When it all began, the system had issued a reminder.
Fang Zhiya was a woman with a very traditional heart.
But just how traditional she was, Li Zhiyan had no way of knowing.
Not until the moment when she chided him for holding her hand, saying men and women should not touch hands.
Only then did he understand what her brand of traditionality meant, and that indeed she wasn't quite suited to such things.
After all, there was the issue of her constitution.
"Go settle Aunt Fang," he said.
"After all, Aunt Fang is such a beautiful woman. It might not be safe for her at night. I'll feel at ease only if I look after her."
"After all, she's the class monitor's own mother."
Looking at Jiang Xian who hadn't replied for a while.
Li Zhiyan typed: "Wife, why are you silent? Have you fallen asleep? I'm planning to sleep."
Jiang Xian: "I was just speaking with your teacher. He's so annoying."
"Thinking about how he treated you before makes me want to beat him up. If you're tired, go to sleep."
Li Zhiyan: "Wife, you should go to sleep early too."
"If you don't sleep early, it's not good for your skin."
Jiang Xian: "You know quite a lot for a kid."
"Fine, I'll sleep early, aiming to fall asleep before you do."
Li Zhiyan: "Maybe we'll end up falling asleep together."
Jiang Xian: "Kid, go to sleep quickly."
...
Jiang Xian stood up and went back to the master bedroom. She didn't take Li Zhiyan's words seriously.
It was just a child's talk after all. She was 41 years old herself.
She was a whole 23 years older than this 18-year-old kid. His thoughts certainly couldn't be so dirty.
He had merely suggested going to sleep at the same time as her.
She turned on the air conditioner and lay down on the nightstand, looking at her own snow-white slender legs, and felt somewhat saddened in her heart.
Would she really have to spend her juiciest years alone from now on?
She had been contemplating having a second child.
But now it seemed that the idea of a second child was completely out of reach for her.
"Do I really have no chance to have a second child..."
Next door, Yen Zhengjin was still feeling anxious.
It was fortunate he had run fast; otherwise, he would have been in real trouble. That wouldn't have been good at all.
You can't spoil that woman. Otherwise, there would be no end to her demands.
He turned on his computer, intending to unwind online. Without thinking, he opened a website.
"That kid seemed genuinely upset when he heard about my potential remarriage."
"If I really do remarry, will he stop caring about me altogether?"
Such thoughts caused Rao Shi Yun's heart to ache silently.
That kid, he really is wonderful.
...
"Mom, I'm stepping out! I need to use the electric scooter."
Before leaving, Li Zhiyan visited his mother's room to let her know.
As a mama's boy, Li Zhiyan was well cared for by his mother and needed to report his whereabouts before going out in the evening.
"Alright, be careful."
"The scooter keys are by the shoe cabinet."
"Will you be back tonight?"
Zhou Rongrong sensed her son might be growing up, having secrets of his own—maybe he was going to a hotel with some girl. No, it might not be a girl; perhaps it was a woman.
"I'll be back, Mom."
"You should rest early."
After checking in with Zhou Rongrong, Li Zhiyan unplugged the charging electric scooter, took the battery, and went downstairs.
...
On the road, Li Zhiyan felt that public safety had really deteriorated compared to 24 years ago.
If it were a woman on her own out here.
It would indeed be worrying; the fear of assault was real.
By the time he got to the park, it was after ten o'clock.
In 2010, at this time, most people would have been asleep, but on the park bench.
Fang Zhiya sat sobbing nonstop.
She was utterly clueless about what to do next.
Her family's home had been sealed and was ready to go up for auction.
And as she was leaving with her suitcase, she had accidentally sprained her ankle, which still hurt terribly. The pain was excruciating whenever she stood up.
She had called her son.
But he didn't pick up, and despair washed over her.
Fang Zhiya had never felt such despair before, and at that moment, an electric scooter rode towards her.
This made Fang Zhiya afraid.
It was so late; could it be hooligans or hoodlums?
The park had only dim streetlights casting a faint yellow glow.
The moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating a mottled, sinister shadow, invoking fear.
Facing such a situation, Fang Zhiya had no time for sorrow, only fear remained in her heart.