A Mother’s Intuition and a Lingering Heart

Bai Chen’s hands clenched tightly at his sides, his body trembling almost imperceptibly. He snatched the jacket draped over the armchair, slung it over his shoulders, and then ran downstairs.

From the dining room, Bai mother turned, observing Bai Chen’s unsettled state. She let out a soft sigh.

“Eat your food,” she said mildly. “You’ll be late soon.”

Bai Chen offered no reply. He simply composed himself, silently pulling out a chair opposite her.

He sat down, gazing at the food before him. Despite having barely eaten last night, he felt not the slightest appetite.

Across from him, Bai mother seemed to share his mood. She appeared to have something to say, yet remained silent, and Bai Chen was no different.

This was a lavish room, a space that belonged entirely to Bai Qiao. Everything here was hers.

‘If not for me, Bai Qiao would still be a haughty young mistress of a wealthy family,’ he mused. ‘I took everything from her, yet now I sit in her place, comfortably enjoying all that was hers.’

As this thought struck him, Bai Chen’s grip on his fork tightened involuntarily.

He was known to everyone as the ruthless King Bai, yet when had he started to care so deeply for someone? He had always rejected emotional attachments, viewing feelings as a weakness, and even with numerous women, he’d only ever treated them as fleeting diversions.

‘When did I, of all people, begin to care so much for another?’

Bai Chen gritted his teeth.

“Ah, A-Chen?” Bai mother’s voice pulled Bai Chen back from his turbulent thoughts.

“Hm?”

“You, you… that fork…” Bai mother’s hand trembled slightly as she pointed at the utensil in Bai Chen’s hand.

Only then did Bai Chen notice the fork. He had, without realizing it, exerted too much force, bending the entire utensil out of shape.

While Bai Chen had always possessed considerable strength, it had never been to this extreme. Moreover, the family’s forks were made of titanium alloy, certainly not meant to break so easily.

To Bai mother, seeing a fork bent with a single hand was nothing short of bizarre.

Bai Chen fell silent for a few seconds. Then, as if having made a momentous decision, he looked up.

“Auntie,” he called.

“Ah?!” Hearing the address, Bai mother froze. “A-Chen, you… what did you call me?”

“Auntie, you might not believe what I’m about to say, but it’s all true.”

****

“So, the previous A-Chen became like A-Qiao?”

“Mm.” Bai Chen was astonished by Bai mother’s reaction. There was none of the shock he had anticipated; she had actually accepted his words.

In a society built on scientific principles, where science had long permeated every aspect of life, such a confession would typically brand someone as insane.

“Actually, I’ve felt that something wasn’t right for a while now.”

“Ah?!” This time, it was Bai Chen’s turn to be surprised.

“A-Qiao and you have both mistakenly called me by the wrong name several times. Moreover, as a mother, I notice every slight change in my child.”

“There’s… that shadow on A-Qiao.”

Bai Chen fell silent. So, Bai mother had noticed something amiss long ago.

“Call A-Qiao to come home with us tonight.”

Bai Chen lifted his lowered head. He met Bai mother’s gaze, seeing the doting affection of a mother for her child reflected there.

“Okay.”

****

“Thank you. I’ll go in first,” Bai Qiao said to Black Sha as she stepped out of the car.

“Oh? Not together?”

“No, we’re already here. Thank you very much.”

“You still care about him, don’t you?” Black Sha’s words made Bai Qiao pause after a few steps.

Then, she quickened her pace towards the classroom.

“Hey, tonight…” Bai Chen had rehearsed his words for a long time. After all, initiating a conversation first was a significant blow to one’s pride.

“A-Chen! Want to go out and have fun tonight?”

Just as Bai Chen approached Bai Qiao’s desk, Miko happily bounced over to him.

Noticing the gazes of their classmates—some surprised, some envious, some jealous—Miko suddenly felt a surge of satisfaction.

“Sorry, I have plans tonight.”

He gently pushed Miko away, ignoring her petulant expression, and quickly glanced towards Bai Qiao’s seat.

It was empty. Had Bai Qiao already left?

“Hmph! Showing off in front of me again? How boring!”

‘But why does it still hurt so much?’

“A-Qiao? Why are you sitting here?”

It was unclear whether Black Sha had been monitoring Bai Qiao, or if it was simply a coincidence, but whenever Bai Qiao found herself in a moment of despair, Black Sha would appear at just the right time.

Regardless, his presence was undeniably effective, providing Bai Qiao with a profound sense of reassurance.

****