Love in the Fast Lane - Chapter 36 - Is This a Real Mother?

e a solution. Hurry up and eat; I need to make a phone call. If I don’t call my mom on time, she’ll definitely start bothering me at three or four in the morning.” After hanging up the phone and organizing her thoughts, Mo Zihan finally noticed that Tang Ning was looking at her with an odd expression, almost as if he felt sorry for her.

Hmm? Sympathy?

That shouldn’t be. If anything, it should be a sense of shared plight, right?

Tang Ning chuckled strangely, suddenly developing an appetite. He finished a bowl of noodles in no time. Just as a few onlookers were about to rush in to grab his seat, he waved at the waitress near the door and said, “Miss, another bowl of Mixed Noodles, with extra chili, please.”

Uhh… What’s so strange about him?

Indeed, her choice of words was quite inappropriate. Instead of saying ‘bothering’, she should have used the term ‘checking up on me’. But could she really say that so bluntly in front of others? That would be too damaging to her image!

The term ‘checking up’, as the name implies, comes from the “half-year” of “getting along”. In her mom’s eyes, combined with considerations like living and eating arrangements, she naturally assumed the two were already living together-of course, the premise was that they were indeed in a relationship. Hence, her midnight checks were undoubtedly to verify her assumptions.

As for her own image, did her mom even consider it? It seemed like her mom was more eager to get her married off as soon as possible. Of course, her mom would care about the image, and it might make her uncomfortable, but compared to the big picture-well, for her mom, having her daughter date, marry, and have children was certainly the big picture-she wouldn’t worry too much about the small stuff.

“Many times, you really do hit a dead end,” Tang Ning remarked lightly after finishing his noodles and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

It was obvious that in some aspects, he was quite experienced. It made sense; dealing with a mother who worried about her son’s career and his approaching thirties’ marriage status, Mo Zihan could imagine the immense pressure his family placed on him. In this prolonged battle, Tang Ning must have had his ways.

But if he had managed to hold up so well for so many years, why did he let it slip now?

Mo Zihan was puzzled but didn’t ask further.

Upstairs, without turning on the lights, Mo Zihan left a small gap in the curtains. She watched as Tang Ning smoked a cigarette downstairs before turning and leaving. She let out a soft sigh. Only in such a quiet night, when everything was still, could she truly open her heart. According to Qi Xiaomeng, it was in the darkness that she would shamelessly and lonelily ponder her own thoughts.

The luminescent clock showed the time as 10:30 PM. If there were no issues, her parents would surely be asleep by now. But tonight, they were undoubtedly waiting for her explanation call.

With no other choice, she turned on a small desk lamp, poured herself a glass of water to clear her throat, and after some deliberation, decided to bring up Tang Ning as a shield to smooth things over.

She dialed the number, and before the third ring, her mother picked up, speaking in a tone as if she had everything under control, “Finished dinner? Home already? Who’s boiling water, and who’s resting? All done with your tasks?”

Mo Zihan placed her hand on her forehead, feeling utterly defeated by her mother.

“Mom, why can’t you think positively for once? We’re living separately, okay?”

Her mother replied in a strong and dissatisfied tone, “You’re both adults now; living together isn’t a big deal! What’s there to be shy about? I understand, but don’t let any accidents happen. I’m ready for a son-in-law, but I’m not prepared for a grandchild.”

Mo Zihan closed her mouth. With her mom talking like this, what more could she say? Nothing, really. She might as well let her talk. Eventually, her mom would run out of words.

“Hey, why aren’t you saying anything? Are you both trying to fool us four elders? I’m warning you, if you keep making up stories, we won’t interfere in your affairs anymore.”

Dear heavens, how I wish you wouldn’t interfere! If you truly didn’t, I’d go straight to the temple to thank the Buddha!

However, Mo Zihan had heard this line at least ten thousand times since she was a child. To take it seriously now would be foolish.

“Alright, I’m very serious when I tell you this, Mom, we really, really aren’t living together. If you don’t believe me, you can come and check tonight,” Mo Zihan declared firmly, though in resignation.

Her mom paused for a moment, sounding uncertain as she asked, “Not living together? Why, why not?”

Mo Zihan flipped through a blank sheet of paper, using the prepared explanation in a hollow, mechanical tone, “He’s struggling with his career, has no money, no house. He’s very ambitious and determined, alright? A real man with a strong sense of responsibility. A good man, right? He wants to save up some money first.”

To Mo Zihan’s surprise, her mother was delighted, “That’s a good understanding. Let me tell you, Xiaohan, this boy is good. Although I haven’t met him yet, just hearing this makes your dad and me approve of him.”

Darn it, shot myself in the foot again!

Mo Zihan felt a sudden rush of awareness. She couldn’t continue with her well-rehearsed excuses. If she did, her mom would surely come up tomorrow, and not to check on things, but to push them together.

“But that doesn’t add up. You both have jobs now. Oh, where does he work?” her mom questioned.

Thinking quickly, Mo Zihan replied, “He works at the same company as I do, in design. His salary is a bit higher than mine.”

Her mom sounded puzzled, “That’s strange. Your salaries aren’t low. Based on the timeframe we discussed in our last call, in the past six months, you two should have made over ten thousand a month. Saving a bit here and there, you should have accumulated some money. Plus your previous savings, you should be close to a down payment, right?”

Mo Zihan saw an opportunity and seized it, “Well, his family situation isn’t great. His parents spent everything to put his siblings through school and never had any savings. Being the eldest son, he’s quite determined to be responsible. He wants to buy a house for his parents first. Most of his savings over the past two years have been used for his family.”

In Mo Zihan’s opinion, in today’s fast-paced society, a house is a necessity for two people living together. While other things can be temporarily put aside, a house is essential. Her mom is also an up-to-date trendsetter, so she figured her mom would latch onto this issue, giving her a chance to delay things for another year or so. Perhaps by then, things could turn around.

But what she didn’t anticipate was her mother’s silence on the other end, followed by a comment that made Mo Zihan want to explode: “Oh, this boy is really something, very filial and strong-willed. He’s a good kid. You, Xiaohan, have a difficult temperament and sometimes lack determination. Having this boy around to take care of you puts your father and me at ease. Xiaohan, there are very few good-hearted men these days. I’m telling you, don’t let this one slip away. Strong-willed men can have their tempers; you need to be more patient and understanding. Understand? People should be content and not greedy for more. Xiaohan, it’s like a blessing from the heavens. Your father and I have always been worried whether the person you’re with is decent, but now we can truly be at ease.”

Mo Zihan felt an immense urge to cry out. She couldn’t handle such a monumental blow, causing her to collapse onto the bed, practically unconscious.

She could tell her mom wasn’t joking this time. In other words, her mom was serious.

What was she supposed to do now? She couldn’t understand why every conversation with her mom ended up off track. She remembered handling her mom in the past, even if not perfectly every time, but never this disastrously.

“Alright then, that’s settled. Remember to bring him home for the New Year. And don’t live too frugally. Though our family isn’t exceptionally well-off, your father and I have saved quite a bit from a lifetime of work. We’ll cover the bulk of the house down payment. Both of you should save your earnings and use them to support his family.” After saying this, her mom hung up the phone for the first time, but not before Mo Zihan heard her mumbling, “Such a good kid. A filial person can’t be bad.”

Oh, dear mother, am I your biological child? Why are you siding with him?

If this had happened before, Mo Zihan would have jumped for joy at her mom hanging up first, celebrating her victory and relief from her mom’s endless questioning. But this time…

She couldn’t bear to think about it. Every recollection was soaked in blood and tears!