"Smack!"
The slap landed hard. My cheek burned red, pain radiating deep.
"Get out! I don't have a worthless son like you!"
The man shouting was my father, Lin Jian. Years of drinking and self-destruction had left him hollow — sunken eyes, sallow skin, hair greasy and thin. His clothes looked like they hadn't been washed in months. He was a walking ruin.
I didn't cry in front of him.
"Fine," I said quietly. "I'm leaving."
He laughed — a wet, ugly sound.
"You think you'll survive out there? You're nothing. Just like her — all looks, no substance."
I turned away, walked to my corner of the room — thin mattress on the floor, a few textbooks, cracked phone, one backpack.
It took less than five minutes to pack everything I owned.
The living room stank — trash bags rotting in corners, takeout containers growing mold, the air thick with stale liquor. If I didn't clean, no one would. I hated this place. I hated him.
I slung the bag over my shoulder and walked past him.
He didn't even look up — just took another swig.
The iron door slammed shut with a hollow clang.
Tears mixed with the cold drizzle outside as I hurried down the stairs.
My name is Lin Chen. I'm 18, a senior at Yunhai No. 2 High School.
Once we were one of the Four Great Houses of Yunhai. My grandfather built the family's real-estate empire from nothing. By my father's time we were still wealthy, still respected.
My mother, Shen Qingwan, was the second daughter of the Shen family — another of the Four Great Houses. She was breathtaking — tall at 172 cm, jet-black hair, large expressive eyes, slender brows, full red lips with a small beauty mark beside them. Her skin was flawless, fair, radiant. Her figure — full breasts, tiny waist, long shapely legs, and especially her round, plump, perky buttocks — made her a legend in Yunhai. She was called "Yunhai's Most Perfect Flower."
She chose my father at a business banquet. He pursued her relentlessly. The elders of both families approved — a union of power. They married.
Before I was born, she joined the family business — displayed genius-level skill, grew it massively. My father — spoiled, chauvinistic — couldn't stand her being better than him.
After I was born, she gave up everything to be a full-time wife and mother. Our family was happy — for a while.
Then my grandfather died. Father took over. He had no vision. E-commerce crushed our malls. Debts mounted. He panicked — loans, private lenders, desperation.
Rumors started.
They said my mother dressed too beautifully — tight dresses, sheer stockings, high heels — because she wanted lovers. They said she was cold to my father but warm to others. They said the reason he couldn't perform anymore was her.
My father believed every word.
He screamed. Accused. Humiliated.
She denied everything — patiently — but he wouldn't listen.
Finally she divorced him.
She fought for my custody — but the Shen family didn't want me (saw me as a Lin liability). Court gave me to my father — he still had some money left.
She left Yunhai. Went abroad to rebuild.
Our calls were frequent at first — every few days. She always asked how I was, said she loved me, promised she'd come back.
Then weekly.
Then monthly.
Then nothing.
For four months — silence.
I called — busy tone. Disconnected.
The pain of being abandoned by the one person who ever truly loved me turned into something darker.
I withdrew. Grades fell. Failed the high school entrance exam — ended up at No. 2 instead of No. 1.
My father hated me for it.
He drank more. Hit more. Blamed me for everything.
Today was the breaking point.
I walked through the rain, hood up, tears hidden.
Where could I go?
Then I remembered — Zhao Kai.
My childhood friend. Youngest son of the Zhao family — one of Yunhai's Four Great Houses. Wealthy. Loyal. A notorious playboy, but the best brother I had.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
"Hey, Young Master Lin! Calling to carry me in duo queue?"
"Cut the crap. I need a place to crash. I just left home."
A pause.
"Damn… serious?"
"Yeah."
"Come over. I'll send the address. Secret apartment my dad bought — no one uses it. You can stay as long as you want."
Twenty minutes later I arrived at the high-end gated community.
Zhao Kai was waiting outside — tall, handsome, designer clothes, carefree grin.
He slung an arm around my shoulder.
"Bro… you really ran away?"
"Don't start. Just get me inside."
He laughed — led me through facial recognition and elevator to the 23rd floor.
The apartment was huge — 300+ square meters, spotless, modern.
"Housekeeper comes twice a week. You're good. Food, drinks, Wi-Fi — all on me. We'll duo queue every night."
I dropped my bag.
"Thanks, man."
He handed me a Coke.
"So… what happened? Your old man finally snap?"
I told him everything — the slap, the insults, the years of hell.
He listened — serious for once.
When I finished he clapped me on the back.
"You're staying here. No discussion."
Then — casual — he added:
"Speaking of women… I ran into this insanely hot mature professor at Yunhai University library last week. Long legs, stockings, classy as hell. Been trying to flirt but she completely ignores me. Ice queen type. Probably from a big family."
I laughed despite myself.
"You and your mature women obsession. Still chasing teachers?"
"Heh, guilty. But seriously — your mom was always the gold standard. Haven't seen Auntie Shen in years… but damn, she was something else."
I stiffened.
"Don't."
He raised his hands.
"Sorry, sorry. Bad joke. Just saying — she was good to us growing up. Miss her."
I let it go.
We played Mobile Legends until late.
I slept on the couch — first time in years I didn't feel like trash.
But in the quiet moments — I thought of her.
My mother.
Shen Qingwan.
Wherever she was.
Whether she ever thought of me.