Chapter 184: Chapter 172: I’m Going to Wancheng

As expected, Wu Xiaowen flatly refused to let Tang Haocheng go to Wancheng to study with Tang Qingyun. Her reaction was extreme—she even slammed her chopsticks down on the breakfast table, something she had never done before.

Tang Qingyun had a headache. Tang Haocheng, however, calmly continued eating as if nothing was wrong. ’Getting Mom on board is Dad’s problem, not mine.’

Tang Yaxuan chewed on the end of her chopstick, looking from her father to her brother, suspicion blooming in her mind. ’My brother had a fever, but it was gone by bedtime last night. Yet he still insisted Dad stay with him in his room. They must have talked about something. What did they talk about? Why did Hao Hao suddenly change his mind overnight and decide to go with Dad? The provincial city is so much better than Wancheng. Mom and I were so relieved when we left that place. But Hao Hao...’

The thought of Wancheng brought back unpleasant memories. Tang Yaxuan’s mood plummeted. Her face turned deathly pale. She gave her parents and brother a tearful glance, put down her bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and went back to her room without a word.

"Xuanxuan! Xuanxuan!" Wu Xiaowen quickly got up and followed her. At the doorway, she turned back to the father and son. "Look what you’ve done! Xuanxuan was just starting to feel better. Now with this emotional upset, isn’t all that effort wasted? She was so happy to finally be able to live with her brother! Hao Hao, you can’t be so impulsive. You are not going to Wancheng! Your sister adores you and thinks about you every day. You have to be considerate of her!"

Tang Haocheng started, "Mom, if..."

"That’s enough, Hao Hao," Tang Qingyun cut him off. "Let me talk to your mother. Are you finished eating? Go back to your room."

Tang Haocheng obediently returned to his room.

Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen knocked on Tang Yaxuan’s door. They found their daughter with a tear-streaked face, looking pitiful and fragile. Wu Xiaowen’s heart ached as she pulled her into an embrace. The couple had no choice but to comfort her with gentle words. Wu Xiaowen promised she wouldn’t let Hao Hao leave his sister, but Tang Qingyun didn’t echo her promise. He was silently calculating the days in his head. ’How many days left of winter break? And how will Hao Hao get to Wancheng when the time comes?’

But Tang Haocheng, without a sound, was about to drop another bombshell on them.

At eleven o’clock, Wu Xiaowen, sweet and reluctant, walked Tang Qingyun out of the room with her arm linked through his. Seeing the aunt and her daughter in the living room, she finally let go. She straightened the collar and sleeves of his woolen tunic suit, smiling as she whispered, "It’s not your official start date yet, so come back when you have time. It’s only half a day’s drive. Have the driver bring you... You absolutely have to be back for the Lantern Festival, you hear me!"

"I know, I’ll be back." Tang Qingyun smiled bitterly to himself. ’As if I have a choice not to come back? The little ancestor’s winter break ends after the Lantern Festival. He’s waiting for me to take him to Wancheng!’

Tang Qingyun decided to just bring it up when it was time to leave. A surprise attack, a swift and decisive move, might be more effective.

On this point, father and son were of one mind.

Tang Haocheng’s door opened. The slender, tall young teenager walked out carrying two travel bags. Everyone in the living room froze. It was as if they were seeing the Hao Hao who had just arrived from Beijing all over again: his chin always slightly raised, his expression cool and detached, seemingly indifferent to everything.

Amidst the stunned gazes, Tang Haocheng spoke to Wu Xiaowen in a placid tone, "I know Dad can’t get you to agree, so I’ve made my own decision. I’m leaving now."

Wu Xiaowen’s eyes widened. "Leaving? Where are you going?"

"I already told you. I’m going to Wancheng."

"Hao Hao, how can you do this? Mom doesn’t agree!"

"If I can’t go to Wancheng, then I’ll go back to Beijing! Please give me your permission."

A sob entered Wu Xiaowen’s voice, her expression grief-stricken. "Hao Hao, can’t you stop being so willful? Wancheng is in the mountains. The conditions are terrible and harsh. You’ll regress there, become isolated. It will have a very bad influence on you... And then your grandmother will have something to say about it! Hao Hao, I’m your mother. Won’t you listen to your mother?"

Tang Haocheng was unmoved. "No matter how harsh or terrible it is, if Dad can stay there, so can I. I’ll only go for half a year. When you all go back to Beijing, I’ll go with you. Otherwise, should I just go back to Beijing now?"

Tears streamed from Wu Xiaowen’s eyes. She was utterly heartbroken. ’I gave birth to this son, but he’s been led astray by that old woman! This cold, unfeeling attitude of his... it makes me want to stuff him right back into my womb!’

’I finally have him in my grasp now. How can I possibly let him fly away again? Besides, if my son goes back to Beijing first, what does that mean for me? A few sarcastic remarks from that old woman, another one of her tricks, and my father-in-law will probably wash his hands of the matter. It’ll be ages before I can get transferred back!’

Seeing his wife’s sorrowful tears, Tang Qingyun couldn’t bear it. He said to Tang Haocheng, "Grandpa must have taught you to never be rash. Have you forgotten? Even if you’re really going, it’s not time yet. There are still more than ten days until school starts. Dad will come back to get you. Why do you have to make your mother angry? Hurry up and apologize to her!"

Tang Haocheng stared straight ahead and said, expressionless, "I’m sorry."

Wu Xiaowen reached a hand out to her son. "My dear son, please listen to Mom, okay? Let’s not go..."

"My decision hasn’t changed. I’m sorry, Mom."

Wu Xiaowen was at her wit’s end. She collapsed into Tang Qingyun’s arms, her eyes blurred with tears.

Tang Yaxuan walked over, her face soaked with tears, and looked at Tang Haocheng, sobbing uncontrollably. "Hao Hao, did I do something wrong? Don’t you want your sister anymore?"

Tang Haocheng tore his gaze away from the wall clock and studied Tang Yaxuan carefully. Then he shook his head. "You didn’t do anything wrong."

He turned back to Wu Xiaowen and said, "Mom, Sister Xuanxuan will keep you company, and I’ll keep Dad company. Isn’t that a good arrangement?"

"But... Fine. If Hao Hao is worried about Dad, Mom won’t say any more. It’s not time for school to start yet, anyway. Why don’t you stay home for now and let Mom make arrangements for you? We can talk about it again when Dad comes back for the Lantern Festival, okay?" Wu Xiaowen understood her son’s stubborn streak to some extent. She knew that trying to stop him forcefully wouldn’t work. She wanted to placate him first and then slowly work on a plan.

"No. The mountains have their own advantages. I want to take advantage of the break to walk around and see the area!" Tang Haocheng said, then urged his father, "Dad, the person picking you up should be downstairs by now. Let’s go."

Tang Qingyun was speechless.

Wu Xiaowen covered her face with a handkerchief, sobbing softly.

Tang Yaxuan reached out and grabbed Tang Haocheng’s sleeve tightly. "Hao Hao! Hao Hao, you can’t treat Mom like this! She’s been going crazy missing you! She’s cried her eyes out, don’t you know? You have to have a conscience! You have to be a good son and listen to Mom!"

Tang Haocheng looked down at his sleeve, then looked up, his fine eyebrows furrowed. "You’re wrinkling my sleeve. This is what I’m wearing to go out."

Tang Yaxuan stared into his eyes—so beautiful they made her jealous, yet so utterly indifferent—and froze, involuntarily letting go.

Tang Haocheng was not Tang Qingyun. The father and son had vastly different temperaments and interests, a fact she had always known. With Tang Qingyun, she could get whatever she wanted. But with Tang Haocheng, she was the one who always had to placate him. He never placated her. If he was in a bad mood, he’d be annoyed if she even took a step closer to him.

So Tang Yaxuan’s tearful assault was useless against Tang Haocheng.

But there was someone who did dote on her. Seeing her daughter retreat under the force of her son’s coldness, looking so pitiful, Wu Xiaowen’s heart ached. She pulled her into an embrace and chided, "Hao Hao! Your sister is trying to teach you, to help you be more sensible and well-behaved. How can you treat your sister like that?"

Tang Haocheng walked toward the door. "I heard everything. Thanks."

Tang Qingyun and Wu Xiaowen exchanged a look. He shook his head, glanced at the clock on the wall, and followed his son out.

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