“I’m not playing anymore, I have something to do later. We’ve been playing for so long already, Xiao Mingzi, you should take a break.”
Yang Haoran checked the time and decided to call it quits. Important matters took priority.
“It’s Sunday today, what could you possibly have to do? Stop making excuses, let’s keep going. We just won two rounds after losing three in a row.”
Wei Ming clearly hadn’t had enough yet, but Yang Haoran genuinely had something to attend to and naturally couldn’t agree. “I really have something. How could playing games compare to the thrill of playing with women?”
“Hey now… Haozhi, your gaming skills haven’t improved, but your talent for boasting has grown leaps and bounds overnight.”
Wei Ming’s teasing voice came through the game headset: “You don’t even have a girlfriend, where are you going to find women to play with? Hiring prostitutes? Count me in if that’s the case.”
“Heh heh… This is way better than hiring prostitutes. There are maids, training bitch slaves, and all sorts of programs…” Not wanting to be looked down on, Yang Haoran said with a laugh.
Haozhi’s serious description left Wei Ming utterly bewildered: “Really? You can even put a collar on a woman and walk her like a dog? Isn’t that treating her like an animal?”
“Listen to what you’re saying. This is called training, understand? Training a woman to be like a dog so she’ll never leave you and will obey your every command.”
Yang Haoran’s interest was piqued, and he began to boast extravagantly.
Wei Ming was genuinely baffled by these words, and his conviction began to waver. Could Haozhi actually be telling the truth? He couldn’t help but ask: “You’re boasting so outrageously, then how many bitch slaves do you have right now?”
“Let me count…” Yang Haoran thought of Aunt Shen, Xiao Shaowan; Yaoyao and Mom didn’t really count, and actually, even Aunt Shen couldn’t be considered—at most, only Xiao Shaowan qualified. But that didn’t stop him from talking nonsense: “I have three. One of them is a noble lady who’s a mother, incredibly charming and seductive, exuding endless allure… tsk tsk…” To make his story more believable, Yang Haoran brought up a post he’d seen long ago: “In this circle, I once saw a post. There was a middle school student whose parents were divorced. His mother found a new partner, and from what his mother said, after they got married, she planned to send him to live with his biological father. But he has an Oedipus complex. Hearing his mother say that, he publicly posted her contact information on that forum, looking for someone to train his mother. He said it didn’t matter how she was trained, as long as she wouldn’t leave him.”
Wei Ming was flabbergasted: “Haozhi, you’re getting more and more absurd. What happened then?” Yang Haoran continued: “His mother was quite good-looking. A master in the circle contacted him. According to follow-up posts, the master trained his mother into a bitch slave and kept his promise: aside from occasionally taking his mother out for fun, he let her stay with him every day.”
(I once saw a post in the SM circle; the author doesn’t know whether it’s true or not.) “Have I lost my mind, or have you, Haozhi? This is too far-fetched. Besides, handing your own mother over to someone else to be trained just because you have an Oedipus complex and want her to stay with you—what if that so-called master doesn’t keep his word? Wouldn’t he end up with nothing?”
“You just don’t get it.”
Yang Haoran shook his head and said: “Every circle has its own rules. If you want to survive in this circle, you have to abide by those rules.”
“This is insane… Haozhi… my entire worldview is shattered… you owe me.”
Wei Ming’s wailing voice came through the headset.
Yang Haoran teased him: “Isn’t it good to open a new door to the world for you? It’s free, no need to thank me.”
“Screw you, Haozhi. According to what you’re saying, you have three bitch slaves—does that make you a master?” Yang Haoran was taken aback. What did Xiao Mingzi mean by that?
Of course, since he was already bragging and talking nonsense, he didn’t mind exaggerating a little more: “Of course it does. With my skills now, I could take any married woman you point to and train her into a bitch slave.”
Wei Ming snapped back to reality and sneered: “You’re still boasting? I almost believed you. You can’t even handle that Xiao Shaowan in our class—you’re full of shit.”
Yang Haoran was embarrassed and said helplessly: “Believe it or not, that’s all for today. Bye.”
Boasting and such were common in friendly banter, but he would never reveal specific information. He was just in a good mood and casually chatted with Xiao Mingzi for a bit.
The confidence in Haozhi’s words, even through the game headset, affected Wei Ming. He was stunned, and in his half-belief, half-doubt, Haozhi had already logged off the game, leaving him alone to mutter to himself.
“Haozhi deliberately said all this to me… what did he mean?” Remembering the phone call from his mother this morning, Wei Ming grew increasingly agitated.
“My mom just called me this morning, and I only found out about this now. Is it a coincidence? How could Haozhi possibly know? But if he didn’t know, why would he say all this? Does he have designs on my mother? Is he afraid I’ll hit him, so he hinted at it? Letting me make the choice? Or… is all this really just a coincidence?”… Yang Haoran, on the other hand, didn’t overthink it. It was purely a spur-of-the-moment conversation, but that’s not to say he didn’t have any improper thoughts. He had seen Xiao Mingzi’s mother before—a very beautiful woman, dignified and virtuous, with an elegant demeanor.
But he had never heard Xiao Mingzi mention that his mother was considering remarrying.
This minor incident was as平淡如水 (flat and uneventful) as water and didn’t cause even a ripple. Yang Haoran didn’t pay it much mind either.
He checked the time. Somehow, during their conversation, it had already reached one o’clock, but Mom still hadn’t returned. Was she planning to stand him up?
Yang Haoran grew anxious, but his mother’s words still echoed in his ears: if he called to hurry her again, what if she really decided to disappear on him today?
Caught in a dilemma, Yang Haoran had no choice but to endure the agonizing wait.
Around 1:30, his mother returned as promised.
She was wearing a fitted blazer with a deep V-neck that revealed the white blouse underneath. Her waist was slender, and her chest was full and round. Below, she wore a black straight skirt, nude stockings, and black pointed-toe stiletto heels. Her hips were pert, and her legs were well-proportioned and long.
Watching her son come scurrying over eagerly, Liu Ruoxi massaged her forehead: “What are you in such a hurry for? Did Shen Qing say something to you?”
“Nothing specific… heh heh…” Yang Haoran grinned obsequiously, full of讨好之色 (ingratiating expressions).
Seeing her son’s expression, it was clear he knew something. So impatient. Liu Ruoxi snorted coldly but didn’t say anything more. She stepped past him and walked ahead.
Yang Haoran followed behind his mother like a loyal lapdog: “Mom, what do you need to do? It’s Sunday today—whatever you need, just order me around.”
“Take this. Go eat, and don’t bother me.”
As if remembering something, Liu Ruoxi handed the bag in her hand to her son. Yang Haoran took it—it contained several packaged boxed meals. “If you haven’t eaten, then go eat. Why are you just standing there?”
Seeing her son staring blankly at the boxed meals in the bag, Liu Ruoxi frowned slightly. “No… it’s nothing… I’ll go eat right away.”
Yang Haoran couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling now. He forced a smile and replied sheepishly.
Even though his mother treated him harshly on the surface, in reality, not a single one of her actions forgot that he was her son. And what was he thinking about all day?
If the situation were different, he would have slapped himself.
Liu Ruoxi gave her son a deep look but didn’t say anything more. She turned and walked away, her graceful figure displayed to the fullest with every step of her long legs.
Yang Haoran watched with burning eyes, and instantly, desire overcame reason. His self-reproach vanished without a trace.
Having Mom, possessing Mom—that was stronger than any filial piety.
After he finished eating, his mother didn’t delay or make any more excuses. She went out with him, got in the car, and drove toward Xitang Residential District.