NOVEL NEXT 75
Chapter 75: Similar
As night approached, Xi Tian lay on the small bed, repeatedly watching the images projected by the video recorder.
Originally, the bed was piled with things, which he moved to the side.
His family was busy in and out of the kitchen downstairs, preparing dinner. Xi Tian, who had a strong aversion to cooking, wisely stayed out of their way to avoid causing trouble.
The recordings left by his parents were not many, but not too few either. Aside from a few family birthday parties, most were records of just the two of them.
Most of the time, his dad was the mischievous one, often speaking surprising things and filled with quirky ideas. His dad would hold the video camera, recording him playing ball with his friends.
In the video, Lake was young and sunny. After getting off the court, he would see his father and run over with a beaming smile, grabbing his father and intentionally shaking the camera, then proudly boasting, “Xi Qisi, you’re the best. My classmates are so jealous of me.”
His father’s voice was cool and steady, “You’re the worst, always bumping into me.”
His father’s voice was unforgettable, with a seemingly magical ability to persuade.
Xi Tian calculated the date marked on the videotape. At that time, his father was only fifteen. His face showed little emotion, only giving a faint smile when seeing his family. But every time he caught Lake secretly filming him, he would respond with a smile, like ice melting in early spring.
His father, even at a young age, had an extraordinary charm.
Xi Tian secretly laughed, wondering if his father would jump out of the ground to hit him if he knew his son thought of him this way.
If only he could jump out, that would be wonderful.
Watching tape after tape, Xi Tian understood what his grandfather meant by his father’s sharp “telepathic” ability.
Even in heated arguments, his father would say something that hit a nerve, making the other person lose their temper. Yet, with his words, the anger would turn to guilt and self-reproach, leading to a breakdown and uncontrollable sobbing.
His father’s face remained cold, like a deity, high above, indifferent and aloof.
This tape was clearly not recorded by his dad, as at the end, his dad walked in from the side, and his father seemed to drop all defenses, casually walking over to his dad, asking what he wanted to eat later.
Xi Tian suddenly realized that the expressions of those crying people were so familiar, as if he had witnessed similar scenes in his childhood.
He closed his eyes, trying to grasp that fleeting memory. As he delved deeper, more fragments floated to the surface.
He was an orphan and, being a sought-after gender in the welfare office, saw other children around him get adopted, while he remained. After being returned by his fifth foster family during his teenage years, he chose to live at school until he finished his college entrance exams.
When he was young, coincidentally, he inherited his father’s “telepathy” and could always hit a nerve with a single sentence to the adults who adopted him. This made the adults who returned him hesitant and speechless.
“You really are the poorest family I’ve ever seen. What gave you the courage to have two children, not to mention adopting two more?”
“If you adopted me just to comfort your terminally ill father, I suggest you hire a dwarf clown from a circus. Not only would they look more like a child, but they could also tell jokes to entertain your whole family.”
“Adopting an orphan doesn’t mean heaven will let you have a son. Honestly, adults who believe in ‘heaven’ shouldn’t have children at all. It would be a contribution to eugenics.”
…
Xi Tian rubbed his forehead.
He now understood why he chose to forget those memories voluntarily. Not only did he have a sharp tongue, but he was also asking for trouble.
Xi Tian’s gaze moved to his father in the video. Why did his father seem profound and wise when he said these things?
Thinking about it carefully, he had indeed inherited many of his father’s traits. So, could his bizarre changes that led him to leave his home planet also be inherited from his father?
With this thought, Xi Tian picked a new tape to play.
The image shook for a moment, showing his dad writing at a desk in their new home. After another shake, the scene switched to the bedroom. He placed the camera on the bed, facing himself, revealing his dad’s face.
“We’ve been married for four years, and have known each other for ten years. I remember the first time I saw you; you were 13, and I was 17.
Back then, Dad and Father worried every day about what I would do if I couldn’t get married.
The night before they met you, they talked to me, saying, ‘If no one wants you, you can choose to stay single. We are the same gender as you and understand your plight. Just remember one thing, always love yourself.’
In the end, their worry was unnecessary.
Honestly, I’m just an ordinary person. Maybe I accumulated good karma in my previous life, which brought me your companionship in this life.
Being with you, I’ve never had an unhappy moment. I know you treat me well, always putting me first. Your indulgence and love for me are seen and remembered in my heart.” Lake choked up, “Although I’ve said it countless times, I still want to say, Xi Qisi, I love you, very much, more than I love myself.”
“I have one more very important thing to tell you, Xi Qisi: you are going to be a father.”
Lake caressed his flat abdomen. “The doctor says it’s only two weeks old. I thought this was such a significant thing that I chose to tell you through this video.
Of course, I guess by the time you see this, you will really want to see me, but I should already be at my eldest brother’s house in another town, seeking some advice from him.”
Lake gave a sly smile. “Take this time to calm down. Lastly, you must patiently wait for me to come back by myself! I said by myself! Don’t come over like last time in the middle of the night by yourself! I’ll worry about you.”
Xi Tian was stunned, even after the tape automatically finished. He couldn’t bring himself to play another tape; an inexplicable force drove him to replay this one over and over.
A subtle joy and delight made him laugh uncontrollably. He had to stop frequently to laugh before continuing to watch.
This was his father’s romance!
The screen froze on his father’s back as he worked at his desk. A flash of inspiration struck Xi Tian, freezing his smile.
Xi Tian quickly retrieved his terminal and scrolled to the photo section of Song Huishan’s paper. Even with the difference in pixel quality, era, and clothing, his father’s and Song Huishan’s backs were strikingly similar.
Xi Tian pulled up a portrait of Song Huishan, put it into software, and adjusted his facial expression—lowering the eyes, curving the mouth downwards, looking straight ahead.
An astonishing scene appeared. The modified portrait looked remarkably similar to his father.
Only, the modified portrait had sharper features, whereas his father’s face was softer.
Xi Tian searched the internet for the clearest side profile photo of Song Huishan from that time, switched tapes, and compared the two profiles.
Their refined features seemed to be carved from the same mold.
Xi Tian carefully compared all the surviving photos of Song Huishan he could find online. Each one looked strikingly similar.
What was going on? Why did his father look so similar to the political figure Song Huishan, who died 200 years ago?
No, it wasn’t just similar.
It was identical.
Why?
Panicking, Xi Tian rushed downstairs to ask his grandfather about his father’s height. Did it change after he reached adulthood?
Lans had just finished his chores and came to the study, pulling out a file folder and giving it to Xi Tian.
Inside were his father’s annual physical examination records.
His father was taller than the average person at 19. For the first three years of marriage, he grew 1cm each year, eventually surpassing Song Huishan’s recorded height by 0.5cm.
His father had a late growth spurt.