Dad, Please Try a Little Harder - Chapter 87: Mrs. Lu, I Want to Try on My Own foraFewYears!_2

Zhao Chunjia had remarked, “That’s so typical of Qian Quan.” He hadn’t paid much attention to the three others. In the face of absolute strength, tricks, and conspiracies became mere jokes.

He had invited Qian Quan to be a basketball coach, not really to tap into his past basketball prowess, but rather to follow his father-in-law’s advice – to subtly, step by step, keep in touch with him and foster goodwill.

In any strategic plan, there were no real bystanders. Everything was interconnected, threads woven intricately together.

Sunday came around.

Qian Quan received a message from the editor of New Story Monthly early that morning:

“Congratulations, Mr. Secret. Your submission has passed our chief editor’s review and will be published in our next issue.

“Also, based on our editorial team’s evaluation of your work, you will receive a standard rate of 650 per thousand words (totaling 9,750).”

“Payments will be transferred to your personal account within a month after publication. Please be advised.”

Overjoyed, Qian Quan thought to himself, “Looks like I’m going to be competing with my dad in the literary world. I wonder how much he gets paid for his pieces.”

in the afternoon, Qian Quan received a call from a delivery service. He was puzzled since he hadn’t ordered anything online recently. Perhaps it was a surprise from his parents or Ding Linlang.

When he retrieved the package from the delivery station, it turned out to be a pair of AJ13 sneakers!

Without a doubt, it had to be from Ding Linlang. Perhaps she sent it to celebrate the success of her new book.

Qian Quan immediately texted Ding Linlang, “Got the shoes, thanks!” Ding Linlang replied swiftly, “What shoes? I didn’t buy you any shoes.” Qian Quan was confused, “What? Then how did I get a pair of shoes?” Ding Linlang asked, “Did Mr. or Mrs. Qian buy them for you?”

Qian Quan replied, “I’ll check.”

He called his mother and confirmed she didn’t buy the shoes.

He was about to inform Ding Linlang when an avatar of a woman sent him a message, “Mr. Qian, did you receive the shoes? Do you like them?

Lu Xuan’s mother?

Baffled, Qian Quan responded, “Mrs. Lu, are the shoes from you? Lu Xuan’s mother replied, “Yes, I noticed you wore a very basic brand of basketball shoes, and I thought they didn’t suit someone of your stature. So I decided to gift you a pair of AJs. Do you like them?”

Qian Quan was utterly confused

He responded, “Thank you so much, Lu Xuan’s mother! However, we coaches shouldn’t accept gifts from students’ parents. Rest assured, I’ll genuinely coach

Lu Xuan.”

“I’ll bring the shoes to the basketball room next week. Please take them back.” Lu Xuan’s mother insisted, “It’s alright. This is a personal gesture, unrelated to Lu Xuan. Seeing someone as outstanding as you wearing such basic shoes made me feel bad. Please accept them!’

Qian Quan was dumbfounded. He thought to himself, “What on earth was going on? I have parents and Ding Linlang who care about me. I don’t need pity from a student’s parent I’ve only met once. It’s unnecessary.”

“Besides, I can afford these AJ shoes on my own.” “Moreover, are the sneakers of those three coaches any better than mine?” “Pointing fingers at my basketball shoes without any reason? That’s not appropriate, to say the least. It’s certainly impolite.”

Qian Quan was at a loss for words and responded, “Thank you again, but I really can’t accept the shoes.”

Mrs. Lu became anxious, “Oh, come on, why are you being so hesitant and fussy? Look, it’s hard to explain over WeChat. Will you be at Wan Xiang tonight?”

Qian Quan replied, “Yes, I will. Are you coming too?”

Lu Xuan’s mother said, ‘Til be attending a yoga class. After that, let’s have dinner together. This way, I can explain in person. Surely there’s no rule against having a meal together?”

After some thought, Qian Quan agreed.

He thought that he would return the shoes tonight.

Lu Xuan’s mother was satisfied, “See you tonight.”

Their conversation ended shortly before a message from Ding Linlang came in, “Did you find out? Was it Mrs. Qian?

Qian Quan replied, “No, it’s from a parent whose child enrolled in my basketball class. She probably wants me to give her son extra attention.

Ding Linlang noticed and asked, “A female parent?

Qian Quan responded, “Yeah, what about it?”

Ding Linlang inquired, “How old is she?”

Qian Quan replied, “In her thirties, I guess. It doesn’t matter. I’ll return her shoes tonight, otherwise, it’ll seem weird.”

Ding Linlang said, “I think so too…”

Qian Quan exclaimed, “Right? She even belittled my basketball shoes!”

Ding Linlang remained silent.

At 6 p.m., Qian Quan headed to the Wan Xiang Plaza with the new pair of AJ shoes.

He first taught a lesson to a child who had come for a trial class, and then he went to the Nag Restaurant, where he had arranged to meet Lu Xuan’s mother. Upon arrival, he noticed Lu Xuan’s mother had already arrived. That day, she wore an off-shoulder black dress with her hair flowing freely, fully made-up. From an outsider’s perspective, she exuded the elegance and maturity typical of a woman in her thirties. She wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful, but her sense of style was impeccable.

“Mr. Qian,” Lu Xuan’s mother stood up to greet Qian Quan, feigning annoyance, “Did you really bring the shoes?”

Without much conversation, Qian Quan placed the shoes beside her.

She said, “Alright, let’s talk. If you still don’t want them after our conversation, I won’t force you.”

Qian Quan sat opposite her, a faint but pleasant scent filling the air.

“You don’t know my name, do you?” she asked, tilting her head slightly to look at Qian Quan.

He shook his head.

-My name is Lin Xinyi,” she chuckled sarcastically, “But ever since I had kids, I’ve been known as Lu Can’s mom or Lu Xuan’s mom, not Lin Xinyi anymore..”