Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 006: Please Believe Me, My Good Friend

Tang Qian emerged from the bedroom, handing a towel to Xu Tie. “You must be tired too,” she said, “go take a shower and get some rest.”

By now, Xu Tie had composed himself and straightened his appearance. Taking the towel, he flashed a gentle smile at Tang Qian and spoke sweetly, “Thank you, darling, you’ve worked so hard. I love you!”

Tang Qian’s hair stood on end at his words, and her cheeks blossomed with a rosy flush.

She shot him a playful glare, chiding, “Stop it! The child is right here! You never act properly, and now you’re setting a bad example for our child! Go on, off to your shower!”

Xu Tie relished his wife’s coquettish reproach. Suddenly, he bent down and planted a kiss on her apple-red cheek, then, grinning, whistled his way toward the bathroom.

Hearing that teasing, provocative whistle, Tang Qian’s face grew even redder, like a ripe apple.

“Shameless, no sense of decorum at all,” she murmured, burying her glowing face in her hands.

“Mom, I’m going to bed now. Good night, Mom!” Sensing the atmosphere wasn’t in his favor, Xu He seized his chance to slip away.

“Get back here! Bed? Who said you could go to bed? I have something to discuss with you!” Tang Qian’s bashful smile vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by the stern air of a strict mother ready to wield her ruler.

Xu He, who had been poised to make his escape, saw his hopes dashed. He trudged back, head low and tail between his legs, mumbling, “But I have class tomorrow, Mom. It’s late. If I don’t sleep, I’ll be late for school!”

With a crack, Tang Qian slapped her ruler on the dining table, making Xu He jump.

He immediately stood straight, chest out, eyes fixed ahead, and declared with utmost seriousness, “What are your orders, esteemed mother? Whatever your humble son can do, he will do without question!”

Watching her son’s theatrical posture, Tang Qian almost laughed. But she knew this was no time for levity; she had to be strict.

She narrowed her eyes, casting a sidelong glance at Xu He, exerting silent pressure until his heart quivered with dread. Xu He surrendered at once, pleading, “Please, dear mother, don’t look at me like that! You’re scaring me to death!”

Tang Qian snorted, “Oh? Are you saying I look like a ghost?”

Xu He waved his hands frantically, “No, no, of course not! My beautiful mother is like a fairy descended from heaven, how could she possibly look like a ghost? And if she did, it would be like Ye Zuxian, the celestial beauty!”

Though secretly pleased, Tang Qian kept her stern expression. “Well, well, a child born in the nineties who knows about Ye Zuxian, that sixties fairy?”

Xu He boasted, “Ye Zuxian is my idol, how could I not know her?”

Smack! The ruler came down again, instantly sobering Xu He.

Tang Qian glared coldly at him. “All right, you! You don’t study properly, and now football is one thing, but you’re filling your head with nonsense too? Are you looking for trouble?”

Xu He protested, “I really am studying hard, diligently! I’ve been tying my hair to the beam and pricking my thighs with an awl to stay awake!”

Tang Qian’s dark eyes fixed on him, making his heart tremble.

“Really?” she asked.

“Truly! More gold than pure gold!” he insisted.

Tang Qian gave a slight nod. “I’ll trust you this once. But listen, if you don’t study properly, I’ll tan your hide!”

At last, Xu He breathed a sigh of relief; he’d passed this hurdle.

“Don’t worry, I’ll study hard!” he promised.

Tang Qian nodded. “The math test results from two days ago should be out by now, right? Don’t tell me they’re not, I’ve already seen all the news in the parents’ group.”

A chill ran down Xu He’s spine, sweat breaking out on his forehead. So that had just been the appetizer—this was the real issue tonight.

Feeling the icy gaze upon him, Xu He knew full well that if he dared say the results weren’t out, his mother might break his legs.

He replied honestly, “They’re out.”

“And how did you do? Bring me the test paper,” Tang Qian demanded.

Years of experience had taught Xu He that stalling would do no good. So he simply pulled the math test, fresh from today, out of his backpack and handed it to his mother. He even offered his right hand, palm up, in anticipation—hoping his good attitude might earn some leniency.

Seeing his demeanor, Tang Qian knew at once he’d done badly again. Her temple throbbed, but she forced herself to stay calm—don’t get angry, don’t get angry.

But the moment her eyes landed on the score, all reason, composure, and grace were gone. Only fury remained.

Seventy-four points!

A raw, glaring seventy-four out of a hundred and twenty! How exasperating!

With a loud bang, she slapped the test paper hard on the table, making the whole dining room quake.

Xu He’s head nearly disappeared between his knees as he stammered, “Mother, it’s my fault, I messed up! But please believe me, next time I won’t let you down—I’ll do much better, I promise!”

“Seventy-four!” Tang Qian thundered. “Seventy-four! Xu He, what are you doing? The pass mark is seventy-two! Out of one hundred and twenty, you get seventy-four? Are you rebelling? Don’t you want to get into a top high school, a top university?” Her words poured out like a machine gun, relentless and unceasing.

Truly, mothers are alike the world over.

Xu He, fully aware of his mistake, hurriedly admitted, “Yes, I was wrong, Mother! I’ll study hard and do better next time, I swear!”

Tang Qian was almost dizzy with anger; she’d never seen him score so low. If not for his earnest apologies, she really might have resorted to corporal punishment.

But that didn’t mean the matter was over.

She fixed Xu He with a frosty glare. “Now tell me, what happened? Why was your score so low? What have you been thinking about lately? What have you been doing? Were you off playing football again? Or daydreaming about Ye Zuxian?”

Xu He shook his head vehemently. “No, definitely not!”

Tang Qian, knowing her son well, doubted it. “So you were playing football, then?”

Xu He considered denying it, but thought better of it—bringing up Ye Zuxian would only make things worse.

Seeing his tacit admission, Tang Qian’s anger flared. “Didn’t I tell you to stop playing football? What future is there in that? If you put the energy you waste on football into your studies, you’d be top of your class! Xu He, you’re a smart boy—focus on what matters, understand?”

“Yes, Mom. I promise to study hard and do better next time,” he replied, sincerely.

Though still angry, seeing her son’s repentance, Tang Qian couldn’t bring herself to scold him further—her heart ached for him as well.

She looked him straight in the eye. “All right, I believe you. Don’t let me down next time.”

Xu He sighed in relief, “Thank you, Mother! I won’t disappoint you!”

Tang Qian regarded him for a moment. “To err and to correct is the greatest virtue. So long as you can change, you’re still my good child. But for now, you’re not playing football—hand it over!”

Xu He was stunned, then bristled with anger. He looked up at his mother and cried, “Why? Why must you take away my football?”

Tang Qian’s temper, not fully cooled, flared up again. “Why? Because you did badly! If you’d done well, would I take it away?”

Xu He, realizing he was in the wrong, spoke more softly. “I know I messed up, but can’t you let me keep my football, please, dear mother?”

Tang Qian’s expression was icy. “No!”

Knowing there was no hope with his mother, Xu He turned to his father, “Dad…”

Tang Qian, ignoring Xu Tie who had just emerged from the shower, cut him off. “No use calling for your father. Even if you call your grandfather, it’s no use!”

“What if I call you grandma?” Xu He tried.

At that, Tang Qian couldn’t help herself—she burst out laughing. This shameless boy, he really did take after his equally shameless father.

Seeing the ice broken, Xu He seized the chance to snuggle up to her.

But Tang Qian stood firm. “This time, your football is confiscated!”

Realizing he couldn’t save his football, Xu He snorted, his face full of grievance and sorrow—a pitiful sight.

But Tang Qian, seeing her son so crestfallen, relented a little. “I’ll keep it for now. When you score a hundred in math, I’ll give it back.”

Xu He, despair turning to hope, exclaimed in delight, “Really?”

“Have I ever broken my word?” Tang Qian replied.

Xu He threw his arms around his mother, shouting, “Long live my dear mother!” and gave her a grateful hug.

Tang Qian glared at Xu Tie, as if to say, “Look at this boy—just like you, no sense of decorum.”

Xu Tie only smiled.

After their embrace, Tang Qian said, “Now, you can hand over your football, right?”

Xu He asked pitifully, “Can I at least say goodbye to it?”

Was the boy silly? Saying goodbye to a football?

Xu Tie stopped Tang Qian from interrupting, gesturing to let Xu He have his moment.

Tang Qian relented. “Go ahead, then.”

“Thank you, Mother!” Xu He dashed to his room, fetched his beloved football, and carried it into the bathroom. Tang Qian and Xu Tie, puzzled, quietly followed and peeked in from the doorway.

They saw Xu He crouched on the floor, gently wiping the football with a damp towel. Before him were a brush and a basin of soapy water.

As he polished the ball, he murmured softly, “Old friend, you’ll have to stay with Mom for a while. I don’t want to leave you, but I made a mistake and have to make it right. You know, admitting mistakes and correcting them is what good kids do.”

He gazed at the ball, reluctant to part, cleaning it with the utmost care, afraid to use even a bit too much force.

This meteor-patterned football was a gift from his father back in 2002—it was both his toy and his dearest friend.

He continued, “Don’t worry, you won’t be gone long. Next time, I’ll score over a hundred in math and bring you home right away. Trust me, my friend, I always keep my word!”

With that, he bent down, kissed the football, and solemnly promised, “Wait for me; I’ll bring you back as soon as I can!”

Watching this scene, Tang Qian and Xu Tie were filled with emotion. Tang Qian murmured, “This child… he’s still just a boy at heart…”