After listening to her son's fragmented explanation, Yang Zhurou's eyes instantly turned icy cold. Her once gentle and delicate features were now tightly strained, her elegant eyebrows raised high. Her chest heaved violently as she breathed rapidly, as if she were struggling to contain her anger.
"You wretched boy!!!" With that, Yang Zhurou raised her hand to slap her son across the face.
Seeing his mother's movement, Xu Ruizhi immediately closed his eyes, thinking to himself that he was done for—there was no way he could avoid this beating!
Slap—
A crisp sound of a slap echoed through the room, startling Song Lianwei, who was pretending to sleep nearby. She nearly jumped, almost giving herself away. She thought to herself, That slap was really harsh—she actually went through with it!
This was probably the first time she had ever hit her son, right?
The expected pain never came. Xu Ruizhi slowly opened his eyes and saw his mother's cheek swollen and red, with five distinct red finger marks clearly visible on the left side of her face. He was instantly stunned, staring blankly at his mother. His heart pounded wildly, and tears welled up in his eyes. He hurriedly stood up, grabbed his mother's wrist, and said urgently, "What are you doing? I know I was wrong. You can hit me or scold me, but please don't hurt yourself." With that, Xu Ruizhi wanted to slap himself twice.
But Yang Zhurou reached out with her other hand to stop him. Her eyes were already slightly red, and she fought back tears. Her lips trembling, she choked out, "It's my fault for not raising you properly, which led you to make such a mistake!"
Xu Ruizhi quickly shook his head, tears streaming down the corners of his eyes. "Mom, it's not your fault, really, it's not. It's all my fault."
Seeing her son like this, Yang Zhurou's heart ached even more. She quickly pulled him into her arms, and just like that, mother and son held each other tightly, silently shedding tears.
Lying nearby, Song Lianwei felt a mix of emotions. It seems she still couldn't bring herself to hit this boy after all. Indeed, even though Yang Zhurou is usually strict with Xu Ruizhi, she still treats him like a treasure—afraid he'll fall if held in her palm, afraid he'll melt if kept in her mouth. This kid is really lucky. Even though he lost his father at a young age, he has both his mother and me loving and doting on him, living a comfortable and carefree life.
After a long while, the mother and son finally separated. Seeing the red handprint on her mother's face, Xu Ruizhi felt heartbroken and quickly fetched a wet tissue to gently wipe it.
Yang Zhurou allowed her son to tend to her, her gaze soft and tender as she looked at him, her heart filled with overwhelming guilt.
"What do you plan to do about that girl?" Yang Zhurou suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
Xu Ruizhi was taken aback for a moment, then replied with firm determination, "I... I will take responsibility for her."
"Responsibility?" Yang Zhurou sneered coldly. "With what? Do you have money? Do you have a job? How will you support her?"
Hearing this, Xu Ruizhi fell silent for a moment, glanced at his mother, and cautiously whispered, "I know I don't have the ability yet. So, I've thought it over. Didn't Aunt Song ask me to go with her to the capital to attend Hangang Middle School a while ago? I want to study there and try to get into Capital University."
Pausing briefly, he stole a glance at his mother and continued, "The schools in the city are no longer suitable for me. I don't feel any pressure here anymore, and..." Xu Ruizhi looked out the window, his expression growing somber. "Besides, didn't you say that you need to change your old habits? Otherwise, what will happen if my future wife gets jealous?" As he spoke, he turned his head back, forcing a helpless smile, his eyes filled with bitterness and sorrow. A single tear quietly traced its way down his cheek.
Seeing her son in such a desolate state, Yang Zhurou's heart ached as if being squeezed. Her son had never left her sight since he was little, but now he had grown up. It was time to let go and allow him to seek his own path in life independently.
The thought of not being able to see her son's figure in the future filled Yang Zhurou with an inexplicable panic. Her heart felt as if it were being sliced by a knife, the pain so intense she could hardly breathe. This sense of loss reminded her of the days after Xu Ruizhi's father died in a car accident—the same feeling of agony. That period had been the darkest time of her life.
Suppressing her tears, Yang Zhurou tried to speak calmly. "If you've made up your mind, then it's fine. But... what about that girl? How do you plan to arrange things for her?"
Here it comes!!! The crucial part!!!
Xu Ruizhi had anticipated that his mother would ask about this. He had prepared himself long ago. Taking a deep breath, he mustered his courage and said, "Mom, I want... I want to take her with me!"
"You... what did you say?!" Yang Zhurou widened her eyes, staring at her son in disbelief.
"Mom, I know what you're worried about. But my cultivation method requires dual cultivation to improve my skills, and her illness can only be cured through dual cultivation as well. So, I have to take her with me. I can't just abandon her."
Xu Ruizhi explained each word clearly and resolutely.
Seeing her son's determined expression, Yang Zhurou couldn't help but retort immediately, "Dual cultivation? How do you know this isn't some deceptive trick? What if you can't cure her illness at all?"
Xu Rui-zhi knew that unless she witnessed it with her own eyes, her mother would never easily believe it—after all, it was simply too absurd. Taking a deep breath, she silently recited the incantation, channeling the spiritual energy within her dantian. Immediately, a flame ignited in the palm of her right hand, coalescing into a crimson fireball that radiated intense heat. The air in the hospital room seemed to grow stifling from the scorching temperature.
Yang Zhurou stared in shock at the flame in her son's palm, unable to speak for a long while.
Xu Rui-zhi withdrew her right hand, and the fireball vanished. The air in the room seemed to return to normal, no longer so unbearably hot.
Finally snapping out of her daze, Yang Zhurou looked at her son with disbelief, her voice trembling as she asked, "Was… was what you just did… magic?"
"Do you believe me now?" Xu Rui-zhi spread her hands helplessly. "I want to go out and explore the world. I believe I'm not the only one with this kind of ability. The world is vast and full of wonders, and I don't want to spend my whole life in this small city. Mom, can you understand me?"
Yang Zhurou remained silent for a long time before finally sighing softly. "Then how do we explain the matter of Fang… Fang Hanmeng to Lianwei? Are we just going to keep it from her?"
Xu Rui-zhi pursed her lips and said quietly, "Mom, I'll tell her. If I don't, I won't be able to take Hanmeng away from Nanrong City." Pausing for a moment, she looked up at her mother and spoke earnestly, "I take full responsibility for my actions. It's my fault for letting Aunt Song down, and I should face the consequences. I'll go confess to Aunt Song in a moment. Whether she forgives me or not, I won't blame her."
Song Lianwei, who had been listening nearby, nearly jumped up and cursed when she heard Xu Rui-zhi's words. Damn this kid! If she didn't know he was acting, she'd almost believe his nonsense!
This guy really knew how to play the victim while getting what he wanted. She was completely at his mercy. How had she never noticed how shameless he was before?
"No, I should be the one to explain this kind of thing," Yang Zhurou said firmly after a moment of contemplation.
Xu Rui-zhi was clearly taken aback and quickly shook her head, her tone resolute. "It's better if I handle this. If you go, what will Aunt Song think of me? She'll definitely assume I'm a coward who doesn't dare take responsibility. Besides, you've always shielded me from everything in the past. Now, I want to carry this burden myself. I can't rely on you anymore. I've made up my mind." Xu Rui-zhi paused, her eyes softening with a hint of reluctance and affection as she looked at her mother. "Mom, I've had some inappropriate thoughts lately. I'm sure you've noticed, right? I'm sorry. Please forgive my despicable feelings. It won't happen again. I hope you won't hate me for it."
Seeing the sincerity in her son's eyes, Yang Zhurou felt a lump form in her throat, nearly bringing her to tears. After all these years, how could she not know about her son's admiration for her?
But she had never addressed it directly or used it as a teaching moment. Instead, she had pretended not to notice and sometimes even deliberately tempted him.
It could be said that she bore at least two-thirds of the responsibility for her son ending up this way. Yang Zhurou felt deeply guilty. Now that her son had brought it up himself, how could she refuse?
However... the thought of her son leaving her was something she couldn't bear!
Seeing her mother's tear-filled eyes, Xu Ruizhi suddenly felt a deep pang of guilt. Yet, he did not regret the choice he had made—because he wanted his mother to be happy. He loved her, and he wanted to protect her for the rest of her life.
"From now on, when I'm not by your side, you must take good care of yourself. You have a single-minded brain condition, so always stay vigilant, especially when you're around people." Xu Ruizhi spoke earnestly, then hesitated, his lips trembling twice. His expression seemed to struggle intensely as he forced out the words with difficulty: "If... you find your own happiness, please remember to call me and let me know. I... I wish you eternal happiness and joy!"
After saying this, Xu Ruizhi pressed his right hand against his chest, as if in great pain there. His face turned somewhat pale as he struggled to suppress the turmoil of emotions within. Lifting his head to look at his mother, he forced a faint smile and said with feigned lightness:
"My heart hurts a little, but... it won't hurt anymore from now on."
By this time, Yang Zhurou was already sobbing uncontrollably. She clung tightly to her son, shaking her head repeatedly in his embrace, crying out: "Mom won't look, Mom won't look, Mom won't marry! Ruirui, don't scare me like this..."
Then, overwhelmed by sudden distress, Yang Zhurou collapsed straight backward.
"Mom—" Xu Ruizhi screamed in terror, frantically catching his mother and shouting anxiously: "Doctor, doctor—"
--------------------------------------
Hello guys, do support me in patreon:
patreon.com/FloppyQueen
Here you'll have access to 50 chapters.Your support means a lot to me. Thank you.