My Virtual Girlfriend-Chapter 104: Sorry (Requesting Monthly Tickets!)

At that moment, Chen Yan also saw what Lao Chen was directing people to move inside, and to his surprise, it was a bunch of containers packed with food.

Given the size of the cardboard boxes, there must have been at least twenty such containers inside, implying that Lao Chen had prepared around twenty dishes.

Chen Yan asked puzzled, "What are you doing?"

Seeing Chen Yan’s surprised expression, Lao Chen raised his head and said, "I’ve thought it through. You want to start a business, and as your dad, I should still offer some support."

"So I ordered a table of dishes to reward your employees, to celebrate the great success of your first game."

"That counts as supporting your work too."

Chen Yan: ??

Lao Chen is acting a bit weird today. Supporting me in making games?

This...

This isn’t like him at all.

Could there be a trick here?

Could he have put laxatives in the food?

Surely not...?

Though Lao Chen had arrived unexpectedly, the food was very well prepared.

Just in time for lunch, Chen Yan did not refuse. He directed the staff to move the food to the meeting room and then gathered everyone to eat together.

Lao Chen had clearly invested a lot into this meal, filling a conference table even though it was all in containers, yet it looked quite impressive.

Everyone praised the meal endlessly, complimenting how delicious the food was.

Chen Yan wasn’t surprised.

When Lao Chen was younger... he made his fortune from demolition. He had no particular hobbies, only enjoying drinking and playing poker with Uncle Liu and a few others.

He had eaten his way through not only Qin Island but also the surrounding cities nearby. If his choice of food wasn’t good, that would be the real shock.

What surprised Chen Yan, though, was Lao Chen’s attitude.

He knew his father’s temper well, usually having the attitude of "the world is big, but your dad is the biggest," but now he put on this supportive demeanor, which looked really strange...

After the meal, father and son went to the general manager’s office for a chat.

Chen Yan took the initiative to ask, "Dad, what are you playing at?"

Lao Chen glared at Chen Yan, "What do you mean what am I playing at? I’m supporting you, can’t you tell?".....

Last night. A small tavern. The moon above the willow tips.

Lao Chen drank a bit too much, hugged Uncle Liu, pouting and with a crying tone, said drunkenly, "Gangzi, you who have only daughters don’t understand the troubles a son brings."

"My boy has been a troublemaker since he was little."

"Starting from climbing on roofs at age three, taking firecrackers to blow up latrines in elementary school, to getting lost in the mountains with a dozen classmates in middle school..."

"He’s never been an easy child."

"I want to be friends with him and get along well."

"But I can’t!"

"You give him a few compliments, and he’d be so elated he might punch a hole in the sky."

"I had to discipline him strictly."

"He really likes gaming."

"But you know, those gaming things are like devils, I hear it on TV and newspapers, only those who shirk duties play them."

"I was really afraid that if he played games, he would turn bad."

"I didn’t know he had the talent and could really make something of it."

At this point, Lao Chen touched his tears and said, "If I had known he had such talent, I would have sold everything to support him."

Uncle Liu, clearly also having drank quite a bit, slapped Lao Chen’s shoulder and slurred, "Listen, Lao Chen. Your method of upbringing is just, just wrong!"

"You can discipline him strictly, but you cannot suppress the child, or lecture him like the Emperor tutors his grandson."

"I think you’re half the problem for how rebellious Chen is!"

Lao Chen said, "If I don’t lecture him, how can I keep him under control?"

Uncle Liu leaned close to Lao Chen and whispered, "I’m telling you, you need to know the techniques, to uplift and suppress at the same time. Praise him, but don’t let him get too cocky."

"Like now, this is a good opportunity."

"His game is very successful now, probably made him at least four or five hundred thousand."

"It’s a time when he’s happiest. You can go and congratulate him."

Lao Chen widened his eyes, "With his temper, won’t he be over the moon?!"

"Hey!" Uncle Liu exclaimed, "See, you just don’t get it."

"You’re just afraid he’ll get too carried away and then fail."

"You can wait till his happiness fades, then casually act cool. Like: Back in my day, I did this and that. Although you’ve achieved a bit, you should not be arrogant; keep up the good work! I am waiting for the day you surpass me!"

"By doing this, you praise him but also curb his temper."

"You establish your authority as a father, and also give him a goal to motivate him. It’ll make him work even harder."

"How about it? Isn’t it great?"

Though drunk, Lao Chen’s eyes slowly showed deep contemplation....

That seems to make sense....

I really should change my ways of managing the child...

After all, the boy has grown up.

He seems to have really made it....

General Manager’s office.

Lao Chen coughed and said, "Son, I’ve heard about your game, you’ve done... done well."

Possibly praising his son for the first time in many years, Lao Chen even stumbled over his words, "Um... it’s called ’Invisible Ultraman’, right? I’ve seen some netizens’ reviews of your game, not bad at all."

Chen Yan: ....

"Dad. It’s called ’Hidden Guardian’."

Lao Chen: ....

Lao Chen laughed twice, "Ha ha, same thing, it’s all the same."

Chen Yan suspiciously looked at Lao Chen.

What exactly was Lao Chen up to today? Why all this weirdness?

Could it be... he knows about my new villa, planning a ’face-smacking’ hence the proactive reconciliation?

Doesn’t sound like him...

He just isn’t that type of person...

And... I keep feeling he’s beating around the bush; could he be... planning to hold me up here while arranging for someone to blow up the company?

Just when Chen Yan was lost in his chaotic thoughts, Lao Chen coughed again and continued as planned, "But... don’t be arrogant."

"Back when I was just over 20 years old, I already had two properties. If sold now, they would be worth seven or eight hundred thousand."

"So, you need to keep working hard."

Chen Yan: ??

"Dad. Grandpa gave you those houses. What’s there to work hard about?"

"Even if... one must work hard, it shouldn’t just start in one’s twenties."

Lao Chen: ....

Damn, I got caught up in trying to value myself a bit higher than what my son earned, forgetting that I got those houses through demolition.

Lao Chen was somewhat irritable.

He felt that Uncle Liu’s teaching method was nonsense. It simply didn’t work!

And it just made him confused and talk nonsense.

That guy couldn’t be a spy Chen Yan planted beside him, could he?

Chen Yan looked puzzled at Lao Chen’s uneasy demeanor.

Pondering over Lao Chen’s motives.

Suddenly... a spirit light flashed.

He... seemed to understand Lao Chen’s thoughts.

For a moment, his look towards Lao Chen grew complicated.

After a while, he took the initiative to say, "Dad. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ve made some money from gaming, but I won’t be arrogant, I’ll continue to work hard."

"I’m grown up now; I can manage myself well and won’t just because I’m making money, go out causing trouble."

"You and mom, just rest assured."

Hearing Chen Yan’s words, Lao Chen was silent for a while.

Eventually, he no longer continued to "learn from Uncle Liu," but solemnly said, "That’s good..."

Then, he paused and quietly said, "I was wrong before, not believing in your talent or investing in you."

"Making you take so many detours, enduring so much hardship."

"I’m sorry for that."

"You..."

"You won’t blame your dad, right?"