Urban Soldier Young Master

Chapter 975 - 974: You Have to Pay to Change How You’re Addressed

Hearing Qin Ruoying say this, Chu Ge laughed again and pointed at the chessboard, "The game has come to this point. I've already cornered your king, and you have no chance of winning. Isn't it already over?"Qin Ruoying shook her head, "That's not necessarily true. You haven't taken my 'king' down yet, so I still have a chance."

"But no matter what move you make next, I can always..."

Before Chu Ge finished his sentence, Qin Ruoying picked up one of her pieces and slammed it onto Chu Ge's "king" with a crisp "pa" sound.

"Brother-in-law, I've taken down your king, I win."

Qin Ruoying tossed Chu Ge's "king" aside and smiled brightly at him, who was stunned by her move.

Chu Ge, at a loss whether to laugh or cry, shook his head, exasperated.

"Xiaoying, what kind of win is this? Since when can cannons attack without an intervening piece in chess? And even if you treat the cannon as a chariot, your cannon and my king aren't on the same line. Is your cannon some kind of guided missile that can turn corners? I've never seen anyone play chess like you do."

Qin Ruoying showed no trace of guilt as she confidently laughed and said, "Brother-in-law, you hadn't seen it before, but now you have. Anyway, I took down your king, so that means I win."

Chu Ge sighed, "Not playing by chess rules, how can that be a victory?"

"Rules are dead, people are alive. Like you said, normally, at this point in the game, I'd surely lose. But if I want to win, as long as we follow my rules, I can win."

Her lighthearted words suddenly made Chu Ge pause, as something flashed through his mind. Yet, before he could ponder it further, Qin Ruoying continued to speak.

"Brother-in-law, you say you've never seen this way of playing chess. But to me, in many things you've done, wasn't it also my first time seeing someone handle things the way you do? You often don't play by common rules or follow convention, right?"

Chu Ge smiled wryly, "The way you say it, I really don't know whether you're praising me or criticizing me."

"Maybe... probably praising you? I admit, my mom... does have some concerns about your marriage with my sister. I don't want to say more about it. Anyway, being as smart as you are, you probably have a guess. I can't say her concerns are completely unfounded, but... how do I put it?"

Qin Ruoying rubbed her forehead and pursed her lips, "To put it in a poetic way, in the face of true love, nothing else really matters. Our wedding day is just a few days away. It's been hard for us to get to this point. Brother-in-law, try not to overthink things, okay?"

Chu Ge rarely saw Qin Ruoying this serious, and whenever she was, it left a deep impression on him. This time was no exception. Although he still harbored some doubts inside, a gentle warmth washed over him.

"Thank you," Chu Ge genuinely smiled. "Shall we continue the game?"

"Sure, but let's play with different rules this time. It'll definitely be fun, hahaha."

Chu Ge and Qin Ruoying played a few more games. They heard the door and knew that Qin Ruojing and their mother returned from shopping. Chu Ge took a deep breath and saw Qin Ruoying giving him an encouraging look. The two of them got off the bed and left the room.

"Xiao Jing, Auntie, you're back."

Chu Ge greeted them and took the groceries from their hands, ready to have a chat with their mother.

"Chu Ge, you're not fully recovered yet. What are you doing coming out to greet us? Make sure to rest well these three days. Quickly, go back and rest."

Qin's mother was about to speak when Qin Ruojing interrupted and handed the groceries to her sister. She scolded Chu Ge as she helped him back to the room.

Chu Ge couldn't help but feel a bit frustrated. Since Qin's mother clearly intended to chat with him, why not just do it? He couldn't avoid it forever, could he?

Back in the bedroom, Qin Ruojing didn't mention anything about her and her mother's earlier conversation. Chu Ge wanted to bring it up but hesitated and decided to hold off. After all, they had just returned, and discussing such matters would just create tension.

Eventually, what's meant to happen will happen. Even if they don't bring it up, Qin's mother will remember.

Surprisingly to Chu Ge, the day passed peacefully, and Qin's mother never approached him.

In the late afternoon, Qin Yan returned home and his first words upon entering were, "Where's Xiao Chu?"

Hearing the door, Chu Ge knew Qin Yan was back from work. As he opened the bedroom door intending to greet him, he heard those words and met Qin Yan's eyes.

"Uncle."

"Xiao Chu, go back to your room and rest. You're still recovering, why did you come out to meet me?" Qin Yan quickly walked over to Chu Ge, supporting his arm. His expression full of the concern and respect of a senior for a junior, mixed with deep respect and apology.

"Uncle, I'm really fine now. Although I was injured a while ago, it wasn't serious. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to fly back with Xiao Jing and Xiaoying. Should I show you how well I can walk now?"

Qin Yan hesitated for a moment, suspiciously asking, "Really okay? Can you walk a few steps for me?"

Chu Ge grinned brightly, "Really okay, I'll walk a few steps to show you."

Saying this, Chu Ge withdrew his arm from Qin Yan's large hand, and walked back and forth in front of him. In fact, not only could he walk, he could even run, jump, or take another fall with Qin Yan without any problem.

Qin Yan watched Chu Ge's movements and expression intently. When Chu Ge had walked a small circle in the living room and returned to his side, he finally let out a long breath and patted Chu Ge's shoulder.

"It's good if nothing's wrong, it's good if nothing's wrong."

Although Qin Yan didn't say much, just that expression of relief, combined with those few simple words, made Chu Ge's heart feel warm.

"Uncle, I'm a sturdy person. This little wound made you worry, I'm really sorry for that."

As soon as Chu Ge finished speaking, he saw Qin Yan's eyes widen, and the originally smiling face suddenly stretched long.

The sudden change in Qin Yan's expression made Chu Ge pause, thinking that he hadn't said anything wrong. Why did his father-in-law suddenly become unhappy?

With his heart full of doubts, Chu Ge cautiously said, "Uncle, what's the matter...?"

Qin Yan snorted and frowned, saying, "Kid, why are you still calling me 'Uncle'? You've already got your marriage certificate with Xiaojing, you should be calling me Dad?"

Hearing Qin Yan say this, Chu Ge's heart warmed up even more. So that's what it was about after all?

But thinking about calling someone 'Dad,' Chu Ge's feelings were indescribably strange, a little nervous, a little excited, and inexplicably a little scared. He had never said that word out loud in his life.

"Oh, right, right, that is indeed my mistake, um, Dad..."

Just as he was about to say "Dad," Qin Ruoying suddenly covered Chu Ge's mouth, stopping the word that was about to come out.

"Qin Ruoying, what are you doing?" Qin Yan was waiting for his son-in-law to call him "Dad," but he was suddenly interrupted by Qin Ruoying. He immediately glared at her. Every time he called his daughter by her full name, it meant he was a bit angry.

Usually, Qin Ruoying was quite afraid of Qin Yan, but at this moment, she just giggled and said, "Dad, there's no father-in-law like you, is there? My brother-in-law has never called anyone 'Dad' before, and you start glaring and huffing at him right from the start. He's your son-in-law, not your prisoner. Your attitude is not right, you need to be criticized."

Upon hearing this, Qin Yan immediately laughed, "You girl, really, you're lecturing me now?"

"Just say if I'm right or not?"

"Right, I must admit." Qin Yan wasn't pretentious at all and nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze back to Chu Ge, "Comrade Chu Ge, I apologize to you, it was my attitude that was the problem."

"No, it's not necessary, I..."

Chu Ge had only said half a sentence when Qin Ruoying covered his mouth again, winking at him with a giggling smile.

Chu Ge's voice was interrupted once again, and both he and Qin Yan were left speechless and amused. They had seen troublemakers before, but none as mischievous as Qin Ruoying.

"Dad, we haven't finished our conversation yet. If my brother-in-law calls you 'Dad,' aren't you going to express something? The first 'Dad' in someone's life is given to you, how precious and meaningful is that 'Dad'?"

Chu Ge was a bit embarrassed, but after hearing Qin Ruoying's words, he really became a bit expectant and felt that it would indeed be especially meaningful if he called Qin Yan 'Dad.'

Qin Yan humorously glanced at Qin Ruoying and said, "You girl, your brother-in-law didn't even say anything, yet you're so full of it."

Qin Ruojing, who had come out of the bedroom with Chu Ge earlier, knocked her sister on the head, "Alright, Xiaoying, stop it."

Qin Ruoying smiled at Qin Yan, "My brother-in-law is a shy person, he would be too embarrassed to ask for money. So, I'm just asking on his behalf, you better not give too little."

Finishing, Qin Ruoying gave Qin Ruojing a sidelong glance, "Sis, don't be like that, I'm speaking up for your husband now, and you even hit me, if I get dumb, you'll pay."

"What, as if he's not my husband..."

Qin Ruojing returned her sister a sidelong glance, thinking quietly to herself.

Of course, she could only think this to herself. In front of their father, she definitely couldn't say it out loud. If their father knew about their plans, wouldn't he have a fit?