C14 I'm Going to Play!

At 11 p.m., the streets of Mu County were nearly deserted, with only a few people lingering about. In this small town, folks typically turned in early, unlike in a bustling city where the nightlife thrived no matter the hour.

Kong Shuoyi shivered as the cold night wind bit through him. A lit sign ahead caught his eye: "Rose Motel." Without much thought, he pushed the door open and went inside. The biting chill was unbearable, and in his rush earlier that afternoon, he hadn't grabbed a coat.

"Hello, sir. How can I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"I need a room," Shuoyi replied, pulling out his wallet.

"That'll be $30 a night. How many nights will you be staying?"

"Two nights. Keep the change and bring a cup of noodles to my room," Shuoyi said, handing over a hundred-dollar bill.

"Sure thing. Here's your key. Your room is on the second floor, just take a right at the top of the stairs."

Shuoyi quickly made his way to the second floor. The dim hallway lights had an old-fashioned feel, with rusty bulbs that looked like they might fall at any moment.

"Room 305, here we are." He fumbled with the key the receptionist had given him, turning it three times before the door finally opened. A strong, unpleasant odor hit him immediately.

Shuoyi never imagined he'd find himself staying in such a rundown motel. But to avoid Shen Xiangxia's watchful eyes, he was willing to endure this discomfort.

There was no hot water unless you fetched it yourself, no air conditioning, and worst of all, the bed was only five feet long, forcing Shuoyi to curl up to sleep. As he lay on the bed fiddling with his phone, a call from Kong Linhua came through unexpectedly.

"Where are you?" Linhua's voice was filled with anger and authority.

"In Mu County," Shuoyi replied coolly.

"Why did you run off to that place? Get back here right now."

"I'm not coming back. I want to stay here for a few days."

"Did you have another argument with Aunt Shen today? How can you be so ungrateful? Aunt Shen has sacrificed so much to take care of you. Look at yourself, not a hint of gratitude." Kong Linhua's voice was filled with the frustration of disappointment.

It was always like this. No matter what happened, his father would always side with that woman. Kong Shuoyi was used to it. He looked up at the stars, knowing one of them was his mother, always watching over him.

"I have other things to do. I'll hang up now. I'll come back in a few days." The phone call ended with a series of beeps.

Back at the Kong family mansion, Kong Linhua was fuming.

"That kid is getting more and more out of line. Don't take it to heart. I'll deal with him when he gets back," Kong Linhua tried to calm his wife's nerves.

"Kong, how could I hold a grudge against a child? I'm just worried he'll be cold or hungry out there. Nowhere is as good as home, don't you agree?"

"Ah, if only Shuoyi could understand your good intentions. I'm truly blessed to have such a wonderful wife," Kong Linhua said, pulling Shen Xiangxia into his arms.

"Mommy, Mommy," a sweet voice called from afar. It was Kong Xi, Shuoyi's six-year-old half-brother.

As soon as he spoke, Kong Xi ran up to Shen Xiangxia, followed by a nanny.

"Mommy, look! This is the picture I drew at school today. Here's Daddy, here's Mommy, here's my brother, and here's me. The teacher even praised me, said I did a great job," Kong Xi said, each word filled with adorable pride.

"My son is amazing. Go show your dad," Shen Xiangxia said with a warm smile.

"Dad, look at the picture I drew. It's of our family," Linhua said, lifting little Xi onto his lap.

"Xi, let me ask you something. Do you like your brother? Be honest with me, okay?"

"I love my brother! He's really good to me," Xi replied, looking straight into his dad's eyes to show he was telling the truth.

Linhua felt relieved hearing this. Now in his fifties, he had been contemplating retirement. With Xi still young, Linhua hoped that when Shuoyi took over the family business, the brothers would get along well. After all, Xi would grow up one day.

"Alright, Xi, don't keep your dad busy. He has a lot of work to do. Off to bed with you," Xiangxia said, gently taking Xi back to his room, staying until he fell asleep.

Linhua sat in his study, gazing at the city lights outside, reminiscing about his early days of hard work. Without Shuoyi's mother, he wouldn't have achieved what he had today. But good people sometimes leave too soon, and tonight, Linhua felt an unexpected sadness.

Back then, his career was just taking off, and Shuoyi's mother had just given birth. She gave up her beloved teaching career to stay home with their child, while he could only visit a few times a year.

Thinking about it filled Linhua with guilt and unease. He felt responsible for her untimely death, wishing he had been home more.

Outside, the traffic flowed endlessly, and for Linhua and Shuoyi, it was destined to be a sleepless night.

Shuoyi tossed and turned on his small bed, recalling the day Xiangxia first came into their lives.

"Shuoyi, call her 'Mom.'" When Kong Linhua brought a young woman in her twenties home, Shuoyi, who was just ten, already knew her. Even before his real mom passed away, this woman was trying to win over his dad.

Once, Shuoyi saw her holding his dad's hand while they were out shopping, and his dad bought him a bunch of clothes. Back then, he was too young to understand and didn't tell his mom. She died believing his dad loved only her.

"I won't call her that. I don't have a mom. She's not my mom." Shuoyi cried as he broke free from his dad's grasp and ran out.

Kong Linhua was furious and wanted to hit him, but Shen Xiangxia held him back. "He's just a kid. He doesn't understand. Give it time," she said. Kong Linhua sighed deeply.

Since his mom passed, Shuoyi never felt at home again. Shen Xiangxia was two-faced, and Kong Linhua had no idea of her true nature.

Gradually, Shuoyi imagined seeing his mom in front of him. The young boy reached out, trying to hold onto her.

"Mom, Mom, don't leave me. I miss you so much."

But it was just a beautiful dream. Shuoyi woke up to find his pillow soaked with tears.