Chapter 2193: Numb

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Otherwise, how could she have such a ridiculous idea?

Qiao Zijin was obviously reluctant. “What’s the hurry? It doesn’t cost me anything to stay in the capital. Isn’t it the same as being in Ping Cheng? Water flows to the lowest places while people climb to the highest places. I’ve finally made it to the capital after much difficulty, and I have what I need to stay here too. Why should I return to Ping Cheng? I want to stay in the capital and become a resident of the capital.” She could not afford to be embarra.s.sed by going back to Ping Cheng with no achievement.

To Qiao Zijin, returning to Ping Cheng would mean needing to give Ding Jiayi a living allowance. If she were to stay in the capital, she would simply share Qiao Dongliang’s apartment. Given the same expenses, it only made sense to stay in the capital rather than return to Ping Cheng.

Return? Only a fool would return!

“You want to stay?” Qiao Dongliang felt that Qiao Zijin was exceptionally absurd. “Don’t worry. I won’t stop you if you want to stay here. But you have to find yourself accommodation, right? Have you found one? You can move over now.” Did she think he knew nothing about how expensive the rent was in the capital? Not spending any money? Not only were there many more things to spend on in the capital, but the same things even cost much more in the capital as compared to Ping Cheng.

He knew that Qiao Nan had never expected to get back the money that Qiao Zijin had gotten from the sale of the apartment. Neither was she willing to bring up the past nor live the same life she had in the past. Qiao Zijin could keep the money and she would have nothing to do with Qiao Nan from then on.

If Qiao Zijin liked to squander her money, she could do so. Once she squandered away all her money, he wouldn’t even need to chase Qiao Zijin back. She wouldn’t even be able to stay in the capital any longer even if she wanted to. Qiao Zijin was already all grown up. There was no need to worry about her not listening to him, and neither did he have to try to control her.

Qiao Zijin sneered and sat on her bed. “Dad, are you trying to chase me away? I’m sorry but I’m not leaving. I already have somewhere to stay. Why should I go and find another accommodation? Dad, you’re being too petty. It makes no difference whether it’s one person or two people living here. Besides, you’re not even the one paying for this apartment. Why do you have to be so petty and chase me out? Besides, I’m your daughter too. What’s wrong with helping me out and helping me save some money? Dad, shouldn’t you at least be fairer to me?”

She couldn’t understand why her dad was flaring up.

What was wrong with her staying in this house? Why did her dad have to chase her out? Her dad may be foolish, but she wasn’t. She would be a fool to spend money on another accommodation when she could stay here for free. Qiao Zijin had already made her enquiries. Although this apartment was only about five to six hundred square feet, the rent was expensive. As for the price of this apartment… The proceeds she had gotten from selling a large apartment of over one thousand square feet in Ping Cheng was enough to purchase only half of this apartment.

It was only after she arrived in the capital that she realized how worthless her money was. If she kept her money well, she would probably be able to live a decent life in Ping Cheng. But in the capital, the money she had meant nothing at all. It was only natural for Qiao Zijin to refuse to return to Ping Cheng now that she had the chance to live somewhere better.

As long as the Zhai family did not ask for this apartment back, it would be no different from her own. What Qiao Zijin cared about was that she wouldn’t even need to pay for the utilities either. Where else would she find such a good deal? Perhaps, if she made some effort, she would even be able to register this apartment under her name instead. Then, she would become an official resident of the capital.

Qiao Zijin made her calculations and thought that she would be able to live quite comfortably in the capital too. But Qiao Zijin had thought about a problem: a job. If she stayed at home without working, there would definitely come a day when her money would run out. She had better find a job to earn some pocket money for herself.

Since everything was so expensive in the capital, the wages here would probably be higher than in Ping Cheng, right?

It was because Qiao Zijin had made such plans that she had refused to agree to Qiao Dongliang’s request for her to return to Ping Cheng. “Dad, aren’t you staying here too? It’ll be lonely for you to stay here alone. I’m not cursing you, but what if you fall at home? Who would know that you’ve injured yourself if I’m not here? If you’re unwell, I can take care of you too. Isn’t that right? Don’t they say that it’s good to raise children so that you’ll have someone to take care of you in your old age? You’ve reached the age where you need me to take care of you. I can’t just leave you here.”

Qiao Dongliang had become Qiao Zijin’s reason for staying. She didn’t believe that Qiao Nan would refuse to take care of Qiao Dongliang and disallow others from taking care of him. Did Qiao Nan want Qiao Dongliang to pa.s.s away in this house?

Qiao Dongliang was in a rage. “To take care of me?” That sounded nice. Qiao Dongliang shut his eyes and thought about how Qiao Zijin had s.n.a.t.c.hed Chen Jun away from Qiao Nan. “So, will you go back to Ping Cheng if I do? Of course, it doesn’t matter whether you do. Once I leave, the Zhai family will naturally take this apartment back. Then, you can decide for yourself whether to stay in the capital or to return to Ping Cheng.”

Qiao Zijin jumped up. “Dad, don’t be like that. You don’t like me and you’re so biased toward Qiao Nan. Who’ll take care of you in your old age if you go back to Ping Cheng now? You like Qiao Nan, not me. You can’t expect me to treat you better than Qiao Nan, can you? You’ll regret leaving.”

Why should Qiao Nan benefit from it?

Her dad was so biased toward Qiao Nan and had given all the benefits to Qiao Nan alone. Now was the time for Qiao Nan to repay them for everything. But her dad was insistent on leaving and letting Qiao Nan off the hook. That way, Qiao Nan wouldn’t even need to support him! That made no sense at all! She would never agree to it!

Upon hearing Qiao Zijin’s words, Qiao Dongliang was numb. “It doesn’t matter whom I favor. Nan Nan won’t care about me or support me. You don’t have to worry about that. I may be old but I don’t need you to support me either. Even if I return to Ping Cheng, Nan Nan won’t abandon me. You’re right. Nan Nan’s my daughter. I know very well what kind of child she is.”

“Then, what about the triplets that Qiao Nan gave birth to? Haven’t you been talking all day about how adorable they are? Can you really bear to leave them behind? If you really return to Ping Cheng, you won’t be able to see them in the future. You know that Qiao Nan will spend most of her time in the capital now that she’s married to Zhai Sheng. She might not even return to Ping Cheng once a year.. If Qiao Nan doesn’t return, then much less the three children.”