<h4>Chapter 60 - Restructuring the Cold and Indifferent Household</h4>


    Although Lin Qian only asked for one cup of water for Shao SiJia, Zheng PingQing was holding two cups when he arrived at the door. Zheng PingQing was still wearing an apron when he told Lin Qian: “Drink some water too.”


    Lin Qian nodded. He epted both cups and took a sip in one of them. He raised a brow. “You added honey?”


    Zheng PingQing smiled. “Since big sister rushed to get here, I added some sugar for an extra energy supplement.”


    Shao SiJia finished fixing her quilt and was nowying on top of it as she stared at Zheng PingQing. With a sigh, she said: “You’re such a careful and considerate younger brother, ah.”


    Zheng PingQing stood on his tiptoes to look over Lin Qian’s shoulder. He replied: “Big sister, remember to support meter.”


    Shao SiJia gave him a mysterious smile. “Why? are you going toe out and perform?”


    Zheng PingQing hummed. “Something like that.” More likee out of the closet.


    Lin Qian: “....” It seems that Zheng PingQing is really dedicated to acting downright unscrupulous just to get the voters’ support, ah.


    Zheng PingQing left soon after. Lin Qian went to hand Shao SiJia the other cup but saw that she had her hands folded under her chin. With a meaningful nce towards him, she asked: “Ah Qian, I won’t scold you, so be honest with me. You didn’t cast some voodoo on Zheng PingQing, did you?”


    Lin Qian: “....” Zheng PingQing, I me you for this sharp decline in my reputation.


    Lin Qian took a big sip of his honey water. Tasting a lingering sweetness in his mouth, he replied: “I haven’t. We just ended up liking each other after we got to know one another.”


    Shao SiJia sat up, took a sip of water, then shrugged her shoulders indifferently. “If you like him, then I’ll follow you.”


    Lin Qian smiled. As he watched Shao SiJia finish her water, he pondered things for a while. Then he said: “Shao SiJia, I want to talk to you about dad and Chen ShiYi.”


    Shao SiJia gave him a look. “Say it.”


    Lin Qian took a deep breath, then said: “I don’t me him.”


    This was the first time Lin Qian had ever told this to Shao SiJia, both in this life and thest. He had initially thought that this sentence would be difficult to say out loud. But surprisingly, Lin Qian felt like a great weight had left his shoulders. He felt no resignation, just relief.


    It turns out he had already let go.


    Shao SiJia didn’t immediately speak and simply stared at her brother.


    Lin Qian continued: “When I was younger, I couldn’t understand an adult’s difficulties. I was so angry at him, and I med him for marrying mom, but not apanying her afterward. He had children, but he didn’t fulfill his responsibilities as a father...but now I know it wasn’t easy for him to work and provide for us. Now, he even gave up a job he loved just to be with us...”


    Lin Qian didn’t borate any further. He knew the hardships of the adult world because he had experienced it. But he wasn’t sure if Shao SiJia could understand such things at her age. Well, it didn’t matter. Because no matter what, Shao SiJia will listen to him.


    Sure enough, there was hardly any hesitation in Shao SiJia’s reply. “Well, since you’re not angry, I won’t be mad at him anymore.”


    Lin Qian smiled, then started ridiculing Lin YaZhi: “I’m not angry. Other than doing scientific research, he’s really stupid when ites to everything else...”


    Shao SiJia thought for a moment, then helplessly agreed. “Yeah.”


    She still remembered when Lin YaZhi had decided to marry Chen ShiYi. Part of the reason Lin YaZhi had wanted to remarry was that he believed his lousy rtionship with his children was due to the face that Lin Qian and Shao SiJia were used to having their mother around. He had naively thought that if he remarried, there would be a female figure that would take care of the siblings.


    This reason, of course, was brought to light in the middle of a heated argument. In such a vtile situation, the impact of such a revtion to the brother-sister pair could only be negative.


    But over time, if one looked back, one could only sigh. All of Lin YaZhi’s IQ really was dedicated to nothing but his research.


    Shao SiJia smiled at the memory. She patted Lin Qian’s head and said: “I didn’t expect your rebellious period to be so short.”


    Lin Qianughed. In his heart, he thought: It wasn’t that his rebellious period was short; it was that he had a longer period than most people.


    In truth, he had rebelled for more than ten years...


    Shao SiJiaid back down on her bed andnguidly stretched her body. “Honestly, I had already begrudgingly epted the situation some time ago.”


    “I recognize that I was also in my rebellious period for the past few years. I’m aware of mypetitive nature, and the fact that I’ve been particrly sensitive and fragile growing up. I didn’t listen to reason, especially towards adults who used old and outdated teachings. Back then, what I needed the most was unconditional support and approval from others...”


    Shao SiJia raised a fist. “After going through all that, of course I’m going to unconditionally support my brother and knock down our foolish dad!”


    Lin Qian: “....”


    Lin Qian opened the door once more and shouted: “Zheng PingQing, when’s lunch?”


    Shao SiJia jumped up and put Lin Qian into a headlock. “What’s with that attitude? You don’t want to talk to your big sister?”


    “Nope, absolutely not.” Lin Qian replied. It’s important to preserve one’s own life, ah.


    Shao SiJia released him with a huff. “I guess you just don’t dare.”


    Lin Qian coughed twice, then gave her a crafty smile. “Shao SiJia, you can’t take back what you promised just now, okay? You have to support me unconditionally in the future.”


    “Of course.” Shao SiJia nodded. “Oh, except formitting murder or arson, that is.”


    Lin Qian: “...I think you should worry more about whether or not you’ll end up embarking on the road of murder and arson.”


    Shao SiJia thought for a good long while. Not feeling particrly confident, she replied: “It’s tough to say.”


    Lin Qian: “....” I’m worried about the personal safety of the citizens in Rong City.


    In the meantime, Zheng PingQing finally yelled back: “Food’s ready! everyone, quickly wash your hands.”


    Lin YaZhi smiled. “Little Zheng really does deserve to be in charge of that bear ss. He’s so disciplined.”


    Chen ShiYi: “...Oh.” She really doesn’t remember her son being a disciplined person!


    That said, the two adults still lined up to wash their hands.


    ......


    The two adults and three children sat around the dinner table. Naturally, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing sat together. Shao SiJia was quite sour about this. “Big sister wanted to open crabs for you, but you decided to abandon mepletely?”


    Lin Qian decisively refused. “I can open my crabs on my own.”


    Zheng PingQing smiled. “Big sister, you can help me.”


    Shao SiJia grinned. “I like this brother.”


    Zheng PingQing: Sess!


    Lin Qian sympathetically patted Zheng PingQing on the shoulder. “She ‘s the type to save the chicken butt and neck specifically for you or put the fins and tail of the fish in your bowl. Are you sure you still want her to open your crabs for you?”


    Zheng PingQing simply turned towards Shao SiJia and solemnly said: “Big sister, just focus on yourself and eat well; don’t mind me.”


    Shao SiJia didn’t reply, and only gave him an evil smile in return.


    Meanwhile, Chen ShiYi had aplicated expression on her face as she looked at all the food on the table. There were both meat and vegetarian dishes, with most of them lookingplex and not at all homemade. It seems that Zheng PingQing was quite the cook.


    Lin YaZhi praised: “Little Zheng, everything looks so good! I guess you are qualified to advise me with my cooking skills.”


    Lin Qian’s mouth twitched. “Who in this city is qualified to pick at your cooking skills, ah?”


    Zheng PingQing took out a bunch of scissors from who knows where and started distributing them to everyone. “I originally thought to bring some moresuitable tools, but since we’re just eating at home, I figured we didn’t need to be so proper. These should be enough for us.”


    Lin YaZhi pped his hands. “Ah, I have just the thing.” He stood up, when to his bedroom, then came back with two tweezers and two modeling knives. Lin YaZhi washed the instruments in the kitchen, then gave them to Chen ShiYi. He proudly said: “Chen ShiYi and I are good at using these.”


    Others: “.......” Aren’t those yourboratory tools...


    It urred to Zheng PingQing that when he was young, Chen ShiYi often used herboratory instruments to pick the meat off of ribs, prawns, and crabs. She was much more proficient in using herboratory knives than kitchen knives.


    He didn’t expect Lin YaZhi to have the same hobby and skills.


    Zheng PingQing suddenly understood why these two ended up together.


    Lin YaZhi started to dismantle a crab, his actions quick and easy. He removed two rtivelyplete pieces off meat off the crab legs and ced them into Shao SiJia’s and Lin Qian’s bowls, respectively. He said: “Eat them while they’re hot.”


    Zheng PingQing was somewhat spellbound. When he was young, a simr scene often urred whenever Chen ShiYi was at home.


    But the adult Zheng PingQing no longer remembered what he had felt back then. He didn’t know if he should regret, or cherish the memory.


    As he thought this, someone loomed over him. Chen ShiYi, who had opened another crab, ced some crab meat onto Zheng PingQing’s bowl. “Here, you start eating too.”


    Zheng PingQing gently smiled. “Alright.”


    Just as he said this, another piece of crab meat was ced in his bowl. With augh, Lin YaZhi said: “I’ll also give you a piece.”


    Zheng PingQing looked down at the two pieces of crab meat in his bowl. Feeling warmth in his heart, he replied: “Then I won’t be polite.”


    But then Shao SiJiained: “That’s not fair! I only have one piece, howe he has two? We’re all children of this restructured household, ah. This kind of tant favoritism is causing an imbnce in my heart.”


    Lin YaZhi quickly took another piece of crab leg and set to work. “I’ll get you another piece.”


    Chen ShiYi also hurried. “I’ll also get you one.”


    Lin Qian made a sound of indignation. “...What’s with this situation? You’re like a child crying for some milk, ah. And more importantly, why does Shao SiJia get to have three pieces?”


    Lin YaZhi immediately replied: “When I finish this, I’ll give you another one.”


    Chen ShiYi cried out: “You wait for me...”


    As the two parents began to tear into the crabs madly, Zheng PingQing took a piece of crab meat from his bowl and gave it to Lin Qian. “I’ll give my share to you.”


    Lin Qian unceremoniously ate the piece Zheng PingQing offered up. Of course, he didn’t forget to put on a sorrowful expression and say: “You’re the only warmth in this cold and indifferent household...”


    Zheng PingQing immediately denied his words. “Don’t talk drivel; You and I aren’t in the same household register, so we can’t be ssified as being a part of one household.”


    Lin Qian nodded. “You’re right.” They were going to get married in the future, so it was better to keep their rtionship separate in that regard.


    Shao SiJia cheekilymented: “In that case, you won’t need the crab meat the restructured husband and wife couple will be giving out, right?”


    Lin Qian decisively defended his boyfriend’s rights: “No way, he’ll get as much as you do!”


    Lin YaZhi worked hard to maintain order. “Everyone will have some; everyone will have the same amount.”


    Then Lin Qian used his trump card. “Shao SiJia, if you eat too much crab meat, your face will get bigger!”


    Shao SiJia jumped up and tried to ce a piece of chicken butt into Lin Qian’s bowl. “You wicked brother; eat this!”


    Zheng PingQing quickly covered Lin Qian’s bowl with his hands and said: “Put that away, Lin Qian isn’t allowed to eat that.”


    Shao SiJia: “......”


    Why is it that in this supposedly cold and indifferent restructured household, she feels like these two people were particrly warm towards each other?


    Huh. I guess Lin YaZhi’s previous job was a researcher of some kind, like Chen ShiYi.


    Love Shao SiJia, this murderous arsonist in the making.