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They chatted idly about the years that had passed, but it was mostly trivialities. Curiously, they didn't touch on my mother's experiences abroad, which was what I was most eager to hear about.
After a while, the conversation turned to men. My mom asked, "What about you, Sis? How are things with my brother-in-law? I hear he's doing quite well for himself in the government."
"It's fine, I suppose. What can you expect from an old married couple? You know what he's like," my aunt said, lowering her head as if she didn't want to discuss the topic.
My mom leaned in mysteriously and whispered into my aunt's ear, "I mean that. How is he with you? You know what I'm talking about." She finished with a charmingly coy laugh.
"Oh, you! What are you saying? Xiao Bin is right here!"
My aunt's cheeks flushed at my mother's words. She shot me an embarrassed glance from the corner of her eye and gave my mom's shoulder a playful, shy slap.
My mom laughed, looked at me, and took a sip of her drink. "It's nothing. Xiao Bin isn't an outsider. You don't have to be shy, Sis!"
Ignoring my mom, my aunt picked up a piece of beef and popped it into her mouth. She gave my mom a shy, sidelong glance. Her delicate face, lightly dusted with powder, looked sexy and alluring with her small mouth and slightly full lips. She said coyly, "Your brother-in-law is always busy with social engagements. Where would he find the time? You rarely even see him at home! Hmph! Just thinking about it makes me angry! Besides, I'm busy with work myself. I don't have the energy for that sort of thing."
Mom said with a hint of smugness, "Hee hee, Sis, you're not answering my question. At our age, don't I know whether our bodies have needs? If you don't have a man to satisfy you, how do you stand it?"
Thoroughly embarrassed, my aunt pinched my mom's arm hard, drawing a sharp, delicate yelp of "Ow!" from her. My aunt then said, "What are you talking about! So improper! Have you no shame?"
Mom theatrically rubbed her arm and quickly put a piece of beef onto my aunt's plate. My aunt, still annoyed, ignored her, which only made my mom laugh again.
A moment later, my mom traced a finger casually and said, "My boyfriend... he's nothing special, really. But since I came back, he's been checking up on me and even helping me out with my business. I never had high hopes for him, but he's... that... he's decent enough, I suppose. I'm just making do for now. Otherwise, I wouldn't even give him a second glance."
As she finished, she gave me a meaningful, sidelong glance with her phoenix-like eyes. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a pang of guilt, afraid my aunt would notice my illicit thoughts. But she seemed oblivious to the silent exchange between my mother and me.
My mom lounged back in her chair and said, her voice a lazy drawl that made one's heart itch, "Men are all the same. They spout vows of eternal love, but all they really want is our bodies. They all like to play their little 'clever' tricks behind our backs. We women can't really rely on them. It's better to just do as we please and make those bastards respect us."
My aunt looked at my mom, sighed, and said, "That's because you're so free-spirited and shrewd. How many women in this world are like you? Most of us can only depend on men. Alas, I know I could never be like you."
Listening to this conversation, I didn't dare lift my head and just focused on eating. I saw the contrast between my aunt's dignified and proper demeanor with my mother's sexy, flirtatious charm. They were completely different styles.
But then I glanced at my aunt again. Where her qipao split, a pair of long, straight legs in sheer stockings was revealed. They were pale, smooth, and full, incredibly alluring.
Her hips were full and round. The high slit of the qipao slightly revealed the curve of her buttocks. As her large, plump rear rested on the chair, the edge of the skirt dug in slightly, creating a crease of soft, full flesh.
Her tight-fitting qipao was also incredibly sexy and charming. She had the classic figure of a mature woman, a curvaceous body with full breasts and a voluptuous rear. If one could sleep with her, it would truly be a pleasure. I couldn't help but envy my uncle. I wondered what this conservative and dignified aunt was like in bed. Was she just as wild and passionate?
"By the way, about that matter... are you really going to go through with it?" My aunt suddenly asked my mom, her tone serious.
My mom gave my aunt a deep look and said in a low voice, "I'm prepared. I told you before. I came back this time to settle this once and for all."
I was a bit lost, not knowing what they were talking about, but I had a feeling it was something very important.
My aunt hugged her arms to her chest, looking worried. "So you've decided to start by investigating those two? To be honest, I'm not that worried about the old grudges. What I'm worried about is the matter of our family..."
My mom glanced sideways at me. Her sudden, profound gaze made my heart lurch. She then turned back, placed her pale hand on my aunt's shoulder, and said softly, "Don't worry, Sis. I know what I'm doing. We still have time, and all these things are connected. I've already made up my mind. Just trust me. We'll find a way."
My aunt reached out and grasped my mom's hand. Though her face was still etched with worry, seeing my mom's firm expression brought her a small measure of relief.
She turned to look at me, who was completely bewildered, and said with a smile, "Oh, look, Xiao Bin is still here, and here we are talking about such things. Come on, eat more. The steak at this French restaurant is the best!"
With that, my aunt affectionately put a piece of beef on my plate. I had no idea what they had been talking about, but I didn't want to seem clueless, so I quickly thanked her. My aunt praised me for being so sweet.
As we were finishing, my mom teased me, "Xiao Bin, you see how much your aunt likes you. Why don't you go stay at her place for a while?"
I was stunned. My aunt's face lit up with joy. "That's a wonderful idea! My house is always so empty without any children. Your uncle is never home, and I cook all these wonderful dishes with no one to eat them. You should come stay for a while, Xiao Bin. Keep your old aunt company!"
Living under the same roof as a great beauty like my aunt would, of course, be a joy. I would have loved nothing more. But then it hit me. If I did that, I wouldn't get to see my mom. Besides, my next "test" with her was only a month away. I didn't want to go a single day without seeing her. I quickly refused, "No, no, thank you, Auntie, but Mom is all alone at home, too. I'd worry about her. I think I'll just stay at my own place."
"Giggle, giggle, giggle." My mom and my aunt looked at each other and broke into a chorus of charming laughter, filling the private room with a vibrant, feminine energy. My aunt laughed, "It seems our Xiao Bin can't bear to be away from you. Alas, I suppose I'm just not destined to have children. I'm jealous."
I knew my aunt and uncle hadn't had children for many years. I wasn't sure if it was by choice or if they couldn't.
My mom said, "Xiao Bin, you're so clingy. Your aunt was kind enough to invite you, and you're going to refuse? You're embarrassing me!"
I gave an awkward smile, thinking that no matter how they teased me, I was absolutely not going to stay at my aunt's house.
Soon, our lavish meal came to an end. My aunt's driver was there to pick her up. She said a warm goodbye to us, and just before leaving, she invited me again, insisting I must come stay for a while sometime. I had no choice but to reluctantly agree. I'd cross that bridge when I came to it.
On the drive home, my mom said to me with a laugh, "What's wrong, Xiao Bin? Your aunt asks you to keep her company, and you're so unwilling? You're so attached to your mom. Are you ever going to grow up? And you still call yourself a man."
I said grumpily, "I haven't seen my aunt in years. It would be awkward to stay at her house. Besides, she said she's usually all alone there. It wouldn't be convenient..."
"Giggle, giggle. So you do know what 'inconvenient' means. Then what about you always making moves on your mom? Isn't it inconvenient living under the same roof with me? Maybe I need to reconsider!"
Mom teased me, glancing at me through the rearview mirror as she drove.
"That's different," I insisted.
"How is it different? Xiao Bin, you can't let your mind wander to dirty places. You were staring at your aunt's chest and legs for quite a while back there, weren't you? Did you think she wouldn't notice?" my mom said.
My heart sank. I could only say awkwardly, "I... I wasn't staring. I just... I glanced over a few times. Auntie is a beautiful woman, after all. I only looked a couple of times. You're falsely accusing me, Mom."
My mom didn't say anything more, she just gave me a knowing, mischievous smile.
After a while, I said to my mom, "Mom, what were you and Auntie talking about? And what about that Jiang Weixin? What are you planning to do?"
My mom focused on driving, her eyes on the road ahead. After a long moment, she said slowly, "Xiao Bin, I came back this time for two reasons. One is to take good care of you. The other is to handle a few important matters. And I'm not talking about things like starting a company or making money."
"Mmm," I said quietly, listening in the car.
My mom paused. Her beautiful phoenix eyes glanced at me in the rearview mirror as she said calmly, "There are some things it's better for you not to know. You're still young, not yet of an age to understand. When the time is right, you will naturally learn the whole story. You won't need me to tell you then; you'll just know."
That's not saying anything at all, I thought. My mom continued, "In short, you need to know that I will handle the mess left by the Zhou family, as well as a series of matters concerning our own Gu family. It's all very complex, and the families are all intertwined. Just leave it to me to handle. You focus on your studies and don't worry about things you shouldn't. When you're grown and have entered society, I will hand over the best of everything to you. Do you understand?"
I was stunned for a long moment. There were things I wanted to say, but the words caught in my throat. After much internal struggle, I could only say, "Okay, Mom. I understand."
My mom's voice softened. "Mom likes to joke with you sometimes, but you must remember that we are mother and son, first and foremost. That is a line that must never be crossed. You have a girlfriend now, and I'm very happy for you. As long as it doesn't affect your studies, dating is good for your growth and for learning about the world. You have a bright and wonderful future ahead of you. Promise me you won't have any more of these... improper thoughts about me, okay?"
Hearing her words, her tone gentle yet firm, I felt as if I'd been struck by a hammer, a suffocating weight in my chest. Unwilling to give up, I said, "What does that have to do with what we were just talking about? Besides, you promised me last time. You said you'd give me a 'test' in three months. You can't go back on your word, can you?"
Hearing this, my mom's beautiful eyes met mine in the rearview mirror again, revealing a look of helpless sorrow.
A silence fell between us mother and son. My longing for my mom couldn't be dispelled by a few words. This was my most stubborn trait.
My mom sighed and said softly, "Then how about this, Xiao Bin? Go stay with your aunt for a while. She's a very gentle person. She'll treat you well. You can see how much she likes you..."
"I don't want to," I interrupted her before she could finish.
My mom didn't say anything more. It felt as if a chasm had opened up between us. It seemed my mom was truly unwilling to make any kind of "bet" with me. Deep down, she didn't want any relationship with me that went beyond mother and son. That three-month "test" we had agreed on was probably just a stalling tactic.
But I wouldn't give up easily. In the backseat, I watched my mom's elegant, sexy back. In my heart, she was an irreplaceable goddess. My greatest wish was to return to the very place on her body where I was born. Perhaps this is the obsession in the heart of every Oedipal young man.
"We'll see about that!" I said to her in my mind.
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