By the time Wei Ming received the message from Yang Haoran and walked out of his room, he saw his mother and Haoran chatting closely together on the long sofa in the living room. As soon as he appeared, he heard his mother, He Muchen, call out to him with a perfectly natural expression:
“Xiao Ming, I was just about to call you. The dishes are ready, let’s eat.”
After school in the afternoon, the lingering sunlight under the sun had never seemed so bright. Upon learning about the seven-day National Day holiday, excited students gathered in small groups, arms around each other’s shoulders, flooding out of the school gates like a tide.
The streets were bustling, with the sound of students’ footsteps and conversations intertwining to form a symphony of youth.
After parting ways with Wei Ming and Shiwen at the school gate, Yang Haoran took the bus home alone. That evening, the family gathered around the table filled with delicious dishes, eating and discussing:
“Haoran, Yaoyao, your mother and I have discussed it, and the flight tickets are already booked. Tomorrow, our first stop is flying to the beaches of Sanya for two days of fun. Then, for the second leg, we’ll transfer to Mount Tai for some hiking…”
At the dinner table, Father Yang chattered on about the family’s National Day travel plans, his face filled with joy. He had unusually indulged in a little alcohol, his cheeks slightly flushed. Despite the fatigue from days of overtime work, the sparkle in his eyes was unmistakable.
Yang Haoran ate his meal in silence, like a mere bystander. He knew this was a decision his father had already made, and there was nothing he could say to change it now. His only option was to seek out his mother later that evening to discuss and negotiate a way out.
If what Aunt Shen said was true—that his mother, to keep her promise of an SM game with him, would definitely not go on the trip with his father—then she surely wouldn’t refuse his proposal tonight.
Lost in thought, Yang Haoran felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, eager for the meal to end quickly so he could seek out his mother and ease the anxiety stirring within him.
“Dad, what time is the flight tomorrow morning?”
Yang Mengyao listened to her father’s plans, her eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.
Hearing his daughter’s question, Yang Wenfu took a gentle sip of his treasured liquor, set down his glass, and smiled at Yang Mengyao. “Yaoyao, the flight is at nine tomorrow morning. Make sure to sleep early tonight. And Haoran…” He turned to his son, who was quietly eating, and admonished him, “Haoran, you should also go to bed early. No staying up late tonight. I know you used to often stay up late gaming. It’s only gotten a bit better since your mother started keeping an eye on you. So be obedient and rest early tonight. Tomorrow morning, our whole family…”
“Mm, I know, Dad.”
For the first time, Yang Haoran realized that his father, who usually appeared gentle and refined, could seem like such a chatterbox. It was as if only by talking incessantly could he vent his inner excitement and fatigue.
This also reflected how deeply his father cared about this family trip—or, more precisely, his fervent hope to reconcile with Haoran’s mother.
Yang Haoran glanced at his mother. Liu Ruoxi’s stunning, poetic beauty remained composed as she ate slowly and delicately, a stark contrast to his father’s exhilaration.
Feeling a surge of confidence, Yang Haoran’s heart stirred.
“Ah…”
Mid-sentence, Yang Wenfu suddenly caught sight of Liu Ruoxi’s calm profile beside him. Her demeanor was so different from the tenderness she had shown just the day before that he paused, puzzled. “Ruoxi, what’s wrong? You seem distracted!”
“Oh…”
Hearing her husband’s question, Liu Ruoxi’s expression shifted slightly. She turned to him with a smile and said, “It’s nothing, just something at the company.”
“Ruoxi, but it’s the National Day holiday. Did something happen at the company?” Yang Wenfu asked with concern.
Liu Ruoxi’s face stiffened for a moment before she replied calmly, “It’s nothing major. While handling some paperwork today, I noticed a discrepancy between the financial reports and the actual accounts. We missed collecting a payment from one company.”
Lies are endless. Tell one lie, and you must weave countless others to support its plausibility, creating an intricate web. Now, Liu Ruoxi had clearly fallen into this very web.
Hearing his wife’s explanation, Yang Wenfu didn’t doubt her. Her personality was naturally aloof, and she generally disdained lying, especially over such a trivial matter.
As dinner drew to a close, Liu Ruoxi turned to her husband, a faint trace of unease flickering across her face before vanishing. She spoke steadily, “Wenfu, tomorrow morning, you and Yaoyao should go ahead. It’s been over a month—I need to take Haoran to the hospital for a follow-up examination to ensure there are no lingering complications. The day after tomorrow, Haoran and I will book our flights and join you.”
Hearing his wife’s words, Yang Wenfu was somewhat surprised. He knew about his son’s injury downstairs and had visited him in the hospital.
Although he wasn’t clear on the cause, an injury to a male’s penis could range from minor to severe. In serious cases, it could affect the ability to carry on the family line, becoming an issue even for future marriage. In minor cases, there wasn’t much to worry about.
Given the potential for complications related to his son’s penis, Yang Wenfu didn’t dare assume everything would be fine. A thorough examination at a specialized hospital was necessary for peace of mind.
After a moment’s thought, he agreed almost without hesitation. After all, this concerned his son’s lifelong well-being.
“Alright, Ruoxi. Take Haoran to the hospital tomorrow for a detailed check-up. We must ensure there are no lasting issues.”
Yang Wenfu then turned to his son and instructed, “You and your mother can book your flights to join us the day after tomorrow. Your sister and I will go ahead to Sanya first.”
Yang Haoran struggled to contain his joy, nodding obediently. Internally, he was ecstatic, but he didn’t dare show even a hint of it on his face.
He hadn’t expected his mother to come up with such a perfect excuse without even discussing it with him first—one so flawless that his father had no reason to object.
The only thing dampening his spirits was his mother’s implication that the two of them would still have to meet his father in Sanya the day after tomorrow.
His father would book three rooms in Sanya: one for himself, one for Yaoyao, and the remaining one for him and Mom to share.
Mom was his exclusive property. He would never allow any other man to have intimate contact with her again—even if that man was his own father. As he pondered this, he reached a decision.
Yang Mengyao knew her brother’s downstairs area was normal, but she wasn’t sure if there were any lingering issues. Hearing her parents’ discussion, she looked at Yang Haoran with concern.
I hope Brother is okay…