Tenant’s Secret Love

Chapter 5: Just wait

In the rain, I took a taxi back to the dilapidated neighborhood where I had lived for two years. When I got out of the taxi, I subconsciously looked around to see if Renee's Audi Q7 was parked downstairs.

Luckily, it wasn't there. Even luckier, I hadn't returned the house keys to Renee yet. I thought optimistically, “My father is only staying for one night. If she doesn't come back tonight, everything will be fine.”

I ran back to the house as fast as I could, put my things back in place in the shortest time possible, made the bed again, and then stood under my umbrella at the bus stop waiting for Stubborn-father to arrive.

About a quarter of an hour later, a bus from the long-distance bus station slowly pulled up. I looked up and saw Stubborn-father indeed, carrying a briefcase, getting off the bus.

I waved at him and shouted, “Dad, this way.”

He came over to me a little surprised and asked, “Weren't you going to dinner with your colleagues?”

“Dinner is a trivial matter, but your visit is a big deal. I know what's important,” I said, taking the briefcase from Stubborn-father and carrying it for him.

He was silent as we walked towards the residential area together.

I complained, “Dad, this is a business trip paid for by the company. Next time you come to visit me, can you just take a taxi? You'll be reimbursed anyway!”

“Public funds are money too, and every little bit counts,” Stubborn-father said with a serious expression.

“Our government has trillions of foreign exchange reserves in the United States, so we don't need your pocket money for taxi fare!”

Stubborn-father didn't say anything, obviously unwilling to argue with me about values. He's always been like this, never willing to explain anything as long as he thinks it's right, as if he were an independent world of his own, and then worked as a deputy section chief in that independent world for 15 years.

...

Back inside the house, 'Stubborn-father' took out a stainless steel lunchbox from the bag other than his briefcase and said to me, “This is the wild crucian carp I caught last week. Your mother cooked it and asked me to bring it to you. Just reheat it when you want to eat it, or not reheat it if you don't want to.

“Let's eat it tonight.”

He looked at me in puzzlement and asked, “Didn't you already eat with your colleagues?”

“Well, here you are, back in half an hour.” Then he quickly interrupted, “Oh yes, Dad, did you bring the glutinous rice wine that my mom made?”

Stubborn-father nodded and took out a bottle from his bag that had originally contained orange juice. It was filled with the glutinous rice wine that I liked to drink.

My father and I each poured a glass of glutinous rice wine, ate the cooked crucian carp and peanuts, and waited for the white rice porridge to boil in the rice cooker, chatting in between.

I was a little distracted, afraid that Renee would suddenly come back. It didn't matter if I scared her, but if I revealed my secret in front of 'Stubborn-father', I could just die.

...

A cup of glutinous rice wine had just gone down my throat when I heard footsteps outside the door, followed by the sound of a key being inserted into the lock. I panicked a little, glanced at 'Stubborn-father' and then at the door, which was close at hand.

The door opened and, sure enough, Renee walked in. The sight in front of her left her frozen in place, but 'Stubborn-father' didn't react much, treating Renee as if she were just someone I shared a flat with, or perhaps even my girlfriend.

Before Renee could say anything, I took her arm and asked with concern, “Have you been drinking? Let me help you into the room... Don't thank me, this is what I should do as roommates.”

Although I said it politely, I raised my hand to cover Renee's mouth from an angle that ‘Stubborn-father’ couldn't see, and pushed her a few steps into her room.

“Scum...let go of me!” Renee said indistinctly as she struggled.

“Don't scream!” I said in a low voice.

Renee struggled again and took out her phone from her pocket. Any fool could tell that she was going to call the police to deal with me. My behavior was indeed a crime of trespassing.

I snatched the phone from her hand, pushed her down on the bed, and rode her to prevent her from continuing to struggle, regardless of what a rogue position this was.

I said nervously in a low voice, ”Don't you f*****g scream, if my father hears you, I'm dead!”

Renee ignored me completely, her face full of terror, and instinctively raised her hand to grab my hair.

I was in agony, but I gritted my teeth and didn't dare make a sound. “Be gentle, you're going to pull my head bald!”

“Scum...” Renee shouted indistinctly, with my hand over her mouth.

I angrily said, “I'm a scumball...!”

Then I whispered, “But not in my father's eyes! He has high blood pressure, and if he knew that I was penniless and had no place to live, he would die of anger... Big brother, just pity me and deal with him for one night. He is here on business and will leave in the morning... I promise I will never bother you again!”

Renee finally stopped struggling and let go of my hair, but her beautiful eyes still stared at me with hatred and disgust.

I carefully released my hand from Renee's mouth, and this time she didn't scream.

I let out a long sigh, and only after a moment did I realize that I was still sitting on Renee's body. Just as I was about to get up apologetically, Renee twisted her body and pushed me hard, and I fell straight from the bed with a loud crash.

“Lucas, what are you doing in there?” ‘Stubborn-father’ asked when he heard the noise.

I endured the pain and said, “I hit the cabinet...”

He didn't pursue the matter, and Renee finally looked at me with a smile of revenge but anger.

“I'm warning you not to say anything! My father really has high blood pressure and can't take a blow, so you stay in your room and don't go out!”

Renee didn't agree or deny.

I made a pleading gesture again, but she still didn't say anything. I could only comfort myself by taking her silence as a yes. I looked at her pleadingly one more time, then walked out the door with the door closed behind me.

...

When I arrived in the living room, 'Stubborn-father' had already gone to the kitchen and filled three bowls of rice porridge. He said to me, “Lucas, go give the girl a bowl of porridge. After drinking, you need to eat something, you can't go hungry.”

“Let her rest,”

As soon as I finished speaking, Renee came out of the room with her handbag in her hand...

Given all the evil deeds I had committed before, Renee could have executed me without mercy, but at this time, exposing me in front of “Stubborn-father” was exactly what I deserved.

Just as I was getting a little nervous and my legs were getting weak, Renee walked straight to the door without looking away, and it looked like she planned to leave the room to me tonight.

Just as I was about to let out a sigh of relief, the usually taciturn Stubborn Father said to Renee, who had not yet left the door, “Girl, I've put some congee in a bowl for you. Drink it while it's hot.”

I wanted Renee to leave as soon as possible, and kept giving her signals with my eyes, but she looked at me and then nodded to my father and said, ”Thank you, uncle.”

...

The two people who had just been fighting for their lives were sitting at the same table, drinking congee, as if by magic. I was always like a suspect with a guilty conscience, not saying a word, but always on the lookout for Renee to say the wrong thing.

From time to time, I glanced at Renee out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't know what she was up to. However, it didn't seem like she was going to tell my father on me, she was just sipping the congee.

Stubborn-Father' was always quiet and disliked talking, and he concentrated much more on his food than other people, so he finished eating his congee first and got up, picking up his handbag, and said to me, “You have people living here, so I'll go to a hotel.”

I looked at Renee and then said to my father, ”Dad, don't go, just sleep with me.”

“You've been snoring a lot lately, and you have to work tomorrow, so I can't let you sleep.” Stubborn-father shook his head and handed me a sweater from his bag: ‘Your mother knit it for you.”

I took it and looked at it, a little puzzled: ’Why did she knit two?”

“So you can give it to your girlfriend when you find one. Home-knitted sweaters are warm!”

I felt a little helpless. I knew that my parents were using this subtle way to remind me to find a girlfriend quickly.

I looked at Renee, who was still sipping her rice wine, and flirtatiously said, “It's getting cold, I'll give you a sweater later!”

Renee gave me a glare, but in the end she didn't lose her temper in front of my father, but I was secretly happy.

...

Before leaving, ‘Stubborn-father’ counted 3,000 yuan from his wallet again and handed it to me, saying, ‘Take it.”

I laughed carelessly, ’Why are you giving me money, I don't need it!”

Stubborn father' put the money in my hand and said, “You were born to me, I know your character very well, I have told you many times, you need to plan your spending... Pay the utility bills when you have time.” He looked at the reminder for the utility bill that had fallen on the floor a few days ago.

Suddenly, my nose felt a little bit sore. I really wasn't a son who made his parents worry. I stuffed the money back into my father's hands: “I really don't need it. My mother's not well, so you can keep it and buy her some health products. I get paid next week.”

Stubborn-Father didn't say much else, just put the money on the table, looked at Renee again, and walked out the door alone.

...

I caught up with my father and walked him downstairs. He said to me, all the while silent, ”That girl was pretty good-looking!”

I pulled him and looked at the parked Q7 next to us and said, “Dad, quickly put away your fantasies, she's not my type... See that car? It's hers.”

Stubborn-Father followed my gaze to the red Q7 and looked puzzled. I think he was also surprised that Renee drove such a car but lived in such an old place.

Stubborn father' finally chose to remain silent out of habit. He was helpless in the face of my poor situation. In fact, whether we like it or not, we have truly entered an era where money is needed to prove love. So I told him to put away his fantasies, and I myself am even less willing to fantasize!

That night, Stubborn father finally left after leaving me with the words, “Work hard,” and walking away in the rain with an umbrella.

Watching his elderly back in the rain, I read his expectations in these words: he expects me to work hard, marry a nice girl, and let him hold a grandchild... But, Stubborn Father, I am living in a state of helplessness and struggle, weighed down by reality and torn between the many dreams that remain to be fulfilled. Can I wait?