SAG -Chapter 65 Working Hard for the Future

On the way home, Taotao and Susu attracted the attention of many passersby.

Both children were still wearing the outfits Zhang Ran had bought for them at the amusement park.

Zhang Xiaotao, with his sunny smile and outgoing personality, looked every bit the part in his little knight’s armor.

Susu, on the other hand, naturally carried an aloof air. Combined with her snow-white princess dress, she looked like a cold, ethereal fairy untouched by the mortal world.

“Grandpa! Grandpa! I’m hungry!” Taotao tugged on Zhang Ran’s hand.

Children burned through energy quickly, especially after spending an entire day running around. Both little ones were already starving.

“Alright, let’s see what you’d like to eat. Grandpa will treat you.”

Holding one child in each hand, Zhang Ran led them off in search of food.

That evening, after Zhang Ran returned home with two well-fed children, he found Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu sitting on the sofa.

The television was on, but it was obvious neither of them was paying attention.

As soon as they saw Zhang Ran return with the children, they instinctively stood up.

The moment Liu Lu noticed the clothes Taotao and Susu were wearing, she immediately said, “Taotao, were you being naughty again?”

Taotao’s little face instantly filled with confusion.

“Mom, I listened to Grandpa the whole day.”

“Then what’s with those clothes? Did you keep pestering Grandpa until he bought them?”

Without realizing it, Liu Lu’s voice had grown louder. It was simply a habit she’d developed after years of living frugally.

At that moment, Zhang Ran spoke up.

“No, it wasn’t Taotao.”

“I bought them.”

“Don’t you think they look perfect in those outfits?”

“Oh, right—I even took pictures. Come take a look.”

Hearing that, Liu Lu stopped talking.

She had simply become too accustomed to saving every penny.

When she saw the photos Zhang Ran sent them—especially the one of Taotao standing protectively behind Susu—she found herself speechless.

“Oh right, have you eaten?” Liu Lu suddenly remembered.

“I’ll go cook now.”

“No need.”

“The children and I already ate.”

“What about you two?” Zhang Ran asked.

“We’ve eaten too.”

“By the way, Siyan called.”

“She said she won’t be coming home tonight. She still has some work to take care of.”

Zhang Sicheng answered.

All the while, he had secretly been observing Zhang Ran’s expression.

Only after seeing nothing unusual did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Taotao, have you finished your homework?” Liu Lu asked.

The moment homework was mentioned, Taotao’s little face immediately fell.

Disliking homework seemed to be a universal instinct among students, regardless of whether they were good at studying or not.

Once both children went into the room to do homework—with Susu quietly accompanying Taotao—

Zhang Sicheng finally spoke.

“Um…”

“Mingxuan told us today…”

“Uncle Meng wants to pay for the renovation of our new house.”

“You already know about that?”

Zhang Ran nodded.

“I do.”

“Meng He mentioned it to me this afternoon.”

“Then…”

Before Zhang Sicheng could finish, Zhang Ran interrupted.

“If it’s meant as a welcoming gift, then just accept it.”

“After all, Meng He is your elder.”

“A renovation isn’t that big of a deal.”

“You don’t need to stand on ceremony with him.”

Zhang Sicheng and Liu Lu exchanged glances before silently nodding.

Their emotions remained complicated.

When they’d first learned Zhang Ran was alive, all they’d wanted was to bring him home and help him rebuild his life.

They had even planned to tighten their belts and save every penny.

Yet reality had turned out completely differently.

In less than half a month…

They now owned a home of their own.

And someone else was even paying for the renovation.

It was something they had never dared dream about.

Yet somehow…

It had all come true with astonishing ease.

“What kind of decorating style do you like?” Liu Lu asked.

She had already decided that, when it came to the renovation, everything would be according to Zhang Ran’s wishes.

Having the house—and now the renovation—was already more than enough for her.

Zhang Ran smiled.

“This is your home.”

“Decorate it however you like.”

“You don’t need my opinion.”

“Besides, my taste is thirty years out of date.”

“It probably doesn’t match modern styles anymore.”

After discussing the renovation, Zhang Ran casually changed the subject.

“Sicheng, don’t you work in mobile games?”

“How’s that industry these days?”

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Sicheng replied, “The mobile gaming industry is still in its explosive growth phase.”

“All kinds of games are flooding the market.”

“No single company has taken a dominant share yet.”

“It’s basically a chaotic free-for-all.”

“But I don’t think it’ll stay that way for long.”

“In another year or two, the industry will probably go through a major reshuffle.”

“Studios without distinctive products will gradually be pushed out by either the market or investors.”

Although Zhang Sicheng was only a programmer, he had largely taught himself.

He also had a fairly good understanding of the gaming market and the industry as a whole.

“In my day,” Zhang Ran laughed, “video games were considered the very definition of wasting one’s life.”

“I never imagined the market would become this huge.”

Zhang Sicheng smiled.

“People still say that now.”

“It’s just that society has gradually become more accepting as things developed.”

“Were you ever interested in making your own game?” Zhang Ran asked.

Zhang Sicheng gave a bitter smile.

“Of course.”

“When I first entered the industry…”

He slowly began talking about his work history.

Zhang Ran didn’t interrupt once.

He simply listened quietly.

Meanwhile…

Zhang Siyan and Qian Li were celebrating at home.

The contract signing had gone extremely smoothly.

Even the lawyer Qian Li’s father had hired was surprised after reading it.

The terms were unusually favorable.

He reviewed it several times but couldn’t find any hidden traps.

In the end, even he had to admit that the two women really had gotten incredibly lucky.

“Siyan!”

“What are you looking at?”

“Come on, let’s have a toast!”

Qian Li raised her glass.

Without saying a word, Zhang Siyan turned her phone around.

On the screen were the photos Zhang Ran had sent her.

All of them had been taken that afternoon.

Every picture featured Taotao and Susu.

It was obvious from the photos that Susu looked genuinely relaxed.

In several shots, she was even running with quick little steps as she chased after her older brother.

Zhang Siyan couldn’t remember how long it had been since she’d seen her daughter like this.

The feeling was indescribable.

Especially the photos of Taotao and Susu together.

Qian Li studied them carefully before smiling.

“You know…”

“It really does look like Susu has become very attached to Uncle Zhang.”

Zhang Siyan nodded gently.

“That puts my mind at ease.”

“From now on…”

“We need to work hard.”

“I’m going to fight for Susu’s future.”

“Let’s do it!”

Qian Li clinked her glass against Zhang Siyan’s.

The two women drained their drinks in one gulp.