“I prepared everything when I came today, just need to cook a bit, wait a moment, it’ll be ready soon,” Xiao Yao, now dressed, quickly walked towards the kitchen.
“Uh, do you need help?” His worried voice.
“No need… ah!” In the sizzling oil, a woman rushed out with a pot lid.
Moments later, a fragrant four-dish, one-soup meal was on the table.
“Let’s eat!” Washed hands, removed apron, he said.
“Wow! Amazing! Even better than my mom!” The woman who insisted she didn’t need help chirped around the table.
Just as they were about to eat, Shao Zun’s voice suddenly came from outside—
“Extra! Extra!”
Extra? What was going to happen now?
Xiao Yao noticed two well-dressed Westerners behind Shao Zun, seemingly here to talk to Yi Qing. Her original plan to discuss returning to work was put on hold.
After listening for a long time, she was still confused, only certain of the two Westerners’ respectful attitude towards Yi Qing.
After Shao Zun saw the guests out, Xiao Yao couldn’t help but ask Yi Qing, “Who were they? Was there something?”
“Something? Of course, and it’s a huge good thing,” Shao Zun, who had returned, laughed as he stepped in.
“Good thing?” Yi Qing’s mysterious smile made Xiao Yao even more puzzled. “What good thing?”
Later, from Shao Zun’s mouth, she finally learned that those two Westerners were from the internationally renowned “Jingye Information Software Company”, specially inviting Yi Qing to collaborate.
Shao Zun gave Yi Qing a thumbs up, “You’re something else. Not being a CEO anymore, locked in a room typing away, and you’ve still created a whole new world.”
Xiao Yao finally understood. This was the “work” he talked about.
Shao Zun continued, “This time, Jingye wants to buy the software you developed at a high price and hopes for long-term cooperation. Seems like you’ve really proven that you don’t need to be at Huawei to make a living.”
“Willing to work, you won’t have to worry about going hungry,” Yi Qing still just smiled lightly. “How about it? Stay for a drink?”
Shao Zun glanced at them, “No, I’ll leave you two lovebirds to celebrate. I have other matters to attend to.” Waving, his loud laughter gradually faded.
“What a strange person…” Xiao Yao muttered, then turned to Yi Qing with a stern face. “And you’re just the same.”
“Me? What did I do?
You are a professional translator who is proficient in both Chinese and English. Your task is to translate the following Chinese text into English. Requirements:
- Translate accurately and fluently, maintaining the original style and tone
- For Chinese names, use pinyin romanization
- Preserve all original content without omissions
- Ensure natural and idiomatic English expression
- Keep the original paragraph structure
- If there are any specialized terms, translate them accurately
- IMPORTANT: Only give me the output and nothing else.
“You always do this, not telling me anything, making me worry about you for a while, afraid that you—”
”I wanted to wait until I had results before telling you. What’s wrong? Don’t you have confidence in me? Afraid I’ll become poor and unable to support you?”
”No. I can earn money too, why must you support me? Besides…” she glanced sideways with a mischievous smile, “seeing how well you can cook, I actually think a male-led household isn’t so bad.”
”What kind of crazy idea is that? How could you think of such a thing?” Ye Qing laughed and knocked her on the head before saying: “I learned to cook for a reason.”
”How so?”
”When I was studying, I lived outside. During the New Year, I’d be alone in the dormitory. When I got hungry, I’d cook something for myself. Gradually, I gained some skills.”
”New Year? Didn’t you go home for family reunion?”
”Family reunion?” His gaze suddenly became lost as he slowly recounted his past. “I didn’t like going back, especially during holidays. At those times, I had to re-verify my identity from the mouths and eyes of those so-called upper-class relatives — the identity of an illegitimate child.
I don’t mind these things, because they just remind me where I came from. I’ve always tried to prove that this is not a shame! Not mine, and not my mother’s!”
He gave her a deep look. “To be honest, I struggled with my feelings for you. I once hated myself for not being able to change my destiny, so I wanted to grasp that power of control, and would do anything to succeed… until I met you.”
”Shitou…” She was on the verge of tears.
”Okay, let’s not talk about that. Now I’ve found that I’m very happy, just like I told you before, success comes from one’s own abilities. Now I can finally be an honest person. How should we celebrate?”
”What do you think?”
He whispered something in her ear, making her blush and laugh.
Nestled next to him, Xiao Yao felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. She thought that living like this wasn’t bad, but… was it possible? Some existing challenges were still waiting for them to overcome.
But Xiao Yao wasn’t worried at all.
No matter what obstacles lay ahead, she believed his steady, mountain-like shoulders would build the warmest and most solid harbor for her to dock.
However, not long after, the arrival of an “unexpected guest” would change Xiao Yao’s thoughts.
That afternoon, Xiao Yao was trying to lure Ye Qing away from the computer when footsteps suddenly sounded in the hall.
Xiao Yao hurried to look, discovering a well-dressed middle-aged woman. “Who are you—”
The woman’s cold gaze directly passed over her and landed on Ye Qing.
Xiao Yao instinctively turned to look at Ye Qing, then heard him say: “Mom.”
Mom? The evil apple-selling queen? Oh no, Xiao Yao quickly pulled herself back from the “Snow White” plot.
Xiao Yao became nervous, not knowing what to do with her hands. How should she address her? Ms. Hu? Madam Gao?
But Xiao Yao was overthinking it. The woman only spoke to Ye Qing.
”I want to talk to you alone.”
”Oh, then… you two can talk…” Xiao Yao tactfully retreated.
”No need. You should stay. You should be part of this, right?” Ye Qing held Xiao Yao’s hand, meeting Hu Jia Yue Ling’s gaze with a declarative look.
Hu Jia’s gaze swept between him and Xiao Yao, then after a moment, nodded. “Fine. If you think that’s better.”
Sitting down directly, her sleek hair neatly arranged, Hu Jia Yue Ling began: “I hope you’ll return to Huawei.”
”Why?” Ye Qing’s expression was neutral.
Hu Jia continued to discuss some potential crises at Huawei that Xiao Yao didn’t fully understand, but she understood Ye Qing’s expression.
He simply said: “Huawei has plenty of talent. I believe someone more suitable will manage it. Moreover, as you said before, the Gao family has supported me for over a decade and owes me nothing. In fact, I owe them. So even if I can’t repay them, there’s no reason to continue owing.”
”You—” Hu Jia’s expression suddenly darkened, her eyes sparking with confrontation. After a long silence, she spoke again, her voice slightly tired: “Can’t you consider it just me speaking in anger? Anyway, I don’t want to discuss this… I want to show you something.” She then took out a mini video recorder.
The screen showed an elderly man.
In that instant, Xiao Yao saw Ye Qing’s veins bulge, his teeth clenched, seemingly suppressing something.
The old man in the video lay in bed, pale-faced, coughing before speaking weakly: “Son, there’s something I must say before it’s too late, I…”
Another bout of coughing, then the old man continued: “Yue Ling told me about your situation. I asked her to come find you personally, no matter what, because… you are my son, do you understand? I don’t want to lose my son…”
The video ended.
”How is he… I mean, my father?” Ye Qing asked in a hoarse voice.
