of Jin Xuan’s presence, Hannibal was somewhat worried about Wu Chenghe and stayed with him for the next three days.

Wu Chenghe felt extremely frustrated but didn’t dare to ask him to go back to his own home. After all, this house belonged to Hannibal, and he had no reason to kick the owner out. After much consideration, he ended up blaming everything on Jin Xuan and cursed him half to death in private.

Finally, it was Friday, and Valentine’s Day was the next day, but there was still no sign of Hannibal going home. Wu Chenghe tried to indirectly ask him why he didn’t go back, only to find out that Marlow was away for baseball training, and Lilith was at the military station. Hannibal was the only one left at home, so coming here was his only choice.

On such a big holiday, Wu Chenghe felt immense pressure under Hannibal’s supervision. After dinner, he lay on the coffee table studying. Hannibal had been extremely affectionate towards him lately, sitting at the bar counter and cutting fruits for him.

As the clock struck half past eight, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“I’ll get it, you keep studying,” Hannibal said as he put down the fruit knife and went to open the door. Wu Chenghe, worried it might be Jin Xuan, also stood up. Hannibal frowned slightly when he saw him following but didn’t stop him.

Opening the door, they found Jin Xuan standing outside. His appearance today was probably the most normal since Wu Chenghe had known him—white shirt, black pants, no frayed edges, no holes, and no slogans against Hannibal. His hair was neatly tied back, revealing a full forehead, soaring eyebrows, and cold, arrogant phoenix eyes. He seemed to have expected Hannibal to open the door, slightly bowing and politely saying, “Good evening, Uncle.”

Hannibal’s expression instantly became quite subtle. It was widely known that President Jin Zhe was a lifelong bachelor, unmarried until he used the sperm and eggs his parents gave him to create a younger brother at the age of thirty-two. Although Jin Xuan was only twenty-four, Jin Zhe was actually fifty-six, nine years older than Hannibal.

Jin Zhe had served in the Voyager Army before, and Hannibal had worked with him for a while. They always addressed each other as brothers. So, according to seniority, it was enough for Jin Xuan to call him “big brother.” And that was how they addressed each other during their few meetings in the capital.

Now this kid suddenly changed his address, shamelessly calling him “uncle.” The intention was so obvious, it was downright infuriating. Kid, could you be any more shameless?