On National Day, under Chu Chu's persistent urging, Xiang Ri rose early, preparing to go to the station to meet his mother, who was arriving from his hometown.
Although the train was scheduled to arrive at 11:30 and their home was less than a 15-minute drive from the station, Miss Chu had clearly overlooked this fact. What concerned her more was that she could not afford to be late when meeting her future mother-in-law for the first time.
Despite it being only a little after seven, with four hours to spare, Chu Chu, freshly made up, excitedly pulled the slightly uneasy Xiang Ri into her beloved red BMW.
As for Shi Qing, she remained at home to prepare lunch, explaining that she didn't want her mother-in-law to arrive only to find no food.
Chu Chu had suggested eating out, but Xiang Ri quickly dismissed the idea. Having learned from past experiences, he was reluctant to risk an unexpected incident at a restaurant. Moreover, Shi Qing's culinary skills, passed down from her well-mannered mother, were more than adequate and unlikely to be inferior to those of a hotel chef.
Another reason for his decision was that Xiang Ri knew that people from smaller towns were generally not accustomed to dining out, as they considered it unhygienic and expensive.
As they neared the train station, Xiang Ri's nerves grew tighter. Though he was certain nothing would go wrong, a sense of unease lingered in his chest.
Once an orphan, he had longed for the warmth of maternal love, and now, as the moment drew near, that yearning was mixed with a sense of apprehension.
Noticing his unease, Chu Chu, who was driving, asked with concern, "What's wrong? You've been acting strange since this morning. Aren't you happy to see your mother?"
"I am happy," Xiang Ri replied, though he kept the real reason to himself. "But don't you think we're getting there a bit too early?"
"Is it too early?" Chu Chu widened her eyes. "If we arrive late and my mother-in-law doesn't see us, what then?"
Xiang Ri sighed with a wry smile. "It's not even eight yet, the train doesn't arrive until 11:30."
"11:30?" Chu Chu was surprised. "I thought it was 8:30?"
Xiang Ri slapped his forehead in exasperation. "Didn't I tell you last night?"
"Did you?" Chu Chu feigned a thoughtful expression, furrowing her brow. "I was probably too busy choosing clothes to listen properly. It's your fault for not reminding me this morning, now we've come so early."
Xiang Ri was nearly driven to madness. It seemed he had reminded her more than once that morning. "Never mind, we can always turn back. It'll take less than two minutes to get home."
"Go to hell! Now that we've come out, you're saying such things. Can you at least pretend to care? What's wrong with waiting for my mother-in-law a bit longer?" Chu Chu pouted, half annoyed.
Xiang Ri could not understand why the young woman was so eager to meet her future mother-in-law but nodded nonetheless.
A few hours may not seem long, but they passed in a strange mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Xiang Ri felt torn—he wanted to meet her yet dreaded facing "his mother." Still, he could not resist the pull of that long-awaited warmth.
Time passed with these conflicting emotions, and finally, the train carrying his mother arrived, ten minutes later than expected.
Without a hint of hesitation, Chu Chu, excited beyond measure, pulled Xiang Ri toward the exit, her eagerness palpable.
Fortunately, Xiang Ri had prepared by organizing "his" luggage and had found a family photo, which spared him the awkwardness of not recognizing his own mother.
Due to the National Day holiday and the influx of tourists to scenic spots and returning students, the crowd at the exit was thick, a sea of people pressing together.
Xiang Ri's sharp eyes spotted the woman holding a somewhat plain-looking travel bag, a familiar figure with a touch of age showing in her face. He quickly made his way over to her. Upon seeing her, any remaining sense of nervousness disappeared completely, replaced by a deep, unspoken bond. "Mom," he called out, his voice free of awkwardness, filled only with a natural connection.
"Xiao Bao," his mother said, her eyes moistening. Having lived apart from her son for so long, she had always worried about his well-being, and now, seeing him in person, the strain of the long journey to see him seemed worth every moment.
She smiled as she surveyed him, noting with satisfaction that he appeared a little fuller, taller, and fairer. Her heart warmed at the sight, knowing he had been living well.
"Mother," Chu Chu spoke up softly from beside them.
"Huh?" Xiang's mother, having been entirely focused on her son, turned to notice the beautiful young woman standing next to him. Her heart leapt with joy. "You must be Chu Chu, right?"
"Yes, I am," Chu Chu replied softly, her face flushing with a gentle rosy hue. While their conversations over the phone had felt casual, meeting in person now made her feel unexpectedly uneasy.
"You're truly stunning," Xiang Ri's mother remarked with genuine admiration. To her, seeing her son find such a beautiful fiancée was a source of immense joy. More than that, she attributed much of the positive changes in her son's life to this young woman before her, which made her heart swell with affection.
"Aunt... shall we head home?" Chu Chu asked, her bashfulness deepening as she felt the older woman's gaze on her.
"Yes, let's go," Xiang Ri's mother replied, her mood lifted. She handed her travel bag to her son and linked arms with Chu Chu, walking toward the exit. Though tasked with the "unpleasant" chore of carrying the bag, Xiang Ri followed obediently behind without a hint of complaint.
This wasn't Xiang Ri's mother's first visit to see her son, and she still had some memory of the bus stop near the train station. When Chu Chu didn't lead her there, she couldn't help but ask, "Aren't we taking the bus?"
Xiang Ri quickly responded, "Mom, Chu Chu has a car. We'll ride with her."
"You have a car?" Xiang Ri's mother asked, now taking a closer look at her future daughter-in-law. While Chu Chu's attire was simple, it was clear that she was not an ordinary person. Xiang Ri, too, was no longer dressed in the humble clothes he once wore; everything about them reeked of high-end brands.
"My father is in business, so..." Chu Chu hesitated, unsure how to explain. She didn't want to tarnish her image in the eyes of her future mother-in-law.
But Xiang Ri's mother didn't dwell on it. After a simple "oh," she continued walking arm-in-arm with Chu Chu, though a flicker of something complicated passed briefly through her eyes.
The three of them got into the car, with Xiang Ri sitting in the back while his mother took the front passenger seat.
Chu Chu shot a glance of apology toward Xiang Ri, but Xiang Ri's mother, keenly observing their reactions, noted that she was growing increasingly fond of her future daughter-in-law. Yet, at the same time, a deep concern lingered in her heart, hoping that the younger generation wouldn't fall victim to the same tragedies as their predecessors.
Throughout the drive, Xiang Ri's mother and Chu Chu chatted amiably. Chu Chu, eager not to appear rude in front of her future mother-in-law, was polite and answered all her questions, though not overly eager to please.
Unknowingly, the intelligent Xiang Ri's mother managed to coax out much information from the young woman.
While Xiang Ri's mother was astonished to learn that the young lady was the daughter of the city's wealthiest man, she was equally taken aback by her son's impressive "skills" in attracting such a beautiful woman. Several times, she glanced back at her son, who sat there with his eyes closed, feigning rest.
Once a quiet, awkward person, he had now become charming and articulate, managing to win the heart of such a stunning girlfriend. And rumor had it that he had a disciple at home, someone who was also quite handsome.
Xiang Ri wiped a bead of cold sweat from his forehead. Fortunately, he had warned Chu Chu not to mention his past exploits, such as single-handedly taking on an entire judo club, or his wealth, including a few hundred million dollars and a listed company. If she had, his mother would likely have been pulling him into the laboratory for a thorough examination by now, instead of simply watching him with a slightly puzzled expression.
What neither of them noticed was that, just as Xiang Ri's mother appeared, a distinguished-looking middle-aged man had been observing her intently with an unusual gaze, following her every move until she entered the car.
...
In the Zhongtian Building, the tallest skyscraper in the city, on the 47th floor, in a luxurious office facing south.
Yi Tianxing stood trembling at the desk, a bandage on his nose. Across from him sat a middle-aged man of imposing presence, bearing a striking resemblance to Yi Tianxing. He stared at him with sharp, probing eyes.
Suddenly, the private phone on the desk rang. The middle-aged man snorted at Yi Tianxing and picked up the receiver. After hearing just one sentence, his face turned pale, and he immediately demanded, "Are you sure?"
"Big brother, I saw it with my own eyes. Do you think I could be mistaken?" came the response, tinged with a bitter laugh.
The middle-aged man's voice grew darker. "I didn't expect her to come to Beihai City. Has it really been nearly 20 years since we last met?"
"Big brother, you don't mean...?"
"Don't worry, I'm not that foolish. If the old man hadn't spoken, would I dare go meet her?"
A long sigh escaped from the other end of the line, and the voice lowered in volume. "Enough said, big brother. The person is arriving soon. I'll go meet him now."
"Mm. By the way, don't tell anyone else about this. Only the two of us need to know."
"Rest assured, I understand how important this is. That's all, I'm hanging up."
The middle-aged man hung up the phone, seemingly oblivious to the anxious expression of his son across from him. He rose from his seat and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing down at the bustling crowd below, lost in thought.