Chapter 49: Heard You Came Out

After Lu Zhengfei returned home, he didn’t call or text Chen Qianqing for several days, as if he had disappeared entirely.

The last phone call from Lu Zhengfei had been right after his plane landed, while he was in Ruan Wenhong’s car.

At first, Chen Qianqing didn’t pay much attention to it. But when nearly a week passed with no news, he began to suspect what might have happened—Lu Zhengfei’s parents had likely discovered their relationship.

Though Lu Zhengfei’s father hadn’t served in the military, he grew up in a military family and naturally wasn’t the type to have a soft temper. Meanwhile, his mother, typically calm and even-tempered, wouldn’t tolerate any breach of principles.

When Lu Zhengfei came out years ago, his father had beaten him severely. Learning later that Lu had coerced an innocent young man only made his father angrier, to the point of nearly beating him to death.

As a result, Chen Qianqing temporarily enjoyed a period of calm.

Chen Qianqing had various theories about Lu Zhengfei’s sudden disappearance, but the most plausible one was that his family had found out about them.

And indeed, Chen Qianqing’s guess was more or less spot on.

After Lu Zhengfei returned home, the secret of his covert trip to C City to see Chen Qianqing was exposed.

Lu Zhengfei’s sister, Lu Yiqin, who doted on her brother excessively, completely lost her composure when she learned that her brother had skipped spending the New Year with family just to visit that fox Chen Qianqing in C City.

In front of their parents, she furiously condemned Chen Qianqing, calling him despicable and shameless, a pretty boy and an effeminate weakling. She also tried to defend her brother, claiming that Lu Zhengfei had been bewitched and misled into poor judgment.

Lu Yiqin’s intention was to ruin Chen Qianqing, but in reality, she ended up dragging her beloved brother down with him.

Hearing her daughter’s rant, Lu Zhengfei’s mother, who had been sipping tea, nearly spat it out in shock.

Their father, Lu Chongqian, had an even bigger reaction, shouting, “Go get your brother right now!”

With tearful eyes, Lu Yiqin looked at her parents and said, “Dad, Mom, please don’t hit Brother. He’s just been taken advantage of—it’s all that fox’s fault.”

Lu Chongqian’s face darkened further. “Go get him now!”

A moment later, Lu Zhengfei, who had just returned home and was still nursing a low-grade fever, was summoned.

Seeing his parents’ expressions and his sister’s timid demeanor, Lu Zhengfei immediately had a pretty good idea of what had happened. “Dad, what’s the matter?”

“Where were you yesterday?” Lu Chongqian demanded.

“I went to C City for some business negotiations,” Lu Zhengfei replied. “Did something happen?”

“You’re sure you went there for business and not for something else?” Lu Chongqian asked sharply.

In his previous life, Lu Zhengfei had decided to come out on his own terms, so he didn’t hide his relationship with Chen Qianqing. But in this life, it was Lu Yiqin who had exposed him. Being just as stubborn as his father, Lu Zhengfei was not about to back down.

“Dad, what exactly are you implying?” he asked.

His mother, Huang Yuping, interjected gently, “Feifei, your father has been busy with matters in Europe and hasn’t been keeping a close eye on you. You’re an adult now, but you must know your limits.”

Lu Zhengfei chuckled. “Mom, I have no idea what you’re talking about. Did Yiqin say something to you again?”

Huang Yuping said, “It doesn’t matter what she said. What matters is this—do you know someone named Chen Qianqing?”

The smile on Lu Zhengfei’s face faded. He shot a glare at Lu Yiqin and replied, “Mom, I know my limits.”

Lu Yiqin, startled by his glare, pouted. Her brother had always spoiled her, meeting almost all her demands. But that changed when Chen Qianqing appeared. She would never forget how, after she tried to bully Chen Qianqing last time, Lu Zhengfei not only scolded her harshly but also found an excuse to send her away.

Lu Chongqian interjected, “You know your limits? Then why did you run off during the New Year? You nearly missed the ancestral rites! Lu Zhengfei, are you asking for a beating?”

Lu Zhengfei stared silently at his parents, realizing there was no way to hide the truth anymore.

Sure enough, Lu Chongqian picked up his phone and made a call. Whoever he was calling, his expression grew darker and darker as the conversation continued. By the time he hung up, he was so furious he nearly threw the phone at Lu Zhengfei. “Lu Zhengfei, you’ve really outdone yourself!”

Lu Zhengfei: “…”

Huang Yuping, alarmed by her husband’s rage, asked, “What’s wrong, Old Lu?”

Lu Chongqian barked, “Look at your precious son! If word gets out that the Lu family raised a rapist who pays to cling to others, where am I supposed to put my face?”

Though he was aware of the unspoken rules in their social circles, he never expected his son to be such a disgrace. It had been nearly a year, and Lu Zhengfei still hadn’t won Chen Qianqing over. Worse, he had recently sent the young man to the hospital with broken legs! If it had been a woman, Lu Chongqian might not have been as furious, but Lu Zhengfei was infatuated with another man!

Lu Zhengfei tried to explain, “Dad, it’s mutual—”

“Mutual, my foot!” Lu Chongqian cut him off. “If it’s mutual, why are you sending him to the hospital all the time?”

Lu Zhengfei: “…”

Huang Yuping’s expression turned serious. “Lu Zhengfei, explain yourself clearly.”

Knowing he couldn’t avoid it, Lu Zhengfei began explaining. This scene was uncannily similar to the one in his previous life when he came out to his parents.

Back then, however, Lu Zhengfei’s attitude was defiant, his posture arrogant, as if he were deliberately provoking his parents’ wrath. The only thing his parents could think at the time was, We didn’t beat you to death because we loved you.

But now, after Ruan Wenhong’s advice and the experiences he’d gone through, Lu Zhengfei knew better. When faced with his parents’ interrogation, he softened his stance and showed weakness.

Even so, Lu Chongqian was still livid. Though he didn’t resort to physical violence, he pointed at Lu Zhengfei and berated him thoroughly. If Huang Yuping hadn’t intervened, he might have kicked him.

In the end, the outcome was relatively good. Huang Yuping, exasperated, said, “Go reflect on your behavior.”

Lu Zhengfei obediently stood up from the floor and muttered an “Oh.”

“Leave your phone!” Huang Yuping ordered.

Lu Zhengfei pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Mom, don’t bother him, okay? He’s really innocent.”

That earned him a slap on the head from Huang Yuping. “You’re still thinking about him? Lu Zhengfei, I can’t bear to let your father hit you, but I have no problem doing it myself!”

Lu Zhengfei gave an awkward laugh, glanced at the dumbfounded Lu Yiqin, and finally headed to his room.

Lu Yiqin could hardly believe her eyes. Was this really her brother? When he was a teenager, even after nearly stabbing someone in a fight, he hadn’t shown this much humility. Was this submissive, soft-spoken man truly Lu Zhengfei?

Huang Yuping sighed. “Old Lu, let’s investigate this properly. Don’t end up blaming Feifei wrongly.”

Lu Chongqian’s face remained cold. “What’s there to investigate? He already admitted it!”

Huang Yuping countered, “You know his temper. He’s just as stubborn as you—impossible to pull back once he’s set his mind to something.”

Lu Chongqian snorted in response.

Huang Yuping said, “It’s not a big deal for young people to fool around a bit. Besides, we don’t even know if it was really forced.” She was used to seeing these kinds of things and didn’t think much of it.

Lu Chongqian retorted, “Keep indulging him, and you’ll spoil him into real trouble one day!”

Huang Yuping countered, “So what if he’s messing around with a man? Lu Chongqian, weren’t you a notorious playboy in the circle when you were young? Don’t tell me you’ve never fooled around with a man before?”

Lu Chongqian was momentarily speechless but defensively replied, “Didn’t I settle down after I got married?”

Huang Yuping poked his forehead with her finger and said, “If you hadn’t settled down, do you think you’d still be alive today?”

Lu Chongqian let out a dry laugh and stayed silent.

Well, it seemed that genetically speaking, the Lu family men all had the potential to become henpecked husbands.

After his parents discovered his relationship with Chen Qianqing, Lu Zhengfei was forced to hand over his phone and began an indefinite period of confinement. Clearly, the planned New Year’s trip was canceled.

The trip itself wasn’t the issue. What really unsettled Lu Zhengfei was the fear that his parents might track down Chen Qianqing and say all sorts of things to him.

Unlike Ruan Wenhong, Lu Zhengfei’s parents wouldn’t hesitate to act ruthlessly, without considering Lu Zhengfei’s feelings.

Desperate, Lu Zhengfei tried various ways to get a message out. Finally, after being confined for ten days, he managed to pass instructions to Ruan Wenhong.

Ruan Wenhong didn’t know what to say about his utterly doomed cousin. He didn’t believe in love and couldn’t understand why Lu Zhengfei was going through so much trouble for it. Still, out of long-standing familial ties and sympathy for Lu Zhengfei’s current situation, he followed through and called Chen Qianqing.

At that time, Chen Qianqing was packing his luggage. Yes, he had guessed that Lu Zhengfei had been grounded, so their travel plans were canceled. He decided to take the opportunity to travel somewhere on his own instead.

Ruan Wenhong said, “Chen Qianqing, Lu Zhengfei asked me to tell you that his parents locked him up, so he can’t go on the trip with you.” Actually, Lu Zhengfei only wanted him to say the second part; the first was Ruan’s own addition.

Chen Qianqing responded, “Oh.”

Ruan Wenhong was incredulous. “That’s all you have to say??”

Chen Qianqing replied, “What else should I say?”

“Shouldn’t you at least ask why he’s been locked up?” Ruan Wenhong said.

Chen Qianqing shrugged. “What else could it be besides a failed coming-out attempt?”

Ruan Wenhong was taken aback. “Wait, you made him come out? That’s cruel!”

“No, I’m just guessing,” Chen Qianqing replied.

“Then why don’t you guess how long it’ll be before he’s let out?”

Chen Qianqing thought for a moment and said, “If he came out voluntarily, at least three years. Since it’s forced, probably next month.”

Ruan Wenhong: “…”

And as it turned out, Chen Qianqing guessed correctly.

Exactly one month later, Lu Zhengfei was released.

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Lhaozi’s Translation: Hello! This is Lhaozi, the translator. Sandra Fila in discord requested for me to pick this up and here it is! Hope you will accompany me in this journey again! Check out my other translations too! Thankyou. Only Read this in Shanghai Fantasy Website!