[Urban] The Life of a God (Complete) - Episodes 28-30 (End)

Chapter 18

"The woman was sitting near me. She was wearing a white round-neck dress with a black jacket over it. The dress was quite short, revealing her white thighs. Her long, curly hair was draped behind her head, and she wore a pearl necklace. Because her head was leaning against the shoulder of the man driving next to her, I couldn't see her face, but I thought she must be a beautiful woman. I wondered if she was the man's wife or his mistress, since the man next to her looked to be over sixty."

Cheng Xu paused here, as if assessing whether it was appropriate to continue.

"Go on, don't stop,"

I said curtly. A white round-neck dress, a black jacket, a pearl necklace—I remembered Bai Liyuan wearing the same outfit yesterday afternoon. Didn't she say she was having dinner with some female companions? Why was she sitting in a man's car?

"Okay, okay, I told you. Don't get excited later,"

Cheng Xu said after thinking for a moment.

"I was just about to walk away when a car drove out of the resort. The headlights were so bright they were blinding. I was about to shield my eyes when I saw in the S500's rearview mirror that the headlights were shining directly on the woman's face, illuminating her clearly. I was stunned. Wasn't that the beautiful auntie from the internet cafe last time?"

"Are you sure it's her? Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

I asked in a deep voice, applying some force, causing Cheng Xu's feet to lift halfway off the ground.

"Let go, let go now! If you tear my clothes, Mom will scold me."

Cheng Xu hurriedly tried to pry my wrists off, but I loosened my grip, letting him regain his balance.

"I told you not to rush. Yes, I looked carefully three times. Those eyebrows, that nose, that mouth—it's the beautiful woman I saw last time."

Cheng Xu didn't change because of my attitude; his tone was somewhat excited. But what he said next made my mood plummet.

"Her eyes were closed, her head resting on that man's shoulder, her other hand linked with his arm, and her expression was strange, neither happy nor sad, like...like..."

Cheng Xu seemed unable to find the right words, stammering for a long time before continuing.

"Like the expression on my mother's face in our wedding photo, when she was holding my father's hand."

Cheng Xu's words chilled me to the bone. My mother was not only having an affair with a man in his sixties, but she seemed to be doing it willingly and enjoying being with him. Why was that?

"What did the man she was with look like? Did he have any distinguishing features?"

By this time, I had completely let go of Cheng Xu, but my other hand was gripping the security door tightly.

"Um, I was too busy looking at the pretty auntie to pay much attention to the man, but his hair was mostly white, he seemed to be wearing glasses, a brown suit, and broad shoulders, he looked quite sturdy." "A

little while later, the Lamborghini started moving, and the S400's window rolled up. They quickly drove into the resort. That's what I saw that night. If you hadn't taken my phone's memory card, I could have taken some pictures to show you."

Cheng Xu muttered, still somewhat unsatisfied.

We both fell silent. Cheng Xu had finished speaking, but I had no desire to say anything. Just then, the sound of slippers on the floor came from inside the room, and a woman appeared behind Cheng Xu. She was wearing a light pink cotton nightgown, her long, white legs exposed, and a white face mask obscured her features.

"Xiao Xu, who are you talking to? Why is there a door between us?"

The woman's voice sounded familiar; she must be Cheng Xu's mother.

"Mom, you're awake! You seemed really tired yesterday, so I didn't want to wake you. This is my friend, Brother Gao; we're chatting."

Cheng Xu saw his mother approaching and quickly winked at me, as if trying to get me to cooperate with his story.

Cheng Xu's mother peeled off her face mask as she walked, and when she reached behind Cheng Xu, she was face-to-face with me. Our eyes met, and we both froze.

"It's you?"

We both exclaimed almost simultaneously.

I never expected Cheng Xu's mother to be the woman I'd seen at Tieguai Li's house last week. Now, she was without makeup, her fair and full face devoid of any adornment. Her almond-shaped eyes had slightly dark circles under them, and her smooth black hair was tied back. She was clearly dressed as a domestic woman, a stark contrast to the wanton woman who had been splattered with lustful fluids on Tieguai Li.

"Mom, you two knew each other?"

Cheng Xu asked, somewhat puzzled, upon seeing us.

We stared at each other for a long time before she finally looked at me with a pleading expression, her eyes filled with a kind of sorrow, as if begging me to keep her a secret from her son. My heart softened, and I casually replied, "So she's your mother. I went to the community center a few days ago to see her, and I didn't expect to run into her here today."

Cheng Xu didn't doubt my story at all. Indeed, given her mother's profession, it was quite normal for me to know her. Cheng Xu's mother nodded slightly to me, her eyes showing gratitude.

After seeing Cheng Xu's mother, I wasn't in a hurry to leave. I said, "Cheng Xu, I have something I want to talk to your mother about,"

but I walked inside on my own. Cheng Xu didn't seem to suspect anything; he probably wanted to talk to me a little longer.

Cheng Xu's mother hesitated for a moment. I had already walked up to her; her head only reached about my chest. As if she could smell my masculine scent, a slight blush appeared on her face. As if remembering something, she took a step back and turned her head, saying, "Xiao Xu, Mom is a little tired today. Could you go buy me lunch?"

"There's money in my bag. Go get it yourself, but don't take too much,"

she added. Cheng Xu obediently went to get two hundred yuan and left. It seemed this wasn't the first time he'd done something like this.

After the security door closed, Cheng Xu's mother stood there somewhat bewildered. She looked at me and said, "Would you like some tea? Please sit down."

I didn't sit on the sofa in the living room, but instead pulled up a chair in the dining room. Only then did I have time to observe the house. It was a three-bedroom, one-living-room layout. To the right of the entrance was the dining room connected to the kitchen, and to the left, separated by a foyer, was the living room. Directly opposite were the three bedrooms. The house's decor was somewhat dated; it was clear the owner had spent a considerable amount of money and effort on its decoration, but it was obviously rarely maintained now. A layer of dust had accumulated on the furniture, giving it a gloomy and dilapidated feel.

"Don't be nervous. I just want to ask you, what happened between you and that kidnapper? How did it start?"

Seeing Cheng Xu's mother's somewhat flustered state, I encouraged her to sit down and tell me.

Cheng Xu's mother then relaxed and sat down in the chair next to me, slowly recounting her story. Her surname was Zhong, her given name was Xiaoqing, and she was forty years old. Her husband had passed away eight years ago, and she had only one son, Cheng Xu.

She was originally a local resident who got a job at the subdistrict office through recruitment. Later, she was elected as the community director and is now in her second term. Due to work and personal reasons, she has never remarried and has raised her child alone.

Four years ago, the residential buildings of the former Sangang Company in her community were slated for demolition. Tieguai Li was one of the key holdouts. At the time, the street office issued a strict order: each cadre had to take charge of one person, and anyone who failed to complete their task would be dismissed from work. Tieguai Li was the most troublesome holdout. Not only was he eccentric and short-tempered, but he also possessed supernatural strength, frequently getting into conflicts and even physically assaulting people. Everyone in the street considered him a major problem. In the end, Zhong Xiaoqing couldn't avoid it and had to take on the task of persuading him herself.

Zhong Xiaoqing never expected that what she thought would just be a more difficult task than usual would become a turning point in her life. Tieguai Li was not only as difficult as expected, but her daily visits to his home to persuade him and her proactive concern for his life had no effect on him. Instead, it aroused his lust for women.

Finally, on a night of torrential rain, Zhong Xiaoqing went to Tieguai Li's house to persuade him to leave the dilapidated house that had already been half-demolished. Perhaps it was her wet clothes that aroused Tieguai Li's lust, or perhaps he had long harbored evil intentions. That night, she was forcibly taken by Tieguai Li on the bare ground.

Afterwards, she wanted to report it to the police and have the judicial authorities punish Tieguai Li, but he threatened her that if she dared to harm him, his only son would be retaliated against. Moreover, as the community director, if the fact that she had been raped were exposed, how could her child hold his head high among the neighbors? Helpless, she had no choice but to swallow her anger. But Tieguai Li did not give up. Instead, he took advantage of her inability to speak out and kept demanding sex from her, and she could only comply.

Since Zhong Xiaoqing became Tieguai Li's woman, Tieguai Li stopped causing trouble. In the eyes of his superiors and colleagues, she had made a great contribution to the unit and received praise from his superiors many times. At this time, she was somewhat moved by Tieguai Li. After the demolition work was completed, she took the initiative to help Tieguai Li apply for low-rent housing and subsistence allowance, and also helped him start a shoe repair stall. She thought that she could move Tieguai Li through these actions and end their abnormal relationship. However, things did not go as planned. Tieguai Li was unwilling to give up their physical relationship. Instead, he intensified his blackmail against her, threatening to report her to higher authorities for using her body to win over holdout residents. She had no choice but to swallow her humiliation again, and from then on, she gradually succumbed to Tieguai Li's clutches.

At this point, I had a basic understanding of the entanglement between Zhong Xiaoqing and Tieguai Li, but this was not my focus. I continued to ask her if she understood the role that Tieguai Li wanted her to play.

Zhong Xiaoqing said she wasn't entirely clear on Tieguai Li's thoughts. She only remembered one time when she went to his place dressed in her usual home clothes. She recalled that she had simply styled her hair in a plain bun, but Tieguai Li seemed extremely excited. Already very strong in that area, he took her seven times that day, until they were both exhausted.

From that day on, Tieguai Li seemed to develop a special interest in her clothing and appearance. He always insisted she wear clothes trendy from the 1990s, dressing like a housewife, and she couldn't wear her old clothes; she had to wear the styles he specified, including the gold sandals and red-soled high heels.

Moreover, once he saw her dressed according to his wishes, Tieguai Li seemed to become a different person. He, who had initially been relatively polite, would become extremely tyrannical and domineering, ordering her to serve him like a slave and frequently using extremely vulgar language to insult her, as if he were torturing a completely different person.

When Tieguai Li's perverse hobbies were mentioned, Zhong Xiaoqing's face showed a look of deep shame, but the slight upturn of her lips seemed to indicate she was lost in memories, not as deeply disgusted as she claimed.

I continued to ask her what Tieguai Li considered her to be.

Zhong Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment, then said somewhat hesitantly, "I just followed his orders, and I didn't dare ask him why, for fear of angering him."

"However, a few times when he was drunk, he would mutter a few words while torturing me, something like 'Xiao Li' or 'Li'er,' and I didn't dare ask him about it afterward."

She added a few more sentences, but her tone seemed unsatisfied, as if she harbored some resentment towards this woman whom Tieguai Li couldn't forget.

I asked her if anyone she knew resembled the person Tieguai Li described, and she remained silent for a long time before finally shaking her head.

Although I still had questions, I couldn't get any answers from Zhong Xiaoqing. She was just a single mother who, after being conquered by Tieguai Li through despicable means, had no choice but to submit to him for various reasons. However, in the process, she gradually developed a physical and psychological dependence on Tieguai Li, ultimately becoming completely controlled by him and allowing him to indulge in his depraved pleasures.

I felt no sympathy for her plight. Both Tieguai Li and she were single; how they sought pleasure was their business, none of my concern. I only felt some pity for Cheng Xu. Did he know about his mother's hidden side? Did

he know about his mother's disabled lover? How was he supposed to face this reality?

As I was about to leave, I saw a framed photo on the cabinet in the entryway. Inside was a group photo of three people. In the photo, Zhong Xiaoqing on the right was wearing a white floral dress, with neat and tidy shoulder-length short hair, and a happy smile on her face. Her head was tilted slightly to the left. On the left was a man around 30 years old, with a hairstyle that was popular 10 years ago. He had thick eyebrows, big eyes, a high nose bridge, and full lips. His features looked somewhat like Cheng Xu's. In fact, Cheng Xu's profile was very similar to his. Judging from the head level between him and Zhong Xiaoqing, he should be much taller than Zhong Xiaoqing. In the middle of them was a little boy of about 2 years old, wearing what looked like a matching children's outfit from a store. He looked like a miniature version of Cheng Xu. This must be a family photo of the three of them.

For some reason, I felt a strange sense of familiarity with the man in the photo, as if I had seen him somewhere before. But even after exhausting my fragmented memory, I couldn't recall him. He wasn't particularly handsome, but he seemed very steady and reassuring—the kind of man women would be comfortable around. However, I always felt a hint of wickedness in his half-smiling lips, which made me feel a sense of unease. The more I looked at him, the stronger this feeling became.

"Is this man your deceased husband?"

I picked up the photo frame and pointed it out to Zhong Xiaoqing.

Zhong Xiaoqing looked at the man in the photo with an expression similar to that of a woman in love. She then turned and stared at me intently for a long time. I noticed a flicker of fear in her eyes. She looked at me and the photo several times before hesitatingly answering, "It's him. He's been dead for eight years. Why are you still looking for him?"

Her words seemed somewhat irrelevant, but I didn't delve into it. I simply nodded and said, "It's nothing, but if you care about your son's feelings and want him to grow up healthy, you must eventually end things with Tieguai Li. Every child needs a normal family."

My words seemed to strike a nerve with her. She panicked and knelt before me, grabbing my trouser legs with both hands, her face filled with a pitiful plea: "No, don't let Xiaoxu know about this. Please, spare our family."

I was puzzled by her words. I had only hinted that the matter of Tieguai Li would harm her son. Why was she so flustered? I remained silent, observing her reaction for the time being.

"Let Xiaoxu go. I'll take responsibility for everything. You can punish me however you like."

Seeing that I didn't budge, Zhong Xiaoqing became even more agitated, clinging tightly to my legs and pleading desperately. She didn't even notice her face was pressed against my legs, her two ample breasts pressed against mine under her thin nightgown. Her fair cheeks brushed against my genitals several times as she moved, the soft, smooth feeling making my lower body heat up, and my crotch bulged high.

Zhong Xiaoqing seemed to sense the change in my lower body and shyly moved her cheek away, but then quickly seemed to realize something. Her face instantly changed from fear to surprise, and she became somewhat shy. She bit her lower lip with her neat white teeth, as if she wanted to draw blood from her already red lips, and her eyes became somewhat hazy.

I only felt two soft hands pressing on my crotch, and soon the zipper was unzipped. After a cool and soft touch, she grabbed my penis with both hands and freed it from my underwear. Since my penis was erect, it slapped her face with a "smack" the moment it came off my underwear, leaving a red mark on her fair cheek. Zhong Xiaoqing seemed to be startled by the length and size of my penis, but then a greedy look appeared on her face. She held it tightly and gently stroked it, occasionally rubbing the tip of my penis with her cheek. My penis was fully erect under her stimulation, with veins bulging on the thick shaft and the dark red glans exposed. As her small hands moved, a layer of transparent fluid gradually rose to the surface.

"Xiao Gao, yours... is so big and long! Haven't you released in a long time? Let Xiao Qing help you come, okay?"

Zhong Xiao Qing's voice became both sweet and seductive. I had heard this kind of voice before at Tieguai Li's house; it was the voice she made when she was being fucked to multiple orgasms.

This woman's transformation was too fast. One minute she was like a mother who loved her son, and the next she had become an impatient slut. The way she looked at my penis was like a survivor who had been adrift at sea for months seeing food. While stroking it, she stuck out her bright red tongue and licked the secretions on my glans. The pleasure coming from my lower body made me excited. I put one hand on her hair and pushed forward slightly.

Zhong Xiaoqing leaned forward with perfect understanding, her bright red lips opening and closing to take my penis into her mouth. She swayed her head, looking at me with a dazed expression, her mouth slowly moving forward. I felt my penis enveloped by a warm, moist cave, with rough strips of flesh rubbing against the shaft. As her mouth widened, it disappeared into that bright red opening. Even when she opened her mouth to its limit, a length of my penis still dangled outside, and she dared not try to swallow further, instead shaking her head and sucking.

Zhong Xiaoqing's movements were skillful and experienced. Every time my penis reached the limit of her throat, she would grab my shaft with one hand to prevent me from penetrating too deeply. But I couldn't care less. This woman had been thoroughly trained by Tieguai Li; sex and the male genitalia were an irresistible part of her body. So, without any pity, I grabbed her head, using her mouth as a vessel, and led her to perform oral sex on me.

Kneeling between my legs, Zhong Xiaoqing, with her neatly trimmed black hair and still-attractive oval face, exuded a submissive charm that was incredibly alluring, tempting me to humiliate her. At this moment, she knelt between my legs, her head bobbing like a rattle, yet her eyes were incredibly seductive. Her other hand even lifted her nightgown, actively caressing her plump, white breasts clad in a lace bra.

My vision blurred; it was as if the woman kneeling at my feet was no longer Zhong Xiaoqing, but the noble and beautiful Bai Liyuan. Hadn't she also once knelt like this on the floor of an internet cafe bathroom, swaying her head as she performed oral sex on several thugs? Hadn't she also, on some night, in some luxurious neighborhood, performed oral sex on an older man in a gray suit? In all these years of my confusion, how many men had she been with, and did she perform oral sex on them all? Was she, like this Zhong Xiaoqing, so wanton that she forgot everything at the sight of a man's penis, shamelessly serving them?

I used even more force in my hands, and my lower body began to thrust as if I were having sex, using Zhong Xiaoqing's mouth as a female organ for penetration. My violent thrusts made my penis penetrate several inches deeper. With each deep thrust, a large bulge would appear on the corresponding spot on her cheek. Her eyes were moist as if they were about to overflow, and her whole face under my crotch became extremely lewd and despicable, yet filled with an intoxicated expression, as if she was enjoying being abused by me.

We maintained this position for about fifteen minutes when the doorbell suddenly rang. Cheng Xu's voice came from the doorway: "Mom, open the door, I forgot my keys."

Hearing her son's voice, Zhong Xiaoqing seemed to wake up from a sweet dream, shaking her head and trying to pull away from between my legs. But how could I let her escape at this moment? I held her head firmly with one hand and cupped her face with the other, and my lower body began to move rapidly like a pump. Zhong Xiaoqing struggled a few times, but seeing that she couldn't escape my control, she simply closed her eyes and let me thrust. I imagined Bai Liyuan between my legs and thrust into that wet mouth about twenty times. Then, I relaxed my buttocks and ejaculated all the semen that I had been holding back for so long into Zhong Xiaoqing's little mouth.

Zhong Xiaoqing waited until my penis had completely ejaculated and softened before carefully withdrawing it. She meticulously put it back in my underwear, zipped it up, and then stood up, straightened her clothes, tidied her hair which I had messed up, and went to open the door.

Cheng Xu came in carrying two lunch bags, looking at us suspiciously and saying, "Mom, what were you doing just now? Why didn't you hear me calling?"

"Xiao Xu, Mom was on the balcony teaching Uncle how to process documents, so I didn't hear you,"

Zhong Xiaoqing quickly made up an excuse before I could finish. At this moment, she suddenly became shrewd, her thinking and reactions very quick. But from the moment I came in until now, she hadn't had a chance to leave. Where did the semen I had ejaculated in her mouth go? Could it have been in her mouth the whole time?

“Oh, that explains why you couldn’t hear me. Oh, right, Mom, I have seventy yuan left after I bought everything. Here, take it back.”

Cheng Xu didn’t doubt his mother’s pretense. He put the lunchbox on the table, took out seventy yuan, and placed it in Zhong Xiaoqing’s hand.

He stopped in his tracks after returning the money, sniffing as if he’d smelled something, and asked, “Mom, why does the house smell strange? What were you eating just now?”

A flicker of panic crossed Zhong Xiaoqing’s face, but she quickly masked it, pretending to sniff around, looking left and right, and said, “Silly child, it’s because we haven’t thrown away last week’s trash bag yet. Didn’t you even remember to throw it away before you left?”

Seeing Cheng Xu scratching his head somewhat embarrassedly, Zhong Xiaoqing quickly glanced at me. I understood her meaning and took my leave, saying, “Director Zhong, I’m leaving that matter to you.” "Okay, as long as you get it done for me, I won't talk about it outside anymore."

Zhong Xiaoqing naturally understood what I meant. She seemed very happy about my promise to keep it a secret, her face beaming like a blooming flower. As she saw me out of the room, she said, "No problem, whatever you, Xiao Gao, need, I can get it done for you anytime. Come over to my house often."

Her words seemed to have a double meaning, but I didn't have time to ponder its implications. I declined her farewell and quickly went downstairs to go back home. Bai Liyuan was still waiting for me at home. How should I face her?

Chapter 19.

Leaving Zhong Xiaoqing's house, I unexpectedly encountered Guo Qi at the entrance of the residential complex. I hadn't seen him for days, and he was there. His face was ashen, his hair disheveled, and he was puffing on a cigarette. He ignored my greeting and walked right past me. I saw him enter Building 1, and I was puzzled. What was this guy doing here? He hadn't been home for days, and Bai Liyuan acted as if he didn't exist. I had almost forgotten that he was also part of the family.

But at that moment, I had no time to think about Guo Qi. My mind was entirely focused on Bai Liyuan. From the threesome video in the internet cafe bathroom to Cheng Xu's account of her rendezvous with an older man, all of this forced me to confront a question I desperately wanted to avoid: Had my mother been having affairs all these years, or was she still maintaining these illicit relationships? All signs point to my suspicions being correct, but I can't do anything until I have concrete evidence of her affair with another man. I can't risk breaking the newly rebuilt intimacy between mother and son. I can't be reckless or impulsive; I must try to control everything, or I'll be in trouble again.

Back home, Bai Liyuan had prepared a sumptuous meal. I didn't mention what had happened earlier, nor did I directly ask her for details. On the surface, I pretended nothing was wrong and continued our peaceful life as usual. But secretly, I carefully observed her daily life, looking for any clues that could connect to her infidelity.

Overall, I didn't find anything of value. At least since I moved in, no other man besides Guo Qi had entered the house, and there were no traces of men in her personal belongings or items. This made me somewhat anxious. Although many signs hinted at her possible other side, I still couldn't be sure without witnessing it myself. I always held onto a tiny bit of hope, wishing that everything was just my unfounded suspicion.

This Sunday morning, according to the usual schedule, my mother was supposed to go to her shop to help with business. As her precious son, whom she showed off to others, I had been ordered early on to accompany her to meet her female companions. So I dressed early and waited for her to get ready.

Waiting for a woman to put on makeup is a very boring thing, even if the woman is very beautiful and is your mother, it's no exception. Just as I was thinking of going outside for a smoke, Bai Liyuan's voice came from the master bedroom, calling me to come in and help.

Entering the fragrant master bedroom, Bai Liyuan was already wearing a white mohair top and cotton pajama bottoms. She was facing away from the door, fiddling with her long, wavy hair. She sat in front of the white dressing table, and after seeing my reflection in the mirror, she hurriedly waved to me in the mirror, saying, "Shitou, come here quickly, help Mom check if the back of her hair is neat?" Her long hair

was already tied into a bun at the back of her head, but there were still a few stray strands sticking out. I picked them up and handed them back to Bai Liyuan, who then rolled them up and used a... A white camellia-shaped hairpin secured her hair. She admired herself in the mirror several times, nodding in satisfaction. "Stone's so good. Wait here, Mommy's going to change her dress and we can leave." She stood up, about to head to the dressing room, when a cell phone rang. I noticed the familiar iPhone screen on the dressing table was lit up. I handed it to her. Bai Liyuan glanced at the phone, her face showing some melancholy, then turned and went into the dressing room. I could vaguely hear her talking inside.

A thought struck me, and I went to the dressing room door to eavesdrop, but the sliding mirror frame was closed, and the room was very soundproof; I couldn't hear anything. Disappointed, I walked away.

About ten minutes later, the dressing room door opened, as if the conversation inside had ended. Bai Liyuan had changed her clothes; she was wearing a navy blue pencil skirt with a ruffled lace trim at the waist. The skirt was just above her knees, revealing her beautiful legs encased in black stockings, and she wore pencil-gray pointed-toe high heels. The weather had been getting a bit chilly lately, and this was the first time I'd seen her in stockings. Those black stockings were probably high-end; the texture was fine, smooth, and supple, hugging her long, straight legs like a second skin, further accentuating their beautiful lines and giving her a unique feminine charm.

Bai Liyuan came out, frowned slightly as if uncomfortable, tossed her bag onto the bed, and ran into the bathroom. I looked at the silver checkered handbag she had tossed on the bed, and an idea suddenly flashed into my mind. I glanced towards the bathroom; the mirror was completely hidden. I quickly grabbed my mother's bag, unzipped it, and sure enough, found the iPhone. I turned on the screen and found it already had a passcode. I tried entering my mother's and father's birthdays, but both were incorrect. I didn't have much time left; my mother could come out of the bathroom at any moment. I suddenly remembered my own birthday in the photo album and immediately tried it. Finally, it unlocked successfully.

Without time to think further, I immediately checked the call log. My mother didn't have many calls. Besides a few names of female friends I had met, most were unknown numbers I hadn't saved. The most recent call was from 10 minutes ago. I checked, and this number had a total of 3 call records. Another call was from last Friday at 4:20 PM, and the earliest was from the Saturday before last at around 11 AM. These calls lasted about a minute each.

Before I could look closely, I faintly heard the sound of water flushing from the bathroom. I quickly exited the app, locked the screen, and put the phone back in my bag, rearranging it as it was before. As I walked back to the vanity, Bai Liyuan opened the door and came out. She said apologetically, "Shitou, Sister Shi called earlier, saying she brought a few girlfriends over. We're going to try out her new beauty salon today."

"I know you don't usually like dealing with women like that. Our beauty treatments take a long time, and you'll probably be impatient, so you don't need to come with Mom today."

She said this cautiously, looking me in the eye, but I could already tell she wasn't being sincere. The call wasn't from Sister Shi; there had been a call from her last night from two different numbers.

Of course, I didn't show my inner thoughts on my face. I just echoed her, saying that I didn't like going to those kinds of occasions either, and that it would be good for me to rest at home. Seeing that I agreed, Bai Liyuan picked up her bag and went out by herself. When I saw her to the door, I gently said, "Mom, come home early. I'm waiting for you."

My words seemed to touch something. Bai Liyuan's high heels, which had already stepped out, clearly stopped. Looking at her slender shoulders trembling slightly, I wished she would turn around and change her mind. But reality is reality. She waited for a moment, then said with her back to me, "Okay, I know,"

and disappeared from my sight.

Watching the white BMW X1 slip out of the garage, I rushed out to hail a taxi and instructed the driver to follow Bai Liyuan's car. Thankfully, the X1 wasn't going fast, and the taxi followed at a leisurely pace. The driver, a middle-aged man around forty, didn't seem surprised by my request and even chatted with me with great interest. He probably mistook me for a husband following his wife's infidelity. I didn't deny it, but a strange feeling welled up inside me.

The X1 weaved through traffic but didn't head towards the Wanlong Building; instead, it headed towards the city center. My mother was definitely up to something. She had been lying to me today. She wasn't meeting with her female companions; she had other plans. This was definitely related to the phone call I received earlier. Whoever made that call, their control over my mother was extraordinary. Moreover, the timing of those two calls made me think of something. Was the phone call last Friday afternoon the same as the gray-clad old man Cheng Xu mentioned? Was the phone call last Saturday noon from the same person as the one my mother answered when we left the affiliated hospital? These phone calls and these events are definitely not a coincidence. Every time this phone call came, it was followed by my mother leaving me with various excuses. All the facts point to one possibility, a possibility that terrifies me.

The taxi followed the X1 onto a main street, the most bustling part of the city center. The buildings on both sides of the street were over 100 years old, with various Gothic spires obscuring the sky. The gray brick structures bore the weight of history. This was the most historically significant page of this young city, a corner of its past glory and dreams.

The X1 turned a corner and drove into a building surrounded by greenery. It was actually only 10 stories high, with a distinctive green obelisk roof fluttering a national flag. The building's exterior was in the Renaissance style, sitting solemnly and elegantly on this street. Above the black entrance were several golden characters—"Fairmont Hotel." Those entering and leaving were all impeccably dressed, clearly wealthy and powerful.

A white X1 stopped right in front of the building. A concierge in a brown uniform with gold trim and a peaked cap came over and opened the car door. A pair of beautifully shaped legs in gray pointed high heels and black stockings appeared first. Then, Bai Liyuan stepped out of the car, picked up her bag, and walked directly into the gate. A doorman walked by and skillfully drove the car away.

I had already gotten off the car a short distance behind, and seeing this, I quickly followed her inside. Given my size and attire, the waiter simply bowed politely in welcome. I walked through a magnificent Baroque-style hall, keeping a distance of about 50 meters behind Bai Liyuan. She seemed very familiar with the facilities, going straight to the elevator. Without waiting long, an elevator descended, and everyone exited, while Bai Liyuan entered alone.

I quickly walked up to her and saw that the elevator's floor indicator was a retro-style analog/digital dial, pointing to the 10th floor. I quickly pressed the button for the elevator next to me, and coincidentally, there was another empty one. I immediately stepped inside, and just as I pressed the button for the 10th floor, a commotion erupted outside. Just before the elevator doors were about to close, three more people squeezed in—two adults and a child.

The two adults appeared to be a married couple. The man, around forty years old, had his hair slicked back with mousse and wore an expensive suit with the brand label still on, exuding an air of nouveau riche. The woman beside him, around thirty, was slender and pretty, possessing a certain elegance. However, the child they were with looked like a spoiled brat, his chubby head perched on a short, thick neck, his forehead shaved bald, with only a pig's tail-like braid at the back of his head. When did this Jurchen hairstyle become fashionable for children? It seemed like every Han Chinese parent was eager for their offspring to change their ethnicity, making their children grow pig's tails from a young age.

The moment this brat walked in, he started making a ruckus, constantly demanding H?agen-Dazs ice cream and wanting his mother to hold him. His little black bean eyes kept darting around me, as if he was trying to get something out of me. But one sharp look from me made him gasp. Judging from my size, he figured he wouldn't get anywhere with me, so he broke free from his mother's arms and ran to the elevator, randomly pressing the buttons. This caught me completely off guard. By the time I reacted and pulled him away, he had lit up all the floors from 2 to 9.

The brat's mother rushed over and pulled him away, apologizing profusely. The father didn't seem to care much; his eyes suggested it was no big deal, and he even nodded approvingly at the brat. The brat was probably scared by my glare, because by the 4th floor he started demanding to take the stairs. His parents had no choice but to carry him out of the elevator.

I was both amused and exasperated. What a chaotic family! But there was nothing I could do at this point. I could only watch helplessly as the elevator paused for an extra three seconds on each floor. By the time I reached the 10th floor and stepped out, Bai Liyuan was nowhere to be seen.

This building wasn't like a typical hotel. Its ceilings were exceptionally high, adorned with ornate murals. The purple Persian carpets underfoot were so soft they seemed to sink in. The entire floor was lavishly designed with only five rooms, all with heavy mahogany doors tightly shut. The soundproofing was so good that you couldn't hear if anyone was inside. I had no idea which room was occupied. Which room had Bai Liyuan gone into?

Just as I was at my wit's end, the elevator suddenly rang, as if someone was getting on. How was I supposed to explain myself standing here alone? Time was of the essence for me. I quickly ran to the door of the last room at the end of the corridor. This room was unusual because it faced the stairwell, but there was a large crystal chandelier not far from the doorway. I braced myself against the walls on either side and scrambled upwards a few times, managing to hide behind the chandelier. However, my back was completely against the ceiling, and I was only able to support myself on the wall next to the ceiling with my hands and feet.

The sounds from the elevator approached. It turned out that a waiter in uniform was pushing a food cart. He walked to the door of room number 5, which was right beneath me, and rang the doorbell. A moment later, the door opened, and it sounded like a man inside was telling the waiter to push the cart in. The waiter did as he was told, but the door didn't close after the cart went in.

How could I let such a rare opportunity slip by? I didn't even have time to think about who was inside. I flipped down from the ceiling, ignoring my slightly sore wrists, and quickly peered inside, pressing myself against the door. A man in a white bathrobe was standing with his back to the door, directing the waiter to set out the tableware according to his instructions. I took the opportunity to walk a few steps into the room. The space inside was quite large. There was a living room connected to the sitting room, and a large balcony. The two men were standing on the balcony, and there was another room next to it. I had no choice. They could turn around at any moment, and then I would have nowhere to hide. I had no choice but to slip into that room.

This room should be a bedroom. Although it was broad daylight, the heavy silk curtains were all drawn, with only two bedside lamps providing light. The 3-meter-long king-size bed was covered with clean white bedding, neatly folded as if it had never been used. The bathroom door next door was ajar, and the slivers of light and the sound of running water indicated that someone was showering inside. I looked around the room, and my gaze inadvertently fell on a pair of women's high heels casually

lying on the floor to the left of the bed. Pencil gray shoes, pointed toes, 7-centimeter heels—weren't these the high heels my mother wore this morning? I suddenly felt a tightness in my chest. The high heels on the floor, the sounds of showering, the strange man in a bathrobe, the rendezvous in a fancy hotel—these stark clues cruelly confronted me, forcing me to accept the fact that Bai Liyuan was having an affair. What should I do? Should I expose their relationship to their faces, or forcibly take my mother away?

Before I could make a decision, footsteps came from the bedroom door. There was nowhere to hide in this house except for the bathroom. How was I supposed to face that man? Should I barge into the bathroom? My mother was taking a shower in there!

In a flash, my back pressed against something cold. I reached out and grabbed what felt like a doorknob. Looking back, I saw there was another door on the wall next to the bathroom. At that moment, I didn't have time to think about why there was a door there. The footsteps at the bedroom door were getting closer. I quickly turned the doorknob, and thankfully, the door opened easily. I quickly hid in the room behind the door and closed it behind me.

I breathed a sigh of relief, finally having time to look around the room. It seemed to be a living room, with another door at a 90-degree angle to the bedroom. The overall decor was similar to the one next door, with champagne gold as the main color. Against the wall closest to the bedroom was a floor cabinet, and the light from the floor lamp was evenly distributed throughout the room. Fresh flowers in the corner were quietly releasing their fragrance. In the middle of the room, two black leather sofas faced each other. On the rosewood coffee table in the middle were an ashtray and two leather boxes. I picked one up and opened it. Inside, on a beige liner, lay five thick cigars. The cigarette butts were marked "cohiba siglo iv" and had a unique tobacco aroma. I closed the cigar box and put it back.

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching from the bedroom. I quickly went to the other door, but found the doorknob was already turning. How could this be? People were trying to come in from both sides, and I was stuck in the middle. At that moment, I quickly opened the cabinet next to it. Fortunately, there was still enough space for one person inside. The instant I closed the cabinet door, I heard two sets of footsteps converge into the room. Luckily, they were focused on each other and didn't see the cabinet door in the corner still shaking.

"Mr. Lü, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

A clearer voice spoke first.

"Not at all, Secretary Wu, you have important responsibilities and are very busy. It's already good that you could take the time to come and see me. I wouldn't mind waiting another half a day."

This person had a loud, deep, and hoarse voice. You could tell that he was used to giving orders, but his tone was very humble towards the "Secretary Wu" he addressed.

The cabinet I'm currently in is supposed to be for hanging clothes, but right now there are only a bunch of empty clothes hangers inside. The cabinet isn't very tall, so I can only squat down because of my height. The cabinet door isn't closed completely; there's still a crack so I can observe what's outside.

The two men, while talking, politely sat down on two sofas. Two other men in black didn't sit down but stood on either side of the sofa opposite the cabinet. Two more men stood in front of me. These four men were all around 180 cm tall, with neatly shaved, bluish-white heads, wearing dark sunglasses, and expressionless like robots. They stood there with their arms crossed and legs apart, their dark blue suits bulging high from their muscles. Judging from their physique, they were definitely not ordinary henchmen or bodyguards. The way they positioned their shoulders and legs was more like soldiers. I sized up these four men, assessing their strength, when suddenly I noticed that the back of the suit jacket of the man on the right side of the cabinet was lifted up, revealing a yellow leather holster at his waist. Were they all carrying guns?

I recognized the weapons on these men in black. Judging from the exposed handles and their shape, they were likely the renowned QSG92, using 5.8mm composite bullets, emphasizing penetration and suitable for field operations. This gun is supposedly only issued to combat troops. However, these men in black didn't look like ordinary police officers. Upon closer inspection, I noticed their belts were standard military belts, with what appeared to be engraved letters: "VIPS." Seeing those words sent a chill down my spine. "VIPS" is a highly secretive code name in China; it stands for "Very Important Person Security," a security force dedicated to providing close protection for national leaders and foreign dignitaries. VIPS members are all veteran soldiers retired from special forces, each possessing exceptional combat skills and firearms expertise—truly a group of killers among killers, with formidable combat power.

At this thought, I was startled. The country does not officially recognize the existence of "VIPs," and currently, apart from the capital, only three special administrative regions have "VIPs" branches. Huaihai City, as an international metropolis, is one of them. However, for a mere secretary to have four "VIPs" guards protecting him, it is clear that the person he serves is of extraordinary status. These two must be discussing a confidential matter here. If a third party were to be discovered, his fate would be unimaginable. I held my breath, determined not to let them discover my presence. But what about my mother? Did she know about the situation here? At

this moment, the two people sitting on the sofa had finished their polite greetings. The one sitting on the left sofa must be Secretary Wu. He looked to be only about forty years old, with a fair complexion, a clean chin, and gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. His hair was parted in a 3/7 style and combed back, making him look quite refined. He seemed to have just returned from some meeting, wearing a neat shirt and trousers, and a red striped tie. He leaned back on the sofa, looking very relaxed.

The man sitting on the right was quite tall, wearing a white bathrobe with the hotel's emblem. His legs were crossed, revealing his hairy calves. His forehead was bald, and the remaining few gray hairs were combed back. He looked to be around sixty, but his facial skin was still firm. He had a hooked nose, thin lips, and wore old-fashioned black-rimmed glasses. His eyes, beneath thick, dark eyebrows, gleamed with a fierce, hawk-like light, giving him an arrogant and smug air. This was probably the General Manager Lü that Secretary Wu had mentioned. Was he Bai Liyuan's lover?

The two exchanged some polite official pleasantries. Secretary Wu raised his right hand as if to say something, and the four "VIPs" immediately left the room. It seemed their conversation was highly confidential and should not be overheard. I breathed a sigh of relief, adjusted my slightly numb legs, and continued to watch the situation inside the room.

Mr. Lü first selected two cigars, skillfully cut the filter, lit them, and handed them to Secretary Wu. Secretary Wu accepted them without ceremony. Their interaction was natural, reflecting the difference in their status and indicating a fairly close relationship.

After exhaling a few puffs, Secretary Wu spoke first: "Mr. Lü, the lord isn't very satisfied with your recent performance. You need to reflect on your actions."

His words clearly had a strong effect. A shadow crossed Mr. Lü's previously composed face, and his thick eyebrows furrowed. He leaned closer, asking with some confusion, "Secretary Wu, what's this all about? What does the lord mean? Can you explain it to me?" Secretary Wu took a puff of his cigar and

said unhurriedly, "It's that International Expo, isn't it? This is a major project overseen by the lord during his tenure, but your Three Ports Group has been in charge of it for half a year, and there hasn't been a single significant development. Isn't this just causing trouble for the higher-ups?" Chapter 20 (
November 11-14 ): General Manager Lü eagerly handed over the ashtray. After Secretary Wu lit his cigarette, he withdrew his hand and said, "Hey, Brother Wu, this matter is also very urgent for me. However, the previous administration originally signed a contract with Donghai Landscape to undertake this project. Now that we want to take over, they absolutely refuse to back out, saying that the overall design plan is already completed, and if we make any changes, the waste of money and manpower will be enormous, which is a serious loss of state-owned assets." "I originally thought they were just threatening us, that we would just pay more money to buy the plan and then we would talk. Their Party Secretary, Chen Tielin, is quite easy to talk to. I didn't expect that the other senior executives would be so uncooperative, threatening to sue us in court at the drop of a hat, so it's been stuck here. To be honest, I don't know what to do with them." "Brother Lü, no offense, but who was it that patted their chest and guaranteed this would be a sure thing? If I hadn't put in a good word for you with the boss, you might not have gotten this job. Now you're telling me you have no tricks up your sleeve? Aren't you just setting me up?" Secretary Wu's tone was sharp, but his face remained expressionless. "My dear Secretary Wu, how could I forget your kindness? I'm not the kind of person who forgets things after they've been done. It's just that I'm a bit slow, so I specifically asked you, my chief secretary, to give me some pointers." President Lü looked tall and rugged, but surprisingly, he spoke so tactfully and obsequiously. However, his servile demeanor was somewhat nauseating. "Heh, Brother Lü, you're considered one of the most capable people in the city, having weathered many storms. How come you're acting like a little girl now? Where did your skill in substituting and maneuvering go? Is it because you've gotten older and had more women that you've become so kind and gentle?" Secretary Wu mocked him with a sneer. A fierce glint flashed across General Manager Lü's face as he said in a deep voice, "I would be extremely grateful if you could give me some pointers, brother." This time, Secretary Wu no longer refused and said seriously, "Brother, have you forgotten? Although Donghai Landscape is a listed company, it is still under the jurisdiction of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. Those uncooperative executives have been in their positions for quite some time. Don't you think they have any shady dealings?" “You know the saying, ‘He who stands by the river will eventually get his shoes wet,’ right? Your other secretary happens to be in charge of law enforcement, so let the procuratorate deal with them. Let the obedient ones go, and put the disobedient ones in jail. Once these troublemakers are gone, everything will be fine, won’t it?” Upon hearing this, General Manager Lü excitedly slapped his forehead, saying, “Oh my, that’s a wake-up call! How could I have forgotten that? I’m so short-sighted!” He quickly pulled out an antique-looking box and stuffed it into Secretary Wu’s hands, saying obsequiously, “Brother, you’ve saved my life this time. I have no way to thank you, so please accept this little trinket as a hand warmer for your wife.” When the box was opened, a warm and peaceful light emanated from it. Inside lay a pair of jade bracelets. The jade wasn’t ordinary emerald green; it was crystal clear, bright as ice, with intermittent, fluffy blue hues. It was likely rare Burmese icy jade, worth at least a million. Wu Mi must be a discerning person. Upon seeing the jade bracelets, he couldn't help but reveal a greedy look. While chuckling and saying, "Brother, what are you doing? I can't accept something for nothing." But under Mr. Lü's repeated urging, he put away the jade bracelets.

After the two sat down again, Wu Mi regained his serious expression and said, "Brother Lü, I've already told you about the strange things that happened. You need to act quickly. It's not enough to just do things well; you have to do them beautifully. Don't cause any trouble or controversy."

He then lowered his voice and whispered in Lü's ear. I only vaguely heard these words: "The Lord is at a critical moment," "No one and nothing can affect the great cause," and "If anything goes wrong, you'll have to take the blame yourself." Lü nodded repeatedly to indicate he understood. After speaking, Wu Mi returned to his original seat and asked with some ill intent, "Lü, I noticed that you chose this restaurant for our meeting today, not just for this matter, right?"

Lü wasn't surprised. A lewd look appeared on his face as he laughed, "Wu Mi is indeed a brother. This is one of my hobbies. We agreed to meet at this time today, and it's hard to change the date. Since you're nearby, I asked you to come along."

“That’s not a problem, but are you sure that woman won’t cause any trouble? We’re discussing highly confidential matters today. If a third party finds out…” Wu gestured, “You know that…” “Don’t worry, brother, this woman is absolutely innocent. She doesn’t understand politics or officialdom at all, and she’s been with me for almost ten years. She’s incredibly gentle and mild-mannered, even more like my wife than I am, haha.”

Mr. Lü became increasingly smug, finally bursting into laughter, but the sound was extremely grating and unpleasant to my ears.

“In that case, brother, you go ahead and get busy. I’ll think about something here. You don’t need to worry about me; I’ll be leaving soon.”

Mr. Lü nodded, stood up, and went into the next bedroom. I naturally knew what he was going to do, but I couldn’t interfere, because the four “VIPs” returned to the room and stood in their original positions, like four crabs waving their pincers, firmly guarding the prison, and I had become a prisoner in that prison.

Wu Mi wasn't idle at this moment; her hands were constantly writing something. My mind was entirely on the bedroom next door. My mother should have finished showering by now. Was she, as this Mr. Lü had said, lying obediently on the bed waiting for a man? Was her incredibly alluring body blooming beneath Mr. Lü? Was her jade lips being greedily tasted by Mr. Lü? Was her beautiful breasts being kneaded by Mr. Lü? Were her beautiful legs open, welcoming Mr. Lü's invasion? Thinking of this, I seemed to hear the panting of the man and woman in the next bedroom, the vibration of the bed, the smacking of lips as they met, and the slapping of flesh against flesh. These sounds intertwined, almost driving me to the brink of collapse.

I tried my best not to imagine what was happening there, but various images kept flashing before my eyes, constantly stimulating me. I even thought about rushing out of the closet, knocking down those "VIPs," and then going next door to stop it all. But even if I could quickly grab the two "VIPs" facing away from me, the two guys opposite would have enough time to react and fire two 5.8mm composite bullets into my body with their QSG92 rifles. The extremely high initial velocity would tear two large holes in my chest cavity. At this distance, the bullets wouldn't stay inside my body but would penetrate directly and hit the floor or wall. Then, my blood would spurt out like a fountain, directly hitting Wu Mi on the sofa, provided he didn't fall to my first wave of attacks.

I imagined countless attack methods, but I couldn't find a way to survive being surrounded by four "VIPs." Time was ticking away, and my heart ached as if branded with a hot iron. My mother was having an affair with another man in bed just a wall away, while I was trapped in a small cabinet like a rat in a bellows. This feeling of helplessness made me wish I had an automatic rifle in my hand right now, so I could rush out and shoot everyone who was bothering me.

Finally, Wu Mi received a phone call. He stood up and answered attentively and respectfully, as if the person on the other end of the line was a much higher-ranking figure. He just listened to the other person's instructions and kept saying yes. About five minutes later, he made a gesture, stood up, and walked out of the room, followed by the four "VIPs."

After hearing the room close heavily, I immediately rushed out of the cabinet. Those short half hour had felt longer and more unbearable than a whole day. I composed myself and pushed open the door to the next bedroom.

There was no dramatic scene as I had expected. The bedroom was quiet, deserted. Sunlight streaming through the drawn curtains indicated it was still daytime. The three-meter-long bed was a mess, sheets and pillows scattered everywhere. The torn sheets had dried stains, remnants of a recent physical altercation. I picked up a sheet and sniffed it, faintly catching a familiar scent—Bai Liyuan's unique fragrance.

With a heavy heart, I carefully searched the entire room, finding no further clues. Suddenly, something occurred to me. I went into the bathroom and, sure enough, made a new discovery: a few strands of hair remained in the bathtub drain. Judging from their length and the wine-red highlights at the ends, they must be Bai Liyuan's hair. In the bathroom trash can were several wads of used tissues, which, when unfolded, contained a yellowish liquid. I recognized the smell immediately. However, there was no trace of a condom in the entire room. This discovery made me feel even more uneasy.

Everything has settled. Bai Liyuan's infidelity is an undeniable fact. Her lover is none other than President Lü, who was just in this room. Not only did she conceal her affair from me, but they've known each other for a long time, not just during the eight years I was lost. But why has she become like this? Was her love for me all a facade, or is there some story I don't know? What's wrong with me? I should remember, why can't I?

Chapter 21

When I returned home, I didn't see Bai Liyuan. Had she changed locations with President Lü, or was she on another plan? That's no longer important to me. What I need to do now is find out the background of the man who has been hiding behind her, and how they got together.

I remembered the conversation I overheard between President Lü and Secretary Wu in that room earlier. Hmm, Sangang Group, that name sounds familiar. I feel like I've heard it somewhere before. In a corner of the living room sat an Apple iMac, which I rarely saw anyone use. I went over and turned it on; it was completely empty, showing no signs of use. I opened Google and typed in the keywords "Sangang Group" and "General Manager Lü," and the browser immediately returned a lot of information.

The predecessor of Sangang Group was Huaihai Port Third Port Company, the company my father used to work for. Originally a municipal state-owned enterprise, it specialized in the transportation, storage, and transshipment of industrial raw materials such as steel, machinery, oil, and coal at Huaihai Port. It was once one of the top three port companies in the industry and one of the leading collective enterprises in Huaihai City. However, starting in the 1990s, affected by the oil embargo and the financial crisis, the company's narrow main business scope made it heavily vulnerable to fluctuations in international market prices. It began to suffer losses year after year and was on the verge of bankruptcy. It was listed as a non-performing asset requiring disposal and restructuring by the city. Subsequently, the Municipal State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission appointed Lü Jiang as the Party Secretary and General Manager of Sangang Company.

After Lü Jiang took office, a large number of employees with collective employment status were laid off. The company sold its original shipping and other businesses to a shipping group in Hong Kong, retaining only port warehousing and other logistics services. It paid off some of its debts, but the company was still operating at a loss. Lü Jiang then introduced several foreign banks and, through Rongxin Asset Management Company under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, restructured the debt of the three port companies, transferring the vast majority of its shares to a Hong Kong consortium, thus transforming the state-owned enterprise into a private enterprise.

After the company's restructuring, Lü Jiang left his job to start his own business and established a company. Two years later, through an agreement with a Hong Kong consortium, he acquired all the assets of Sangang Company and regained control of the company. Subsequently, due to Huaihai City's launch of the Lingang New Area construction strategy, the company's large number of wharves, warehouses and other real estate in the Lingang New Area suddenly increased in value. Lü Jiang shifted the company's business to real estate development. Due to its abundant land resources, the company's performance increased several times over in a few years, and it was listed on the A-share market five years ago. The company name was also changed to "Sangang Group" with Lü Jiang serving as chairman.

I also found a lot of negative information about Lü Jiang on Google, including how he climbed from an office director to manager at Sangang Company, and then, through connections, was appointed as the Party Secretary of Sangang Company. During his tenure at Sangang Company, he sold off state-owned assets at bargain prices, completely emptied the company, and sold it to foreign capital. He then transferred the assets to his own name through a Hong Kong consortium, successfully embezzling hundreds of millions of yuan worth of state-owned assets. He also used land resources to engage in large-scale real estate development, transforming himself into a super-rich man with a net worth of billions. There is even a Baidu Tieba forum called "Lü Jiang Bar," where laid-off employees and their families expose Lü Jiang's various misdeeds. Many people who have grudges against Lü Jiang have reported him to relevant departments multiple times, but nothing has come of it.

I gradually remembered that when I was 10 years old, I heard that my father's workplace had a new leader surnamed Lü. At first, my mother said that this new leader was quite capable, and that he immediately paid the back wages and benefits that had been delayed for a long time. However, later on, many uncles and aunts were reassigned or transferred to other jobs, which meant they didn't have to go to work anymore. Of course, they didn't receive any salary and had to find their own jobs to find new employment. It was called being laid off, but it was actually unemployment. Those unemployed uncles and aunts would gather in the courtyard downstairs from the staff housing building every day, cursing this Secretary Lü, calling him a four-eyed wolf who had ruined their livelihoods and cut off their future. At first, I thought it was quite amusing and watched the spectacle. But after a while, I got tired of watching because they kept repeating the same curses. After a while, the uncles and aunts stopped cursing. They either found jobs themselves or quietly moved away.

At that time, I didn't understand what the uncles and aunts meant by their curses. I just thought that Secretary Lü must be a bad person, otherwise why would so many people curse him? But one year before the Spring Festival, he brought several cadres to deliver New Year's goods and condolence money to my mother's home. At that time, I felt that this leader uncle with glasses, although he looked very serious and cold, was always smiling in front of my mother and spoke in a relatively kind manner. He was not as bad as my uncles and aunts said. After that, my memories were completely unrelated to this person. I never expected that he had so many stories. So when did my mother get involved with him?

There are many accounts of Lü Jiang's misdeeds online, including bribery, currying favor with superiors, nepotism, and embezzlement of state assets. His private life has also been extensively detailed, including how he rose to power by marrying the daughter of a former manager, and how he pressured his ex-wife to divorce him and remarry after his rise to prominence. However, there's no mention of any indiscretions in his relationships, and no one associates his name with Bai Liyuan. But one report caught my attention: Lü Jiang's second marriage was to a well-known female singer from the city. I recognized her name; it was Meng Lan, whom I met at "Lige" last time. It turns out her husband is Lü Jiang. She also seems to know my mother, though she appears unaware of the relationship between her mother and her husband. Lü Jiang has maintained a secret relationship with his mother for so many years without letting anyone know a thing—his ability to keep it a secret is truly astonishing.

This is all the information I can find about Lü Jiang online. Although I know quite a bit about his rise to power and his misdeeds, it doesn't contain what I really want to know, especially the clues related to Bai Liyuan. They're all just rumors with unclear sources and unsubstantiated evidence.

I checked the time; it was already past 4 PM, and there was still no news from Bai Liyuan. Whether she's with her female companions or continuing her affair with Lü Jiang, she won't be home at this hour. I didn't even think about calling her. What could I say to her? What reason could I give her to stop being with Lü Jiang—a husband who died over a decade ago, or her amnesiac son who had been waiting for her for eight long years?

I left my house and headed towards Sister Yao's shop. Some questions had been lingering in my mind, and now was the time to resolve them. It had been a while since I'd been there, and the XinYi Supermarket was the same as always. Sister Yao was busy at the counter, while Lao Zhang watched TV nearby. I chatted with Sister Yao for a bit and then told Lao Zhang I wanted to grab a few drinks. Lao Zhang immediately beamed and stood up to ask Sister Yao for permission. Although Sister Yao wasn't too keen on Lao Zhang going out drinking, she agreed because I was there, only repeatedly reminding him not to get drunk and to come back early.

We found a small restaurant nearby and sat down. It wasn't dinner time yet, and the restaurant was almost empty. We occupied a corner table, and after the waiter brought out a few snacks, he went to the door to play on his phone. The entire restaurant was just the two of us—exactly what I wanted.

After a few cups of rice wine, Old Zhang's ashen face flushed slightly. While enduring his rambling on about Sister Yao's strictness towards him, I kept urging him to drink more. Old Zhang wasn't a big drinker, and when his voice was already tinged with drunkenness, I steered the conversation towards his previous boasts, especially the rumors he mentioned about Bai Liyuan.

Old Zhang seemed quite enthusiastic about this topic, launching into his own monologue: "Little brother, although I'm not much of a success, I've seen my fair share of women. But if I had to count them all, the internet cafe owner's wife is still the prettiest."

"Sister Yao is considered a beauty in her hometown, but she's still a far cry from that owner's wife."

"Brother Zhang, you're not bragging, are you? That owner's wife is so beautiful; her man must be extraordinary. How could she let you see her messing around?"

I deliberately provoked him.

My provocation worked! Old Zhang, neck stiff with excitement, tried to retort, even spitting into the bowl in front of him.

"Little brother," he said, "if I, Old Zhang, have uttered even a single falsehood, may I die a horrible death! I truly saw it, and not just once."

"Brother Zhang," I continued, embellishing the story, "if you want me to believe you, then you'd better tell me exactly what you saw. That way, I'll know if you're just bragging.

"

Old Zhang slammed his glass down, wine still lingering on his lips, and waved his hand, saying, "No problem, my memory isn't something to joke about. Today I'll tell you all about it, so you can have a good laugh too."

"That time was about two years ago, I think. It was past 10 pm, and someone ordered beer and snacks. I didn't want to go out, but your sister Yao kept nagging me, so I had to get out of bed, pack the things, and deliver them."

"That client lived in the Fuyou Building. Because the first floor of that building is completely closed after 9 pm, you can only enter and exit through the underground parking garage, so when I came out, I was on the second basement level."

"When I came out of the elevator, the parking garage lights weren't very bright. I walked quickly, wanting to get home early and hug your sister Yao's warm body to sleep, so I took a shortcut through a row of parked cars, which happened to pass through a corner that I wouldn't normally see along the way."

"When I got there, I was a little puzzled. The place was usually dark, but today it seemed like there was a light shining in there. I was pretty bold at the time, and I didn't think about whether it was some kind of thief or not, so I crept over to see what was going on."

"I walked around a white BMW and saw a champagne-colored Audi Q7 parked in the far corner of the garage. The Q7's headlights were on, and the light I saw was coming from there. The car was tall and big. I heard that one costs more than 1 million yuan. But there are quite a few cars like that in this garage. I thought it was very strange at the time. Who would park their car in this corner and have the lights on?"

"I was standing right next to the side of the Q7, and I noticed the rear door facing me was open, allowing me to see the back seats. There seemed to be two people in the back, but the lighting was dim, so I couldn't make out their features."

"The only thing I could make out was a woman's leg. It was long and straight, a bright white leg that shone like a fluorescent tube, standing out starkly in the dark car." "

The Q7's back seats are quite spacious, but the woman seemed very tall. She was stacked on top of the other person, so her long legs had to rest on the running board outside the door. I saw she was wearing white strappy sandals with two straps around her ankles. The heels were at least 11 centimeters high, and her exposed feet were delicate and beautiful—much prettier than my wife's feet."

"The two people inside the car were entangled, but judging from their movements and the woman's slightly trembling legs, they were probably touching each other. Even though there was a car between us, I could still hear them chewing on each other's lips; they were definitely kissing."

"I thought to myself, 'Rich people are so damn bored. Why don't they just go to a hotel? Why do they have to come to this dark corner of the garage and mess around in the cramped back seat?' It made me so angry, I was itching to do something to scare them and make these rich fools of themselves."

"Before I could even move, the couple, after chewing on each other for a while, probably got tired of the back seat and started moving."

"All I saw was a long, white leg emerge backwards from the car, landing on the floor in front of the back door. Then, a large, round butt slowly emerged from the car. That big butt was encased in a smooth white skirt, the silk fabric stretched taut, with a very obvious dent in the middle. Damn, I got hard right then and there." "

Then the woman's entire body was standing outside the car. I wasn't mistaken, this woman was really tall, almost 1.8 meters with those high heels. She had her back to me, so I could only see her long, wavy hair, slender shoulders, and a narrow waist, plus that round, perky butt. Even TV models don't have such a good figure."

"Another person got out of the car from the other side. I couldn't see his face, but I heard him say something to the woman, and she lifted her skirt and walked to the front of the car."

"That's when I noticed that the woman was wearing a very long dress, which looked a lot like the costumes worn by singers at the Spring Festival Gala. The arms were embroidered and sheer, and the bodice tightly hugged her large, firm breasts. A silk ribbon cinched her waist, and the long skirt trailed all the way to the floor. The woman had to hold onto the hem of the skirt to avoid tripping and falling."

"She was standing in front of the car headlights, and her whole body was clearly illuminated. That's when I could see her clearly. Her nose and eyes were absolutely stunning. I'd seen her several times before. Wasn't she the owner of the internet cafe I often delivered to? Although she was wearing heavy makeup tonight, unlike her usual bare face, I was absolutely certain I wasn't mistaken."

"The man walked around from the other end of the car and stood behind her. By the light of the headlights, I could vaguely make out his features. He was wearing a dark suit, was tall and big, wore black-rimmed glasses, and had his hair slicked back with some gray. He looked quite old."

"I saw the old man reach out and lift up the proprietress's skirt from behind. Then he pulled down her underwear. The proprietress obediently lifted her leg to cooperate with his actions. Holy crap, her long, white legs were directly exposed under the headlights, and her two plump buttocks were clearly visible. Her entire lower body was naked and exposed to the air, her long, white legs spread wide. Her upper body was lying on the hood of the Q7, and her large breasts were pressed against the headlights. Their shape and weight were even larger than the headlights. Her eyes were slightly closed, and her hair was loose. She seemed to be enjoying herself."

"The old man unzipped his pants, took out his thing, rubbed it against the landlady's buttocks a couple of times, and then thrust it in. She was probably already quite wet. The old man's insertion was smooth. He grabbed the landlady's slender waist with both hands and started fucking her. His two penises slapped against the landlady's big white buttocks, the sound of slapping was very loud in the garage. Every time the old man thrust in and out, there was a splashing sound. This woman was really wet. After the old man fucked her for a few times, a lot of clear fluid had already flowed down her big white legs to her feet and shoes."

"It had just gotten cold that day, and the weather was already a bit chilly. But the landlady's thighs and buttocks were exposed, and I was really worried that she would catch a cold. However, they were having sex so passionately that they probably didn't feel cold. The landlady's buttocks and legs were covered with a layer of transparent liquid. I didn't know if it was sweat or the fluid from her lower body. The old man looked like he had white hair, but he was still quite strong in the waist. He thrust in and out deeply and heavily, making the landlady's white flesh tremble all over. She kept moaning and groaning. Her moans were sweet and soft. My wife's accent was somewhat similar to hers, but her moans were much more seductive than my wife's. Hearing them made my heart melt."

"They fucked like that for over twenty minutes. The old man probably got excited, so he bent down, grabbed the landlady's head, and kissed her. The landlady turned around and kissed him back. They were fucking each other, but their mouths weren't erect. The landlady was completely submissive to the old man. She even stuck out her red tongue for him to lick, and she was smacking her lips as she ate his saliva. I was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred. I really don't know what's so good about this old man that he gets such a beautiful woman to serve him like this. Maybe that's the benefit of being rich. If you have money, you can make a pretty woman do whatever you want. Damn, being rich is so fucking good."

"The old man and the landlady were talking for a while, then he started to speed up his fucking. The speed was quite impressive, almost like a pump motor. After about twenty thrusts, he suddenly thrust hard against the landlady's big ass, then froze for a moment, looking like he'd ejaculated inside her. The landlady let out a soft moan, her two big white legs clamping tightly together, as if trying to suck the old man dry."

"After the old man finished, his penis was limp. The landlady, ignoring the white fluid still flowing from her vagina, lowered her skirt, turned around, and squatted down. She grabbed the old man's penis, rubbing and wiping it, then put it in her mouth, licking and sucking until it was clean and dry before putting it back in the old man's underwear. Damn, if my wife were ever this gentle and considerate, I'd be smiling in my dreams."

"Then the old man pulled the proprietress up, draped a coat over her shoulders, turned off the lights, locked the car, and the two of them walked arm in arm toward the elevator. They were about the same height, the old man's arm around the proprietress's waist, and the proprietress's head resting on the old man's shoulder. If you didn't know their age, they really looked like a married couple."

"I watched them get on the elevator. The elevator light pointed to the number 34. This couple was probably going to that club to continue their pleasure. I watched for a long time and felt a chill run down my spine. When I got home, my wife scolded me. It's true that different people have different fates."

As Old Zhang recounted his story, I just listened silently. Although his description was quite lewd, I was already numb. The proprietress he was talking about must be Bai Liyuan. I couldn't help but ask him, "Do you remember what that old man looked like? Have you seen him before?"

"I've never seen him before, but I know that old man isn't her husband. I've seen her husband a few times. He's much younger than the old man, with curly hair like a street performer. He looks arrogant and rather annoying."

"If the proprietress weren't already married, I'd definitely think she was that old man's mistress. But for such a beautiful woman to be willing to be with an old man, he must be someone important. He looks quite imposing; he's either a tycoon or a high-ranking official,"

Old Zhang added. I didn't reply, but simply poured myself another glass of wine.

Chapter 22

According to Lao Zhang's description, Bai Liyuan and Lü Jiang not only had a long-term physical relationship, but also, in their interactions, it can be seen that Bai Liyuan's attitude towards Lü Jiang was not just that of a woman bought by money or power, but that there was another inexplicable emotional factor involved. This emotion had not yet reached the level of lovers or husband and wife, but it was not as simple as being kept and supported.

Seeing that I hadn't moved for a while, Old Zhang clicked his tongue and asked, "Xiao Gao, were you captivated by what I just told you? The story of that beautiful female boss having an affair in the underground parking garage is interesting, isn't it? Much better than any porn."

I didn't answer him, and he continued on his own: "Actually, this is just an appetizer. I've seen even more exciting things, do you want to hear more?"

This time I couldn't resist and asked him what he wanted to say. Old Zhang took a sip of his drink, ate a few bites of food, wiped his mouth, and continued, "After that time in the parking garage, every time I saw that female boss, I couldn't help but think of her white body under her skirt, and the scene of her having an affair with the old man in the parking garage that night. Immediately, I'd get hard, making it impossible for me to stand up straight."

"Another year passed like this. Although I still passed by that parking garage a few times at night, I never saw anyone having sex again, nor did I see her."

"Around this time last year, around six o'clock in the evening, I had just sat down to eat when Sister Yao called to say she needed to deliver something. I hurriedly ate a few bites of food and ran out again. This time it was a nearby KTV called 'Jinledi' that needed delivery, but what they wanted was strange. It wasn't beer or fast food, but bandages and iodine. I was puzzled. Why would a KTV need bandages? It's not like they run a hospital."

"But I didn't care. I packed what they wanted and delivered it. As soon as I got to the fourth floor, I heard a lot of noise coming from the direction of 'Jinledi' KTV. When I went in, I found seven or eight waiters and supervisors waiting at the door of the largest private room in 'Jinledi,' all looking very nervous. I was quite familiar with the supervisor, surnamed Sun, so I grabbed him and asked what had happened."

"Manager Sun said helplessly, 'Someone booked this large private room yesterday, but then a young master who's not someone to mess with showed up last night. He insisted on having this room, and no matter how we tried to persuade him, we couldn't change his mind. We had no choice but to let him use it. A while later, the original owner arrived with his friends and got angry when they saw the room was occupied. We offered to refund the deposit and give them a fruit basket, but they wouldn't accept that and insisted on having the reserved room.'

'While we were trying our best to mediate, one of the original owner's friends got impatient and barged in. He got into an argument with the young master, and somehow it escalated into a fight. The two groups started beating each other up. The young master's henchmen were all young men, and they didn't hold back, injuring several of the original owner's men. They've been taken to the hospital, and he himself suffered several minor injuries. That's why I asked you to bring some medicated wine and bandages.'"

"I asked him why he didn't call the police after all this happened. Manager Sun smiled bitterly and said, 'What's the use of calling the police? If the police find out about the fight, just the business suspension will cost us half a month's revenue. It's better to just pay for the injured person's treatment. Besides, that young master's family is the biggest police station. He doesn't want to take things to the police. So we'd rather avoid trouble.'

After hearing Manager Sun's words, I felt a little uneasy. I didn't know what kind of monsters those people in the private room were, but since I was already here, I had no choice but to push open the door and go in. '

Jinledi's decor has always been famous. This was my first time stepping into the largest private room. It was a circular hall of more than 200 square meters, with gold glass bricks covering the ceiling, floor, and walls. The people around me were reflected on the bricks. Half of the wall near the entrance had a platform, behind which was a projection screen the size of a movie theater, playing dizzying music. The other walls were lined with purplish-red leather sofas, and there was a restroom in the corner."

"The sofas were full of men and women. The men were all around sixteen or seventeen years old, and they all looked like they were looking for a fight. Next to each of them sat one or two pretty girls dressed up in a flamboyant manner. Judging from their revealing clothes, they were the hostesses of Jinledi. I usually just look at these girls. I know that I can't afford to spend money on these girls. But I found that the hostesses in the private room that day were all top-notch. Usually, these hostesses take turns working in different private rooms. It was the first time I had ever seen them all in one private room at the same time."

"The private room was littered with shards of broken glass and small pieces of glass, as if a battle had just taken place. A boy, about 170cm tall, stood in the middle of the room, his face still that of an eleven or twelve-year-old. It seemed he was so focused on growing that his face hadn't caught up. He stood there cursing incessantly. I noticed a cut on his right hand, a pool of red blood on the wet towel he was covering it with. The men and women around him called him 'Young Master Lü,' seemingly quite afraid of him."

"When I came in with bandages and medicine, several young men rushed over and bandaged Young Master Lü's hand. Several hostesses also crowded around, trying to curry favor. It was perfect timing; I rarely saw the top hostesses of 'Jin Le Di,' but today they were all dressed like prostitutes and sitting there. I took the opportunity to steal a few glances. A boy named Dou Zi seemed annoyed, cursing and threatening to hit me. But a wise man doesn't fight when the opportunity is against him, so I ran out of the room to avoid him."

"I had just come out when I realized, oh no! I left my bag in the private room. It contained the bills I'd just collected this month. If I lost it, my wife would definitely yell at me when I got home. I wanted to come back before leaving, but I was too scared to go back in, so I just stood there anxiously at the door."

"Luckily, not long after, the door opened, and a bunch of kids came out with the girls. I saw Dou Zi come out too, but there was no sign of Young Master Lü. I didn't care about anything else, so I gritted my teeth and opened the door myself."

"Young Master Lü was talking on his phone with his back to the door. I saw my bag on the coffee table, so I tiptoed over to sneak over and grab it. But as soon as I got the bag in my hand, Young Master Lü seemed to curse something on his phone and turned around. I was startled. I was still far from the door at that point. I didn't have time to think. I saw the bathroom door was open, so I immediately squeezed in."

"I regretted it as soon as I went in. What would I say if Young Master Lü came to use the restroom and saw me in there? But he had already turned around and was facing the door. It was too late for me to get out, so I had to close the door and stay inside, hoping that this devil would leave soon so I could get out."

"Young Master Lü was sitting in the empty private room, talking on his phone. I couldn't hear what he was saying because of the distance, but it seemed like the other person was very angry with him. He was yelling and shouting into the phone, waving his hands around. He looked really scary. Finally, the other person seemed to soften up on the other end of the phone. He hung up, crossed his legs, and relaxed."

"About ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door of the private room. Young Master Lü said irritably, 'Come in.' Then I heard the door open, followed by the sound of a woman's high heels on the floor, which continued all the way to the sofa. I secretly opened the bathroom door a crack and peeked out."

"A woman's back was turned to me. She was quite tall, with long, curly hair simply tied in a ponytail. She wore a fitted black shirt and a gray pencil skirt, her long legs encased in black stockings, and silver 7cm high heels. Her figure was a perfect S-shape, and she gave me a very familiar feeling, as if I had seen her somewhere before."

"The woman crossed her arms, looking rather indifferent, and asked Young Master Lü why he had called her over in such a hurry. Standing in front of this woman who was a head taller than him, Young Master Lü's arrogance had subsided, but he still spoke in a lewd tone, saying that his little brother missed her and he wanted her to come and comfort him."

"The woman directly rejected his rude request and warned him to stop harassing her, or she would tell someone to punish him. Her tone was very stern and dignified. I suddenly remembered where I had heard that voice before. Wasn't that the internet cafe owner? And her height and build were exactly like that." "

The woman's refusal immediately enraged Lu Shao. He slapped her hard, making her stumble and fall to the floor. This gave me a good look at her face. Sure enough, it was the owner. Her hair was neatly tied back, and although she wasn't wearing much makeup, she was still stunningly beautiful. It was just a pity that her left cheek was swollen from Lu Shao's slap. It broke my heart to see such a beautiful woman like that."

"Young Master Lü slapped the proprietress and wasn't satisfied. He continued to curse and threaten her, calling her a lowly whore who dared to pretend to be innocent in front of him. He said she acted all high and mighty in front of others, but in his eyes, she was just a kept woman. He also said that if she dared to complain to someone, he would make her suffer. As he spoke, he pulled out several photos and threw them in front of the proprietress." "

The lighting in the private room wasn't very good, so I couldn't see what the photos on the ground were about. But the proprietress seemed very nervous after seeing the photos. She had completely ignored Young Master Lü before, but she quickly picked up the photos and asked him how he took them. Young Master Lü proudly said that he had already discovered her shameful deeds. He continued to threaten her, saying that if she didn't behave, he would send these photos to someone so that he would know her true colors, and then it would be too late for him to beg him."

"What happened next was completely unexpected. After hearing what Young Master Lü said, the proprietress's attitude completely changed. She grabbed the photos and begged Young Master Lü to give her back the rest. Young Master Lü was smug this time. He crossed his legs and sat back on the sofa, saying in a lewd way that if he wanted the photos back, he would have to satisfy his little brother first." "

The proprietress was silent for a long time after hearing his words. She said very tactfully that she was old enough to be Young Master Lü's mother, so why make things difficult for an old woman? Young Master Lü chuckled and said that he liked playing with proprietresses like her, who were of a certain age but still had a youthful figure and appearance, what were they called mature women? She also said that the old man had been thinking about other things these past few years, and it turned out that he had been hiding such a treasure from everyone. What's wrong with playing with his woman? What's the big deal about playing with his woman?"

"Seeing that the landlady was still unwilling, Young Master Lü pretended to be angry and about to leave, saying he would have someone send the photos over right now. The landlady was so anxious that she grabbed his trouser leg and begged for mercy. She was so frightened that she couldn't answer. Taking advantage of the situation, Young Master Lü asked the landlady to suck his penis first, or he would leave immediately. Unexpectedly, the landlady hesitated for a moment and then agreed."

"Young Master Lü sat back down on the sofa, spread his legs and gestured to the landlady. The landlady bit her lip, as if she had made up her mind, walked to Young Master Lü's legs and squatted down, using her soft, white hands to pull open Young Master Lü's pants and help him take out his thing."

"That kid, Lu Shao, doesn't look very old, but his thing is already as big as an adult's, only it's still white and tender, which looks quite funny. At first, the landlady just used her two hands to stroke it. That day, her hands, which were as white and tender as scallions, were painted with bright red nail polish. She grabbed Lu Shao's thing and rubbed and stroked it. It was incredibly stimulating. And while she was rubbing it, she was also spitting on his glans to help it lubricate and swell, as if she couldn't wait to make Lu Shao come right away. I was thinking at the time, how great it would be if I could have those hands help me masturbate."

"But Young Master Lü wasn't as satisfied as I was. Seeing that she hadn't done anything else after stroking herself for a while, he grabbed her hair and pulled her towards his crotch. This time, the landlady had no choice. Young Master Lü's thing was already pressed against her pretty little mouth. Although she looked extremely unwilling, she had no choice but to open her mouth and take it in. Seeing her red little mouth stuffed with a child's thing, her thin face bulging slightly from the impact of that thing, I was both surprised and excited. I wished I was the one sitting there." "

Although the landlady obediently swallowed Young Master Lü's thing, she just kept it in her mouth and didn't actively try to please him. But it was still very exciting to have such a beautiful woman give you oral sex. Young Master Lü was still a child after all. After giving her oral sex about ten times, he seemed to be a little overwhelmed. Before he could say anything to stop, he couldn't help but let out a cry, his stomach lifted up, and he ejaculated. The landlady tried to pull her head away but couldn't. Half of it went into her mouth, and she caught the other half with her hand."

"Before Lu Shao finished ejaculating, the landlady spat out the semen from her mouth with a look of disgust, and hurriedly shook her hands a few times to get rid of the semen stuck to them. She took a few steps as if she was going to the bathroom, which startled me. Luckily, before she could open the door, Lu Shao rushed over and grabbed her. The landlady told Lu Shao to let go, saying that she had already agreed to his request and he had to keep his word. Lu Shao leered and said that he had promised not to send the photos out immediately, and that he had already done so." "

The landlady angrily demanded that Lu Shao return the photos to her. This time, Lu Shao's expression turned serious as he replied that he could give her the photos, but just sucking on his penis wasn't enough for him. He had to have real sex with her. He added that he would return the photos to her if she let him fuck the landlady's vagina once."

"The proprietress considered it for a long time this time. I saw her standing there with her arms crossed for a long time before finally agreeing to Young Master Lü's request with great reluctance. However, she repeatedly emphasized that it was only once and that the photos must be returned to her. Young Master Lü readily agreed, like a child who had received candy. He grinned and pulled the proprietress back to sit on the sofa. Although the proprietress did not resist anymore, her face remained calm and expressionless,

and she did not look directly at Young Master Lü." "Young Master Lü hugged the proprietress and touched her repeatedly, praising how fragrant she was. It made me itch with desire, but unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to smell her. However, it was quite incongruous to have such a beautiful woman being held and played with by a young boy. Several times, Young Master Lü tried to kiss the proprietress, but she refused or blocked him with her hand. She said that he could touch other places, but she did not like kissing people. Although Young Master Lü was a little disappointed, he did not continue to pester her. Instead, he turned around and unbuttoned the front of the proprietress's black shirt."

"The proprietress's shirt was taken off and thrown aside, revealing her pale body. Then, the only thing she was wearing, a black bra, was also taken off by Lu Shao, exposing her large, round breasts. I had always thought her breasts were big when I saw her with clothes on, but seeing them without a bra made me realize that my previous estimations were wrong. Her breasts were not only large and round, but also beautifully shaped, without any sagging. They stood straight on her slender body. I had always heard about the 'papaya breasts,' and today I finally saw them. What's more, her nipples were still pink, unlike what a woman her age should have. My wife's nipples darkened considerably after breastfeeding. She should be older than my wife, but her nipples were still like a young girl's. I don't know if it was natural or if she rarely used them. But judging from her condition, she didn't seem like she had never been with a man."

"Young Master Lü was naturally excited when he saw those breasts. He not only kept rubbing them with both hands, but also put his mouth to them, licking and sucking like a child who hadn't had enough milk. However, the proprietress was old enough to be his mother. Although she still had a blank expression, she didn't resist Young Master Lü sucking on her breasts. She would only push his head away when he sucked too hard, indicating that she was uncomfortable." "

The lights in that private room were dim. A beautiful woman with a dignified and noble lower body sat on the sofa, her upper body bare, revealing a pair of large, papaya-like breasts. There was also a child whose body was just developing, lying on top of her, sucking on her breasts. The scene was incredibly stimulating. I felt hot all over even in the bathroom. After Young Master Lü sucked on the proprietress's breasts for a while, he got hard again. He raised his head and told the proprietress to lift her legs."

"The proprietress reluctantly followed his instructions, lifting her long legs and hugging them with her arms. She was still wearing those silver high heels, and her long legs were covered in black stockings, which pressed right against her snow-white, papaya-like breasts. It was incredibly tempting. Young Master Lu had already taken off his pants, his lower body bare and his thing erect. He walked in front of her, blocking my view. I heard a 'hiss' sound, as if he had ripped a hole in the proprietress's black stockings. Then he roughly tore off a pair of black panties, threw them on the sofa, and was about to shove his thing inside her."

"I didn't expect the landlady's legs to be so long, and her hips to be so high up. Lu Shao's height wasn't ideal, and he couldn't get it in no matter what he tried. He got angry and kept cursing until the landlady rolled over and knelt on the sofa. Then he finally got it right. Without even touching her, he thrust in hard. The landlady screamed, probably because she wasn't wet enough, and the thrust hurt her a lot. But Lu Shao didn't care. He grabbed her slender waist and started thrusting wildly." "From

my position, I could only see their side. The landlady's head was against the sofa back, her ponytail hanging down, obscuring her face. I couldn't see her expression. Her large, white breasts were pressed against her knees, her skirt was lifted from behind and covered her waist, and her long legs were clad in black stockings and high heels. Her round, plump buttocks were raised high, being brutally fucked by Lu Shao from behind."

"While fucking the landlady, Lu Shao kept uttering all sorts of vulgarities, like 'old man's bitch' and 'I'm fucking your mother,' and he even said that he, the son, was fucking his mother for his father. This kid is a real pervert. The landlady didn't utter a sound the whole time, just letting him do whatever he wanted. At first, Lu Shao's thing was a bit stiff when he inserted it, but it gradually became smoother. It seemed like the landlady's inside had started to flow. Later, the sound of his thing going in and out became louder and louder. Perhaps the landlady's body had begun to adapt to Lu Shao's thing. The silver high heels on her feet swayed with the movement of her body, as if she was somewhat enjoying being fucked by Lu Shao."

"The sound system in the private room was still automatically playing loud music. The colored lights on the ceiling shone on their moving bodies, making their bodies appear as colorful spots. I guessed that Lu Shao had ejaculated during the previous oral sex session, and this time he went on for a long time, about 40 minutes. Just as I was worrying about how to explain this to my wife, Lu Shao's movements slowed down. He grabbed the landlady's buttocks with both hands. The landlady seemed to suddenly wake up and hurriedly reached out to block, shouting that he couldn't ejaculate inside her."

"But it was too late. Lu Shao roared and pressed his buttocks firmly against the landlady's buttocks as he ejaculated inside her. The landlady struggled and resisted in vain. After he finished and pulled out, she collapsed onto the sofa. The landlady jumped up like a tigress and questioned Lu Shao why he had ejaculated inside her. Lu Shao just said lewdly, 'The old man always ejaculates like this. Why can't I?' The landlady was speechless."

"The proprietress, ignoring the still-dripping semen, chased after Lu Shao demanding the return of her photos. Lu Shao threw two photos at her, and she angrily asked why there were only two. Lu Shao shamelessly replied that he had promised one photo for each time he had sex with her, and since he had ejaculated twice, he was only returning two photos. Was there a problem? The proprietress realized she had been tricked, but there was nothing she could do about it. She could only take the two photos, straighten her clothes, and angrily open the door to the private room and leave."

"After the proprietress left, Lu Shao didn't continue to pester her. He didn't seem to want to leave either. It seemed like he had used up a lot of energy earlier, so he lay down on the sofa as if he had fallen asleep. I quickly took the opportunity to slip out, not caring about paying the bill anymore. I just wanted to get home quickly, otherwise my wife would nag me again."

"In the elevator, I ran into the landlady again. She was facing the glass wall, still dressed neatly and elegantly, as dignified and noble as ever. Only her black stockings were gone, revealing her bare, white thighs. She didn't see me, just stared blankly at the glass wall, her calm face reflected there with an expression I couldn't describe." "

The elevator reached the ground floor, and she strode away, disappearing into the darkness. Watching her swaying hips, her skirt stretched taut, I couldn't help but wonder if Lu Shao's semen was still flowing inside. But I also felt uneasy. A woman being too beautiful isn't always a good thing. Even though she eats well and dresses well, all sorts of men want to mess with her. Last time it was an old man, now it's a child. What kind of world is this?"

"Damn, but thinking about it, if it were me, I might also try to mess with her if I had the chance." Chapter 23 of

11-14: Old Zhang finished telling his story, but he continued to ramble on about the various lewd acts of the woman he remembered having sex with different men. The "landlady" he was talking about was undoubtedly my mother, Bai Liyuan. I couldn't muster the energy to refute his lewd behavior; I just silently finished the last pot of wine before taking the completely drunk Old Zhang home. Sister Yao was naturally both complaining and worried. After drinking the honey water she made, I ignored her pleas and went home myself. It was already past 6 pm when I got home, and there was still no sign of Bai Liyuan. I dragged my tired body back to my room, lay down on the small bed I was used to sleeping on, feeling limp and listless. The alcohol made me feel unbearably hot, but my mind was filled with various images: my mother from my childhood memories, and Bai Liyuan's current appearance, but I couldn't connect them with the internet cafe owner Old Zhang had described. While Old Zhang's account may not be entirely reliable, it at least reveals that the relationship between my mother and Lü Jiang was more than just an affair. In the years I was away, or even earlier, they had been secretly seeing each other for a long time. In other words, they often acted more like a married couple than Guo Qi, who was merely a figurehead. How did Lü Jiang manage to make my mother so infatuated with him? Was it simply through money and power? Clearly, my mother's economic situation and standard of living had improved significantly over the years, which was definitely closely related to Lü Jiang's presence. But my mother is not a vain woman. Another problem that's giving me a headache is the appearance of Lü Tian. According to Lao Zhang's account, he obtained some private photos of my mother a year ago and used them to blackmail her into submission. What are the contents of those photos? Why is my mother so afraid of the effects of the photos in his hands? Why was she so easily bullied by that kid? Thinking about this, I felt indignant and couldn't help but blame my mother for her weakness and ignorance. How could she believe the promises of a wicked scoundrel like Lü Tian? Judging from what happened in the internet cafe bathroom that day, whether my mother got those photos back from Lü Tian or not, she couldn't escape his humiliation. Moreover, judging from Lü Tian's attitude towards my mother, this kid only used her as a tool to vent his primal sexual desires, without any respect or care. He not only summoned her at will but also humiliated her in various unsanitary environments, and even let his friends play with my mother's beautiful body. These assumptions and conjectures ignited a raging fire within me. My teeth itched, and all I wanted was to catch these beasts who had taken advantage of Bai Liyuan and tear them to pieces. I didn't even notice the sound of Bai Liyuan opening the door when she came home. I only heard her anxiously calling my name as she approached the door. I quickly closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. For some reason, I didn't dare face her at that moment. Perhaps I was afraid I would say something I would regret later, or do something impulsive. The door opened, and a familiar fragrance wafted in. A soft, slightly cool hand touched my forehead. "Shitou, what's wrong? Are you asleep?" Bai Liyuan touched my face. After confirming that I didn't have a fever, she noticed the smell of alcohol on me. Although my eyes were closed, I could feel her beautiful brows furrowed as she fanned the air with her hand. But my nose could smell that besides my mother's unique fragrance, there was also the scent of shampoo after her bath.

"Oh dear, why did this child go drinking again? And so much at that."

"It's all Mom's fault, making you wait all day. I'm so sorry, Mom's darling."

I felt Bai Liyuan unbuttoning my clothes and taking off my coat. Her hands were moving constantly. In an instant, I felt a chill down below as she pulled off my jeans. I felt a little embarrassed because my penis had been erect the whole time. Although I was wearing the boxer briefs Bai Liyuan had bought for me, judging from her sudden stop, she must have seen my erection. Last time I was drunk, she helped me take off my clothes and wash me, but I was completely unaware of it then. This time, I was pretending to be asleep.

A brief silence fell over the room. I could only hear Bai Liyuan's rapid breathing and my own pounding heart. But she quickly calmed down and then draped a soft blanket over me, carefully tucking the corners of the blanket in.

"Sleep well, Mommy will never go out for so long again. I won't leave my precious son alone at home, okay?"

Then I felt two warm, moist lips touch my cheek, the fragrance gradually fading away, and then the door closed.

I woke up very early the next day, probably because I drank a little too much the night before. I felt a tightness in my bladder and quickly ran to the guest bathroom. The guest bathroom was quite spacious, with the toilet facing the washing machine. Suddenly, I remembered something.

After emptying my bladder, I immediately went over to check. The washing machine, which had been unplugged, was empty of clothes, but the lingering dampness indicated it had been used recently. I was slightly disappointed. Turning my head, I saw the dryer's power cord flickering. Lifting the lid, I saw Bai Liyuan's clothes from yesterday lying inside, clean and tidy. Their clean appearance offered no clue to my suspicions.

Stepping out of the guest bathroom, the house was quiet in the morning. I could vaguely hear birds chirping outside. The master bedroom door was tightly closed; Bai Liyuan was probably still asleep. She always got up early to make me breakfast, so why had she changed her routine today? Was it because she went out yesterday? I was somewhat surprised by my own guess. When did I start to harbor such malicious thoughts about her? Was it because my image of her was crumbling?

I shook my head and went back to my room. When I woke up again, it was already noon. I followed the aroma of freshly cooked stir-fries to the dining room. A sumptuous four-dish meal with soup was already laid out on the table. Bai Liyuan was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she was wearing a light blue nightgown. Her face was bare, but she looked elegant and charming.

Bai Liyuan called me to dinner as soon as she saw me come out. Her expression was as gentle and serene as ever, but I was preoccupied with my own thoughts. I sat at the table, just shoveling rice into my mouth. Even the finest food tasted like cardboard. Bai Liyuan clearly noticed my distraction. She sat down beside me cautiously, her bright eyes looking at me with concern.

"Shitou, what's wrong? Why aren't you talking to Mom? Are you angry?"

Bai Liyuan asked anxiously.

I didn't answer, just mindlessly munching on the tasteless food.

"Son, please don't be like this. Say something!"

Bai Liyuan said anxiously, seeing my state.

"My darling, are you trying to kill me? What are you unhappy about? Tell me, don't keep it bottled up. You're acting so scary!" Bai Liyuan's voice was trembling with tears. She grabbed my arm and shook it frantically, her long nails digging into my flesh, but I didn't feel any pain.

I gently reached out and took Bai Liyuan's small hand, which was red from gripping so tightly, in my own. Looking into her eyes with a calm yet firm gaze, I spoke softly and gently, "Mom, are you hiding something from me? Can you tell me the truth?"

My words made Bai Liyuan tremble slightly. She didn't dare meet my gaze, looking away guiltily, her face showing hesitation and fear. She looked into the distance, her voice trembling slightly as she replied, "Shitou, what do you mean? I have nothing to hide."

I sneered inwardly; her tone alone betrayed a lie.

"What if I accidentally discovered something, and it's related to you, Mom? What do you think I should do?"

I asked her tactfully.

"What did you discover? Did Mom do something wrong?"

Bai Liyuan sensed the implication in my words, but instead of answering directly, she asked me in return.

“I don’t know. I only remember my mother always teaching me not to lie when I was little. If what my mother says is true, can you promise me that?”

I said calmly, continuing to pressure her.

Bai Liyuan seemed unable to resist my coercion. She habitually bit her lower lip and lowered her head. I couldn’t see her eyes at that moment, but I knew she was definitely having a fierce internal struggle. I just silently hoped that she would tell me everything honestly.

After a long while, Bai Liyuan raised her head again. My heart suddenly turned cold. This time she didn’t avoid my eyes but stared directly at me. Her eyes had returned to calm, and there was a hint of indifference that I didn’t recognize. She said in a tone I had never heard before, “Shitou, no matter what you think, all I can tell you is that you have always been the most important person in my heart.”

“If you find something that is hard to understand, don’t act impulsively. You must trust your mother and let her solve it, okay?”

There was a firmness in her tone that I had never known before. Was this the gentle and quiet mother I remembered? What secrets were hidden in her words? Why couldn't she just tell me directly, Mom? I'm all grown up now, a man, capable of shouldering the burdens of this family for you.

Another possibility is that Mom is just using these ambiguous words to cover up what she's done, or perhaps she's just trying to find a reason to stall me for a while while she discusses with her lover how to maintain their illicit relationship without me pursuing the matter further.

But Mom's evasive attitude leaves me helpless. Although I saw her enter the Fairmont Hotel and found her in Mr. Lü's room, I didn't witness their shameful act firsthand. Besides that, there was a video with an unclear face and Lao Zhang's two drunken stories, each seemingly pointing to Mom as the female protagonist, yet each carrying a considerable amount of uncertainty. If I rashly use these to accuse Mom, I'll inevitably face a strong rebuttal, which would not only be less effective but also increase her vigilance. After that, obtaining more concrete evidence would be much more difficult. Therefore, I can't act rashly now; I need to calm down, calm down, and calm down again.

Seeing that I didn't answer for a long time, Bai Liyuan added, "Mom knows why you're angry. I left you home alone all day yesterday, which was really too much." "Mom knows where I went wrong. I won't do it again. Please forgive me, okay?"

Bai Liyuan said pitifully, her eyes filled with sorrow, even with tears welling up. My heart softened, and I nodded gently.

Seeing my actions, Bai Liyuan's worry turned to joy. She rushed over, hugged my neck, and murmured, "Shitou, please don't do this again. You scared Mom so much. Please don't torture Mom like this."

"Mom, I just hope we can go back to our old life. Can you do that?"

I gently stroked her hair. At that moment, she seemed like a little girl, her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, her smooth, long hair brushing against my face.

"Mmm, mmm, Mommy can do it. Shitou, you have to believe in Mommy. Mommy will do it,"

Bai Liyuan murmured to herself. As she spoke, she kissed my forehead and cheeks with her hot, moist lips. Her curvaceous, fragrant body nestled in my arms, but I felt no romantic thoughts. Although our bodies were very close, I felt the distance between us gradually widening.

My son and I returned to our simple life. Although I secretly intensified my investigation into her whereabouts and privacy, I must say that Bai Liyuan did exactly as she said. I found no trace of her contacting Lü Jiang, not even any records of unknown numbers on her phone. Had she really severed all ties with Lü Jiang? In other words, would Lü Jiang let her go so easily?

While these troubles weren't completely gone, I was still undergoing memory therapy. After my most recent session, Jiang Hua spoke with me privately, telling me I had to find clues related to my lost memories as soon as possible. Otherwise, the longer it went on, the more difficult it would be to recover the memories, and the less likely I would be to recover them.

I didn't relay Jiang Hua's warning to Bai Liyuan. Ever since that incident, I'd always felt a sense of wariness towards her. No matter how harmonious we appeared on the surface, I couldn't eliminate my distrust of her. I had to find clues independently; these were things I had to solve myself.

I re-examined my room, trying to find useful clues among the old belongings. My childhood clothes, toys, and school supplies were all neatly organized by Bai Liyuan, but they weren't very helpful for my memory recovery. It wasn't until I reopened the photo album my father had given me and re-examined the photos with their faces crossed out that I discovered something I hadn't noticed before.

Especially that photo of three men standing on the dock—I always felt the shortest man in the photo looked familiar. I looked at it several times. Once, I accidentally covered the short man's head with my finger, and the image of Tieguai Li (Iron-Crutch Li) jumped vividly out of the photo. No wonder, my impression of Tieguai Li was always that he was inseparable from his cane, and my preconceived notion ruled out a man with all four limbs. Plus, the Tieguai Li in this photo wasn't bald yet, so I didn't recognize him the first time I saw it.

Now that I've found a confirmed person, my immediate task is to ask him for details. Without further ado, I quickly told Bai Liyuan and left. She's been incredibly accommodating to me lately. Although I could tell she wanted to ask where I was going, she didn't say it, only repeatedly reminding me not to drink.

It's Saturday, and Tieguai Li usually stays home at this time, perhaps doing some of his usual activities with Zhong Xiaoqing. Thinking this, I walked to that familiar door. It had been a while since I'd been there, and the doorway was piled high with trash and clutter. I rang the doorbell, but there was no response. Was Tieguai Li not home? Or were they locked up and doing something so much that they couldn't hear the doorbell?

I rang the doorbell three more times, still no response. I walked to the end of the hallway and looked at the balcony; it was completely bare, without any clothes. Had Tieguai Li moved away? Somewhat annoyed, I took the elevator down, intending to go to Zhong Xiaoqing's house to find out what was going on, when unexpectedly, I ran into the person I was looking for at the bottom of the building.

I sat down in Tieguai Li's house and showed him the photos I had brought. He looked quite well today, and unusually, he was wearing a clean, old-fashioned suit. Although it still looked out of place on his deformed body, it wasn't intimidating. His beard was neatly trimmed, and his bald head was reddish, as if he was sweating a little. Where had he been? Why was he sweating even when he was walking?

He looked at the three photos with great interest for a while, then picked up the one from the dock and swung it around, saying, "That's right, this is me, Tieguai. Back then, I was still a normal person, not yet a cripple."

"Tieguai knows what I look like. I never had any photos taken in my early life, let alone after I became crippled. I never expected someone would take a picture of me back then."

His answer was what I expected, but that wasn't my purpose.

"Then do you know who the person whose face is crossed out in this photo is?"

"Xiao Gao, don't play tricks on me. Don't you know him?"

Tieguai Li seemed a little displeased.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, I truthfully explained my amnesia to him in a brief manner.

"Oh, I see. I always thought you were making fun of me. Is your illness easy to cure?"

Although Tieguai Li didn't understand my explanation of amnesia, he at least understood my current situation. He knew I couldn't remember many things from the past, so I needed his help to awaken my memories.

He rested one hand on his head, seemingly deep in thought, as he spoke slowly.

“When I was in my early thirties, I started working at the San Gang Wharf. I was just a temporary worker back then, with no benefits. But I was healthy and strong, and a skilled worker, so I didn’t earn much less than the regulars.”

“Your dad was a bit younger than me back then. He had just gotten married and had a big, healthy baby boy. He was always radiant and full of energy. But he’d always had a full beard, making him look like he was about forty. We all called him Tall Beard.” “You… Tall Beard, oh dear, I just got used to calling him that. You don’t mind, do you, Xiao Gao?”

I shook my head to indicate that it was fine and let him continue.

"To be honest, Gao Huzi is a really good brother. Although he operates a gantry crane, a specialized mechanical worker, his salary is twice that of us manual laborers, and his benefits are excellent. But he never puts on airs and gets along well with all the dockworkers. Everyone likes to go out for drinks and chats with him."

"The year Gao Huzi got married, the company had a batch of recruitment slots, and I managed to get one, but I'm still destined to be a manual laborer. At the same time, a young man in his early twenties came in. Because he was educated and quite nimble, he was assigned to operate the gantry crane with Gao Huzi."

"This guy is good at networking. He started making friends everywhere as soon as he joined, and he's very good at putting on a good show, so he has many connections. Gao Huzi is a righteous person. Although he's the senior, he takes good care of this guy, helping him improve his skills and giving him all the opportunities for excellence. Of course, this guy is also a sly one in front of Gao Huzi, always calling him 'Master' and running around doing his bidding."

"When your mother married Gao Huzi, everyone in our company was incredibly envious of him. Everyone said he was so lucky to have married such a beautiful, angelic woman. At first, some people made sarcastic remarks, saying that Gao Huzi was bound to be cuckolded with such a beautiful wife. Some even tried to flirt with your mother; men are all like that." "

But after a year, everyone unanimously praised your mother for her kindness and integrity. No matter what kind of man she was, he was turned away. Moreover, she was kind and friendly to everyone, capable in both domestic and external affairs, and helped Gao Huzi make his home prosperous. Now everyone said, 'Gao Huzi has a treasure in his home, a treasure more valuable than gold ingots.'" "Ever since this boy started dating Gao Huzi, he's been coming to your house all the time, calling your mother 'Master's Wife' so sweetly. To be honest, your mother is over 20 years old, and she's always been kind to everyone, so he's no exception. She often invites him to stay for meals and even helps him mend his clothes."

"Over the years, he's become quite familiar with your family. Gao Huzi is a straightforward person, and since he's the top salesperson, he's sometimes too busy with work to help your mother. For a while, the two of them were always together, which led to some gossip at work. But everyone knows your mother's character, so no one really took it seriously. After a few rumors circulated without any evidence, no one said anything more." "

That kid seemed to have heard something, and he became more discreet afterward. Plus, he somehow managed to curry favor with some leader and got transferred to a purchasing position. Back then, the purchasing position was a lucrative one. They traveled all over the country, and all expenses were reimbursed by the company. They handled everything from buying to selling equipment and materials. It was incredibly lucrative. This kid got this position without a word, and we guys were all very unhappy about it. But there was nothing we could do; that's just how corrupt the company was. Our constant complaining was useless."

"After that kid was transferred to another department, he didn't come to your house as often. He'd only occasionally drop by with seafood from out of town. By then, I'd lost a leg and was assigned to guard the compound, so I knew his whereabouts pretty well."

"Is he the tall guy in the photo?"

I pointed to the one in the center of the photo for Tieguai Li.

"That's right, it's him. We had just finished our shift that day, and your mother came over to bring Gao Huzi water. We took the opportunity to enjoy ourselves too."

Tieguai Li nodded in agreement.

"That kid isn't particularly handsome, just a bit tall. He's not as strong as me. His face is ordinary, but he looks honest. Actually, he's very quick-witted and knows how to charm young women and older women."

Tieguai Li's words were a little sarcastic. Although he couldn't see the man's face, his tall and well-proportioned physique was much better than Tieguai Li's.

"And what about the person in this photo? Can you recognize him?"

I handed him another photo, which had two people's faces blurred out.

"Isn't this the day Gao Huzi got married? They had a six-table banquet at the union club, mostly inviting their colleagues and such. Not many leaders came. The food wasn't great, but the wine was pretty good. I remember drinking two bottles of Luzhou Laojiao that day, and I got completely drunk when I got back, but I was genuinely happy."

"That was the first time I met your mother. She looked like a little girl, with skin as tender as a newborn baby's. She was still very thin back then. She was just wearing a red dress, without any makeup or anything, just her hair was tied up. She looked very feminine just standing there. She didn't look down on me, even though I was ugly. She kept calling me 'Big Brother,' which made me feel really good. She even persuaded me to have a couple more drinks."

Seeing that he was getting more and more excited and only focused on reminiscing about his feelings back then, I quickly steered the conversation back to the present and asked him to identify the two people whose faces had been blurred out.

He then focused his attention on the people in the picture, glanced at them a few times, and pointed to the one in the red tracksuit on the far right of the screen, saying, "That's the kid I was talking about earlier. He had only been Gao Huzi's apprentice for less than a year at that time. He was the most troublesome one at the banquet that day. He was either shouting for your mother to come and toast, or inciting everyone to toast Gao Huzi. Look, the two of them drinking the cross-cup wine in the photo were also instigated by him."

I pointed to the tall, thin man in the Zhongshan suit, and Tieguai Li immediately became agitated, his tone filled with anger.

“Damn it, I’d recognize this guy even if he were ashes. Everyone in the Sangang Company, except for a few officials, hates that good-for-nothing Lu Jiang. He ruined a perfectly good state-owned enterprise. Tens of thousands of people have been laid off for so long, and they haven’t even paid out their pensions. They have no conscience! What’s worse, the higher-ups are protecting him. We’ve complained and petitioned everywhere, but it’s no use.”

“At that time, he was just the director of the Party and Government Office, but he already had quite a bit of power. He was the highest-ranking official at the banquet and even gave some congratulatory remarks on behalf of the unit. Back then, I didn’t know him well; I just saw that the guy seemed to know him very well, hanging around him all night.”

I continued to press him, asking what kind of person Lu Jiang was, what his shortcomings and weaknesses were. This question suited Tieguai Li’s taste perfectly, and he began to talk incessantly.

"Lu Jiang usually acts all high and mighty. People say he got rich by marrying the previous manager's daughter. But the bad thing is, that woman can't have children. Lu Jiang is about my age. He has a wife, I don't, but neither of us can have children. Haha, what karma."

"I don't know much about him. I've heard from others that he loves being an official, but his lack of education is a disadvantage. He didn't develop as well as his younger brother. Later, he got a job in a company and is doing very well. He must be making a lot of money. His wife is a no-go. I guess he's not a bad woman either. But it's all just hearsay. Nobody has actually seen it."

"However, he was quite unusual that night. Like that kid, his eyes were always on your mother. Although he pretended to be very serious, I could tell from their eyes and gestures that they were talking about your mother all night. They just didn't seem to have any good intentions." After

listening to him for a while, I finally understood who the two people with their faces blurred out in the picture were. But Tieguai Li's words were still a bit unclear, so I continued to ask him, "You've been talking for so long, who exactly is this 'kid' you're talking about? What's his name?"

Chapter 24

"What, you still don't know who he is?"

Tieguai Li seemed very surprised that I asked this question, his eyes widening.

"Who is he? I really don't know. Didn't I tell you that I can't remember many things?" What

Tieguai Li said next was even more unexpected.

"That kid's name is Cheng Yang, he's the husband of that rotten bitch surnamed Zhong. Didn't you love going out to play with him when you were little? You even called him Uncle Cheng. You've forgotten all that?"

Tieguai Li stared at me seriously, his eyes filled with curiosity and something else I couldn't quite describe.

Cheng Yang, Uncle Cheng, I've tried searching my memory bank for this name, but to no avail. My childhood memories aren't very clear, but I still remember most of the names. Why is this name completely absent from my mind? Could it be from a lost memory?

And Zhong Xiaoqing, it turns out her husband is Cheng Yang, and that little boy named Cheng Xu must be their child. What did Cheng Yang do to offend Tieguai Li? Judging from his tone, he seems very resentful towards Cheng Yang and disapproves of his actions. Could these factors have contributed to his abuse of Zhong Xiaoqing?

Also, what's the story between Mom and Cheng Yang? According to Tieguai Li, he's very close to our family. What is Mom's attitude towards him? Are those rumors credible? The heads in those two photos were probably blurred out by Mom. Why would she blur out so many people? Is it because they trigger unpleasant memories for her?

Of these three men, Guo Qi had a budding romantic relationship with her during their youth, and now they live together; Lü Jiang was her husband's superior, and now they maintain an illicit extramarital affair; and what kind of person is Cheng Yang? What's his story with my mother?

"I can't remember this person at all. What did he do? What's his relationship with my mother?"

I had no choice but to ask Tieguai Li for help.

Tieguai Li glanced at me, his eyes seeming to hold a hint of pity. What did that mean? He said, "It seems your illness is quite serious; you've even forgotten this person."

"I don't know much about what happened in the first few years after he came here. I didn't have much of a relationship with this guy to begin with, and he never even looked at me properly. It wasn't until after I became disabled and started working as a gatekeeper in your compound that I started to notice him."

"This guy would skip work whenever he could, and he would avoid any hard or tiring work. The seat that Gao Huzi sat in was always occupied, and sometimes he wouldn't even get off once a day. He ate, drank, and relieved himself there, so of course he couldn't take care of anything at home."

"To be honest, your mother suffered a loss marrying Gao Huzi. Although Gao Huzi is a good man and loves his wife, he neglects everything else when he's working, leaving the children entirely to your mother. In the years I was in charge of the compound, besides me, your mother was always the first one up. Even before the sky was fully dark, I'd see your light come on, and your mother would be breastfeeding you. I'd quickly open the gate because I knew she'd be going out to buy breakfast soon. I knew Gao Huzi loved Old Liu's steamed buns, so I knew your mother would buy them for him early in the morning." "

After Gao Huzi finished breakfast and went to work, your mother would start the day's chores. Every morning, without fail, she'd clean the house and tidy up, which is why your house was always so clean, much better than your neighbors'. Then, after her afternoon nap, she'd have to go to the market to buy groceries. Back then, the farmers' market was far away, and public transportation wasn't as convenient as it is now. Sometimes, just the round trip would take your mother seven days..." "It's 8 kilometers, and she has to carry a shopping basket all the time. It must have been incredibly hard for her."

"After that guy surnamed Cheng showed up, he pretended to be very enthusiastic, coming to your house all the time to help your mother with chores, carrying her shopping basket, moving heavy items. Using this as an excuse, he would often ask Gao Huzi for leave from work. Gao Huzi knew what he was doing but didn't suspect him at all, treating him like a younger brother. Your mother was so young then, she didn't know how to guard against his pretentious flattery and often invited him to stay for meals. Sometimes, except for evenings, he stayed at your house longer than Gao Huzi."

"Later, rumors started circulating among the neighbors, and since you were older, your mother realized it wasn't right, so Cheng stopped being so clingy. Plus, he was transferred to be a purchasing agent and had to travel out of town frequently, so he wasn't as attentive anymore. But Gao Huzi was still so busy. Sometimes I saw your mother working so hard and couldn't help but want to help her, but she always politely refused."

"But I know she didn't refuse because she looked down on me. She was just afraid of gossiping from all the relatives, so I secretly helped her. When I saw that she was running out of coal briquettes, I went and got a cartload. When no one was around at night, I piled them up in front of your house."

"When I saw your mother go out to buy groceries, I waited at the entrance of the market she usually goes to. After she finished shopping, I carried the briquettes for her until she was almost home. Then I handed them back to her and told her to go home first. I waited until she was almost home before going back. On the bus, we pretended not to know each other and kept our distance so that no one would see us and your mother wouldn't feel embarrassed."

"Not long after, Gao Huzi had that incident, and your mother's life became even more difficult. Originally, she could live on Gao Huzi's salary alone, but now the pension she received was much less than before. Although I really wanted to help her, I could barely support myself. I had nothing of value except my physical strength, so I could only watch her worry. When you grew up, you had to go to school, which cost money. Your mother borrowed money from all sides, and every year she would only send you to register when the school year was about to start. Don't you remember?"

The words spoken by Tieguai Li were very heavy. Although I had learned a little about how difficult her life had been over the years from my mother, this was the first time I had heard the details of her life from someone else. These words touched me deeply, as if something had touched a box of memories that had been sealed for a long time. I gradually recalled some fragments of scenes.

I remember the first year after my father passed away, two weeks into summer vacation, I still hadn't gone back to school. My mother maintained her usual gentle and kind demeanor, but even I, being young and naive, could see the anxiety and unease in her heart. We couldn't afford the tuition for the semester. My mother, who always had a strong sense of pride, swallowed her pride and went to borrow money from acquaintances. However, our neighbors and friends, who were usually on good terms with us, all made excuses to refuse. My mother had no relatives or friends in the city, and my father's relatives, who had always looked down on my mother for coming from a rural area in the suburbs, were even less likely to lend a helping hand.

I remember one morning, my mother got up early and cooked a big pot of porridge. She told me to stay home and read, and not to go out and wander around. Then she went out without telling me where she was going. I obediently waited at home all day. I finished eating the porridge she had cooked in the morning, and it was already dark, but my mother still hadn't come home. I was worried and scared, but I didn't dare to go out to look for her because I didn't know where to look for her. I was also afraid that if I went out, my mother would come home and worry if she didn't see me. So I just leaned against the window and stared at the gate of the courtyard, hoping to see her. I stayed there and waited for a long time, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep against the wall.

That day, I slept until the next morning before being woken up. It turned out that my mother had been out for a day and a night and hadn't returned. She looked very unwell and exhausted, as if she hadn't had a proper rest. She was still wearing the same women's suit and knee-length skirt she had worn the day before, but the clothes, which had been neatly ironed, were now wrinkled and dirty. Her flesh-colored stockings had several tears, and her long hair, which had been held up with hairpins, was now loose and disheveled.

She felt very sorry for me when she saw me like that and quickly carried me to bed. She didn't leave the bedside until I fell asleep. Before I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, I vaguely remembered the sound of running water in the bathroom. When I woke up again, my mother had already showered, changed into her pajamas, and was sleeping next to me. She slept very soundly that day, as if she hadn't slept at all the previous night.

The next day, Mom took me to register at school. Although I really wanted to know where Mom got the money, I didn't dare ask her. I just felt that Mom definitely wouldn't like me asking her that question. But after that, I never saw Mom wearing that outfit again.

Tieguai Li's voice brought me back to my past memories. He didn't notice what I was thinking and continued talking to himself.

“You two really had a tough time during that period. I wanted to help, but I was powerless to do so. I didn’t expect that the man surnamed Cheng would reappear at this time. A few years ago, Lu Jiang had just become the company manager, and not long after

, he promoted the man surnamed Cheng to the position of director of the Party and Government Office, replacing him.” “Many people were dissatisfied with the fact that the man surnamed Cheng was promoted to an important position so quickly, but he had Lu Jiang backing him up. Who could fight against him? Moreover, during that time, Lu Jiang started to implement some kind of downsizing and efficiency improvement policy. Everyone was worried that they would be laid off and unemployed. The man surnamed Cheng happened to be in charge of making the layoff list, and everyone was even more afraid that he would put them on the list. Everyone tried their best to curry favor with him. Those with money gave him money, those with good looks offered themselves up to him, and some even offered their wives to him.”

"Once the final list was finalized, those laid off were either penniless and unattractive, or their wives were too ugly to be presentable. Not to mention the others who had conflicts with him or didn't like him. But he wouldn't dare do anything to me, the kidnapper. He knows the kidnapper has always disliked him, but the kidnapper isn't someone to be trifled with. If he doesn't even let me work as a guard at the compound, I'll make sure he can't stand up to pee for the rest of his life."

"The man surnamed Cheng also came to see your mother quite often during that time. Although he's become successful now, I know your mother won't treat him any differently. She still treats him the same as before. Once, I saw him run out of your house, looking very unhappy, with one side of his face swollen, as if your mother had slapped him. I guess he said or did something disrespectful to your mother. But I kept an eye on him nearby. If he did anything wrong, I definitely wouldn't let him off the hook."

"But not long after that, he reappeared. I don't know what tricks he used, but your mother's attitude towards him changed a lot. It was as if she had forgotten what happened that time. The man surnamed Cheng came even more frequently, and he always chose to come when you were at school. Each time he came, he would stay at your house for a long time. Several times I even saw him driving his company Santana around on the street, with your mother sitting in his car."

"At that time, I was very puzzled as to why your mother was getting so close to the man surnamed Cheng. Several times I asked her if the man surnamed Cheng had threatened her, and I told her that I could beat him up so that he wouldn't dare to come to our house again. But she always shook her head and said that it was nothing, that the man surnamed Cheng was a good person, and that I was prejudiced against him."

"I was also furious at the time, and seeing how close she was to the man surnamed Cheng, I was a little jealous. I actually asked her if she was looking for a man after her husband died, and I even said that she must have taken benefits from the man surnamed Cheng, and that she was now the man surnamed Cheng's mistress and was only speaking up for him."

"What I said really angered your mother. She even cried. I'd never seen her get angry or yell at anyone before, but that day she was genuinely furious. Even though she yelled, it was still softly, but she said to me in a very agitated tone that I was too petty, always thinking the worst of people, and that I should never interfere in her affairs again."

"Maybe I am indeed a bit narrow-minded. Seeing how she didn't believe me, as if I were less honest than that guy surnamed Cheng, I got stubborn and said on the spot that she could do whatever she wanted, since she didn't have a husband and nobody had the right to interfere. After that, we never spoke again."

"Actually, I regretted it as soon as I said it, but I couldn't bring myself to apologize to your mother. I could only secretly curse myself for being an idiot. But I really can't stop caring about her; I still keep an eye on her actions."

"Did you see anything inappropriate between her and Cheng Yang?"

My voice held a hint of bitterness.

“I can’t be with Guai Zi all the time, so I didn’t see if anything happened between her and Cheng Yang. But I think it wouldn’t be surprising if something did happen between them.”

Tieguai Li’s tone became a little cautious. He hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“However, there’s something that has been on my mind for many years, and I still can’t figure it out.”

He hesitated for a moment, and I pressed him to tell me what it was.

"Ever since I argued with your mother, she avoids me when she comes and goes in the yard. I'm too ashamed to talk to her, so we act like we don't know each other. If we bump into each other, we just walk away. But I still secretly keep an eye on her interactions with that guy surnamed Cheng, afraid that he might bully her."

"About six months after that argument, one morning I drank some alcohol and then fell asleep in the house. I woke up very late, so when your mother went out to buy groceries, I didn't follow her. Usually, I follow her from a distance and only feel at ease when she's finished buying the groceries and safely returned home."

"When I woke up, it was already past six in the afternoon. I saw that you were the only one at home, but your mother wasn't there. I asked you where she was, and you stupidly said she went out to buy groceries. She usually leaves at 2 pm and should be back by 3:30 at the latest. How could she have been gone for so long?"

"I immediately sensed something was wrong, worried something might have happened to her outside, so I rushed to the market she usually went to. But when I got there, I didn't see her. There's only one bus that goes from there to our compound, and the bus stops running at six o'clock. If I missed it, I'd have to walk home. I ran back to the bus stop, and sure enough, the last bus had already left."

"I had no choice but to drag my useless leg slowly home. That stretch of road took me a full hour. Just as I passed the bus terminus, I suddenly saw someone get off one of the buses that had all finished their runs. Wasn't that the guy surnamed Cheng? He was walking casually like usual that day, heading in the opposite direction from the compound. I didn't think much of why he was taking the bus."

"However, as I got a few steps closer, another woman got off the bus and walked towards our compound. I was stunned. Wasn't that your mother? What was she doing on that bus?"

“Logically, the last bus should have arrived an hour ago. The driver and passengers should have already gone home. Why did your mother get off the bus at this time, and right after Cheng Yang? Did they come together? I didn’t dare ask her, so I just secretly followed her.”

“It was getting late. Your mother was wearing her usual clothes, the same ones you saw that bitch surnamed Zhong wearing last time. She was wearing 5-centimeter high sandals, right? Her basket didn’t have much food, but she walked very slowly, with a limp, looking like she was carrying a heavy load.”

“I really wanted to help her, but I was afraid she wouldn’t listen to me, so I just followed her from a distance until she got home.”

“Didn’t you think of going to that bus to see if there was anything strange there?”

I couldn’t help but ask him.

"Oh dear, I was just regretting it. That cripple's brain is so slow! I lay in bed thinking for ages before finally remembering to go back and check, but the bus station was already closed. And with my limp, I couldn't climb over the wall. The next day, I got on the bus again, but the driver had already washed it thoroughly, so I couldn't see anything."

Tieguai Li's words stirred up a memory. A part of my mind seemed to ignite, and as the flames of memory rose, the scene from that day gradually surfaced before my eyes.

It was a Sunday, and just as Tieguai Li had said, I stayed home doing my homework. I didn't even notice my mother hadn't returned for so long until it gradually got dark and my stomach started rumbling. Only then did my mother appear at the door.

As soon as Mom entered the door, she threw the shopping basket aside and slumped onto the sofa, looking very uncomfortable. Tieguai Li said that her clothes that day were correct, but he was too far away to see how disheveled her clothes were. Her gray chiffon jacket was torn, exposing her slender, white arms. Her white strapless top was askew, and the straps of her pink bra had slipped out. Her legs were weakly spread apart, and her apricot pleated skirt was pulled up above her waist, revealing even a corner of her pale white underwear. She looked utterly disheveled. I had never seen Mom so unkempt before. You see, Mom always emphasized that no matter how rich or poor our family was, she had to look presentable when she went out. This was the first time I had ever seen Mom so unconcerned about her appearance.

What surprised me even more was that there were two red marks on my mother's fair and rounded knees that day. The marks were clearly visible and bright red, as if my mother's knees had rubbed too much against something hard, and it looked like the friction was quite severe. My mother must have been in a lot of pain walking back like that. The tear stains at the corners of my mother's eyes confirmed my guess. My mother covered her small mouth with her slender hand and was secretly sobbing. I was very flustered and at a loss at the time. I only knew how to try to comfort my mother with my childish words and ask her not to cry anymore, but I didn't know to ask my mother why she was crying. Now, looking back, my mother must have experienced something extremely painful that day, which is why she, who is usually very strong

, shed tears. But my mother didn't want to say anything to me that day. Indeed, what's the use of telling a child who doesn't understand her misfortunes? She just silently finished crying, and then, with her tired body and swollen eyes, she went to cook for me. After I finished eating, she locked herself in the bathroom and took a long shower. I can't remember what happened after that.

Tieguai Li's description awakened some lost memories in me. Although it was just a small fragment, it showed that my memories could be recovered. However, more clues and stimuli were needed to fully awaken them.

However, I finally figured out a few things. First, the people whose photos were blurred out were my father's former colleagues. One of them was my mother's former lover, Lü Jiang. The other person was someone I didn't expect—he was Zhong Xiaoqing's husband, Cheng Yang. And from Tieguai Li's story, I learned that my mother and Cheng Yang were once very close. Something must have happened between them. These things were probably hidden deep in my lost memories; otherwise, how could I have no recollection of this person?

What puzzled me most was the incident Tieguai Li mentioned. What happened to my mother that day that made her so heartbroken and humiliated? Why had my mother never mentioned it? What did this have to do with Cheng Yang?

I was about to continue questioning Tieguai Li when my phone suddenly rang. It was my mother calling. When I answered, the voice on the other end was very anxious.

"Shitou, where are you? Come home quickly."

"What do you want? Don't come any closer, you pervert!"

My mother's voice suddenly rose. These words weren't directed at me.

"Mom, what happened? I'm coming right back,"

I asked hurriedly.

"My son is nearby, he'll be back soon,"

Mom was still talking to someone else, I don't know if she heard me.

"Get out of here!"

The voice on the other end of the phone was very noisy, Mom seemed to be arguing with someone, a man's voice was vaguely saying something, I recognized the voice but couldn't remember who it was.

"You slut..."

"Stop pretending...don't you want a man?"

"I'm going to make you feel good today."

The man's voice on the other end was intermittent, saying insults to Mom, it seemed he had already started to hit her.

Then I heard the sound of fabric being torn, Mom screamed.

"Ah, no...don't!"

"Slap, slap..."

Then there was a continuous sound of flesh entanglement, it seemed Mom was having a physical fight with the other person, then the phone seemed to be thrown to the floor, only a series of busy tones could be heard.

I felt a rush of heat to my head. The thought of my mother being humiliated by a man at home made me unable to sit still any longer. Without even saying anything to Tieguai Li, I rushed out the door and ran towards home.

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