I Snatched the Overbearing President’s Canary [Transmigration] - Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Parents

The weather had turned cool, summer clothes were being tucked away, and the plane trees lining the streets began to shed their leaves.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, He Shenyu arrived as promised, taking a taxi to the airport early in the morning.

Ning Chen was also on holiday. Since his family was still in the city, he naturally went to spend the festival with them. Ning You had been moved to a general ward for some time now, and his condition had basically stabilized. He could now eat normal food, so Ning Chen had coordinated with the attending physician in advance, planning to take Ning You out for a nice meal.

A message popped up on He Shenyu’s screen. He clicked it to see a photo from Ning Chen: it was a small bubble gun he’d bought for Ning You. The little boy looked ecstatic, bubbles filling the screen and partially obscuring his beaming face.

[He Shenyu]: Ning You looks much better. Tell him Brother He will take him out to play next time. [Ning Chen]: Okay. Are you at the airport? Did you pick them up yet? [He Shenyu]: [Panda shaking head.jpg] Not yet. [Ning Chen]: Are you hungry? [He Shenyu]: A bit. I’ve already booked a restaurant; we’ll head there soon.

After chatting with Ning Chen for a bit, the airport broadcast chimed. Shenyu checked the time; it was about right. He didn’t actually recognize them, so he simply stood still at the arrival gate, waiting for Dr. His parents to find him.

Relationships between people are curious; it’s usually easy to tell if someone recognizes you. When a middle-aged man supporting a middle-aged woman walked straight toward him without hesitation, He Shenyu knew it was them. He maintained Dr. He’s persona and didn’t initiate the conversation.

“Xiao Yu… you’ve lost weight,” the woman said as she looked at him. Shenyu gave a simple reply: “I’m alright.” The man glanced at him and said, “Let’s go eat first. Your mother needs to take her medicine on time, and it has to be after a meal.” “Okay. I drove here. Let’s go.”

To be honest, He Shenyu was nervous. After all, parents are the people closest to a child; he was afraid they would see through him. However, based on the current situation, he seemed to have passed. Their expressions remained normal.

At the restaurant, the waiter handed over a tablet for ordering. The man, He Lun, handed it directly to He Shenyu. “You order. Get something light.”

Shenyu had no idea what their preferences were. But then he realized that given Dr. He’s strained relationship with them, he probably wouldn’t have bothered to memorize their favorites anyway. So, whenever he was unsure, he just asked directly.

“Do you eat onions?” He Lun set down his water glass and rolled his eyes at He Shenyu. “How did I teach you when you were little? Don’t you know your mother can’t handle pungent or spicy food?” “Oh.” Shenyu nodded, not bothering to argue. Taught him this as a kid? Are Dr. He’s parents also doctors?

“What about drinks? Do you want alcohol?” Shenyu asked. He Lun became even more impatient. “Are you still drinking lately? What did I tell you? A doctor must stay away from alcohol. It affects your steady hand with a scalpel. Have you forgotten everything?” The woman sitting next to him tugged at his sleeve. “Alright, Xiao Yu knows his limits. Don’t start a fight the moment we get back.”

Shenyu wasn’t angry. “I’ll order lemonade then.” It seemed he was right—Dr. He likely came from a medical dynasty. He had seen their flight tickets; the city they came from was famous for its medical facilities.

After ordering, the woman chatted with him, asking about the details of his recent life. Shenyu took the opportunity to ask back and learned that Dr. He’s mother had retired due to poor health, while He Lun was still working.

At this point, He Shenyu decided to take the initiative and ask the question he cared about most: “By the way, President Fu said he has a project wrapping up lately, so he’ll be on a business trip while you’re here.”

“I see. He didn’t tell me,” He Lun said vaguely, then sighed. “You must work hard for President Fu, you hear? If Chairman Fu hadn’t given your father a chance back then, you wouldn’t have had such good conditions for your education. A person must know how to be grateful. Don’t go to work with a grudge.”

“Understood.” Shenyu felt a surge of relief. Sometimes, the nagging of middle-aged parents was actually useful. Look at that—he didn’t even have to ask, and the backstory just fell into his lap.

He didn’t need to dig any deeper; he could piece the plot together from those few sentences. It was likely that He Lun had been sponsored by Chairman Fu during a difficult time in his career, which allowed the He family to rise. Consequently, He Lun forced his son to study medicine to serve the Fu family. Dr. He was likely unwilling, which is why they had changed his college preferences.

It was quite a tragedy. No wonder Dr. He was so business-like in the original novel, carrying a faint air of listlessness—he never wanted to be a doctor in the first place.

This was quite different from He Shenyu himself. His parents were ordinary employees. He had become a doctor because he broke his leg riding a bike as a child and stayed in the hospital; the nurses and doctors were so kind to him that he decided he wanted to work with them when he grew up. He only realized how exhausting the work was after he actually started, recalling how a nurse “big sister” had warned him not to “stray into the wrong path.” Still, he didn’t regret it. He truly felt a sense of accomplishment in relieving others’ pain.

As the dishes arrived, they chatted like a normal family. For a moment, He Shenyu felt Dr. He’s parents were quite normal—unlike his own parents, who were very even-tempered and raised him with encouragement, but normal nonetheless. He felt a bit more relaxed, but then he hit the classic problem for men his age.

After taking her medicine, Dr. His mother looked at him sadly. “Xiao Yu, are you seeing anyone lately? I’m getting older, and my health is declining year by year. You should get married soon and give me a grandson or granddaughter. Then I’ll have no regrets in this life…”

Shenyu’s mouth twitched. This was probably the only topic Dr. He’s mother and his own mother would agree on. When he was in grad school, his mom started nagging him to date, but he was too busy to care. He didn’t expect that in another world, with another mom, he’d still be pressured to marry.

He realized that He Lun and his wife were clearly in contact with Fu Hengzhan. He had worried Fu Hengzhan might have mentioned Ning Chen, but it seemed he hadn’t. Shenyu was prepared to admit to having a boyfriend—after all, he didn’t feel a deep personal connection to these “parents”—but since Fu Hengzhan hadn’t said anything, there was no need to bring it up. His relationship with Ning Chen would end eventually anyway.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Cat got your tongue? Your mother is asking you…” He Lun urged. Shenyu sighed. “I’ve been too busy lately. No time to look.” “How can you have no time? You don’t work much overtime. What about your weekends? Go meet some girls your age. It’s not that hard; you’re just not putting in the effort…” “That’s right, Xiao Yu. We’re getting old. We can’t wait many more years. If you’re busy, I can find someone for you…” “Don’t. I’ll handle it myself…” Shenyu quickly refused. He couldn’t let that door open.

…

After the meal, He Shenyu dropped them off at a hotel. Their own house hadn’t been lived in for a long time, so they chose a hotel instead.

When He Shenyu returned to his own place, Ning Chen heard the door and came over to take the things from his hands. “Sigh…” Shenyu felt mentally drained, recalling the “fear” of being controlled by a mother.

“What’s wrong, Shenyu?” Ning Chen saw his exhausted expression and looked like he wanted to carry him again. Shenyu compliantly draped his arms around Ning Chen’s neck without refusing. Ning Chen set him down on the sofa, and He Shenyu let out a long sigh of complaint. “Ning Chen, you’re still young. You can’t understand this kind of pain…”

“What pain?” Ning Chen handed him a glass of water. Shenyu took a sip. “Being pressured to marry. It’s driving me crazy.”

He was so immersed in his own exhaustion that he didn’t notice Ning Chen’s expression shifting. After a long silence, He Shenyu realized that venting this to Ning Chen might be inappropriate. He had grown accustomed to treating Ning Chen like a brother to complain to, especially since Ning Chen was the only person he was close to in this world.

“Ning Chen…” Just as He Shenyu was about to say something, Ning Chen spoke: “Shenyu will eventually get married, right?”

“This… I haven’t thought about that yet, Ning Chen,” He Shenyu said, feeling a headache coming on. “How long is ‘yet’?” Ning Chen stared at him, his gaze unmoving. “Is it before the sugar baby contract ends, or after?”

Shenyu was truly tired now. “Ning Chen, I don’t have those thoughts. Truly. Don’t overthink it. I only complained because I’m so comfortable with you.” Seeing Ning Chen’s expression remain unchanged, He Shenyu felt even more helpless. “Ning Chen, I swear, I didn’t even think about this until they mentioned it today. Really!”

Ning Chen caught the hand He Shenyu used to “swear.” He sighed and said, “There’s no need to swear, Shenyu. Don’t swear over something like this. I don’t have the right…”

“Ning Chen…” Shenyu had no choice but to step forward and hug him. “We… aren’t we ‘dating’ now? I won’t get married.” This is a versatile excuse, He Shenyu reaffirmed to himself.

Ning Chen had been ready to stop questioning him, but hearing that sentence, he looked up again. He looked at He Shenyu, his lip curling into an irrepressible, slight smirk. “Is that so? Then can Shenyu answer my question?”

Shenyu was momentarily stunned by the trace of aggression leaking from the younger man. Ning Chen reached out and wound an arm around his waist, forcing him closer. He tilted He Shenyu’s chin up, his index finger tracing the line of his jaw.

Finally, he said with a smile, “Why doesn’t Shenyu answer? Have you already made plans, or…” Ning Chen’s smile grew wider. “Do you want me to be your ‘secret lover’?”

Shenyu tried to shake his head, but his face was held firm by Ning Chen’s fingers. Ning Chen pinched his cheek and gave him a kiss, saying with a laugh: “I can do that too, Shenyu.”

“I won’t refuse a request from my ‘Gold Master,’ Shenyu.” “Just don’t terminate the contract early, okay?” Ning Chen’s voice grew deeper, carrying a hint of hoarseness. “I’ll be a very good secret lover…”