Chapter 20

I am Du Hongting.

A walking succulent.

My mom and dad have perfectly average body shapes. I don’t get it—why is my body so out of proportion?

Everyone says it’s because I eat too much.

No, it’s not that simple.

It must be due to a genetic mutation.

When I was a child, our family had good living conditions.

My mom tirelessly pushed me to learn piano, equestrianism, golf, English, German, and French.

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Golf, I could play at a professional level with the best score being 80.

English, oral proficiency Level 8.

German, national professional qualification Level A.

French, no way.

Mainly because it sounds terrible.

My mom says, “What do you know? French is the most beautiful language in the world!”

I ask her, “Do you know anything other than ‘silly pig’ and ‘stupid donkey’ in French?”

You can’t speak about a language if you don’t understand it.

Clearly, the most beautiful language in the world is Chinese, no doubt about it!

My mom and dad don’t have a good relationship. They never argue; instead, they give each other the silent treatment.

Adults think that as long as there’s no fighting, even a marriage without love can be considered a complete family for the children.

How naive.

My dad, an honest person.

Works hard to make money, neglects the family.

But keeps saying he earns money for the sake of the family.

My mom, a beauty.

Her favorite thing to say is, “I don’t love your dad, but I won’t divorce because of you.”

I tell her, “Don’t just let me bear the blame because I’m chubby. If you want to leave, go ahead. You’re still young, and there’s plenty of time ahead. Maybe you’ll find true love.”

In a fit of anger, my mom got to know a man younger and wealthier than my dad, then ran away with him.

My dad was devastated.

He decided to start anew and leave this place of heartbreak.

However, the company’s performance kept declining, even my pocket money got reduced.

I told my dad, “Increase my pocket money, or I’ll run away from home.”

My dad said, “You can rent a house from Uncle Meng. It’s cheap.”

Rent it is!

The first week living in Meng’s house felt like entering hell.

No air conditioning, no refrigerator, no water heater, not even a toilet—just a squatting pit.

After taking a dump, I had to support myself on the wall for a while before I could get up. That’s when I truly realized how difficult life is for the lower class.

Physical torment aside, the mental distress was also overwhelming.

Oh, Meng Qiqi, such a simpleton…

Getting only 37 points on a math test, not striving for improvement, and listening to those songs by those tacky idols—it’s a real assault on the ears.

I told my sister,

“Would you like your brother to give you a ‘comfort session’ where you explode in place?”

As if that weren’t enough trouble, every dish in the Meng household had chili in it.

The first time I saw stir-fried cabbage, they even sprinkled chili powder on it!

I had to go out to find food for all three meals.

However, this city clearly did not suit me.

Even a bowl of tofu brain turned out to be salty, and a steamed bun was filled with oil and chili!

I didn’t want to live anymore.

Until that silly dog, one day, sneakily asked me if I liked eating big meat buns.

Of course, I love them. It’s my favorite.

But I didn’t want this silly dog to know about the common tastes of a sophisticated gentleman like me.

I pretended to reluctantly give her face and bought one to try.

Holy cow!!!

This big meat bun was so delicious that I wanted to roar!!!

Even though I was ecstatic on the inside, I coolly said, “It’s just okay.”

After the silly dog left, I devoured ten in one go.

Alive!

This silly dog was probably instructed by her parents and one day persuaded me to have dinner at her place.

Sis, I really wanted to.

But the only thing I can eat at your house is plain rice.

After rejecting her, I surprisingly heard this silly dog say, “Tomorrow, I’ll make sweet and sour spare ribs!”

Huh?

That’s something I love to eat!

The silly dog even said it’s better if I don’t come; she can finish a plate by herself.

Originally, I didn’t want to go.

But after hearing her say that, I had to go.

Strangely, after that visit, the Meng family stopped putting chili in their dishes.

I started mooching meals from their house.

One day, I overheard Uncle Meng advising his wife, “Use less salt in the stir-fry. I heard people from Shanghai prefer light flavors… Make the fish sweet and sour; that kid likes sweet food…”

In an instant, tears welled up in my eyes.

Uncle Meng, thank you.

Out of respect for Uncle Meng, I decided to treat his mentally challenged daughter a bit better.

Perhaps, because I did her a small favor and helped her out of a predicament once, she felt there was an opportunity. She started getting close to me.

It was obvious she had been secretly admiring me for a long time.

Helping me wash my underwear.

Frequently bringing me food.

Coming to my room to chat.

Pouring her heart out to comfort me.

However, making inappropriate jokes was a bit too much.

Her flirtation was too obvious.

A girl should be more reserved.

Actually, I’ve been waiting all along.

From childhood to adulthood, everyone complained about my body shape and urged me to lose weight. But I knew that in this world, there must be someone who sees me for who I am, like a unique firework in different colors. And here it is, I finally found that person.

Unexpectedly, the one who understands and appreciates me is this silly dog. She asked me to help her with her studies, and I agreed. After all, my goal is to join the mathematics department at Peking University. If her academic performance is too poor, I won’t be able to handle a long-distance relationship in the future.

Later, when it came time to fill out college preferences for the entrance exams, I hesitated. I thought about choosing a university closer to her, so we could study in the same city. However, Meng Qiqi, this silly dog, not only failed to grasp my sincere intentions but also drove me away with a stick.

Meng Qiqi, I’m not an assertive person. If you continue to be so dense, it won’t work out.

In the three years of university, it seems like she has forgotten about me. Maybe she fell in love with another chubby guy. I’m doing just fine; many girls have confessed to me. But they keep praising my inner qualities.

Well, what about my outer self? If you love me, you should appreciate all of me, including my beer belly and elephant legs.

Just as I started my fourth year, Meng Qiqi came looking for me. She called, and I recognized her voice right away. I purposely teased her a bit, anticipating her to call back and playfully scold me.

Isn’t it impressive how I bridged the gap after three years of separation? You should praise my high emotional intelligence.

After waiting for ten minutes without her calling back, I waited for another three or four days, but still nothing. I started feeling a bit awkward. Eventually, she finally reached out to me, showing up at my door directly.

I didn’t let her come to my place. The dormitory resembled a pigsty, totally unsuitable as a backdrop for a long-awaited reunion. I asked her to wait, and I went downstairs.

When I opened the door, she stunned me. Wearing a little black dress, bold red lips, with a figure that looked like a fairy but a face that remained innocent. Most importantly, the way she looked at me hadn’t changed at all.

It was like the way the Fairy Purple Cloud looked at the Monkey King, full of affection. Whatever excuse she had about developing an app, I figured it was just a pretext. She wanted to see me.

My inner calculations were already working on how to turn her into my girlfriend. The annoying part was that there were others eying her as well. She remained so naive, unable to distinguish even a scumbag, and flirted with him. Worried she might get hurt, I blocked the scumbag’s WeChat.

The silly dog was immensely grateful and cooked many delicious meals for me. To not disappoint her, I always finished everything. However, one day, the elevator lost power, and after climbing three flights of stairs, I blacked out.

After being revived, the doctor said I was too overweight and needed to control my diet. I told her not to cook for me anymore. Surprisingly, she never came again. I said I’m not an assertive person.

Meeting her at the supermarket wasn’t a coincidence. That’s all I can say. I noticed she had stocked up on many bags of instant noodles, seeming like she was short on money. I guessed she must be saving up to buy a phone. A direct gift would be a burden for her. So, I came up with a brilliant idea: let her win it.

She got a new phone, but it seemed like her life hadn’t improved. I used the excuse that I was craving some home-cooked food and asked her to help me with cooking. Every time, this silly girl made a lot of dishes. Despite not eating much herself, she always encouraged me to eat more.

I remembered the doctor’s advice, but she was eagerly staring at me…

To hell with the doctor’s advice!

And then I ended up in an ambulance again. Meng Qiqi came to visit me. It was embarrassing; she even brought a special health product for overweight people.

Later, Shen Cheng used the phone incident to threaten me into accompanying his sister to a haunted house. I didn’t expect to see her there. She seemed to be on a date with another guy. At that moment, I felt incredibly angry and desperate. A surge of emotions erupted.

I’m not good at expressing myself, never proactive, never good at cheering up women. Maybe that’s how I lost my silly dog.

No, I can’t. I can’t lose her.

This voice in my head became clearer and clearer.

Meng Qiqi cannot become someone else’s girlfriend.

After she got scared in the haunted house, she reflexively jumped into my arms. I gathered the courage to confess and kissed her.

And then—there was no “and then.”

She went back looking utterly confused. I thought maybe she was too happy and a bit overwhelmed. In a few days, she would surely come to find me. But I waited for half a year and she didn’t show up.

Instead, what I got was a full scholarship from MIT and the news that my dad had terminal liver cancer. My dad chose not to undergo treatment and said he wanted to spend the last days with me. So, I didn’t tell anyone. I endured it alone. Those days were too painful to recall.

Upon learning the news, Meng Qiqi searched for me everywhere. She even made up excuses pretending to be her boyfriend. Maybe she didn’t love me as much as I imagined, but her concerned expression seemed genuine.

I went to her house and decided to take a shower. While I was halfway through, she suddenly barged in.

I know you’ve been eyeing my body for a long time, but could you please hold back a bit since this is your place?

However, she didn’t seem ready to give up even after having her fill. She even asked me what dishes I wanted for dinner. Are you crazy? Don’t I have any dignity?

I rushed over and slammed the door shut.

After the Chinese New Year, with the encouragement and support of everyone, I finally mustered the courage to take over my dad’s company. Meng Qiqi was really good to me. In the middle of the night, she would go all out just because I mentioned I wanted to eat hot pot with pig brains.

When I couldn’t sleep, she stayed up with me the whole night, keeping me company. She cheered me up, made me happy, and helped me overcome the grief of losing my father. She turned down the rich and handsome guy introduced by her relatives and even took the opportunity to confess that I was her idol. Hearing her confession made me feel so happy.

Later on, whenever I faced decisions, I would listen to her opinion, and I would only proceed with her approval. She just understood me so well; she was my soulmate. Moreover, during the most challenging times in terms of my finances, she selflessly commanded her parents to lend me two million for a turnaround. It warmed my heart.

I have always been investing in the stock market. When I made a fortune during a good period, I took the money out of the stock market and used it to buy her a house. In fact, buying the house and furnishing it cost me almost four million, but I didn’t mention it. We’re family, and there’s no need to be so calculative.

She was indeed very pleased with the surprise I gave her. She felt embarrassed and told me not to lend her money next time. She is truly the kindest woman I’ve ever met.

I increasingly felt that my dad’s company was a traditional enterprise, hard-earned but with minimal profits. Playing with stocks seemed more lucrative. So, I handed the company over to my future mother-in-law.

I began to develop an interest in the stock market. I got addicted to researching an algorithm, applying it in the stock market, and eventually achieving a sense of accomplishment with overflowing returns. But there was always some hesitation, considering my parents’ initial expectation for me to pursue research and become a mathematics professor.

However, she encouraged me to be true to myself. I resolutely switched to studying financial mathematics. The best choice for this major was MIT, but I couldn’t bear to leave her. So, I stayed at the local university and rented a house as close to my wife as possible.

When we were together, she tried hard to behave like a lady, but once she got drunk, her enthusiasm became dangerously fiery.

From morning till night, she insists on sleeping with me, and it’s really hard to fend off. Moreover, her possessiveness is strong, and she gets jealous easily, even of my cousin’s attention. She inexplicably denied our relationship, and after a lot of fuss, it turned out she just wanted to bring up old issues. It’s really cute.

However, there’s an annoying side to her, especially when she gets obsessed with playing games. During one argument, I scolded her. She has quite a temper and angrily left. I thought of waiting for her to cool down, but it seemed like she had no intention of doing so. I had no choice but to call her.

Hearing her voice on the phone made me feel so uncomfortable, and I suddenly felt sorry for her. I ran around the streets in the pouring rain, going from one store to another, buying things for menstrual pain relief.

It was pouring at that time.

Even with an umbrella, I couldn’t completely cover my fat body. I decided to put everything inside my clothes. In the end, I was completely soaked, but thankfully, the items I bought stayed dry.

After making up, she finally revealed what had been bothering her all along. It turns out, she felt uneasy because I hadn’t followed the formal steps she liked.

“Why didn’t you say it earlier? I’d be happy to let the whole world know you’re my wife.”

Later, we finally got on the right track and engaged in some of the typical activities couples do – shopping, eating, and watching movies. However, I noticed that she didn’t seem interested in these things. The only thing she seemed interested in was me—specifically my body.

She tried to create romance, tell dirty jokes, and playfully tease me in various ways. The most terrifying part was that she was so sexy and captivating, yet completely unaware of it. Her delicate and boneless hand casually probing my pants pocket, the seductive way she licked an ice cream, being accidentally exposed while cleaning stained clothes, with an innocent expression on her face; occasionally, she would boldly kiss me.

She was truly naive, not even sure if we had done anything, yet holding a pregnancy test and claiming she was pregnant. Although I wanted to laugh, I couldn’t.

Still need to find a way to give her a way out and make her come down.

After finishing the hot pot, she wanted to eat me again.

This silly Husky.

Forcing me to take serious action.

So, regretting it now?

Can’t bear the pain on your own, so you blame my weight.

According to what you’re saying, can’t chubby people do that thing?

I’m not losing weight!

Being this fat is entirely the result of me eating one bite at a time.

All these years of savings are on this body.

You want me to lose it?

Reluctant.

After we had a big fight, she actually used Shen Cheng to provoke me.

Pretending to send some sweet doughnuts for a friend…

By the way, I clearly love red velvet doughnuts too. Your methods are too obvious, you’ve exposed yourself.

To make her stop this childish revenge, I decided to make up with her in advance.

Just because you want to get me?

I’ll grant your wish.

I’ve even bought the lubricant.

“Suddenly, I want to do something exciting with you…”

After sending the message to her, I suddenly felt nervous.

I have no experience, and if my first attempt is mediocre, wouldn’t I become the laughingstock of her life?

I decided to conduct some in-depth research on this matter before proceeding.

But the message had already been sent.

So, I quickly rushed out to buy some spicy grilled wings.

But it exhausted me.

Is it just my imagination?

After that, Meng Qiqi became much colder towards me in this regard.

Many times, it’s done with hands…

Quickly resolved.

I know she’s been busy lately, probably too tired.

So, I also started focusing all my attention on algorithm development.

Luck was on my side; I earned ten million.

She was in a great mood after hearing that.

That day, she was vigorously ‘milking’ me like a cow…

All the accumulated ‘goods’ were given up.

Later, there were some losses.

Not too much.

But what’s embarrassing is that she suddenly said she wanted to see my backend data.

Damn it.

When I was making money last time, you didn’t pay attention. Now you’re interested?

I tried to act calm and indifferent in front of her.

She still broke down and started questioning life.

I don’t know if it’s this incident that disappointed her in me, or if I’ve never been able to satisfy her in that aspect.

I found out she’s going on solo dates with other guys.

The first time, someone else told me, and I didn’t believe it.

The second time, I saw it with my own eyes, it was her. And with that guy called Ji Yagu or Jiayegu, or whatever his name is – a loser!

Back in the haunted house, that loser was all over her, with his hands and words. His disgusting face is still vivid in my memory.

I really wanted to rush over and stab him with the skewers I had in my hand right there!

But I held back.

I trusted my wife.

During our next date, I intentionally brought up the topic of going abroad to test her.

The result was that she didn’t feel sad or reluctant at all; she was even eager to hurry me away.

Why…

Blue, thin, fragrant mushroom.

That day I was studying in the library.

I caught her going on a solo date with Shen Cheng again.

I don’t care about others, but Shen Cheng –

A man’s natural sixth sense told me that Shen Cheng is really interested in Meng Qiqi.

If Meng Qiqi agrees, then the next time I go to KTV, I’ll have to sing ‘Green Light.’

I asked her if she was still thinking about ‘Get Rich’ or developing a new project.

She said it wasn’t.

So, that’s it.

It turns out that because she couldn’t get me, she found someone else to satisfy those desires. Ignorance is truly frightening. How did she conclude that I would be smaller if I lost weight? Haven’t you heard of the term ‘small belly, chicken dick’?

Originally, I wanted to tie her up, press her onto the bed, and let her experience my prowess. After all, I’ve watched a hundred of those movies. When it comes to theory, I’m at a professorial level. But I decided to give her another chance.

So, during our meal of Macau-style hotpot, I told her about my plan to go abroad. This time it’s real. Regardless of the events mentioned earlier, I’ve already decided to go. I wanted to take her with me. However, her attitude once again disappointed me—a half-hearted heart.

I secretly vowed: I must make her regret it! And then she’ll cry and hug my small chest and comfort me! Hmph, who isn’t a little prince(ss) these days?