Shocking! The Broke Campus Heartthrob Is My Child’s Father - Chapter 29

Jiang Yan had already decided to tell Jiang Ruoqiao about his family situation.

However, not right now, as there were others in the car besides the two of them.

As for Lin Kexing’s words, Jiang Yan tacitly agreed. Jiang Ruoqiao’s reaction was lukewarm, not within Lin Kexing’s expectations. She thought Jiang Ruoqiao would at least ask something, perhaps show some concern about Auntie’s matter, but Jiang Ruoqiao didn’t. She just nodded indifferently without asking anything. This left Lin Kexing bewildered, feeling like something was off.

The car fell silent again.

Only the sound of Lu Siyan unwrapping and eating something could be heard.

Jiang Ruoqiao looked at him, sighed inwardly, then took out a tissue from her small bag and wiped the sweat from his forehead and palms.

“Jiang Yan, lower the temperature a bit,” Jiang Ruoqiao said. “It’s a bit hot in the back seat, and kids are sensitive to heat.”

Lu Siyan was very sensitive to heat.

Jiang Yan quickly complied and adjusted the temperature when they stopped at a red light.

One of the air vents was directed at Lin Kexing. She subconsciously rubbed her arms, and Jiang Yan noticed. “Are you cold?”

Although Lin Kexing felt cold, she shook her head. “No, no.”

Jiang Ruoqiao also knew that if the back seat was cool, the front would definitely feel cold. She said, “Jiang Yan, find a place to pull over. I have a thin blanket in my suitcase that she can use.” She paused, then added to Lin Kexing, “Sorry, it’s a bit hot in the back.”

Lin Kexing hurriedly said, “I’m not cold!”

Jiang Ruoqiao glanced at her. “You may feel cold later. It’s better to have the blanket ready.”

Lin Kexing responded in a low voice.

Jiang Yan found a temporary parking spot and stopped the car.

Jiang Ruoqiao got out and went to the trunk.

There were two suitcases in the trunk, one was hers and the other presumably Lin Kexing’s.

Lin Kexing’s suitcase still had the island baggage tag attached.

Jiang Ruoqiao inadvertently glanced at it—it was indeed from the island.

Lin Kexing also got out and saw Jiang Ruoqiao looking at her suitcase. She panicked, quickly removing the tag. “I forgot to take it off. No need for the blanket, I brought clothes.”

“Okay,” Jiang Ruoqiao said, still taking a blanket from her suitcase.

Lin Kexing wasn’t sure if Jiang Ruoqiao had noticed the information on the tag and got back into the car with a troubled heart.

Once in the car, Lin Kexing remained silent, her brows furrowed with worry. Sitting in the passenger seat, Jiang Yan easily noticed her. “Are you carsick?”

Lin Kexing had a slight tendency to get carsick, but today she wasn’t feeling dizzy—just preoccupied with the baggage tag. She nodded. “Maybe a little.”

Jiang Yan chuckled. “Good thing I was prepared.” He pulled out a small bottle of motion sickness medicine from his pocket and handed it to her. “It’s the brand you use. My mom reminded me.”

Lin Kexing took it.

The medicine had been in his pocket and still carried his body warmth.

She gripped the bottle tightly, and her mood gradually calmed down. Actually, It wasn’t a big deal. She wasn’t the only one who had gone to the island with Jiang Yan; there were others too. If Jiang Ruoqiao misunderstood, she could explain.

Jiang Ruoqiao was also very calm.

She watched their tacit interaction like an outsider.

He knew she got carsick and carried her preferred medicine..

It was better this way.

At least she had a solid reason to break up. This trip to the countryside would be the perfect opportunity. Once they returned, she and Jiang Yan would be finished. As for whether Jiang Yan and Lin Kexing would end up together as in the original story, that was none of her concern. As long as they didn’t interfere with her, she would respect and bless them.

Lost in thought, a small hand tugged at her, pulling her back to reality.

Jiang Ruoqiao looked at Lu Siyan, who had leaned closer.

Lu Siyan reached out and touched her forehead. “Are you carsick too?”

The next moment, Jiang Yan asked anxiously, “Ruoqiao, are you carsick too?”

Jiang Ruoqiao was too lazy to pay attention to Jiang Yan. She smiled at Lu Siyan and said softly, “No, I was just thinking.”

Jiang Yan sighed in relief. “Really? No discomfort? Am I driving too fast? Should I slow down?”

Jiang Ruoqiao: “…”

Lu Siyan thought for a moment, then rummaged through his bag and pulled out an orange. “You like oranges.”

He used an affirmative tone.

Jiang Ruoqiao smiled, pinching his cheek. “You really know everything.”

Few people knew she liked oranges.

After all, she never touched the oranges in fruit platters when dining out.

Lu Siyan was proud. “I know everything about you!”

He handed the orange to Lu Yicheng, who was pretending to be busy, dead, or asleep. “Lu Yicheng, you peel it.”

Lu Yicheng, suddenly handed an orange, was stunned. “It’s an orange.”

And there was no fruit knife nearby.

Lu Siyan looked exasperated. “You can peel an orange too. And peeled oranges taste better than sliced ones!”

Mom loved oranges but didn’t like sliced ones—she preferred them peeled.

A very strange preference.

But he knew, and so did Dad. Dad used to peel oranges for Mom.

Lu Yicheng: “…”

Is that so?

Though reluctant, under Lu Siyan’s urging, he started peeling the orange.

Orange peels are tougher than tangerines, making the task not so easy.

It was then that Jiang Ruoqiao noticed Lu Yicheng’s hands. They were bony, slender, and clean, looking very thin but strong.

As Lu Yicheng peeled the orange, Jiang Yan interjected at this moment, “I’ll bring you a couple of boxes of oranges to your dorm the day after tomorrow.”

After months of dating, he still didn’t know Jiang Ruoqiao liked oranges.

Jiang Ruoqiao’s smile faded. “No need.”

Lu Siyan added, “She doesn’t like peeling them herself anyway.”

Jiang Yan laughed. “Alright, I’ll peel them for you from now on. As many as you want.”

Lu Siyan: “…” Hmph.

Lu Yicheng remained unaffected, focused on his task, seemingly undisturbed by the surroundings.

Soon, he finished peeling the orange.

The fresh scent of the orange quickly filled the car. It was refreshing and soothing, dispelling the earlier tension.

Lu Yicheng’s hands were stained with orange peel juice. Jiang Ruoqiao took out a wet tissue from her backpack and handed it to him, “Wipe your hands. If it’s not enough, I have watermelon-scented hand sanitizer in my bag.”

“Thank you,” Lu Yicheng said, taking it.

The peeled orange was handed to Jiang Ruoqiao. She really did like oranges, sharing the entire fruit with Lu Siyan. Lu Siyan boasted, “Isn’t it delicious? Lu Yicheng is the best at peeling oranges. No one is more professional or skilled than him.”

After all, Dad peeled oranges for Mom almost every day.

His skills were Mom-certified.

Lu Yicheng, after wiping his hands, pinched Lu Siyan’s cheek. “Enough talking. Wasn’t it enough for you to eat?”

Jiang Yan joked, “Not bad, Boss Lu, teach me next time so I can show off in front of Ruoqiao.”

Lu Yicheng, still wiping his hands, nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

By the time they reached their destination, it was noon.

This was a place run by a colleague of Jiang Yan’s part-time job. It wasn’t large and had just opened. It was the off-season, and Jiang Yan wanted to support his colleague’s business while also taking his girlfriend and friends out for a relaxing break.

They arrived a bit late. Jiang Ruoqiao’s three roommates and Jiang Yan’s two roommates had already gone to the vegetable garden at the back.

The owner, the colleague’s uncle, was a kind middle-aged man. “They went to pick tomatoes. They’ll be back soon. The kitchen is preparing lunch. You can rest, and we’ll eat shortly.”

“Mm, thank you.”

The courtyard was well-maintained and had three floors in total.

Jiang Yan had booked four rooms in advance.

Two people per room, which was just enough. Now, with Lu Siyan and Lin Kexing, they needed to adjust.

Lu Siyan was fine; he could stay with Lu Yicheng, taking up little space.

The main issue was Lin Kexing…

“There’s an extra guest room,” the owner said. “Right next to 203.”

Jiang Yan thought for a moment. “That works.” He turned to Lin Kexing. “I’ll stay in Room 203 with Boss Lu, right next to you. Don’t worry, just call if you need anything. We’re right next door.”

Lin Kexing sighed in relief.

She had thought she might be roomed with Jiang Ruoqiao.

This was better.

Jiang Yan then approached Jiang Ruoqiao, dutifully picking up a fan to cool her. “You’ll share a room with Yun Jia on the third floor. It’s the best room here.”

Jiang Ruoqiao responded with a noble and cold “mm.”

Lu Yicheng and Jiang Yan didn’t have much luggage, just a backpack each.

Lin Kexing and Jiang Ruoqiao each had a suitcase.

Lu Yicheng was lamenting, it was actually just two days and one night, how could they bring so many things?

Regarding this point, Jiang Ruoqiao had her reasons: toiletries, a hairdryer, pajamas, skincare products, makeup, a change of clothes and shoes, a tablet, an umbrella, and other small items. Before she knew it, her suitcase was full…

Jiang Yan looked at the two suitcases and decided, “I’ll help you with the luggage first.”

With his strength, he could carry both suitcases at once.

Jiang Ruoqiao and Lin Kexing’s suitcases weren’t fully packed and weren’t too heavy.

Unfortunately, the stairway was narrow.

He could only carry one suitcase at a time.

Jiang Yan naturally wanted to help his girlfriend first, so he looked at Lu Yicheng. Before he could speak, the quick-witted Lu Siyan suddenly clutched his stomach. “My stomach hurts! I need to poop!”

Lu Yicheng: “…”

Jiang Yan couldn’t say anything. He told Lin Kexing, “Go to your room first. I’ll bring your luggage later.”

Lin Kexing: “Okay.”

Lu Yicheng had no choice but to take Lu Siyan to the first-floor restroom as directed by the owner.

Once in the restroom, Lu Siyan didn’t mention needing to poop. Lu Yicheng understood. He disapprovingly said, “Who taught you this?”

It was just helping a girl with her suitcase.

Lu Yicheng had a good reputation among his peers. He was helpful and never refused assistance if he could provide it.

He wouldn’t give his WeChat to a stranger at a supermarket, but if someone needed help, like carrying something, he wouldn’t refuse.

This wasn’t right.

Regardless of Lin Kexing’s relationship with Jiang Yan, it was just a suitcase. He had no reason to refuse.

Lu Siyan exclaimed, “Mom will be unhappy!”

Lu Yicheng: “…She won’t.”

He was the one helping, not Jiang Yan.

“She will!” Lu Siyan insisted. “She doesn’t like that person!”

“And you know that?”

Lu Siyan nodded. “Of course! I know who she likes and dislikes. Nothing escapes my big eyes!”

Lu Yicheng: “…Siyan, this isn’t right. It’s a small matter. Our behavior isn’t appropriate.”

In a way, it was even a form of exclusion.

It shouldn’t be like this.

Their personal issues had nothing to do with him. Before, when he saw girls struggling with luggage on the bus, he would help. Why should he ignore it now?

“If people don’t like you and ignore you when you need help, would that be right? Wouldn’t you feel bad?” Lu Yicheng asked.

Lu Siyan hesitated. “But Mom doesn’t like her…”

“Then why don’t you ask your mom?” Lu Yicheng suggested. “Hear her thoughts. You don’t know her opinion; how can you assume she’d be angry?”

He could tell Jiang Ruoqiao didn’t particularly like Lin Kexing, but she didn’t harbor ill will either.

He believed Jiang Ruoqiao, like him, wanted Siyan to grow into an honest, upright, and happy child, not influenced by adult conflicts.

Lu Yicheng understood Siyan’s thoughts and actions.

In a child’s heart, their mother is the most important. So, he disliked those who deceived or hurt her, standing united with her against those she didn’t like.

“I’m not asking you to like or be close to her,” Lu Yicheng said earnestly. “Whether to do something or not depends on you, not us. Today, it’s just helping with a suitcase. What if, for example, what if one day you encounter her being bullied by bad people, encounter her facing something really bad, you obviously can help, are you also going to turn a blind eye because your mom doesn’t like her?”

Lu Siyan murmured, “…That wouldn’t be right either.”

Lu Yicheng was relieved.

The child was still young.

Adults could teach him gradually.

“Siyan,” Lu Yicheng squatted down, looking him in the eye. “I also want to praise you today. I think you’re a great son, caring deeply about your mom’s feelings. Many kids your age can’t do that.”

Lu Siyan was a bit shy. “…It’s nothing special!”

“My views might not always be right,” Lu Yicheng said. “How about we set this aside and discuss it again when you’re older?”

Lu Siyan’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Of course,” Lu Yicheng smiled. “I’m twenty, and you’re only five. In arguments, you’re at a disadvantage. Let’s note our thoughts and revisit this when you’re older and have learned more, okay?”

“Mm!” Lu Siyan wasn’t entirely convinced.

He was a stubborn and proud child.

He vaguely felt his dad was right, but he also believed he wasn’t wrong.

What to do!

“Should I ask Mom?” Lu Siyan asked hesitantly.

“Of course,” Lu Yicheng said. “Or we can make a bet.”

Lu Siyan was excited. “A bet? On what?!”

Lu Yicheng pondered. “On whether your mom will be angry if I help with the luggage. I bet she won’t.”

“What’s the wager?” Lu Siyan’s eyes sparkled; it was his first time playing such a game.

“The Monkey King Sun Wukong Lego set. If you win, I’ll buy it for you,” Lu Yicheng said. “If you lose…”

He paused, his voice clear. “If you lose, you have to eat carrots for a whole week.”

The child was too picky, refusing to eat any vegetables!

Lu Siyan frowned, as if this were a terrible fate!

But the Monkey King Lego set!

He wanted it so badly!!

After thinking for a few seconds, weighing his options, he extended his chubby fist. “Deal!”

Lu Yicheng gently bumped his fist against his son’s.

The bet was on.