AD (QT) Chapter 83

Chapter 83: Dad’s Rulebook 5

As Han Ze and Han Doudou boarded the bus back home, Han Ze’s phone rang. His expression turned strange.

“Who is it?” Han Doudou asked.

“Your Uncle Xiao,” Han Ze replied.

Han Doudou’s interest vanished instantly. Xiao Yu was her mother’s current husband. On the other end of the line, Xiao Yu sounded frantic. “Brother Han, is Liu Qianliu with you? We had another fight. She’s obsessed with doing IVF abroad because she wants a son, even though she’s 42 and her health is failing. She’s threatening divorce again.”

Han Ze sighed. He told Xiao Yu he hadn’t seen her but would call if she showed up. After hanging up, Han Doudou sneered, “Only you would have the patience to mediate between your ex-wife and her new husband.”

“She’s still your mother,” Han Ze said simply.

Han Doudou rolled her eyes. “She’s just ‘acting out.’ Xiao Chengcheng told me Mom is desperate for a son because her sisters-in-law mocked her for not having one. She even made a vow to give birth to a boy just to spite them.”

When they stepped out of the elevator, they found Liu Qianliu waiting at their door, dressed in a flamboyant red coat. She immediately began complaining about how long they took.

“You should have called,” Han Ze said coldly.

“You never used to use that tone with me when we were married!” Liu Qianliu snapped.

“We are divorced,” Han Ze reminded her. “To me, you are just Doudou’s mother. If you want a ‘good attitude,’ go find Xiao Yu.”

When Liu Qianliu criticized Han Doudou for not being affectionate enough, Han Ze didn’t take the mother’s side for once. Instead, he confronted her: “Why should she be close to you? Have you actually cared for her at all these past few years?”

Liu Qianliu was stunned into silence. She tried to insist on staying the night, but Han Ze refused, citing the impropriety of a divorced couple staying alone together. Han Doudou, seeing her mother’s selfishness, finally spoke up: “Mom, you’re married. Stop bothering us every time you fight. My dad isn’t a relationship counselor.”

Han Ze called Xiao Yu to come pick up his wife. Before they left, they sat down for dinner. Han Ze proudly announced that Han Doudou had cooked.

Xiao Yu took a bite and gave a thumbs up. “This is great! Doudou has a real talent for this.”

But Liu Qianliu, still bitter, took a bite and frowned. “Great? The meat is overcooked and it’s too salty.”

The atmosphere turned icy. Han Ze snapped, “If you don’t like it, don’t eat it. You don’t even know how to cook, so you have no right to criticize her.” Even Xiao Yu sided with Han Ze, leaving Liu Qianliu looking small and petty.

Han Doudou, showing a maturity she didn’t have a week ago, said calmly, “The food might not be perfect, but it’s cooked through and won’t make you sick. It’s better than being hungry. Just eat some.”

Before leaving, Xiao Yu forced 2,000 yuan into Han Doudou’s hand for “winter clothes.” Han Doudou tried to give it to Han Ze, but he told her to keep it.

…

When Han Doudou returned to school, Xu Yining approached her with a fake-sweet smile. “Han Doudou, tell me which homework problems you don’t know. I’ll explain them to you.”

Han Doudou blinked, remembering Xu Yining’s previous refusal. “Xu Yining, didn’t you say the teacher would go over them and it was a waste of time to repeat it?”

Xu Yining’s face stiffened. Her “perfect” mask flickered.

“Is your face cramping?” Han Doudou asked innocently.

“I… I have a toothache,” Xu Yining lied, her fist clenching.

“Oh, no wonder your face looks so stiff and not as pretty as usual,” Han Doudou chirped. “Since your tooth hurts, don’t talk. It’ll hurt more. I’ll just wait for He Lan to come and explain the problems to me.”

Xu Yining’s face turned from green to white. She couldn’t stand the thought of Han Doudou and He Lan spending more time together.

“Let Pan Hao take you to the doctor,” Han Doudou suggested as Xu Yining stood up abruptly.

Xu Yining didn’t have a toothache—she had a heartache caused by jealousy. She stormed out to find Pan Hao, but not for a doctor. Han Doudou watched her go, her gaze turning cold. She was finally starting to see Xu Yining’s true colors.