[Urban] The Life of God (Complete) - 25-27

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Chapter 10

I awoke from an extremely long and absurd nightmare. The first thing I saw was a pair of clear, bright eyes, filled with deep concern and maternal love. I struggled to open them and found myself lying on a comfortable, soft bed. Sitting beside me, taking care of me, was Bai Liyuan, or rather, my mother.

She had washed away her makeup, and her natural beauty was undiminished. Her hair, which had been styled in a bun, was now simply tied in a ponytail. She looked and felt more like the young woman in the photograph.

She had changed into a black silk slip dress, revealing her slender shoulders and a glimpse of her snow-white cleavage. Her two snow-white arms were wringing a towel in a small basin. I then noticed the cool towel on my head. Whether it was the towel or her unique, orchid-like, musky fragrance, the excruciating headache I had felt earlier had subsided considerably. I was only vaguely dizzy, as if I had remembered many things, yet they were all very confused and disorganized.

Seeing that I was awake, Bai Liyuan's previously melancholy expression brightened instantly. She smiled sweetly and gently stroked my forehead, saying, "Little Stone, you're finally awake! I was so worried about you. How are you now? Is anything else bothering you?"

"Bai...no, Mom...I'm fine."

Her small hands were a little cold. I sat up, supporting myself on the edge of the bed, and handed her the towel from my forehead.

I felt a little uncomfortable with her affectionate attitude. Perhaps it was because we had been apart for so long; I wasn't mentally prepared to be with her. Just an hour ago, she was merely the subject of a photograph on my body, a key figure in my search for lost memories. Now, she was my closest relative, a mother and son connected by blood.

What troubled me even more was that I had heard about her having sex with two boys yesterday. I still had the video of them engaging in a threesome in that bathroom on my body, along with all sorts of unspeakable rumors about her. These things weighed heavily on my heart, making it hard to breathe. And what about Guo Qi? What's going on between them? What should I do?

Bai Liyuan seemed to sense the coldness and distance in my attitude towards her. Somewhat disappointed, she withdrew her hand from my forehead, took the towel I offered, wrung it out again, and gently and carefully washed my face.

Her movements were very gentle, and through the towel, I could feel the long, slender fingers of hers. This familiar gesture evoked memories of my childhood. My mother used to wash my face like this when I was little, and that unique feeling can only be understood by experiencing it firsthand.

A warmth filled my heart. I let her wash my face clean, and grasped her slender, pale wrist, saying, "Mom, I'm fine now, just a little hungry. Can you get me something to eat?"

My enthusiasm invigorated Bai Liyuan. She jumped up with joy like a little girl, tugging me back onto the bed and telling me to sleep a little longer, that she'd wake me up when she got something to eat. With that, she swayed her long, white legs beneath her black satin halter dress and walked out of the room. As she left, she turned back and smiled, her captivating eyes leaving me mesmerized.

Once the door closed, I immediately got out of bed. I wanted to make the most of this time, searching for the secrets behind Bai Liyuan, trying to find the reason for her two-faced nature, and what she had experienced over the years. I had to start with her most private space.

This room, presumably the master bedroom, is about 60 square meters in size. The room is decorated entirely in white, with creamy-white carved teak wainscoting on the walls. A soft white feather lamp, woven from bird feathers, hangs in the center of the ceiling, illuminating a 2.8 x 3 meter bed. The pillowcases and duvet covers are pristine white, carrying Bai Liyuan's unique fragrance. The bed has a white leather headboard with a lily painted in gold thread in the center. To the right of the bed is a European-style dressing table. All the furniture and the bed are made of white teak, but unlike the living room, the furniture in this room has gold-lacquered edges.

Above the headboard hangs a painting, the only painting in the room. The frame is rectangular, with a backdrop of lush green woods. A young girl in a white dress stands in the center of the picture, holding a bamboo basket full of strawberries. The dress is Greek-style, with the white linen covering her firm, full breasts. The painter has realistically depicted the two pink nipples protruding beneath the linen. The skirt is not long, only reaching the girl's knees, revealing a pair of slender, fair legs beneath the skirt billowing in the wind. Two small, delicate feet are bare, stepping on the grass. The girl's face is an oval shape, with bright eyes like two crescent moons beneath her dark, arched eyebrows. Her rosy lips are smiling, revealing a set of neat, white teeth. The girl's hair is parted in the middle and styled into two ponytails that hang down in front of her chest. The girl's features and figure bore a resemblance to Baek Ri-won, but she radiated youthful energy, and her eyes lacked the usual melancholy, instead displaying pure joy and anticipation for the future. She looked more like a younger version of Baek Ri-won.

Directly opposite the portrait was a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror, nearly as tall as the ceiling and slightly wider than the bed. It was surrounded by a gilded, carved wooden frame, reflecting the scene on the bed perfectly. I found this mirror rather strange; the part where it touched the floor had four casters, suggesting it could be moved. I stepped forward and applied a little force, and sure enough, the floor-to-ceiling mirror could move horizontally.

The bathroom, about the size of a square meter, was entirely made of transparent glass, except for two solid walls. It was fully equipped with a washbasin, toilet, and shower. A round platform was placed in the center of the wall facing the bed, with a three-step platform leading to a curved bathtub. The other side of the bathtub leaned against a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, offering a view of the boundless blue sky and white clouds. I walked around the bathroom twice. The toiletries and towels were all individually provided, and the bathrobes hanging on the walls were all women's. The room was filled with a fragrance of shampoo mixed with Bai Liyuan's body scent, and there was no indication of any other male presence.

I stepped out of the bathroom and moved the full-length mirror to the right. The motion-sensor lights inside immediately illuminated the room, which was about the same size as the bathroom. The room had solid walls on all four sides; without the motion-sensor lights, it would have been pitch black. Now, a crystal chandelier in the center of the room and spotlights surrounding the ceiling illuminated the room brightly. I strolled in, stepping onto a soft, almost sinking, scarlet Persian carpet. The scent of Bai Liyuan was stronger in the room than in the other rooms, mixed with a hint of camphor. This must be her walk-in closet.

On both sides of the room were large wardrobes made of white teak, with hooks neatly arranged and filled with all kinds of dresses, sundresses, long dresses, and mini skirts—every style imaginable. On the other side, racks were overflowing with jeans, skinny jeans, pencil pants, culottes, and other trousers. The sheer variety of clothing here surpassed that of any luxury brand flagship store. I opened one of the storage compartments and saw all sorts of bras inside—black, yellow, red, pink, green, purple—a complete array of colors. The next compartment was filled with stockings of various colors; besides the usual black stockings, there were also some extremely sexy fishnet stockings and garter stockings. I carefully opened every drawer, every compartment, and checked every corner, but besides getting my hands smelling faintly of perfume, I found nothing.

Two full-length mirrors are embedded in the center of each of the two wardrobes, facing each other directly, allowing one to clearly see their back while standing in front of one. Against the wall opposite the entrance stands a crystal glass shoe cabinet of the same height as the wardrobes. This cabinet, supported by golden frames, is wide enough to cover the entire wall, with ten shelves separated by shimmering crystal glass panels. Each shelf is filled with all sorts of colorful women's high heels—metal heels, crystal heels, wooden heels—mostly stilettos, with heels over 7 centimeters, except for a few chunky heels. These shoes, which make women feel light and airy, are arranged like a well-ordered army, neatly stacked on the crystal glass cabinet, shimmering under the lights. One can imagine the graceful, captivating beauty of their owners as they wear these shoes.

I inadvertently spotted something familiar on the shoe cabinet: a pair of gold sandals placed in an inconspicuous corner. The gold leather uppers were crisscrossed in a bow pattern, and the leather lining at the heel showed signs of wear, indicating frequent use by the lady of the house. The gold stiletto heels were 7 centimeters high. I picked up the shoes and examined them under the light; the soles were clean, suggesting they had been cleaned. I reached inside and touched them; they felt slightly gritty, as if they had some dust or something. Had these shoes been sitting here for a long time? Why did their style match exactly the woman I saw in the stairwell of Tieguai Li's house? Why did Sister Yao also have a pair of gold sandals like these? What was the connection between them?

Just then, I vaguely heard Bai Liyuan calling me for dinner outside the door. I had no choice but to put down what I was holding, and after leaving, I made sure to pull the full-length mirror back and restore everything to its original state before leaving the master bedroom.

To the left of the master bedroom door was a hallway leading straight to the living room. To the right of the living room was a separate dining room, and further in was a spacious kitchen. The warm afternoon sunlight streamed through the large glass windows of the kitchen, illuminating the dining room. On the white marble table in the center of the dining room, a steaming four-dish meal and soup were already laid out: stir-fried peas, steamed sea bass, water bamboo shoots with shrimp roe, and salt and pepper pork ribs. The soup was a water shield and shredded chicken soup.

Bai Liyuan, wearing a white cotton apron, came out carrying two bowls of rice. Seeing me, she hurriedly greeted me, "Shitou, sit down and have some soup. Try your mother's cooking. I'll go get a few more dishes."

I took her slender hand and said, "Mom, don't bother. There's already plenty of food. Sit down and eat with me. Let's chat."

My words clearly pleased Bai Liyuan, and she sat down opposite me. Her eating posture was as noble and elegant as she was. Her small, bright red mouth opened and closed, her pearly teeth even whiter than the grains of rice she chewed. Her thick, long eyelashes fluttered, and her beautiful eyes glanced at me from time to time.

My eating manners, on the other hand, were far from impressive. All the dishes were to my liking, and I was indeed hungry, so I devoured almost everything on the table in a flash. Bai Liyuan, however, only ate a few bites before feeling full. Afterward, she simply rested her chin on her snow-white arms, her eyes gazing at me with interest.

We faced each other but didn't say much, as if neither of us knew how to begin, creating an awkward atmosphere.

After I finished eating, Bai Liyuan busied herself taking the dishes into the kitchen, putting on a pair of red rubber gloves to wash them. Her apron-clad figure appeared so serene, her slender shoulders, curled ponytail, and pale legs beneath her short skirt making her seem like a gentle, virtuous, domestic woman—a stark contrast to the elegant, otherworldly lady she was during the day, and the seductive, wanton woman in the bathroom. Which of these contrasting images was the real her?

After cleaning the kitchen, Bai Liyuan noticed I was still sitting at the table, staring blankly at her. She smiled somewhat apologetically and said, "Shitou, why are you still sitting here? Come sit on the sofa in the living room; I'll make you some tea."

I settled into the large, genuine leather sofa in the living room. The soft, smooth leather made me sigh comfortably. Guo Qi was nowhere to be seen; Bai Liyuan and I tacitly avoided mentioning him. It seemed as if it were just the two of us in the house.

A moment later, Bai Liyuan brought over a sandalwood tea tray. The tea in the gilded white porcelain cups was a lovely green, clearly the finest Biluochun tea. She placed the tray down, moved her delicate frame to sit beside me, and looked at me with some concern. "Shitou, do you not recognize your mother? Why do you seem so unfamiliar? What happened? Why haven't I heard from you in the past two years?"

I took a sip of tea and began to tell her what I knew, including how I discovered my amnesia and my recent actions. I frankly told her that I could remember very little, especially the period from eight years ago to the present, which was completely blank.

"Mom, could you tell me about my past? I don't even understand myself. What kind of person am I?"

I could see the sorrow in Bai Liyuan's beautiful eyes. Several times during my story, she seemed about to say something, but ultimately remained silent, only gently biting her lower lip with her white teeth.

Bai Liyuan brushed back a few loose strands of hair, her clear, bright eyes looking at me as she said, "Your name is Gao Yan, and your nickname is Shitou (Stone). Your father's surname is Gao, and his given name

is Song. I am your mother, and you are our only son." Just as I was about to ask about my father's whereabouts, Bai Liyuan seemed to know what I was going to ask, and said with a hint of sadness, "When you were twelve, your father passed away in an accident. After that, it was just the two of us, mother and son, relying on each other. His pension wasn't enough to make ends meet, and your schooling required money, so I worked as a seamstress to supplement our income. Although life was tough, you were very smart and did very well in school. I placed all my hopes on you."

"But then, two years later, you suddenly contracted a strange illness. I searched every hospital here, but the doctors all said they couldn't treat you. Later, a professor pointed out a place that could treat you, and I had no choice but to send you there. That place was very, very far to the south; it took two days and one night by train to get there."

"You were raised by your mother from a young age. How could I bear to let you leave my side? But there was no other way. Your father's pension was very small, and I didn't have a job. If I went with you, there would be no one to support you

. In the end, I hardened my heart and entrusted you to the person in charge there, while I stayed at home, trying my best to earn money for your treatment." "They said that you weren't allowed to make phone calls there, so I couldn't see you. I could only write to you. Although you never replied to my letters over the years, they would regularly mail me photos of you. Seeing you grow up day by day made me very happy. But a year ago, suddenly there was no news of you anymore. They couldn't contact you either. I was so anxious that I asked around everywhere and found out that there had been a fire in your area. It's said that no one escaped, including you."

"This news was like a bolt from the blue, shattering my heart. You were my precious baby, a piece of my flesh. My only hope for all these years rested on you, but you left me so quickly, leaving me all alone in this world."

"Stone, do you know how much suffering your mother has endured for you? Do you know how much bullying your mother has suffered for you? Do you know how much unspeakable humiliation your mother has had to bear for you?"

Bai Liyuan slowly recounted the stories of the past few years, her voice choked with emotion as she spoke, reflecting on her life, and finally breaking down in sobs. She covered her face with her hands, tears streaming down her slender arms, her thin shoulders heaving. Clearly, she had suffered far too much hardship and injustice during this time, but she had nowhere else to confide in but me.

My heart ached. Although my memory hadn't fully returned, I could see that her love for me was absolutely genuine, heartfelt, the unconditional love of a mother for her child.

I gently pulled her into my arms, feeling her warm body tremble slightly in my embrace. She quickly nestled into my arms, her unique fragrance enveloping me. She seemed exhausted from the shock and joy, her head lowered against my chest. A few strands of her wine-red curly ponytail brushed against my face, tickling me slightly. At that moment, she

resembled a helpless child; our roles seemed reversed—the frail mother needing the protection of her strong son. We embraced quietly like that.

Chapter 11

I don't know how much time passed, but Bai Liyuan seemed to wake from a dream. Finding herself half-leaning on her son, she stood up somewhat embarrassed, pressing her hand against my chest, separating herself a few centimeters from me. She smoothed her slightly disheveled hair; her eyes, red from crying, were swollen and somewhat unfocused. Her originally pale face now had a vibrant peach-red glow, a beauty like a pear blossom in the rain or a crabapple blossom with dew—a captivating sight in itself.

Seeing me staring blankly at her, Bai Liyuan gently nudged my knee and said, "Shitou, you haven't told me about your current situation yet. What's happened to you these past two years?"

I recounted the story I had told Sister Yao earlier, and then took out a few items from my handbag, placing them on the table. Among them was a piece of paper, only about the size of three fingers, burned into irregular fragments. In the lower right corner were several printed black characters, their outlines still faintly discernible—presumably the characters "Hai," "Feng," and "Xin" connected together. In the middle of the paper, a faint blue penmanship of the character "Gao" was visible, the handwriting delicate and graceful. Bai Liyuan immediately recognized it as her own handwriting; this must be an envelope from one of the letters she had written to me years ago. She added that she had bought this type of envelope at the nearby post office, but after examining it carefully, she added, "This envelope..." "These are some of the earliest envelopes from the Haifeng Letter Paper Factory. I remember I changed several types of envelopes afterward, and you still have letters from so early!"

I didn't understand what she meant by that. I then took out the photo I always carried with me. Seeing the photo, Bai Liyuan excitedly took it and looked at it again and again, touching it with some emotion. She said, "This photo is from more than ten years ago. On your fifth birthday, your father and I took you to Jiangbin Park. This photo was taken by him with a Seagull camera. Look how young your mother was back then. I even knitted the sweater you're wearing by hand."

"Look, you were just a little one back then, always clinging to your mother's feet. People said you were my little tail. I never imagined you would grow so tall now."

Bai Liyuan's fair fingers gently stroked the photo of me, a faint smile on her lips, already immersed in happy memories.

I seemed to understand something from her words and reminded her, "Mom, do you have any other photos of me? I'd like to see them."

"Yes, your dad doesn't have any other hobbies, just tinkering with cameras and taking pictures. Most of our family photos were taken by him. To save money on camera film, he even gave up smoking and drinking. Let me see if I can find them for you."

Bai Liyuan said as she walked into a smaller room next to the master bedroom and soon returned with a large photo album. We sat on the sofa and flipped through the album together.

The album was quite old; the original white cardboard cover had yellowed, and the cover featured portraits of popular movie stars from that time. On the title page, several men's handwriting read, "A memento of Gao Yan's fifth birthday, Dad." Bai Liyuan said that her father bought it on her fifth birthday, saying he wanted to use this album to record her growth so that she could look back on her memories when she got old. Little did she know that his words would now come true; she really needed the photos he took to help her recall her memories.

The photos are arranged chronologically, including pictures of me when I was just a month old, when I had just learned to walk, on my first day of kindergarten, and the first time I wore a red scarf. This continues until I was in junior high. In the photos, I'm thinner than my peers, and my features resemble my mother's; I'm quite pretty.

Bai Liyuan jokingly says that I've always been beautiful like a girl, and very well-behaved and quiet, unlike the children of my coworkers who love to run around and play. I never cause trouble, and the neighbors all say we've raised a big daughter. But thankfully, my face shape is like my father's, otherwise I wouldn't be so masculine.

There are very few photos of Gao Song in the album, probably because he was always the one documenting our lives. The only family photo I could find is of the three of us together, with the tallest department store in our area in the background. I'm probably only about two years old in the photo, wearing open-crotch pants and a bib, being held in Bai Liyuan's arms. She looks about eighteen, with flawless skin and a rosy complexion, like a newlywed young woman. Gao Song, standing next to me, is of medium height, wearing blue overalls, with thick eyebrows, a wide nose, a square face, and a full beard; he looks like a very honest and kind person.

Although it's my album, all the photos of our family are in it, and besides me, Bai Liyuan is the one who appears most often in the pictures. Perhaps due to her family's consistently modest financial situation, these photos reveal that Bai Liyuan wore very few stylish clothes from her marriage to motherhood. They were mostly simple dresses, trousers, and hand-knitted sweaters. Yet, in every photo, she exuded gentle grace and charm. Even the most ordinary clothes looked perfectly suited to her, highlighting her natural, unadorned beauty.

I flipped to the end of the album, where there were more photos of Gao Song and Bai Liyuan, mostly group photos of Gao Song with his coworkers. Bai Liyuan appeared in only three photos, but strangely, these three photos shared a common detail: someone had once used blue ink to cover up the portrait of someone in the background. Some photos showed one person, others two.

One photo appeared to be taken at her parents' wedding banquet, with people of varying heights standing in the background. In the center of the photo, Gao Song and Bai Liyuan were holding each other's arms, drinking a toast together. On the left, Gao Song wore an ill-fitting blue suit; his shaved face made him look young, and his expression was radiant with happiness. On the right, Bai Liyuan wore her hair in a bridal bun, and a bright red georgette dress hugged her graceful figure. The dress, somewhat like a cheongsam, had open sleeves, revealing her slender, white arms, exuding youthful energy. In the photo, she slightly closed her eyes, as if avoiding the camera flash. Behind them stood a row of people; some applauded and cheered, some raised their glasses in toasts, and a few glanced sideways, their eyes fixed on Bai Liyuan.

In the middle of the crowd stood a man a head taller than everyone else, wearing a gray Zhongshan suit with a pen tucked into his left pocket. In the far right corner of the crowd was another man, only half a head shorter than the one in the middle, wearing a red tracksuit; his upper body appeared strong, and he was pointing at something. The faces of both men were obscured by blue ink, making their features and expressions unreadable.

Another photo was taken in a photo studio, showing two people standing side by side in front of a fake European castle backdrop. The one on the left, Bai Liyuan, is wearing a white linen dress that reaches her knees, revealing her slender, fair legs. Her hair is neatly combed back, revealing her smooth forehead. Although she's smiling, there's a hint of sadness in her smile. She looks significantly more mature in this photo than the young woman in the photo of me when I was five, but her delicate face and slender figure haven't changed much. Standing next to her is a tall, thin man in a white shirt and black trousers, his pointed-toe lace-up shoes gleaming. It's clear that Bai Liyuan and this man are quite close; her left arm is pressed against his right arm, but she doesn't seem embarrassed at all, maintaining this physical contact naturally. The man's face is also blurred out. I glanced at the back of the photo and saw many straight blue lines that had been blurred out, as if something had originally been written on the back.

The last photo appears to be taken at a dock, with several containers stacked nearby and a clear blue harbor view in the background. Three men stand shirtless in a row. Bai Liyuan appears on the left side of the photo, wearing a white t-shirt and gray pants, her full breasts stretching the t-shirt tightly. Her long hair is tied in a ponytail, and she is carrying a large teapot to pour water for them. The man at the far end of the photo has a thick beard and a very muscular upper body; this is my father, Gao Song. The man in the middle is the tallest of the three, his bare upper body showing clearly defined muscles, including the outline of a six-pack, but his head has been blurred out. The man furthest out is shorter than his companions, his face and body are dark, as if he just crawled out of a coal mine, with a bulbous nose, thick lips, and a receding hairline, but his upper body is the strongest, especially the bulging muscles on his arms, which are thicker than the thighs of an average person.

After seeing these photos, my memories didn't return much, and the doubts in my mind only multiplied. Why were the faces of three people in the photos blurred out? Why was only one man blurred out in some photos, and why were one or two men selectively blurred out in others? What secrets did these men with their faces blurred out hold? And who blurred out these men's faces?

I told Bai Liyuan my questions. She seemed surprised and asked me nervously what happened to the photos. After I pointed out the men to her, she looked at them carefully three times, then shook her head and said that she had kept this photo album in my room since Gao Song passed away, and even when she moved, she always took it with her. No one had ever touched it, but she didn't know when the photos started to be blurred out, let alone why those men were blurred out.

"Could it be that you used them as props for drawing when you were a child? Have you forgotten about it?"

Seeing my skeptical look, Bai Liyuan thought for a long time and came up with an explanation, but for me, with a blank memory, I couldn't verify such a thing at all. Although I outwardly accepted this explanation, I still felt a lingering sense of uncertainty. Moreover, Bai Liyuan's attitude towards the matter was somewhat strange. From the moment I raised the question, she spoke hesitantly and stammered, as if she wasn't telling me the truth and just wanted me to change the subject.

"Do you recognize these people in the photos? They should have had dealings with our family, right?"

I asked casually. Hearing this, Bai Liyuan's delicate body trembled slightly. Her already pale face turned completely bloodless. She avoided my gaze, her eyes shifting to the photos as if trying to identify them, but the slight trembling of her slender hand holding the photos betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Some of these photos were taken when I first married your father, and some were taken when you were little with your father's coworkers. It's been a long time since then. After your father passed away, I haven't had any contact with his workplace, so I can't remember these people clearly,"

she finally said slowly after a long pause, her eyes still fixed elsewhere.

"And this man? He seems to know Mom quite well. Is he a relative of ours?"

I pointed to the photo of her with the tall, thin man and continued to ask her.

Bai Liyuan didn't answer for a long time after hearing my question, but she didn't dare to look me in the eye. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, "His name is Guo Qi, the man you met when you came."

I wasn't surprised by this answer, because I had already vaguely guessed it. I just wanted to hear her say it.

"Mom, have you known him for a long time? When did you two get together?"

My tone was relaxed, but my question was heavy.

Bai Liyuan put her hands on her chest, took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, turned her head and looked directly at me and said, "Shitou, Mom doesn't want to lie to you. Actually, I've wanted to tell you about this for a long time, but I didn't know how to start. I hope you can listen to what Mom has to say, okay?"

I didn't speak, but just nodded silently.

"Shitou, you know your maternal grandmother's home is in Bird Mountain Town, right?"

Bai Liyuan asked first. I was a little surprised, but I just nodded.

After saying the first sentence, she seemed unsure how to continue. She pressed her chest hard, took a breath, and continued, "That man, Guo Qi, his hometown is the same town as your mother's. His family is your maternal grandmother's neighbor. We've known each other since we were little, practically growing up together."

Bai Liyuan's prominent chest heaved, as if she wanted to say it all in one breath, but didn't know where to begin. She had to pause after only a few sentences, considering her words carefully before continuing.

"Guo Qi is three years older than me and two grades ahead of me in school. We often went to the same school and went to and from school together. He always took good care of me and was very familiar with my family. We were childhood friends."

"He loved drawing since he was little and had a lot of artistic talent. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to the Huaihai Academy of Fine Arts. His family background was considered good; his parents were both sent-down youth in the countryside and later found an opportunity to return to the city. We lost contact after that." "

My mother didn't go to high school. After graduating from junior high, she chose to take the entrance exam for a teacher's college. At that time, the admission score for vocational schools was higher than that for universities, but my mother missed the cutoff score by two points. My mother was the youngest daughter in the family. Your eldest uncle was already married. According to our local custom, girls would get married early after finishing junior high. But your maternal grandmother always doted on my mother and told me to study for another year. Although I tried very hard, I was still one point short the second year. From then on, I realized that going to school could only be a dream for me."

"After that, I worked as a substitute teacher at the town's primary school for two months. A relative of your maternal grandmother's introduced me to a dockworker from the Third Port Company, who became your father. We started dating. From then on, he was very good to me. Whenever he had free time, he would take a bus for more than three hours to come to town to see me. Every time, he would bring me a lot of food and clothes from the city. He was also very kind and considerate to your maternal grandmother's family. Your grandmother and relatives all said that he was a very good person. At that time, I felt that he was very good to me, and I also wanted a change of environment. I didn't want to stay in that small town forever." So after dating for three months, I agreed to marry him. Although he wasn't from a wealthy family, he at least had an urban household registration and a stable job. Back then, rural and urban household registrations were worlds apart; for girls, besides going to university, marriage was the only path to success.

I knew nothing of what Bai Liyuan was saying before. From today onward, I truly understand my mother's past and how our family came to be. My mother wasn't born that gentle and quiet person; she also had her own childhood, her own dreams, and her own emotions.

"Our wedding was very simple back then. We didn't have wedding dresses or ceremonies like young people do now. We just had a simple banquet and invited relatives, friends, and colleagues. We didn't even get our marriage certificate until you were four years old. After we got married, we lived in your father's company dormitory. Ten days after the wedding, I found out I was pregnant, and you came into this world the following year."

"After you were born, we couldn't live in the single dormitory anymore. Your father had to give gifts to his superiors at work several times before they allocated us a small 60-square-meter apartment, which is our old home. Your father had to go to work during the day, so I stayed home to take care of you."

"You little rascal, I don't know if I owed you something in my past life, but you've been weak and sickly since you were little. Your father's job doesn't allow for much time off, so every time we went to the hospital, saw a doctor, or got injections, I was the only one there. I carried you through wind and rain, and it wasn't easy to raise you."

As she spoke of the past, Bai Liyuan gradually became emotional, her beautiful eyes filled with the happiness and joy of the past, and a charming smile appeared on her lips. She gently patted my knee, as if I were still that little stone from back then.

Through her recollections, I learned that I had always been in poor health as a child, which caused me to grow slower than other children. I realized how much my mother had suffered and worried about taking care of me. I couldn't help but reach out and gently hug Bai Liyuan, rubbing her back lightly with my left hand, my eyes filled with gratitude.

Bai Liyuan enjoyed my embrace, shifting closer to me as she continued, "Not long after your father's accident, I ran into Guo Qi on the street by chance. I hadn't seen him for so many years, I couldn't even remember what he looked like, but he called out my name at first glance. Since we grew up together, we had a meal together, just catching up and talking about what had happened over the years. I told him that I had been married for many years and frankly told him about my situation of being widowed and having a son. He also told me about his situation; after graduating, he didn't choose to stay at the university but instead ventured out on his own, opening a studio with others, mainly focusing on freelance creative work for now."

"I initially thought it was just a chance encounter; we'd go our separate ways after dinner. Unexpectedly, he showed up a few days later, offering to help me with this and that. He said it's not easy for a woman like me, having to work and take care of the children. He felt bad seeing me suffer, and he was willing to take care of me for the rest of my life, asking me to marry him. He even said… he's liked me since childhood, and thankfully, God gave him this opportunity. He said it's our destiny."

Bai Liyuan's tone became slightly shy towards the end, as if it were a little awkward for someone her age and status to say such things, but two blushes rose on her face, revealing a genuine sense of joy. Women are, after all, vain. When they've passed their youth and find someone still infatuated with them, especially a childhood friend, every woman feels a secret thrill, and Bai Liyuan was no exception.

"However, I didn't agree to him back then. Although we knew each other when we were young, we had been separated for so many years. I was completely unfamiliar with his current character and background. In addition, I was a widow with a young child. I really didn't know what he was thinking about me. — Actually, the most important thing was that I was afraid of affecting you. I often heard on TV and in newspapers that if a stepfather or stepmother treats a child badly, the child is likely to become rebellious, not study hard, or even go astray and have their future ruined. If that were the case, I would rather never remarry than let you grow up well."

"Although I rejected him, he didn't change his mind. He continued to care for and look after me, saying he would wait until I changed my mind. Later, after what happened to you, it was very inconvenient for me, a woman all alone. There were always rumors from the neighbors. Plus, his sincerity over the years really touched me, so I agreed to be with him three years ago. Because I was afraid of affecting you, I never told you about it."

After telling this long and complicated story, Bai Liyuan seemed to have exhausted all her energy. She leaned weakly on my shoulder, her beautiful eyes filled with melancholy as she looked at me and said, "Shitou, I feel so bad that I didn't ask for your opinion first. You're not angry with me, are you?"

I shook my head and said, "No, because of me, you've suffered so much all these years. I'm the one who should feel bad. I'm your child, and I will never be angry with you."

Bai Liyuan was satisfied with my answer. She closed her beautiful eyes, leaned on my shoulder, and smiled happily.

I paused, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Mom, you and Guo Qi, are you... in... that... relationship now?"

Hearing my hesitant words, Bai Liyuan seemed to understand the meaning behind my question. Her delicate face flushed red with embarrassment, and she playfully slapped me, saying, "You child, where did you learn such sarcastic remarks to talk to your mother like that?"

"Mom and he are just living together, we haven't even registered our marriage. What are you worried about? Even if you have things to worry about, that's a mother's freedom, and it's none of your business, you little brat."

I smiled without saying a word. Her white teeth bit her bright red lower lip, and her beautiful eyes sparkled with a captivating charm. That mature woman's allure made me unable to look away. All evening, she had treated me like a mother, only revealing a hint of her more feminine side at this moment, but it was already incredibly alluring. However, I felt that something was hidden beneath her sharp words, as if she had some unspeakable secret.

Bai Liyuan realized that her behavior had deviated from her usual style and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Oh dear, we've been chatting for almost midnight. You haven't fully recovered yet, so you shouldn't stay up too late. Go and rest."

Chapter 12

Bai Liyuan led me to a slightly smaller room next to the master bedroom to rest. The room wasn't very decorated, but it was filled with furniture. There was an old-fashioned wardrobe with a mirror against the wall, and a desk next to a five-drawer chest. These pieces of furniture were all from more than twenty years ago, and the exposed wood grain was coated with varnish, which had turned a darker yellowish hue over time.

One leg of the desk was slightly tilted. A desk lamp with a galvanized base sat on the upper left corner. I reached out and pulled the cord switch with practiced ease, casting a dim, yellowish light onto the surface. A pink lily appeared vividly on the white velvet lampshade. My hand gently traced the slightly dented surface, and several familiar knife marks came into view. A crooked "early" character was carved in the right corner of the desk. I seemed to see countless nights from the past, a small, thin figure hunched over this desk, writing and reading diligently under this dim light. And the woman who had always been by my side was still there. I felt a warm glow welling up in my eyes.

"This is the desk you used to use when you were little. And that box contains your old things. The closet has your old clothes from when you were little. Mom has kept them all, waiting for you to come back,"

Bai Liyuan's voice was warm, a warmth that calmed my heart.

I turned my head. To the left of the entrance were two old-fashioned wooden sofas covered with soft cushions made of yellow and black checkered cotton. The only bed in the room was already covered with white sheets and blankets, and the two pillows at the head of the bed were quite substantial. The covers were made of blue and white checkered cotton, and the fabric looked a bit old, not new. Just as I was thinking that the pillows looked familiar, Bai Liyuan said from the side, "Shitou, doesn't this look a lot like it? Your old blanket was taken apart by your mother, and I used the fabric to sew two pillowcases. This is it."

The bed wasn't big, only about 1.8 meters, which was already a bit cramped for my current size. Bai Liyuan said with some difficulty, "I didn't expect you to be so tall now. This bed is still furniture from when your parents got married. You'll have to make do for one night, and I'll buy you a bigger one tomorrow."

This bed wasn't unfamiliar to me. When I was little, I was very attached to my mother and always insisted on sleeping with her, so until I went to junior high school, I slept in this bed with my mother most of the time. Because our old house is small, with only two bedrooms and a living room, Mom always spoils me. Whenever I stay on Mom's bed and refuse to move, Dad has no choice but to spend the night on the sofa in the living room. Of course, one or two days a week, that bed is exclusively for Dad, and then I have to reluctantly go back to my own room.

"It's okay, Mom, you don't need to buy another one. I like sleeping on this bed."

I shook my head and said, then lay down on the bed. I was lying on the bed, but my feet were still dangling in the air. Bai Liyuan smiled helplessly when she saw how stubborn I was and said, "Why don't you just sleep diagonally? It's your problem if you don't sleep well. If you can't sleep well, you can sleep on the floor. Anyway, it can't affect your rest. I'm taking you to see the doctor tomorrow."

After saying that, she gently pulled the thin blanket up for me, turned off the light, and went out.

To be honest, this bed wasn't comfortable to lie on. Not only was it too short for my height, but the wooden planks were also rock hard. Even though I had put a soft blanket on it, it still made my back stiff. The pillow, on the other hand, was very soft and had a faint scent of Bai Liyuan's body fragrance. I smelled her scent and slowly fell asleep.

I hadn't slept long. In my hazy state, I seemed to hear a noise outside the door. My natural alertness woke me immediately. I grabbed my phone and saw it was only 2:40 AM. The room was pitch black, but light was seeping in through the crack in the door.

I quietly got out of bed, walked barefoot to the door, and made no sound. As I approached the door, about to open it, I suddenly heard Bai Liyuan's voice.

"What's wrong with you? Coming back so late is one thing, but you didn't even take your keys. Ringing the doorbell, singing, and shouting in the middle of the night—how many people are you going to disturb?"

Bai Liyuan's voice was a mix of complaint and concern, as if she were speaking to someone very close.

I gently turned the doorknob and opened the door a crack to peek out. The large crystal chandelier in the living room was lit on two levels, its bright white light illuminating the entire space. The door to this room faced the living room, and from my position, I could see the area from the living room to the entryway.

I only saw Bai Liyuan's back. She was still wearing that black silk nightgown, her long, white legs bare, as if she had just gotten out of bed. Her long hair, which she usually tied up, was loose and disheveled, reaching her waist.

At that moment, her two snow-white arms were resting on a man's waist. The man had curly hair and was tall and thin—wasn't that Guo Qi? He seemed to have drunk quite a bit, walking unsteadily, and he relied entirely on Bai Liyuan's support to walk to the living room, where he sat down on the sofa.

He sat down and slumped onto the sofa, his handsome face flushed under the lamplight. With a fawning smile, he said, "I'm just making room for you and your son to meet. How was your talk last night? Your son, Shitou, whom you've been so worried about, must be doing well these past few years."

Bai Liyuan disliked the slickness in his words and said coldly, "He's alright. He's physically fine, but it seems he suffered some head trauma; he can't remember some things."

"Oh, so he might have mental problems? I think this kid is quite shrewd; he even tricked me during the day."

Guo Qi smiled maliciously, a smile that instantly ignited my anger.

"You're the one with mental problems! I think you should get it checked out. You've been leaving early and coming home late every day for the past year, sometimes not even coming home at night. Tell me, what's wrong with you? How did you become like this?"

Bai Liyuan roared in anger, pointing her slender finger at Guo Qi and scolding him. It was the first time I'd ever seen her so angry.

"What's wrong with me? I just didn't want to embarrass my dear wife. I'm not bothering you, and you don't need to worry about me. Isn't that a win-win situation?"

Guo Qi was getting a little anxious, the veins on his stiff neck bulging.

Bai Liyuan swayed slightly after hearing his words, and both of them fell silent. The living room was so quiet that only Guo Qi's heavy breathing could be heard. After a while, Guo Qi seemed a little guilty and reached out to take Bai Liyuan's hand, but she pushed it away.

"Liyuan, I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just very upset and frustrated. I have a lot of anger stuck inside, so I went out to drink with my friends."

Guo Qi said apologetically. This time, Bai Liyuan didn't pull away, but let him take her hand and passively sat down next to him.

Under the light, you could see Bai Liyuan's hand supporting her face, her gaze wandering on the floor in front of her feet. Her expression was somewhat sad and helpless. After a long while, she finally sighed softly.

“Guo Qi, how did we end up like this? I solemnly declared to you before that I’m an old woman who’s been married, widowed, and has a child. You didn’t need to come looking for me. But you swore you loved me so much, shamelessly insisted on marrying me, and said you’d take care of me for the rest of your life. I was too soft-hearted and agreed, and now you’ve forgotten your promise in less than two years?”

“Liyuan, I…sigh, I don’t know what happened. It’s all my fault. I was always thinking about making a fortune quickly, and I put all my earnings from painting over the past few years into Lao Xiang’s project. In the end, that son of a bitch ran off with the money, and even your savings were gone.”

Guo Qi seemed to have sobered up a bit, and his tone became more sincere. It sounded like he had failed in his investment and had become despondent.

“It’s okay. Money can be earned back. I just don’t want to see you so down. I’m not trying to control you, and I don’t need you to do anything. Just be safe and sound.”

Guo Qi’s words seemed to have an effect, and Bai Liyuan’s tone softened.

"Sigh, Liyuan, you've been so good to me, always so tolerant, but I haven't taken good care of you. You have to believe me, I will definitely pull myself together, I will definitely not let you down."

Guo Qi was probably fully sober now, and started spouting sweet words. While pressing his advantage, he reached out and put his arm around Bai Liyuan's slender waist. Bai Liyuan's anger towards him had subsided considerably. Although she resisted slightly, she soon yielded to him, half-heartedly leaning into his embrace.

Guo Qi's hand on Bai Liyuan's slender waist began to wander. He pulled Bai Liyuan's body closer and closer. Guo Qi even tried to lean in to kiss her, but she blocked him with her hand.

"Liyuan, we haven't done 'that' in a long time. Today, could you... let me..."

Guo Qi shamelessly began to beg for sex.

"No, my son just came back today. How can you do this?"

Bai Liyuan refused, but her reason was somewhat far-fetched.

“Darling, although we’re not legally married, you’re already my wife. I just want to fulfill my duties as a husband, which is perfectly reasonable, right?”

Guo Qi began trying to entice Bai Liyuan with various reasons.

“But, that won’t do either. Shi Tou is sleeping in the room. What if he hears us?”

Bai Liyuan’s attitude clearly wavered. Guo Qi exerted a little force, and with a soft cry of surprise, Bai Liyuan was pulled down onto him.

The living room was brightly lit, and Bai Liyuan could be seen sitting on Guo Qi’s lap. Her already short black silk nightgown was pushed up, revealing her plump buttocks clad in silver silk panties. Her long, shapely legs shone brightly under the light, and she wore silver silk slippers.

Since Bai Liyuan had her back to me, I could only hear a rustling sound. There seemed to be a bulge under her black silk nightgown, moving rhythmically. Was Guo Qi's hands roaming over her full breasts? Thinking this, I unconsciously clenched my fists. Why was I so easily agitated? Bai Liyuan and he had been living together as husband and wife for three years. Wasn't this kind of thing between a man and a woman normal?

Then, a hand was placed behind Bai Liyuan's head. Bai Liyuan obediently lowered her head, and their faces pressed together. Her long, smooth, black hair trembled rhythmically. I vaguely heard the sound of lips and tongues intertwining; she must have started kissing Guo Qi. Their movements were very coordinated and tacit, indicating that this kind of French kiss had happened many times before. I began to feel my mouth getting dry, and my neck and above feeling warm.

Guo Qi's hands rummaged around inside Bai Liyuan's black silk nightgown for a while, then he seemed to pull out something and casually tossed it aside. It landed not far in front of me—a black-trimmed silver silk bra. The bra was a rather conservative back-clasp style, with a row of pleats sewn into the front with silver silk. It looked like an F-cup, if not a G-cup. This intimate garment, which had just been imbued with Bai Liyuan's warmth and fragrance, was now just thrown on the ground—what a waste!

The two kissed for a while, and then Guo Qi's restless right hand sneaked out again. This time, he slowly slid up Bai Liyuan's long, white legs, cunningly slipping inside her silver silk panties, revealing the bulges on the fabric. His hand seemed to have invaded the most private part of Bai Liyuan's body, and was wantonly teasing inside.

Meanwhile, his mouth wasn't idle either. He thrust downwards and inserted it into Bai Liyuan's chest, followed by the sound of saliva swirling around. Bai Liyuan seemed to have been aroused by Guo Qi's long-dormant desire. Her beautiful body began to sway, and her hands were placed behind Guo Qi's head, as if she were enjoying Guo Qi's kisses on her breasts. If you didn't look closely, you wouldn't notice that her slender waist was slightly twisting in a rhythm, and her plump buttocks under Guo Qi's intruded silk panties swayed back and forth, as if she was a little impatient, rubbing against Guo Qi's knees.

Guo Qi's right hand moved inside his silk panties for a while before he suddenly pulled it out. His fingers gleamed under the light, as if coated with some kind of liquid. He whispered something to Bai Liyuan, but I couldn't hear it. Bai Liyuan quickly punched him twice with her small fists, but her expression didn't seem angry; she seemed a little annoyed yet shy. Guo Qi, after these flirtatious punches, grinned lewdly.

Then, he abruptly rolled over, laying Bai Liyuan down on the sofa, and stood up. Bai Liyuan gasped softly. Her long, slender, white legs were now lifted by Guo Qi. Under the light, her legs appeared even whiter and straighter, and now Guo Qi held her breasts, manipulating them as he pleased. Guo Qi spread the two long, white legs and placed them on his shoulders, then hurriedly pulled down his pants. In no time, his lower body was naked under the light. He was quite fair-skinned, but his legs were covered in hair, and his penis was already erect, menacingly poised to attack Bai Liyuan.

At this moment, Bai Liyuan seemed to realize something, using her hands to brace herself against Guo Qi's body to resist his advances. Although her legs were already in his grasp, her resistance was resolute, and Guo Qi couldn't achieve his goal for a while.

"Don't do this, we can't do this here. My son is nearby. What will I do if he hears us?"

Bai Liyuan said while resisting.

"It's past 3 a.m., and we've been trying for ages but he hasn't responded. He must be sleeping soundly. My room is a mess, and you never let me into your room. Let's just make do here."

Guo Qi's words eased my tense nerves a little, but why wouldn't Bai Liyuan let him into her room?

Seeing that force wasn't working well, Guo Qi changed his strategy. He moved his head closer to Bai Liyuan's chest, attacking her breasts. Bai Liyuan's nightgown straps had been removed, revealing her narrow, fragrant shoulders. Through Guo Qi's constantly swaying curls, two mounds of snow-white, plump flesh could be vaguely seen trembling. Bai Liyuan's body seemed to be getting restless; she closed her beautiful eyes tightly, moaning softly. Her long, snow-white legs involuntarily contracted inwards, her calves and toes taut into a line. Her toes, painted with silver nail polish, glistened under the light, now stretching out like rose petals in full bloom.

Guo Qi felt the time was right, so he began to move his lower body, his penis rubbing against Bai Liyuan's buttocks through the fabric, eliciting another soft moan from her. As Guo Qi smeared his saliva on Bai Liyuan's round, smooth breasts, he said lewdly, "Liyuan, look, my little brother is already crying for milk. It's unusual for it to be so energetic today. Aren't you going to reward him?" Bai Liyuan

seemed to know that she was on the verge of succumbing to temptation. She said between soft moans, "Turn off the light. I can't accept having the light on."

The switch for the crystal chandelier was above the sofa. Guo Qi held onto Bai Liyuan's beautiful legs and quickly reached to turn off the light. Just before the flash of light, I thought I saw a silver strip of cloth fly over, followed by complete darkness. But my mind was clear; I knew what was about to happen. However, my body was burning, my head felt congested, and my heart was pounding. I wanted to rush out and destroy everything, but my legs felt like they were made of lead and I couldn't move.

However, what happened next was completely unexpected. The two men's panting lasted only a few seconds before Guo Qi suddenly yelled, followed by a soft moan from Bai Liyuan. The two figures, who had been intertwined in the living room, suddenly separated, their breathing gradually calming down.

After a short while, the crystal chandelier was lit again. Under the light, Bai Liyuan's arms were crossed over her chest, one fair leg crossed over the other. Her expression was somewhat annoyed, tinged with disappointment. Her fair skin still bore the flush of aroused desire. Her nightgown seemed untouched, completely intact, and her previously loose long hair had been combed. However, I seemed to see a puddle of white liquid stuck to the bottom of her black silk nightgown, and a few specks of it at the base of her snow-white thigh at the hem of the skirt.

Guo Qi, however, slumped against the sofa, panting heavily. His manhood, like its owner, hung limply, its size shrunken, like a defeated soldier. Guo Qi stood there for a long time, then reached out to grab Bai Liyuan's slender hand

, saying in a pleading tone, "Liyuan, I'm sorry, I made the same mistake again today. I didn't love you properly. I'll make it up to you another day." Bai Liyuan impatiently pushed his hand away, coldly saying, "Guo Qi, are you thinking about those dirty things again? I really didn't know you were this kind of person. Since we started living together, you haven't been normal once. I was blind to have agreed to this."

Bai Liyuan's words were like another knife to Guo Qi's already dejected heart. He buried his head in his knees, scratching his already curly hair even more violently, making it look like a lion's mane, while growling in a low voice like a wounded wild animal.

The two remained silent for a long time. Guo Qi stood up as if he wanted to say something to Bai Liyuan, but he opened his mouth and then didn't say anything. He waved his hand in the air for a few minutes, then put it down as if he had given up. He pulled up his pants and walked dejectedly into a room in another corner of the living room, closing the door heavily.

Bai Liyuan remained seated in the same position, her gaze somewhat dazed as she stared ahead. She remained like this in the living room for about 20 minutes before finally standing up and picking up her bra and panties from the floor. At this point, she was only about a meter away from me. I could clearly see the two small bumps bulging on her high, full breasts beneath her black silk nightgown, and the scent of her body mixed with another feminine fragrance emanating from her. Her straight, fair legs stood before me, her hands holding the bra and panties as if lost in thought. At this moment, she was completely naked beneath her nightgown; under the light, her shapely body was extremely alluring. But I held my breath, shifting slightly backward, not wanting her to notice me.

After examining her bra and panties for a few minutes, she bit her lower lip and shook them forcefully as if trying to get rid of something, then walked straight back to her master bedroom, from which came the sound of a shower.

I closed the door and went back to bed, but my mind kept replaying the scene from earlier like a movie. Bai Liyuan's alluring image kept replaying in my mind until I finally drifted off to sleep at 4 a.m. Chapter 13 (

11-14 ): When the first rays of warm morning sunlight streamed through the window and onto the bed, I struggled to wake up. Too much had happened yesterday, and coupled with a poor night's sleep, my head was still foggy. I pushed open the bathroom door; a set of pure white toiletries was already laid out. I wondered when Bai Liyuan had come in. After a quick wash, I left the room. The living room was quiet, as if everything that had happened there yesterday was unreal. On the marble dining table sat a bowl of steaming tofu pudding, and next to it was a basket of pan-fried buns. I sat down and took a bite. The tofu pudding was sweet, and the pan-fried buns were filled with meat—both flavors I'd loved since childhood. After I finished breakfast, I was about to take the dishes to the kitchen to wash when the door to the master bedroom opened, and Bai Liyuan, dressed neatly, came out. When she saw me, she said, "Shitou, you got up late today. We have to go see the doctor this morning. Leave the dishes there for now, I'll wash them when we get home."

Her outfit today was a completely different style. Her long, wavy hair, which had been hanging down last night, was now styled back up. She wore a gray chiffon blouse with a pine branch pattern, the top button undone, revealing her two beautifully slender collarbones and a section of her snow-white, full breasts. A delicate gold necklace encircled her swan-like neck, with a small double-C pendant below, making her chest skin appear even more delicate and fair. She wore black silk trousers with tapered legs, the fitted style perfectly highlighting her long, beautiful legs. A wide black patent leather belt cinched her waist, making it appear even thinner, almost too delicate to be grasped. Bai Liyuan handed me the small black

lambskin bag she was carrying, and as she walked to the entrance, she picked up a pair of silver pointed-toe flats and put them on, urging me to hurry up and leave.

We went down to the second basement level parking garage in the elevator, got into a white BMW X1, and drove out of the complex.

Bai Liyuan was quite skilled at driving. Although the white X1 was well-maintained, it was clear that it had been driven for some time. The car sped along the road, and we chatted casually, but both of us tacitly avoided mentioning Guo Qi, as if he had vanished.

An hour later, we arrived at the affiliated hospital of the medical university. On the way, she had told me that the doctor we were going to see was the renowned Professor Jiang Hua, a psychology expert and professor of psychiatry. Eight years ago, it was through his recommendation that I traveled to the south for treatment.

Today was Saturday, and the spacious outpatient building of the affiliated hospital wasn't very crowded. Bai Liyuan and I took the elevator to the eleventh floor and, guided by a doctor on duty, entered Professor Jiang Hua's office.

The office was quite large, decorated in a sophisticated dark style, indicating the office owner's high status in the hospital. All the walls were lined with bookshelves filled with various books. Professor Jiang was waiting for us at a mahogany desk, sunlight streaming through the glass window behind him, emphasizing his tall stature.

Professor Jiang Hua was probably over 50 years old. His healthy and muscular physique under his white coat indicated he maintained a regular exercise routine. He had broad shoulders, suggesting he played tennis often. A pair of black-rimmed glasses sat on his thin face, and his gray hair was neatly combed back, giving him a refined appearance.

He seemed quite familiar with Bai Liyuan, and upon meeting, they warmly shook hands and chatted, while he smiled at me.

His gaze was sharp and piercing, as if it could penetrate your body. His eyes swept over you like a scalpel dissecting the human form, clearly discerning every blood vessel and bone. However, I did not flinch under his gaze but instead looked him directly in the eye.

As he looked at me, he inquired about my basic information from Bai Liyuan, then turned and walked towards me, placing a hand on my shoulder. His hand was strong, unlike what one would expect for someone his age.

He asked me to lie down on a long sofa next to him. I complied and lay down on the sofa. He smiled approvingly at my obedience and turned to say, "Ms. Bai, please sit down for a while. I'll talk to this child and make a preliminary diagnosis."

Bai Liyuan instructed me to tell the doctor about my amnesia and then found a chair to sit down. Jiang Hua was now extremely focused on his work, and his expression was no longer as amiable as before. He first asked me a few questions about my life before the amnesia. I told him my experiences truthfully, but omitted the part about the police using me as a scapegoat. When I talked about the situation after my car accident, I felt his eyes behind his black-rimmed glasses suddenly become stern.

Then he asked me if I had any physical reactions such as insomnia. I told him that my memory often became confused, especially when recalling certain fragments. It felt like two forces were fighting in my head, and I would fall into a chaotic situation. At this time, my head would start to ache, and in severe cases, I would even faint. Bai Liyuan nodded in agreement, confirming that what I said was true.

As I explained, Jiang Hua used equipment to measure my heart rate and blood pressure. After I finished, he wrote out a form and told me to go for a routine check-up. He also kindly accompanied Bai Liyuan and me to the testing center.

Perhaps at the professor's instruction, the tests were completed quickly. When I came out of the last MRI, I saw Bai Liyuan and Jiang Hua talking in the rest corridor. They were facing away from me. Bai Liyuan was carrying a bag in one hand and holding the elbow of the bag with the other. Her head was tilted slightly to the right, as if she was talking to Jiang Hua very seriously.

Bai Liyuan wasn't speaking loudly. I wanted to hear what they were talking about, so I took a few steps forward. This time I could vaguely hear a few fragments of conversation, such as "the time hasn't come yet," "I'm very worried," "keep it a secret," and "for the child's good." What time hasn't come yet? What is the mother worried about? What needs to be kept a secret? Several questions arose in my mind.

Jiang Hua seemed very concerned about Bai Liyuan, listening and comforting her. His left hand naturally grasped Bai Liyuan's shoulder, gently patting it. Bai Liyuan clearly didn't resist his touch, nodding as she listened to him. Their posture seemed intimate yet perfectly natural.

Seeing this, I suddenly felt uneasy. I quickly walked over, interrupting their conversation. Hearing my voice, Bai Liyuan turned around and hurriedly asked how I was feeling. Jiang Hua naturally put his hands behind his white coat, his kind smile returning to his face.

In Jiang Hua's office, we waited for him to finish reviewing all the medical reports, and then watched him think for nearly 15 minutes with his hands crossed before he finally spoke.

"Ms. Bai, amnesia can generally be divided into two types according to its cause. One is organic causes, including damage to the brain caused by physical trauma, disease, or biological toxicity. The other is functional causes, which are caused by psychological factors. This is often seen in the psychological defense mechanism that occurs when an individual's mind is under extreme stimulation. Sometimes, the patient's lost memories are limited to events that occurred during a certain period of time. The lack of memory for a specific event is also known as episodic amnesia." "Based on my observation and the results of medical examinations, no damage was found in your son's brain, and his hippocampal neurons are all normal. Therefore, organic causes of amnesia can be ruled out. Through conversations with your son, we know that his amnesia is selective, and it is episodic amnesia related to certain things and events. The reason for this is that some past experiences have overstimulated him, and his nervous system has automatically activated a psychological defense mechanism to hide this experience. If the patient does not receive treatment, he may never awaken this memory in his lifetime."

"However, your son was recently in a car accident, and the shock to his brain unintentionally triggered a sealed memory. That's why your son experiences memory regression from time to time. But since this is caused by external force, not by the release of his psychological defense mechanisms, all memory regression is perceived by the brain as an 'escape attempt.' At this point, the brain experiences a conflict of memories, which is why your son sometimes experiences headaches. This is the consequence of the struggle between trying to retrieve memories and maintaining the defense mechanisms."

He paused here, as if remembering something, and continued somewhat puzzledly, "However, there's still a question about your son's condition. Logically, episodic amnesia should only involve the loss of memory for a specific event or point in time, but your son claims to have a blank memory spanning eight years, which is quite unbelievable."

“However, there might be one explanation. While the car accident opened a crack in your son's sealed memory box, it also swallowed up some of his memories. Perhaps the lost eight years were caused by the accident. But this kind of amnesia caused by a car accident is only temporary and will recover quickly over time, so there's no need to worry about it.”

After listening to Jiang Hua's analysis, Bai Liyuan asked anxiously, “Professor Jiang, how should my son's amnesia be treated? Can it be cured?”

Jiang Hua made a reassuring gesture and continued, "Currently, the clinical treatment for amnesia mainly involves medication as the primary approach, supplemented by psychological counseling. For your son's symptoms, he needs to take some neurorehabilitation medications, and he should pay attention to rest, avoiding strenuous mental activity to allow the misaligned nerves to return to their proper positions as quickly as possible. At the same time, through psychological interpretation by a psychologist, we can help the patient eliminate panic, find the source of the illness, and analyze the symptoms. Through the patient's own psychological rehabilitation, he can overcome his defense mechanisms, and then that memory will automatically return."

"Professor Jiang, if my son's illness starts treatment now, how long will it take for him to fully recover?"

Bai Liyuan continued to ask.

“Well, that’s hard to say. Although the medical community has made considerable progress in the field of neuroscience, its clinical application is still relatively weak. For seemingly minor ailments like amnesia, the same treatment can have vastly different outcomes. Some people recover quickly, while others take more than a decade, and some may never recover at all. I can’t give you a definite answer regarding the specific treatment time at this time.”

Seeing the worry that suddenly appeared on Bai Liyuan’s face, Jiang Hua paused and continued, “Of course, this treatment isn’t the only one. Currently, there is a treatment in the medical community that hasn’t been mainstream-verified. It involves using techniques such as scene replication and reenactment to allow patients to return to the familiar environment where they had amnesia. Through sound, light, and electricity, it stimulates neurons in the hippocampus, helping patients break through their psychological defense mechanisms. It’s said that it has achieved considerable success in some private trials. However, because this treatment lacks experimental data and the treatment methods are highly random, its effectiveness ultimately depends on the patient’s personal will and the influence of many uncontrollable factors. Therefore, it cannot be formally applied in clinical practice at present.”

“Doctor, I think I can accept a faster-acting treatment. I hope you can use the last treatment you mentioned for me.”

I had been listening the whole time, and only now did I express my attitude. For me right now, regaining my memories is the key to solving many mysteries, and I would do anything for it.

Jiang Hua looked at me approvingly and nodded, saying, “Very good, you are a very brave child. I will consider designing a treatment plan for you. However, this treatment is the first time that my team and I have tried it, so I hope you can fully cooperate with my work.”

“A particularly important point is that you must sign a statement assuming full responsibility for the medical consequences and guarantee not to publicize this matter. This treatment is currently in the experimental stage, and the hospital is not willing to bear the subsequent problems caused by it. As the team leader, it is very dangerous for me to conduct such an experiment in private without clear legal responsibility.”

His expression suddenly became serious, and his voice lowered.

Bai Liyuan and I exchanged a glance, both seeing the unwavering determination in each other's eyes. We nodded almost simultaneously and said in unison, "I accept." Next, as Jiang Hua requested, we signed a waiver with him and his medical team, and received a preliminary treatment plan. According to his plan, I would go to his treatment room three times a week for psychological counseling—this was the first phase. The second phase would proceed based on the progress of the first phase, mainly using my feedback to create a platform for me to recreate scenes and stimulate my brain neurons to trigger memory recall.

Of course, to ensure the entire treatment was kept secret, all my information and medical records were not genuine. On the surface, it was just a research activity collecting patient information, so I was spared the trouble of showing my personal identification.

Jiang Hua was probably trying this risky but extremely challenging experiment for the first time. It's easy to imagine the immense success he would achieve, both academically and in terms of fame and fortune, if he could master the latest methods for treating amnesia through this experiment. Therefore, he was quite excited, personally escorting us to the hospital entrance and solemnly shaking hands with us goodbye before leaving.

Just as we got into the car, Bai Liyuan's iPhone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. She told me to wait in the car while she got out and went to a corner of the parking lot to answer the call.

Her slender figure stood in front of a flowerbed, a bit far away, so I couldn't hear their conversation. But I could see her movements. At first, she seemed impatient, then shook her head repeatedly, as if rejecting the other person's opinion. However, as the other person continued speaking, her emotions seemed to calm down, and a pleasant smile gradually appeared on her face. Her other hand unconsciously touched her chest. After about ten minutes, she hung up and came back.

Back in the car, Bai Liyuan bit her lower lip, seemingly unsure how to respond to my questioning gaze. After a moment, she finally spoke, "Shitou, can you drive?"

When I confirmed, she said apologetically, "Son, it's unfortunate. Mom has to discuss something with a business friend later, so I might not be able to go back with you. Can you drive home by yourself?"

I looked at her with some doubt and asked, "Who is this friend you're meeting? Why won't you let me drive you?"

"This friend helped our family a lot during our most difficult time. Mom is now using his company to develop her business, so I really can't miss it today. You go home first; a car will pick me up later,"

Bai Liyuan replied softly, her tone pleading, leaving me no choice but to accept.

"Sweetie, go home and rest well. You can order lunch from the convenience store. Mom will come home early to make it up to you."

Bai Liyuan seemed afraid I would ask more questions, and after quickly finishing her instructions, she leaned over and gave me a big kiss on the forehead with her red lips before grabbing her bag and getting out of the car.

I stepped on the gas, and as she waved, I drove out of the hospital gate. In the rearview mirror, I saw her tall, slender figure gradually shrink until she disappeared completely after a turn.

I sped through the city streets in my X1, a lipstick mark of Bai Liyuan on my forehead, her unique fragrance still lingering in the car, as if she hadn't left. But my mind was filled with doubts. Why did she send me away to meet that business friend? Was this friend male or female? Why did she value this person so much?

The GPS in the X1 worked well. I didn't drive directly towards Fuyou Center, but instead took the ring road out of the city. I had some things to take care of, and this was a good opportunity to do them.

The GPS led me back to the transportation hub I had come from. I carefully avoided the busiest entrances and exits, stopping in a relatively quiet alley. This was usually a gathering place for vehicles that didn't want to pay parking fees.

I rummaged through the trunk of the car and found a wide-brimmed straw hat. Although it was a woman's hat, after removing the colorful chiffon ribbon, I put it on and it still looked a bit dapper.

I carefully avoided the security cameras in the hub station service area, using the brim of the hat to keep my face out of sight. However, this made my pace extremely slow, and I had to pretend I didn't have a specific destination in mind. After circling around several times, I finally reached my goal. I spotted a few staff members chatting, took out my key, opened a locker, and retrieved the things I had left there when I last arrived.

I took off the hat and used it as a fan, the waving hat perfectly obscuring my face. With my other hand, I carried a black suitcase and left the hub station as quickly as possible. Only after putting the suitcase in the back seat of my X1 did I realize I was drenched in sweat. Without resting, I immediately started the X1 and drove away from the station.

Chapter 14

I drove back to Fuyou Building, used the ID card Bai Liyuan gave me to take the elevator, and the first thing I did after entering her home was to take the suitcase into her master bedroom. I pushed open the door to the walk-in closet; one section of her wardrobe was specifically for winter clothes, crammed full of various coats, leather jackets, and overcoats. At the bottom of the closet were neatly stacked many unused bags. I cleared out a few bags, placed the suitcase flat on the bottom shelf in the far corner, then added an LV-patterned suitcase and a quilted bag, putting everything back in its original state before leaving the master bedroom.

Bai Liyuan wouldn't be using the bags there for the time being, and Guo Qi wouldn't be entering this room, so for me, who needed to hide this hot potato, there was currently no better place than here.

After hiding my secret, I returned to the empty living room, which was eerily quiet. I pushed open Guo Qi's door and saw men's clothes scattered haphazardly, and the bedding on the bed thrown on the floor. This guy was nowhere to be found again.

I washed the dishes in the kitchen and watched TV for a while. When the clock struck twelve, Bai Liyuan still hadn't come home. She was probably out having lunch with friends. The house was already quite large, but without the rustling of her silk nightgown as she walked, without her sweet, fragrant scent, without her clear voice and gentle smile, it felt even more empty. A sense of emptiness filled me, as if something was missing.

I couldn't stay in this house without Bai Liyuan any longer. I had to do something to distract myself, so I closed the door and went out.

Once outside the building, I didn't know where to go, but my feet involuntarily led me towards the "XinYing Convenience Store." Right, I'd been away from Sister Yao's house for two days. She still didn't know what was going on. I should go and say hello.

The shop was unusually bustling at this time. Sister Yao's slender figure was busy behind the counter, while Old Zhang sat to the side watching TV, chatting idly with the neighbors who came to buy things. When he saw me come in, he greeted me with a big smile and asked me all sorts of questions.

I responded to Old Zhang's questions, but my eyes were looking for Sister Yao. Sister Yao was busy serving customers, but she gave me a gentle and concerned look and said, "Young man, you're here just in time. I was just about to go home to take care of Lele. Have you had lunch yet?"

When I said no, Sister Yao said that it would be perfect to go to her house for lunch. Old Zhang had already eaten and came to relieve her. As she spoke, she pulled Old Zhang, who was still staring at the TV, to the counter and said, "You better watch the shop properly. Don't just watch TV. You won't even know if someone takes your things. I'm taking you home for lunch first."

After settling the reluctant Old Zhang, the two of us walked back to Sister Yao's house together.

As soon as I entered the room, Lele skipped and jumped over to hug me, saying, "Uncle, Uncle, you're back!"

Then she pointed at Sister Yao and said, "Mommy said you're my uncle, and I should call you that. Mommy said you like me calling you that, do you like it?"

I kissed her apple-like, delicate cheek and said, "Good Lele, Uncle likes you calling me that. Uncle likes you the most."

Sister Yao came over with a smile and pulled Lele away, saying, "Lele, don't bother Uncle. Uncle hasn't eaten yet. You should start eating too."

Lele and I sat side by side like two little children. The food on the table was a bit cold, but we both ate with relish. While eating, I told Sister Yao about what had happened in the past two days, but I hid the matter of Guo Qi and the secret about Bai Liyuan. I didn't want more people to know about the crisis in my family, even though Sister Yao and I had already established a sibling-like relationship.

Sister Yao listened to me with great concern. When I told her I had found my mother, she was happy for me. But when I mentioned Professor Jiang Hua's diagnosis of my amnesia, a look of melancholy appeared on her face. However, she couldn't offer much help with my questions. She said apologetically, "Little brother, I'm just an ordinary woman. Your abilities and knowledge far surpass mine. I believe you can overcome all difficulties." "If you're hungry, tired, or sleepy, you're always welcome to come here. But you must take good care of yourself. Remember, only by living healthily can there be hope."

Sister Yao earnestly advised me, like an older sister to her younger brother. I nodded, touched.

After dinner, Lele started clamoring to watch TV. Sister Yao busied herself putting her to bed, so I took the opportunity to say goodbye and leave.

Walking back from Sister Yao's house, I had to pass Building 16. Suddenly, I remembered the strange things that had happened near Tieguai Li's house: the thongs on the balcony, the men and women in the stairwell, the gold high-heeled sandals—all of which inexplicably drew me towards Tieguai Li's house.

Standing at that familiar doorway, I noticed some changes. The trash that had been scattered around the entrance was gone, and the doorway and door itself had been carefully cleaned. I casually pressed down on the door, and it opened ajar.

I cautiously peered inside, but there was no sign of anyone. I stepped closer to the wall, and now I could see clearly what was inside.

This apartment was smaller than Sister Yao's, a two-bedroom, one-living room layout. To the left of the entrance was a wall with two rooms at the end. One of the doors was open, and sunlight streamed in through the balcony. There was a bathroom on my right, which blocked my view. I could vaguely hear voices coming from that side of the bathroom. The room only had some old furniture, but it was surprisingly clean.

My gaze swept around and I noticed a pair of women's black stilettos among a row of shoes on the wall. These shoes, placed among Tieguai Li's worn-out leather shoes, seemed out of place with their surroundings. I bent down and picked up the stilettos without making a sound.

These shoes looked familiar. They were black genuine leather, with a covered toe, and bright red soles and linings. There was also a platform underneath, and the stiletto heels were probably around 10 centimeters high. I remembered Bai Liyuan wearing a pair of similar red-soled shoes. I touched the lining; it was still warm, as if someone had just worn them. I brought them to my nose and smelled a mixture of women's feet and glue. Judging from the wear on the soles, the shoes hadn't been used often, and the leather was just ordinary top-grain cowhide, not genuine.

I put the high heels back, my questions growing. The thong on the balcony, the high heels by the door, the house that was frequently cleaned—all these indicated the presence of a woman in Tieguai Li's life. Who was this woman? What kind of woman would be willing to live with someone like Tieguai Li? My curiosity grew stronger.

I moved slowly along the wall, and the scene on the other side of the bathroom gradually came into view. In a small hallway sat a round table. A person sat in a chair on the side of the table facing away from me, with Mediterranean-style hair, dirty clothes, and a crippled leg. It was none other than Tieguai Li (Iron-Crutch Li). His ever-present crutch was placed beside the table.

The round table was already laden with food, much of it steaming hot, probably freshly made. Tieguai Li's one good leg was bent and resting on the chair. He was chewing on a braised chicken leg in one hand, but his other hand was hidden by the wall, so I couldn't see what he was doing.

I moved to the left again, and the scene that came into view shocked me. On the right side of the table was a chair, and on this chair was a woman lying face down with her buttocks facing this way. Because she was lying face down on the chair, her face could not be seen. An apricot-white pleated skirt was lifted up and covered her back. There was no trace of underwear under the skirt, exposing a huge white buttocks to the air. The buttocks were extremely plump and beautiful, with white and tender flesh. It was obviously the plump buttocks of a mature woman. A dark red chrysanthemum silently bloomed above the plump buttocks. On the contrary, the small, watery vulva below the chrysanthemum was pink and lovely. At this moment, the two plump buttocks, which were the size of millstones, were raised high, and Tieguai Li's right hand was moving between the two mounds of white flesh.

Tieguai Li's fingers were short but had thick knuckles, appearing dark from a distance, a stark contrast to the fair and tender flesh of the woman beside him. The woman's legs were already open, and Tieguai Li's five dark fingers, like five enormous groundhogs, crawled and tinkered on the woman's rosy and slippery genitals. The two thick labia had been separated by his fingers, and Tieguai Li used his middle and ring fingers to move in and out of the woman's vulva. After playing with the woman's fingers for a long time, Tieguai Li finally withdrew them, but his next action was somewhat incomprehensible.

He tilted his body to the right, pulling his trousers, which had always been half-length, down to the bottom. Then he lifted his right leg, which had been missing for many years. The leg had been amputated at the knee, and the remaining part had grown flesh and blood over many years. The top was round and smooth, like a child's bald head. The skin of the entire stump was yellowish, smooth, full, and firm, a stark contrast to the dark skin of the rest of Tieguai Li's body. It looked like a fleshy gourd grafted onto Tieguai Li's body, possessing its own unique vitality.

Tieguai Li held his stump up and pressed it bare against the woman's large, white buttocks. The woman had her back to him and was unaware of what was happening behind her. When the unusual limb touched her already wet genitals, she realized the sensation was wrong. The diameter and weight of that stump were incomparable to any penis. The woman began to desperately shake her large buttocks, trying to push it away, but after Tieguai Li cursed her, she dared not resist any longer, though she still reluctantly tightened her genitals.

Tieguai Li showed no mercy. The severed limb rubbed against the woman's buttocks a few times, becoming coated with her vaginal fluids, its tip becoming smooth and shiny. Taking advantage of the woman's momentary lapse in concentration, he thrust forward with a thud. The woman screamed in agony as the limb was forced in.

Although only the head of the limb could penetrate, the object, roughly the size of a child's head, created an opening about 8 centimeters in diameter in her lower body. The limb, like a wriggling worm, began to burrow into her vagina. While it's said that a woman's vagina can change size and even give birth, such a large opening should be extremely painful. However, the woman only screamed a few times, then gradually began to moan with the limb's movements. It seemed this wasn't her first experience; her body had become somewhat accustomed to the size of the limb.

The woman's two pink labia were squeezed against her inner thighs, rolling from side to side with the severed limb. Although the head of the limb could fit inside, the human body's structure only allowed it to crawl that far, so it could only be inserted and withdrawn shallowly. But each thrust brought out the tender, red flesh inside. The woman's lower body was like a gaping maw, opening and closing to devour this invading foreign object, while streams of silvery liquid flowed out, soaking the severed limb.

This peculiar way of playing was very stimulating, but the limb itself had very low sensitivity and could not provide much pleasure to its owner. So, although the woman had become accustomed to this thick thing and was swaying her hips to cooperate with it, Tieguai Li got tired after a while and withdrew the severed limb.

He wiped his hand across his right leg, his palm instantly becoming oily and shiny, covered in the woman's vaginal fluid. Without wiping it away, he grabbed a steamed bun and started eating it, muttering, "You lowly slave, your juices are flowing more and more freely. Next time I cook for you, I won't need to add salt; your juices will be enough."

After a few bites, perhaps finding it a bit too salty, he grabbed a bottle of cola from the table and took several large gulps, cursing, "I told you you don't need salt, and you really are salty enough. Where does this strong stench come from? Are you a born slut?"

The woman stammered without answering, only slightly shaking her large, white buttocks, as if protesting Tieguai Li's words. Her genitals, which had just been torn open by the massive limb, had shrunk considerably, leaving a two-finger-wide black hole exposed in the air, like a one-eyed dragon looking out.

While eating and drinking, Tieguai Li slapped the woman's buttocks a few times. Several loud slaps were heard, accompanied by the woman's groans and screams. Whether Tieguai Li was too rough or the woman's skin was too delicate, the slaps left her plump, white buttocks red and swollen, somewhat resembling a monkey's bottom.

"You lowly slave, what are you slacking off for? Come and serve your little grandfather! Itching for a beating again, huh?"

After finishing the beating, seeing the woman still lying motionless on the chair, Tieguai Li began to curse again.

The woman seemed to have squatted for too long until her knees went numb, or perhaps the pain from the beatings was unbearable. Still with her buttocks sticking out, she slowly crawled down from the chair. She didn't stand up, but half-squatted and crawled to Tieguai Li's crotch. Tieguai Li blocked most of her body, only half her head was visible. Her long, black hair was tied in a bun on top of her head; she looked quite young.

The woman moved around between Tieguai Li's legs a few times, then Tieguai Li let out a long, satisfied sigh. Her dark hair began to move up and down, clearly indicating that she was giving Tieguai Li oral sex. With each movement of her head, the soft, slurping sounds of saliva being swallowed and expelled could be heard, showing how diligently she was sucking and kissing Tieguai Li's penis. Tieguai Li, enjoying himself, closed his eyes, pressing one hand against the woman's head while the other hand gripped a bottle of beer and gulped it down.

Aside from her face being obscured by Tieguai Li's legs, her squatting body was visible. The woman wore a creamy white pleated skirt with a flared hem, and a plain white strapless camisole. The camisole was extremely conservative, completely concealing her full breasts. A gray chiffon cardigan covered her bare, snow-white arms. This outfit didn't resemble the wantonness she projected; rather, it made her look like a conservative, virtuous housewife. Both the material and style were fashionable from the last century. Moreover, this outfit seemed familiar; I vaguely remembered seeing Bai Liyuan dressed similarly when I was a child.

Tieguai Li finished two bottles of beer, during which time the woman had been servicing him with her head down. He probably felt he was almost done, so he patted the woman's face, signaling her to get up and change positions.

The woman obediently spat out what was in her mouth, then stood up, still with her back to me. Once she stood up, I realized she was quite tall; Tieguai Li barely reached her chest. She leaned forward on the table, her long, slender, snow-white legs spread wide, her smooth, plump buttocks raised high, awaiting Tieguai Li's ministrations.

Tieguai Li's pants were completely off, and his penis was erect. His penis was rather peculiar; the base was flat and not very thick, but from the glans, about 5 centimeters inward, it suddenly swelled up, resembling a torch-shaped ice cream cone from a distance. At this moment, the veins were bulging, and it looked like a wild beast ready to devour its prey.

He walked behind the woman, lifted her pleated skirt and covered her back, then leaned forward and thrust in without any warm-up. The woman's vagina, already lubricated from the previous intense stimulation, readily accepted Tieguai Li's penis. Soon, Tieguai Li began thrusting, his other severed limb slapping against the woman's buttocks and thighs with each movement. The muffled "plop" sounds of the limb slapping mingled with the "slap" sounds of his testicles hitting the ground, blending with the woman's moans and groans, filling the room with an atmosphere of debauchery.

At that moment, they completely forgot that the door was ajar; if someone passed by and peeked inside out of curiosity, the scene inside would likely be unforgettable. The afternoon sun was still quite hot, shining into the living room. A tall, beautiful woman with her hair in a bun, dressed as a housewife, was lying naked on the table, her plump, white buttocks sticking out. An old man, only as tall as her shoulder and missing a leg, was penetrating her from behind. The scene was incredibly bizarre.

Tieguai Li's physical strength was astonishing. Although he was standing on one leg, he could maintain a high intensity of piston-like movements with just the strength of that one leg. He continued to manipulate her in this position for 20 minutes without any sign of letting up. The woman under his crotch was already numb all over from his penis. Her originally straight thighs gradually went limp, and in the end, she could only keep from slipping to the ground by grabbing the table with her arms.

Tieguai Li thrust his penis between his legs, and in a few swift movements, he stripped the woman of her clothes. He then discovered that she wasn't even wearing a bra; beneath her dress lay her naked, pure white flesh. Her large, plump breasts were pressed against the table, like two heaps of white dough being flattened. As he spoke, Tieguai Li continued to spew out various vulgar and obscene words, such as, "You lowly slave, does Grandpa's big cock feel good when he fucks you?", "Do you like being fucked by men other than your husband the most?", "Any man with a penis can fuck you," and so on. But the woman didn't answer, only moaning softly. Occasionally, when she reached a small climax, she would let out a few screams of "Eee-ya, ee-ya."

The woman's moans sounded somewhat familiar. I listened several times before I remembered—it was the same moaning sound of the woman I'd been having an affair with in the stairwell that day. Thinking of this, I observed the woman more closely and noticed a delicate gold anklet on her petite ankle. The heart-shaped pendant on the anklet swayed with her movements. She wore high-heeled sandals on her fair, elegant feet. Wait a minute, those sandals were gold too! What's going on? Why are there gold sandals again? Why does this woman always wear gold sandals? Why does she always appear near Tieguai Li? Who is she? A sudden feeling of unease washed over me.

At this point, Tieguai Li's movements became increasingly vigorous. The woman's legs were no longer sufficient to support her body and the force behind her. Her body, which had been lying on the table, gradually slid to the side. With a violent thrust from Tieguai Li, she slid from the table onto a chair to the left, grabbing it with both hands and kneeling on one knee to support herself. Tieguai Li continued his vigorous thrusting without pausing for a moment.

The woman's position was now turned sideways towards me. As her body swayed, her previously lowered head lifted, and I could finally see her profile clearly: slender, dark eyebrows, a high, straight nose, a slightly parted mouth, and a few beads of sweat rolling down her smooth, fair oval face. Combined with her hair tied up in a bun, this face was familiar to me; it was a spitting image of my mother, Bai Liyuan.

Chapter 15

When I saw that the woman beneath Tieguai Li was my mother, Bai Liyuan, it felt as if a giant iron hammer had struck my chest. A suffocating pain filled my entire chest cavity, and I felt my pupils turning red as if the capillaries inside were rapidly bursting. The veins on my forehead throbbed incessantly.

Why, why did this happen? My mother, who always professed to love me the most, actually abandoned me to have an affair, and while I was still recovering from my illness; my mother, who was usually dignified, elegant, and noble, actually had sex with an ugly, vulgar old man, and this old man was even disabled; why did the mother I remembered, who was the pillar of her family, become like this? Lust had completely taken over her mind, causing her to willingly degenerate into having sex with men of all ages in various places, and even gladly accepting some vulgar and perverse sexual practices.

Thinking about all this, the darker parts of my memory resurfaced, causing a sharp, stabbing pain in my head. I felt my anger was about to burst my blood vessels, and I couldn't help but roar as I charged towards the despicable couple.

They were engrossed in their passionate intercourse, completely oblivious to their surroundings, unaware that I had been watching them. Before they could react, they remained in their positions. I closed in and kicked Tieguai Li, a kick fueled by my rage, striking him squarely in the waist. He was sent flying, crashing three meters away.

Because his hand was still holding Bai Liyuan's waist and his lower body was still inside her, although he was kicked away, he also sent Bai Liyuan flying. A dark, short male body and a fair, slender female body flew in the air for about 2 seconds before crashing heavily to the ground on Tieguai Li's back. The two bodies were flying in the air, but their lower bodies were still connected, like a strange conjoined monster.

Although Tieguai Li was kicked and fell to the floor, his penis remained erect. As Bai Liyuan fell on top of him, her lower body slumped down, effectively taking Tieguai Li's penis into her body. The torch-sized ice cream-shaped object disappeared into her rosy vagina with a "plop." A bulge immediately appeared on Bai Liyuan's snow-white abdomen, as if it had reached a very deep depth. With a long, drawn-out scream, Bai Liyuan's body convulsed like a malaria patient, her long, white limbs flailing wildly like a drowning person, her ice cream-like white flesh trembling constantly. She actually reached orgasm on Tieguai Li's body in this position.

Immediately afterward, Tieguai Li roared, his penis swelling and pushing Bai Liyuan's lower abdomen up another centimeter. Then, like a drum being struck, it throbbed and swelled several times. A large pool of clear liquid mixed with white semen gushed from her already engorged and swollen genitals. Bai Liyuan's body, which had almost calmed down, was pushed to another small peak by Tieguai Li's ejaculation. With her last ounce of strength, she writhed against Tieguai Li, tears and sweat streaming down her face, her expression like someone dying from a drug overdose, before gradually calming down.

Looking at this shameless couple before me, I suddenly felt nauseous. Tieguai Li's penis, having ejaculated, had withdrawn from her wet vagina, hanging like a black rubber tube. Bai Liyuan's lower body was a mess; her labia, swollen from excessive blood flow, were still distended, the slightly open vulva revealing tender, rosy flesh that seemed to be panting. Her snow-white body was covered in her own secretions, the man's semen, and sweat from exercise. Combined with the exhaustion after her orgasm, she collapsed onto Tieguai Li, like a dead fish with its white belly exposed, breathing weakly—a picture of utter depravity and decadence.

Although I deeply resented her behavior, I couldn't bear to see my mother in such a state. With a touch of disgust, I pulled her up, separating her from Tieguai Li, and placed her on a nearby chair. I grabbed a towel from the kitchen to wipe the stains off her body. After wiping away the tears and sweat from her face, I noticed something was amiss.

Although the woman in front of me was a bit older, she was indeed a beauty with delicate eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, full skin, and a good figure. However, she was not Bai Liyuan. Although both had oval faces, her face was noticeably rounder, and her nose was slightly wider, not as delicate as Bai Liyuan's. Her lips were a bit too full, and the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes were more obvious. Only upon closer inspection could one see that her thin eyebrows had been drawn with an eyebrow pencil, and the ends were smudged due to tears. But with her hairstyle and clothes, she did look about 70% like Bai Liyuan from a distance. In addition, I was in a state of emotional turmoil, so I mistook her for my mother.

After confirming that the woman wasn't my mother, I finally calmed down and let out a long sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from my heart. I asked the woman to clean herself up. She seemed to come to her senses and, without saying a word, silently picked up her clothes and shoes that had fallen on the floor, turned around, and went into the bathroom. Only then did I notice that without those gold high-heeled sandals, she wasn't as tall as Baek Li-won, probably only around 168 cm. However, she had a great figure, with long legs, a slim waist, large breasts, and a plump bottom. If she wore high heels, she could easily be mistaken for Baek Li-won.

By this time, Tieguai Li had already gotten up from the ground. Ignoring the stains remaining on his lower body, he grabbed his pants and put them on, then found a chair and sat down. With a fawning smile, he said to me, "My young master Gao, when did you come to Guaizi's house? Why didn't you give me a heads-up? Guaizi could have prepared."

His face still held the satisfaction of ejaculating during intercourse, and that ambiguous smile made me a little angry. I said in a deep voice, "I haven't settled accounts with you properly yet. When you told me about things last time, you were vague and unclear. What were your intentions?"

“Young Master Gao, explain yourself clearly. I’m old and my mind isn’t what it used to be. Your fierce look last time scared me half to death. I answered whatever you asked. You didn’t ask if I was the person in the photo, so how can you blame me?”

Tieguai Li answered glibly, completely absolving himself of any responsibility.

“Hmph, let’s forget about last time. Today, tell me honestly, what’s your relationship with this woman? Who is she?”

I didn’t want to get bogged down in details and cut straight to the point. The fact that this woman, who looked and dressed so much like Bai Liyuan, was here, and that she maintained such a close relationship with Tieguai Li, deepened my suspicions.

"That slut, didn't you see it all? What could it be? A close-knit relationship between a man and a woman

, of course." Tieguai Li grinned lewdly, paused, and continued, "Young Master Gao, I might have been in the wrong last time, and I apologize. But today, I was at home, having some fun with my own woman, and you barged in like that, and then you kicked me so hard. If it weren't for my erection, most people would have been impotent on the spot. Tell me, what kind of behavior is this?"

He finished, his triangular eyes flashing menacingly.

I wasn't buying it. I grabbed the empty beer bottle from the table, clenched my right fingers like a knife, and with focused effort, chopped at the neck of the bottle. A sound of shattering glass rang out, and the brown glass neck separated from the bottle, falling onto the table. My right palm was also cut by the glass, and blood immediately stained my hand. But I didn't change my expression. I just grabbed the broken beer bottle with my bleeding hand and pointed at Tieguai Li, not understanding.

Tieguai Li looked at the bottleneck on the table with some suspicion, then at my still-bleeding hand, as if assessing my strength. After a long while, he finally raised his head, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He slowly said, "Xiao Gao, I'm truly impressed by you today. You really are a man, much stronger than your father. If you had been born a few years earlier, your mother wouldn't have suffered so much." Just as

I was about to ask him what he meant, the woman from before came out of the bathroom. She had put her dress back on and changed into the black high heels with red soles that were by the door, making her look even taller and more slender. The tear stains and makeup were gone from her face, and her hair was loosely draped over her shoulders. Her fair face still had a hint of rosy cheeks from the passion, making her look like a respectable young woman. Although she didn't have the noble and glamorous beauty of Bai Liyuan, she had a refreshing and charming beauty.

Tieguai Li seemed unwilling to discuss this topic in front of her. He asked the woman to bring a towel to bandage my hand. The woman seemed frightened by my bleeding hand and quickly went to get a towel to bandage it. During the bandaging process, her hands trembled, and several times her hands twisted and touched my wound, or she bandaged the wrong spot, which earned her another scolding from Tieguai Li. However, she never dared to respond to Tieguai Li and let him do as he pleased, like a submissive wife. I couldn't bear to watch any longer and told her to stop after I finished bandaging. Tieguai Li also told her to go back without any politeness.

As the sound of the woman's high heels faded into the distance in the hallway, Tieguai Li moved his chair closer to me and sat down beside me. He picked up a bottle of baijiu he hadn't tried before, poured some for both of us, then picked up his own bowl and downed it in one gulp. The bowl was just an ordinary rice bowl, and he drank it all in one go. His drinking style and capacity were quite frightening. But I wasn't about to be outdone. I picked up my own bowl and, imitating him, tilted my head back and poured it into my mouth. I felt a burning sensation spread from my mouth through my throat and esophagus all the way to my stomach. Although I tried my best to pretend I didn't react, I couldn't help but cough a few times.

Tieguai Li could tell I was a novice just by looking at how I drank, but seeing that I didn't spit it out even though my face was flushed, he nodded approvingly, his gaze becoming more friendly. He picked up a few peanuts from the plate, popped them into his mouth, and chewed as he said, "The woman you just saw, didn't she look a lot like someone?"

I nodded, my eyes fixed on him. "That's why I asked you, why?"

Tieguai Li didn't answer me directly, but instead refilled both of our bowls with wine and slowly said, "That dress is really pretty, isn't it? I went to several flea markets to find it. Damn it, that shady dealer actually asked for 2000 yuan! I repaired my shoes for two months to save up that money, but it was worth it. This dress looks perfect on her. Although she looks good in everything, I like this dress the most."

He inexplicably brought up the dress again. Although the dress was well-fitting and stylish, it was clearly a design from over ten years ago. Why would he go to so much trouble to buy this dress? Also, the woman in the skirt he mentioned earlier didn't seem to be referring to the woman from earlier.

"I was born ugly, that's fate, you can't blame my parents; my parents raised this ugly son of mine until he was ten and then died, that's fate too, you can't blame the coal mine collapse; I grew up to be an ugly monster and couldn't find a wife, that's still fate, you can't blame the women; but when I was forty, a steel cable broke, and out of a dozen people, I was the only one hit. Is this damn fate deliberately targeting me? Why does it always cause me trouble? I curse fate!"

Tieguai Li poured himself another bowl of wine and downed it, his dark face beginning to flush.

"The doctor said my leg nerves were dead, and if they weren't amputated, I'd be paralyzed. So they did it. My workplace didn't give me any compensation besides the medical expenses. Back then, I was too honest and didn't know how to argue or cause trouble. I definitely couldn't do my old job anymore, so the workplace assigned me to look after the compound. So I went. What else could a cripple like me do?

When I first arrived at the family compound, everyone avoided me. That's normal. I was ugly to begin with, and now I'm disabled. Who wouldn't dislike me? I didn't care about you people either. I don't rely on you for food anyway, so I'd curse anyone who glanced at me, and I'd beat anyone who dared to mess with me. Gradually, everyone knew about my strange temper, and they all avoided me when they saw me. Aren't these people despicable?" "

He recounted many of his past experiences haltingly, but I didn't rush him. For some reason, I felt a pang of sympathy for him, and I drank his toasts without hesitation, feeling a slight warmth rising within me.

"But in that compound, there was a woman who never saw me as a monster. While others mocked, discriminated against, and bullied me, she was the only one who truly treated me like a human being." "

When she came back from her trip, she would always greet me with a smile, as if I weren't some unpleasant cripple; when she finished her chores, she would chat with me for a few minutes, telling me how good her husband was to her and how well-behaved her children were; during holidays, she would invite me to her home for dinner, and knowing I was afraid to see people, she would cook hot dishes and soup for me."

"The day after I was discharged from the hospital, lying in my dormitory, I thought, maybe I should just jump off the building and end it all. Why live such a tiring life?" Just then, the door opened, and she came to see me carrying a bowl of stewed chicken soup. That day, she was wearing this white dress with a small jacket draped over her shoulders, standing in the light at the doorway, looking like that one in the church—what was it again, the one with blond hair and wings? "

Iron-Crutch Li stammered a little.

I told him that was called an angel, and Iron-Crutch Li nodded eagerly, saying, "Yes, yes, she's an angel, but she's a hundred times more beautiful than those angels in paintings. She's so beautiful and so kind; could she be a fairy descended from heaven? I don't know anything about angels; 'fairy' sounds better. Did God take pity on me after my life of suffering and send this fairy to save me? But I know in my heart that this fairy is kind to me only because I'm her husband's colleague, someone in her life who needs help, someone with a hard life, and she reaches out to help everyone who needs it."

Of course I knew the fairy he was talking about was Bai Liyuan. From a young age, I knew my mother was a very kind, loving, and compassionate woman. She never hesitated to lend a helping hand to those in need. Although our family wasn't well-off, she would do her best to help colleagues and neighbors in urgent need of money or when misfortune befell the family. My father sometimes joked that he had married a goddess, but he still supported her.

I had unknowingly drunk three bowls of baijiu and felt a little lightheaded, but the words that came out of my mouth were still deep and powerful: "Since Bai Liyuan is so good to you, why could you still have evil thoughts about her and do such a thing?"

Tieguai Li chuckled and asked in return, "What did I do? I just found a woman who looks a lot like her and did some things I would never have done in my life."

I found it hard to refute Tieguai Li's words. Indeed, he was fantasizing about my mother, but what could I do besides beat him up? I couldn't possibly erase Bai Liyuan from his mind.

Tieguai Li poured another bowl of wine and slowly said, "Actually, before that, I always thought of her as a fairy. I never had any fantasies about her. Tieguai had also been with other women, but those women were just prostitutes who would come for money. But in my heart, she was like gold. If she touched me, I would feel disgusted that I was too dirty. If she smiled at me, I would feel like I had eaten a magic pill. If she stood in my room for a while, the fragrance she left behind would make me not need to eat. Originally, I thought that as long as I kept guarding the family compound, I could see her every day. When her children grew up, when her children got married, when she got old—no, before she got old, Tieguai should have died long ago, so I wouldn't have to see her grow old—but..."

It's unbelievable that Tieguai Li, whom I barely remember from my childhood, had such an infatuation with Bai Liyuan. This ugly, universally disliked cripple actually understood Platonic love. Although this infatuation disgusted me, I also admired his persistence.

But there were still some things about his words that puzzled me, so I pressed on: "If you respect her, you should always be consistent. Why are you treating her like another woman now? Isn't that a contradiction?"

Tieguai Li avoided my aggressive gaze, seemingly hesitant to speak, and slowly said, "Haven't you already found her? Haven't you seen the house she lives in, the car she drives, and what she's doing? Guai Zi hasn't spoken to her for five or six years. Every time he sees her, he avoids her. It's not that Guai Zi doesn't want to see her; he can't bear to see her."

"Why can't you bear to see her? What happened to her?"

Tieguai Li's words conflicted me. Although I also wanted to know what happened to Bai Liyuan, I was also afraid of knowing the answer.

Tieguai Li didn't answer, but poured himself another bowl of wine. Two bottles of baijiu were already open on the table; he'd drunk one and a half himself, and I'd drunk the other half. His dark face was flushed red, like the bottom of a hot pot, a dark reddish-black. His mouth was stammering: "Aren't you her son? Why don't you figure it out yourself? I'm nobody to her, what's the use of asking me?"

My alcohol tolerance wasn't great, and after half a bottle of baijiu, I was already a little dizzy, but I continued to press him: "That woman over there, what was she..." "What happened? How did you make her do these things?"

Tieguai Li had already slumped onto the table, stammering, "That, that woman, she's just... just a slut. I'm doing this... on behalf of... that... Heaven, she deserves it, she deserves it."

After saying that, he fell asleep, his liver-colored face twitching, his thick lips breathing like a frog, still mumbling something incoherently. I listened closely, and he kept repeating two phrases: "Bai Liyuan is a good woman," and "We must protect her well." His voice grew softer and softer until he started snoring.

Although I was already seven-tenths drunk, seeing his condition, I couldn't help but smile bitterly. It was impossible to get anything out of this drunkard.

Just then, my phone rang. I answered and heard Bai Liyuan's anxious voice. It turned out she had arrived home but found me missing, so she was frantically looking for me, afraid something had happened to me.

Hearing her familiar and warm voice, a warm current seemed to surge through me, and my body, which had been numbed by alcohol, regained its vitality. I quickly reassured her that I was nearby and would be home soon.

With Bai Liyuan's gentle reminders, I hung up the phone, glanced at Tieguai Li who was still fast asleep on the table, and left this house that had left such a deep impression on me. Before going downstairs, I made sure to close the door for him. Chapter 16
(November 14th ): Dragging my slightly drunk body home, I saw Bai Liyuan anxiously waiting for me at the door. Her almond-shaped eyes were full of worry. Seeing me come in, she said, "Shitou, where have you been? Mom was so worried when she didn't see you." She smelled the alcohol on me, and her delicate eyebrows furrowed beautifully. She said somewhat displeasedly, "Why did you drink? Mom hates it when people drink. You smell terrible." I mumbled incoherently. I couldn't very well tell her I'd been drinking at Tieguai Li's house and had mistaken another woman for her, leading to a fight. So I pretended to be drunk and started talking nonsense. My drunken state terrified Bai Liyuan. She quickly helped me into the house, settled me on the sofa, and then busied herself making me honey water, feeding me by hand. After drinking a cup of warm honey water, my stomach felt warm and cozy, and combined with the fragrance of Bai Liyuan, my mind cleared up a bit. I brought my lips to the glass, and through it, I saw Bai Liyuan's slender hand holding it. Her hand was long, white, and smooth, with silver nail polish on her fingertips. Under the light, her five fingers looked as delicate as bamboo shoots, and a sparkling silver diamond ring adorned her long middle finger. At first, I thought I was seeing things because of the alcohol, so I checked again. Indeed, the delicate rose gold double-ring band features a sparkling diamond supported by eight prongs in the center. Judging by its size and weight, it must be at least five carats. This ring is definitely very expensive. I remember my mother never had such an expensive ring. My father often felt guilty because of this, saying that he hadn't bought my mother a diamond ring in all the years they had been married, and that he felt bad for her. But every time, my mother would smile gently and say, "What's so great about diamond rings? They're heavy and inconvenient. Wearing them is a hassle, and leaving them unworn is a waste. We should spend our money wisely and not on such frivolous things." So my mother has always worn the wedding ring that my father gave her when they got married. I've been used to that ring since I was a child. It's just a very simple and ordinary band, as plain as my mother's clothes. Now, this million-dollar, dazzling object has replaced the original, unremarkable wedding token. I couldn't help but recall the things I'd overheard at Tieguai Li's house. Why had Bai Liyuan changed so much in the years I was gone? Why could our family afford such a luxurious house? Why could she run an internet cafe despite having no savings? Why did she, who never cared about her appearance, now always dress so elegantly and appropriately? Why did she have a million-dollar diamond ring on her finger? I desperately wanted to know the answer, yet I was also terrified of it. A sour, spicy feeling welled up in my chest. I quickly pushed the cup away from Bai Liyuan's hand, rushed into the bathroom in the living room, and started vomiting violently as soon as I grabbed the toilet. I vomited up almost everything I'd eaten that morning and noon, filling half the toilet. After vomiting out what made me feel so nauseous, I felt a wave of relief wash over me, my head spinning. I actually managed to drift off to sleep against the toilet. In a daze, I only felt a gentle voice calling my name, a pair of cool, delicate hands moving on my body, and a familiar fragrance lingering around me. Then I felt my body alternate between feeling cold and hot, and something rough was moving on my body. After that, I can't remember anything.

I had a long dream. In the dream, I returned to my grandmother's beautiful house in the mountains and by the water. I carried my schoolbag and walked across a stone bridge covered with moss. At the end of the bridge, a girl of about fourteen years old was waiting for me. She was wearing a white-washed summer dress, and her slender, fair legs were showing through the fabric. She wore red open-toed leather sandals on her feet, which were covered with white socks. Her hair was styled into two shiny black braids that hung in front of her chest. Underneath the slightly thin fabric of her dress, there were two mounds that looked like two unripe peaches. A sweet smile graced her pretty face as she waved to me.

We walked hand in hand along the ridges between the rice paddies. The golden rice ears and emerald green stalks swayed gently in the breeze, making a gurgling sound. The wind carried the fresh scent of earth and the fragrance of the girl. The fine sunlight shone on us, as if we were covered in gold. Neither of us spoke, but a glance, a slight smile, or a gentle clasp of hands was enough for us to know what the other wanted to say.

We walked to the riverbank, where weeping willows swayed gently on the water. The girl lifted the hem of her skirt, her slender, smooth legs stepping into the water. Several small fish swam around her delicate, white toes, which resembled seashells. Her feet lightly kicked the water, splashing a few drops onto my face, accompanied by a string of silvery laughter. I rolled up my trousers and stepped into the water, returning her laughter. Our laughter rippled on the water, and in the shimmering light, she, in her flowing white dress, looked like a fairy on the water, every smile and gesture captivating.

Suddenly, the water began to surge violently, like a pot of boiling water. The once crystal-clear stream was replaced by a turbid, turbid torrent. A bottomless whirlpool appeared in the center, rapidly spinning and engulfing the girl in white. Her face paled, and she cried out for my help. I was frantic, wanting to reach out and pull her back, but my legs felt as if they were bound to millstones weighing a thousand pounds, too heavy to move. The whirlpool grew larger and larger, its center like a deep, dark abyss, from which strange, absurd noises could be faintly heard. The whirlpool spun faster and faster, already engulfing the girl... Her calves were pulled, dragging her body towards the center. The girl screamed, her voice filled with fear and pain, but I was frozen in place, forced to watch helplessly as she was drawn deeper and deeper. The white of her body resembled ink-stained hemp paper, the black spreading upwards like gnarled roots of an old tree, gradually reaching her waist and upper body. Finally, the vortex transformed into a giant black hole, completely swallowing her into darkness. The last thing I saw was her pair of bright, clear black eyes, and the profound melancholy within them—the same expression I had seen so many times in Bai Liyuan's eyes.

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was a white teak ceiling with a feather lamp in the center. The soft bed beneath me was definitely not my old bed in my room. There was a familiar fragrance in the room. How did I end up in my mother's master bedroom yesterday? And I discovered that my clothes had been changed. Now I was wearing a white t-shirt and blue-black striped boxer shorts. Where were my clothes? Who changed me? And how did I end up on this bed? There seemed to be only one answer.

I gently turned my head to the right, and what came into view was a beautiful face, as lovely as a peach blossom, capable of both anger and joy. Bai Liyuan's fragrant body was lying next to me. Her long, wavy hair was simply tied back, with a few unruly strands sticking out and resting on her translucent white cheeks. Her beautiful eyes were tightly closed, and her long, thick eyelashes beneath her slender, dark eyebrows, along with her pert nose and slightly parted, rosy lips, gave her a beautiful, dreamlike appearance, much like the girl in the painting above her bed.

She was wearing a two-piece nightgown. The top was a pink cotton short-sleeved shirt with lace trim on the cuffs and neckline. There was a semi-transparent mesh panel at the chest, revealing her fair skin and the lace trim of her black bra. She had one arm bent under her head, and the other hand near her knee. Beneath her pink cotton shorts, her two slender, white legs were crossed, and her silver-painted toes rested playfully on the white sheets.

A white towel lay on the sheet in front of her, one corner still clutched in her hand. I remembered the coolness on my forehead last night; Bai Liyuan must have used this towel to wipe me. To take care of me after I drank, she probably hadn't rested well all night, only falling asleep beside me in the early hours of the morning. I carefully admired her peaceful and serene sleeping state, wishing time could stand still, so I could stay facing her forever.

But soon I felt my mouth was dry and my stomach was empty and uncomfortable. The residue from the cheap liquor I drank at Tieguai Li's place yesterday was still acting up, and my stomach acid started to reflux, making a soft "gurgle" sound. Although the sound wasn't loud, it woke her up.

Bai Liyuan's long, thick eyelashes fluttered open, and her sleepy eyes met my slightly embarrassed gaze. She smiled sweetly, revealing her white teeth, and said gently, "Shitou, you've been awake for a while?"

"Yes, I just woke up too."

"Why didn't you wake Mom?"

"You didn't sleep well last night, did you? I didn't want to disturb you, I wanted you to sleep a little longer."

"Good boy, you know how to care for Mom. Mom didn't give birth to you in vain."

Bai Liyuan seemed very happy. She reached out a slender hand and gently stroked my nose. She often used this gesture to express her affection for me when we were little; it was our secret code.

"Mom, was I really drunk yesterday? How did I end up in your bedroom?"

"You little rascal! Why did you drink so much if you can't handle alcohol? Yesterday, you first threw up all over the bathroom, then collapsed on the floor like a pile of mud. I was worried you'd catch a cold, so I tried to wake you up to go back to your room, but I couldn't wake you at all, and I couldn't lift you."

"Seeing you couldn't move and smelled terrible, I took off your clothes, wrung out some hot water, and wiped you down. After wiping you down twice, you sobered up a bit, wobbled to your feet, and ran to my room, calling for Mom to hold you to sleep. You're all grown up now, but you're still like a little kid. You're so hard to please."

Bai Liyuan talked about my drunken state yesterday with a smile, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

I hadn't expected so many things to happen after I got drunk yesterday, and I couldn't help but scratch my head a little embarrassedly. When I was little, whenever it was windy or rainy, I always loved to go to my mom's room and have her hold me, only able to fall asleep when I heard her voice.

“I also thought your bed was too small. Who knew you might fall off when you were drunk? So I half-carried, half-pushed you into my room, and then you collapsed onto Mom’s bed like a dead pig and fell asleep.”

“Also, how did you get your hand injured? I don’t know who bandaged it for you; it’s a mess, like a dumpling. I had to unwrap it all and re-bandage it.” I

looked at my injured hand; it was indeed neatly bandaged with white bandages. The wound felt cool; Bai Liyuan must have applied some ointment.

“Oh dear, my son is getting more and more troublesome as he grows up. You were so much better when you were little, so well-behaved and adorable,”

Bai Liyuan said with a sigh, then gently pinched my nose a few times.

I chuckled sheepishly, touching my nose which had been scratched red. Suddenly remembering something, I stammered, "Mom, what's with these clothes I'm wearing? Did you change them for me?"

Bai Liyuan seemed to understand what I meant. Two blushes rose on her fair face, and she said coquettishly, "You silly child, who else was at home yesterday besides your old mother? Of course, I helped you take off and change your clothes. You're a piece of my flesh. I know exactly how many hairs you have. What's there to be shy about?"

Our conversation suddenly became a little awkward at this point. We were both embarrassed to look at each other. Bai Liyuan broke the silence. She gently placed her slender hand on my chest, as if feeling my warmth, and murmured, "Stone, my little Stone, you've finally grown up. Seeing you so healthy and strong now makes me so relieved."

Bai Liyuan's slender hands, adorned with silver nail polish, moved across my chest. Remembering how those same delicate hands had caressed my entire body yesterday, a sudden heat rose within me, and I felt a stirring within me.

I quickly shook my head, banishing this inappropriate, sensual thought, and changed the subject, saying, "Mom, I'm a little hungry. You should sleep a little longer; I'll go buy breakfast."

"Mom's had enough sleep too. You should rest first; I'll make you breakfast,"

Bai Liyuan struggled to get up.

I gave her a reassuring look, telling her to sleep soundly and wait for my return. After yesterday's events, she seemed to think I was no longer a boy, nodding obediently as I pulled a light blanket over her, watching me leave the room.

Unfamiliar with the surroundings, I went to the XinYin Convenience Store, where I drank a bowl of porridge amidst Yao Jie's nagging before returning home with the packed steamed buns and tofu pudding.

By the time I put breakfast in a bowl and brought it to the table, Bai Liyuan had also gotten up and washed. We ate breakfast together and chatted leisurely. Bai Liyuan told me that she had lunch with friends outside yesterday and then ran into some local government officials. She sat with them in a coffee shop for a while because she often needs their help with business, so she stayed for a while. They originally wanted to invite her to dinner, but she was worried that I was still waiting at home, so she firmly declined and rushed home.

I took this opportunity to ask her what kind of business she was in. Bai Liyuan seemed to have known I would ask this question, and said slowly, "Four years ago, a large Hong Kong developer came to our area to develop real estate. The staff housing of the San Gang Company was located on the site of their business center. Although our old house was collective property, there was a policy at that time that confirmed individual property rights. In addition, my superiors took care of my family, so I chose monetary compensation and received more than 2 million yuan in compensation."

She paused, and said with some sadness on her face, "If only this developer had come to develop earlier, I could have used this money to take care of you, and mother and son could have seen each other sooner. I wouldn't have to stay here alone, missing you every day, and not being able to see you. Life is so meaningless."

"Mom, this is not something you can control. You don't need to think about this anymore. Didn't I still come back to your side safely?"

I gently took her slender hand and comforted her.

Bai Liyuan nodded to me with emotion and continued, "After receiving this money, I didn't know what to do with it. Luckily, a friend from your father's former workplace advised me to invest in his project. This project has government backing, guaranteeing profits and dividends. Guo Qi was also urging me on, and I thought you'd be coming back soon. Having been away from a normal life for so many years, I didn't know how you'd adapt to society. I wanted to provide you with a better environment and make up for the time you'd lost, so I invested with a try-it-out attitude."

"Afterwards, the project really made money. Although our initial investment was small, we still made some. That friend then taught me to use the money to buy shops, which I did as he suggested. We made quite a bit more, and with his help, we opened an internet cafe and several brand-name stores, which provided a stable income, allowing us to buy this house."

"Mom, I didn't realize you were so capable. I only knew you as the most dutiful wife and the best mother, but I never imagined you were so shrewd in business."

I was somewhat surprised. Bai Liyuan had always given me the image of a virtuous wife and loving mother; I never expected her to be so active in the business world.

"Come on, have you always thought of me as just a housewife, someone who can't do anything but cook and take care of the kids? Actually, before your accident, I really thought that way too. As long as I took care of the family and ensured you had no worries, that was enough. But after your father and you both had accidents, I realized how naive and immature I was. This is a cold and ruthless society. If you can't make yourself strong, you could be devoured by venomous snakes and wild beasts at any time, let alone protect your loved ones."

Bai Liyuan's tone became very desolate and gloomy as she talked about her experience. It was the first time I had ever seen her speak like this.

"Later I figured it out. I can only rely on myself in everything, so I slowly learned to deal with people, to handle business dealings, and to adapt to the cutthroat world of business. With the help of some friends, I slowly made it through."

"Mom, who is that friend who helped you so much? When can you introduce me to him? I want to thank him properly."

I waited a long time before finally asking the question that had been on my mind.

My question seemed to stump Bai Liyuan. She hesitated for a while before saying, "Okay, but half of his businesses are in Hong Kong now, so he's not always in the mainland. I'll talk to him next time and arrange a time for you two to meet."

Bai Liyuan seemed unwilling to discuss this topic further and changed the subject, saying, "By the way, your usual clothes were too dirty. I threw them away yesterday, and you didn't bring any change, so I borrowed Guo Qi's for you."

She looked me up and down with her beautiful eyes, then turned and went into Guo Qi's room, took out a pair of jeans, and placed them in my hand. She pouted and said, "Your shoulders and chest are much wider than his, and these clothes are a bit short on you. Put these on first, and I'll take you shopping for clothes."

After saying that, she turned and went into the master bedroom. Guo Qi's jeans were a bit short for my height, but they fit me fairly well. After I put on the jeans, Bai Liyuan also came out of the master bedroom.

Chapter 17.

Today, Bai Liyuan wore an orange off-shoulder dress with ruffles, revealing her snow-white left arm and beautiful collarbone. A string of sparkling pearls lay above her deep cleavage. Her long hair was tied back with a white orange flower-shaped hair tie. She wore black suede mid-heeled shoes with gold square buckles on her long, fair legs. She applied a little sunscreen to her face, and there were faint traces of transparent lip gloss on her lips. This outfit was eye-catching and energetic, further highlighting her natural and generous beauty.

We took the X1 to the city's famous Wanlong Plaza. After taking the elevator to the third floor, Bai Liyuan skillfully led me into a huge Dior Homme flagship store. As soon as we entered, two slender sales assistants came up to me. They greeted Bai Liyuan respectfully with smiles on their faces, but they called her "Sister Bai" as if they were very familiar with her. Bai Liyuan nodded kindly to them and pointed to me with one finger, saying, "This is my son, Gao Yan. He just came back from the United States, and I brought him here to pick out some spare clothes."

While chatting on the way, we had already agreed on our tone, telling others that I had gone to study in the United States after junior high school and only returned to China during holidays.

"Xiao Zhang, you go ahead with your work. Xiao Yang, come with us and help me take a look. I, an old woman, don't understand the fashion of young people these days,"

Bai Liyuan said, pointing to the taller girl on the right. The girl called Xiao Yang was quite tall and slender, with only light makeup on her fair face. Her long, black hair was held back with a white hair clip, and a milky white strapless top was visible under her black suit skirt. Her two slender legs were encased in black stockings. All the sales assistants in this store dressed like this, but Xiao Yang's looks and figure were probably among the best.

"Mom, you're talking nonsense. You're not old at all. You look like you're only in your early twenties. If people didn't know, they would think you were my older sister."

"You child, are you sweet-talking me? Pretending to say things your mother likes to hear."

My words pleased Bai Liyuan, and her beautiful eyes narrowed into slits with laughter.

"Sister Bai, Brother Yan is right. Even if I were ten years younger, I still couldn't compare to you in terms of looks and figure. Don't you see all those ladies and aunties coming into the store? Aren't they all here because of your beautiful face?"

Xiao Yang chimed in obediently. This girl looked about my age, and she addressed me as "brother" and "sister" without any hesitation. She was also very good at reading people's expressions, always saying what others wanted to hear.

"Heh, you two are both slippery,"

Bai Liyuan shook her head helplessly, but her expression showed that she didn't dislike what Xiao Yang said at all.

Bai Liyuan led me to the men's clothing section, first picking out a few short-sleeved shirts and jeans for the current season, and then dragging me to try on suits and shirts. Although I wasn't used to wearing very formal clothes, seeing her relentless drive, I had no choice but to bite the bullet and follow her, being bossed around and constantly changing styles to try on different looks.

Women are always full of energy when it comes to shopping and clothes, and Bai Liyuan is no exception. After many years, she seems to have rediscovered the joy of dressing up her son. She tirelessly manipulates me like a doll, making me try on this piece and that piece. With Xiao Yang's encouragement and encouragement, she buys any clothes she likes. She ordered a dozen white shirts of the same style, a tie in every color, and even winter coats and jackets. She also picked out a whole bag of underwear for me, saying that I'm all grown up now and need to pay attention to the quality of my underwear, changing it often to keep it clean.

When I stepped out of the fitting room for the last time, the eyes of both women lit up simultaneously. I was wearing a blue and white striped shirt with a contrasting collar. The fitted style accentuated my inverted triangle muscular upper body. A pair of black slim-fit trousers covered my long legs. I stood tall and straight, with broad shoulders and a wide chest, exuding masculinity. I hadn't shaved for a few days, and a thick stubble had sprouted on my upper lip and chin. Combined with my angular features, Xiao Yang exclaimed that I was too handsome.

"Oh, my little stone is all grown up now, and so handsome! I wonder how many girls he'll charm in the future."

Bai Liyuan walked up to me, extending her slender hand to straighten my collar, her eyes filled with satisfaction and pride. When I was little, my mother used to straighten my collar like this, but back then she had to squat down to reach me. Now, she only needed to look up. Her fair fingers, painted with silver nail polish, brushed against my chest, and the fragrance from her breath brushed against my cheek. For some reason, my heart started racing.

"Yeah, Gao Yan is really handsome, and so masculine. He's much better than those effeminate South Korean stars. If you went to act in idol dramas, you'd definitely be a superstar."

Xiao Yang chimed in, her eyes sparkling like a lovesick girl, constantly asking about my personal life, whether I had a girlfriend, what kind of girl I liked, and so on, acting like a naive young girl. But I could tell that at least half of it was an act. This girl was not simple; she was quite cunning.

My indifferent reply did not dampen Xiao Yang's enthusiasm. She continued to chat with Bai Liyuan about all sorts of gossip, mostly about me. Bai Liyuan rarely had anyone to talk about her son with, so she openly recounted everything about my childhood, even some embarrassing stories I desperately wanted to forget. I was left speechless and speechless, while Xiao Yang covered her mouth and chuckled, exclaiming in exaggerated surprise, saying things like, "Gao Yan is so smart!", "Gao Yan was so cute when he was little!", and "Gao Yan really loves his mom so much!" This made Bai Liyuan beam with joy, and she chatted intimately with her, completely ignoring me.

After we chose the clothes, Bai Liyuan asked Xiao Yang to pack them up, and then she took my arm and started walking out. I couldn't help but remind her that we hadn't paid yet. She smiled sweetly, patted my head, and said, "Silly child, this is our family business, what do we need to pay for?"

"Come on, let me take you to see my other shop, that's where I usually work."

Before I could react, she pulled me out of the Dior Homme store and into a small shop next door called "Lige".

The store looks unassuming from the outside. Apart from the two white characters "莉阁" written in clerical script above the entrance, the windows are completely covered with dark green velvet curtains. Once inside, you'll find that the interior is brightly lit, and the layout is surprisingly no smaller than the Dior Homme next door. In the center of the hall, under a magnificent crystal chandelier, is a circular building with ten separate fitting rooms arranged in a circle. The fitting rooms don't have fixed doors; they are simply covered by white gauze curtains. Around the perimeter of the hall, there are many floor-length mirrors arranged irregularly, and the racks between the mirrors are filled with all kinds of women's clothing. Various bags and high heels are displayed on the stands.

Unlike the young women in their twenties at Dior Homme, the sales assistants at "Lige" were all women over thirty. Although they wore the same style and color of tops, they wore trousers. Although they were all slim, they all had no makeup on and their looks were quite ordinary. When they saw Bai Liyuan walk in, they all bowed and called her "President Bai". At this moment, Bai Liyuan changed her appearance again. The gentle and kind homebody was gone. In her place was a boss lady with a firm and decisive step and an unapproachable gaze. She walked past the sales assistants noncommittally, her eyes as arrogant as a queen. She told me to take a look around, and went straight to the cashier to check the accounts, while constantly asking the store manager about the business situation.

Perhaps because it was daytime, the store wasn't crowded. Only a few women were browsing, led by sales assistants. They looked to be around 20, but their figures, clothing, and expressions resembled those of married women. They wore heavy makeup and dressed in a very sexy and glamorous way, choosing extremely daring and revealing styles. Feeling a bit

bored, I walked to a clothes rack by the window. The tags on the clothes indicated they were from well-known international brands. Suddenly, I heard two women talking, seemingly coming from behind me.

"Sister Shi, that young man is so handsome! Did you see him? He's right next to the Prada shelf."

"You mean the one in the blue and white striped shirt and black pants, the tall one?"

"Yes, yes, that's him. He's so tall, he looks like he's 1.9 meters tall, and he's very handsome."

There was a black full-length mirror next to the clothes rack. I pretended to tidy myself up and stood in front of the mirror. To my right and behind me, there was a small French round table. Two women were sitting at the table, pointing at me, as if they were talking about me. These two could be considered real women. Although they were well-maintained and their makeup was exquisite, you could still tell they were both over 40.

"Hmm, not bad, better than the guy Da Niu brought last time. Look at his broad shoulders, his firm and perky butt, he must be pretty good in that area."

One of the women, with a large face, shoulder-length curly hair, and smoky makeup, gave me a taste of my own medicine that sent chills down my spine. It was the first time in my life I'd been judged like this, treated like a commodity. This woman must be Sister Shi.

"Yeah, look how handsome his features are! That little mustache is so cool, and his skin is so tanned, like Louis Koo."

The woman next to Sister Shi was younger than her, with a small, pointed face that looked like it had been surgically enhanced. She had a short, slanted haircut like a South Korean actress, and her eyes looked like they were practically drooling over me.

"This guy's looks are a 95 out of 100, but I wonder if his penis will hold up. I hope

he's not just a pretty face." Sister Shi sized me up with that greedy look often seen on men, while muttering, "Last year I brought a male model who was a 90 out of 100 in looks, but he couldn't get it up once we were in bed. I was so angry I kicked his thing and even paid him 100,000 yuan for treatment. It was like getting nothing but trouble. I'm so mad!"

"By the way, do you think this handsome guy is Lily's type? I've never seen her bring a man here before."

The woman with the pointed chin said pointedly,

"I heard from the sales assistant that this is her son, who just came back from studying in America. But how did she end up with such a big son? Nobody would believe it. I've never heard of her having a son before. This one just appeared out of nowhere. I guess he's some kind of godson."

"What son or godson? I think he's a godson. That physique, that figure, he's clearly a little wolfhound. I thought she was going to be reserved, but I didn't expect her to be so candid."

Sister Shi's tone was very vulgar, a stark contrast to her elegant lady-like appearance.

The "Lily" these women were talking about must be Bai Liyuan. They seemed to know her well, but their tone when talking about her was very flippant, which made me very uncomfortable.

"I never expected her to keep a young man like that. She always seems so aloof, like she's above worldly concerns, but deep down she's just like us."

"Aloof? That's nonsense. Let me tell you, women this age are like dogs that see a bone and want to gnaw on it. Who can resist? Look at her, she's been living like a widow for over ten years, plus that useless little thing at home, how could she not be a wolf in sheep's clothing?"

"But… she keeps a young… this… you know?"

At this moment, the woman with the pointed chin suddenly lowered her voice, as if the conversation was quite private.

"Stop, stop—speak of the devil, and he appears! The main character is here, watch your mouth."

Sister Shi seemed to have seen something and quickly waved her hand to stop the woman with the pointed chin from talking, while a bright smile spread across her face.

I saw a slender figure walk over in the mirror and sit down between them. The woman was petite and delicate, only about 162 cm tall, but her proportions were excellent. She wore a white, fitted knit top with a deep V-neck that revealed her beautiful collarbones and fair skin. The two mounds beneath the top were not large, but they were round and firm, like two ripe peaches hanging on a branch. A brown short skirt embroidered with white roses made her waist appear even smaller. The skirt was short and flared outwards, revealing a pair of slender, well-proportioned, fair legs. She wore round-toed high heels in the same color as the skirt, with heels at least 11 centimeters high, but she walked very naturally, as if she were performing on stage.

She wore large sunglasses, revealing a small, delicate face with fair and tender skin—clearly the result of a pampered lifestyle. Her long, wavy, brownish-yellow hair had bangs covering her forehead, the ends braided and hanging down her back. Her makeup was impeccable, making her look only around 30 years old. Her demeanor and bearing were quite refined, making her stand out among the two women.

"Dear Lan, why are you so late? We've been waiting for you for ages!"

Sister Shi's attitude changed instantly upon seeing this woman, her voice sweet and cloying, her smile crinkling into wrinkles.

"Oh well, what can I do? It's all because of my little rascal. A few days ago, some scoundrel took him ice skating, and he hurt his foot. It took all morning to get him settled, plus there was a bit of traffic, so we're late."

The woman called Lan took off her sunglasses, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Her large, bright eyes showed no signs of age, and her lips, though small, were full and painted with light red lipstick. Her voice was clear and pleasant.

The other two women exchanged a glance, their faces showing a tacit understanding, as if they both knew what the other was thinking.

"Who told your son to be so outstanding, Lanlan? Look how many people envy your family. Your husband is a renowned CEO of a state-owned enterprise, and you are a national first-class performing artist. Naturally, your offspring have inherited excellent genes. Your son has been a genius since childhood, and he's tall and handsome, always the center of attention wherever he goes."

The woman with the pointed chin not only loved gossip but also knew how to flatter skillfully. Hearing this, Lanlan beamed with joy. It seemed she had hit the nail on the head; this woman was definitely extremely proud of her son and family.

"That's right, your son has been a media darling since he was little. He was in the newspapers right after he was born, won a silver medal in the National Children's Vocal Competition at five, and attended Zhu Jun's 'Art Life' with the whole family at seven. Over the years, he's graced the covers of magazines so many times that they could fill a whole book. You probably can't find five families like this in all of China."

Sister Shi's words were even more exaggerated.

"Oh, no, no, I'm almost embarrassed to say that. It's just that my husband and I only have one child, so of course we want him to have the best environment and education from a young age. Plus, he's been hardworking and has followed my plans since he was little, so we're quite pleased with how things have turned out."

"That's true. Menglan, you've sacrificed a lot too. At the peak of your career, you were willing to step back and devote yourself entirely to your family and child, which is how you raised your son to be such an outstanding person. I really couldn't do that."

Sister Shi said with some emotion.

The woman who came in later was Menglan. I vaguely remember that she was one of the three most famous female singers of ethnic singing in China more than ten years ago, and her appearance and age were among the best of her time. I didn't expect to see her in this store today.

"Yes, you sacrificed so much. If you had continued your performing career back then, you would probably be one of the top singers in the country now. How could that woman surnamed Song have become the leading lady?" The woman

with the pointed chin chimed in from the side.

“Let’s not dwell on the past. Life requires choices. I chose to raise my child to be successful, and his future is my reward. Whenever I see his sunny smile, all my grievances disappear. Look, I’m doing just fine now. How can I be worse off than anyone else?”

Menglan still had a smile on her face, but a hint of regret could be heard in her tone.

Next, the three women’s conversation turned to gossip about husbands and children. Their chatter only bored me, so I continued walking until I couldn’t hear them anymore.

During this time, a group of young women entered the store. These women were generally older than the previous ones, around 30 years old, but each one was dressed in designer brands, exuding an air of haughtiness and captivating beauty. Bai Liyuan was among them, seemingly introducing clothes to them. When she saw me approaching, a joyful smile appeared on her face. Ignoring the clamor of the other women eagerly requesting introductions, she gently took my hand and asked if I was bored. After I gave an affirmative answer, she politely informed the other women that she had to leave, and then took my hand and led me away from the crowd.

On the way to the door, we passed the spot where the three women had been sitting. Seeing us approach, they stood up to greet Bai Liyuan, but their eyes remained fixed on me. Sister Shi and the woman with the pointed chin seemed to want to devour me whole with their eyes, while Menglan's woman was more reserved, but she still kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.

"Lily, why did you leave without spending time with us today? We were planning to have afternoon tea together, are you coming?"

Sister Shi said with a hint of resentment, but her appearance was really unsuitable for this role, and I got goosebumps.

"Sister Shi, Sister Xu, Teacher Meng, I'm so sorry, I should have spent more time with you, but today happens to be the first day my son returned to China, and I have some things to take care of for him, so I'll have to treat you all next time to apologize."

Bai Liyuan introduced me while tactfully declining their invitations.

Sister Shi and Sister Xu exchanged a smile, as if they had expected you to say that. Menglan, on the other hand, seemed very interested in my relationship with Bai Liyuan, pulling her aside to ask about me. Bai Liyuan seemed to treat me like her most prized pet; as soon as she heard someone was interested in me, she chatted with her enthusiastically, leaving me out in the cold. It wasn't until I repeatedly reminded her that we had already gone on for quite a while that she reluctantly ended the topic of her son, said goodbye to the three women, and left.

When we got to the garage, we found Xiao Yang already waiting by the car with a huge pile of bags. All my clothes combined were quite heavy, and although we had a stroller, she was so thin that it must have taken her quite a bit of effort to push it over. I thanked her, and she smiled nonchalantly and said it was nothing, but before I got into the car, she slipped a piece of paper into my hand, then flashed her signature smile and watched us leave.

After Bai Liyuan and I were reunited, we lived together for a week. I gradually figured out her daily routine. She was actually a very simple woman. She spent most of her time at home, taking care of my diet and clothing, and taking me to Professor Jiang Hua for treatment. I summarized her schedule for the week: Monday: supermarket shopping, cleaning, and cooking new dishes for me to try; Tuesday: taking me to Jiang Hua for treatment and staying home with me to rest; Wednesday: having me accompany her shopping and eating out together; Thursday: taking me to Jiang Hua for treatment and staying home with me to rest; Friday: going to an internet cafe in the afternoon to check accounts and having business entertainment in the evening; Saturday: taking me to Jiang Hua for treatment and staying home with me to rest; Sunday: visiting two stores in the morning and occasionally having activities with female companions.

It's fair to say that, aside from tending to the business at the internet cafe, engaging in activities with female friends, and attending business dinners, my mother was never far from my side. She was either busy experimenting with various recipes to feed me or dragging me along to do all sorts of cleaning activities. Although, given her current financial situation, she could easily hire someone else to do these things, she still tirelessly and enthusiastically did them herself. This is consistent with my memory; no matter what kind of house we lived in or what kind of environment we were in, my mother always managed to keep the surroundings clean and tidy, giving one a warm and comfortable feeling as soon as they returned home.

However, progress in my memory recovery has been slow. Although I underwent preliminary treatment according to Professor Jiang Hua's method, the results were minimal. According to Jiang Hua's explanation, the preliminary treatment was simply rehabilitation; the most important thing now is to quickly initiate the second stage of scene reenactment, as only this method could potentially produce miraculous results. However, he seemed to have forgotten that he had mentioned that this experimental treatment method might also have adverse reactions.

However, according to Professor Jiang Hua, to initiate a scene reenactment, essential items from the scene or descriptions of the scene are required. Without sufficient props, it's difficult to fully recreate the scene, thus failing to stimulate memory. Therefore, he always instructs me to search for possible props, collect them, and then give them to him to set up the scene reenactment. This

Saturday, after my mother and I returned from Professor Jiang Hua's place, as we passed a residential area, I suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked her to stop. My mother stopped and looked at me with some confusion. I told her I had borrowed something from someone and needed to return it, and that I was just passing by and would stop there. I also told her not to wait for me, as it wasn't far from home and I knew how to walk back. My mother had no choice but to agree, and told me to come back early for dinner before driving away.

I watched the white BMW disappear from sight, then turned and walked into the "Wenjingyuan" residential complex. The complex looked like it had been built for several years, but the buildings were spaced far apart, and the landscaping was excellent. It had gardens, walkways, rockeries, and fountains—it was a fairly upscale complex. There were four buildings with ochre-colored stone walls, all around 13 or 14 stories high. I found Building 1. There were no security measures at the entrance, so I took the elevator directly to Unit 108.

I rang the doorbell, and after a while, the security door opened, revealing Cheng Xu's round, large head. He wasn't shy around me; he put a finger to his mouth and shushed me, then looked inside somewhat flusteredly and said in a high-pitched voice, "Why are you only coming today? Didn't I tell you not to come to my house on weekends?"

"My mom's resting at home today, don't disturb her,"

I shrugged. "I just happened to be passing by and remembered you had something with me, so I brought it over."

"Okay, I've returned the item to you now, I'm leaving."

With that, I shoved the memory card from my phone into Cheng Xu's hand; of course, I had already deleted the videos from the internet cafe that day.

"Wait, why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

Seeing me about to leave, Cheng Xu called me back.

"I've already returned the item to you, why would I stay here?"

I didn't want to cause trouble; my mother was waiting for me at home.

Cheng Xu's big, dark eyes darted around. Instead of answering me directly, he countered, "You seemed really interested in that pretty auntie at the internet cafe the other day, and you even snatched my phone's memory card. Do you have something going on with her?"

"So what if I do, so what if I don't? It's none of your business."

I was getting impatient; this kid was really meddlesome.

"Oh, so you're not really interested in that pretty auntie?"

Cheng Xu seemed a little disappointed; I hadn't shown the enthusiasm he expected.

"What is it? What else do you know?"

His words made me wary. I reached out and grabbed Cheng Xu's shirt, my eyes flashing coldly.

"Don't get excited, Gao Hen Shuai, don't get excited, Gao Hen Shuai."

Cheng Xu quickly grabbed my wrist to prevent me from lifting him up.

"What did you call me?"

His address made me frown.

"You're tall, handsome, and ruthless, aren't you? You're tall and good-looking, but you don't look rich. But you were so ruthless and quick when you hit someone that day, so I gave you that nickname. It's fitting, isn't it?"

Cheng Xu said smugly, but what he said made me both laugh and cry.

"My surname is Gao, don't call me by nicknames like that again."

I glared at him.

"But we're all called Gao, what's the difference?" Cheng Xu kept muttering.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense. Tell me what you meant by what you said earlier." I interrupted his self-praise.

"Then you have to tell me first, what's your relationship with that beautiful auntie?"

This guy was actually setting conditions for me.

"I can't tell you the specifics, but she's a very important person to me."

I said calmly.

"A very important person? She looks much older than you, she can't be your wife."

Cheng Xu seemed to have figured something out from my words and started talking to himself.

“If she’s your mother, then you seem a bit too old. She should be your older sister or aunt or something.”

“Alright, stop guessing and just tell me about her.”

I had to interrupt his reasoning; if he kept going like this, he’d go on and on.

“Yesterday afternoon after school, I went to play soccer at the No. 2 Middle School’s soccer field with some classmates. Do you know where No. 2 Middle School is?”

Seeing me shake my head, Cheng Xu seemed quite satisfied with the effect. He continued, “No. 2 Middle School is near Emperor Villa. Emperor Villa is the city’s premier golf resort with hot springs. Only the super-rich can afford to stay there. Our district is just across the river from that villa; it takes an hour by bus through the tunnel.”

"We played at the No. 2 Middle School for about two hours, and then went to a nearby KFC for burgers and spicy wings—because my mom was working overtime yesterday and didn't have time to come home to cook, so she told me to eat out."

"After eating, I walked towards the bus stop by myself, and happened to pass by the gate of Dihao Villa. There were quite a few cars at the gate at this time of night, mostly luxury cars like Porsches and Ferraris."

"As I walked, I looked around, and there was a black extended Mercedes-Benz S500 parked at the gate. It seemed that the owner of the Lamborghini in front of it had gone to talk to the gatekeeper, blocking the entrance, so the S500 couldn't move. I happened to be standing behind the S500, and I could see two people sitting inside through the rolled-down window, a man and a woman."

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