Chapter 102 - I'm Making An Exception For You
The two of them carried the coffin into Yuan Ge's father Yuan Fen's room. Yuan Ge found a bedsheet and wrapped it tightly so that no one could see what it really was.
Rong Qiuchen looked around the room and saw several large, simple bookshelves filled with books and documents in many languages, a sophisticated mechanical hand on a workbench, and several strange objects of odd design that he did not recognise at all.
"It's all my dad's research experiments and models. He does AI research, you know, artificial intelligence, and is considered a top expert in the field."
Rong Qiuchen didn't understand, so he asked again, "Childe Yuan, what is your father's honourable profession? Is he an official or a merchant? What rank does he hold?" Looking around Yuan Fen's room, which looked unoccupied, he whispered, "Aren't your father and mother living in this house?"
Seeing Qiuchen's cautious look, wanting to say something but not daring to, Yuan Ge didn't bother to continue mocking him and patiently replied instead, "He's not really an official or a merchant, he's sort of - a teacher at the Directorate of Imperial Academy[1], except that he lives abroad all the time and teaches foreigners."
Yuan Ge, now more accustomed to Qiuchen's ways, paused at this point and gave him a "Do you understand?" look, until he saw Qiuchen nod his head in understanding, he continued, "My parents usually come back to China once every couple of years, so I have this house all to myself. Come on over and I'll show you around."
Rong Qiuchen curiously followed Yuan Ge on a tour of this strange new environment.. The house was decorated in a minimalist and modern style, with clean lines and neutral colours. It wasn't overstuffed with furniture and looked very classy; especially the various lamps scattered throughout the house, which could be adjusted at will through voice control, were very ergonomic and convenient.
"The style of the Childe's country house is very unique and very different from the abode in Yandai Byway."
"That flat is in an old building after all, whereas this house is a typical modern residence. Are you not quite accustomed to it all yet? That's okay, you'll have plenty of time to get yourself familiar with this house in the morning."
Yuan Ge thought about it as if it was the first time he had brought a friend to his home since he had returned from abroad, and was feeling a little excited.
Rong Qiuchen appeared even more impressed than Yuan Ge had anticipated, "Childe Yuan is indeed from a wealthy family. The candles in this house are so brightly lit that the night has turned into daylight, even the Third Lord did not make such an extravagance."
"There are just a lot of lights." Yuan Ge replied, and then couldn't help but laugh, "I think I finally figured it out! You've been playing a Language Cosplay game with me all along, haven't you? You're really good at this! You've actually managed to last this long and never OOC, could it be that you're the forum master of some Qing Dynasty Cosplay forum?"
This query caused Rong Qiuchen to look confused again.
"Well, it's okay if you don't want to admit it, otherwise you're OOC, I understand, so you go ahead, keep pretending. I really don't know what to do with you. I guess I'll just have to keep playing this game with you, treating you like you've transmigrated from the Qing Dynasty. But when you've played enough and want to quit, you'll have to let me know. I have a lot of serious things to talk to you about. What's the point of wasting both of our time explaining ancient and modern terms and torturing each other."
Feeling wronged, Rong Qiuchen said defensively, "I only wanted to be nice to you, Childe Yuan. I have no intention to torture you."
"Fine, fine, let's not go over the same ground again and again, go take a shower. How many days have you been rummaging around in the rubbish? You stink to high heaven." As he said this, he grabbed the boy's braid and headed for the bathroom.
When they arrived at the bathroom on the first floor, Yuan Ge realised that the guest bathroom had not been used for a long time and was not prepared with bathing supplies and towels, so he led the boy up to the second floor.
"Since it's already too late today, I'll allow you to use my private bathroom. I have always had the entire second floor to myself and even my parents don't often get the chance to come up here. You're in luck today, I'm making an exception for you."
Seeing the boy with his head bowed, seemingly still ashamed of being called "stinky", Yuan Ge couldn't help but laugh again, "You're quite thin-skinned and so easily embarrassed, which gives me a more vivid understanding of the words 'teary eyed'. This is quite in line with Rong Qing's persona - as a famous actor, he must be particularly sensitive to his image and public opinion. It's just that you really don't have to be so formal in my house. It's awkward for two grown men to be bashful with each other all the time. Go on, take off your dirty clothes and give them to me. I taught you how to use the shower last time - do you still remember how to use it?"
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[1] Directorate of Imperial Academy, or the Imperial College, was the highest educational administration in feudal China.