Replacing the Evil Way

Chapter 102: Family (2)

Ding Xiang was hospitalized, and He Wei and Cheng Zesheng couldn’t afford to delay. Half an hour later, they were already in the emergency center of the First hospital of the city. Cheng Zhenqing was casually leaning against the wall, playing with his phone, while Cheng Zesheng quickly approached him, “Ge, where’s Mom?”

Cheng Zhenqing pointed towards the ward, and He Wei followed behind, asking, “Why are you outside? Is Auntie not in serious condition?”

“It’s fine; her blood pressure has come down. She’s inside watching TV dramas,” Cheng Zhenqing reminded them, “I advise you not to go in now. In this episode, the third party has taken over, making her annoyed, and she’s furious. Beware of her transferring her anger to you.”

“…” No wonder you’re standing outside. Cheng Zesheng discreetly peeked through the door crack, then turned to He Wei and said, “Ge is right; my mom looks like she’s ready to eat someone.”

He Wei scanned the hallway, asking, “What about your dad?”

Cheng Zesheng looked at his older brother, and Cheng Zhenqing shrugged, “Dad went to see Grandpa. He’s on his way to the hospital.”

The three men stood outside the ward, and a young nurse carrying a tray of medication passed by, casting curious glances. Soon, retired military strategist Father Cheng rushed in, still in his military uniform, not having had time to change. Cheng Zhenqing approached him first; he was well-acquainted with these situations.

“Dad, Mom is okay; her blood pressure has come down,” Cheng Zhenqing pointed to the ward. “She’s inside watching TV dramas, in a very good mood.”

Father Cheng also had experience in such matters. He peered through the door crack and had no intention of entering. He saw his wife lying on the hospital bed, engrossed in her phone. He heaved a sigh of relief and turned to ask, “What happened? I was only away from home for a while, and your mom is in the hospital?”

Cheng Zhenqing poked his thumb toward He Wei, who had been accompanying them. The two of them simultaneously greeted him, “Dad (Uncle).”

Father Cheng nodded. It wasn’t surprising that Cheng Zesheng came to the hospital, but why was He Wei here too? Upon further thought, he realized that He Wei had a good relationship with these two brothers, lived with Cheng Zesheng, and Ding Xiang liked him. He had even shared a few meals with their family. In the eyes of the old-fashioned military officer, their close interactions were just camaraderie, with no other possibilities. Father Cheng had a favorable attitude toward He Wei and spoke warmly, “He Wei, you’re considerate. You didn’t go home for the Mid-Autumn Festival?”

“I did go home, but I just got back and heard that Auntie was ill, so I came with Zesheng to check on her.”

“Oh, I see.” Father Cheng then turned his gaze to Cheng Zesheng, “And what about you? While everyone else was going home for the Mid-Autumn Festival, what were you busy with?”

Cheng Zesheng looked innocent, “I went home too.”

“Where did you go? There’s no one at home except for your older brother!”

Cheng Zesheng pointed at He Wei, speaking candidly, “I went to his place.”

“…?” Father Cheng was momentarily perplexed. His gaze shifted between the two, failing to grasp the meaning behind their words. “You went to Xiao He’s house for the Mid-Autumn Festival? Why did you join in the fun at someone else’s house?”

Cheng Zhenqing sighed, “Dad, compared to Mom, your investigative skills are really lacking.” He pointed at Cheng, and He, shaking his head, “The reason my mom went to the hospital, haven’t you figured it out yet?”

Father Cheng was completely bewildered. What were these three young people up to? In his eyes, these matters were completely unrelated. 

Before he could think much more about it, Ding Xiang’s TV drama finally ended, and she called out loudly, “Zhenqing! I need some water!”

“Alright, coming!” Cheng Zhenqing exchanged glances with his younger brother and asked if they should go in together, but Cheng Zesheng shook his head and gestured for his brother to go first to gather some intelligence on the situation.

Cheng Zhenqing went inside, leaving Cheng Zesheng and He Wei standing in the corridor. Father Cheng asked, “Why aren’t you both going inside together?”

Father Cheng grew increasingly puzzled. As he pushed the door open, he overheard the following conversation between his eldest son and his wife:

“They’re here? They’re outside now?”

“Yeah, I was afraid they’d upset you, so I came in first to check.”

“Sigh…” Ding Xiang sighed, “If they were worried about upsetting me, they wouldn’t have done this in the first place.”

“Affairs of the heart can’t be stopped,” Cheng Zhenqing paused, “And those two, they’ve been through a lot together. You should just accept the reality, Mom.”

Father Cheng was dumbfounded. With the conversation reaching this point, even someone as stubborn as him could change their perspective.

He took a step back and then stepped forward again, staring at the two young men standing in the corridor. They were standing very close to each other against the wall, and upon closer inspection, their hands hidden behind them were constantly fidgeting and intertwining. Did they really think he couldn’t see what they were up to? Father Cheng’s breath caught, and he finally understood why his wife had come to the hospital.

“What… What are you two…” Father Cheng’s face turned pale, and he pointed at their trembling fingers, “What’s this all about?!”

He Wei had initially planned to explain politely and delicately that their relationship wasn’t just ordinary comradeship, but before he could speak, Cheng Zesheng firmly grasped his hand and raised it in front of his father, saying, “This is how it is, Dad. He Wei and I are together, and we plan to spend our lives together.”

“…” He Wei sighed with a headache and gave a wry smile, curling his lip slightly in response.

Cheng Zhenqing was still in the ward, comforting his mother, when a furious roar came from outside. The word “get out” was delivered with such force and thunderous clarity that it echoed down the corridor, drawing the attention of many patients and nurses, who began to peek their heads out, whispering in hushed tones.

The two people at the center of this storm, however, remained calm, exchanging whispers. The previous outburst seemed to have had no impact on them whatsoever.

“Your dad really has a powerful voice.” He Wei whispered.

“Yeah, he’s an old soldier, still has plenty of fight left in him.” Cheng Zesheng replied in a hushed tone.

Father Cheng was once again infuriated, and, in the nick of time, Cheng Zhenqing opened the door, ushering his father inside. It wasn’t worth getting worked up and harming his health over this issue. He gestured for Cheng Zesheng to follow, indicating that they should leave while the volcano hasn’t erupted yet.

Cheng Zesheng, however, was determined today. He planted himself there and was ready to confront his parents head-on, staring stubbornly at his father. It was He Wei who felt that something wasn’t right, so he tugged at Cheng Zesheng’s arm, and the two of them retreated, leaving for a discussion. Now that the cat was out of the bag, could it be put back in?

Ding Xiang was just about to get up to see what was happening when the door swung open with a gust of wind, and her husband strode in, visibly agitated. He sat down forcefully, “This is getting too chaotic. Two men acting like a couple?!”

Cheng Zhenqing followed and closed the door behind him. “Dad, I know you don’t want to admit it, but they are really together.”

Ding Xiang leaned against the head of the bed, looking mournful. “Lao Cheng, you know too?”

Father Cheng, though still somewhat angry, sighed. “How did this happen? These two kids… Hey, our Zesheng never mentioned liking men before, so how did he end up with He Wei…”

Seeing the situation, Cheng Zhenqing stroked his chin. This situation was precarious, and he didn’t want to get involved and risk making it worse.

——— 

For most people, coming out might be a carefully considered, well-thought-out decision. However, for Cheng Zesheng, coming out was just a casual remark, and after that, it was over. He turned his attention back to work.

Some people commented that his attitude was a sign of a good mindset, while others described it as being indifferent. Cheng Zesheng disagreed, saying, “What do you mean by indifferent? It’s not that I don’t want to go back; they’re the ones who won’t let me.”

According to Cheng Zhenqing’s information, Cheng Zesheng wouldn’t be able to come home for at least the next three months. Father Cheng had placed a thick stick behind the door and issued a warning: Cheng Zesheng won’t be allowed back home unless he breaks up, “repents, and reforms.” Otherwise, he’ll have his legs broken if he returns.

“Uncle Cheng is serious this time. I saw the stick behind the door yesterday. You better not go back.” Xie Wenxi said, resting her chin on her hand. “You guys are really something. Give Uncle and Auntie Cheng some time to cool off. It’s definitely because of something impulsive you did. A-Wei-ge wouldn’t be so unreliable.”

He Wei, holding a plate of hot food, replied, “Hmm, you guessed it right. I couldn’t stop him.”

“…” Cheng Zesheng looked innocent. In that situation, he had no choice but to say what was on his mind. Even if he didn’t admit it, once his parents compared notes, there would be no secrets left. So if anyone had to be blamed, it was Cheng Zhenqing. He Wei had analyzed it; his brother was definitely retaliating for the past incidents where he was taken advantage of, deliberately setting a trap for the young couple.

“Actually, you can’t blame Uncle and Auntie. Not to mention that they find it hard to accept, even many young girls find it hard to accept when you two are together.” Xie Wenxi pointed to the kitchen, “Last time, it was our colleagues from the newspaper who interviewed A-Wei, right? She was all clean and looked very charming. After coming back, she couldn’t forget about A-Wei and kept wanting me to help connect her with him.”

He Wei happened to come out with chopsticks and chuckled, “I didn’t expect to have that kind of charisma.”

Xie Wenxi quickly nodded; of course he had it. He Wei was the epitome of a modern, high-quality man—a hot commodity. It wasn’t that Cheng Zesheng lacked charm; it was just that his face was too delicate and beautiful, which didn’t make ordinary girls feel secure. He Wei, on the other hand, had the perfect level of handsomeness, not too outstanding but still impressive, the most economical choice.

Cheng Zesheng held He Wei’s hand under the table and pinched his index finger twice, clearly showing signs of jealousy. He Wei smiled, leaned over to his cheek, and pecked it openly, with a calm expression, not caring about others.

Xie Wenxi hadn’t even started eating yet, and she was fed a dose of “dog food” unexpectedly. She put down her chopsticks, waved her hand, and gestured that they were too much, not even allowing the singles to live peacefully.

The little gossip who came for some gossip and a free meal quickly left, fearing that this couple would continue to flaunt their affection in front of her. After she left, He Wei washed the dishes in the kitchen when suddenly a pair of hands reached around from behind, slipping into his apron and embracing his waist.

“Don’t move, I’m washing dishes.” He Wei’s shoulder shook.

Cheng Zesheng’s chin rested in the crook of his shoulder, and he nibbled on his neck, murmuring unclearly, “You wash yours…”

He Wei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He had the nerve to cry. How could he concentrate on washing when he was being harassed like this? Those hands were already inside his clothes, currently roaming around his waist, stroking and pinching.

“Wait until I’m done washing; it won’t take long.” He Wei used his elbow to push against Cheng Zesheng’s forearm. “What’s gotten into you? You’re so clingy today.”

Cheng Zesheng bit his neck and replied confidently, “There are too many potential rivals; I’m jealous.”

He Wei took the rag and continued to wash the dishes, not even turning his head. Oh, he was still jealous? Well, he could take his time; just don’t delay him from working.

Cheng Zesheng nodded as well, “You do your thing.” He continued to busy himself with He Wei.

…

The sound of washing dishes in the kitchen had taken on a different flavor.

He Wei was grateful for the blinds in the kitchen; otherwise, this would have turned into a live reality show. His apron hung crookedly on him, and although his T-shirt on his upper body was wrinkled, it was still intact. As for what was below, well, let’s not discuss that. With the kitchen counter obstructing the view, only Cheng Zesheng could see.”

He Wei was leaning on the sink with one hand and covering his mouth with the other, occasionally letting out a muffled moan. He couldn’t handle it anymore. Cheng Zesheng continued to fan the flames, whispering in his ear, “It’s okay, make as much noise as you want. There are only the two of us at home, and no one can hear.”

“…” As if he would believe it. What credibility could you have when you didn’t even bother to close the windows?

In the end, He Wei’s legs had gone weak, and Cheng Zesheng had to support his waist to prevent him from sliding down. Cheng Zesheng was utterly satisfied, with a triumphant smile on his face, and he promised to finish washing the remaining dishes later.

After finishing the cleaning, He Wei crawled into bed, and Cheng Zesheng entered the room after tidying up. He saw He Wei wrapped in a blanket, curled up as if he were asleep. When Cheng Zesheng sat down by the bed, he asked, “What do you think your parents are going to do?”

“What else can they do? They’ll have to endure.” Cheng Zesheng replied, holding He Wei close in his arms from under the blanket. “Don’t worry, our parents won’t be able to endure it for long. In the end, they’ll turn a blind eye to this matter, and it will pass.”

He Wei opened his eyes slightly and asked, “Is it that simple?”

“Yeah, if you want it to happen faster, it’s best if we can divert some of their attention.” Cheng Zesheng gave an example. “Like my older brother, his marriage issue is also a big concern for my mom. If he is married and has kids, my mom and dad would be busy taking care of their grandchildren, and they wouldn’t have time to meddle in our affairs.”

“Your brother doesn’t have a partner yet,” He Wei pointed out bluntly.

“Right, not yet, but he’ll have one soon,” Cheng Zesheng’s lips curled slightly, and He Wei raised an eyebrow, feeling like something was amiss. “What are you planning?”

Cheng Zesheng casually replied that he was just going to remind Xie Wenxi’s mother after she returned home that it was time to address his brother’s lifelong issue.

A few days later, Cheng Zesheng came to see He Wei, pouring out his troubles.

“The resentment has shifted! My mom has arranged five girls for me to meet, no matter how many times I explain that I don’t like men, it’s useless!”

He Wei suppressed a laugh and tried to appear nonchalant, saying, “Oh, right, you’re approaching thirty, and parents can get anxious about that.”

Cheng Zhenqing was filled with frustration, saying, “But it’s not right to force someone into a situation like this! Mom doesn’t even leave the house after retiring, so where did she find these girls? They come from all walks of life—nurses, music teachers, bank employees—oh, just hearing about it gives me a headache!”

He Wei continued to smile, reassuring him that it’s a good thing, a wide range of choices, and a broad spectrum of potential partners. His aunt was really thoughtful and would definitely find a suitable daughter-in-law.

Cheng Zhenqing waved his hand dismissively, exclaiming that this was like buying groceries! He preferred free and natural relationships!

He Wei leaned against the wall, offering no opinion. Given their close friendship, there were rarely moments when he would just listen and not respond. Since Cheng Zhenqing had come to him voluntarily, it was clear he had suspicions. Now, seeing He Wei’s smirking expression, he became even more certain that He Wei was behind this scheme.

So Cheng Zhenqing took a step forward, gripping He Wei’s shoulder and quietly interrogating him, “Tell me, is this your doing behind the scenes? My brother is so obedient, and only you could come up with such a sneaky plan.”

He Wei chuckled sarcastically, expressing mockery at their “brotherly” affection.

Cheng Zhenqing suddenly realized and lamented, “This is a disaster! My brother really let you corrupt him!”