"Although she wanted to cut off contact with Li Zhiyan right then and there, at the thought of how pitiful the boy was, she still took out her smartphone and exchanged QQ contacts with him.
Gu Wanzhou's QQ nickname had a poetic ring to it: Oars Singing in the Evening.
As for Li Zhiyan's QQ nickname, it was so cringe-inducing it made him want to curl his toes: Forgetting to Love.
'Aunt Gu, if I chat with you, please don't ignore me.'
'Mhm…'
……
After the two of them left the teahouse, Gu Wanzhou asked, 'Li Zhiyan, let Auntie give you a ride home.'
Looking at the roses in the passenger seat, Gu Wanzhou's mind once again brought up the image of Li Zhiyan confessing his feelings to her.
'No need, Auntie, I can just walk back. My house isn't far from here anyway. Besides, I'm planning to go online for a bit. Still, I have this feeling, Auntie Gu, that we'll be seeing each other again very soon.'
Li Zhiyan knew that women born in the late sixties tended to believe in destiny.
'Why is that?'
Gu Wanzhou asked, feeling quite curious.
'Maybe it's fate, a sixth sense. Or maybe it's just my imagination.'
Gu Wanzhou smiled gently. She figured that Li Zhiyan's impulsive crush on her would fade away before long. The kid was still obsessed with internet cafes all day long—simply impossibly childish.
Watching Gu Wanzhou drive away, Li Zhiyan sent a QQ message to his best friend, Li Shiyu:
'See you at Dream Internet Cafe.'
'Coming right now, bro.'
Li Zhiyan didn't go straight home because his mother was still at work, and surfing the web on his phone was rather inconvenient; the built-in QQ function on his VIVO flip phone was just too limited.
He wanted to try searching for Su Mengchen's QQ number. What was an eighteen-year-old Su Mengchen doing right now?
Since he had been reborn, he must not let her down no matter what.
The tragedy of Su Mengchen and Shen Rongfei, mother and daughter, must never be allowed to repeat itself in this lifetime.
Arriving at Dream Internet Cafe, Li Zhiyan routinely opened a temporary account. The main clientele of internet cafes back then were still minors, so they didn't need an ID card to go online—which was very convenient.
After dropping a one-yuan coin into the slot machine and going all-in on a watermelon that didn't hit, Li Zhiyan finally logged onto a computer.
Not long after he sat down, Li Shiyu came over carrying two bottles of Coca-Cola.
'Here, one for each of us.'
Li Zhiyan looked at his best friend, a warm feeling welling up in his chest.
This guy was even more ordinary than him—the kind of person who would completely disappear if you threw him into a crowd.
His strongest impression of Li Shiyu was that he was a severe internet addict!
He spent practically all his time online, funding his internet fees by pinching pennies from his meal money. No matter how hungry he got, he would always insist on buying a bottle of cola when he went online.
After graduation, Li Shiyu's greatest hope was to build a family.
Yet, being equally poor and ordinary, that wish was virtually impossible to achieve.
Later on, with marriage out of the question, he made a little money, bought a Cadillac CT5, and simply embraced the lifestyle of a playboy emperor.
As for the stories online about growing old lonely and being bullied in nursing homes—well, let it be whatever it would be.
Every time the high-end masseuse was on duty, he would bring him along.
There was no bond truer than that between men.
Later on, when times were tough for him, he hadn't said anything to Li Shiyu, but once Li Shiyu discovered his predicament, he didn't say a word, sold his Cadillac, and lent him two hundred thousand yuan.
Living life over again, seeing that his good buddy was still carefree and knew only how to surf the internet, felt truly wonderful.
'Li Zhiyan, you were insanely cool today! You confessed right to Yu Sisi's mom—you should've seen the look on Yu Sisi's face!'
'I heard about it. She was chatting with that dog Liu Zifeng, planning to reject you, but didn't even have the guts to private message you beforehand and tell you not to confess.'
'That move of yours was legendary!'
'A checkmate, that was absolute checkmate!'
With that, Li Shiyu seemed to have thought of something.
'Oh yeah, did Aunt Gu agree?'
'What are you dreaming about? How could she possibly agree?'
'Here, take this and go buy half a year of Gatling guns.'
Li Zhiyan pulled a hundred-yuan bill out of his pocket and slapped it down in front of Li Shiyu.
This guy had been chattering at him all through the long break about how awesome it was to blast people with Gatling guns in CrossFire.
'Wait, Li Zhiyan, you didn't go and rob someone, did you?'
'You can't go doing stuff like that!'
'It's illegal!'
'Why so much nonsense? My mom gave it to me, go top up your Q-coins.'
After chatting back and forth for ages, Li Shiyu finally went to the front desk and had the net-bar clerk top up 100 Q-coins, heading straight to the CF mall to buy a half-year Gatling gun.
'I wanna see which turtle's grandchild can cross mid against me now!'
'Log on, let's go play Elimination mode together. You play as Global Risk, and we'll call out positions for each other.'
Li Zhiyan smiled.
'You go ahead and play for a bit, I've got some other stuff to do. You start playing, I'll log on in a little while.'
Overflowing with enthusiasm, Li Shiyu didn't pry into what Li Zhiyan was up to.
'A-site, A-site, follow me.'
……
Inhaling the smoky air of the shady internet cafe, Li Zhiyan logged into his QQ.
With slightly trembling hands, he searched for Su Mengchen's QQ number.
Li Zhiyan remembered that Su Mengchen's QQ number had been given to him by Shen Rongfei.
He wondered if the owner of this QQ number right now was Su Mengchen or Shen Rongfei.
Would getting to know her in advance trigger some kind of butterfly effect?
After clicking search, sure enough, that familiar QQ number popped up.
He clicked the option to add friend.
Yet Li Zhiyan felt a sense of bewilderment.
'Hello.'
In the end, Li Zhiyan typed out those two words and sent the friend request.
006 The Scrap of Society, Yet Mom's Little Pride
Wancheng's wealthy district.
In Rose City, inside a 160-square-meter flat, Shen Rongfei was sitting in her bedroom handling company business online.
At this point in time, Shen Rongfei's family fortunes had not yet declined.
And her husband had not yet met the woman who would bear him a son while stubbornly abandoning his wife and daughter.
Their family life could be said to be extremely affluent.
Suddenly, the chiming sound of QQ rang out. A young boy of eighteen had added her on QQ, accompanied by just two words: hello.
After a glance, she simply closed out the notification.
Although chatting online was extremely popular in this era, she was already forty-two years old and had nothing to talk about with a kid.
After a little while, Shen Rongfei went over to her daughter Su Mengchen's room.
'Mengchen.'
'Do you want to go on a trip? Mom can take you to visit Hongcun.'
Hongcun was an ancient village in Wancheng with a strong Hui-style architectural character. Shen Rongfei had been there a few times before and really liked the atmosphere.
Looking at her daughter's fair ankles right then, a pang of heartache struck her once more.
Such a good daughter, perfectly inheriting her own looks and advantages in figure.
Yet she suffered from a congenital limp; they had visited numerous hospitals, but all had proven helpless.
'Mom, I don't want to go out.'
Looking at Shen Rongfei standing before her in black silk stockings and high heels, Su Mengchen felt a deep sense of inferiority and envy.
Not only did her mom look a lot like the celebrity Zeng Li, but her figure was even better than hers, with a bust easily reaching D-plus.
If only she could walk in high heels like her mom could.
In daily life, her female classmates always liked to call her a lame-ass behind her back.
Those words, like sharp swords, continuously pierced Su Mengchen's scarred and battered heart.
'Think about it a little more, okay?'
'Will you?'
'I know, Mom…'
The conversation between mother and daughter was very brief. Stepping out of the room, Shen Rongfei went to the study.
Her husband, Su Yu, who had quite a bit of stubble on his face, was busy with company affairs.
She and Su Yu each had their own companies, so they were usually very busy.
Yet today, Su Yu had managed the rare feat of coming home.
'Honey, can you not leave tonight? I miss you.'
Shen Rongfei had lost count of how long it had been since the two of them had been intimate. She was a normal woman, and naturally wanted to keep Su Yu around.
'I still have things to do at the company later, and I need to have dinner with Section Chief Sun.'
'So I won't be able to keep you company.'
'Okay.'
The wife before his eyes possessed a naturally seductive fox-like face.
Stunningly gorgeous, with an astonishing figure, she also liked to wear black silk stockings and high heels, essentially a D-plus version of Zeng Li. It was impossible for any normal man not to feel tempted.
Yet, every time he thought about being intimate with his wife, that disgusting scene in the delivery room echoed in his heart, stripping away all his interest.
Quietly retreating from the study and returning to the master bedroom, Shen Rongfei locked the door from the inside, collapsed onto her desk, and wept silently.
Her husband's loss of interest in her had begun from the very moment he stepped into the delivery room.
Everyone else said not to let your husband see what you looked like when giving birth, and she hadn't believed it back then.
But now, after all these years…
The issues with her husband and her daughter weighed heavily upon Shen Rongfei's heart.
Making her feel deeply depressed, she could only use tears to vent her emotions.
……
An hour or so later, seeing that the friend request she sent out still hadn't received a response, Li Zhiyan knew he couldn't rush it. Right now, that QQ account was probably still being used by his future mother-in-law.
How could an eighteen-year-old kid adding her on QQ possibly get her consent?
At this point, Su Mengchen's family should still be very wealthy.
The incident where her mother-in-law was betrayed and divorced hadn't happened yet either. Li Zhiyan didn't know much about Su Mengchen's family affairs; he only knew that the present-day Su Mengchen lived in the wealthy district, but not her exact address.
'Whatever, university orientation is only forty days away anyway.'
'It'll pass in the blink of an eye.'
'Mengchen is in the animation design department.'
'I'll go look for her then.'
Reborn, Li Zhiyan felt that the object of his affection had shifted from a young maiden to a mature woman.
Yet toward Su Mengchen alone, his love was truly a devoted affection springing from the depths of his soul. In the past, Li Zhiyan had never imagined that in this world, besides his mother, there would be a girl who would wait ten years for him, and even go so far as to commit suicide over him.
In this lifetime, he must protect her well.
Of course, he also needed to properly complete the system's tasks.
Although this system was pretty pathetic, in this society, only by having money could one protect everything they wished to safeguard.
Natural and man-made disasters, weddings and funerals, every unpredictability required financial support.
'What the hell, these teammates are so trash!'
Li Shiyu was still cursing away on the side.
Li Zhiyan glanced at his KDA.
1/15.
'Alright, I'm logging on now, let's play together.'
The breath of youth continuously washed over him, allowing Li Zhiyan to re-immerse himself in the age of eighteen.
'You go to the opposing side as Black List and call out positions for me. I'm gonna pierce through all these bastards.'
……
The two of them played New Year Town until past six o'clock. Li Zhiyan figured his mom was about to get off work soon.
'Li Shiyu, I gotta head home.'
He fished out the last hundred-yuan bill from his pocket. He knew Li Shiyu was a genuinely broke dog right now; go online today, and he wouldn't have internet money tomorrow.
Even so, he still had to buy two bottles of cola for them to drink together as bros.
'Take it, for your net fees.'
'Wait, are you crazy? Where'd you get so much money!'
Li Zhiyan followed up by saying, 'Don't worry, I've got money now. If you really feel bad about it, just pay me back when you get your living allowance in college.'
Their universities—one was a tier-two undergraduate and the other a vocational college—fortunately weren't very far apart.
Once they started college, they could still come out together to play CrossFire or Dungeon & Fighter.
'Fine then.'
Li Shiyu ultimately failed to resist the temptation of being able to play New Year Town every day for the next ten days, and accepted Li Zhiyan's money.
After parting ways, Li Zhiyan headed straight home.
Along the way, Li Zhiyan's steps were very light; he was going to see his mom again.
The year his mom had her accident was after he started college.
His mom had gone to Modu to work, wanting to earn more money to buy him a house.
The wage level in Wancheng was truly too low.
He hadn't expected an accident to happen a year later, and she never came back.
Li Zhiyan didn't know how many times he had cried.
Yet immediately, he would be able to see his mom again.
Ten minutes later, Li Zhiyan finally returned home.
The sunlight slanted into the alleyway of the old residential building, piercing through the tree shade to shine upon the youth.
A distant, profound brilliance flashed within the youth's eyes.
Li Zhiyan gradually closed his eyes.
He remembered when he was seventeen years old, asking his mom a question:
'Mom, I'm so ordinary, I'm afraid no girl will ever like me in this life or be willing to stay with me until I'm old.Under the moonlight of a deep summer in the countryside, Zhou Rongrong gently stroked her son's head.
'There will be. When Mom first met you, she was also a youthful, vibrant girl.'
He was a scrap of society, yet also his mom's little pride!
Tears slipped down silently as Li Zhiyan lifted his foot.
Going home!
007 Momma's Boy
If there is one person in this world who will love you unconditionally, that person is your mother.
Perhaps having experienced the shifting warmth and coldness of human relationships in his past life, Li Zhiyan felt an affinity for aunties in this life.
Returning home, Li Zhiyan saw his sneakers and his mom's high heels on the shoe rack.
Looking at the familiar rented apartment and the home filled with life, Li Zhiyan called out:
'Mom.'
'What is it?'
Zhou Rongrong, wearing an apron and cooking for Li Zhiyan in the kitchen, replied.
At that instant, Li Zhiyan's tears broke through the dam.
Abandoning all composure, he ran into the kitchen and threw himself into his mom's arms, letting his tears flow.
Thirteen years had passed, and once again he had a mother he could lean upon.
In this lifetime, he must protect his mom well and let her live the very best life.
'Xiaoyan, what's wrong? Did someone bully you? Mom will go settle the score with them.'
Zhou Rongrong was truly frightened; she had never seen Li Zhiyan look so heartbroken.
He must have encountered some insurmountable obstacle to weep so bitterly.
Hearing his mother's worried voice, Li Zhiyan quickly forced his emotions to calm down.
At the moment he first stepped through the door and heard his mom's voice, he simply hadn't been able to control his feelings.
'I'm fine, Mom. I just missed you.'
Just then, a middle-aged beauty wearing a qipao walked out of the bathroom.
'Oh, well look at that, I never realized your son was such a momma's boy.'
'So big and still crying in his mom's arms, haha.'
Li Zhiyan turned back to look and saw his mom's best friend, Wu Qingxian. He had always known that his mom and Aunt Wu had the closest relationship, but he had never really paid attention to it before.
Aunt Wu was so pretty; back then, she had almost become his godmother.
'Xiaoyan might be feeling a bit down, he's not normally like this.'
Li Zhiyan openly admitted, 'That's right, Aunt Wu, I am a momma's boy. I want to be my mom's precious baby forever.'
'You really have no shame.'
Wu Qingxian looked at the kid before her, feeling that Li Zhiyan seemed somewhat different from before.
He used to always act evasive, having almost nothing to say to elders like her. The last time she saw him was when he was acting just like that right after the college entrance exams. But now, he seemed like a completely different person.
'What's shameful about that?'
Li Zhiyan wiped away his tears and sat down beside Wu Qingxian.
'Aunt Wu, the happiest thing in this world is being able to stay by your mom's side.'
Wu Qingxian thoughtfully patted Li Zhiyan's head.
'Actually, being a momma's boy like this is pretty nice too. Unlike my son, who stays far away from me all day long.'
'When we meet we're like enemies. You guys are going to the same university; if only he could learn from you and be a bit closer to his mom.'
Zhou Rongrong, cooking in the kitchen, felt a sourness prickle behind her eyes. This stinky boy of hers seemed to understand everything now.
Once he started university, she would also have to go to Modu to make money.
In today's society, among the post-90s generation like Li Zhiyan, males outnumbered females. If he didn't have an apartment in the future, there was a high probability he would remain single for life and never be able to marry a wife. It was just that the child was suddenly clinging to her so tightly today.
If she said she was going to work in Modu, would her son agree?
Worry welled up in Zhou Rongrong's heart; she would need to properly convince the boy.
After the meal was cooked, Li Zhiyan proactively stepped forward to help his mom carry the dishes out.
He realized that his past self had been far too inconsiderate.
He had never once helped his mom with housework; no matter what it was, he lived with food brought to his mouth and clothes handed to his body.
Clothing, food, housing, and transportation were all taken care of by his mom, right up until he lost her and learned what a heart-ripping, agonizing pain felt like.
Fortunately, everything was still in time now.
Li Zhiyan's initiative in helping with the housework, combined with his earlier behavior, convinced Zhou Rongrong that her son had something on his mind.
Did he want to buy a new computer for gaming, or had he gotten into trouble?
'Momma's boy, you're so filial, even knowing how to help your mom with housework.'
'If my son ever had this kind of heart, I'd be overjoyed to death.'
A hint of envy colored Wu Qingxian's voice. She found that having a momma's boy for a son seemed pretty blissful too.
During dinner, Wu Qingxian brought up how companies in Modu offered better treatment, with wages a full double higher than those in Wancheng.
Although she was just chatting about ordinary things.
It sent a wave of panic rippling through Li Zhiyan's heart.
No matter what, there was no way he would let his old lady go to Modu to work again. He was going to keep her by his side and be a momma's boy for life.
Li Zhiyan never wanted to become a helpless, abandoned orphan ever again.
……
After his mom went out to see Wu Qingxian off, Li Zhiyan returned to his room.
The shabby second-hand computer, the computer lab mouse, the battered little bed, the crude stool, and the cartoon posters on the wall."