Chapter 926: Afraid of Embarrassing Her
Chapter 926: Afraid of Embarrassing Her
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
From his own yard, Gao Ming could catch glimpses of Su Li’s home, where the excited figure of Su Li darted back and forth, clearly preparing to head out for the dragon boat races.
A pang of longing struck him; he desperately wanted to join them.
Although he understood his grandmother’s concerns about safety, the disappointment weighed heavily on him. He yearned to watch the races with Su Li and share in the excitement, to have a common topic to discuss.
Tears brimmed in his eyes, and Grandma Gao felt a sharp pang of sympathy. Turning to her husband and son, she urged, “Can’t you two do something? At least talk about it! Gao Lang, why don’t you try something? You’re both well-respected in your fields; surely you can manage to get a couple of tickets!”
Grandpa Gao hesitated, scratching his head. “It’s not that it’s too difficult, but the timing is tight. Even if I ask for help, we need time. The dragon boat races have always been overseen by influential local families, and those with clout are not always in government. If we make a sudden request for VIP tickets, it could easily backfire.”
Grandma Gao understood the complexities involved; it wasn’t enough to wield authority, they also needed connections. She looked at her son, her expression serious. “Think of someone you can reach out to. Is there anyone who could get you two into the VIP section?”
In Guangcheng, dragon boat racing was a revered tradition, tightly controlled by prominent families in the community.
Each VIP seat was allocated to one person; if they had purchased three tickets, they couldn’t accommodate a fourth guest. Even wealth didn’t guarantee access—only connections could help, and it seemed futile for the Su family to try to bring Gao Ming along without someone on the inside.
Gao Lang felt the pressure mounting. Rubbing the back of his neck in frustration, he said, “Mom, you know I excel at research, but this whole social networking thing? I’m completely lost. My colleagues in the lab scoff at such dealings; they’re not interested in playing those games. It’s much harder than any research project.”
Gao Ming, now fully crestfallen, stared blankly toward the Su household, his disappointment palpable.
Gao Lang watched his son, his heart heavy. After years of hard work in his career, he felt utterly defeated; he couldn’t even fulfill his son’s simple wish to attend the dragon boat races.
The atmosphere in the Gao family home hung heavy in silence, with no one daring to break the stillness. Finally, a cool, clear voice pierced the tension. “One of the main sponsors for this dragon boat race is a college classmate of mine. Perhaps I could reach out to her. Should I give her a call?”
The family turned their gazes toward the source of the voice, which belonged to Gao Ming’s mother. Despite being a mother of two, she still dressed in a youthful, stylish manner—wearing a fitted black short-sleeve top paired with army-green wide-legged cargo pants, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and black combat boots on her feet. Her striking features, combined with her voice, radiated an air of detachment from the mundane world.
Gao Ming looked over, mirroring the others’ reactions, but quickly averted his gaze. He was afraid to see the unfamiliarity in his mother’s eyes. Yet, a small warmth blossomed in his heart at her words.
Did that mean she wanted to help him watch the dragon boat race? Was she willing to assist him?
He dared not ask.
Grandma Gao gave her son a light nudge. “Yan Yan is in research just like you. If she can build connections, maybe you should reflect on yourself a bit. Yan Yan, why don’t you give your friend a call? Regardless of the outcome, it’s worth a try.”
Without hesitation, Grandma Gao led her daughter-in-law into another room to make the call. Eventually, they succeeded in securing two VIP seats, which Gao Lang would take Gao Ming to.
Overjoyed, Gao Ming wasted no time in informing Su Li, and they clasped hands as they climbed into the Su family car.
Gao Lang watched the lively scene unfold in the car ahead, then followed suit in the Gao family vehicle, trailing behind the Su family’s car.
Inside the Su family car, Su Shen repeatedly checked his appearance, glancing at Gu Zi in the passenger seat. “How do I look today, Gu Zi? Do I seem old? It’s still early; should I go back and change into something else?”
Su Shen felt that his sense of style was mediocre; he couldn’t compete with some men’s meticulous fashion choices.
This was his first time attending the dragon boat race with Gu Zi, and he worried that if he looked unkempt or appeared older, it would reflect poorly on him, making him feel unworthy of his lovely young wife and embarrassing her in front of others.