Tao Mu descended the stairs slowly, his soft footsteps almost inaudible amidst the silence enveloping the grand house. The scent of seafood congee reached him before he saw his mother in the open kitchen, sitting at the small table reserved for close family.
"Good morning, Mu Mu," his mother greeted with a gentle smile, one that made him feel as if something within him had healed.
"Good morning, Mama." He approached her, kissed her forehead, and sat beside her instead of at the head of the table, where the eldest son would traditionally sit.
On the table, there was a plate of dumplings and warm jasmine tea. His mother pushed the plate toward him as if presenting a treasure. "Eat well before heading to work," she said. The intimacy between them was palpable, but the surrounding silence was heavy. There was no mention of his father, who was presumably either at work or hiding in his study.
"Do you need anything, Mama?" Tao Mu asked softly, taking a bite of a dumpling.
"You being here is all I need," his mother replied, placing her hand gently on his, as if trying to convey that his presence meant everything to her.
This mutual disregard for his father felt familiar. The unspoken tension, the deliberate avoidance—it was as if there was an implicit agreement between mother and son to steer clear of anything that might reopen old wounds.
At that moment, Tao Mu's father emerged from his study, casting a quick glance at the table. His eyes seemed to search for a place there, but he wasn't invited to sit.
"Mu Mu, could you come to my office later? There's something we need to discuss," he said.
Tao Mu didn't look up, continuing to chew slowly, as though he hadn't heard. His mother, too, ignored the father entirely, pouring tea into Tao Mu's cup and talking about her plans for the day.
After hesitating for a moment, the father left the room, leaving behind a scene heavy with silent defiance and unspoken challenges.
At the top floor of "Tao Innovations," Li Ming waited comfortably in the reception area, chatting lightly with the secretary.
"Do you have any plans for tonight?" he asked smoothly, killing time.
"Nothing exciting, but it seems your day is packed with meetings," she replied with a polite smile, then gestured toward the large glass door. "The president will see you now."
Li Ming approached the spacious office. He opened the door carefully, his eyes landing on the large chair that turned slowly, revealing an unexpectedly young face.
"President Tao?" Li Ming asked with slight astonishment, masking his surprise.
"Li Ming, I presume? It's an honor to finally meet you," Tao Mu said calmly, extending a hand.
They exchanged pleasantries professionally before sitting down to discuss the proposal.
"Our electronic solutions offer innovative approaches to every challenge you might face in this market," Li Ming said confidently, presenting the features on a screen. "It's an opportunity that guarantees value for all parties."
Tao Mu, with his sharp, fox-like eyes, observed the details, ready to strike.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we'll need to reevaluate the pricing. The current market conditions don't support such a figure," Tao Mu said, gradually lowering the proposed price while citing potential risks and challenges.
Despite his initial resistance, Li Ming eventually conceded to a 20% reduction, realizing that sticking to his original price would lead nowhere.
As he left the office, Li Ming gave the door a final glance, a faint smile forming on his lips. He walked to the parking lot, leaned against his car, and made a call.
"The plan worked. I've got his attention," he said confidently before ending the call, leaving the stage open for the next moves.
Under Lu Yong's insistence, Zhang Zihao finally agreed to go out for dinner. Sitting at the table, they ate quietly while little Tao Tao eagerly dug into his food, pretending to be grown-up.
Taking advantage of Tao Tao's preoccupation, Lu Yong fixed his sharp gaze on Zhang Zihao.
He wasn't blind—he could sense the difference in his old friend since he'd left the city. Their relationship, once close, now felt cracked and distant.
"Zhang Zihao, are you okay?" Lu Yong asked carefully. "Why did you leave the city so suddenly? You were always here. What happened?"
Zhang Zihao paused, trying to conceal his unease. He stared at the table as if searching for an answer.
"I just wanted to work without the constraints of my family. I needed some space, that's all," he replied softly, his voice betraying a hint of evasion.
But Lu Yong wasn't convinced. There was something off in his tone, a weight behind his words. "What do you mean by family constraints?" Lu Yong pressed, leaning closer.
Zhang Zihao's response came sharper, aiming to end the conversation: "Nothing… I just needed to focus on my own life, without their constant interference."
As they spoke, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor drew their attention. Both turned to see the source. When the woman stopped in front of them, Zhang Zihao's face turned pale. She wore a simple black dress, her elegance and beauty impossible to overlook.
"Mama!" Tao Tao exclaimed, running toward her.
It was her—Min Ming, Tao Tao's mother and Lu Yong's wife.