My Dad Fell in Love… With Someone My Age - Chapter 3

Tao Xin wasn’t surprised to see Zhou Nian. Zhou Tingzhi had already explained the situation on their way back home.

The story goes back to early 2002. At that time, Zhou Tingzhi’s sister-in-law was eight months pregnant. Zhou Tingqian, his older brother, claimed he couldn’t properly take care of his pregnant wife alone and sent her back to her mother’s house.

In reality, it was just a pretext—he returned home to meet his mistress. What he didn’t expect was that his wife, after arguing with her mother that night, would also return home—only to catch him red-handed in the act.

Zhou Tingzhi’s sister-in-law was a proud woman and couldn’t stomach such humiliation. Without saying a word, she shut the door, went downstairs, and under the cover of night tampered with Zhou Tingqian’s car.

The very next afternoon, on a drive out with his mistress, Zhou Tingqian’s brakes failed. The car crashed into a tree and exploded on impact. Both he and his mistress died instantly.

The explosion raised immediate suspicions, and the police launched an investigation. Once they identified the bodies and pieced the context together, suspicion quickly fell on Zhou Tingzhi’s sister-in-law. But before the authorities could question her, she gave birth—and then took her own life by drinking pesticide.

The case was closed. The dead couldn’t be held accountable. All that remained was an orphaned child: Zhou Nian.

When Zhou Nian began to speak, his first word was “Daddy”—and he said it to Zhou Tingzhi. Perhaps it was just two simple syllables to a toddler, but his grandparents took it as a sign from above.

And so, a kind-hearted, absurd, but strangely tender lie was born.

Tao Xin had originally thought the whole situation rather ludicrous. But after meeting Zhou Nian, she began to understand Zhou Tingzhi a little better. These two really did look incredibly alike. Zhou Nian had been raised as his son for so many years—could anyone honestly still call him a “fake” son? He was, in every way that mattered, Zhou Tingzhi’s real son.

Zhou Nian walked up to her. Tao Xin slowly looked up, hesitating over whether to greet him first—but Zhou Nian beat her to it.

“I’m Zhou Nian. My dad’s probably mentioned me before,” he said.

Tao Xin nodded. “Mm.” Her brain was still catching up. Why is he acting like he knows me? Did Zhou Tingzhi already tell him everything about me?

Just as she was puzzling over it, Zhou Nian casually asked, “Where are they?”

Still somewhat disoriented, Tao Xin answered without thinking, “Your, uh… your dad’s upstairs showering.”

“Showering?” Zhou Nian echoed in disbelief.

Seeing her nod, he froze. Why would he be showering at this time? Wait a second—his gaze fell on Tao Xin’s slightly damp hair. She’d clearly just showered too.

Oh. So, the three of them must’ve gone out together today.

Zhou Nian said nothing aloud, but inwardly, he felt a twinge of sourness. The woman had already been welcomed into their family activities, and here he was, only just finding out—slammed with the news like a hammer to the head.

Still, a bit of bitterness meant little compared to his father’s happiness. Zhou Nian, full of selfless “greater good” spirit, gave Tao Xin a warm, friendly smile.

Tao Xin finally couldn’t resist asking, “Did your dad tell you about me?”

Zhou Nian kept smiling. “Did he even need to? I don’t know what you think, but I personally like it when the house feels fuller and livelier.”

Originally, Tao Xin had worried about living under the same roof as Zhou Nian—how they’d get along. But hearing this, she relaxed a lot. Zhou Nian really did seem like a mature and understanding eldest son.

Since he was being so gracious, she should show some courtesy too.

“I’m staying in the guest room on the first floor,” she said. “I’ll try not to bother you. If there’s anything that makes you uncomfortable, just let me know.”

Wait—she’s already moved in? What’s that supposed to mean?

Zhou Nian had a thousand questions, but he still managed a polite reply. “You’re being too formal. That room’s tiny. The third floor’s empty anyway—Dad can redecorate it for you. You’re a woman, after all; you need a private space.”

Just as Tao Xin was about to politely decline, footsteps came from the stairs. Both turned to look.

Zhou Tingzhi stood under the dim lighting, his face partly obscured, unreadable. Yet the atmosphere seemed to soften around him—quiet, peaceful.

“Dad,” Zhou Nian greeted quickly, scanning the stairway behind him, as if searching for someone.

Zhou Tingzhi approached, casually turning off the chandelier above the dining room. “How long have you been back?” he asked Zhou Nian.

Zhou Nian pulled his gaze back. “Not long. Five or six minutes.” He was still thinking, Women take longer to shower. And if she’s drying her hair and doing makeup too, who knows how long it’ll take? Perfect chance for Dad to explain what the hell is going on.

Ready for answers, he asked, “Dad, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

Zhou Tingzhi glanced at him before letting his gaze settle on Tao Xin. He seemed hesitant. But then he simply said, “This is my friend, Tao Xin. She’ll be staying with us for a while. I want you two to get along.”

Wait, what?

Friend?

Not the daughter of a friend?

Then what happened to that “friend’s mom” cover?

Before Zhou Nian could untangle his thoughts, he saw something shocking: Zhou Tingzhi walked to the entryway, took out a pair of slippers, and gently placed them by Tao Xin’s feet.

“The floor’s cold. Don’t walk around barefoot.”

“Oh…” Tao Xin slipped into the slippers, then turned to Zhou Tingzhi with a smile. “Your son really does take after you—even your heights match.”

“Hold on…” Zhou Nian finally realized something was off. He looked back and forth between the two of them, face tense. “What exactly is your relationship?”

Good question.

Tao Xin had already pondered that earlier, when they were at the mall together. Back when they dated, she’d always dragged him shopping, had him help pick out her underwear, even called him into changing rooms to help fasten the hooks. It was all just part of being a couple.

But now, at 38, Zhou Tingzhi seemed… reserved. His restraint made her feel awkward too. She didn’t know whether to treat him as a boyfriend she hadn’t seen in a month, or as an old friend from eighteen years ago.

Tao Xin didn’t know what to say. Zhou Tingzhi remained silent too.

And as the silence stretched, Zhou Nian’s expression grew darker and darker. Finally, he couldn’t help calling out, “Dad?” His voice sounded almost mournful.

Zhou Tingzhi’s face gave away nothing. He merely said, “Go to your room for now. I’ll explain everything later.”

No answer was the answer.

In that instant, Zhou Nian’s world crumbled. He didn’t even have time to be angry or sad. Hollow-eyed, he returned to his room. Staring at the framed photo of his mother on the nightstand, he sat in a daze for a long time. Only one thought echoed in his mind:

It’s over. She’s Daji. (The femme fatale of ancient legend.)

What he didn’t know was that Daji herself was just as much of a mess right now.

Tao Xin stared at the silent man before her, like a defendant awaiting judgment in court. Her emotions tugged at her rationality again. As a perfectly sane adult woman, she knew those eighteen lost years were a chasm between them. If they resumed their relationship as lovers, it would inevitably end in chaos.

And Zhou Nian, as the eldest son, was bound to be a huge problem. She was only in her early twenties—how could she be someone’s stepmother?

Even putting others aside, Zhou Tingzhi had changed too much. Not just his age and appearance, but his life experience, social standing, financial status… She couldn’t call him “Little Zhou” anymore. Not when he was 38.

Reason told her they should go back to just being friends. That would be safer than a potentially messier breakup.

But emotions and reason rarely align. Emotion is the fog in the deep woods, the siren’s song—it always finds an excuse for recklessness.

Tao Xin took a deep swig of iced cola, glared at Zhou Tingzhi, and barked: “Why did you tell your son I’m just a friend? Are we friends? How many friends do you have that you’ve had intimate contact with?”

If Zhou Tingzhi’s emotional defenses were at 100, Tao Xin’s emotional attack was at 101. That three-part barrage cracked his composure. He instinctively stepped forward before awkwardly saying, “You know I didn’t mean it like that.”

Tao Xin stood and fired back, “Then what did you mean? Shouldn’t you explain things to me before explaining them to your son? Do you have a girlfriend now? Am I your ex-girlfriend now?”

Zhou Tingzhi looked at her, stunned for a moment. Then he averted his eyes. “I’m your legal guardian.”

Tao Xin scoffed. Her words came fast and sharp, like a professional comedian roasting an opponent. “You didn’t deny you have a girlfriend, so you do. You didn’t deny I’m your ex, so I am. Well then, let me make

something clear—Tao Xin will never live under the same roof as her ex-boyfriend! I’m calling Director Chen right now to come get me!”

Without missing a beat, she pulled her phone out of her shorts.

Zhou Tingzhi inhaled sharply and grabbed her wrist on instinct. “Wait… just hold on.”

“For what, exactly?”

“I’m afraid… you might regret it.”

Tao Xin’s eyes lit up with mischief. “I knew you were just pretending!”

A flush crept up Zhou Tingzhi’s face. “I wasn’t pretending.”

That reaction softened Tao Xin. Suddenly, it felt like those eighteen years hadn’t passed at all—like they had only spent a short time apart.

She laughed. The sharp little wildcat turned into a lazy, affectionate housecat. Even her voice gentled.

“You know, it’s not so bad now. Back when we dated, you were always afraid of owing me money, pulling all-nighters just to work freelance jobs. I didn’t want to pressure you either, so I’d plan every date around saving money. In the end, you looked like a panda from lack of sleep, and I was constantly running around like crazy. Honestly, we were both exhausted, like we’d been drained by some spirit.”

“But now?” Tao Xin looped her arm through his and gazed out the window into the lush backyard. “Now you’re rich. I can eat whatever I want, go wherever I want. From now on, I’m living for one thing: luxury!”

“But when you’re thirty-eight, I’ll already be…” Zhou Tingzhi started.

“You’re not old,” Tao Xin interrupted, staring at his face. “You look twenty-seven, twenty-eight at most. Still as handsome as ever.”