A Mother’s Scrutiny

In the modest room, Huai’s brow arched slightly as her fingertips brushed across the bed, still carrying a familiar scent.

But there was no trace of Aya Tone.

She brought her fingers to her nose—the smell was entirely that of that little girl!

“Pulling me away so quickly—are you afraid I’ll steal your little boyfriend?”

“What little boyfriend? We’re not even…” Fire Finch gently closed the door. Hearing her mother’s words, a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She let out a petulant huff like a teenage girl. ‘Aya hasn’t confessed to me yet.’

If Aya Tone saw this, he would surely be shocked. This had to be an illusion—the president he knew had died three years ago.

Poisoned!

“Oh? Then what have you been doing all this time?” Hearing that the two weren’t yet official, Huai dropped all pretense, her friendly expression vanishing instantly. She had only suspected before, but now that the parties involved admitted it, there was nothing more to say. The soft bed suddenly transformed into a noble phoenix throne, and she sat firmly upon it, looking down from on high.

Under that icy phoenix gaze, Fire Finch couldn’t help shrinking her neck and swallowing hard. Mom’s aura was as overwhelming as ever—it seemed the memories of her childhood would never let her go. The air in the room grew thick under the pressure, making every breath an ordeal.

“Mom~” Fire Finch, enduring her mother’s murderous glare, coquettishly took Huai’s hand and sat down beside her. “This can’t be rushed. Pushing too hard will backfire. Times have changed—first believe, then question.” The main reason was that she wasn’t confident in Aya Tone’s strength; otherwise, she wouldn’t have let Li Jia act.

That was a test.

“You?” Huai irritably slapped away the hand on her arm. “Go, go, go. You’re just as spineless as your father—a mouth that can argue anything. You’re annoying to look at!”

“Still your biological daughter.”

“How dare you talk back! I haven’t settled accounts with you yet—while I was away, you sneaked off with Jiu!”

Oh no! Fire Finch’s expression froze. So she couldn’t escape this misfortune after all? She shouldn’t have spoken. She absolutely couldn’t let Mom know she had secretly taken Xiao Jiu out, or she’d definitely use it to cause trouble.

“It’s just that Xiao Jiu said she missed her dad…”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?” (Stare)

“Because you were busy, weren’t you?”

“What about the phone?” (Stare)

Under her mother’s relentless pressure, Fire Finch was gradually losing ground. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and she seemed on the verge of defeat. There was no choice—she was naturally suppressed, her strength reduced to a tenth. She couldn’t fight; she simply couldn’t win.

****

“Aunt Huai, will you stay for lunch?” Seeing their private talk end, Aya Tone poured them both another cup of tea.

Huai looked down at the time—it was already nearing noon without her noticing. She hadn’t felt it before, but now she was actually hungry.

“Then Auntie won’t stand on ceremony.”

“Don’t say that, Auntie. Since you’re visiting, it would be improper not to treat you to a meal.” With Big White not at home, Aya Tone had to stop hiding his skills. He tied on an apron and picked up a kitchen knife for the first time in a long while.

“Eating at home?” Seeing that Aya Tone didn’t seem to be ordering from a restaurant, Huai was curious.

“Homemade is healthier.” Having come to this world with no one to rely on, it was hard to find even someone to play games with. The only pleasure was culinary delight, but eating out was expensive. Having mastered the art of thrifty housekeeping, he had naturally learned to cook. He wondered if his skill had rusted after not touching a knife for years.

“Then Auntie will look forward to it.” Huai smiled, not bothering with the distracted Fire Finch. She crossed her legs comfortably, just like at home, and savored the tea Aya Tone had brewed.

“President! President!” Aya Tone called softly in Fire Finch’s ear.

“Huh?” Fire Finch snapped out of her daze.

“Are you okay, President? You look like you lost your soul.”

“I’m fine. I just realized that old ginger is spicier—your mom is still your mom.”

“I feel like you’re insulting me?” Aya Tone raised an eyebrow. Although he knew Fire Finch didn’t mean it that way, he couldn’t help but think so.

“You’re overthinking it.” Fire Finch listlessly threw herself onto the sofa farthest from Huai and buried her head under a pillow. Without her father to distract and cover for her, facing Mom alone was too hard. ‘Little sis, my family standing depends on you.’

Looking at the useless lump on the sofa, a cold smile curled on Huai’s lips. “Not a bit of feminine grace—clearly, she’s spent too much time with her father! Father and daughter, two of a kind! I’ll have to tell Wushuang to be careful!” Clearly, she had already given up on Fire Finch, her “big account.” She was already grown—talking didn’t work, and hitting didn’t work. What could she do? Fire Wushuang, still sweating it out in the academy, probably never imagined how important he was in his mother’s and sister’s thoughts.

****

Autumn in the south was a joke; the heat in the kitchen was nothing compared to the blazing sun outside. Huai leaned against the carved doorframe of the semi-open kitchen, quietly watching Aya Tone, who was working in an orderly manner. Dressed in a moon-white apron, Aya Tone made a steady “tock tock” sound as the knife hit the bamboo cutting board, the rhythm as even as spring rain tapping on a window. He didn’t notice the person standing by the doorframe at all.

“A Ling, do you often cook at home?” she suddenly asked. From the child’s skilled movements, it was clear he cooked often, which made Huai even more satisfied with her prospective son-in-law.

That’s right! Huai had already decided on Aya Tone unilaterally—if she couldn’t secure him, she might as well disown Fire Finch as a daughter.

The many elders of the Huo clan: “Absolutely not! The Vermilion Bird is still bound to this child!”

Aya Tone paused, then turned with a gentle smile in his eyes. “Aunt Huai, why are you standing here? The kitchen is hot. Please wait outside. There’s just one more dish—I’ll stir-fry it and we can eat.”

“Tsk!” Huai was deeply moved. “Is there anything Auntie can help with?” She had to leave a good impression on her son-in-law.

“Uh…” The refusal was on the tip of his tongue, but Aya Tone swallowed it back. “Then… would you like to taste it for saltiness?” He pointed at a clay pot bubbling with steam; even from a distance, a rich aroma filled the air.

“Sure.” Huai scooped a spoonful of soup into a bowl; the white jade spoon glowed softly under the light. She took a sip, and a warm, mellow flavor spread from her tongue to her heart.

“Delicious!”

Aya Tone paused, then laughed modestly. “It’s okay—just home cooking.”

The more outstanding other people’s children were, the more one’s own fell short! Fire Finch, hiding in the pillow pile, suddenly stiffened. ‘Murderous intent!’ She carefully peeked through a crack, only to meet her mother’s killing glare.

‘…’ Forget it. She was an existence not to be trifled with.