The doorbell rang desperately, but the two people in the room had no intention of moving. Their eyes were fixed on the screen in front of them, where they were engaged in a not-too-intense competition.
One of them cursed: "What kind of props did you use? How could you catch up so quickly? Damn it, is my remote control broken?"
Another voice was nonchalant: "What props? It's just that your cornering skills are too weak. I want to overtake you."
"Fcuk... Don't surpass me, let me win, Ethan Yang!"
Ethan Yang pretended not to hear and walked past without blinking: "You were playing a game and the sofa was shaking apart. Your phone is ringing."
"I...Fcuk..." Lucas Feng gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words. He leaned over to pick up the phone from the coffee table and said unhappily, "Hello, who is this?!" The next second, his tone took a 180-degree turn: "Oh, Uncle Yang, yes, yes, Ethan Yang is at my house...ah, it was you who knocked on the door just now, I'll open it for you right away, right away!"
Lucas Feng turned to Ethan Yang and mouthed "your dad!" Then he looked down for his slippers. Ethan Yang kicked one to him, and he put it on. He couldn't find the second one, so he had to tiptoe to open the door.
"Uncle Yang, I'm sorry. Ethan Yang and I were just discussing homework. We were arguing a little too intensely and didn't hear the doorbell. Sorry, sorry!"
Alexander Yang looked at Lucas Feng, who was grinning, and sighed: "If you two could discuss your homework someday, it would be the eighth wonder of the world. Ethan Yang, stop playing and come home with me!"
Ethan Yang didn't even blink, and started a new game: "Which house?"
Alexander Yang couldn't hold back his face and said unhappily, "Come out quickly. Your aunt and your brother are here for the first day today. Don't be so ignorant all the time."
Ethan Yang stared at the screen expressionlessly: "I don't have an aunt or a brother. That's not my home."
"You---" Alexander Yang pushed the door open angrily, grabbed Ethan Yang's arm and pulled him out, "You're so proud of yourself when I give you a little face. I came here specially to pick you up, not to negotiate with you!"
Ethan Yang impatiently shook his arm, forcefully shaking off Alexander Yang's hand, then threw the remote control aside, stood up and looked at Alexander Yang. He was half a head taller than Alexander Yang, with a strong and tall frame. Although his muscles didn't look that obvious because he had grown so quickly in the past two years, his momentum was actually higher than his father's.
Alexander Yang, holding on to his father's dignity, pulled his arm again, frowned and said, "Why, do you still want to fight me? Go home, quickly!"
Lucas Feng was so frightened that he dared not utter a word. He stood timidly by the door, making faces at Ethan Yang to give in.
Ethan Yang ignored him, shook off Alexander Yang's hand again, bent down to pick up his coat, and walked out before him: "Okay, let's go back. What does it mean to be so arrogant? I can show you myself."
Watching the sworn enemy father and son walk out the door, Lucas Feng shrank his neck and stammered, "Uncle, come again..."
Ethan Yang put on his coat as he walked, and went straight to the black car parked downstairs. He opened the back door and got in.
Alexander Yang got in the car and scolded him while fastening the seat belt: "You will be a senior in the third year of high school in half a semester. You run around the streets every day with the identity of a sports student. If you don't feel ashamed, I will..."
"It's just right to have a new son to make you proud." Ethan Yang choked him, put on his hat, tilted his head against the back of the seat and pretended to sleep.
Alexander Yang's face was not looking good. He tried his best to suppress his anger and said, "XiaoEthan Yang, your mother is gone. I feel no worse than you do, but it has been two years. You should be sensible now. You can't always live in the past. You have to learn to grow up..."
"Look like you?" Ethan Yang smiled with his eyes closed, and said sarcastically, "Don't place such high hopes on me. I can't do it."
***
Liam Tang sat at the dining table, looking around the room with some curiosity. This was no longer the room he had been to ten years ago, and it looked very unfamiliar. The room with four bedrooms and two living rooms was not very tidy, and it was obvious that it was put together temporarily to make it look presentable.
More than an hour ago, Alexander Yang took him and Grace Tang to visit each room - except Ethan Yang's room which was locked tightly and no one could enter.
His mother Grace Tang had quickly adapted to her new role in just over an hour, busying around in the kitchen, acting like the hostess of the family.
Liam Tang didn't know what kind of magic potion Alexander Yang had given his mother that could make Grace Tang suddenly change her mind and marry him willingly even though she had been scolding him openly and secretly for more than ten years.
"I'm getting married." That night at the dinner table, Grace Tang calmly announced the news to Liam Tang. Her tone sounded like she was just stating the facts, not asking for Liam Tang's opinion.
Liam Tang was stunned for a moment, then asked: "With whom?"
"Your biological father," Grace Tang said, "Alexander Yang."
Although the fact that "Alexander Yang is Liam Tang's biological father" is tacitly known between the mother and son, Grace Tang has never mentioned it explicitly in front of Liam Tang in more than ten years. This is the first time.
"Why?" Liam Tang asked again. He really didn't understand.
"No reason. His wife died two years ago. He proposed to me two months ago and I agreed." Grace Tang reached out to push the hair behind his ears. "It's adults' business. You, a child, shouldn't interfere."
"I don't agree." Liam Tang looked at his mother.
"I didn't ask you to agree," Grace Tang said, tapping the edge of the plate with his chopsticks, "Let's eat."
Grace Tang has always been very stubborn, the kind that never changes its mind. More than a decade ago, she gave birth to Liam Tang on her own initiative without consulting anyone. At that time, she returned to the village to see her mother with a big belly and supplements bought from the city, but her mother drove her out with her things. She bent down with great effort, picked up the things scattered on the ground, put them back into the bag, put them at her mother's door, and returned the same way with a big belly.
More than a decade later, she married Alexander Yang, who had betrayed her, on her own initiative. She still had no intention of discussing it with anyone, and she refused to listen to the opinions of her beloved son.
Everyone says that Liam Tang looks like Grace Tang. They look alike, have a similar personality, and even have the same stubbornness.
Because of the announcement of this news, the relationship between mother and son suddenly became a little strange, as if a barrier had been forced between them. But no one tried to poke open this barrier.
Liam Tang looked at the busy figure in the kitchen, and even thought darkly that perhaps his mother had imagined this scene countless times. After waiting for more than ten years to get married, now that her dream had really come true, she was naturally familiar with the process and could do it well.
Liam Tang doesn't like this place, doesn't like Alexander Yang, and doesn't like Grace Tang with a new identity.
He was just a little curious about Ethan Yang, wondering what his brother, who had always looked like a little model, looked like now. But what was a bit troubling was that Ethan Yang probably didn't welcome him and Grace Tang's arrival...
Grace Tang demonstrated her top cooking skills and prepared four dishes and one soup that were delicious and tasty in just over an hour.
"Come and serve the dishes!" Grace Tang turned sideways and shouted in the kitchen. When Liam Tang entered the kitchen, she asked again, "Are you not back yet? It took you so long to pick someone up, your dad---"
Liam Tang picked up the plate and left, saying, "I don't have a father."
Grace Tang was interrupted unexpectedly, but she was not angry. Instead, she smiled lightly. She stood there for a moment, then took the chopsticks and walked towards the living room: "Forget it, if you don't want to call me, then don't call me." She looked up at the wall clock, "It's almost 1 o'clock. Are you hungry? I'll give you some in a small bowl. You can eat first?"
"Not hungry." Liam Tang said so, Grace Tang still took a small bowl from the kitchen, picked up the food while talking to himself, "You just need to be polite to them, especially your brother. I heard from Alexander Yang that he has poor grades and is always fighting. He was taken to the police station because of fighting before and was almost detained... He won't be happy if we move in like this. I plan to discuss with Alexander Yang to see if he can live in the school. This way we will be more comfortable and he will be more comfortable too..."
"I told you I'm not hungry." Liam Tang interrupted her in a low voice, paused and said, "This is his home, and I'll go live on campus if anyone wants to."
"You still thought it was when you were little," Grace Tang sighed, "Don't be so careless. No one can tell what he thinks of us."
"Then you shouldn't have sent me here back then, and you shouldn't marry me here now." Liam Tang said with a cold face.
"I didn't do that for your own good---" Grace Tang raised his voice reflexively, then automatically turned off the fire, "Okay, okay, I won't argue with you. Just remember, these things now should have been yours, they just came a little late. You eat these first, I'll go clean up the kitchen." After saying that, he put the small bowl in front of Liam Tang and turned into the kitchen.
Maybe it was because he was too hungry or because he was in a bad mood, but Liam Tang had no appetite at all despite the rather sumptuous dishes on the table.
He didn't understand why Grace Tang had to marry here. It was obvious that they and their son had lived a good life before, but she had to move here to please others... You didn't have to guess what Ethan Yang would think of them, the mistress, and the mistress's son. Who could he blame? She deserved it.
Liam Tang picked up the chopsticks, planning to finish eating early so that he could leave early - just imagine how awkward the subsequent dining situation would be.
***
The door was kicked open, not with much force, but with a lot of emotion in it.
Hearing the voice, Liam Tang looked up and saw that man - or to be more precise, that young man - leaning against the door frame, looking at him meaningfully. He looked back without showing any timidity.
The man was tall and thin, about 1.8 meters tall. He didn't look very strong. It was a cold winter day, but he was only wearing a thin black cotton coat that covered his thriving bones. The coldness from his body seemed to be able to penetrate through him from a distance of several meters.
His eye sockets were slightly deep, and the look he gave me seemed to be filled with sharp ice. After he had looked me over sufficiently, he spoke, saying without any tone, "Long time no see."
Liam Tang just looked at him expressionlessly and didn't respond.
The man raised the corners of his mouth and smiled - it was not a friendly smile, then he stood up from the door frame, walked straight to his room, unlocked it, went in, and then closed the door again.
Alexander Yang walked in next, took off his coat and hung it on the coat hook on the side, and called Liam Tang, "Liam Tang, are you hungry? Come, let's eat. Hey? Where's Ethan Yang? Didn't he come up first?"
Before Liam Tang could speak, there were several "bang bang" noises coming from the room over there. Alexander Yang frowned and walked towards Ethan Yang's room. He first turned the doorknob twice to try to open the door, but it didn't work. Then he knocked on the door twice and said, "Ethan Yang, come out to eat."
There was no response from inside, but there was a continuous "bang bang" sound, as if someone was demolishing a house.
Grace Tang heard the noise outside, quickly rinsed the spatula in his hand, wiped his hands and walked out, saying to Alexander Yang: "Are you back? Where's XiaoEthan Yang?"
Alexander Yang didn't answer, but started to scold Ethan Yang through the door, but he kept saying the same thing: "Aunt and brother are here, you should be sensible, put everything else aside, and come out to eat first."
Grace Tang, the new hostess, showed some restraint at this time. She stood there hesitantly for a moment before she stepped forward and said, "XiaoEthan Yang, Auntie has made something delicious for you. Come out and have a taste."
Liam Tang glanced over there, picked up the chopsticks as if it had nothing to do with him, and started eating the food in the small bowl.
The tightly closed door was suddenly opened, startling Grace Tang who was hesitating to go forward and knock on the door. He subconsciously took a step back and looked up at the boy in front of him who was more than a head taller than him and had a stern look on his face.
Ethan Yang's eyes quickly swept over the two of them, then fell on Alexander Yang's face and said, "The place has been vacated for you, you can settle down wherever you want." After that, he dragged his suitcase towards the gate.
Alexander Yang followed him and tried to pull him back, but he missed and had to run downstairs after him.
Grace Tang walked to the table and sat down. Perhaps she was a little scared, so she breathed a sigh of relief and said, "See, it's like he has a grudge against me, but I don't owe him anything. In this world, the one who steals something has to give the other person a cold shoulder."
This was said to Liam Tang, but Liam Tang just let it go in one ear and out the other. He still couldn't completely connect Ethan Yang with the rebellious boy just now. Ethan Yang was clearly the naughty kid with his hair standing up, who looked like a little model, who always called him "brother", who liked to tease him and protect him.
Seeing that he was absent-minded, Grace Tang reminded him again: "I told you to stay away from him, did you hear me?"
Liam Tang lowered his head while eating and said perfunctorily, "I know."
A few minutes later, Alexander Yang came up by himself, looking a little annoyed. He frowned and sat down at the table and said, "Forget about him, let's eat," and put a piece of food into Liam Tang's bowl with chopsticks, "Come on, Liam Tang, eat more."
Liam Tang put down his chopsticks and said politely, "Thank you, Uncle Yang. I'm full. I'll go clean up the room first."
Before Alexander Yang could retract his hand, it froze awkwardly in mid-air.
Grace Tang reached out and pulled Liam Tang's arm, saying, "You're full after just a few bites. Eat more."
Liam Tang had already stood up and said, "I'm really full." Then he turned around and went back to his room and locked the door from the inside.
"He is like this, ignorant and spoiled by me since he was young." Grace Tang smiled at Alexander Yang without any blame on his face.
"Don't blame the child, blame me," Alexander Yang put some food into Grace Tang's bowl, "It's retribution, I deserve it."
Grace Tang took a bite of his chopsticks and said nothing.
As soon as he entered the room, Liam Tang fell on the bed with his head tilted back, and reached out to grab the pillow beside him to cover his face.
I want to leave here, now, right now.
I was irritable and easily irritated. I didn't want to listen to Alexander Yang or Grace Tang.
He got up and opened the window. The howling north wind outside blew in suddenly, instantly blowing away the warmth in the room. Only then did he feel the breath that was blocked in his chest smooth out.
Liam Tang just lay there, letting the eight-degree-below north wind blow him through with a chill.
In fact, he didn't miss his previous home at all. The dark corridor, the leaky aluminum windows on all sides, the cold neighbors, and the sound insulation that could hear the moans from three floors away were all extremely annoying, but that didn't stop him from hating this place just as much.
***
Lucas Feng was practicing his cornering skills on his video game console at home when there was a knock on the door. He knew it was Ethan Yang. Only Ethan Yang didn't like to ring the doorbell. He put down the remote control and went to open the door, surprised: "You're back so soon?"
"I'm just going to get my luggage. I guess I'll have to stay at your house for a few more days," Ethan Yang pulled down his hat and brushed his hair. "Will you take me in? If not, I'll go out and get a room."
"Put it away, take it away!" Lucas Feng said repeatedly, "My father and mother don't love me, and I'm alone in an empty house with no one to accompany me." He took over Ethan Yang's suitcase and found that he was holding lunch in his hand. He shouted happily, "Oh my God, crab roe wontons! Brother Ethan Yang, you are my real brother!"
"Go away, don't mention the word 'brother' to me," Ethan Yang sat down on the sofa, picked up the remote control and fiddled with it, saying, "You are deliberately trying to make trouble for me."
"Don't talk about it, why did you bring back only one portion? You're not going to eat it?"
"I've eaten in the store."
"Oh," Lucas Feng sat down, opened the takeaway box, and asked, "Your dad took you with so much effort, but he let you go so easily?"
A new game started on the screen, and Ethan Yang manipulated the controller and said "hmm".
"Hey, this curve, I just practiced for a long time but couldn't get it right," Lucas Feng approached with his lunch box, "How did you get through it so smoothly?"
"Slow down a bit," Ethan Yang said as the car on the screen passed the curve smoothly. "You have to control the angle of the handle well..."
"I've been doing this myself!" Lucas Feng was puzzled. "Hey, let's switch positions and try again."
"Yeah." Ethan Yang quickly finished a game, put the remote control aside, took a cigarette out of the cigarette box on the coffee table, lit it with a lighter, and took a puff.
"Did you see your brother just now? How was he? Didn't you two have a lot of fun together when you were kids?" Lucas Feng asked while holding the lunch box and taking a sip of soup.
"What else can I do?" Ethan Yang leaned back on the sofa, exhaled a puff of cigarette and said, "Just like when we were kids, rush up to him, hug him and call him brother?"
"Your father is really amazing. He married someone young even at his age. Lucas Feng is a real playboy who is always unrestrained in his words. "Your father is the third in command of the city government anyway."
Ethan Yang didn't mind his words, he just said: "My dad is a Sc*mbag, he married this woman, and I don't know how many other women he has out there. I guess he just enjoys the feeling of having a red flag flying at home and colorful flags flying outside."
Lucas Feng laughed a few times when he heard him say that, and said, "Hey, that woman," he was referring to Grace Tang, "is also your mother, San'er?"
"Her son is ten months younger than me, which means that when I was born, she was pregnant. When my mother was pregnant, she hooked up with my father. Anyway, this matter is---" Ethan Yang stood up and pulled the ashtray on the table, knocked the ash and said, "It's pretty Fcuked up."
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