Mike's Return

"You might not believe this, but your son saved half the life in the universe. They say saving one life is worth building a seven-story pagoda. Calling the pagodas I've built 'countless' isn't an exaggeration, is it?"

Mike said this while eating the meal Tang Zhong had prepared.

Tang Zhong said, "No talking while eating."

"Oh," Mike said.

Anna smacked the back of Mike's head. "Even all the life in the universe isn't worth your little finger to me."

That was a mother's "narrow-mindedness." It warmed the heart.

Anna asked, "Come on, then. Where were you this past year?"

"No talking while eating," Mike said.

Anna shot Tang Zhong a sidelong look. "You actually take that old fossil's nonsense seriously?"

Mike looked at his dad, his eyes asking, Dad, has your standing in this family dropped again?

Tang Zhong said helplessly, "In this family, your mother has the final say."

"Oh."

Mike nodded, then answered Anna's question. "I got hurt. I was recovering."

Anna fell silent.

Her son hadn't given any details, but his injuries must have been severe if he couldn't even let his family know he was safe.

Seeing his mother's face fall, Mike hurriedly said, "Don't worry. It wasn't anything serious, just troublesome. It took a little longer. It won't happen again."

"It won't happen again." "Next time, for sure." "Almost there, just around the corner." Sound familiar?

"Just around the corner" could take half an hour. And next time... next time, he'd say the same thing.

Anna had heard plenty of promises about "next time." Back when Mike skipped school, he always swore he "wouldn't dare do it again." If Anna hadn't put him in a German Suplex followed by an Armbar right in front of the principal, looking so fierce she scared a goose-like shriek