Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 103. Xuchen's Father (1)

February 12, 2001, Monday Guan Xuchen sat at one of the shops in the auto parts market, an English novel in his hands, but his eyes were fixed on his father's back. Mr. Guan stood at the front of the shop, greeting passing customers warmly. However, most customers just glanced briefly before moving on.

Guan Xuchen glanced around the shop again. The ten-square-meter space was packed with various auto accessories—rain guards, bumper strips, car stickers, tissue boxes, cleaning agents, and other small items.

Since starting college, he was often asked by his mother to help out at the shop during weekends and school vacations. Deep down, though, Guan Xuchen wasn't really willing. He always found the auto parts market a bit dirty, messy, and shabby, and the cramped, merchandise-filled shop made him feel oppressed. But after a few visits, he realized his father didn't actually need him to do any heavy work. Even when he just sat inside reading, his father would seem particularly happy.

"Xuchen, look! You've only been here ten minutes, and I already made my first sale of the day!" Mr. Guan waved a ten-yuan note triumphantly, then walked to the cash register and tucked it into the drawer.

"We've been open all morning and only sold one bottle of car air refreshener..." Guan Xuchen felt quite discouraged when he heard his father say that.

"It's only eleven o'clock, and it's raining outside. Once the rain stops this afternoon, more customers will come." Mr. Guan wore an optimistic smile as he said to his son, "Xuchen, while you're reading at the shop, why not familiarize yourself with the products too? Learn the ropes of the business from Dad. When I get old, 'Guan's Auto Accessories' will be yours to take over!"

Guan Xuchen had heard his father say things like this countless times. He couldn't tell if his father was serious or just joking, but the idea of turning the ten-square-meter "Guan's Auto Accessories" into a full-fledged company seemed like a pipe dream. He couldn't imagine himself as the owner of an auto accessories company, let alone spending the rest of his life in a ten-square-meter shop.

Still, Guan Xuchen put down his novel and replied with a smile, "Dad, I'm already familiar with all the products here. For example, the car air fresheners come in three sizes—5ml, 10ml, and 15ml—with scents like osmanthus, beechwood, gardenia, lavender, and freesia."

"Great, great, great! My son is really smart," Mr. Guan walked over to Guan Xuchen and affectionately stroked his son's head. He then picked up the English novel, glanced at the cover, flipped through a few pages, and then tried to read the title aloud: "O-Oliver T-Twist... This must be Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, right?"

"Yes, it is." Guan Xuchen asked in slight surprise, "Dad, you know English too? Have you read this novel?"

"I'm nowhere near as good as you. I only read a few chapters of the Chinese translation back when I was in vocational school." Mr. Guan said self-deprecatingly, "Besides the 26 English letters, the only English words I know are 'hello', 'thank you', and 'goodbye'. Oh, right, and that phrase 'Long live Chairman Mao'."

Guan Xuchen giggled and said, "Dad, how about I teach you some English?"

"You're such a good boy, Xuchen. But I'm too old to pick up new things anymore." Mr. Guan said with a kind smile, "Instead of learning English, there's another wish I'd like you to help me fulfill."

"Oh, what is that? Just tell me, Dad—I'll do my best to make it come true." Guan Xuchen said firmly.

"My wish is..." Mr. Guan gently stroked his son's head again and smiled, "I hope you find a girlfriend soon."

"Dad, why are you bringing this up..." Guan Xuchen lowered his head, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

"Xuchen, you're in college now—it's perfectly natural to have a girlfriend." Mr. Guan chuckled, then said with a touch of nostalgia, "Remember when you were in middle school? You had a crush on that girl surnamed Cai, didn't you? Are you still in touch with her?"