Chapter 78

After saying goodbye to Zhao Mingyuan, Qin Tian carried the computer all the way home.

With his current physique, carrying the tens of pounds of case and monitor was effortless.

From a long way off, he saw his mother standing at the door looking out.

The light in the main room was on, and the bright light highlighted his mother's slightly thin and weary figure.

"Why are you back so late? What is this you're carrying? A computer?"

Tang Xiuxia asked loudly in surprise.

"Yeah, it was discarded by an internet cafe. A friend helped me pull some strings, and I bought it cheap."

Qin Tian answered with a chuckle.

"I heard computers are quite expensive. Where did you get the money?"

Tang Xiuxia looked at him with suspicious eyes.

"It's the little treasury I've been saving up bit by bit from the pocket money you give me. I've wanted a computer for a long time. This is a cheap, discarded one, only a few hundred yuan."

Qin Tian spouted nonsense with a straight face.

The training from his previous life in the workplace had made his skin quite thick; as long as it wasn't a malicious lie, he could say anything without blinking.

Tang Xiuxia didn't know much about computers and didn't suspect anything further, making a move to take the monitor from her son.

"No need, no need, Mom, go get some rest. I can do it myself."

"Why did you bring this home? We don't even have internet installed!"

"It's fine, I'll go to the service hall to set it up tomorrow."

"You brat, don't think that just because your grades have improved, you can start acting up. An auntie at my factory told me her son ruined himself playing computer games, staying home all day and not looking for a job."

"Mom, don't worry. Getting this is mostly for the convenience of looking up information. I'll only play games during the holidays!"

Qin Tian hurriedly promised with a smile.

"It better be that way, or don't blame your mother for selling it as scrap."

Tang Xiuxia threatened with a stern face.

"Understood, understood."

Qin Tian nodded like a chicken pecking at rice and grinned: "Mom, you've never touched a computer, right? I'll teach you during the holidays. Times are progressing; you can't afford not to understand this in the future."

"Why would I learn this young person's stuff? I'd rather spend that time making more money. Not learning it, not learning it."

Tang Xiuxia shook her head in refusal.

"Your thinking is flawed, Mom. You're still so young; you need to keep up with the times, you know?"

"What do you mean? Are you calling your mother old-fashioned?"

"No, no, no, I didn't mean that at all. You're overthinking it."

"Hmph, enough nonsense. Tell me, how was it this noon?"

"How was what?"

"Stop playing dumb. Going to that classmate's house—what happened, how did you behave? Tell me everything honestly."

"Is that really necessary? Like you said, I just went to a classmate's house for a simple meal. Nothing happened. It's so late, you should go to sleep early; you have work tomorrow!"

"Are you going to tell me or not?"

Tang Xiuxia couldn't be bothered with nonsense and reached out to pinch his ear.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, let go, let go. I'll tell you, okay?"

Qin Tian decisively surrendered.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at Qin Tian's room in the back.

Inside the room, by the bed, was a solid wood desk that had seen many years, but his mother kept it very clean. The few books on it were arranged neatly, and the miscellaneous items were organized in perfect order.

"After arriving at the residential complex, I did buy some fruit, and then I went to her house with her."

Qin Tian recounted the experience of the afternoon while setting down the computer case and monitor.

Tang Xiuxia stood leaning against the door with her arms crossed, frowning slightly: "Didn't I tell you not to bring anything... forget it, bringing some fruit is fine. Then what? Keep talking, keep talking."

"Then we just went to her house and ate. Her parents were both very nice. After eating, I went back to school to sleep. That's it, that's all."

Qin Tian skillfully connected the cables between the computer case and the monitor.

"Be more detailed. What was their impression of you? What did you eat? What did you talk about? Tell me everything. If you keep being evasive, watch out for your ears."

Tang Xiuxia threatened with a serious expression.

"Can't we talk nicely? Why are you getting so worked up?"

Qin Tian turned his head to give his mother a resentful look, rubbed his ear, and said: "I'm almost graduating from high school, I'm an adult. Don't you think this habit of pinching my ear at every turn should change? It's very embarrassing if people see it."

"Change what? No matter how old you are, you're still my son. Embarrassing? What face do you have in front of me? You were still bedwetting at seven..."

"Stop, stop, stop! Cut it out!"

Qin Tian hurriedly raised his hand in a stop gesture, complaining with a dark face: "You don't need to keep remembering things from my childhood, do you?"

"That won't do, I have to remember it for a lifetime."

Tang Xiuxia looked at her son with a playful smile and urged him again: "No more nonsense, hurry up and tell me!"

"There really isn't anything. Where was I?"

"You went to their house."

"Right, right. After arriving at her house, her father came over first..."

Since it involved his dark history, Qin Tian didn't dare to be evasive anymore and spilled the beans about the lunch at Xia Nuannuan's house today.

Tang Xiuxia didn't interrupt again, listening with a serious expression, simulating the scene her son described in her mind.

Of course, it was impossible for Qin Tian to tell her everything.

He decisively skipped the topic concerning his father.

"That's about it. Oh, and her mother's cooking was really delicious, and she's a very nice person."

Qin Tian summarized with a smile.

"And how does it compare to my cooking?"

Tang Xiuxia asked out of the blue.

"Uh..."

Qin Tian was instantly speechless.

Facing his mother's intrigued gaze, Qin Tian felt a lot of pressure.

Without a doubt, this was a deadly question that required a careful answer.

"I think they each have their own merits. Her mother's cooking is more lavish and varied—they're a wealthy family, after all, so our home definitely can't compare. But I still prefer your home-cooked meals, Mom; they have the taste of a mother."

Qin Tian answered with a grin.

Tang Xiuxia was amused, nodded with satisfaction, and said: "It seems her mother is quite satisfied with you, but her father doesn't seem to welcome you!"

Before Qin Tian could speak, she continued: "That's normal. Whoever has raised a precious daughter for over a decade and suddenly sees her targeted by some brat would definitely feel uncomfortable. And our family..."

"Mom."

Qin Tian interrupted his mother directly and said sternly: "Xia Nuannuan and her parents are not the type of people who value those things."

Tang Xiuxia nodded with a smile, but she felt a sense of relief in her heart.

In fact, she had been distracted all day at the factory, worrying about this.

She knew their family's situation very well, and from her son's previous descriptions, she knew that the girl's family was either wealthy or influential.

She was very worried that because of her, or because of their family conditions, it would affect the girl's parents' impression of her son.

Now it seemed she had been overthinking it.

At this moment, Qin Tian grinned and said: "Mom, we don't need to envy others. Just watch, it won't be long before I definitely let you live the life of a wealthy lady."

"Forget it, just taking good care of yourself is enough."

Tang Xiuxia rolled her eyes with a smile.

Although she said that, the look in her eyes as she watched her son clearly held a bit more gratification and pride.