How Could I Be Willing to Be a Son

She was simply too bossy. Shen Nian decided he wouldn't stoop to bickering with such a domineering "wicked woman."

After keeping her company by the window for a while, the Coming of Age ceremony began.

It was organized much like a parent-teacher conference. The students who usually served as ushers for such meetings were once again on duty, responsible for guiding parents to their class's designated section on the playground.

Each class had its own assigned area for placing chairs and miscellaneous items. The chairs belonging to the ushers were carried down by other classmates; it was a common sight to see a single boy hauling two or three chairs at once.

Shen Nian generally wouldn't volunteer for such labor unless there was a girl walking in front of him who was clearly struggling with the weight. Only then would he lend a hand.

A chair wasn't a desk, after all. Even for a girl, being unable to move one would make them utterly useless.

Shen Nian, on the other hand, could carry four chairs at once and sprint five kilometers around the playground.

Shen Nian carried his chair with one hand, while Xia Yanchun needed two. It wasn't that she found it heavy, but walking like that felt a bit awkward.

"..." Sensing someone's gaze, Xia Yanchun looked up.

"Let me help you."

"Mhm."

Shen Nian chose to lend a hand and lifted Xia Yanchun's chair. Just as he was about to hoist it onto her shoulder, Xia Yanchun dodged to the side, putting some distance between them. "I knew it! Hahaha!"

It was a good thing she was Xia Yanchun; any other girl would have been pranked by Shen Nian already. It was like offering to help an old person carry a sack of rice, only to load it right onto the old person's shoulder instead. Shen Nian was just that kind of jerk!

A pure scoundrel.

He might not do that to an elderly person, but he would absolutely do it to his arch-nemesis.

Fortunately, she had anticipated this. As expected, she was one step ahead!

Xia Yanchun hummed triumphantly, hands behind her back, and skipped off to the rear to play with Li Shiyan, looking completely carefree. Shen Nian curled his lip in a smile and dutifully carried her chair down for her.

Idling on the way, he noticed that the four rubber footpads on Xia Yanchun's chair were perfectly intact. He secretly pried one off and installed it on his own chair.

Now, instead of just one chair clattering when sat upon, both of them would.

What a ruthless move.

The morning fog had completely lifted, making the world seem a few shades brighter. The sun shone through the relatively thin cloud layer; its outline wasn't visible, but it left a patch of blazing white radiance upon the clouds.

The playground was already teeming with people. Most students had parents attending; those who didn't had registered beforehand and left early for the holiday.

The Coming of Age ceremony was quite grand, with the main stage filled with officials. Rumor had it that big shots from the Education Bureau would also make a guest appearance.

"Shen Nian, my dad and Uncle are here." Xia Yanchun patted him from behind.

"Hmm?" Shen Nian looked in the direction she was pointing and sure enough, saw two familiar parents.

The two men had very different auras. Xia Yanchun's father, Xia Herui, had been an official in town for a long time. Although he didn't put on airs, he looked quite serious when he wasn't smiling.

On the other hand, Shen Shi... Shen Nian rubbed his chin, momentarily at a loss for how to describe his own father.

Oh, he had it—Dad was a commoner!

Shen Nian was amused by his own idiotic thought. He pondered briefly what role his dad might play in the System's script.

He was an Adventurer, his older sister was a Saintess, and his mom was the Goddess of Fate. In a family of four, three had secret identities; perhaps his dad did too.

Maybe his dad's scene hadn't arrived yet, or perhaps it was a hidden quest he hadn't triggered.

After all, the revelation that his mom was the Goddess of Fate had come from a hidden quest.

"Dad!" Xia Yanchun waved cheerfully from the side.

The two parents walked over together. Shen Nian nodded to his father and pulled two dorayaki from his pocket. "Want some?"

"I've eaten." Shen Shi reached out and squeezed Shen Nian's arm. "Why do I feel like you've grown taller and got a bit sturdier?"

"Guaranteed." Shen Nian immediately rolled up his sleeve to show off his forearm muscles to his dad and Xia Herui.

"Impressive. Have you started working out?" Xia Herui asked with a gratified look.

"Yep. I've been beaten up by your daughter since I was little; now it's my turn to beat her."

"What are you talking about!" Before her voice even trailed off, Xia Yanchun's foot had already flown towards Shen Nian's calf.

Shen Nian, you really are asking for a beating, honestly.

If they weren't outside, she would have ridden him to the ground and pummeled him. That detestable Shen Nian dared to spout nonsense in front of her father.

"Hehehe." Xia Herui pointed at them and laughed with Shen Shi. "These two kids..."

Shen Shi reined in his smile. "Ahem. Shen Nian looks this sturdy because he eats too much. Binge eating junk food isn't healthy. From now on, deposit fifty of your living allowance with me."

"If you want money, just say so."

"I am your father. Give me money." Shen Shi extended his hand.

Shen Nian: ...

If Shen Nian were to find an Aladdin's lamp one day that could grant him a wish...

Shen Nian: Please make my father normal.

The Genie: Whoa, you're putting me in a high-stakes match?

Upon hearing this, the Genie would snap his own neck. That wish would require gathering all seven Dragon Balls to fulfill.

Shen Nian felt a secret sorrow, seeing a dark future ahead.

While others his age were asking their parents for living expenses, he had already taken on the responsibility and obligation of supporting the family.

The burden of life nearly crushed his shoulders.

He wanted to treat his family to a good meal and hoped some kind souls would donate money. Shen Nian could promise that these donations would not be funneled into a certain critically acclaimed video game.

Xia Yanchun hid a sly look. As the old saying goes, if the upper beam is not straight, the lower ones will go aslant; no wonder Shen Nian was so abstract—Uncle Shen wasn't simple either.

Was this a case of the wicked grinding the wicked?

Of course, of course, that didn't mean Uncle Shen was a demon. Uncle Shen was super nice!

"Xiaochun, Xiaochun, I'm sitting next to you!" Li Shiyan came over hugging her chair and quickly greeted the two men upon seeing them. "Hello, Uncles!"

The woman following behind her nodded, a customary greeting between parents.

"Hello, Auntie," Xia Yanchun greeted Li Shiyan's mother with a beaming smile.

"Are you Xiaochun? Shiyan mentions you every day at home. First in the grade—that's very impressive. You have a bright future."

"I do alright."

After chatting with Xia Yanchun, Li Shiyan's mother looked at Shen Nian.

"Hello, Auntie."

"Student Shen Nian? Shiyan has talked about you too. Going from 550 to 700 points—that's truly amazing, Shen Nian."

Shen Nian scratched his head. "Something like that. Li Shiyan is really smart too."

Being praised out of the blue put Li Shiyan in a wonderful mood. Even if someone stepped on her foot right now, she wouldn't mind. She grinned happily, just like a child.

Purer than distilled water—so cute.

...

"Mic check... uh, would all parents please refrain from walking around? The Coming of Age ceremony will begin shortly."

"Check, check..."

The leaders were still adjusting the microphones. Observant students had already ushered their parents to their seats.

Shen Shi looked at Shen Nian, who was sitting in the chair, and then at the surrounding parents who were already seated. He pondered for a long time.

He deeply regretted his past leniency; he clearly hadn't beaten the boy enough back then.

"Are you the dad, or am I the dad?" Shen Shi couldn't help but grumble.

"I'm younger, stronger, smarter, and more hardworking than you. I have the high aspirations of youth—why would I willingly settle for being a son? From now on, let's just drop the titles and treat each other as equals."

"..."

When it comes time to split the family assets, the broom closet is going to Shen Nian. I'll toss him twenty yuan from the estate—just enough for a cheap meal at Shaxian Snacks—and call it a day.