Two chapters today. Bonus one to get more than 2k votes in a day.
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The same morning, Xiao Min's home.
"Where is Xiao Min?" Xiao Dong asked as he sat in the chair around the dining table.
His wife, who got quite better after her surgery, replied, "He didn't come out of his room. Must be sleeping."
"I will get him," said Xiao Dong, but his wife stopped him.
"I think something is not right with him," she said.
Xiao Dong knew his wife was right but tried to deny it, "What can be wrong? His boss is injured, so he must be tired with lots of work he has to do alone."
"He had this much work so many times, but this time I am sure he is going through something, and we are not aware of it. He is not even eating enough these days," the woman insisted.
"You are overthinking," saying Xiao Dong stood up, and just then, Xiao Min came downstairs from his room.
"Good morning, son," said the woman as she smiled lightly.
"Morning, mother," Xiao Min greeted and stepped towards the door of his home.
"Where are you going? Have breakfast?" said his mother.
Xiao Min stopped and replied calmly, "I'm going for a walk, not hungry at the moment."
"Hmm, then give me a company," his mother insisted.
Xiao Min cared for his mother, so he couldn't say no and sat in one chair while Xiao Dong sat silent, knowing why his son must be upset, but he thought it's just temporary, and he would be fine soon.
Breakfast was served, and Xiao Min's mother put a dish in front of him, "Just eat something, at least a few bites. Mother will feel good."
Xiao Min nodded lightly and continued to eat slowly with his parents, but to him, every bite felt difficult to swallow.
"You don't look good these days. If something is troubling you, you can share with mother," said Xiao Min's mother, her eyes filled with warmth and care for her son.
"I'm good, mother. It's just weather," he replied.
"Hmm, summer," the mother agreed.
Though Xiao Min said it, the mother was not ready to accept it and said, "Xiao Min, will you listen to mother?"
Xiao Min looked at her and nodded lightly.
"I never asked you to as you were always busy, but I think it's time for you to get married," she said.
With this, the bite in his mouth almost choked him, and he swallowed it as if it was a stone, while Xiao Dong was sure his wife was doing the right thing.
"Your mother is right, Xiao Min. It's time for you to get married," Xiao Dong added.
"Mother, I can't," said Xiao Min, with his head lowered to continue eating.
"Why? Is there anyone you like?" she asked.
Xiao Min kept quiet for a while, not knowing what to say as he didn't wish to lie, and if he told the truth, he might disappoint his mother.
The mother waited for a reply, "Son, is there anyone….."
"Hmm, there is," Xiao Min replied calmly.
Xiao Dong stopped eating as he was scared of what his son would say further.
The mother smiled brightly, "This is great news. Tell me who she is, and I will talk to her parents," she offered.
"Let him eat first. Why are you so in a hurry?" Xiao Dong interrupted, feeling scared to hear the reply from his son.
"Any mother would be happy to hear it, so don't stop me," she interrupted her husband and looked at her son, "Tell me, son, who is the girl."
"Not woman but a man," replied Xiao Min as he didn't dare to look at his mother.
She was shocked, and Xiao Dong exclaimed, "Xiao Min, what nonsense is this?"
Ignoring his father, Xiao Min looked at his shocked mother, "It's the truth, mother. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but your son likes one man."
THUD!!
Xiao Dong slammed his hand on the dining table, "Stop it, Xiao Min. Get back to your senses."
Xiao Min looked at his father, "I'm in my good senses, father. But both of you don't have to worry because that man has rejected me and doesn't love me, so there is no way I would be with him. The only thing is that I won't marry any woman ever. I can't ruin someone's life."
Xiao Dong's face turned red, "Xiao Min, you…."
"Stop it, honey" Xiao Min's mother stopped her husband and looked at her son, "Who is that man who dared to reject my son?"
What the lady said, surprised the father and son and they looked at her feeling stunned over it.
The mother continued, "Bring him to me, and I will show how good my son is and what he is missing."
Shocked, Xiao Dong tried to say something, "Honey, what are you talking…."
"Am I wrong? You, too, know how good our son is. I pity the man who rejected him," she said.
Xiao Min didn't know how to react to this sudden turn of the event and stayed quiet.
She looked at her son, "Tell me, who is that brainless man," she asked and mumbled, "Dared to reject my son."
Xiao Min's eyes turned moist, "Mother, I'm sorry..." feeling choked, he couldn't talk and look guilty.
"Why are you saying sorry. Do you regret it?" she asked.
Controlling his tears, Xiao Min shook his head and spoke, "Sorry to disappoint you both as I….." he stopped.
"Why would you disappoint us? You have been the best son that any parents could have. If you are talking about liking a man, then it's your choice. We can't force you," she said.
Xiao Dong tried to stop her, "Instead of correcting him, you are…."
She looked at her husband, "What did he do wrong to correct him? I only have one son, and I would be happy with whatever makes him happy. If you have a problem with it, I can't help it," she said, feeling upset with her husband and he had to give up in front of him.
Xiao Min got back to his senses and spoke, "Both of you don't need to fight over me. As I said, he doesn't love me, and we can't be together." He stood up, "I hope we won't talk about it after this," bowing a little saying bye, he stepped to go out.