QTIMP -Chapter 190 Character Persona – Overachiever (Part 22)

He shook his head like a rattle drum. After a long while, biting his lip, he finally gathered the courage to speak again.

“Mom, it’s not that I ignored you before…”

Before he could finish, Si Qiu crouched down and pulled him into her arms, gently stroking his back as she whispered by his ear.

“Mom knows. Our Che’er just didn’t have a choice before. From now on, your dad and I will protect you. But you also have to grow up quickly—only by becoming strong yourself can you control your own future.”

Tang Che hugged her back as tightly as he could, his childish voice filled with determination. “Mom, I’ll work hard to grow up. When I’m capable, I’ll protect you.”

No matter what Si Qiu felt in her heart, her words were full of trust and encouragement. “Alright, I believe in our Che’er. In the future, you’ll definitely become a strong and dependable man.”

After that, she asked about Tang Che’s studies. From the original host’s memories, she already knew the child had a high IQ.

But after testing him, she realized he was even more impressive than she had imagined—almost to the level of photographic memory.

However, Old Madam Tang had always hired private tutors for him, so the child had never attended school.

Si Qiu held his still-warm hand. “Che’er, do you want to go to school? At your age, you could join the senior class in kindergarten. Next year, you could start first grade.”

Hearing this, Tang Che’s eyes lit up instantly, and his voice grew louder with excitement. “M-Mom, can I really go to school? Like other kids?”

“Of course you can. But our Che’er is a smart little boy. If you go to kindergarten, the lessons might feel too easy for you. I’m just worried you might find it boring.”

“Mom, I won’t be bored. I want to go to school.”

The eagerness in his voice was unmistakable.

Si Qiu looked up at Tang Chaoyun. “Check which kindergarten nearby is the best.”

Tang Chaoyun had already started thinking about it the moment she first brought it up. After all, he didn’t want his child to stay cooped up in a small house without interacting with other kids.

Tang Che, meanwhile, looked at his father nervously.

Tang Chaoyun reached out and ruffled his hair. “Can you wait a few days for Dad? I need to look into nearby kindergartens and evaluate their environment and educational quality. After all, for my little prince, your mom and I want to give you the best.”

Tang Che nodded eagerly. Then, even better news followed.

“My company is relocating these days. Your company should be relatively stable, so take him with you to work. Don’t leave him at home alone. Your mother seems to have some… hidden tendencies. If Che’er falls into her hands again, it could lead to psychological issues.”

In truth, Si Qiu suspected that Tang Che’s mental state was already somewhat unhealthy. However, the child was extremely intelligent and naturally sensitive.

He was likely deliberately hiding his issues.

She should find time to have a doctor examine him. But right now, the child’s trust in them was too low—being too forceful might trigger resistance.

Si Qiu’s blunt criticism made Tang Chaoyun feel a bit embarrassed. He simply responded with a quiet “Mm.”

Tang Che cautiously tugged at Si Qiu’s clothes. “Mom, I know you’re busy, but I’m very well-behaved. I won’t talk nonsense or run around. Can I go to work with you?”

Si Qiu had thought that, given his longing for family affection, he would happily agree right away. Who would’ve expected the boy to adjust so quickly and start making requests?

Looking at his small, serious face, she nodded before Tang Chaoyun could speak. “Alright. But you must keep your word. Otherwise, I’ll send you back immediately, and there won’t be a next time.”

Tang Che, who had been trying hard to look reliable, broke into a smile upon hearing her agreement.

“Alright, you can play on the tablet for half an hour, then wash up and go to bed. Can you do that?”

“Mm.” He answered loudly at first.

Then his voice dropped again, “Then I don’t need to go to class today? If I don’t go, will I fall behind a lot?”

Si Qiu couldn’t help but pinch his cheek. “Taking a day or two off occasionally is fine. That way you can learn deeper things with a better mental state. So before you start kindergarten, you can rest these next few days. But once school starts, you must follow the school rules and absolutely can’t give up halfway, understand?”

“I understand. I’ll study properly, and after school I’ll also learn well with the teacher. I’ll go watch the news now.”

Si Qiu gave a satisfied smile. Butler Song handed over a tablet, and Tang Chaoyun sat with Tang Che at the coffee table to play together.

Si Qiu went to wash up first, then headed into the study to start working. She didn’t want to finish work and be so exhausted that even washing up felt like a chore—that would only make her more awake.

Seeing Si Qiu enter the study, Tang Che turned his head to look at the door. Tang Chaoyun ruffled his hair.

“Mom’s company has been very busy lately, so she doesn’t have much time to be with you. But both Dad and Mom love you.”

Tang Che lowered his gaze slightly and gave a soft “mm.”

When the tablet time was up, Tang Chaoyun suddenly seemed to be overflowing with fatherly affection and insisted on bathing Tang Che himself.

As a result, father and son ended up in Tang Che’s bathroom—one tugging at the boy’s pants, the other holding the shower head—locked in a stalemate for over ten minutes.

It was Butler Song who finally broke the deadlock between them, and the bath was successfully finished. Tang Che lay in bed, a dim yellow light left on at the bedside.

The door closed gently. Under that light, he fiddled with the car model on his bedside table.

Then he pulled the blanket up and fell asleep almost instantly.

It was almost midnight when Tang Chaoyun came to knock on the study door. The door wasn’t locked and wasn’t even fully closed. He pushed it open and leaned against the frame.

“Still working?”

“A new song dropped today,” Si Qiu said as she opened the music chart, scrolling for a while before finding their songs and clicking to play them.

“I heard both of these songs were written by you?”

“Mm.”

First was Qin Shuang’s song, Courage, which suited her voice very well. Her emotional expression was also on point. In just those few minutes of playback, its popularity was already rising steadily.

Next was Chen Qing’s “Let Me Go, Then Set a Fire.”

Wine is a bad thing—after drinking it, I think of you.

Wine is a good thing—after drinking it, I dream of you.

Those simple lines made Tang Chaoyun recall a time when Si Qiu had gotten drunk after arguing with him.

First glass of wine, I still couldn’t let you go.

Second glass of wine, I toasted heaven and earth.

In the end, everything is fate.

Yesterday you were still holding my hand.

Today you’ve already left me behind.

Once you leave, you never look back.

You’re like a river of spring water flowing eastward.

A faint trace of tenderness appeared in Tang Chaoyun’s eyes as he looked at Si Qiu. He was just about to walk over and pull her into his arms.