Shocking! The Broke Campus Heartthrob Is My Child’s Father - Chapter 23
Lu Yicheng’s shock and surprise was clearly visible to Jiang Ruoqiao.
She thought to herself, this Lu Yicheng really is quite simple-minded..
With the complicated, tangled relationship they had, who could still talk properly with Jiang Yan?
Lu Yicheng didn’t speak, and Jiang Ruoqiao let out a soft sigh, “There are three reasons why I really can’t continue with him. First, his in-game ‘little sister’—I mind that a lot. I have very high standards for emotional purity. No matter what excuses he has, I’ll always remember it. Sometimes, I even wonder if he’s been contacting me less frequently because he’s with that little sister of his on some island. I know such thoughts are unreasonable, but I can’t help it.”
She guessed that Lu Yicheng definitely knew that Jiang Yan and Lin Kexing were both on that island.
As expected, after hearing this, Lu Yicheng only gave her a glance before lowering his head, saying nothing.
When it came to the art of deflecting blame, Jiang Ruoqiao wasn’t necessarily perfect at it, but she was at least quite skilled.
“I hope that what I can do, he can also do. Is that too much to ask?” Jiang Ruoqiao said with a self-deprecating smile. “I ask myself, I haven’t had any unusual contact with any men.”
Including Lu Yicheng.
“Then why can’t he do the same? What ‘little sister’,” Jiang Ruoqiao said. “I can’t bring myself to say harsh words, but anyway, I mind it.”
Lu Yicheng remained silent.
“Secondly, I don’t have time for a relationship anymore. Between my child and my boyfriend—I’ll definitely choose Siyan,” Jiang Ruoqiao said. “Although you’ve taken on everything, I can’t avoid my responsibilities either. Siyan will have many needs in the future, so I’ll be very busy. I simply won’t have the time or energy to deal with a relationship. Rather than fight till we can’t stand each other later, it’s better to part ways now.”
Of course, this was just what she was saying now.
Jiang Ruoqiao had already thought it over. If she met someone suitable and someone she liked in the future, she could appeal to reason and emotions with Lu Yicheng, telling him that it was just something she couldn’t control… After all, they were both at an impulsive young age, and he should understand, right?
Lu Yicheng still didn’t speak.
He wasn’t really in a position to express any opinions on this topic. He had nothing to say.
“Third.”
Jiang Ruoqiao paused.
Lu Yicheng took a few steps before realizing she had stopped. He halted and turned around.
They were walking on a small path, with various small shops opened on both sides, bustling with activity.
With a distance of more than a meter between them, Jiang Ruoqiao slightly raised her head to look at Lu Yicheng, her eyes sincere. “Third, it’s because of you.”
Lu Yicheng’s eyes seemed calm, but the hand at his side clenched into a fist. He continued to look at her without saying anything.
“It’s tough, isn’t it.” Jiang Ruoqiao said, “I heard from Jiang Yan before that the relationships in your dorm are all very good.”
“You probably don’t know how to handle your friendship with Jiang Yan either,” Jiang Ruoqiao smiled, revealing shallow dimples. “If I continue with Jiang Yan, it won’t be good for any of the three of us. So, let’s leave it at this. Lu Yicheng, whether you believe it or not, I’m very grateful to you in my heart.”
Lu Yicheng knew she was referring to the household registration matter.
Once the registration was completed, he would legally and biologically be Siyan’s father.
He would be Siyan’s guardian, while she, to the outside world, could have no connection to Siyan at all. She could still be a carefree student.
Was it because of this?
Lu Yicheng finally spoke. His voice sounded a bit muffled amidst the noisy environment around them. “No need. This is what I should have done. You don’t need to thank me. The child isn’t just yours.”
Perhaps some people would shy away from or selectively take on responsibility in such matters, trying not to disturb their original lives. But Lu Yicheng wasn’t like them.
He had been used to taking on everything since he was very young—even before he fully comprehended what responsibility meant.
These experiences were etched into his bones, compelling him to shoulder everything alone no matter what came his way.
If not for his financial situation, and if not for the child always crying for his mother, if he had the ability to raise the child on his own, he wouldn’t have dragged another person into this predicament.
Jiang Ruoqiao shrugged and smiled. “Lu Yicheng, you don’t have to feel burdened. Breaking up with Jiang Yan… It was bound to happen anyway, wasn’t it? I’m just telling you this to let you know I’m not the type to take advantage of someone else’s kindness without qualms.”
Well, actually, she was.
She was the type who would dye the whole workshop if you gave her an inch.
“As for Siyan, I’ll also try my best to shoulder my responsibilities,” Jiang Ruoqiao joked. “At least I should set a goal. Next time, I’ll try to get an eighty, okay?”
A smile appeared on Lu Yicheng’s face as well. “I was just using an analogy. Don’t take it to heart.”
“I actually think what you said is correct. The grade you suggested is quite reasonable,” Jiang Ruoqiao smiled gently. “Alright, Lu Yicheng, I really hope we can raise Siyan together without any barriers. We’re both students now, and raising a child is difficult, but with two people, there should be many solutions. Let’s be understanding of each other from now on, okay?”
Lu Yicheng paused for a moment before nodding solemnly.
Many times in his life, he had been alone.
Even when his grandmother passed away, he handled the funeral all on his own.
But now, it felt a bit wondrous, as if there was someone who could share the burden with him.
Jiang Ruoqiao reached the subway station.
Jiang Ruoqiao had gotten much closer to Lu Siyuan now. She grabbed him and ruffled his little curly hair. “Alright, this is where I send you off, little guy. Listen to your dad.”
Siyan stood up straight and saluted. “Yes, Madam!”
Jiang Ruoqiao: “…”
This brat.
She waved goodbye to the father and son and took the escalator into the subway station. It wasn’t until her figure completely disappeared from view that Lu Yicheng finally took Siyan’s hand and walked back. Siyan ranked first when it came to sensing his parents’ emotions. He felt his dad’s mood seemed to have improved a bit.
“Dad, did Mom comfort you?” Siyan asked.
Lu Yicheng immediately suppressed the smile on his face. “No.”
“Really? I don’t believe you,” Siyan shook his head, very seriously. “Every time you’re unhappy, Mom just needs to coax you a little and you’ll be fine, but when Mom’s unhappy, you have no way to handle it at all, so Mom is still more amazing.”
Lu Yicheng: “…”
Now, when Siyan talked about the future, he no longer felt as conflicted as before.
More accurately, he regarded that future “him” as a different person.
In fact, he felt relieved in his heart. At least in the future, that “him” would be a good father and husband in the child’s eyes.
Siyan, looking particularly troubled, added, “But if Mom’s unhappy, I have no solution either. Dad, does that mean we are both not as smart as Mom?”
Lu Yicheng hummed in agreement. “Perhaps. She was always a very intelligent person.”
Although they were from different departments, because she had this relationship with Jiang Yan, when they were in the dorms he had heard a fair amount about her.
She was indeed a very smart and hardworking girl.
When she suddenly brought up breaking up with Jiang Yan today, it was undeniable that, in that moment, that instant, he felt something unusual inside—a feeling almost akin to relief.
He really didn’t know how to interact with her.
She was both Siyan’s mother and Jiang Yan’s girlfriend. On one hand, as Jiang Yan’s friend, he knew he shouldn’t be in such frequent contact with his girlfriend, but on the other hand, he couldn’t avoid it. Siyan needed a mother, and he needed someone to share this responsibility with.
It was a contradiction, but he didn’t know how to resolve it.
Until Jiang Ruoqiao mentioned the breakup.
Lu Yicheng suddenly realized that no matter what, his friendship with Jiang Yan had come to an end.
Whether or not Jiang Ruoqiao broke up with Jiang Yan, he and Jiang Yan would no longer be friends.
Because no man could be so magnanimous. Jiang Yan couldn’t accept his girlfriend having a child with someone else, and similarly, he couldn’t accept that the girlfriend his friend always talked about was the mother of his own child.
He couldn’t even imagine how it would be in future dorm reunions, with Jiang Ruoqiao showing up as Jiang Yan’s girlfriend. He wouldn’t be able to remain as calm and unaffected as before.
Lu Yicheng knew that deep inside, there was also a rather unpleasant voice.
And that voice, in this moment, was pleased.
When Jiang Ruoqiao said she would break up with Jiang Yan, he couldn’t suppress the feeling of being unburdened.