EROVA Chapter 155 - Extra 2-2

Chapter 155 - Extra 2 Part 2 Second Day of Chinese New Year

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Qi Jing’s older sister, Qi Xi, had married three years ago and relocated to another city due to her husband’s job. However, as the two cities were only a half an hour drive away from each other, she could visit home frequently.

Qi Jing's brother-in-law was an average salesman in all respects, but his family also owned a modest building materials shop, primarily engaged in the wholesale business. Thus, even though they weren't wealthy, they were financially stable. Since Qi Xi didn't have much of a financial burden in her daily life, she had a daughter not long after marriage. And now, they were planning a second child, hoping for a boy this time.

When Qi Xi got married, Qi Jing did not return to attend her wedding.

Naturally, the excuse they gave others was that "the eldest son’s work was too demanding, so he couldn't back". Though flimsy, it was an explanation that sufficed.

But within the family, everyone kept a tight lip on the real reason. They also never shared Qi Jing's sexuality, as well as, the reason why he hadn’t been home for so many years with his brother-in-law, fearing that he might not be able to accept his wife having a gay younger brother, leading to the collapse of his sister's marriage.

Qi Xi knew her brother was coming home today, so she specifically made a phone call before heading upstairs.

As their mother hurried to answer the phone, Qi Jing was setting the table with the dishes. He was going to take a few photos to send to Shen Yan, but his sister’s call made his fingers freeze on his phone screen. Suddenly, a wave of unease washed over him. Silently, he put his phone away, as well as whatever thoughts he had, as he stood rooted to the ground beside the table listening to his mother’s conversation.

"Ah, you’re already downstairs?"

…

"Mhm, he’s here, he’s at home."

…

"Mhm, don't worry, come on up."

Despite what she said, there was still a hint of unease in his mother's gaze as she looked at him while speaking.

He just gave her a small smile and after she hung up the phone, he gently repeated her words, as if making a promise, "It's fine. Don't worry—it'll be alright."

This calm response only made his mother wince as if pricked by a needle and she lowered her head guiltily.

Qi Jing didn't say anything more. He finished setting the table with bowls and chopsticks, then walked to his brother's door, which had remained closed all this time. He took a deep breath, then very calmly raised his hand to knock.

"Xiao Zhe, open the door. It’s time to eat."

His father, who had been sitting silently on the sofa, now looked over, his gaze extremely serious. It wasn't clear if he was looking at the door or at Qi Jing.

However, not only did the door remain shut, there wasn't even a response from inside.

Undeterred, Qi Sheng continued to knock loudly and insistently, his voice firm, "Come on, open the door—our sister and brother-in-law are almost at the door. If you're the only one in the family who doesn't come out to greet them or eat, it will seem strange. Think about Mum and Dad too. What will they say if he asks?"

At that moment, the door suddenly swung open with a "whoosh".

Qi Zhe appeared at the door with a dark expression, glaring viciously at the man before him.

Perhaps because it had been so long since they had seen each other, the brothers froze for a moment, their eyes made contact. Qi Jing’s first thought was that his younger brother had grown taller. His demeanour was also very different from the young lad he remembered. He instinctively took a few seconds to take in his brother's appearance, comparing it to the one in his memory. Qi Zhe felt uncomfortable under his gaze. He gritted his teeth then brusquely pushed past him and stormed into his face alternating between pale and flushed, indicative of his shifting emotions.

"Xiao Zhe," their mother felt even worse seeing this and couldn't help but stammer, "Don't treat your brother like this…"

"I don’t have a brother like that," Qi Zhe cut off her words coldly.

The air seemed to freeze in that moment and the festive warmth typical of family gatherings during the holidays was completely gone. Despite being the one who should have felt the most awkward amongst the four people present, Qi Jing was the first to break the silence. As if he hadn't heard anything, he spoke in a soft voice, "Sis will probably be here any moment; I'll get the door when they arrive."

Sure enough, just as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang with a "ding-dong".

Qi Zhe stared intently at the door, as though he wanted to be the first to rush over and open it. But he hesitated for a moment, and in that brief instant, Qi Jing had already leisurely made his way to the door and opened it.

The person standing at the front of the doorway was visibly startled when she saw him. It took a while before she finally addressed him. "Xiao Jing…"

Qi Jing gave a slight nod and responded in an even tone, "It's been a while, Sis."

Tears instantly welled up in Qi Xi's eyes and she pressed her lips together. Fortunately, the makeup on her face helped conceal her emotions somewhat. She lowered her head and lifted the little girl in the white padded coat in her arms a little higher, gently instructing her, "Nannan^[1], look, this is your eldest uncle—come, say hello to Uncle Jing^[2]." 

The little girl, half-awake in her mother's arms, shyly turned half her face towards Qi Jing at her mother's words. She blinked her large, bright almond eyes at Qi JIng as she stared at him. Probably because she was shy in nature, she kept putting her fingers in her mouth, nibbling on them but was ultimately unable to greet Qi Jing despite trying for a while.

"Sorry, she’s a bit shy around strangers…" Qi Xi said, then suddenly realised that she shouldn’t have the word "stranger" to describe him and felt a little flustered.

"It's alright," Qi Jing could more or less guess her thoughts and brushed it off with a faint smile, "It is our first time meeting after all."

After saying that, he instinctively raised his hand, wanting to mimic the way all doting uncles would affectionately pat their niece's or nephew's head. But his hand paused in mid-air, before withdrawing it with a wry smile—he didn't know if he still had the right to do that.

Qi Xi’s heart ached seeing her brother’s reaction. She wanted to say something, but her husband chose that exact moment to appear in the hallway, lugging bags of gifts and panting heavily, and she could only leave it at that.

Qi Jing surmised this must be his brother-in-law, so he put on the bright smile he usually wore during interviews, dutifully playing his part in the happy family: "Happy New Year, brother-in-law—^[3]" 

Hearing someone address him, the Qi family's son-in-law  looked up, only to be met with the sight of a stranger. He was confused momentarily before he quickly caught on.

"Oh my, you must be my second brother-in-law, Brother Jing^[4]!" he greeted cheerfully as he came up to Qi Jing and stuffed a box of pricey imported wine into Qi Jing's hands, slipping into the salesman's charm. "I've heard so much about you from my in-laws and Xiao Xi. They say you're a top graduate from a prestigious university, and that you’re already working in a provincial government agency at such a young age. They also tell me that you would even appear on TV from time to time and are always on the go, A real busy bee! Finally, we meet!" 

Haha, I’m just a reporter at the provincial TV station. It's tough work, and I’m far from being part of the high-earning crowd. You're making me shy with your kind words, brother-in-law," Qi Jing responded politely with the usual pleasantries. "Besides, I would often hear my sister talk about your extensive connections in business. No wonder your building materials business has been growing these past few years. I should really learn a thing or two from you in this aspect."

With just a few words, Qi Jing had already won over his brother-in-law's favour, and the man even turned to Qi Xi saying, "Your brother is really easy to get along with."

Qi Xi quickly chimed in, agreeing with a smile.

Meanwhile, Qi Zhe, who had been listening to the conversation from inside the house, looked even more sour. He turned his head sharply towards the window, sulking in silence.

Once Qi Xi and her family entered the house, they first had Nannan give New Year's greetings to her grandparents. And after some pleasantries, they sat down at the table to eat.

Being half a businessman, Qi Xi's husband became chatty after two drinks. He began to talk at length about his business experiences, mostly revolving around the building materials trade.  Qi Jing's parents, both traditional intellectuals, didn’t have much knowledge in this topic, and Qi Zhe, a typical science student, showed no interest in discussion either, so they could only play the part of a listener as they ate. However, Qi Xi's husband was too engrossed to notice their discomfort, continuing his monologue.

"The building materials business is getting harder every year. We're still doing alright in home renovation, but I’ve heard that other places, like the flat glass factories, are struggling with slow sales. Some are even on the verge of shutting down…"

Just as Qi Xi's husband rambled on and on, Qi Jing suddenly joined the conversation with a smile.

"Not long ago, I did an interview with the Provincial Industrial Bureau, and their director mentioned some of these issues. The conventional building materials industry is indeed in decline. Products like cement and glass are facing oversupply, and the market is nearly saturated. But the outlook for materials commonly used in renovation is still quite promising."

As soon as he spoke, everyone at the table turned to look at him in unison.

Naturally, Qi Xi's husband was the most enthusiastic of them all. "Oh, that’s great, that's wonderful news! Do you have any more insights?"

Qi Jing thought for a moment before continuing, "Our TV station also did a programme at the end of last year on the housing market. Experts said that due to new government policies, property prices in second- and third-tier cities might drop significantly. And if that happens, there will probably be a wave of people buying houses. After buying houses, they'll certainly need to renovate them. Moreover, most of the people buying houses now are the younger generation who are more concerned with practicality and eco-friendliness, so materials for insulation, soundproofing, waterproofing, and radiation protection will likely be more popular."

His knowledgeable remarks left everyone at the table stunned.  Qi Xi's husband even got up, his face full of admiration, and eagerly poured Qi Jing another drink.

"As expected of a top student," he couldn't help but praise, "you're so knowledgeable!"

"You're too kind," Qi Jing politely accepted the drink offered by his brother-in-law, downed it in one go then smiled as he showed the empty glass.

He had always been the most eloquent of the three siblings. Whenever relatives came to visit, he was the one in charge of keeping everyone entertained.

He wasn’t sure if he was doing a good job today, but at least his years of work experience had made him adept at handling conversations on various topics. And his acting skills were good enough to ensure that his brother-in-law didn’t notice that he was actually a man who had been cast out by his own family.

This way, he could let their family enjoy the New Year in peace.

This way, his parents could save face.

Qi Jing quietly thought as he helped himself to the food his mother had made, a taste he hadn’t experienced in years, and savoured it patiently, bite by bite. The flavours on his tongue mingled with the bittersweet feelings in his heart, leaving him with a complex mixture of emotions.

But after praising him for his success, Qi Xi's husband suddenly thought of the question that often comes up with "successful young men," and blurted it out.

"Oh by the way, are you married, Brother Jing?"

Qi Jing’s chopsticks paused slightly.

Qi Xi looked up in a panic; in that moment, she didn't have the capacity to take care and wipe off the sauce from Nannan’s mouth. Meanwhile, his father and mother also stopped what they were doing and looked over. Even Qi Zhe, who had been eating silently, reacted this time, fixing a watchful gaze on him.

Qi Jing took a moment, blinking before chuckling very naturally, his tone unchanged, "No, I'm still dating."

Upon hearing this, something seemed to flicker in his father’s eyes. Frowning, he pulled out a lighter and lit a cigarette. His mother and Qi Xi exchanged a hurried glance, both of them lowering their heads in awkwardness. While Qi Zhe, unable to say anything in front of his brother-in-law, could only sit there stiffly like a clay sculpture.

Only Qi Xi's husband was still in the dark, cheerfully probing further, "Which means you're at least seeing someone, but why didn't you bring her back for New Year's?"

At this question, the Qi family felt even more like they were cats on hot bricks, not knowing how to swiftly end this excruciatingly awkward conversation.

Qi Jing, however, maintained a calm expression and answered with a gentle smile, "It's still early. My partner and I both think we should spend more time together. When our relationship is completely stable and the family is agreeable to me bringing them home… We can discuss more about it then."

Hearing this, Qi Xi looked at her brother with mixed emotions, seeming both relieved and dejected. He understood that he didn’t want to deny his current partner but also had to consider her marriage, which was why he gave such an ambiguous answer.

Seeing his brother maintain his composure throughout, Qi Zhe’s face paled slightly. He lowered his head and took a gulp of the alcohol.

"Father and Mother are such kind people; they certainly won't mind if you brought her home, right?" Qi Xi's husband's casual remark felt like daggers to the Qi family members, striking right at their hearts. "Besides, young people these days are free to date whoever they like. Brother Jing, since you're working at the provincial capital, I reckon you'll likely settle there as well. Even if Father and Mother aren't entirely satisfied, you're happy and can live a good life, that's all that matters, right? Isn't there an old saying—only the wearer knows if the shoe fits."

At this moment, Qi Jing suddenly laughed, the smile on his face bright and sincere.

"I'm already very content now." In this instant, his voice had become cheerful and gentle. "He^[5] takes very good care of me. Sometimes when my work gets busy, I could be out with the crew for over ten hours a day, with no time to even eat out. So he often prepares my meals a day in advance, both lunch and dinner, to make sure I don’t go hungry. Plus, he's an excellent cook— his food is nutritious, light, yet delicious.

Perhaps because this was the first time he had mentioned Shen Yan since coming home, his father's expression changed slightly—though he couldn't tell if this change was good or bad. He just noticed that the cigarette in his father's mouth was burning faster, and the ash extended a long way without his father tapping it off.

Initially, Qi Jing wasn’t sure when or if he should bring up these things, but since the opportunity arose, he decided to continue.

"Last year when I was on a business trip, I had a car accident and broke my left hand. Thanks to him being by my side the whole time, taking care of my daily needs, otherwise that period would have been… really difficult."

He said the last two words very softly, but it sounded like a heavy hammer striking right at his mother and sister. Both women’s eyes began to redden, while his father and brother’s expressions remained inscrutable—one hidden behind a veil of smoke, the other shrouded in the shadows.

Qi Xi's husband exclaimed, "My gosh, what a wonderful girl, so caring and considerate! And yet, you still seem so nonchalant about it; you should quickly bring her home to meet the in-laws!"

Qi Jing just smiled faintly at this. He initiated two toasts with Qi Xi's husband and downed two glasses himself, then steered the conversation in a different direction, "Actually, I'll be moving to Beijing in just over a month… I'm afraid it'll become harder and harder to come back in the future."

At this point, his father, who had been silent until now, finally spoke for the first time, "Beijing?"

Qi Jing nodded his head. "Mhm."

In contrast to the other's surprise, his father’s reaction seemed more composed, though his voice was a bit hoarse, "Why are you moving to somewhere so far like Beijing?"

Qi Jing answered frankly, "An executive at CCTV^[6] would like to train me and has offered me to intern there for three years. It’s a rare opportunity for growth, with great potential for future promotions. My ambition isn't just to be a reporter; I want to be a TV host. So I've decided to take this chance at a national-level TV station."   

His father stared at him for a while, then suddenly said something completely out of his expectations, "…Seems like you've been working very hard these past few years."

Qi Jing felt a small jolt in his heart, and in that instant his throat tightened.

As a son, he had almost never let his parents down since young. He was outgoing and polite and even got accepted into a prestigious university that was the envy of everyone. He was the perfect example of a "good, successful child" that people thought of when they talked about someone like that. Except for one thing… And because of that one thing, all his efforts as well as the first half of his life all came crashing down mercilessly. That feeling of despair was still vivid in his memory.

"Dad," he heard himself whisper, "Your son has always been very hardworking, and that has never changed—you know that."

It had nothing to do with his sexual orientation, nor did it have anything to do with who he falls in love with. He was simply himself; the same as always.

His father neither answered nor denied his words.

It was at this point of the conversation that Qi Xi's husband finally sensed that something was off in the atmosphere but assumed it was due to Qi Jing’s long absence from home causing a rift between father and son. He quickly interjected, "By the way, if you're moving to Beijing for work, Brother Jing, doesn’t that mean you and your partner will be in a long-distance relationship?"

Qi Jing collected himself and replied with a smile, "Ah no. He said he wants to fully support my career so he’s planning to resign to move to Beijing with me, and then he'll look for a job there."

Even Qi Xi was very surprised by this. "Resign? Really? He's willing to quit his job and go with you?"

She knew that the person her brother was referring to was "he," not "she". But in her understanding, men had always prioritised their careers, and it was usually women who were willing to sacrifice their work for their partner's career. Her brother's words were undoubtedly quite a shock to her.

Qi Jing gave her a silent smile and gently nodded.

While Qi Xi's husband couldn't help but feel moved as he sighed, "You really ought to cherish this girl. For her to be willing to give up her job and start afresh in another city—she must really love you."

"Mhm, I will." Qi Jing sat up straight, under everyone's gaze, calmly expressing his feelings, "I will cherish him for the rest of my life."

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1. Written as "囡囡" which is a term for endearment that parents from certain parts of china would use for little girls, kinda like "pumpkin" or "sweetie".^↩

2. Written as "舅舅 (jiùjiù)" which is a term used to call your maternal uncle. Unlike paternal uncles, all brothers of your mom, older or younger, are called 舅舅. I've also taken the liberty of translating as Uncle Jing to differentiate I guess^↩
3. Unfortunately, we don't get his name so we're stuck with this cumbersome term of address^↩
4. Yes I localised it, so that it'll hopefully be easier for everyone^↩
5. Because in mandarin "他" and "她" are both pronounced as "tā" so it's like an only people who know know which one Qi Jing is using type situation. But since this is a translation in English, let's just pretend he/she and him/her sound similar enough that Qi Jing's BIL doesn't notice ^↩
6. Stands for China Central Television^↩

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