Bei Bei and I followed Mom back to the rental apartment. Mom looked as composed as ever and didn't say much along the way, so I naturally didn't dare speak out of turn.
Although it was Bei Bei's first time here, she was too upset to appreciate the new place.
The rental apartment was quite spacious, with exactly three bedrooms. Mom pointed expressionlessly to the room on the north side and said to me, "You'll stay here." Then, pointing to the room diagonally opposite, she said to Bei Bei, "You'll stay in this one."
Since we had arrived so suddenly, the rooms were empty, with no furniture at all. Bei Bei's eyes were still red, and she hadn't yet recovered from the shock. She stood at the doorway of her room, sniffling quietly.
Mom said coldly, "Bei Bei will go back to school tonight. You'll have to make do for now. Tomorrow, I'll have someone deliver two beds."
We naturally didn't dare voice any objections.
I hadn't brought much luggage—just one bag—so I helped Bei Bei move her things into her room first.
After finishing, I saw Mom standing at the doorway, arms crossed, looking at me with a cold expression.
Mom was definitely still angry. I obediently stood before her, bracing myself for the storm of fury.
But Mom didn't hit me or even scold me. She just said coldly, "Didn't you say you wanted to get into Tsinghua? Fine. From now on, you'll stay at home and study. You're not allowed to go anywhere."
"Okay," I nodded obediently, not daring to argue.
Bei Bei had to return to school in the afternoon. She was still crying when she left, but she didn't dare go to Mom for comfort. I could only hug her and offer some encouragement.
Mom seemed relatively stable emotionally. Unlike the hysterical divorcees in TV dramas, she didn't descend into madness. In the afternoon, she even went to the supermarket to buy ingredients and cooked a table full of delicious dishes for dinner—hardly something you'd expect from a woman whose marriage had just fallen apart.
Maybe it had to do with her personality. Having lived with dignity for half her life, she maintained her elegance even in divorce.
After dinner, I sat by the coffee table to review my lessons. Mom took off her shoes, curled her legs up on the sofa, and leaned back, her slender fingers scrolling through her phone as if nothing had happened.
Seeing Mom so calm, I didn't know whether to feel relieved or worried.
I spent the night on the sofa, tossing and turning as the events of the day replayed in my mind over and over. Sleep was impossible.
By 5:30 a.m., I finally gave up and got up. After washing up, I went downstairs to buy breakfast.
When I returned, I kept the breakfast warm and sat quietly by the coffee table, waiting.
About half an hour later, Mom woke up.
She was as composed as ever, meticulously washing up and getting ready, though the dark circles under her eyes made her look tired.
I figured she must have had a sleepless night, just like me.
When Mom saw the breakfast I'd bought, she glanced at me but didn't say anything. She sat down and started eating with me. I kept my head down, wondering if I should say something to comfort her.
Before I could speak, Mom broke the silence first: "Did you sleep okay last night?"
"Yeah, okay," I nodded, then let out an ill-timed yawn.
Mom shot me a sidelong glance and said coldly, "From now on, it'll be just the three of us living together."
"Mhm." I nodded mechanically.
"You've said before that once you get into college, you'll move out. But before that, I need to set some rules for you."
There was a hint of warning in Mom's tone. Trembling, I put down my chopsticks, straightened my posture, and listened as she continued.
"You are not allowed to enter my room."
"Mhm."
"You are not allowed to enter Beibei's room either."
"Mhm."
"And..." Mom suddenly narrowed her sharp, alluring phoenix eyes, glancing at me with a piercing look. Clenching her teeth, she spoke as if forcing the words out through gritted teeth, "Let me say it again—if you dare lay a hand on Beibei, I'll strangle you."
That sounded familiar.
I lowered my head and cautiously replied, "Don't worry, Mom. Beibei is my sister. I would never hurt her."
"Is Annuo not your sister?"
Clearly, Mom was referring to the incident with Annuo.
I frowned, looking pitiful as I said, "Mom, I really didn't know she was my sister back then. I thought she was just some girl offering paid services. I was confused and ended up... being seduced by her."
"Fine, even if you didn't know. What about Lu Yiyi? Isn't she your girlfriend? How could you cheat on her with another girl?"
I had no answer to that. To hide my panic, I kept scratching my head.
"What are you thinking about all day? Your mind is filled with nothing but dirty thoughts. Have you ever considered how Yiyi would feel? If her mother finds out about this, she'll skin you alive."
I couldn't help but think of Aunt Rong's stern yet beautiful face.
Honestly, if Yiyi found out, I might be able to talk my way out of it. But if Aunt Rong found out, it would be a real problem—just like Mom said, I'd be lucky to escape with my life.
I glanced at Mom furtively and asked nervously, "You... you'll keep this a secret, right? You won't tell Aunt Rong?"
Mom glared at me, snorted, and said with a look of disdain, "Even if I wanted to talk about your mess, I'd be too ashamed to bring it up."
"It's all Annuo's fault! She's the one who caused all this trouble!"
"It's all her fault? You have no responsibility at all?"
I quickly nodded, "I do, I do. It's my fault."
After a moment of thought, Mom snorted, "That girl really isn't one to be trifled with. Who knows what trouble she'll stir up in the future." She glanced at me again, "You, a grown man, always bragging about how capable you are, yet you let a little girl play you like a fool. Aren't you ashamed?"
I had to admit, I did feel a bit ashamed.
"From now on, you are not to have any contact with her." Mom's tone was resolute.
I quickly raised my hand and swore solemnly, "I promise, I never want to see her again for the rest of my life."
Mom sighed softly and didn't say anything more.
I stole another glance at Mom. In the morning light, her fair and delicate face seemed veiled in a soft haze, giving her an exceptionally moving beauty. Though her expression remained calm, her dark eyes held a hint of hidden gloom and weariness.
I couldn't help but ask, "Mom... are you really going to divorce Dad?"
Mom's expression remained unchanged as she casually replied, "What else can I do?"
"This whole thing has been a misunderstanding from start to finish. If we can find a way to explain it, won't that solve everything?"
"How do you explain it?" Mom glanced at me sideways and scoffed. "Are you going to explain it to him?"
I couldn't respond. I had been too naive and presumptuous. How could these things ever be explained clearly to Dad?
Moreover, letting Dad know the whole story would be another kind of cruelty to him.
"When there are too many misunderstandings, there's no need to explain. Even if we did clear things up, what difference would it make? Does our family even have a reason to exist anymore?"
I had no words to reply.
After breakfast, Mom and I left home separately, just like any other day, heading to work and school.
When I returned from school in the afternoon, Mom was already home early. From the sounds, she seemed busy in the kitchen.
On the coffee table lay a red booklet, emblazoned with three gilded characters: Divorce Certificate.
A wave of inexplicable sorrow and melancholy washed over me.
During the day at school, I had imagined countless possibilities—maybe Mom had something come up and didn't go; maybe Dad had a last-minute change of heart; maybe the civil affairs bureau suddenly caught fire; or maybe, with just one look, Mom and Dad remembered the sweet times of their youth, smiled at each other, and...
Unfortunately, imagination is just imagination.
I walked into the kitchen and saw Mom with her hair tied up, wearing an apron, bustling around the counter.
I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know how to begin.
Mom turned and noticed me. "You're back. Perfect timing—come help me out a bit."
Her expression was calm, her face as composed as ever, as if nothing had happened. On the counter were vegetables, mushrooms, chicken, duck, fish, and meat—a whole array of ingredients. It looked like she was preparing a lavish feast.
I walked over and washed my hands. Mom pointed to the vegetables and said, "Clean these."
I started helping, but my eyes kept stealing glances at Mom.
She didn't seem as pained or resentful as I had imagined. Instead, she appeared somewhat relaxed and at ease.
I thought to myself, perhaps the events of that night had weighed on her for too long. Facing Dad, she must have felt guilty, yet unable to confide in anyone.
Now that they had gone their separate ways, it might have been a relief for her.
Maybe that was it. If my guess was right, then divorce might not be such a bad thing for Mom after all.
But the one responsible for all this was, after all, me—the unfilial son. In the end, I was the one who deserved to die a thousand deaths.
I hung my head in silence. Mom glanced at me and asked, "Why the long face?"
I forced a bitter smile. "My parents just got divorced. Should I be laughing hysterically?"
Mom gave a dismissive laugh. "It's just a divorce. The sky isn't falling."
"You're really taking it well, Mom."
"What, should I take sleeping pills and kill myself?"
Though Mom seemed relaxed and composed on the surface, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off—that she wasn't quite her usual self. But I couldn't pinpoint exactly what was different.
Just as the two of us were busily frying, stir-frying, and cooking in the kitchen, the doorbell rang. I froze and looked at Mom. She shot me a glance and said, "Go answer the door. What are you standing there for?"
"Who is it?" I asked suspiciously.
"You'll know when you open the door. Why ask?"
I set down what I was doing and wiped my hands on my clothes. Mom scolded, "Where are you wiping them? It's not like you're the one doing the laundry, right?"
In the past, I would have found her nagging annoying, but now it sounded like heavenly music to my ears, truly lifting my spirits.
I happily skipped over to open the door, only to find Aunt Rong and Lu Yiyi standing there, carrying a large flower basket.
I paused for a moment before quickly stepping aside to let them in.
Aunt Rong was dressed simply and elegantly, not as imposing as she usually was. After looking around the living room, she remarked, "Renting such a big place for just the three of you—your mom must be quite the wealthy lady."
I glanced at Lu Yiyi, then at the flower basket she was holding, and asked curiously, "What's the meaning of this?"
Lu Yiyi looked at Aunt Rong before lowering her voice and saying to me, "My mom said it's to celebrate your mom regaining her freedom and becoming single again."
"Alright then, I'll thank you on my mom's behalf," I said with a bitter smile, taking the flower basket. I wasn't too familiar with flowers, so I leaned in to smell them—they were quite fragrant. "What kind of flowers are these?" I asked.
"You don't even know that? They're tulips," Lu Yiyi said, rolling her eyes at me before adding, "I heard from my mom that Aunt Yun likes tulips the most."
Hearing this, I froze and looked at her.
Lu Yiyi asked, puzzled, "Why are you looking at me?"
"Ah! It's nothing," I said, snapping out of it and placing the flower basket in a prominent spot.
Aunt Rong took a tour around the house before finally heading into the kitchen to chat with my mom. I sat on the sofa with Lu Yiyi, making small talk.
"Your dad and mom were doing just fine—why did they suddenly get divorced?"
I replied casually, "It's not something I can explain in just a few words, but it has a little to do with you."
"Huh? It has to do with me? What does your parents' divorce have to do with me?"
I thought to myself, if it weren't for that prank you pulled that night, switching my mom into your room, I wouldn't have ended up with her, and none of the trouble that followed would have happened.
"Forget it, you wouldn't understand anyway."
"Cut it out! I'm not buying your nonsense," Lu Yiyi said, thinking I was joking. After a moment, she asked, "Could it be related to that wild sister of yours?"
"Hmm..." I pondered for a moment before nodding. "It is related."
"I knew it," Lu Yiyi said, snapping her fingers. "I knew that little girl was up to no good."
Just then, my mom called me over to help. I quickly got up and went into the kitchen, following her instructions to bring the dishes to the living room.
About half an hour later, dinner began. Aunt Rong was the first to raise her glass, clinking it with my mom's. With a smile, she said, "Congratulations on regaining your single status. Freedom is waving at you."
My mom tilted her long, fair neck back and downed the wine in one go. Aunt Rong asked, "How does it feel?"
My mom smiled. "Spicy."
"I wasn't asking about the wine—I meant, how does it feel to be divorced?"
My mom twirled the empty glass in her hand, looking at Aunt Rong, and asked in return, "How did you feel when you got divorced?"
Aunt Rong chuckled. "Me? I felt relieved, finally free from having to serve that bastard. It was like holding my breath underwater for a long time and suddenly surfacing, taking a huge gulp of air."
Mom raised her glass with a smile and said, "Yes, our situations are quite similar. I feel the same way."
"Actually, I've been wanting to tell you for a while now—your family's... oh, I shouldn't call it 'your family' anymore. Ling Donghai is such a bore, never saying or smiling. His only supposed virtue, being honest, is just an act. He even had an illegitimate child outside." Aunt Rong said as she poured more wine.
"Hey—! Why bring that up now? Let's not talk about him anymore." Mom gave a bitter smile and downed the wine in her glass in one gulp.
"They say marriage is the tomb of love. Now that you're divorced, maybe love will come back to life." Aunt Rong chuckled and asked, "How about this? While you're still young and beautiful, I can introduce someone to you. I guarantee he'll be a hundred times better than Ling Donghai."
Hearing this, I grew anxious, afraid Mom might agree, and quickly chimed in, "If there's such a great man, why haven't you found one for yourself, Aunt Rong?"
Aunt Rong was left speechless by my remark, pausing for a moment, unable to come up with a retort.
Mom couldn't help but burst out laughing, then shot me a glare, afraid Aunt Rong might take offense, and scolded, "Adults are talking. What are you, a child, interrupting for?"
"Just speaking my mind, based on the situation."
Aunt Rong glared at me and said, "You and your dad are two extremes. One's like a wooden stump—you can't get a peep out of him even with three whacks—and the other's like a clapper, rattling on without being prompted. Neither of you gives your mom any peace of mind."
After being scolded like that, I lowered my head and stayed silent.
Lu Yiyi nudged me under the table, giving me a smug grin. I pretended to glare at her fiercely.
If there's anyone in the world I wouldn't dare sass, it's Aunt Rong.
Mom said, "Actually, he's been behaving much better lately, a lot better than before."
I didn't expect Mom to praise me. Raising my glass filled with soda, I smiled and said, "Mom, let me toast you."
Mom didn't take it kindly, rolling her eyes at me and asking, "What are you toasting me for? Congratulating me on regaining my freedom?"
"I'm toasting to your happiness in everything and eternal youth and beauty."
Mom snorted, "If you didn't annoy me, maybe I really could be happy in everything and stay young and beautiful forever."
Holding my glass with both hands, I said, "I promise I'll never cause you trouble again. I swear."
"With that mouth of yours... hmph! Since you were little, how many times have you sworn to me? When have you ever kept your word?" Even as she said this, Mom eventually raised her glass and clinked it with mine.
"Mom, I'm serious. I feel like I've been maturing a lot lately, becoming more steady." Seeing Mom's skeptical expression, I quickly added, "If you don't believe me, ask Yiyi. Right, Yiyi?"
Lu Yiyi rolled her eyes, thought for a moment seriously, and nodded, "There does seem to be some change. At the very least, he can focus better and actually study now."
Eager to claim credit, I quickly said, "See, see? The witness is right here."
Aunt Rong scoffed, "After going through so much, if you still don't wise up, you might as well not live."
Lu Yiyi still had to go home to review her lessons, so she left first after eating her fill. I stayed by my mother and Aunt Rong's side, watching them drink and listening to them chat, all the way until midnight.
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