HMIME Chapter 31: Bai Lu Wants to Leave Home

Bai Lu was startled by a burst of unexpected strength and kicked Chu Ya off him. He quickly put on his pants and clothes in a fluster, annoyed, “Mom! Why didn’t you knock before coming in?”

The beautiful young woman straightened herself up with a hint of indignation, “I’m your mother, I gave birth to you. What’s wrong with entering your room? I’ve seen every part of your body.”

Bai Lu’s face turned red, “I’m not twelve years old anymore. I’m in my twenties. Can’t you respect my privacy a little?”

“What privacy does a child have…” Bai Lin’s gaze shifted to Chu Ya’s handsome face, and she suddenly changed her tone, “Never mind, Mom won’t disturb you anymore. Auntie will close the door for you, continue.”

The last sentence was clearly directed at Chu Ya. Bai Lu felt speechless. How could there be such a mother who would encourage other men to approach her son? Was she afraid her son wouldn’t get married?

Bai Lin soon left, considerately closing the door tightly behind her. However, Bai Lu had lost interest. He pushed away Chu Ya, who was trying to approach him again, and said irritably, “Let’s not do it, get up.”

Chu Ya wasn’t angry. After all, he had just received Bai Lu’s tacit approval of their mutual affection (in Chu Ya’s understanding, Bai Lu not objecting or scolding him was equivalent to approval). The joy in his heart outweighed his physical desires.

But he still wanted to make sure. He cautiously asked, “Okay, let’s not do it, but are you willing to be with me now?”

Bai Lu intentionally glanced at him with raised eyebrows. “When did I say that?”

Chu Ya’s heart skipped a beat. “Didn’t you just agree to do it with me? Isn’t that tacit approval?”

Bai Lu chuckled, mocking him half seriously, “You actually believe what a man says in bed? When did you become so naive?”

Chu Ya’s face darkened, and he grabbed Bai Lu’s wrist, questioning coldly, “Are you lying to me again?”

“Ouch…”

His wrist was gripped tightly, and Bai Lu winced in pain. He struggled, frowning, “It hurts, let go.”

Chu Ya loosened his grip slightly, but still held onto him firmly, staring at him sharply, insisting on a definite answer.

He needed Bai Lu to say it himself so that his perpetually suspicious, insecure, and paranoid heart could finally be at ease.

Bai Lu felt forced and a bit uncomfortable. He reluctantly spoke up, “You’ve said before that we haven’t broken up. Why are you so insistent on getting back together now?”

Chu Ya hesitated, “Are you saying…”

He understood Bai Lu’s meaning: willing to forgive past grievances, let go of all the embarrassment and pain, and continue being together as they were before.

In an instant, everything became clear, and the path to the future opened up brightly.

Chu Ya pulled Bai Lu into his arms, holding him tightly. Even the usually calm and indifferent man’s voice trembled, “I’m so happy, A-Bai, I’m so happy…”

Bai Lu struggled to breathe under his tight grip, gasping and sobbing weakly, “I’m not happy, I’m dying…”

Chu Ya realized his mistake and quickly let go of him, but couldn’t resist leaning over to kiss his face, “I’m sorry, I got too excited. Are you okay? Does your rib hurt?”

“I’m not that weak.” Bai Lu rubbed his aching chest, giving Chu Ya a glare. “If it weren’t for my mom miraculously being reborn, I wouldn’t forgive you.”

Chu Ya smiled faintly, “Yes, I’m grateful to her.”

“Huh?” Bai Lu was puzzled. “Grateful to whom?”

Chu Ya hesitated for a moment, then quickly covered it up, “Your mom. I’m grateful that she came into this world.”

Bai Lu didn’t suspect anything and sighed, “It’s really miraculous. Who would believe in such absurd things as transmigration? Should I start believing in gods and Buddhas from now on?”

Chu Ya smiled and held Bai Lu’s hand, placing his slender fingers in his warm palm, whispering softly, “No need, just believe in me.”

Perhaps because he was happy, Chu Ya was unusually talkative that day. He hugged Bai Lu and said many affectionate words.

Talking was one thing, but he also couldn’t keep his hands to himself. He would kiss Bai Lu’s face, touch his waist, making Bai Lu feel annoyed.

In less than a minute, Bai Lu couldn’t take it anymore. He made an excuse about being hungry and escaped Chu Ya’s embrace, running outside.

Once in the courtyard, Bai Lu realized that Bai Lin hadn’t left at all. She was sitting not far away at a stone table, chatting with a young palace maid in a double bun and a red skirt.

Seeing Bai Lu come out, Bai Lin’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. She playfully covered her cherry lips with her handkerchief and said regretfully, “Oh my, so soon, not even half an hour, huh? There really are no perfect men in this world.”

“…What nonsense are you thinking? How could I possibly do that kind of thing with him in broad daylight!”

“What? Didn’t do it?!”

Bai Lin stood up abruptly, walked a few steps to Bai Lu’s side, and earnestly lectured him with determination:

“Oh dear, why are you so clueless? Don’t you know that good men are hard to find? If you don’t grasp it properly, the opportunity will slip away. It’s not easy to come across such a good son-in-law. You must hold onto him tightly, quickly turn raw rice into cooked rice. Don’t let him slip away, or you’ll regret it!”

Bai Lu: “…”

He sincerely held Bai Lin’s hand and protested weakly, “Mom, I think your education policy is a bit abnormal. First of all, I’m your son…”

“What’s wrong with being a son? Even sons need their mother to worry about their lifelong affairs. Look at you now, so frail, yet you haven’t found a man to rely on. Look at me, I’m so unlucky I ended up with a short-lived ghost, living a more miserable life than a widow.”

“So, darling, you must hold onto Chu Ya now. I’ve heard there are many concubines in the palace, and they’re all more beautiful than you. You need to be a bit vigilant. Don’t think you’re invincible just because you have a relationship with Chu Ya. Men change when they have money, you know? Also, do you know how to scheme in the palace? Did I not teach you?!”

Bai Lu covered his face in embarrassment, speechless.

For fourteen years, for fourteen years, he had almost forgotten that his own mother was a hardcore face-con, money-loving, and palace intrigue-loving drama enthusiast. Wasn’t she a strange aunt who had transmigrated into a noble daughter of a wealthy family? Mom, you’re following the script of the female lead, right?

Bai Lu racked his brains to find an excuse to escape Bai Lin’s nagging. Suddenly, he heard Bai Lin sigh softly, “Mom just wants you to live an easy and happy life, without suffering anymore.”

Bai Lu’s heart stirred, but he also felt a wave of guilt. He whispered, “If you knew Chu Ya’s true identity, you probably wouldn’t think like this.”

Who could accept their own biological son being with the eldest son of their enemy, who had caused their death?

Bai Lin looked at him calmly, reaching out to tidy up the stray strands of hair on his face, “Mom knows.”

“What?!”

“Chu Ya has told me everything, but mom feels that the grievances between the previous generation should not affect innocent children, nor should children bear the burden of their parents’ grudges.”

“Parents can leave many things to their children—courage, optimism, health, or even wealth and property—but they should never pass on hatred to their children. You’ve struggled enough, and you’re tired. Live for yourself in this life, live a little easier.”

Bai Lu’s eyes moistened, feeling choked up, “Mom…”

Bai Lin sighed, “And…”

“And?”

Bai Lin raised her eyebrows, her almond eyes widened, and her voice suddenly raised a few degrees:

“And a handsome man like Chu Ya, who has power and treats you tenderly, where else can you find him? You can’t even find him with a lantern! Now that you’ve bumped into him, you better cherish him. If you dare let him go, believe me, I’ll spank your back until it’s sore!!”

Bai Lu: “???”

Help!

Chu Ya, as if sensing his distress, hurriedly came to his rescue and dragged him away, saying they should go eat dinner.

Facing Chu Ya, Bai Lin was always a kind and amiable aunt. She smoothed out her shoulder-length hair, smiling sweetly, “Go ahead, eat more. Make sure to eat well!”

Whether intentional or not, Aunt Bai emphasized the word ‘eat’, Bai Lu was dumbfounded for a moment, not understanding.

But Chu Ya quickly understood her meaning. He replied calmly, “Auntie, rest assured, I’ll make sure to feed him well tonight.”

Bai Lu looked at him blankly, “Why wait until tonight? Can’t we eat now? I’m hungry.”

Bai Lin patted his shoulder sympathetically, sighed with pity and mystery, “It’s all Mom’s fault. I didn’t educate you properly. It’s okay, you’ll know later tonight.”

Bai Lu: “?”

When night fell, Bai Lu was pinned down by Chu Ya on the bed, overwhelmed with pleasure. He was sobbing and begging for mercy, having been thoroughly ‘eaten’ inside and out. Finally, he understood the cryptic message.

Bai Lu, twenty-six years old, wanted to leave home for the first time in his life.

Days passed peacefully, and one morning, Geng Qing came to see him, handing him a silver ticket.

“This is the profit from last month’s milk tea. I went home yesterday and brought it to you.”

Bai Lu took the thin piece of paper and instinctively held it up to the sunlight. “This is a silver ticket, similar to a check, right?”

The silver ticket was made of some material unknown to Bai Lu, much more durable than regular paper. It was covered with intricate patterns in black ink, with the name of the bank printed in the center, and handwritten numbers and names of account holders on the side.

In addition, there were several exquisitely crafted red seals, probably used to prevent counterfeiting.

At the bottom of the silver ticket was a line of cryptic symbols, completely incomprehensible to Bai Lu, but each character seemed to have its own meaning.

Geng Qing explained that this was the bank’s cipher, with each silver ticket having a unique code. Only their own people could understand it, so outsiders couldn’t forge it.

Bai Lu examined it closely and suddenly had a realization.

Even if he was a poor learner, he could still see that these ‘cryptic symbols’ were actually very abstractly written English letters!