my friend's father

chapter 6

When A-Yuan arrived on Sunday night from the little trip he had taken with his mother, he didn't seem happy at all. Upon entering the house he found his father in the living room with his notebook on his lap, probably working, the student who had only carried a backpack with some clothes threw the object on the floor in frustration. Xiao Zhan's workhoolic side was soon pushed aside. - Son, you're finally here. - Zhan closed the notebook and placed it aside. - How it was? Did you have fun? - Please don't make me do something like that again. - he said with regret. Xiao Zhan motioned for the young man to sit next to him, he could know something was wrong just by looking at him. - You're eighteen years old, I can't force you to do anything, but do you want to tell me what happened? - He asked worriedly. - It was horrible. My mother harassed me the entire trip introducing me to girls as if I were going to cheat on A-Cheng, apart from that husband of hers who always made nasty comments about girls. I had to control myself not to disrespect her. - the boy had the same nervous tic that Zhan had when he got frustrated and ran his hands through his hair. - Do not worry son. If you don't want to visit your mother anymore, I won't force you. - As much as Xiao Zhan disliked his wife, he would never interfere in his son's decisions, if A-Yuan didn't want to see his mother, he wouldn't force him. - I'm going to my room to unpack my suitcase. - He said, taking the small luggage he had taken on the trip. - I'm going to order pizza for us to have dinner. - You hate pizza, dad. - the businessman, as someone who always took great care of his health, avoided eating unhealthy foods. - I can make an exception today. So, pepperoni and four cheeses? - He asked, knowing that those were the boy's favorite flavors. Of course, never depriving your child of small pleasures because of your ideologies about good food. - Could it be. He gave a half smile and went up to his room. Zhan watched his son go discouraged, he thought that after the disastrous dinner they had Mei Ling would have learned her lesson, however, the woman only worsened her relationship with her son. Deciding not to interfere any further, he went to the kitchen to look for a flyer for a pizzeria. Luckily he managed to order a ravioli with fungi sauce for himself and when he sat down again in the living room the door to his house was opened in a burst and Yibo walked straight past him up the stairs. The older man didn't understand and the boy didn't even seem to have noticed him even though he was standing there in front of him. Well, it was strange being ignored like that.

Forty minutes later the pizza had been delivered and the two college students went to the kitchen. From looking at Xiao Zhan, he could see how angry Yibo was. The boy went to the cupboards, taking glasses and juice from the fridge in a very intimate way.

- I swear if I find your mother in front of me I will tattoo my hand on her face. - He said while serving his friend. And he grumbled about everything.

- I'm fine, Yibo. I just don't want Cheng to know this, he'll feel guilty thinking that somehow it's his fault for us dating.

- You can't hide what that witch did. - he was very angry.

-What do you mean by that, Yibo? - Xiao Zhan asked confused, because despite his son's upset about the trip he didn't say much.

- It's nothing, dad. - A-Yuan disagreed. - Yibo, let's go to my room. - he put some pieces of pizza on a plate and left the kitchen and Yibo followed him.

Xiao Zhan knew that something was wrong, he didn't think that something more serious could have happened. He knew that his son would not say anything that could further inflame the animosity between his parents. He would have to ask Yibo later.

It was already past eleven at night when he heard footsteps and Yibo coming down the stairs. Zhan put the notebook aside and watched the younger man take the plates and glasses to the kitchen.

- Has he slept yet? - He asked as soon as Yibo returned.

- Yes, I made him watch a silly movie trying to distract him.