Chapter 1

“Da, da, da, da...”

There was a clear and loud sound of high heels hitting the floor in the corridor of the teaching building. The sound was getting closer and closer, and my heart beat faster and faster. I was too familiar with such imposing footsteps.

A moment later, a beautiful woman in a black business suit walked into the office. She had a delicate and fair oval face, long black hair tied behind her head, slender almond-shaped eyes, curved eyebrows, a delicate nose, red lips in the color of bean paste, bright eyes, deep and sharp, with the sexy charm unique to mature women.

She was holding a Prada bag in her hand and wearing a slim-fit suit with a deep V neckline that revealed a white shirt underneath. She had a slender waist and a round and full chest. She was wearing a black straight skirt, flesh-colored stockings, and black pointed high-heeled shoes. Her butt was perky and her legs were well-proportioned and slender, full of the intelligence and competence of a working woman.

Her name is Mary, and she is ... my mother.

My mother had a cold face. She walked towards me directly after entering the door. Without saying a word, she threw the bag in her hand and hit me on the head. I quickly lowered my head to dodge and raised my hands to block. The head teacher quickly stood between us and persuaded us: “ Mother William, Mother William, don’t be angry, don’t be angry...”

My mother reached over the head teacher’s shoulder and hit me hard on the head with her bag. It didn’t hurt, but it was scary.

It seems that mother is really angry.

An hour later, sitting in the car, my mother held the steering wheel with both hands, tapping it again and again with her slender fingers. She didn’t say anything, but the depressing atmosphere made me even more nervous.

After holding it back for a long time, I finally couldn’t hold it back any longer and started to make small talk: “Hey, your car ... just got washed, it smells good, just like you.”

My mother didn’t say anything, she just looked at me sideways with no expression on her face. I smiled awkwardly and said, “Mom, I was wrong, I was really wrong.”

The mother quickly denied, “No, no, no, you are not wrong. I am wrong. It is my fault as a mother. I should not have given birth to you in the first place. I should have gritted my teeth and not given birth to you.”

I said with a grin,” That’s impossible.”

Mom frowned and asked, “Let me ask you, what were you and Patricia doing hiding in the storage room?”

I hung my head and muttered quietly, “No, nothing happened. We were playing hide-and-seek and she and I happened to hide together.”

“William, you just keep saying such nonsense. You are already in the third year of high school, and you are still playing hide-and-seek? Why don’t I believe it?”

“Believe it or not,” I muttered.

“What?”

“No, isn’t retro popular now? Hey, didn’t you go to the disco with my Aunt Linda a while ago?”

“Reviving the ancient world.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, you are a department manager after all, how can you speak so uncivilized?”

“I am well-mannered. I didn’t slap you in the face, so I am well-mannered enough.” Mom sighed, put her hand on her forehead, and said tiredly: “Why did I give birth to a thing like you? You make me so worried.”

I leaned my body and rested my head on her arm, singing with a playful smile: “There is only one good mother in the world, and a child with a mother is like a treasure. Once you throw yourself into your mother’s arms, you will become a fool from then on.”

My mother slapped me hard on the head and pushed me up. She looked at me seriously and I looked at her. After a long pause, she burst into laughter, but immediately stopped laughing and scolded me harshly, “You are so dishonest all day long. What a moral character you have.”

“How can I not be serious? I am serious. You see, the gender ratio is seriously unbalanced now. Many older men can’t find a marriage partner. Benjamin from the building next to us is almost 40 and still single. If I start dating now, I might get married before I graduate from high school. You will have grandchildren before you graduate from college. You see, you can become a grandmother in your 40s and enjoy the happiness of family. Ask the girls around you, are they envious?”

“Oh my God.” Mom covered her face and shook her head gently: “You are getting more and more horrible. If you keep talking, I should be collecting my pension and dancing in the square with the old men and women in the community.”

“Well, I think this is possible. When the time comes, you can grab my dad, carry a tape recorder, and play it there. Turn up the volume to the maximum, square dance king, old Dicks. Come on, draw a dragon with me on your left, and on your right, draw a rainbow. Come on, draw with me on your left.

Rainbow, on your right, draw a dragon.” I sang and waved my arms.

My mother looked at me sideways for a long time and muttered, “I really should beat you up.”

The car started and turned two streets. I realized that the route was wrong and asked, “This is not the way home. Where are we going?”

“Barbara’s school is closed today, so take her home.”

“Do I need to pick him up? He’s so old, and he can’t go home by himself.”

My mother turned her head and glared at me: “How old are you? You still call the school to ask your parents to come. You still have the nerve to criticize others.”

“I am the eldest son in the family. I will inherit the family business in the future, and you and your wife need to devote all your efforts to it. She, the second child, can be raised freely.”

The mother was anxious: “If you keep nagging me, I will kick you out of the car and send you back home!”

I quickly shut up and turned my head away. After a long silence, I couldn’t help but be curious, so I turned around and asked carefully, “Mom, why aren’t you talking much today? Why don’t you scold me like you usually do?”

“Why, if I don’t scold you, you will feel uncomfortable all over, right?”

“No, I’m just ... a little curious. You see, whenever I make the slightest mistake, you say, William, are you itching for trouble again? William, do you want a beating? William, turn your butt around!”

The mother raised her eyebrows and said,” William, you want to be beaten, don’t you? I’m telling you, I’m annoyed. There are a lot of things going on in the company, and you’re still causing trouble for me. Do you think I’m living too comfortably?”

“Then tell me what’s bothering you. Maybe I can help you out and help you solve your problems.”

“If you keep your mouth shut and don’t say anything, you’ll be doing me the greatest favor.”

“Look, you get anxious when I tell you something. If I didn’t know, I would think you had entered menopause early.”

My mother honked the horn twice in a hurry. I guess the car in front thought she was experiencing road rage and moved to the side in fear.

My mother didn’t allow me to talk anymore. After a while, she couldn’t help asking, “Tell me the truth, did you and Patricia have sex?”

“Which one?”

“Don’t play dumb with me. Do you think I don’t know about the magazines you hide under your bed?”

“No, I’m still a child. Don’t look at us innocent boys and girls with your lustful eyes as adults.”

“So what did you just say? Maybe I’m going to be a grandmother soon?”

“I’m not kidding. How can a young and sexy beauty like you become a grandmother?”

“Don’t talk nonsense to me. I’m warning you, if you dare to give me a child, I will physically destroy you.”

“Oh, how could that be possible? We are not children. The safety measures are very good. Unless we bought fake or inferior products, there will be no accidents.”

My mother was startled when she heard this, and she turned her head and glared at me. I realized that I had let something slip, and I slapped my lips a few times, and said anxiously: “ Mom, you are wrong, you are trying to trick me.”

“I’m trying to trick you into saying something. You just keep talking non-stop.”

“Okay, I won’t talk anymore. I’ll be mute, okay?”

I wanted to end the topic right there, but my mother didn’t fall for it. She seemed to have caught my weakness and asked, “What did you mean just now? Did you have sex with Patricia?”

I covered my mouth, turned away and said nothing.

My mother reached out and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me vigorously: “Talk, talk, you are pretending to be mute.”

I pointed ahead and said, “Look at the road, look at the road. You are driving. If you don’t obey the traffic rules, the police will give you a ticket later.”

“Just tell me what you mean. Did you have sex with Patricia?”

“Yes, yes, yes, that’s enough.” I was anxious, sat up straight and said, “What else do you want to hear? Let me tell you the details of the process?”

My mother was stunned by my question. She was stunned for a long time, raised her hand and slapped me on the head, and said angrily: “You are still right, aren’t you? You are in the third year of high school and will take the college entrance examination soon. If you don’t put your mind on studying and keep thinking about this all day long, how can you study well?”

“I’m a good student. I’m always in the top ten in the class.”

“Then ... if you work harder, you’ll be in the top ten in your grade.”

“I asked you before if you objected to me dating, and you said you didn’t.”

“I ... I don’t object, but I didn’t ask you to ... do that so early.”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Now that the matter has been settled, what do you think we should do?”

“Ah, so it’s all my fault, isn’t it?”

“Then you don’t have to blame yourself.” I chuckled.

“You bastard!” Mom got so angry she started swearing.

“Then you are a bastard mother.” When it comes to quarrels, I have never been afraid of anyone, including my mother. It’s a pity...

My mother raised her hand and slapped me on the back of my head.

I rubbed the sore spot and said unconvincedly, “Every time I can’t win an argument with you, you hit me. This is naked hegemony and imperialism.”

“I’m your mother, so I’m hegemonic and imperialist, so what? Since I called you dad, you can still be hegemonic to me.” She glanced at me, saw me rolling my eyes, and said, “Are you dissatisfied? This month’s pocket money is gone.”

“I’m convinced, I’m convinced.” I nodded quickly and smiled, then changed the subject: “Hey~! I just noticed that you ... did you ... wash your face this morning. Am I right? Just tell me if I’m right?”

“Nonsense, who doesn’t wash their face in the morning?”

“Your washing is different from usual. You must have washed it very carefully today. And your makeup is very unique and elegant, low-key and luxurious. You have dressed up carefully. Are you going to meet someone? Do you have a date?”