Today, at long last, Huang Fei had finally seized the opportunity.
Just as Huang Fei had long observed, the only time the usually hawk-eyed Xu family ever let their guard down was when Xu Sheng paid a visit to the Su household. During those rare, golden hours, no one tracked his every move.
That thought alone made her feel a surge of jealousy so fierce it bordered on irrational. Why was the Xu family so friendly with the Su family? What had they done to deserve such goodwill?
But there was no time to ponder the politics of affection now. Threatened and restricted by the Xu family’s iron grasp, Huang Fei had precious few moments to reconnect with her son. She had to make every second count.
"Xu Sheng," she said urgently, crouching to meet his gaze, her voice trembling just slightly, "listen to Mommy, okay? Your father... he wants to divorce me. But Mommy—Mommy won’t let that happen. Not for your sake. You have to help me, do you understand? Go tell your father—"
Xu Sheng blinked, her words hitting him like a slap.
So it was true.
His father had spoken of "adult matters" not long ago. He’d gently but firmly told Xu Sheng that grown-up decisions weren’t for children to meddle in. Xu Sheng had nodded at the time, not entirely understanding. Now he realized—his father had been preparing him for this. The divorce. Setting the stage, so he wouldn’t interfere.
And in truth, what could he do? The more he listened to his mother, the more lost he felt. She always seemed to have her reasons. Always made herself the victim. And yet... she never acknowledged her faults.
Xu Sheng didn’t understand why his mother always had to drag him into things. Why she forced him to shoulder burdens far beyond his years. Every time he saw her, it was as though she demanded something of him—something heavy and complicated.
He was tired. Tired of being the bridge between two adults whose cracks had long since deepened into a chasm.
Only now, in this moment of clarity, did he finally realize: he had always been the one his mother expected to behave perfectly, to perform, to fulfill her expectations. But she had never held herself to the same standard. Her mistakes had stacked up like unread letters. Her apologies never came.
Ever since leaving her side, life—even if a little lonelier—had felt lighter, like a room with all the windows open.
The truth, which he had buried for so long, finally surfaced: he didn’t really want to go back to her. Over time, he had come to terms with something he had likely known deep down all along.
His mother didn’t love him the way mothers were supposed to love their sons.
He had always been her pawn. Her bargaining chip. Her trophy. Everything but her child.
And this time—this time—he wasn’t going to help.
Just then, the sound of laughter and footsteps approached. Su Li, tugging Gao Ming by the wrist, came racing around the corner.
"There you are!" Su Li cried out. But the moment he saw who Xu Sheng was speaking with, he stopped short. His voice pitched with surprise. "Auntie Huang Fei? What are you doing here?"
Huang Fei flinched. For a heartbeat, she thought she’d been discovered by the Xu family’s people. But when she saw it was only the Su and Gao boys, she let out a breath, narrowed her eyes, and pulled Xu Sheng aside one last time.
"Don’t forget what I told you," she whispered, her grip tightening on his arm. "Repeat every word to your father, exactly as I said. Remember, Mommy is counting on you."
Then she disappeared down the narrow path behind the melon trellis, like a shadow vanishing into dusk.
Xu Sheng stared after her until she was gone, his eyes glassy with tears. He wiped them away with the back of his hand, picked up his ball, and ran back to join Su Li and Gao Ming.
When he returned home that evening, he said nothing about the encounter.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Reborn as a Fake Heiress Marrying the Tycoon
One of the best novels. A different touch, a change in usual billionaire's stories filled with cruelty and betrayals. Thank you author....