Chapter 56: A Mother

Zhu Guangfa always acted foolish in front of Du Xiuzhi, but that was only the face he showed to the one he loved—he was not stupid.

He was not a naive child still underage, nor a fresh graduate brimming with innocent stupidity.

He entered society at the age of teens, and he did not believe in love without reason in this world.

Every surprise and gain must come with a cost.

That was why he spoke those words, filled with worry.

Du Xiuzhi gave him a look and said, “Nonsense, don’t go making up stories about Mr. Shen. You don’t know how formidable he is—he’s simply kind-hearted and pities us.”

Zhu Guangfa scratched his head; clearly, Du Xiuzhi’s words had not convinced him.

Du Xiuzhi sighed and explained again, “What do you think Mr. Shen could possibly want from you?”

Zhu Guangfa turned his gaze toward Du Xiuzhi.

Du Xiuzhi instantly understood his thoughts—if she were still alive, her face would have flushed red with anger.

“What are you imagining? With Mr. Shen’s abilities, if he truly had ill intentions toward me, he could have taken me away outright—he’d never let me come back to see you.”

“Xiuzhi, don’t be angry—I’ve watched too many TV dramas; it’s just the influence of television,” Zhu Guangfa quickly apologized.

Du Xiuzhi glanced at him, then said, “Later, buy some gifts. When Mr. Shen finishes work, we’ll go together to properly thank him.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Guangfa immediately broke into a bright smile.

He knew perfectly well his wife was trying to reassure him.

Zhu Tingting had just arrived at school and taken out her books when the teacher walked in through the door.

The previously noisy classroom instantly fell silent.

“Zhu Tingting,” the teacher called from the doorway.

At the sound, all the classmates turned their eyes toward Zhu Tingting.

Zhu Tingting’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she became flustered and awkward.

“Your father is looking for you—he’s waiting outside the gate.” Zhu Tingting immediately stood up.

“Take your backpack too—your father has taken leave for you.”

Hearing this, Zhu Tingting hurriedly packed her books and stationery back into her backpack.

Because all the classmates kept staring, her cheeks burned fiercely; she felt prickly all over and stumbled out of the classroom, nearly falling—prompting another burst of laughter from the class.

Even from afar, she could still hear the classmates whispering.

Is her father really part of the underworld?

Will her father be dragged here by police to see her one last time?

Will her father come swinging a knife from the southern city to the northern city?

…

Zhu Tingting felt both wronged and angry.

She grabbed her backpack and hurried to the school gate, where she indeed saw her father sitting astride an electric scooter, waiting outside.

Other students were still entering the campus; she stormed over, furious.

Suppressing her anger, she snapped, “What are you doing here?”

“Hehe, I got you excused from class—we’re going home today to have a proper family gathering.”

“I don’t want to be excused! Don’t come to my school looking for me!”

Zhu Tingting sniffled, tears welling in her eyes, unaware that a faint blue mist had been drawn into her abdomen.

“You shouldn’t speak to your father like that,” came a gentle voice beside her.

Hearing it, Zhu Tingting could no longer hold back her anger; tears streamed down as she cried, “I’ll speak however I want—you can’t—”

Then she froze, staring dumbfounded at the gentle woman gazing at her.

“It’s okay,” Zhu Guangfa said, flustered and unsure how to comfort his daughter.

“M-Mom?” Zhu Tingting stammered.

“So you don’t recognize your mother anymore?”

Du Xiuzhi’s voice trembled as she fought back tears.

“Mom…” Zhu Tingting dropped her backpack on the ground and threw herself into Du Xiuzhi’s arms.

Zhu Guangfa quickly dismounted the scooter, picked up her backpack, and half-embraced her. “Let’s go home, let’s talk at home…”

The school gate was crowded, and no one else could see Du Xiuzhi—Zhu Tingting’s behavior would make others think she was mentally unstable.

But Zhu Guangfa’s embrace made onlookers believe she was simply crying into her father’s arms.

“Yes, let’s go home and talk,” Du Xiuzhi gently patted her daughter’s back.

Grief and tenderness filled her heart, causing her tears to fall unbidden—then, like dew under the midday sun, they vanished quickly.

Zhu Tingting held her backpack, standing on the footrest, her father holding her close, his legs shielding her on both sides, her mother seated behind them, the family heading home.

It reminded Zhu Tingting of when she was very young, how her parents often took her out like this.

She chattered nonstop up front, her mother hugging her father’s waist, her chin resting on his shoulder, talking with her.

Zhu Tingting felt dazed—as if time had reversed, and all of this were merely a dream.

She kept turning back, seeing her mother always smiling warmly as she met her gaze.

“Mom~”

Zhu Tingting whispered softly, instinctively lifting her grip on the backpack to hold it against her chest—a clear sign of unease.

“Baby, what’s wrong?”

Du Xiuzhi rested her chin on Zhu Guangfa’s shoulder.

“Dad smells awful—full of sweat stink,” Zhu Tingting said.

“No, your father says that’s the smell of a real man,” Du Xiuzhi replied.

Zhu Guangfa burst into laughter; Zhu Tingting’s lips curled slightly into a faint smile.

“Mom… I… I…”

Neither Zhu Guangfa nor Du Xiuzhi spoke; they waited quietly.

Finally, Zhu Tingting gathered her courage and said, “Mom, I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too.”

Du Xiuzhi reached over Zhu Guangfa and brushed her fingers against her daughter’s cheek.

The motorcycle moved slowly; few people were on the road; a gentle breeze brushed past, and afternoon sunlight bathed the three of them…

They all wished this moment could last forever.

But every road has an end—they finally arrived at their building.

Zhu Tingting leapt off the motorcycle at once and grabbed her mother’s hand.

Then she let out a long, deep breath.

“What’s wrong?”

Du Xiuzhi gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I’m afraid this is all a dream. But Mom, why… why…”

When her mother died, she was five years old. Though still in kindergarten, she already understood what death meant.

She saw her mother wheeled out of the hospital room.

She saw her mother’s face, pale and bloodless, lying on the funeral bier.

She saw her mother carried into the crematorium.

They told her her mother was dead—that she would never have a mother again.

She just kept crying…

Since then, she had never seen her mother again.

But now, her mother had reappeared before her.

Her mother bent down and lightly tapped her nose.

“It’s a secret,” her mother smiled.

She grew even more curious.

At that moment, her father parked the bike and walked over. “Let’s go home.”