Chapter 78: Confession Part 1

It was too embarrassing.

To be mistaken for liking a married person… woman… man… woman, whatever.

Tao Zhi was completely dumbfounded, his head buzzing. No matter how he thought about it, it was all Fu Si Heng’s fault. Now, he even had to get Fu Si Heng to explain it.

“That’s good, as long as there’s none.” Hearing Tao Zhi’s words, Mother Tao finally felt relieved.

Because Tao Zhi never lied; he was a good child.

If he said he wasn’t interfering, then he definitely wasn’t.

As long as he didn’t do anything against his conscience, it was fine. As for who Tao Zhi liked or what he wanted to do, Mother Tao wouldn’t interfere too much.

Because in her heart, she always felt guilty toward Tao Zhi.

The older child had suffered more than the younger one since childhood, carrying burdens that didn’t belong to him, but there was no other way.

Her health wasn’t good. While her husband did farm work, he also had to take care of her. One person couldn’t split himself and handle everything, so Tao Zhi had to shoulder the family’s pressures early on.

She was truly sorry to him.

They weren’t very good parents. Such a young child not only had to take care of himself but also the family and his little sister. Thinking about these things made Mother Tao’s eyes well up.

So, whatever Tao Zhi wanted to do, he should just go ahead.

“So, I can date him, right?” Tao Zhi sought his mother’s permission.

“Mm.” Mother Tao smiled. “Since you’re going to date, then stop sending money home all the time. You don’t earn it easily.”

“I’ve discussed it with your dad. From now on, we won’t do farm work at home. We’ll take on some small jobs outside, and just grow a vegetable garden on our land.”

“We can’t always let him help you.” In Mother Tao’s mind, the other person was a woman ten years older than him—an image of those mature, elite career women she’d only seen on TV.

She must have a strong personality, and her family conditions were definitely better than theirs.

But deep down, Mother Tao still held some traditional, feudal ideas. “You’re a man; you can’t take advantage of her. When you go out on dates or eat, you have to pay the bill.”

“Ah?” Tao Zhi looked up in confusion.

He thought about his mother’s words and nodded very seriously. “Mm-hmm, I will!”

“Mom, don’t worry!”

–

At noon, Tao Zhi didn’t go eat with Fu Si Heng.

He had originally planned to, but thinking about the conversation with his mom and sister earlier, he suddenly felt shy and didn’t want to see Fu Si Heng so much.

Tao Zhi decided to take a breather and calm himself down. He skipped noon for now.

He’d see him in the evening.

He didn’t go out to eat, but he recommended a restaurant to Fu Si Heng that he thought was good.

Fu Si Heng said he’d go try it, and Tao Zhi stayed in the ward.

The dishes Tao Peach bought at noon were mostly Tao Zhi’s favorites: salt-and-pepper crispy bones, scallops with vermicelli, and taro beef. After eating, Mother Tao didn’t need her IV drip in the afternoon, and Tao Zhi took a nap on the accompanying bed.

In the evening, Tao Zhi went back at five, ate dinner, and then started tutoring Shang Xuan.

After being lectured by Fu Si Heng that morning, Shang Xuan was extremely obedient now. He didn’t dare waste Tao Zhi’s time. During the day, he had diligently copied all his homework from every subject. When Tao Zhi checked it, he found hardly any mistakes and flipped through it several times in surprise.

With this level, why did he need a tutor? And why had he ranked second to last in the whole grade…

Tao Zhi was a bit baffled.

Shang Xuan watched him nervously.

He hadn’t forgotten that black. gang boss warning him not to cause trouble for Tao Zhi or waste his time.

He probably didn’t get many wrong, did he?

He had specially copied the class committee member’s homework!!!

Maybe the class president would have been better.

Shang Xuan felt very uneasy inside. He, who usually called Tao Zhi by name directly, now tremblingly called him “Cousin” and asked, “D-did I get… a lot wrong?”

“Not many.” Tao Zhi said, “Come on, I’ll explain the mistakes to you.”

……

The tutoring ended at nine o’clock that evening.

It was right on time. At nine, Tao Zhi came out of Shang Xuan’s room, and his aunt was sitting on the living room sofa folding clothes. Seeing him, she looked a bit surprised. “So early today?”

The previous two days, it had been half an hour later.

She glanced toward Shang Xuan’s room.

Tao Zhi had come out, but Shang Xuan was still hunched over his desk.

His aunt was a bit puzzled.

……Was he so diligent today?

“I told Little Xuan to review the key points for a bit longer.” Tao Zhi said, “Half an hour, then he can rest.”

“Oh, I see, okay, okay.” His aunt understood and then asked Tao Zhi, “So, are you going to rest now?”

There were still freshly collected clothes on the sofa.

His aunt said, “Wait for me, I’ll tidy up.”

“Uh, no need.” Tao Zhi scratched his nose. “I’m heading out for a bit.”

His aunt: “Hm?”

“Going out again…” His aunt asked subconsciously.

These past few days, Tao Zhi had been going out a lot in the evenings, and she had noticed.

She found it a bit strange. At first, she thought it was old classmates looking for him, but who comes looking for classmates late at night?

His aunt didn’t know what Tao Zhi was up to and didn’t want to pry too much—after all, he was an adult. She just said it casually today, but Tao Zhi inexplicably tensed up upon hearing it, his back straightening.

He had already reached the door, facing away from the living room, bending down to put on his shoes. “Mm… I have something to do.”

Tao Zhi guiltily made an excuse.

Though he had no reason to feel guilty.

A 19-year-old college student going out at nine to meet a friend was perfectly reasonable, no issues at all—very normal nightlife.

……

But he still felt a bit guilty.

It felt just like puppy love.

After finishing homework, making excuses to parents to go out, actually to meet his boyfriend… the person he liked.

This scene made up for the lack of early romance in Tao Zhi’s high school days.

His heart raced.

“Oh.” His aunt nodded, not thinking much of it, just reminding him, “Come back early, don’t stay out too late.”

“Mm-hmm, got it.” Tao Zhi forced himself to stay calm as he went out. After closing the door, he quickly ran off like a streak of smoke.

Downstairs, Fu Si Heng was waiting for him.

Tao Zhi had just come down when Fu Si Heng heard the footsteps. Tap-tap-tap, running really fast.

But upon seeing him, his steps slowed down.