What It's Like Being a Vampire

Chapter 552: 31st Birthday

At the airport, they’d assumed it would only be Xiang Kun picking them up, or at most, his parents with Xiao Xia tagging along. But when they saw the dozen or so people next to Xiang Kun, they were a bit stunned.

What’s going on here? This looks like a tour group!

After Xiang Kun stepped forward to take their luggage, Xia Libing, who was following behind him, naturally greeted them. She said hello to auntie and uncle.

Then, somewhat nervously, the Little Fatty Girl came forward, craning her neck upward to enthusiastically greet, “Hello, Grandpa and Grandma!”

Both of Xiang Kun’s parents were taken aback as the rest of the airport group fell quietly. After a second, Little Fatty Girl quickly added, “Hello, Grandfather Xiang! Hello, Grandmother Shen!”

Before coming to the airport with Xiang Kun today, Shiling’s Mom, who knew about the situation, had specifically instructed her daughter not to misspeak and accidentally say “Bald Grandpa, Bald Grandma”. She should say “Grandfather Xiang” and “Grandmother Shen” —— Mrs. Xiang’s last name is Shen.

Therefore, while waiting at the airport, Little Fatty Girl was repeating in a low voice, “Hello, Grandfather Xiang, Grandmother Shen, hello.”

But when she saw Xiang Kun’s parents, she spoke too quickly and only said “Hello, Grandpa and Grandma.”

“Oh, sweetie! You must be Xiao Lingdang, right? My, what a cutie!” After a brief brainstorm, Mrs. Xiang quickly recognized this chubby little girl as the same one from Xiang Kun’s video on the New Year’s Eve. Mr. Xiang had wondered at the time if this was an illegitimate daughter Xiang Kun had secretly fathered abroad, prompting Mrs. Xiang to subtly verify this with Xiang Kun and learned about Liu Shiling’s identity.

However, this was the first time they really met Little Fatty Girl. She quickly continued her self-introduction: “Hello, Grandfather Xiang, Grandmother Shen. My name is Liu Shiling, I am… I am…”

She initially wanted to say, “I am Uncle Xiang’s neighbor,” but then she felt like her family had moved a long time ago and wasn’t Uncle Bald’s neighbor anymore, that it wasn’t the correct way to describe it. Also, merely being called “neighbor friend” seemed too ordinary.

But as she tried to come up with a better definition on the spot, she couldn’t think of one. If she said she was Uncle Bald’s “Magic Apprentice” or “Herald,” it would definitely sound more impressive than “neighbor friend,” but it would reveal the secret. Therefore she couldn’t say that either.

After thinking for a while, Liu Shiling finally gave herself the title: “I am the owner of Custard Pie. Grandfather Xiang, Grandmother Shen, Custard Pie is a very cute little kitten. I will show her to you later, she is very well-behaved.”

Even though Mrs. Xiang didn’t understand why Little Fatty Girl had to connect her introduction with a cat, she found her innocent expression adorable and couldn’t stop smiling, “Okay, okay, later you can take me to see Custard Pie. I love cats, too.”

Hand in hand with Little Fatty Girl, Mrs. Xiang greeted the others. The first were Chang Bin and Zi Cheng: “Hey, I recognize you two, you’re both Xiang Kun’s college roommates, your names are…Chang Cheng and Liu Bin, right?” Xiang Kun had brought Chang Bin and Zi Cheng to Citong for summer vacation during their college years, so Mr. Xiang and Mrs. Xiang had met them before.

Xiang Kun was laughing and crying at the same time: “Mom, you might as well just call them the ‘Great Wall’ and ‘Thousand Miles’, this is Chang Bin, he used to work in Shenhai like me, and this is Liu Chuang, who we all call Zi Cheng. Over there is his girlfriend… Oh, now fiancée? This is his fiancée Chu Xiaoting, she’s from our West Sea.”

Then Tang Baona and her sister also came up to greet them: “Uncle, auntie, I’m Tang Baoting, this is my sister Tang Baona. We are friends with Xiang Kun and now also his business partners. We run a company together.”

Yang Zhen Er couldn’t help but laugh, “Nana, you don’t have to be so nervous!”

“I’m not nervous.” Tang Baona glared at her friend.

“What’s your name again, Nana?” Yang Zhen Er laughed.

“I’m… uh, sorry uncle and auntie, I misspoke just now. I’m Tang Baona, this is my sister Tang Baoting… wait, no, Tang Baoting. You can call me Nana…” Although Tang Baona seemed calm, she did seem quite nervous with her words.

Tang Baoting also laughed and explained on behalf of her sister, “Nana tends to get nervous around elders. She’s an honest kid.”

While Mrs. Xiang and Mr. Xiang naturally said it was fine, Xiang Kun was looking strangely at Tang Baona.

Then Yang Zhen Er voluntarily stepped forward to introduce Zhang Qian and Xiao Pingguo to Xiang Kun’s parents, “Uncle, auntie, I am Yang Zhen Er, also a partner with your son… err, with Xiang Kun. This is Director Zhang Qian; she’s our major collaborator, a prominent wealthy woman, and heiress. As small partners, we all depend on her…”

“Yang Lao San, stop making things up! You’re the big businesswoman, your whole family is!” Zhang Qian nearly kicked Yang Lao San, then put on a smile for Mr. and Mrs. Xiang. “Uncle, auntie, don’t listen to Zhen’er’s nonsense. Our collaboration with Xiang Kun is going very well and is very successful. We are not just business partners, but also good friends.”

Yang Zhen Er further introduced Xiao Pingguo: “This is Li Jun. We all call her Xiao Pingguo. She’s blind but has super hearing. She doesn’t let her blindness interfere with walking or living a normal life, she’s incredible. Her father is a university professor and a good friend of Xiang Kun.”

As they walked towards the exit of the airport, Mrs. Xiang was leading Little Fatty Girl with her right hand and Xiao Pingguo with her left, while Mr. Xiang was listening to Zhang Qian and Yang Zhen Er explaining the current status of their company and their products, as well as praising Xiang Kun’s “talents”.

Falling a few steps behind, Tang Baona couldn’t help covering her face, her sister Tang Baoting laughingly comforted her, “It’s okay, it’s normal to be nervous when meeting the parents for the first time. I don’t mind switching names with you. From now on, you can be called Tingting, and I’ll be called Nana, haha.”

After Tang Baona gave her sister a pinch, she was about to say something when she noticed Xiang Kun falling back a few steps to wait for them.

“Ah, isn’t this Tingting’s sister, Nana? Nice to meet you.” Xiang Kun deliberately laughed and said to Tang Baoting.

Tang Baoting also laughed, “Yes, I’m Nana, you must be Xiang Kun’s friend Chang Bin, right? Nice to meet you.”

With their teasing, Tang Baona’s embarrassment over her earlier misstep was forgotten, and the three of them starting laughing and joking.

Their large group took four cars and headed directly to the manor-style restaurant where Zhang Qian had previously treated Xiang Kun, Tang Baona, and others to two meals.

Since they had a large group tonight, Zhang Qian booked an entire small courtyard, where only their group would be dining. Three large tables were set up in the main hall.

Yang Jie, Yang Zhuo, Xia Tianhuo, Xiao Min and others who didn’t go with Xiang Kun to pick up his parents stayed here. So when Xiang Kun brought his parents over, Yang Zhen’er once again volunteered to introduce everyone to Mr. and Mrs. Xiang.

“This is my cousin, Xia Tianhuo. ‘Tian’ as in ‘adding oil’ and ‘Huo’ as in ‘a burning butt.'” Yang Zhen’er slapped Xia Tianhuo’s shoulder as she introduced him.

Xia Tianhuo greeted Xiang Kun’s parents politely, then brushed off Yang Zhen’er’s hand, laughing and saying, “Why do I feel like you’re scolding me when you say that.”

Mrs. Xiang then wondered, “This… Mr. Huo also shares the last name Xia, and he is Zhen’er’s cousin too, I remember you’re also Xia’s cousin right? So what does this mean…”

Xia Libing nodded, “You’re correct, auntie. He is my cousin’s cousin and also my cousin.”

Yang Zhen’er added with a laugh, “My dad and Old Xia… and Xia’s mom are siblings. My mom and Tianhuo’s mom are sisters. In short, we are all one family! Auntie, don’t be fooled by Tianhuo’s size and stern face, he is actually a very innocent and sweet kid.”

“What do you mean by innocent and sweet… do you describe your cousin like that?” Xia Tianhuo was somewhat speechless.

Yang Zhen’er then introduced Yang Jie, Yang Zhuo, and Xiao Min to Mr. and Mrs. Xiang. After Genesis of Voice became a hit, Yang Zhuo’s admiration for Xiang Kun had elevated several notches.

So, upon meeting Xiang Kun’s parents, Yang Zhuo couldn’t suppress his enthusiasm as Xiang Kun’s “number one fan” and began to boast about Xiang Kun’s abilities.

Then everyone naturally brought up the company Xiang Kun, Zhang Qian, and Tang Baona had established together, as well as their recent hit products. Strictly speaking, most of the people having dinner together were business partners and shareholders, so everyone had a stake in it, regardless of their shareholdings.

Although Mr. and Mrs. Xiang usually only play simple mobile games like ‘Fight for the Landlord’ and ‘Mahjong’, they don’t have much exposure to emerging things and major games. However, Genesis of Voice was too popular, so even though they hadn’t played it themselves, they had seen others playing it and heard its name.

Now that they knew their son had developed such a famous and popular game, Mr. and Mrs. Xiang were a bit taken aback.

The couple came to celebrate Xiang Kun’s birthday, suggesting to go to Shenhai. But when they heard that Xiang Kun was no longer working in Shenhai and had been in Peng City recently, their first reaction was thinking their son had lost his job and was too embarrassed to tell them.

At the airport, when they heard that Xiang Kun had started a business with others, they thought their son might be worried that the new company’s prospects were unclear, so he didn’t dare to tell them for fear of causing them anxiety.

But now they found that the company Xiang Kun and his friends had founded and the products they had developed seemed to be quite successful, even though it had only been a short time.

Does this mean their son was a successful entrepreneur, or at least had made significant progress towards success?

As parents, Mr. and Mrs. Xiang had a good understanding of Xiang Kun’s ability. They knew he was a person who could remain focused and work steadfastly. However, they also had a limit to their understanding of their son’s capabilities.

But now, after Yang Zhuo and Zhang Qian’s somewhat exaggerated descriptions of Xiang Kun’s abilities, they were somewhat dazzled. Was their son really this competent?

Originally, Tang Baona, Yang Zhen’er, and Zhang Qian planned on throwing a surprise birthday party for Xiang Kun.

But now that Mr. and Mrs. Xiang were here, it was no longer appropriate to have that kind of flashy celebration. Instead, everyone ate a lavish meal together, and then the waitstaff brought out the large pre-ordered birthday cake.

Then, naturally, it was time for Liu Shiling to lead the singing of the ‘Happy Birthday’ song, “Happee burzday too hoo~, happee burzday too hoo~, happee burzday dear un-co bald, happee burzday too hoo~~”

Just as on Old Xia’s birthday, the English lyrics of the birthday song were once again coached by Yang Lao San.

The song was followed by fits of laughter, but Chang Bin asked Zi Cheng with a puzzled face, “What is ‘un-co bald’?”

Zi Cheng, who had attended Old Xia’s birthday party, instantly understood and chuckled to Chang Bin, “‘Un-co’ is ‘uncle’, and ‘bald’ is… well, ‘bald’. Uncle Bald, haha. Definitely one of Yang Lao San’s pranks!”

“Uncle bald? Hahaha…” Chang Bin caught on and couldn’t stop laughing. He then rushed to Yang Zhen’er, who had just finished recording a video, asking her to share it with him. He wanted to let his wife, Wang Han, listen to Little Fatty Girl’s “Happy Birthday, Uncle Bald” song.

Not only were the young people unable to contain their laughter, after receiving an explanation from Tang Baona, Mr. and Mrs. Xiang could not stop laughing either. Mrs. Xiang could not help but tease her son, “I told him not to go bald. His bald head is too distinctive. In the future, he will not only be Uncle Bald, but could also become Bald Brother, Bald Man, Bald Grandpa, Bald Uncle, or Bald Guru! If a girl likes him, her parents will probably worry whether he just got out of jail or has just renounced the monastic life. They may also worry whether their grandchildren will experience premature balding…”

After singing the Birthday song, Xiang Kun made a wish. Then he stood still as everyone smeared him with cake cream on his face and forehead.

At first, everyone was a bit reserved due to the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Xiang, and only smeared a finger’s worth of cream on his cheeks and forehead.

However, when Old Xia smeared a large amount of cream on Xiang Kun’s bald head, everyone couldn’t resist joining in, so in the end, Xiang Kun had a thick layer of cream on his head, making him seem as if he had run out halfway through washing his hair.

After the fun-filled celebration, everyone gave their gifts to Xiang Kun, and then escorted Mr. and Mrs. Xiang back to their hotel to rest.

Little Fatty Girl was already curled up sleeping on the sofa while eating cake, so Xiang Kun and Yang Zhen’er took her home to rest. Shiling’s Mom had just finished her shift – Zhang Qian had originally given her the day off so she could join them for the meal, but she had declined because her colleagues were all working overtime.

When leaving the restaurant, Zhang Qian drove Xia Libing, Yang Jie, and Xiao Min back.

She casually asked Xia Libing, who was sitting in the passenger seat clutching her backpack, “Old Xia, don’t you like C-brand bags?” She had also started calling her “Old Xia” in private, as it felt more intimate than calling her “Miss Xia.”

When it was Xia Libing’s birthday, she’d given her a luxury brand backpack, but Xia Libing was still carrying the same old large backpack she always did.