48: Expectations from parents

The interlude at the Adventurer's Guild ended, and Wang Chen, with five million gold coins in his pocket, took a taxi straight home.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

He opened the door and habitually called out as usual.

It was still early before work ended, so he didn't expect a response from his parents.

However...

"Chenchen, you're back?"

As soon as he entered, Wang Chen saw his parents sitting in the living room, looking at him with pleasant surprise.

"Yes!"

"The mission is done. Why aren't you two at work today, Dad and Mom?"

Changing his shoes and walking into the living room, Wang Chen asked with some confusion.

"We took leave. The college entrance examination is in three days, so we wanted to spend these days with you."

Wang Mother quickly snatched little Ice Purity into her arms, teasing the little one while speaking as if unconcerned.

"No need. The college entrance examination is a breeze. There's no need for you two to be so serious about it."

Wang Chen glanced at his mother with a puzzled expression, feeling as if something was off.

"How can that be? This is a major event concerning your future!"

Wang Father slapped the table at this moment, an expression of exasperation on his face.

"I've got it. My results in the college entrance examination won't be bad. What are we eating tonight? I'll go cook."

"You need to relax these two days and prepare fully for the college entrance examination. Sit on the sofa and rest, let me do it."

Wang Chen was bewildered as he was pressed onto the sofa, watching his father busy himself in the kitchen.

Something's not right!

"Mom, what kind of trick are you and Dad playing?"

"He's voluntarily in the kitchen. Did the sun rise from the west today?"

Wang Chen knew his father very well. Wang Father had always stayed far away from cooking. Ever since he once made salty fried eggplant, the kitchen had become a Forbidden Ground.

But now...

Wang Mother stroked little Ice Purity's head and said with a smile, "Don't talk nonsense. Your dad recently learned a new Dao of cooking and wants you to try it."

"Oh, right."

As she spoke, Wang Mother asked casually:

"Chenchen, I heard you specialized as a Giant-Beast Master?"

"..."

Wang Chen looked helpless upon hearing this.

Goodness!

So you two were waiting for me here?

"That's right, but Mom and Dad, you don't need to worry. I've already contracted a Beast Pet."

Wang Chen saw Wang Father in the kitchen with his ears perked, eavesdropping, and explained helplessly.

At the same time, he wondered, which busybody was spreading rumors?

"No need to quibble. We already know. Your Aunt Liu's child said you can only contract giant beasts, and there are only a few of those on the entire Blue Star. Where are you going to get one?"

"Don't tell me little Ice Purity is a giant beast. Look at her, she's so cute and has no combat power at all."

Wang Mother rolled her eyes, with an expression that said, 'Don't try to fool me again.'

As she spoke, she hugged little Ice Purity and roughly kneaded her a few more times.

This little one was cool to the touch, saving them the need for air conditioning in this hot summer.

"Exactly. Which Beast Pet of a Beast Master doesn't look majestic?"

Wang Father, busy in the kitchen, couldn't help but agree, "You brat, you're not allowed to take her to the college entrance examination. What if she gets hurt?"

"She's a Dragon!!"

Seeing his parents' expressions, Wang Chen felt a little tired and directly laid out the truth.

"Don't be silly!"

Wang Mother rolled her eyes at her son, "This little one is so plump, how could she be a Dragon?"

Saying that, she poked Ice Purity's little belly with her finger, causing the little one to struggle incessantly and try to bite her finger in annoyance. However, Wang Mother was not afraid; instead, she poked Ice Purity's tiny teeth.

Mom, you're so brave, putting your hand in a Dragon's mouth. Your son declares you the strongest!

Leaning on the sofa, Wang Chen looked at his mother, who had an 'I see through everything' expression, and only felt incredibly weary.

I'm having such a hard time!

"Nothing to say now, right?"

Wang Mother, across from him, saw her son's expression, patted Ice Purity's head, and placed her on her lap.

"I know you've been arrogant since you were little, and you don't want us to worry about this matter."

"But you don't need to lie to us. Even a Giant-Beast Master is stronger than your dad and me, who are just ordinary people without specializations, right?"

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just perform normally in the college entrance examination."

"Here..."

As she spoke, Wang Mother took out a box from behind her and pushed it in front of Wang Chen.

"A small gift I prepared for you."

"What's this?"

Wang Chen took the box out with a puzzled expression and opened it. When he saw what was inside, his eyes welled up slightly.

A ring with a shimmering bronze luster lay quietly in the middle of the box.

Its surface luster and the fluctuations of magic indicated that it was a Bronze-grade equipment.

"Mom, this..."

Wang Chen looked at his mother with emotion, his voice choked.

The beginner's four-piece set not long ago had already almost emptied their family's savings. He really couldn't imagine what a great price his parents had paid to buy this Bronze-grade equipment, worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins!

"You're already an adult, yet you're still like a child."

Wang Mother glanced at him with a look of disdain, then laughed self-deprecatingly:

"You know, your dad and I were so foolish. We didn't know our house could be mortgaged for so much money before?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Chen felt that the light box in his hand suddenly became as heavy as Mount Tai, pressing down on him and making his breathing difficult.

"Mom..."

"I already said no. Why did you mortgage the house?"

"This card has the money I earned from the mission in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range this time. You two hurry and redeem the house."

"You brat, you want to teach me how to do things?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Mother rolled her eyes at her son, then took the card with a chuckle: "How much money is in it? Save it for when you get a wife later!"

"Five million gold coins!"

Wang Chen closed the box and said as if unconcerned.

"What?" Wang Mother was stunned upon hearing this, and Wang Father in the kitchen exclaimed even louder: "You brat, where did you get so much money? We can't do anything illegal!"

"No, I earned this from a mission." Wang Chen scratched his head. He had already guessed this would be the situation.

"What kind of mission can earn so much money?"

Wang Father stopped cooking at this point and sat on the sofa with Wang Mother, staring at Wang Chen with an expression like interrogating a suspect.

"It's... a normal mission. Just fighting monsters and collecting some magical Materials in the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range."

Rubbing his nose, Wang Chen greatly simplified his journey to the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range. He didn't want his thrilling experience to scare his parents.

"Don't be silly. Although your father is not a Awakener, I'm not unaware of the Dao in this!"

Wang Father slapped the table, his eyes fiercely fixed on his son.

"Five million gold coins in less than a month? Do you think you're one of those Rank 3 powerhouses? Tell me honestly."

"Woof woof!"

Little Ice Purity, sitting on the sofa, was startled by the commotion, but when she saw her master's helpless expression, a schadenfreude smile appeared on her cute little face.

Noticing the little one's emotions, Wang Chen gave her an annoyed glance, while pondering how to deal with the situation.

However, at this moment, his mother helped him out.

"Old Wang, our son seemed to have gone out with that classmate of his this time, didn't he?"

Pulling Wang Father aside, Wang Mother whispered while strangely scrutinizing Wang Chen.

"Hmm?"

"The one from the Situ Family?"

"No, how could Chenchen do such a thing?"

Wang Father's voice rose an octave, looking at Wang Chen with an expression of exasperation.

Sitting on the sofa, Wang Chen felt extremely innocent.

You're overthinking things, what does that have to do with me?

"Mom, you two should return this ring tomorrow."

As he spoke, he closed the box and got up, walking towards his room.

"Huh?"

"Chenchen, Bronze-grade equipment can improve your results in the college entrance examination..."

Seeing this, Wang Mother quickly said.

Upon hearing this,

Wang Chen, who had walked back into his room, poked his head out and looked at his parents.

"Dad, Mom, your son..."

"Even if I wear a set of Black Iron, I can still ace the college entrance examination!"