Chapter Fifty-Four: That’s My Father

"Damn, are you even my friend? You went on a trip and didn't tell me, not even a word," Gan Yanyan fumed on the other end, itching to poke her.

"I came on short notice, didn't have time to say anything," Luo Yixia replied, not daring to elaborate.

Only their parents knew about her and Song Chengyi; she couldn't possibly tell anyone else about their marriage, especially since her partner was Song Chengyi—she feared the backlash.

"Are you at a hotel now?"

"No, we arrived at a local inn near Mount Fuji tonight. I guess we'll climb Fuji in the morning," Luo Yixia speculated. Otherwise, why come here so late? Song Chengyi must have planned to hike in the morning.

"Are you here alone or with your family?" Gan Yanyan had only seen Luo Yixia sitting outside.

"Uh... I'm here with my family," Luo Yixia hesitated, feeling guilty.

"Of course, how could you go to Japan alone? You’d be sold off and not even notice," Gan Yanyan teased, not questioning further.

"Come on, am I really that clueless?" Luo Yixia retorted angrily.

"Haha, Xiaxia, how are you talking with people over there? English? Or just blurting out Chinese?"

"Gan Yanyan, get lost! Is this how you treat a friend? Why can't I speak Japanese?"

"Please, you studied Korean in college, and you slept through half the classes," Gan Yanyan exposed her without mercy.

Luo Yixia slumped in defeat. Just thinking about it made her angry. She hadn't understood anything all afternoon; everyone around her spoke languages she couldn't grasp. Buying things and communicating relied entirely on Song Chengyi—she had no idea how he managed.

At that moment, Song Chengyi finished his shower and saw Luo Yixia sitting outside. He didn't pay much attention and asked, "You didn't eat much tonight. Are you hungry?"

Luo Yixia turned around in shock, seeing Song Chengyi approaching.

From the phone, Gan Yanyan shrieked, "Ahhh, Luo Yixia, I heard a man's voice over there—he's speaking Chinese!"

"What are you yelling about? That's my dad," Luo Yixia angled the phone toward herself.

Gan Yanyan muttered on video, "Your dad? The voice doesn't sound like him..."

"If it's not my dad, who else could it be? He called me for something. I can't talk now, I'm hanging up," Luo Yixia hurried to end the call.

"Wait, wait! Remember to bring me a gift from Japan!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll bring you something." She hung up just as Song Chengyi came over.

In fact, Song Chengyi had heard every word of Luo Yixia's conversation with Gan Yanyan.

Especially the line, "That's my dad. If it's not my dad, who else could it be?" To Song Chengyi, every word felt like a jab to the heart.

Was he really that old? What kind of hearing did her friend have, to mistake such an obvious male voice? Anyone with ears could tell it wasn't her father.

"What did you just say?" Luo Yixia slipped her phone away, but froze as she met Song Chengyi's gaze.

Luo Yixia had never thought guys looked good in kimono—not even the male leads in Japanese dramas she'd once obsessed over had impressed her. But Song Chengyi left her stunned.

The black kimono seemed tailor-made for him.

Song Chengyi was a bit flustered by Luo Yixia's unabashed stare. He cleared his throat awkwardly. "I asked if you're hungry. You didn't eat much tonight."