Yang Haoran knew he couldn’t let his mother dwell on this kind of question too deeply. With a face full of nonchalance, he said, “I probably just closed it without thinking. Oh, right, Mom, what did you need me for?”
“Here, take this to eat.”
Liu Ruoxi, seeing that her son’s answer was reasonable and well-founded, set aside her doubts and handed him a box of fruit.
Yang Haoran glanced at it. Inside the transparent container was clearly a bunch of red globe grapesβwasn’t this what he had bought at noon? He took it and looked at his mother in surprise: “Huh?… Mom, don’t you like them?”
“I saved a box for you.”
Liu Ruoxi, understanding her son’s confusion, explained: “I saw you really enjoyed them at noon.”
Yang Haoran’s heart instantly warmed. These small details were something only a mother would notice. He handed the box back to her with a cheeky grin: “I got sick of them at noon, Mom. You haven’t had much yet. There were only two boxes, and I ate almost a whole one myself. They were originally bought by Youxi for you, I⦔
“It’s just a box of fruit. I saved it for you, so take it. What, do you think Mom is lacking this one box of fruit?”
Before Yang Haoran could finish his long-winded explanation, Liu Ruoxi cut him off. She knew her son wanted to save it for her to eat; this was one thing mother and son surprisingly agreed on.
Hearing his mother’s words and thinking about how their family wasn’t poor, Yang Haoran accepted it comfortably. He could snack on them while studying later.
“Mom, is itβ¦ so you don’t like sweet things now? Should I buy something sour next time?”
Yang Haoran paused mid-sentence; he believed his mother would understand his implication.
Liu Ruoxi looked at him amusedly: “What Mom wants to eat is none of your concern. Can’t Mom buy it herself?!”
“It’s not the same though. Look, my grades have improved now.”
Yang Haoran’s thought process took a novel turn: “If I can buy some fruit for Mom, to show my filial piety, then wouldn’t your son be seen as a devoted son in the eyes of others?”
He was the only one who could shamelessly say something so blatantly performative with a straight face.
But Liu Ruoxi knew her son just had a unique way of expressing himself and didn’t want to discourage his enthusiasm. She nodded with a smile: “Then buy it if you want. If you’re short on money, just tell Mom.”
Yang Haoran was overjoyed hearing this. Buying fruit cost barely anything. These words meant he could openly ask his mother for money if he was broke. He could finally get his hands on the family’s substantial funds.
“I might lack money for other things, but I’d even skip meals to buy fruit for Mom.”
Yang Haoran first put on a show of being devoted to score points, then looked at his mother expectantly and made his request: “Your Majesty, Mother, how about buying your humble son a sports car? Look, I am, after all, a rich second generation. What kind of image does it project for me to take the bus to school every day? It brings shame upon our family!”
The last sentence made Liu Ruoxi’s mouth twitch slightly. This was truly abstract to the extreme, completely ridiculous.
“Wait until you’re an adult. You can get your driver’s license next year.”
Liu Ruoxi said after a moment’s thought: “Don’t even think about a sports car. It’s too flashy and creates a bad impression. Something for two or three hundred thousand is plenty.”
Yang Haoran was old enough now to understand the meaning behind his mother’s words. It was because of his grandmother’s influence. He felt a bit sorry for himself: “I must be the most miserable rich second generation out there.”
“What nonsense are you saying.”
Liu Ruoxi glared at her son: “You never lack for food or drink. What do you need those superficial things for?”
“Ah… I’m just complaining.” Yang Haoran hurriedly admitted his fault: “I was just saying it. If I really threw a fit and insisted on buying it, wouldn’t you still buy it for me, Mom?”
Seeing his mother’s expression change, Yang Haoran quickly added: “I didn’t mean anything else by that, Mom. Don’t overthink it. I just wanted to express that I was joking.”
Liu Ruoxi was helpless. She understood this was just her son’s nature. She admonished him some more, urging him to study.
After his mother left, Yang Haoran wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with lingering fear. That was close; he almost got caught red-handed by his mother.
After this incident, Yang Haoran became increasingly aware that walls have ears, especially when it came to his mother, whom he lived with day in and day out.
Rather than wait for his mother to find out, it was better to take the initiative. At the very least, he could maintain some control over the situation.
Yang Haoran pondered this as he returned to his room. He lounged in his computer chair like a boss, legs crossed, swiveling leisurely back and forth while occasionally popping a few red globe grapes into his mouth. His thoughts became clearer and clearer.
He had considered countermeasures before. Now, after careful deliberation, he had formulated a complete plan in his mind. He just needed Aunt Shen’s help with it.
If his mother’s reaction exceeded expectations, having Aunt Shen there could help persuade her.
Aunt Shen knew about Yao Yao and him. Thinking of this, Yang Haoran couldn’t help but feelεΊεΉΈ (grateful) that Aunt Shen understood the gravity of the situation and hadn’t told his mother. Otherwise, how could he have possibly succeeded in seducing his mother so smoothly now?
Yang Haoran privately messaged Aunt Shen, laying out his entire plan. After getting Aunt Shen’s approval, he couldn’t help but feel quite pleased with himself.
This plan was something he hadεε€η’磨 (pondered repeatedly). He estimated its success rate to be as high as ninety percent. It would turn passivity into initiative.
As for Aunt Shen’s side now, Yang Haoran basically didn’t need to worry. He had previously found the chastity belt troublesome. Every time, Aunt Shen would report and request an unlock. While having complete control over Aunt Shen was quite thrilling, the novelty soon wore off and he quickly found it bothersome. He proactively told her to stop wearing it.
There were two reasons. First, it was rather inconvenient. Sometimes he didn’t see messages promptly, and Aunt Shen would have to endure.
Second, he also feltεΏηΌ (affectionate pity) for Aunt Shen. Aunt Shen held an important place in his heart; she wasn’t just a plaything.
The original intention behind demanding Aunt Shen wear the chastity belt was his early distrust of her. Now that he no longer had such concerns, naturally, he didn’t need Aunt Shen to wear it anymore.
However, Aunt Shen’s reaction surprised him. She didn’t agree immediately but asked him several timesεε€ (repeatedly), confirming he wasn’t joking before consenting.
Yang Haoran could guess Aunt Shen’s thoughtsβshe probably thought he was testing her loyalty, which was why she didn’t rashly agree right away.
What impressed Yang Haoran even more was that after Aunt Shen agreed, she added that she would wait until he was an adult and she was formally kept by him before putting the chastity belt back on.
Even though Yang Haoran knew Aunt Shen wouldn’t betray him now, hearing her say this still made himζζ ¨ (sigh with emotion) at how shrewd she was. Her words and actions left no room for fault; her intelligence simply overwhelmed his.
These words truly spoke from the bottom of his heart!
Yang Haoran hadζζ ¨δΈζ’δΈζ¬‘ (sighed with emotion more than once). If his mother weren’t Aunt Shen’s best friend, if Aunt Shen weren’t… a special case, and if Aunt Shen hadn’t watched him grow up since childhood, there was no way he could have ever gotten his hands on a stunning woman like Aunt Shen.
Yang Haoran knew his own place. Truthfully, he was nothing special, just an ordinary person, and also the most miserable rich second generation.