Chapter 33.2

She walked into the study, deciding to distract herself with Chen Jubai’s Space Pro VR headset to play games.

Avoiding looking around the room that Song Gaoyi had used most often, she picked up the headset and headed out.

By now, she had learned to operate the headset skillfully. She connected it to the game controller and her phone, starting with a simple racing game.

Gaming wouldn’t solve any real problems, but for a short while, it allowed her to forget everything and postpone her emotions.

By the fourth round, as she was about to cross the finish line, an incoming call notification popped up on the screen—Chen Jubai’s. She immediately declined, but when she returned to the game, it already displayed “Mission Failed.”

He called again. She answered, mildly annoyed. “It’s your fault! I was about to win!”

“Huh?”

Taking off the headset and putting the call on speaker, her tone returned to normal. “What’s up?”

Chen Jubai sounded concerned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just playing games. You interrupted me at the last second.”

The man chuckled softly. “I’ll come back and play with you.” Then he asked, “I’m about to head home. What do you want to eat?”

Sitting cross-legged, Song Wei thought for a while. “I’m not sure.”

“How about a cake from that shop near Nan Zhong?”

Song Wei recalled the small cake he had brought on their second meeting and smiled. “Did you know I used to love their cakes?”

“Yeah, I saw you go there two or three times back when we were in school.”

“You even remember such a small thing?”

After a brief pause, he simply said, “I remember.”

Song Wei didn’t think much of it. “No wonder you were the top student—your memory is amazing.”

He chuckled. “Do you want it? I can buy it.”

“Don’t bother. It doesn’t taste the same anymore. Probably new management. It’d be a waste.”

“Okay.”

After thinking carefully, she said, “I want fried chicken.”

When she felt upset, she craved high-calorie foods.

“Sure.”

“Get it from the place near the complex. If you buy it from near the research institute, it’ll get soggy by the time you bring it back.”

“No problem.”

Half an hour later, he arrived home. The aroma of fried chicken filled the air, and Song Wei eagerly made her way to the dining table, barely able to wait.

Halfway through her meal, her movements slowed. Unable to hold back, she finally asked, “Where is he staying?”

“The residential area across from the research institute. Just cross the street—it’s convenient. The neighborhood is nice, and Dad has a two-bedroom apartment there. It’s clean and tidy,” Chen Jubai answered in detail.

Song Wei nodded. “That’s good. It’ll save him a lot of commuting time to and from work.”

“There’s a market within 500 meters, as well as a large supermarket. There are also plenty of small eateries around,” he added.

Song Wei looked at him and smiled. “I know. I’ve been to the research institute before.”

Chen Jubai smiled back. “Don’t worry. Dad’s an adult; he’ll take care of himself.”

She stayed quiet for a moment, then lowered her head again and murmured softly in acknowledgment.

…..

The next day, Sunday, Yang Yingqiu arrived at Nan’an Airport in the afternoon. Chen Jubai and Song Wei went to pick her up.

From a distance, Song Wei saw her and felt a pang of sorrow. Yang Yingqiu walked with her head down, looking dispirited, no longer the ever-proud Principal Yang.

But when she saw them, her face immediately turned stern. “I told you not to come. You have too much free time, don’t you?”

Chen Jubai stepped forward to take her suitcase. Song Wei held her mother’s arm, ignoring her words. “Mom, are we eating at home or outside tonight?”

“Wherever you want to eat, we’ll eat,” she replied curtly.

Song Wei grinned cheekily. “Then let’s eat out. Your son-in-law is treating you to a fancy dinner—French cuisine.”

Yang Yingqiu frowned. “What’s so good about that?”

“Then Japanese cuisine?”

Her mother glared at her.

“Korean barbecue?”

After the third suggestion was rejected with a look, Song Wei laughed. “Fine, let’s have hotpot.”

At last, Yang Yingqiu didn’t glare.

The three of them headed to a popular local hotpot restaurant in the city center.

It was dinnertime, and five tables were ahead of them. Song Wei sat in the waiting area and, in an unusually playful tone, said, “Chen Jubai, I want milk tea~.”

That day, Song Wei clung to her mother’s arm like a child, acting cute and affectionate. If he remembered correctly, it was her first time behaving so playfully toward him.

Chen Jubai stood up. “I’ll go get some.”

“My mom wants one too,” Song Wei added.

“I don’t want any,” Yang Yingqiu interjected.

“She wants the simplest matcha milk tea, warm, no toppings. I’ll send you my order in a bit,” Song Wei instructed.

“Got it.”

When he left, Yang Yingqiu glanced at her daughter but couldn’t bring herself to say anything harsh. Accepting this form of comfort, she merely muttered, “Don’t drink too much of that stuff.”

“Come on, I only have it once or twice a month.”

“Your dad said you’re planning to move out soon?”

Song Wei hesitated for a moment. “In a few days. I still have work tomorrow.”

“Hmm. I’ll retire in a couple of years, but for now, I’m too busy to help like your father does. After I retire, I’d like to travel a bit. When you have kids, I’ll come back to help.”

Song Wei’s eyes immediately reddened.

Yang Yingqiu continued, “It’s not common for couples to live with their parents forever. Even if you’re fine with it, Xiao Chen might not be. You and your husband should have your own life together.”

Sniffling, Song Wei replied, “Got it. We’ll move soon.”

Her mother had more to say, but Song Wei cut her off, “Why isn’t it our turn yet? I’ll go check.”

At the front desk, she waited a while to calm her emotions. When their table was finally ready, Chen Jubai returned with the milk tea in hand.

During dinner, no one brought up the earlier topics. Chen Jubai focused on updating his mother-in-law about his work—what he was currently doing, how it was going, future plans, and potential growth.

As he talked, he skillfully cooked meat and vegetables for both women, multitasking effortlessly.

Song Wei didn’t join their conversation, fully immersing herself in the meal.

By the time they were done eating, the two had hit it off. Principal Yang suggested that Chen Jubai establish a small science education base at the school to enhance school-business collaboration, broaden students’ horizons, and spark their interests. It would also serve as good publicity for his company.

The idea was solid, but Song Wei joked, “Mom, opening such a backdoor might tarnish your retirement reputation.”

Yang Yingqiu replied, “It’s not a backdoor. The school is already building a new lab. The planning and bidding are underway. Guangnian’s participation isn’t up to me alone.”

After a long pause, Chen Jubai earnestly said, “Mom, could I get a contact for this?”

“Of course,” she agreed.

With that, the matter was settled. Song Wei, watching from the side, was stunned. She didn’t know what to say.

Her mother and her husband—partners now, apparently.

After dinner, they returned home. Yang Yingqiu stood in the partially emptied house and froze for a moment.

Song Wei followed her into the master bedroom. “Mom, I want to sleep with you tonight.”

“I don’t want to sleep with you.”

“…Too bad.” She stubbornly clung to her mother’s arm.

Yang Yingqiu looked at her for a long while, sighed softly, and finally addressed the topic she had been avoiding. “Weiwei, I’m fine. This divorce should’ve happened a month ago. I’ve had time to prepare. Now, I feel lighter—do you understand?”

Song Wei hadn’t expected this response.

Her mother pulled her to sit on the bed. “Don’t try to comfort me. Look, you have your own home now. I don’t need to take care of you anymore. Being divorced, I’m no longer anyone’s wife. In a couple of years, when I retire, I won’t have any burdens left. I’ll just be me—how freeing is that?”

Song Wei was speechless.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

Mother, wife, principal—on her father’s side, too—so many roles had weighed them down. Now, they were both seeking to rediscover themselves.

She hugged her mother tightly.

For a long time. Then, pouting, she said, “I still want to sleep with you.”

“Xiao Chen will come looking for me.”

“He wouldn’t dare,” Song Wei whispered mischievously in her ear. “Mom, he’s scared of you.”

Yang Yingqiu laughed. “What’s there to be afraid of?”

“He just is.”

After a while, Song Wei softly said, “Mom, congratulations on your divorce.”

Yang Yingqiu froze, then replied, “Thank you.”