“You probably already have a general idea about the issues between me and your mother. After all these years, I’ve finally come to my senses. No matter what the reasons were, it was absurd for me and your mother to be in a cold war for so many years. Disagreements between husband and wife are normal; bickering and making up are what make a family feel like a family. In the past, because of me and your mother, our home was far too cold and quiet.”
Yang Wenfu spoke with emotion.
As Yang Haoran listened, that foreboding feeling grew stronger and stronger. What did his father mean? Could it be that he wanted to reconcile with Mom?
If Dad and Mom made up, would he still have a chance?
Yang Haoran’s heart felt as if it had been doused in a bucket of ice water, chilling him to the bone.
“Originally, I was going to have Yaoyao tell you tomorrow, but since you came home today, I’ll tell you myself.” Yang Wenfu, not noticing anything off about his son, continued, “Tomorrow, after school, come home early with Yaoyao. I’m not working tomorrow, so I’ll be home setting things up. After your mother gets back, I want to give her a surprise. You and your sister should hide first. After I finish saying what I need to say, you can both come out and say some things…” Yang Wenfu paused, then offered an example: “You’ve seen those TV shows and such, right? Those proposal scenes often have people stirring up the mood, chanting ‘get together’ and things like that. Of course, I’m not proposing to your mother, but an apology is the same idea. Then, you and Yaoyao can say things like ‘forgive Dad’ to help sway your mother.”
As he spoke, Yang Wenfu broke into a smile, as if recalling the scene of his proposal in his youth. “I know your mother’s temperament. If I apologize alone, she might not give me a favorable response. But if you and your sister both step up to help set the mood, your mother will likely forgive me.”
As Yang Haoran listened, his heart sank further and further. He couldn’t help but say, “Dad, how confident are you? From what I know of Mom’s temperament, she might not necessarily agree. Wouldn’t it be really awkward for you then?” He tried to persuade his father to abandon this idea, but Yang Wenfu said with full confidence, “If I apologize alone, the chance of your mother forgiving me is probably only thirty percent. But if you and your sister both stand on my side, it’s different. I know your mother’s temperamentβninety percent chance of success.”
Seeing his father’s spirited and enthusiastic expression, Yang Haoran’s heart grew cold. Yes, as his father said, if he and his sister got involved, he also had a vague feeling that Mom would forgive Dad.
Then what about him?
His heart sank into an abyss, but he had to force a smile onto his face.
“Haoran, will you stand on Dad’s side?” Yang Wenfu asked solemnly, patting Yang Haoran’s shoulder.
“Of course, Dad. I support you with both hands raised high.”
Yang Haoran comically raised both hands, a strained smile on his face. Yang Wenfu, seeing this, was pleased but failed to notice the flash of bitterness in his son’s eyes.
“Good!” Yang Wenfu patted his son’s shoulder heavily and promised, “After your mother forgives me, and our family is harmonious again, I’ll take you all on a trip during the National Day holiday.”
“Is there anything you want? Tell me, and Dad will buy it for you.”
Having gained his son’s support, Yang Wenfu seemed very happy and didn’t forget to promise him a reward.
He knew that in Ruoxi’s eyes, his son might now hold a higher status than he did, so this vote of support was crucial.
Would you give her to me if I said I wanted Mom?
Yang Haoran thought bitterly, his mind in turmoil, but on the surface, he smiled and spoke words that betrayed his true feelings: “Dad, I’m not a child anymore. I don’t need any rewards. As long as you and Mom make up and are as good as new, that’s the best gift for me. Besides, you already said you’d take us on a trip for National Day.”
“Mmm.”
Yang Wenfu smiled comfortedly,ζζ ¨ his son had matured a lot compared to before. Ruoxi’s guidance had certainly had an effect.
…After seeing his father out, Yang Haoran collapsed weakly onto his bed, feeling as if all his energy and spirit had been drained by his father’s words earlier.
A bolt from the blue!
Yang Haoran’s heart felt hollow, as if he had lost the most important piece of his puzzle. He stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind a tangled mess.
What should he do? Was he really going to lose Mom? The joy he had felt from gaining Aunt Shen vanished without a trace. If Dad and Mom reconciled, would he still have a chance to have Mom? He thought the hope was slim.
It felt as if a giant rock was pressing down on his heart, bringing with it a suffocating sense of bitterness.
The more Yang Haoran thought about it, the more frustrated he became. The feeling of powerlessnessβbeing able only to watch things unfold without being able to stop themβengulfed him deeply.
He was the son. If Dad and Mom reconciled, he had no standing to object, nor could he object.
Moreover, as his father had said, he would have to step up at the right moment to stir up the mood and help his father. To him, this was more painful than being stabbed twice in the heart.
Mom originally belonged to Dad. In a sense, he, this rebellious son who defied morality and disregardedδΌ¦η (lΓΊnlΗ – ethical principles), was the third party.
The more Yang Haoran thought about it, the moreηθ¦ (tΓ²ngkΗ – pain, agony) he felt. He even began to think about giving up on Mom, letting Dad and Mom reconcile and be as good as new, while he would just be a son who did not overstep ethical boundaries.
But he was unwilling in his heart! The desire to possess Mom had been rooted in his heart for years. Now, when he finally had Aunt Shen’s help and his long-cherished wish was within reach, to pull back at the last momentβthe bloody, heart-wrenching pain was excruciating. Just the thought of giving up made him feel suffocated.
Setting aside his carnal greed for Mom, he was actually aware that he also lacked loveβa mother’s love. Because Mom was busy with company matters when he was young, she rarely had time to accompany him, which led to hisηΈε½’ (jΔ«xΓng -ηΈε½’) love for her.
There is noζ ηΌζ ζ (wΓΊyuΓ‘nwΓΊgΓΉ – without reason) hatred, noζ ηΌζ ζ love, and certainly noεη©Ί (pΓngkΕng – out of thin air)ηΈε½’ infatuation.
Wei Ming’s mother complex, Shi Wen’s cuckolding fetish involving his mother, and his own desire to dominate his motherβall were different paths to the same end. In essence, they were all children’sηΈε½’ love for their mothers.
But Shi Wen was deeply trapped in his cuckolding fetish and couldn’t free himself. Wei Ming was deeply trapped in his mother complex and couldn’t free himself. What about him?
Should he give up just because of a setback?
As Yang Haoran thought about this, he repeatedly questioned his own heart: Was he willing to give up?
If you ask long enough, you will get an answer. Yang Haoran already had an answer in his heart.
So what should he do?
How could he stop Dad?
Opposing him directly was definitely not an option!
His mind was in chaos, blank, unable to think of any solution. Then, he suddenly thought of S girl, his life mentor, the one who had introduced him to the world of SM domination and even planned and helped him successfully dominate Shao Wan.
A light shone in his eyes, but after a moment, he hesitated again. If he wanted S girl’s help, he would inevitably have to explain the whole situation to her.
That meant he would have to confess hisηΈε½’ love for his own mother. Was this appropriate? He fell into hesitation,θΈθΊ (chΓ³uchΓΊ – hesitating) internally.
You have to give up something to gain something. Hesitation will only make the situation worse. Since he couldn’t think of a method himself, perhaps letting an outsider break the deadlock wasn’t the best strategy. Besides, to him, S girl might not necessarily be an outsider.