My Exclusive Dream World Adventures-Chapter 90: Cousin 0

Chapter 90: Cousin 090

“Recently, because of some issues, she’s been pissed at me. But I didn’t expect her to skip school,” Chen Xu’s Third Uncle said over the phone with a hint of helplessness in his voice, “I’ve already bought a plane ticket for tomorrow morning. At the earliest, I can only return tomorrow afternoon. Chen Xu, I have to trouble you again.”

“No trouble,” Chen Xu could tell he didn’t want to talk about it and didn’t ask further.

After hanging up, he called Secretary Guo to ask for leave. Fortunately, he had almost finished all his tasks for the day, with only one store left to visit, which could be postponed until tomorrow.

Having taken the day off, he ordered a car online and headed to his Third Uncle’s home.

His Third Uncle lived in a different district of the same city, quite far away—it took over two hours by car to get there.

It was an old neighborhood, originally teacher’s apartments. Over time, the teachers who lived there sold their houses one by one and moved out, making the residents more diverse.

His Third Uncle had bought a house there many years ago. Chen Xu had visited many times, like during the Dragon Boat Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival, when his Third Uncle would invite him over for a meal.

Right after his college graduation, his Third Uncle even suggested that he move in and find a job nearby, but he politely declined.

For one thing, he did not want to be dependent on anyone, and secondly, his cousin, the Third Uncle’s daughter, was not easy to get along with.

His Third Uncle was generous, and the two families got along very well. When Chen Xu’s family had a crisis, his Third Uncle contributed the most money and emphasized there was no rush to repay it.

Chen Xu remembered how, while he was in his first year of university, he would stay over every weekend, and his Third Uncle would always prepare delicious food for him, treating him very well.

Until one weekend, just before the winter break, he accidentally overheard his cousin on the phone, catching the phrase, “We’ve got a freeloader at home…”

After that, he rarely visited. Third Uncle still often invited him over, but he would just say he was busy.

He only came over for holidays and Third Uncle’s birthday, had a meal, and then left without spending the night anymore.

That was five or six years ago, when his cousin was only in the fourth or fifth grade. Now, she was already in ninth grade.

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As Chen Xu reflected on the past, he had arrived at Third Uncle’s door, took out his keys to unlock it—the door wasn’t deadbolted, so it opened with a twist.

“Chen Ziqi.”

As he entered, he called out for her.

Bang.

A door of a room slammed shut, and he caught a glimpse of a red shadow.

She was indeed at home.

He sighed with relief, pulled out his phone, and called his Third Uncle, “She’s at home. She locked her room door the moment I entered. Okay, I’ll talk to her properly. Alright, let’s leave it at that for now.”

After hanging up, he walked to the door and said, “Open up.”

From inside the room came Chen Ziqi’s shrill scream, “Chen Xu, it’s none of your business, go away!”

Chen Xu was a bit vexed. Teenage girls aged fourteen or fifteen in their rebellious phase were the most difficult to handle, and he really didn’t feel like getting involved if it wasn’t for the sake of his Third Uncle.

“I don’t have time to waste here with you,” he said. “Your dad just said as long as you don’t leave the house, it’s fine. If you don’t open the door, I’ll nail your room door shut. Then I’ll go back to work, since your dad will be back tomorrow anyway.”

“Hmph.”

A disdainful snort came from inside the room.

Chen Xu thought to himself, I can handle you.

He went downstairs to the nearest hardware store and bought a few lock plates. When he came back, he found the toolbox, took out a hammer, and started hammering right in front of the door.

“Chen Xu! Have you gone mad?”

When Chen Ziqi heard the noise, she opened the door just a crack and saw him actually about to seal the door with a hammer, both shocked and furious, “Look what you’ve done to my door frame!”

“I warned you.”

Chen Xu placed the hammer back into the toolbox and pushed the door open, entering the room.

“Hey, what are you doing? Don’t come in,” Chen Ziqi tried to push him, but she couldn’t budge him with her small frame.

After Chen Xu entered the room, his gaze swept over every possible hiding place until he was completely sure she was alone. If there had been a boy in the room, things would have gotten a lot more complicated.

Chen Ziqi couldn’t stand it anymore and screamed, “Chen Xu! That’s enough. This is my home, who are you to come in?”

“Chen Ziqi.”

Chen Xu turned to look at her and said, “You think I want to deal with you? Do you know, in my two years of work, this is the first time I’ve taken time off, losing half my bonus for this month and a big chunk at the end of the year. If it weren’t for you, why would I suffer these losses?”

“So what, your family still owes my dad money…”

Chen Xu interrupted her, “It’s your dad’s money, not yours.”

“I… I…” Chen Ziqi was at her wit’s end, her eyes reddening, “I’ll tell my dad when he gets back that you bullied me.”

Chen Xu was indifferent, “Go ahead, see who he believes.”

After speaking, he didn’t bother with her anymore and walked over to the desk. There was a math workbook on it with a pen stuck in the middle. He flipped it open and saw she had started solving a problem but only finished halfway; clearly, she had been working on it just before.

“Don’t touch my stuff.”

Chen Ziqi snatched the workbook from him, gave him a glare, and placed it back on the shelf.

Chen Xu knew he had at least overpowered her in terms of presence and asked her about the real issue, “Talk to me, what happened? Why didn’t you go to school?”

After starting junior high, Chen Ziqi had begun boarding at school and only came home on weekends. Today was Wednesday, and she hadn’t gone to school, prompting her teacher to immediately notify her parents.

Chen Ziqi sat down in her own spot, picked up a book, and held it in front of her face, ignoring him.

“Don’t want to talk? Fine, your dad will be back tomorrow, and he can deal with you then,” Chen Xu deliberately provoked her.

Sure enough, she responded immediately, putting the book down and venting furiously, “He dares? I haven’t even started with him yet.”

Chen Xu couldn’t help shaking his head internally, thinking Third Uncle had really spoiled his daughter, allowing such a lack of respect.

“What kind of talk is that? He’s your dad.”

Chen Ziqi’s voice suddenly rose an octave, “I don’t have such a father, he’s keeping a mistress behind my back.”

At this, Chen Xu understood what was going on and laughed, “What you’re saying, your dad has been divorced for how many years now. It’s normal for him to find someone new, no need to put it so harshly.”

“What do you know?”

Chen Ziqi had tears in her eyes and yelled, “That woman, she’s only a few years older than me, and she’s still in college!”

Chen Xu was taken aback by this news but didn’t think it was likely and commented, “Impossible, your dad doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

“Why not? He admitted it himself,” Chen Ziqi said and then began to cry pitifully, “He could find anyone, but why her? Anyway, I don’t agree.”