Chapter 68

The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped.

After the revelry, I felt a slight soreness in my lower back.

I have indeed been a bit too indulgent these past two days, and have been recklessly messing around with my sister, Chen Xiao, and Teacher Chu Ning without any restraint.

After washing myself thoroughly, I stepped into the classroom as the school bell rang.

Facing the gazes of dozens of classmates, I sat down in front of my seat.

They probably couldn’t have imagined that Teacher Chu, who had disappeared for an entire afternoon, would spend the whole afternoon making love with me in her office, just a hundred paces away.

After all the students had left, I saw a beautiful figure standing quietly at the end of the teaching building corridor.

I walked quickly, since there were no other classmates around. I boldly put my arm around Ms. Chu’s slender waist and we walked together towards the first floor. I only let go of the beautiful wife in my arms when we reached the bottom of the building.

As I chatted and laughed with Teacher Chu as we arrived at the school gate, I realized that the Mercedes-Benz that was always there was nowhere to be seen.

“Beep~”

A short whistle blew, and the headlights of a car in the distance flashed, illuminating me and Teacher Chu Ning.

Chu Ning’s expression shifted, but it was impossible to see her face clearly under the bright light.

She turned her head and asked in a low voice, “Didn’t your mother come to pick you up?”

“right.”

I opened my phone, my finger hovering over my mother’s WeChat, pondering why she hadn’t come to pick me up, and why she hadn’t even said goodbye.

“How about I have Cao Yun take you?”

“No need.” I looked at Cao Yun, Chu Ning’s nominal husband, through the bright headlights inside the car and told him, “Go back and get some rest.”

“Um.”

Teacher Chu Ning nodded slightly. Without saying anything more, she walked gracefully towards Cao Yun’s car in her high heels.

Watching Teacher Chu open the back door and get in, I narrowed my eyes slightly, feeling a sense of relief.

Cao Yun drove up to me, a polite smile on his face: “Do you need me to give you a ride?”

I shook my head and declined, “No need.”

“It’s alright, come sit down. I’m your teacher Chu’s husband, so I’m also your…”

He probably meant to say I was his elder, but then quickly changed his mind, saying, “I’m also your friend, so you don’t need to feel embarrassed.”

I looked at the beautiful young woman in the back seat. Looking at the dignified and beautiful wife sitting there, I recalled the image of her writhing and submitting to me just now.

I looked at Cao Yun, a slight smile involuntarily curving my lips, and declined his “kindness”: “Thank you, but my mother will be here soon.”

Cao Yun nodded, wisely refrained from pressing the matter further, politely said goodbye, and drove away.

…

In front of the school gate,

I frowned, the image of my mother storming off in her car that morning flashing through my mind: “Was Mom angry because of what happened this morning?”

At that time, because of Chu Ning’s matter, I retorted to my mother that she was “self-righteous”, which made the smile on her face disappear instantly.

After hesitating for a moment, I sent my mother a WeChat message: “Mom, school’s out.”

Within a few minutes, I couldn’t help but look at my phone screen dozens of times, but unfortunately, my mother didn’t reply at all.

I felt a little anxious, and also a little worried about my mother’s safety.

It’s worth noting that the mother didn’t have a driver or bodyguards with her. As a public figure, it’s hard not to have concerns about her.

I couldn’t wait any longer and immediately dialed my mother’s number.

The phone rang for about eight or nine seconds before it was answered.

“Feed”.

Hearing my mother’s gentle yet cool voice, I breathed a long sigh of relief.

“Mom, I’m already out of school.”

“Hmm,” Mom responded softly, “I’m in a meeting.”

I was about to say something when the phone went dead.

Seeing this, I smiled wryly and, not wanting to bother my mother any further, hailed a taxi home.

I bought groceries at the local supermarket and went straight home.

My mother is at her company, my younger sister is at a girls’ high school, and I am the only one in this large, single-level apartment of several hundred square meters. I feel an overwhelming sense of loneliness and emptiness.

I made a stir-fried vegetable dish and a sour soup fish fillet dish. While I was cooking red bean glutinous rice porridge, I finished the homework the teacher assigned today, and then took a meal to Song Yu.

Afraid of being cornered at the door by my mother again, I didn’t dare stay at Song Yu’s house any longer and hurriedly left after putting down the food.

I had just stepped out of the elevator when my phone received a message:

Song Yu: “If it’s inconvenient, you don’t need to come again.”

I quickly tried to find an excuse and sent many messages, but Song Yu didn’t respond. It wasn’t until I walked into the house that Song Yu said, “I thought there was a ghost in my house that scared you.”

I chuckled and typed a voice message: “Even if there really are ghosts, I’m not afraid. Sister Yu, how about… I stay by your bedside tonight and watch over you?”

Song Yu remained silent for a long time. After five or six minutes, she finally sent a “knock on the head” animated emoji.

I neither refused nor agreed.

Her response mirrored the ambiguity of our current relationship.

Arriving in the deserted living room, I waited for a long time, standing up and sitting down repeatedly. It felt like I had nails stuck in my bottom; I couldn’t sit still. My mind was filled with images of my mother.

I stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the dazzling night view of Wanghai City, my brow furrowed: “Why isn’t Mom back yet?”

I stared at my mother’s WeChat profile picture on my phone screen, feeling extremely agitated.

I couldn’t help but text my mom: “Are you back yet?”

After waiting for a long time, Mom still didn’t reply.

Without further hesitation, I packed the food into a thermal container and took a taxi to the headquarters of Chiyue Group.

On the way, I contacted Zhao Qing, my mother’s personal assistant. When we arrived at Chiyue Building, she was already waiting at the entrance.

The Chiyue Building was brightly lit, and many people were still working overtime.

I handed her a small cake I’d bought on the way: “Sister Qing, thank you for your trouble, it’s so late.”

Zhao Qing’s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and accepted the small cake: “What’s the big deal? I haven’t gotten off work yet anyway.”

“This little cake must be very expensive, right? Thank you, little brother Lin Yuan.”

“A small token of my appreciation.”

Zhao Qing and I walked into the building: “Is my mother still in a meeting?”

“A meeting?” Zhao Qing asked, puzzled. “President Chi didn’t hold a meeting.”

I paused in my tracks upon hearing this: “No meetings all day?”

“Yes.”

“What is my mom busy with right now?”

Zhao Qing walked beside me: “President Chi has been working all day, without taking a break since this morning. I’ve tried to persuade her several times, but she won’t listen.”

Zhao Qing said cautiously in a low voice, “President Chi seems to be in a bad mood today; he’s had a cold face the whole time…”

I frowned deeply upon hearing this; it seemed that my blunt words this morning had really angered my mother.

I nodded to indicate that I understood, and entered the elevator with Zhao Qing in silence.

Upon arriving at the floor where her mother worked, Zhao Qing tactfully turned and left.

Many offices on this floor had their lights off, but Mom’s office was still brightly lit.

Standing in the corridor, I gazed through the transparent glass wall at the tall, slender figure standing quietly in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in the office.

Gazing at my mother’s beautiful back, a deep longing and yearning for her welled up within me. This distorted love felt like a giant net, suffocating me.

I long to stand behind my mother, hold her tightly in my arms, offer her a shoulder to lean on, and become her emotional support.