Chapter 44 – Fondness (1)

Su Tian brought Liu Kaiyan home with her, and He Qingwan was stunned.

When Tiantian answered a call and said someone from school had a fight with their parents and ran out of the house, and she was going to look for them, He Qingwan assumed she was talking about a girl. How did she end up bringing home a boy?

And this boy looked a lot like the chibi boy on the basketball that her daughter had brought home!

Nevertheless, as surprised as she was, He Qingwan did not let that show. She warmly welcomed Liu Kaiyan and brought him honey lemon water and fruits.

A little shy, Liu Kaiyan addressed her as “Aunty” and said, “I apologize for coming over so late at night.”

He Qingwan smiled tenderly and said, “Don’t be silly. You are Tiantian’s classmate, I want you to feel at home, okay?”

Liu Kaiyan took a look at Su Tian. No wonder she had such good temperament, that was obviously genetics.

Su Tian had He Qingwan turn in for the night. He Qingwan was worried but she was an open-minded parent, so she returned to her bedroom and left the two kids by themselves.

Su Tian found a new notebook, glue,and along with other necessary tools, she sat down with Liu Kaiyan in the living room to start working.

They must first pieced the comic back together.

The lights were bright in the living room, and the atmosphere quiet and serene. Nobody talked but neither did any one of them felt awkward.

The two of them continued pasting till the second half of the night and finally fell asleep on the couch when they were too tired.

Early next morning, when He Qingwan came back out to the living room, she saw a floor covered in pasted comic sheets, and the two pigs snoring on the couch. Her heart ached. Helplessly, she called their class teacher and asked for half a day off for both of them.

When Su Tian woke up, it was already 10 AM.

Liu Kaiyan slept even longer than Su Tian. He could smell lunch before he even opened his eyes. Still in his growing phase, the boy’s stomach growled and he heard a tender woman’s voice asking, “Tiantian, are you ready? Lunch is ready!”

Tiantian?

Tiantian!

He woke up all of a sudden and abruptly jumped up from the couch, startling He Qingwan.

“Oh, Kaiyan is awake too. Go wash up. Don’t worry, I have called in half a sick day for the both of you. Have some lunch before you go to school.”

Standing speechless in the middle of the living room, Liu Kaiyan was still dumbfounded.

Su Tian walked out from the bathroom. With her face still dripping wet from washing, she said, “Mom, we won’t be heading to school right away.”

He Qingwan asked, “Why not?”

Su Tian, “We are going to head to the publisher first.”

“Okay, just head to school after you are done. Be careful on your way.” Coming out of the kitchen, He Qingwan said, “Tiantian, I am going to head to the shop. If you need money, there’s some in my dresser …”

“Okay! I got it!” said Su Tian as she dried her face, “Hurry, go, go!”

Not sure what else to say, He Qingwan changed into her outdoor shoes and left.

Liu Kaiyan was still dumbfounded all the way up till Su Tian brought out rice and other dishes from the kitchen, and they started eating lunch.

Was this what a normal family was like?

What would Lin Xiuping have done in this situation?

Ugh. Obviously, he wouldn’t have been able to bring Su Tian home; Lin Xiuping wouldn’t have let him sleep in; wouldn’t have let him go in late the next day; definitely wouldn’t let him take time off from school and go to a publisher…

Su Tian smiled, “What are you still thinking about? Go wash up and come eat!”

As though he was sleepwalking, Liu Kaiyan walked inside the bathroom. It wasn’t until the cold water hit his face when he realized he wasn’t dreaming after all.

He had spent the night with Su Tian.

No, no, no. Realizing that the way he put it was problematic, the boy’s face suddenly turned as red as a monkey’s butt.

He quickly splashed more cold water on his own face.

He had only… only… stayed at her place, and slept for a night, with her, on the couch… was all.

Why did that still sound off?

Boss Liu, overthinking, frantically splashed more water on himself.