Chapter 46: What is the Classmate's Mother's Name? (Part Three - Asking for Monthly Votes)

Just how terrifying a person Zhang Shutong’s mother truly was is documented even in the annals of Tongtong’s childhood—

When he was four or five years old and had just started elementary school, to use a phrase that somehow became popular back then, he could be considered an absolute "kawaii kid," exceptionally well-liked by everyone—all thanks to his dear old mom.

His mother loved one particular activity above all else: showing off her child.

While ordinary parents usually showed off their kids to relatives and neighbors, his mother, possessing a pioneering spirit, targeted Zhang Shutong’s elementary school classmates.

Primarily the female ones.

As a result, Zhang Shutong was immensely popular during his childhood. Whenever his birthday rolled around, a whole bunch of clueless elementary schoolers would be tricked by his mom: some crying until their parents drove them over, others hopping straight into her car, only to realize once they snapped out of it that they were already sitting inside a KFC.

Back then, KFC still offered birthday party services. Several whole buckets of chicken sat on the tables, the staff softly singing the birthday song, clapping their hands, and dimming the restaurant's lights.

The birthday boy sat right in the middle of the booth, looking completely bewildered at the vast circle of unfamiliar or vaguely familiar classmates surrounding him, having no idea when or how they had all been summoned here.

Then, his mom would be gnawing on an egg tart, asking him if he was having fun. Young Zhang Shutong would naturally nod happily, completely forgetting to ask why his birthday hat was perched on his mother's head instead of his own.

Next, his mom would scoop up some cake frosting, smear it across his face, and say with a solemn expression:

"Tongtong is a year older now, but do you know that every time a child grows a year older, they need to have frosting smeared on their face one extra time? Now, calculate how old you are this year—are you going to smear it yourself, or should Mom help you?"

Even though having your face caked in frosting was thoroughly uncomfortable, birthdays still held a certain commemorative significance. Therefore, enduring the humiliation for the greater good, Zhang Shutong took matters into his own hands. His mother would laugh so hard she rocked back and forth, snapping photos while telling him, "My dear son, Mom is definitely saving these for when you get a girlfriend so she can see them."

Once again, Zhang Shutong fell for his mother's deceit, truly believing he was popular, and got played terribly.

It wasn't until he attended other kids' birthday parties that the truth dawned on him.

At the next party, a little girl invited him to play "house" and act as the father.

By the subsequent party, a whole group of little girls was demanding he play the father in "house."

From then on, Zhang Shutong spent his birthdays alone.

Only later did it dawn on him that his dear mother had always possessed the temperament of a chaos-loving demon king, perpetually hoping the world wouldn't stay quiet for even a second.

Yet Zhang Shutong was always wrapped firmly around her finger. From childhood to the present, no sooner did he climb out of one massive pit than his mother would be standing at the edge of the next one, all dressed up and waving him over.

And the depth of this current pit, judging by a single glance downward, was clearly bottomless.

He stood guard between the two of them, his brain working faster than it ever did when hunting down criminals as he faced his mother.

First of all, while his mother loved showing off her child, she wouldn't just randomly pick a pretty girl on the street to show off to.

Secondly, wearing sunglasses and a mask meant she wanted to conceal her true identity. Yet since she had never met Gu Qiumian before, this disguise wasn't meant to guard against the girl, but someone else—or rather, it could only be him.

The final conclusion was—perhaps the very moment he and Gu Qiumian stepped into the mall, the two of them had been spotted by his mother. As for what wild fantasies she had spun in her head, it went without saying; otherwise, she wouldn't have waltzed over to speak with Gu Qiumian.

Yet precisely because of this, Zhang Shutong felt an immense wave of pressure. To give a more vivid example, even when that rough draft of his was projected onto the screen for all to see, it wasn't nearly as catastrophic as this moment.

While he stood there treating the situation like a formidable enemy, his mother simply giggled, abandoning all pretense. She removed her mask and sunglasses, tossing her chestnut-brown wavy hair over her shoulder.

She was a woman who looked far younger than her actual age, exceptionally well-kept, with a pair of stunning phoenix eyes whose outer corners turned slightly upward. When she narrowed her eyes, people knew trouble was brewing; yet when she smiled and her eyes curved into crescents, she possessed an unexpectedly approachable charm.

Zhang Shutong was utterly defenseless against his chaotic mother. His father had once told him that back in her youth, she possessed the temperament of a witch whose slight smile could topple cities.

Yet in reality, she was actually a researcher. When wearing a white lab coat, she looked thoroughly serious, and shoving her hands into her pockets made her look quite cool.

However, this persona was strictly confined to the laboratory.

Once outside the lab, she was a completely different creature entirely. Case in point, right at this moment, the woman narrowed her eyes and smiled:

"Son, did you miss Mom?"

"...... Missed you."

In truth, Zhang Shutong really had missed her. Although his parents had always remained safe and sound, his mother wasn't truly an immortal witch, and time spares no one. Eight years from now, she wouldn't look like this—a playful, vibrant, clever, and mischievous female demon sporting knee-high boots. By then, she would have stopped dyeing and perming her hair; silver threads would sprout from her lovely locks, and wrinkles would begin to grace the corners of her eyes.

Yet just as Zhang Shutong was sinking into his memories, his mother shifted her tone:

"Aren't you going to introduce me?"

Only then did Zhang Shutong turn his gaze toward Gu Qiumian.

Gu Qiumian was already blushing.

To be honest, her reaction right now was remarkably similar to that of this morning: first a daze, then her eyes gradually widening, until that fair face was once again stained with red. The flush spread at lightning speed, this time reaching all the way to the tips of her ears:

"H-Hello, Auntie..."

The girl's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, making Zhang Shutong marvel once again at the sheer dominance of his mother's ecological niche—even the young lady from the wealthy household had to yield an inch.

"Gu Qiumian, a classmate." Zhang Shutong spoke with extreme frugality.

"No wonder I felt such an immediate sense of kinship when I saw Qiumian—turns out she's your classmate!" His mother had a sudden epiphany, though her act wasn't very convincing. Zhang Shutong guessed that hearing this name must have connected some dots in her mind.

She then pressed the chocolate into Gu Qiumian's hands. By this time, Qing Yi had also walked over. Naturally, his mother knew all of his close friends, so she greeted him with a smile, remarking how Qing Yi had grown taller again, and telling him to stand next to Zhang Shutong so she could see who was taller now.

Qing Yi was equally defenseless against his mom, obediently stepping up beside Zhang Shutong. His mother cupped her chin and studied them for a long while before asking why there were only three of them today.

Zhang Shutong was just about to say there was actually one more, when—speak of the devil—Ruoping skipped in. She was just about to greet their group when she realized the atmosphere seemed a bit off. Why had their pleasant little gathering suddenly gained two other women?

She didn't blush; she just looked slightly stunned.

As if governed by some magnetic field, the two young women present locked eyes first, and the atmosphere instantly stiffened.

Zhang Shutong knew he had to handle this—it was his fault for summoning Gu Qiumian in the first place. Yet before he could speak, his mother made the first move.

Ruoping was a favorite of his mother's, so the woman immediately pulled the young girl over to shower her with affection, asking where she had been, saying she had only spotted the two boys at first, and asking if she knew that among all of Zhang Shutong's close friends, Auntie had missed her the most. "Come here, sweetheart, give Auntie a kiss."

With that, she blew an imaginary kiss in the air. Ruoping was so amused she burst into giggles, completely forgetting about Gu Qiumian for a moment.

At that point, his mother noticed the snacks Ruoping was holding and remarked that Auntie happened to be a little hungry.

Nothing more needed to be said. The young girl obediently offered up the snacks she had stood in line for ages to buy, utterly willing, and even asked if it was enough for Auntie, offering to go buy more if it wasn't.

His mother simply replied that it wasn't necessary, told them to have fun, and announced she had things to do at home. Then, clutching the egg burger, she waved her hand and vanished like a gust of wind.

From his mother's arrival to her departure, Zhang Shutong never figured out what she had actually come here for.

Yet he couldn't deny that his mother's tactics were truly masterful—no wonder he always managed to fall right into her traps.

The four of them watched the woman walk into the distance, falling silent for a moment. Just as Zhang Shutong was about to ask Gu Qiumian what she had said earlier, someone tugged at his sleeve:

"What is the situation here?"

It was Ruoping.

"I don't know, I just suddenly ran into my mom."

"I'm asking what *that* situation is?" Ruoping smiled, showing the early traits of a little witch. "You bring your desk-mate along without giving a heads-up?"

Zhang Shutong was about to reply when his phone vibrated. It turned out that "Autumn Rain Dripping" was typing with a single finger.

She stood amidst the crowd, looking somewhat distracted, asking if she had been impolite to the auntie just now...

As Gu Qiumian sent the message, she subconsciously searched for his figure, only to catch sight of him standing side by side with Ruoping.

Even though the surroundings were noisy, and even though the two of them had deliberately stepped a bit to the side, Zhang Shutong felt that invisible magnetic field begin to operate once more.

Thus, distraction instantly transformed into radiant energy.

Gu Qiumian first shot Zhang Shutong a swift, piercing glare, then effortlessly reverted to her demeanor from before entering the mall. Her waist and back straightened, and the expanse of neck exposed by her sweater possessed the graceful curves of a swan.

Today, the girl had purposely worn a cyan long dress, blending an air of brightness and aloofness, while her eyes gleamed with pride, transforming her once again into the noble young lady she was.

Then, the esteemed Miss Gu stepped forward in her white sneakers, walking slowly toward them step by step.

Right at that moment, another message pinged on his phone, sent by his mother:

"Mom has done as much as she can for you. Solve the rest yourself."

"By the way, you'd better explain where you went last night (kitchen knife) (smile)!"

Seeking monthly votes!