My Husband is a Younger 'Cool Dog' - Chapter 2

The next day, in the Bai family’s ancestral residence in City A, thousands of miles away.

“We’re about to see your grandfather. Do you remember everything I told you earlier?”

Jiang Qicheng could not help but issue a reminder before they entered the Bai residence. However, after waiting for a while without a response, he suddenly frowned and raised his voice: “Jiang Ling!”

“I’m listening.”

Jiang Ling raised his hand to rub his ear, which was itching from the loud shout. He curiously scanned the centuries-old traditional garden of the Bai family.

“Why are you shouting so loud? It’s not like I didn’t hear you.”

Compared to yesterday, a pair of heavy black-framed glasses now sat on the bridge of his nose. They did not just cover half his face; they also masked those rebellious, untamed eyes.

“If you heard me, why didn’t you respond?”

“I’m not a repeater. Just because you say something does not mean I have to reply.”

Hearing this, the veins on Jiang Qicheng’s forehead throbbed. He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to strike. He kept telling himself that a child of this age being rebellious and difficult to manage was a very sincere display of character.

“Forget it. I will not argue with you today. Since you’ve remembered what I said, make sure you behave well when you see your grandfather later.”

Jiang Ling lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Soon, someone from the Bai family came out to greet them. It was a pot-bellied, middle-aged man, who was Jiang Ling’s eldest uncle, Bai Yuanshan.

The moment he saw the Jiang father and son, a bright smile spread across his face. He hurried forward to welcome them. “Qicheng, it’s been so many years. You haven’t changed a bit!”

Jiang Qicheng put on his usual practiced smile and quickly handed over the gifts. “You haven’t changed much either. You seem just the same as back then.”

“How could I not have changed? Look at how fat I’ve become.”

“How is the Old Master’s health?”

“He fainted suddenly last time and gave us quite a scare. The doctor said it’s a cardiovascular issue. Since his health is not great, we did not let him come out to meet you.”

Jiang Ling followed behind Jiang Qicheng, trying his best to minimize his presence. He listened quietly to their pleasantries while carefully observing the old garden. Comparing it to the memories stored in his mind, it seemed not much had changed.

“This must be A-Ling.”

Suddenly hearing his name, Jiang Ling was momentarily stunned. In the next second, he felt a poke at his waist.

“Hurry up and greet your uncle!”

Jiang Ling snapped back to reality and, under the man’s gaze, spoke up: “Hello, Uncle.”

Bai Yuanshan replied immediately, “In the blink of an eye, A-Ling has grown so big. He looks exactly the same as when I first saw him, gentle, well-behaved, and sensible. Not at all like that rascal of mine.”

Even though he knew it was just polite talk, hearing such high praise so abruptly made Jiang Ling feel a bit uneasy. However, his current appearance was indeed quite deceptive.

Father and son simultaneously fell into a bizarre silence, but Jiang Qicheng’s laughter soon masked it. “Hahaha, him? He’s just so-so, only moderately sensible.”

“Do not say that. A boy should be a bit lively; being too quiet is not necessarily good either.”

The corner of Jiang Ling’s mouth twitched slightly. A hint of disdain flickered in his dark eyes behind the black frames.

“Your grandfather said long ago that he wanted to see you. He’ll be very happy when he sees you later.”

Hearing this, Jiang Ling’s expression faltered as a wave of nervousness hit him.

In his memory, his grandfather was a very stern old man with a fiery temper who could not stand even a grain of sand in his eyes. Ever since his mother passed away, his father and grandfather had a falling out, and the two families rarely interacted after that.

So many years had passed, and now that they were reconnecting, Jiang Ling had been deeply worried upon hearing the news of his grandfather’s health scare.

While they talked, they walked through long corridors and courtyards, soon arriving at the main hall.

There was more than one person inside, but Jiang Ling’s eyes immediately locked onto the elderly man sitting upright at the head of the room, wearing a traditional Tang suit.

The old man’s beard and hair were completely white. He looked much shorter and thinner than the figure in his memories. However, those eyes had not changed; they were bright, spirited, and as sharp as an eagle’s.

As a child, he had been somewhat afraid. Now that he was grown, he was not scared anymore, but his chest felt strangely tight.

Jiang Ling’s originally restless heart miraculously calmed down at that moment. He felt the old man’s sharp gaze skip over the others and land squarely on him. The palm of his hand, hanging by his side, began to sweat.

Jiang Ling stood quietly behind Jiang Qicheng.

“Old Master, I’ve brought A-Ling to see you. How has your health been all these years?” Jiang Qicheng spoke respectfully, keeping his posture humble.

“Thanks to your blessing, my health has been fairly sturdy over the years. How is your business doing?”

“Not bad.”

The father-in-law and son-in-law exchanged a few words as if all past grudges were forgotten. Jiang Qicheng then turned to look at Jiang Ling behind him, frowning slightly. “A-Ling, why are you just standing there dazed?”

Instantly, everyone’s gaze shifted to the figure behind Jiang Qicheng.

The quiet, black-haired youth had been standing there silently, looking very well-behaved. He seemed very disciplined; after entering the room, he had not looked around curiously.

Jiang Ling looked up to meet the old man’s gaze. He pursed his lips and spoke: “Grandfather.”

The youth’s clear, crisp voice carried a noticeable tremor.

The originally lively hall suddenly fell silent. Seeing this, Jiang Qicheng’s expression wavered.

“A-Ling, come here. Let me have a good look at you,” the old man called out.

Jiang Ling’s throat moved as he reflexively stepped forward. By the time he realized what was happening, a large, warm palm had landed on the top of his head. The old man gently stroked his hair and said with a smile:

“You look much better behaved than when you were little. You’re even wearing glasses now. You look quite refined. Do you still remember when you were small and threw my favorite inkstone into the river?”

Jiang Ling’s body stiffened. That one sentence unearthed memories hidden away who knows where.

He had indeed been quite mischievous as a child. Because he lost that inkstone, he had been punished by having to kneel, so he remembered it clearly.

Before he knew it, Jiang Ling’s eyes had reddened. “Grandfather, is your health okay?”

Though the grandfather and grandson had not met in years, the bond of blood could not be severed. Their meeting felt exceptionally close.

“Good boy.”

Seeing Jiang Ling’s red eyes, the old man’s heart ached with affection. “Your grandfather’s health is excellent. Last time was just an accident. Do not worry, I will definitely live to see the day you get married.”

Hearing this, the weight in Jiang Ling’s heart finally lifted.

“How high is your prescription? What grade are you in now?”

Jiang Ling stiffened at these questions but quickly reacted. “The prescription is not high. I should be in my senior year of high school this year.”

“Then you’ll be taking the college entrance exam in the second half of the year.”

Jiang Ling shook his head slightly.

“A-Ling took a six-month leave of absence, so he cannot take the exam this year. He will have to wait until next year,” Jiang Qicheng explained.

“A six-month leave?” The old man’s tone was surprised.

Jiang Qicheng stepped in to elaborate. “Last year, A-Ling accidentally broke his leg while playing ball at school, so he recuperated at home for half a year.” He quickly added, “That is why I arranged for his leave.”

This was the cover story the father and son had coordinated in the car. Following Jiang Qicheng’s explanation, Jiang Ling nodded appropriately. He lowered his head even further, not wanting his grandfather to notice his cheeks flushing with shame over the lie.

He had indeed been injured playing ball and went to the hospital, but he was physically fit and recovered quickly. After a week in the hospital, he had been back home, jumping around.

“Oh, so that was how it was.”

After hearing this, the old man looked at the quiet, obedient youth beside him with even more pity. He gripped his hand tightly, his gaze full of concern. “It must have been very painful then, right?”

“It did not hurt.” Jiang Ling whispered with a flushed face, his toes curling so hard they could have dug a hole in the floor. His sweaty hand was wrapped in the old man’s dry, warm palm.

“These years have been your grandfather’s fault. Your father is your father, and you are you. I should not have.”

The rest of the sentence went unsaid, but Jiang Ling understood the meaning. Such warmth was a rare experience in Jiang Ling’s life. He felt a heat in his chest, and his nose felt strangely tingly.

Seeing the youth’s eyes, reddened and looking almost exactly like his younger daughter’s, the old man felt even more distressed. He regretted being so cold-hearted all those years ago.

“Since you’re here, stay a while longer at your grandfather’s. Or better yet, just transfer your school records here.”

Suddenly, Jiang Qicheng spoke up. “I actually had the same idea, to let Jiang Ling transfer here for his studies.”

Everyone was stunned by his words. Jiang Ling was also taken aback, blinking as he struggled to process it. They had not discussed this topic in the car.

The old man was surprised at first, then asked excitedly, “Is that true?”

Jiang Qicheng nodded and said solemnly, “It’s true. The company has been very busy lately, and A-Ling is at the age for the entrance exam. Since he already missed half a year because of his injury, I’m afraid I might hinder his future.”

Jiang Ling’s eyes widened as he looked at Jiang Qicheng in disbelief. However, his hand was still held tightly by the old man. The warmth from that palm suppressed the anger rising in his chest. But his eyes, hidden behind the black frames, darkened.

In front of his grandfather, he would not make a scene, but the feeling of being plotted against made him incredibly annoyed.

“Missing just half a year is no big deal. You’re a smart kid. Among your grandfather’s students, there are plenty of top scholars. I’ll find one to tutor you, and we’ll get into a good university next year all the same.”

The people around them had varying expressions upon hearing this.

The Bai family was not large. Besides the eldest uncle, Jiang Ling also had a younger uncle, but he was not present today. In his place was the younger aunt, a woman who looked very gentle. Standing next to her was the eldest aunt, who was older and had more striking features, with thin eyebrows that arched slightly, giving her a shrewd appearance.

The eldest aunt spoke with a smile, “Old Master, you forgot we still have that little troublemaker Xiao Zhao at home. That brat causes trouble day and night. Aren’t you afraid he’ll lead A-Ling astray?”

“Why bring him up? I get angry just thinking about him. Last time, he actually ranked last in his class. The teacher even had to make a home visit. It’s an embarrassment to the Bai family name.”

The Xiao Zhao they spoke of was Bai Zhao, Jiang Ling’s cousin. He was only a year younger than Jiang Ling and was currently a sophomore at City A’s First Middle School.

Old Master Bai was a famous master of Chinese studies, the eldest uncle was a publishing house president, and the eldest aunt was a graduate of a prestigious foreign university. The Bai family could certainly be called a family of scholars. Yet, who would have thought their own grandson would be a good-for-nothing playboy?

The hall fell silent again after that remark. Jiang Ling, meanwhile, felt a strange sense of unease, as if he were the one being called out. He shot a look at Jiang Qicheng. This was entirely outside of his plans. However, the other man acted as if he had not seen it and simply turned his head away.

Jiang Ling: “…”

“He spends all day messing around outside. I’ve wanted to discipline him for a long time. It’s perfect, let him come back and study with A-Ling. He will be a senior next year too; it’s time he grew up a bit.”

Hearing this, the eldest uncle and his wife were instantly silenced. They truly had no way to handle their own son.

“Alright, the matter is settled.”

Old Master Bai had a personality where his word was law; once he decided something, there was no going back. He turned his head, his stern face instantly shifting back to a kind smile as he looked at Jiang Ling.

“A-Ling, what do you think?”

Jiang Ling’s scalp felt tight, and he forced a smile onto his face.

Old Master Bai took Jiang Ling’s silence as agreement and let out a slow sigh. “Your grandfather is getting old. I do not know how many days I have left to stay with you all.”

Jiang Ling’s expression changed, and he quickly said, “Do not say that. You will surely live to a hundred.”

“Good. With those words, your grandfather will definitely live to a hundred.”

Old Master Bai had not let go of Jiang Ling’s hand since he first grabbed it. Having not seen each other for so many years, the grandfather and grandson missed each other dearly.

“Old Master, then I will leave A-Ling here to keep you company. I have an appointment with a friend today, so I will come see you again later.”

The smile on the old man’s face faded slightly. He gave Jiang Qicheng a look. “Go then. I know you are a busy man, and I cannot keep you here. Leave A-Ling behind, and you can go wherever you like.”

Jiang Qicheng knew the old man did not care for him, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. “Then I will be taking my leave.”

Jiang Ling stared at Jiang Qicheng’s departing back with wide eyes. He had not expected the man to just dump him here like this. At that moment, his wrist was squeezed. Old Master Bai said, “Dear A-Ling, I will take you for a walk in the back garden later. You loved playing there when you were little.”

Jiang Ling snapped back to reality. He looked at the old man, his gaze flickering slightly before he finally nodded in agreement. “Okay, please take me there.”

He decided to spend more time with his grandfather for now.

The gardens of the Bai residence were not small, featuring rockeries, a lake, a gazebo in the center, and an old-fashioned stage preserved on the west side. Jiang Ling remembered that his favorite thing as a child was playing hide-and-seek by that stage.

However, halfway through the walk, the old man had to head back to rest due to his age and lack of stamina, leaving Jiang Ling to explore alone.

As he wandered through the garden, childhood memories returned bit by bit. The garden was certainly different from his memories, but most of it remained unchanged. For example, the cherry tree he used to pick from was still in the same spot; except for the canopy being much lusher, nothing had changed.

Jiang Ling sat by the gazebo, feeling the cool breeze on his face. His mind was a mess of thoughts. Am I really going to transfer schools and move here?

“Hey! Are you the reason I’m being locked up at home to take some bullshit remedial classes with you?”

Just as Jiang Ling closed his eyes to think, an irritable voice rang out from nearby. He turned his head toward the sound. The newcomer was a youth with a red buzz cut, dressed in a mix-and-match style, rushing toward him with an expression of pure fury.

He looked like an angry red dragon fruit.

Jiang Ling narrowed his eyes slightly. He raised his hand and used his middle finger to push up the frames of his glasses, which had slipped down. This red dragon fruit definitely looked like he was looking for trouble.

However, the moment the other boy saw him clearly, he stopped abruptly, a subtle expression crossing his face.

“You’re Jiang Ling?”

“You’re Bai Zhao.”

They spoke almost simultaneously.

Bai Zhao looked surprised. He stared at the youth before him, soft, obedient black hair falling by his ears, with a somewhat clumsy pair of black-framed glasses perched on his nose. This outfit looked exactly like the top students in his class who did nothing but study.

He could not reconcile the boy in front of him with the Little Demon King of his memories. Could time really change a person beyond recognition?

“How did you turn into such a nerd?!”

A nerd?!

Jiang Ling’s expression cracked for a moment. He never imagined that one day, this word would be directed at him.

“Forget it, I am not here to chat about nonsense,” Bai Zhao frowned. He did not really want to bully a weakling. He took a few steps forward and tilted his head up, speaking with ill intent:

“Hey, let me tell you something. I do not care how you convinced the old man to let you take classes, but I am not doing it. You go tell the old man yourself.”

“I do not care if you take classes or transfer here, but the Bai house is my turf. I suggest you stay in your lane and mind your own business, otherwise, do not blame me for being rude.”

Jiang Ling was already suppressing a stomach full of rage because of Jiang Qicheng’s schemes. Now that someone had conveniently presented themselves, he was not going to be polite. He was never the type to take things lying down.

The corner of Jiang Ling’s mouth curled into a smile. “I think it’s better for people to read more books. I suggest you stir your brains into a consistent slurry before you speak to me again.”

“Idiot.”

Hearing this, Bai Zhao’s eyes widened in shock. He could not believe such vicious words had come from the mouth of this refined, well-behaved-looking youth.

“You”

“Do not tell me you did not hear me clearly. If you did not, I can carve it onto a tombstone for you.”

Damn it! He could not take it anymore.

Bai Zhao’s temper flared instantly, and he charged forward with his fists clenched.

Jiang Ling’s lip curled in a mocking sneer. He watched the charging Bai Zhao and slowly tightened his own fists. A fight was just what he needed; the bigger the scene, the better. Maybe then he would not have to transfer.

Just as the two were about to clash, suddenly, voices drifted from a short distance away.

“Junnian, I really have to ask you for help regarding A-Ling. Otherwise, I just can’t put my mind at ease.”

“It’s been many years since I’ve seen A-Ling. I do not know what he has become like now.”

“Sigh, do not even mention it. You will see for yourself when we meet him.”

Hearing that familiar voice from his memory, Jiang Ling’s head suddenly buzzed, and he froze in his tracks. So many years had passed that he thought he had forgotten. Yet, when that voice rang out again, he realized he had never forgotten at all.

He even doubted his own ears for a moment, and his gaze instinctively shifted toward the sound.

Very quickly, his eyes met a pair of smiling ones.

The man’s features were exquisitely handsome. His peach blossom eyes were deep and full of expression, and a faint smile played on his lips. He wore a dark windbreaker, exuding a gentle and elegant aura, looking as if he had stepped right out of a dream.

Time froze.

Jiang Ling stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.

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