This might just be what people call “a parent’s heart is always thinking of their children.”

After Chen Keyao’s father found out about Rong Yi’s gender, his attitude became much warmer. Rong Yi tried several times to excuse himself back to his room, but he failed each time.

The takeaway meal was getting cold, but he had no choice but to sit on the sofa and listen to this uncle praise his son—the very son who gave Rong Yi a headache just thinking about him.

“Yao Yao, you know, don’t be fooled by his fierce looks and lack of words. He actually has a really good temper. Look at how he’s learned all that fighting stuff since elementary school, but he never picks a fight. Very well-behaved. Plus, he makes money and is generous. He’s definitely the type to spoil his wife. I’m his father, so I know him best.”

Oh really? You don’t know that he throws up at the sight of an Omega?

Rong Yi forced a polite smile: “Ah, is that so.”

“And you know, he really loves kids,” Chen’s father said, shaking his head. “But what’s the point of teaching other people’s kids in class? Wouldn’t it be better to get married and have one of his own? Don’t you agree?”

Rong Yi tried his best to tug at the corners of his mouth: “Hehe.”

“You two eat together every day and live together too, so your relationship must be pretty good, right?” Chen’s father looked at him expectantly. “Xiao Rong, do you… have a partner?”

“I…” Rong Yi was about to answer honestly, but then he reconsidered, thinking it might lead to endless trouble. To stop this poor father from having unrealistic hopes, he swallowed and nodded, “I do.”

Upon hearing this, Chen’s father frowned slightly.

“If you have a partner, why are you still living with an Alpha?”

So what, are you going to accuse me of not following Omega etiquette now?

Rong Yi, deciding to go all the way with his lie, improvised using Chen Keyao as material: “To be honest, my partner is also an Omega. So he’s totally fine with me living with an Alpha.”

Coming from someone who looks like Rong Yi, this was highly convincing.

Chen’s father was shocked: “So… that’s why you and Yao Yao…”

“Uncle, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back to my room,” Rong Yi stood up. “Have you had dinner yet? Should I make something for you?”

Chen’s father frowned deeply: “No, I’ll be going soon.”

He quickly got up and walked toward the door but turned back after two steps: “Could you not tell Yao Yao that I came by today?”

Rong Yi glanced at the corner of the living room where a surveillance camera was mounted: “… Oh.”

Just as Chen’s father reached the door, Rong Yi heard him mutter: “You young people nowadays… not good, really not good.”

Rong Yi pursed his lips.

No doubt about it, this is a true father and son pair. Not only do they look alike, but their ability to be equally irritating once they open their mouths is exactly the same.

After Chen’s father left, Rong Yi finally ate his cold meal. Then he rummaged around the living room for a while and finally found the first aid kit. Opening it, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Chen Keyao had not only put the used cotton swabs and iodine from yesterday back inside, but he had also tossed in an opened pack of sanitary pads. Was he planning to use them as bandages again the next time he got hurt?

After organizing the first aid kit, Rong Yi couldn’t resist tidying up the cabinet where Chen Keyao had stored it.

It was a mess inside—tangled plastic bags, wrenches, all sorts of things. Rong Yi suspected that the toolbox Chen Keyao had mentioned leaving in the shoe cabinet had long since scattered its contents all over the house.

Once everything was neatly sorted, he took a shower and lay in bed reading a novel for a while. He vaguely heard the sound of the front door opening.

Judging by the time, it was probably Chen Keyao returning from class.

But after the unexpected event last night, Rong Yi was feeling a bit jumpy. He tiptoed to the door, opened a crack, and peeked out.

He made eye contact with Chen Keyao, who had just changed his shoes and still had a large sanitary pad stuck to his face.

For a moment, both of them felt awkward.

“…You’re back,” Rong Yi said.

Before Chen Keyao could respond, Rong Yi slammed the door shut.

About half an hour later, Chen Keyao suddenly came knocking.

“Are you asleep?” he asked from outside. “Can I come in? I want to talk about something.”

Rong Yi, who had been lounging on the bed reading his novel, immediately jumped up and straightened his clothes before responding, “Oh.”

When Chen Keyao came in, he brought his own stool, as usual.

“Did my dad come by earlier?” he asked straight away, “What did he say to you?”

He said you’re the kind of guy who spoils his wife.

“We just chatted,” Rong Yi turned his head. “Is that all you wanted to ask?”

“No, I just brought it up because I happened to see it. Anyway, don’t take anything he said seriously. That’s just how he is. I find him annoying too.”

“Oh,” Rong Yi glanced at him again, “So, is there anything else?”

“Well… about last night, don’t be mad if I nag a bit,” Chen Keyao said. “In that kind of situation, fighting barehanded isn’t exactly rational.”

“…”

This sounded a bit too familiar. Wasn’t it something the police had just told Chen Keyao last night?

“If something like that happens again, you should just pretend to be asleep. Call the police when the intruder leaves—it’s not too late then,” Chen Keyao continued. “If I hadn’t woken up and heard the noise last night, I don’t even want to think about what might have happened.”

For some reason, Rong Yi suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

His gaze wandered before he looked down: “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

Maybe it was Rong Yi’s obvious change in attitude, but Chen Keyao also became a bit stiff. After some more awkward comments about safety, he couldn’t help but add something ridiculous.

“If someone gets killed here, it’s going to be tough renting this place out again.”

“…” Rong Yi’s face immediately turned cold, and he looked at Chen Keyao differently.

“So, let’s avoid any more incidents, okay?” Chen Keyao scratched his head. “Also, um…”

Rong Yi was irritated: “What now?”

“You’re kind of irresponsible, aren’t you?” Chen Keyao said. “You promised to help me change the bandage.”

“…”

Chen Keyao’s wound seemed to be healing well.

He bought some medical gauze, and it was easy to wrap up. After Rong Yi quickly dealt with the injury, he watched as this guy casually opened a drawer and tossed the rest of the gauze inside.

Rong Yi felt like this person was testing his patience.

He rushed over, opened the drawer, took out the gauze, and dragged Chen Keyao to the cabinet where the first aid kit was stored. He opened the cabinet and pointed at the box: “Do you see this?”

Chen Keyao glanced at the box, then at Rong Yi’s face, and actually let out a small “tsk.”

But seeing Rong Yi frown, he sensibly took the gauze from Rong Yi’s hand, opened the first aid kit, and put it inside.

“Is that good enough?” he asked.

The kind of annoying attitude like someone forced to do homework.

No wonder his students liked him so much. Of course, little brats would love a big brat of a teacher.

After a few more peaceful days, Rong Yi welcomed his first weekend since moving in with Chen Keyao.

But his two-day break was fully booked, so he didn’t have time to invite Zhou Li over for a visit.

First, he needed to move the rest of his belongings from his old place. Rong Yi had only brought a few clothes with him initially, and now he found himself wearing the same jacket multiple times, which made him uncomfortable.

His financial situation was dire, so he couldn’t afford to hire movers. Estimating that two suitcases would be enough, he decided to do it himself.

After making two trips on the subway with suitcases, he realized he’d been too naive.

Normally, when he opened his closet, he felt like he never had enough clothes. But when it came to moving, it seemed like there was no end to them.

When he returned home for the second time, dragging his suitcase behind him, Chen Keyao had just woken up. Seeing Rong Yi, exhausted and sighing at the door, he frowned: “Are you moving out?”

“Do you want me to leave that badly?” Rong Yi dragged the suitcase toward his room.

Chen Keyao followed him and, upon seeing his bed piled high with clothes yet to be sorted, let out a soft “Wow.”

“You’re moving all this by yourself? Why didn’t you ask a friend for help?”

“…I thought it’d be easy.” Rong Yi sighed.

“So, is it all moved now?”

“No,” Rong Yi shook his head. “I probably have two more trips to make.”

He sat down on the bed in frustration: “It’s so annoying, maybe I should just throw it all away. I don’t want to move anymore.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?” Chen Keyao looked confused. “I can drive you.”

Rong Yi blinked: “… Your car’s fixed?”

Chen Keyao looked at him and suddenly smiled: “Thanks to you.”

Chen Keyao explained that he had thought it was just a dent from Rong Yi’s kick, but on the way home, the door kept making strange noises.

“You’ve got a strong kick,” he said. “With more practice, you could really achieve something.”

It didn’t sound like a compliment. Rong Yi turned his head, avoiding eye contact, and stayed silent.

With an extra pair of hands and a vehicle, everything was moved in one trip. After they got back home, Rong Yi hesitated for a long time before finally going to Chen Keyao.

“How much did it cost to fix the door?”

“Pretty expensive,” Chen Keyao said. “You can’t afford it.”

“…”

“Aren’t you supposed to be handling some other compensation issue tomorrow?” Chen Keyao asked.

“Just tell me how much it cost!” Rong Yi snapped. “Why so much hassle? And how do you know I can’t afford it?”

Chen Keyao chuckled: “I’m joking. The insurance company already paid for it.”

“…”

“I want pork rib soup for dinner,” Chen Keyao said.

Rong Yi really couldn’t afford it.

Especially after he went to discuss the compensation amount with the rental agency the next day. He felt like he was going to have trouble even paying Chen Keyao rent soon.

To be honest, his former landlady was quite nice. Although she had been furious at the time of the incident, now that she’d calmed down and saw how difficult it was for a young person like him living alone in a different city, she took pity on him. Having lived with him for many years, she had a good impression of him, so the final compensation amount was rather considerate.

Unfortunately, it still wiped out all of Rong Yi’s savings and wasn’t enough.

He had always been a bit of a spendthrift, living just shy of paycheck to paycheck. He earned a decent amount but spent even more.

Troubled, he returned home, but after much consideration, he decided not to tell Chen Keyao about it.

After spending this time together, he’d noticed that Chen Keyao was even more carefree with money than he was. Even Liu Yuan had mentioned before that Chen Keyao wasn’t short on money and only rented out the room to spite his dad.

If he asked, Chen Keyao would probably agree to defer the rent without hesitation.

But favors are the hardest thing to repay. With the awkward relationship between the two of them, after already receiving so much kindness, asking for even more would be pushing it.

But money doesn’t just fall from the sky.

So how on earth was he going to get through this crisis?