TEDWR: Chapter 42

 Glossary

· Zhang Yansheng (张雁声): The female protagonist, the reborn eldest daughter.

· Liang Yingying (梁莹莹): Zhang Yansheng's stepmother.

· Zhang Huan (张寰): Zhang Yansheng's father.

· Zhang Heling (张鹤翎): Zhang Yansheng's nine-year-old half-sister.

· Zhang Shuocheng (张硕成): Zhang Yansheng's seven-year-old half-brother.

· Auntie/阿姨: General term for the female household staff/nannies.

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Chapter 42

On Monday morning, Liang Yingying got up to find the house very quiet. Going downstairs, she couldn't see anyone.

Liang Yingying asked an auntie curiously, "Where are the kids?"

The auntie covered her mouth and laughed. "They're all in the basement. That whatchamacallit VR machine arrived and they're installing it. Heling and Shuoshuo are beyond excited."

Oh, it was that VR room Zhang Yansheng had talked about.

Because of her wild idea, Zhang Huan had even given up his collection room for it. And the two younger ones were getting all hyped up over nothing.

Liang Yingying curled her lip.

As she ate breakfast, she thought to herself that Zhang Yansheng had changed quite a bit since that one time she went crazy and tried to strangle her. She didn't argue with her as much now, and actually seemed to get along much better with the two younger kids?

Liang Yingying scoffed inwardly.

Hadn't Zhang Yansheng never considered the two she gave birth to as real siblings before? Had she finally recognized reality now? Given in?

Admittedly, even though Zhang Yansheng had hit Zhang Shuocheng twice, he was actually doing his homework on time every day now. Just this point alone made Zhang Huan quite happy—this was his own son, and being able to please his father naturally made Liang Yingying happy.

Liang Yingying suddenly felt this was also fine; it saved her a lot of trouble. Let Zhang Yansheng be the nanny for her kids then, hahaha.

Liang Yingying secretly gloated for a while, did her makeup beautifully, and went out.

It just never occurred to Liang Yingying that rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. If you give up the responsibilities, you'll also lose the rights.

As soon as Zhang Huan returned home in the evening, the two little ones rushed over and surrounded him. "Daddy, daddy, daddy, come see! It's all installed!"

Before Zhang Huan could even change his clothes, he was dragged to the basement by the two kids, finding the situation both funny and exasperating.

Going down to take a look, he saw machines with large screens and surround sound, motorcycle-riding machines, car-driving machines, roller coaster simulators, and one machine he couldn't quite identify… all set up. Zhang Yansheng was there wearing a helmet, holding a controller. On the large screen, what she held had transformed into a lightsaber. She was swinging the lightsaber, cutting down monsters swarming from all sides.

"Dad, look!" Zhang Heling tugged at Zhang Huan, whispering. "Sis is super cool!"

Zhang Huan looked closely. Because Zhang Yansheng had trained, her movements were different from an ordinary person's wild slashing. Her stance, the force of her strikes—all had a sense of rhythm and power, which could simply be called grace.

It was just good-looking! Cool! A pleasure to watch!

Even Zhang Shuocheng was on the side, clenching his little fists, imitating Zhang Yansheng's movements.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Soon, Zhang Yansheng finished a round with a complete victory, her score hitting a new high. Of course, it was a new machine, so the leaderboards were all new. A whole row showed Zhang Yansheng's name.

Zhang Yansheng took off her helmet, turned her head, and saw Zhang Huan standing there holding Zhang Heling's hand. She tilted her chin. "Back?"

That side profile looked quite a bit like his deceased wife, and that faint gaze and tone were even more alike.

Zhang Huan suddenly felt a pang in his chest.

She used to be the most close, warm-hearted child. How had she become so cold and distant?

Suppressing the heartache, the older man smiled and said, "All installed, huh? Looks pretty fun? How do you play this?"

"Daddy! Here, take this! This big gun!" Zhang Shuocheng excitedly shoved a huge rifle into Zhang Huan's hands. "You try it, it's awesome!"

Zhang Huan also became interested. "Alright! Daddy will give it a try! Yanyan, how do you play this?"

Zhang Yansheng put her helmet back on. "Heling, help Dad put on the helmet. Zhang Shuocheng, tell Dad how to use that gun."

Zhang Huan noticed that with Zhang Yansheng's single command, the two little ones carried out her orders without hesitation.

His formerly noisy, often hysterical eldest daughter now carried the air of an eldest sister. What she said, her younger siblings listened to.

Zhang Huan bent down, and with Zhang Heling's help, put on the helmet. Though young, his little daughter was gentle and patient, carefully adjusting the buckle's tightness for fear of pinching her daddy's face.

His son Zhang Shuocheng was much more jumpy, scratching his head in impatience. As soon as Zhang Huan was ready, he hurriedly instructed, "Like this, that's firing. Like this, that's reloading…"

He also complained, "This gun is too heavy!"

Boys all loved shooting games. Zhang Shuocheng wanted to play with the big gun, but the big guns were for adults—too heavy! When he played shooter games, he could only use the small controllers, which weren't as cool as the big gun.

Zhang Huan fastened the helmet, steadied the gun, and started the game with Zhang Yansheng.

They say a man remains a boy at heart until death; almost no man dislikes shooting games. Zhang Huan hadn't played in decades. Suddenly playing, especially with this VR technology, turned out to be quite enjoyable.

He was just much worse at aiming than his daughter. When the round ended, Zhang Yansheng's score was twice his.

But Zhang Huan had a great time. Especially with his little daughter and son constantly cheering him on, jumping around on the side.

This warm, happy atmosphere was really nice.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Zhang Shuocheng jumped up and down, shouting, "I want to play multiplayer too! I want to play!"

Zhang Huan said, "Okay, okay, Daddy will play with you."

The multiplayer shooting games Zhang Shuocheng could play were much more childish and cartoonish. Zhang Yansheng took off her helmet and said, "You guys play. I'm going up."

She handed the helmet to Zhang Heling. "You keep an eye on him. Don't let him press the menu buttons randomly; it can crash the system."

Zhang Heling said with full confidence, "Okay!"

Over here, Zhang Huan was still placating Zhang Shuocheng. He turned around, and his eldest daughter was already gone.

Zhang Huan suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. Times spent playing together with his eldest daughter like this felt very, very distant in his memory.

Looking at his little daughter, she came over to help her brother put on the helmet, warning him not to press the menu buttons randomly. Unconsciously, his little daughter had also grown up, acting very much like an older sister.

And his son actually agreed properly. This attitude was also quite different from before. When had Zhang Shuocheng ever properly listened to Zhang Heling before?

A bit surprised, Zhang Huan said, "Shuoshuo listens to his sister quite well?"

Zhang Shuocheng: "Hmph!"

Zhang Heling raised her head proudly. "If he dares not listen, I'll tell my sister! My sister will hit him! Hit him with a ruler until he howls like a ghost and wails like a wolf!"

Zhang Shuocheng: "Tch!"

Zhang Huan laughed heartily. After laughing, he became thoughtful.

Zhang Shuocheng was already impatient. "Daddy, hurry up!"

"Alright, alright." Zhang Huan also tightened his helmet and gripped the controller.

After one round of intense play with his eldest daughter and another round playing with his little son, Zhang Huan was satisfied. He said to Zhang Heling, "You play with your brother."

But Zhang Heling quickly switched Zhang Shuocheng to a single-player game and then chased after him. "Daddy! Daddy!"

"What's up?" Zhang Huan turned and stopped.

He saw Zhang Heling looked a bit hesitant. But after hesitating, this little daughter who usually never dared to make requests of her father mustered her courage and asked, "Um, about Thursday… are we going?"

Zhang Huan suddenly understood and laughed.

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Because it was Monday, as per routine, his secretary had first reported his schedule for the week early in the morning. This Thursday was August 2nd, his little daughter's birthday. And earlier, his eldest daughter had specifically called the secretary to add the trip to the amusement park to his schedule.

So when Zhang Heling mentioned it, Zhang Huan immediately understood.

Zhang Huan pinched her nose and smiled. "Don't worry, Daddy has already put it in the schedule. Of course we're going."

Watching his little daughter's eyes light up with joy and her shoulders relax, Zhang Huan's heart stirred. He squatted down and asked her, "So, do you want to go with your sister, or with your mom?"

Zhang Heling was surprised. "Can't the whole family go together?"

Zhang Huan said helplessly, "Don't you know your sister's temper? She said she won't appear at the same time as your mom."

Zhang Heling said without hesitation, "I want to go with my sister!"

Zhang Huan was curious. "Why not choose Mom?"

Zhang Heling said matter-of-factly, "Because Mom doesn't want to take me either. She only wants to take Shuoshuo."

Zhang Huan: "..."

This child was different from both Zhang Shuocheng and Zhang Yansheng. Zhang Yansheng, at least before her mother passed away, was the only little princess in the family, the true legitimate eldest daughter. Zhang Shuocheng had also been excessively doted on since birth because of his gender.

Only this middle child was different.

Before she was four, she was raised outside. Zhang Huan actually only saw her once every week or two. His time was also given to her mother and her brother; he had neglected her too.

Later, even after coming to this household, this child rarely made requests of him.

Zhang Huan looked at his little daughter and truly felt he had cared too little for this child.

She had hesitated before speaking earlier. If it were Zhang Shuocheng, why would he hesitate? He wouldn't use an inquiring tone either. He would directly use the "I want…" sentence pattern, or even the stronger "I insist on…" pattern.

Zhang Huan couldn't help but feel his heart soften with affection. He generously promised, "Alright, then we'll go with your sister. We won't take Mom!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he watched his little daughter's eyes light up once more.

But she hesitated again. "But if my sister sees Mom…"

Zhang Huan snorted and asked her, "Can your mom get up that early?"

(read @cherrybombbertranslations.blogspot)

Not only couldn't she get up, but even though she had told Zhang Shuocheng "We'll go, we'll definitely go," in all likelihood, she had already forgotten about it.

Zhang Huan still knew his young wife quite well.

Hearing this, Zhang Heling immediately understood.

Zhang Huan lowered his voice again and said to her, "Also, don't mention it to Shuoshuo for now. He's probably forgotten too. Don't remind him, or else he'll go remind your mom. If your mom gets up early, your sister definitely won't go."

"Okay!" Zhang Heling immediately promised.

She couldn't help but cover her mouth with both hands and laugh, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

Zhang Yansheng was looking through books in her room when someone knocked. "Yanyan, it's Dad."

Surprised, Zhang Yansheng went and opened the door. "What's up?"

Zhang Huan didn't go in, just leaned against the doorframe, smiling. "Reminding you, Thursday is August 2nd. Don't forget."

Zhang Yansheng hadn't forgotten; she had it noted in her phone.

She crossed her arms. "I said I won't be with…"

"I know, I know," Zhang Huan said. "I reckon she's long forgotten. And she absolutely can't get up that early. We'll get up and leave. OK?"

What kind of 'OK' is that?

Zhang Yansheng really wanted to roll her eyes.

But thinking of Zhang Heling's expectant eyes, her wronged, disappointed expression, Zhang Yansheng held back.

In this scorching summer heat, given Liang Yingying's fussiness, asking her to go sunbathe would inevitably lead to endless complaints. She might even blame Zhang Heling.

Yes, Liang Yingying was perfectly capable of doing something to ruin the mood on a perfectly good day. She simply didn't care about Zhang Heling's feelings.

Then it was better if she went herself.

"Fine." Zhang Yansheng agreed readily.

And so, on Thursday, Liang Yingying came downstairs yawning to find the house unusually quiet.

Sitting at the dining table, she casually asked, "Where is everyone?"

The auntie answered with a smile, "They've all gone to the amusement park."

Liang Yingying: "???"

(End of Chapter)

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