MGASC -Chapter 24 Your Advantage Is That You’re Handsome

Lin Tianyue had already planned to leave, but when he saw more people gathering, he stopped again, a cigarette dangling carelessly from his mouth.

It wasn’t until Wang Yan’s parents, hearing the commotion, rushed out of the yard in a panic toward their daughter that he, in front of everyone, let out a disdainful laugh.

His laughter was cold and menacing, and with his tall, imposing stature, even those who disliked him didn’t dare step forward.

“Wang Yan!” Lin Tianyue suddenly called her name, his tone dripping with contempt. “Have some shame and stop pestering me! Don’t think that just because I’m married—or even if I weren’t married—I’d give you the time of day!”

If Wang Yan had only been startled before, now, with these words delivered in front of her parents and neighbors, her pride was mercilessly crushed to the ground.

The Wang family’s face was completely lost!

Only when Lin Tianyue left did Wang Yan stand there stunned, and after a long while, amid her parents’ scolding, she finally burst into tears—but before she could protest, her father landed a solid slap across her face.

“You’ve got the nerve to cry! Get back inside and listen to what people are saying, you good-for-nothing failure. If you dare chase after that thug again, I’ll skin you alive!”

The neighbors, enjoying the spectacle, kept whispering amongst themselves—probably commenting that Wang Yan clearly lacked discretion, degraded herself, kept chasing after someone, and in the end got ignored. They found it hilarious.

Wang Yan’s father, Wang Jianguo, was livid and shouted at the gathering aunties: “What are you all staring at? Go home, all of you!”

The aunties were not to be intimidated. “We’re just standing in front of our own doors, chatting. What business is it of yours?”

“Exactly! You can’t even control your own daughter, yet you talk about others!”

“I think it runs in the family!”

Wang Jianguo: “Ma Cuihua, what did you just say? Say it again! I’ll rip your mouth apart!”

“You come on! Who’s afraid of who?”

Wang Yan’s parents weren’t well-liked in the neighborhood, so their shouting quickly escalated into a full-blown commotion.

…

Under the starlight, Lin Tianyue sped back to the city, searching every hotel and inn in the area.

Finally, just before midnight, he found the inn where Zhang Qiao had checked in.

It was less than two kilometers from the central hospital.

Having gone a whole day without food, seeing that familiar name in the registration book left him exhausted, caught somewhere between laughing and crying.

She really knew how to make things difficult!

Chen Gang, beside him, asked nervously, “Brother Yue, are you going in to see Sister-in-law?”

Lin Tianyue checked the time. It was so late that Zhang Qiao was surely already asleep.

“Forget it. As long as I’ve found her, that’s enough. We’ll deal with it tomorrow.”

Chen Gang nodded, looking around in admiration. “This inn isn’t bad at all. Brother Yue, you should treat yourself better in the future. Look at Sister-in-law—while you’ve been running around like crazy, she’s sleeping comfortably in the inn, enjoying herself.”

Lin Tianyue didn’t share Chen Gang’s view. On the contrary, knowing she was in a safe and comfortable place gave him peace of mind.

Zhang Qiao’s inner thoughts: Comfortable? Relaxed? My wrists almost broke copying this translation by hand!

She worked until nearly 1 a.m. before finishing the translation of the book.

In her life, notebooks, iPads, and other recording tools had long been common, but she hadn’t written so much by hand in years.

Exhausted, she did a quick wash and collapsed into bed.

The next morning, after a night of rest, Lin Xun, Lin Ran, and Lin Jin finally had some color back in their faces.

At breakfast, Lin Xun quietly asked Lin Tianyue, “Dad, did you find her?”

Lin Tianyue, drinking porridge, didn’t lift his head. “Found her.”

“Are you going to see her today?”

He finished the porridge quickly, and in a flash, the bowl was empty. Wiping his mouth, he looked at his eldest son waiting for an answer: “Adult matters, kids stay out of it.”

Lin Xun, usually mature and serious, now put on a solemn expression. “Who wants to interfere? I’m just worried you’ll mess things up. Dad, when you go today, be on your best behavior. After all, this time, the fault is yours.”

Lin Tianyue grumbled internally. The fault is mine? Isn’t it because you three always have opinions about Zhang Qiao, making me extra defensive?

What attitude did they even have toward her? And now he was blamed!

He slammed his chopsticks down. “Got it. Watch your brother at the hospital.”

“Mm,” Lin Xun nodded seriously. “How do you plan to make it up to her?”

Lin Tianyue: “Make it up? I think I’ll just throw you guys out!”

Lin Xun’s chest tightened. “…Not impossible. If it’s for Dad’s happiness…”

“Out of the way!”

Lin Tianyue stood up. “Since when did I need you little brats to give advice?”

He had already arranged things—Chen Gang wasn’t around, and he had bribed the nurse a little to help look after the kids.

Lin Xun was responsible; with him around, Lin Tianyue could relax.

After a quick freshen-up, he was about to head to the inn but was stopped by Lin Xun.

“Trying to do what now?”

Lin Xun looked him over. He was still in yesterday’s clothes, crumpled after a day of running around. “Dad, change your clothes and shave.”

“Is that necessary?”

Lin Tianyue thought: it’s not like he’s going on a date.

But Lin Xun nodded seriously: “Dad, do you know what your advantage is?”

“What?”

“Handsome!”

Handsome?

Lin Tianyue, usually rough and careless, had little concept of his appearance, though he knew he wasn’t ugly. He touched his chin—overnight, stubble had grown back, prickly and uncomfortable.

“I don’t have a razor.”

Lin Tianyue was lamenting when his second son, Lin Ran, proudly presented a razor, beaming: “Here, Dad. I got the nurse to lend it to us.”

Lin Tianyue took it, surprised. “You asked the nurse? How clever of you!”

Lin Ran scratched his head: “Hehe, not bad, not bad.”

In truth, the clothes change and shaving advice had been orchestrated that morning while their dad went to buy breakfast. Lin Ran sweet-talked the nurse into giving advice, even offering the last of their tiny stash of candy.

He asked her how Dad could get Mom back if he’d made her angry.

The nurse, chewing candy, explained carefully: Dad looks good. As long as he’s neat and says some nice words, he can charm her back. If that fails, buy some treats and take her to a movie.

Lin Ran reported the results to Lin Xun and Lin Jin; the three kids felt like they’d uncovered a secret strategy.

Monitored by Lin Xun, Lin Tianyue went to the bathroom, shaved, combed his hair, and returned. Lin Jin then held up a set of clothes: “Dad, Uncle Chen Gang left this yesterday. He said you’ll look awesome in it!”

Lin Tianyue held the two pieces—a white shirt, black pants, and shiny black shoes, all flashy—typical of Chen Gang’s style.

He resisted instinctively, but seeing the hopeful eyes of his child, he swallowed his stubbornness and put them on.