Qiu Qiu deleted his uncle's chat history before returning the phone to his father, then patiently taught him how to use WeChat.
His father complained, "Why did you set my name as 'Old Qiu'? That's so outdated. Nobody uses that kind of username when surfing the web anymore."
Qiu Qiu pointed out, "Dad, we don't call it 'surfing the web' anymore."
"..."
The child had grown up and learned to talk back. Qiu's father huffily changed his name to "I Am Old Qiu" and used a one-inch photo as his profile picture. Once everything was ready, Qiu's father sent a video call request to Qiu's mother.
It was noon for them, but early morning for Qiu's mother, who was far away in Europe. The video call was answered immediately. This old couple, together for thirty years, naturally didn't exchange the sickly-sweet words of newly infatuated lovers, but their interaction was still incredibly sweet.
The couple addressed each other as "Teacher." Qiu's father was Teacher Qiu, and Qiu's mother was Teacher Dong.
Teacher Qiu brought out a recent essay he had written for Teacher Dong to critique, while Teacher Dong gifted him an English poem, conveying her longing while they were apart.
Qiu Qiu sat upright on a nearby chair, his hands not idle as he pulled out a small notebook and started taking notes.
Sharp-eyed Qiu's mother noticed and said, "Qiu Qiu, if you have homework, go do it in your room. Don't let your dad and me chatting disturb you."
Qiu Qiu said, "It's not homework. I'm just jotting down the sweet nothings you two are saying, so I can recite them to my partner later."
This topic was fine until mentioned. Once brought up, Qiu's father had something to say: "Right, I ran into Professor Wang from your literature college the other day. He said you recently got a girlfriend. Why haven't you brought her home for your dad to meet?"
All three family members were alumni of A University. Qiu's father and Professor Wang were former classmates, reportedly the renowned 'Two Talented Scholars' who once roamed the campus. Decades later, the hairlines of the two scholars had receded, while their waistlines had expanded.
Qiu Qiu's heart gave a jolt. He lowered his head and said, "...It's over."
Qiu's mother quickly chimed in, "It's fine, it's fine. Feelings can't be forced. With a fair-faced boy like my son, what kind of partner couldn't he find?"
Qiu's father smoothly changed the subject: "You're still a student; you should focus on your studies. Being single is good too... By the way, last time you mentioned a wealthy man gave you a private scholarship and you even acknowledged him as your godfather. Didn't I say you should invite him home for a visit? Why haven't you brought him around?"
Qiu Qiu looked even more aggrieved: "...That's over too."
"Girlfriend's over, godfather's over too?"
Qiu Qiu couldn't speak, only nodding with a face full of sorrow.
Qiu's mother chided her husband for touching a sore spot: "It's just a rich godfather. With a fair-faced boy like my son, what kind of godfather couldn't he find?"
"Mom, you just said the same thing a moment ago..."
"Different, different. That was about a partner, this is about a godfather."
...Actually, the essence is the same, Teacher Dong.
Qiu Qiu hesitantly asked, "By the way, Mom, there's something I want to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"You..." Qiu Qiu gritted his teeth and asked, "Tell me the truth. Have you been lying to me all along, saying you've been saving my New Year's money for me since I was little?"
Qiu's mother was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily: "When did my son become such a little miser? Mom keeps her word. I haven't touched a single cent of your New Year's money. It's all in the safe in my bedroom. You're grown up now, you should have your own little nest egg. I'll have your dad get it for you in a bit."
After hanging up the video call, Qiu Qiu returned to his room overjoyed, holding the bankbook containing his New Year's money.
His family was well-off, and his annual New Year's money was quite substantial, totaling over fifty thousand yuan when added up. He thought for a moment, took a photo of the deposit balance, and sent it to his godfather.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: [photo].jpg
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: Look, this is the New Year's money my mom saved for me since I was little.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: The money's all there, not a cent missing.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: You're just a liar. [angry]
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: I know you're watching.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: I'm meeting Little Li tomorrow. I'm going to give her this fifty thousand.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: Godfather, do you think I have too much money burning a hole in my pocket?
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: But I feel that giving her hope in a relationship and then letting her down was my mistake.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: Also, I sneezed all night last night. She must have been thinking of me. [smile]
This time, Fu Ruien replied.
Dad is Godfather's Dad: No.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: No to what?
Dad is Godfather's Dad: You sneezing wasn't because she was thinking of you.
Autumn is Qiu Qiu's Autumn: [curious][curious] Then who was thinking of me?
Dad is Godfather's Dad: It's because you caught a cold.
Qiu Qiu was so angry. He blocked his godfather, so from now on, godfather could never like his WeChat Moments posts again.
Fu Ruien was also very angry. That silly boy had fifty thousand and actually thought of paying back Little Li first instead of going to the villa to redeem his guitar. He really showed no respect for his elders.
By the time the sugar daddy discovered his sugar baby had blocked him, it was already the next day.
