NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Father and Son Reunite
Chapter 29: Father and Son Reunite
“After that, I stayed at the Su family to handle some matters. Once I got back what was rightfully mine and made a clean break with them, I came to find you.”
“I didn’t want to come to you with a bunch of complications and lingering ties to the Su family. Since I’m returning to your side, I won’t go back to the Su family.”
Then, Su Mu smiled bitterly, “If you don’t accept me, I’ll have nowhere to go.”
Su Nuokang wasn’t the simple farmer Su Mu had imagined – he could tell there was more to the story.
Why not return to the Su family? Although he wanted to reclaim his son, he hadn’t expected him to cut off all contact with his adoptive parents. Yet Su Mu seemed intent on severing ties with the Su family.
Had the Su family mistreated Su Mu after finding Su Ning?
When Su Nuokang met Su Mu’s clear but somewhat helpless eyes, the blood bond between them stirred his emotions.
As a father, losing an adopted son had pained him deeply, like a piece of his heart had been carved out. But his masculine pride had made him hide these emotions from others.
How could he not be happy and excited when his biological son came to find him?
He had worried Su Mu might have come out of desperation or after being thrown out by the Su family.
Now, knowing Su Mu willingly chose to acknowledge him as his real father – what could make Su Nuokang happier?
Meanwhile, Su Mu felt bewildered, matching his expression.
The meeting was completely different from what he had imagined.
He had expected to find a typical farmer who would cry with joy at seeing his city-raised son return, embracing him warmly.
But upon meeting Su Nuokang, he realized this man’s bearing wasn’t that of a lifelong farmer – he must have been a white-collar worker before.
Sure enough, the meeting began with just a few simple questions.
He even wondered if his birth father wanted him back.
Seeing things from this new perspective, Su Mu realized his judgment had been wrong. Having never met his birth father in his previous life, all his impressions had come from secondhand accounts.
Some difference was normal, but he hadn’t expected such a huge gap!
Just as Su Mu was feeling anxious, Su Nuokang planted both palms on the table and suddenly stood up, his stern features softening.
It startled Su Mu – he thought his father might flip the table.
The previously serious man now had reddened eyes, unable to hide his joy and emotion.
Su Mu: Nani? (What?)
“Son, welcome home,” Su Nuokang opened his arms, his deep, hoarse voice carrying years of longing and familial love.
Su Mu’s lips curved into a gentle smile, his anxious heart finally settling, like a migrating bird returning to its nest.
His beautiful almond eyes grew moist as he happily responded, “Dad, I’m home.”
As he spoke, he stood and opened his arms, rushing forward.
Even with the square table between them, it couldn’t stop the two from embracing as tears of joy fell.
When those large hands patted Su Mu’s back, he felt the steady strength of what it meant to have a “father” – someone who could pat away all his worries.
Afterward, Su Nuokang went to clean himself up properly, as his earlier appearance hadn’t been very presentable.
When he returned, Su Mu barely recognized him.
How had he transformed from a rough farmer into someone who could pass for an office worker in just twenty minutes?
His long curly hair no longer covered his forehead and eyes but was neatly combed back, seemingly styled with gel in a fashionable way.
He had changed out of his tank top into a fresh T-shirt, cleaned the soot from his arms, and with his strong build and spirited demeanor, he looked completely different from the unkempt man from earlier.
Su Mu thought: Did his dad just come back from an extreme makeover show?
Su Nuokang was overjoyed at Su Mu’s arrival and asked many questions about his past, like the typical topic of how life had been in the Su family.
That afternoon, they talked for hours, but by unspoken agreement, they avoided negative or bitter topics, seemingly intentionally skipping over them to discuss ordinary matters peacefully.
Both enjoyed themselves, and time passed unnoticed until evening.
“Gurgle gurgle”
The inappropriate sound broke the pleasant atmosphere.
Before Su Nuokang could make a joke about it, another “gurgle gurgle” followed.
Su Nuokang saw Su Mu turn his head aside, his cheeks flushing red, and immediately understood.
Su Mu had left early in the morning, arrived at Xinghua Village at noon, and they’d talked until now, missing lunch.
As Su Nuokang’s stomach growled, before he could tease Su Mu, his own stomach embarrassingly joined in.
“Sit for a while, I’ll prepare dinner.”
Su Nuokang had been stoking the fire earlier before starting to cook when Su Mu arrived, so now he could continue.
Su Mu stood up too, “I’ll help.”
Su Nuokang gave him a suspicious look, making Su Mu feel uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong?”
“Can a young master like you actually cook?”
Su Mu: …
Don’t underestimate him. Though he didn’t like to mention it, in his previous life, he had actually learned some cooking skills for an unfaithful lover.
In the end, Su Mu only helped wash vegetables and rice – Su Nuokang wouldn’t let him do the actual cooking.
In less than an hour, a simple meal of two vegetable dishes and one meat dish was ready: a bowl of greens, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and stir-fried pork with chilies.
The food looked rich in color and smelled fragrant.
The two quickly finished dinner, clearing everything.
Su Nuokang had worried Su Mu wouldn’t be used to the food, but seeing his empty plate left him deeply satisfied.
That night, Su Mu fell asleep to the comfortable rural breeze.
In the morning, he was awakened by a commotion.
Su Mu drowsily looked out the window and – !!!
A crowd had gathered at their front door.
Su Mu instantly became alert. After washing up and going outside, he found Su Nuokang was already up.
“What’s happening outside?”
Su Nuokang knew without looking – this argument had been going on for almost a month, with Xinghua Village residents arguing with officials every week.
Su Nuokang walked over, placed both hands on Su Mu’s shoulders, and said seriously: “Son, actually, we’re about to lose our home.”
Su Mu: …
Say that again???