Chu Ci had intended to refuse, but something seemed to occur to him, and the words on his lips took a turn, becoming, "Sure."
"I knew our Cici treated me best."
At his answer, Cui Xuemei was instantly overjoyed.
She looked smugly at her fellow mahjong players and boasted, "Our Cici insisted on transferring ten thousand yuan to me. He said I'd worked so hard at home all these years, and now that he was earning money, he ought to show me some proper filial respect..."
"You're so blessed."
"I really envy you, having such a good son."
"Your Chu Ci really is capable."
"If only my son could be that capable someday."
The chorus of praise around her deepened the smile in Cui Xuemei's eyes. She struggled to keep the corners of her mouth from rising. "He's really not as good as you make him out to be."
Just as Cui Xuemei was about to float away with pride, Chu Ci drawled casually, "I have one more condition."
"...What condition?"
Cui Xuemei's smile gradually stiffened.
"I want to give you this money in person."
Chu Ci was intensely curious about the original owner's parents.
After all, in all his years of life, he had never met anyone so shameless.
Hearing this, Cui Xuemei let out a relieved breath. "Then come find me now. I'm at..."
She gave him an address.
With Lele's help, Chu Ci had quickly adapted to this world. He opened the map on his phone and searched for the place Cui Xuemei had mentioned, discovering that it was only a seven-minute taxi ride away.
After hanging up, Cui Xuemei sighed in feigned exasperation. "Our Cici said he's been busy with work lately and hasn't seen me in ages, so he insisted on coming to see me himself. Tell me, what's there to see about an old woman like me? But the boy wouldn't listen. He just had to come..."
Her fellow mahjong players all knew what a rotten person Cui Xuemei had once been. She had gotten pregnant out of wedlock at eighteen and was later forced to marry Chu Ci's father. After getting married, she never did anything useful, devoting herself to eating, drinking, playing, and having fun. She found looking after a child troublesome, so she dumped him on Chu Ci's grandmother.
Of course, Chu Ci's father was no good either. He had dropped out of middle school. Both he and Cui Xuemei were regulars at the mahjong parlor, which was where they had met. Cui Xuemei had a pretty face, and Chu Ci's father had showered her with attention before she reluctantly agreed to date him.
Unfortunately, Cui Xuemei's heart had never been in her family. Even after giving birth to Chu Ci, she continued smoking and drinking every day. When drunk, she would lash out at Chu Ci, sometimes even hitting him. His father finally couldn't stand watching anymore and handed the child over to Chu Ci's grandmother.
Fortunately, Chu Ci's grandmother cherished him deeply. After living with her for a while, Chu Ci became more optimistic and outgoing. Whenever little Chu Ci saw the neighbors nearby, he would politely greet them with, "Hello, Uncle! Hello, Auntie!"
Little Chu Ci did her proud, too, earning a place at a high school in the provincial capital. To give him a better learning environment, his grandmother rented a room near the provincial capital. Over the years, she had saved up a fair amount of money, little by little. She had taken out a portion when Chu Ci's father got married; the rest was her retirement fund.
To help Chu Ci study under better conditions, his grandmother brought out that retirement money. In her spare time, she took odd jobs in the provincial capital to earn a little extra for their living expenses.
Though the two lived modestly, they were happy enough.
Cui Xuemei also knew that Chu Ci had gotten into a high school in the provincial capital, but she paid it no mind whatsoever. She didn't think Chu Ci would amount to anything in the future. Even if he lucked into a good university, who would pay his tuition?
Cui Xuemei didn't want to get mixed up in that mess, so she paid no attention.
For a long time afterward, she heard nothing about Chu Ci, nor did she deliberately ask after him, until one day she came across a video about him while scrolling.
Although Cui Xuemei didn't follow celebrities, she had come across plenty of entertainment industry videos, especially ones about the fees those big stars received. Even a lifetime of work wouldn't earn her a fraction of what they made.
If even I'm coming across videos about Chu Ci, doesn't that mean he's already famous?
If he's famous... doesn't that mean he can make money?
The entertainment industry is such a lucrative place. I gave birth to Chu Ci and gave him life, so it's only right and proper that he should show me filial respect.
And so, Cui Xuemei got hold of Chu Ci's phone number.
She hadn't been in touch with Chu Ci for over a decade. Hearing the clear, youthful voice on the other end, Cui Xuemei froze for a moment.
So... Chu Ci has already grown this much?
"May I ask who this is?"
Only at the sound of Chu Ci's voice did Cui Xuemei come back to herself. The corners of her mouth curved up slightly as she tried to make her voice sound gentle. "Cici, it's Mom."
The boy on the other end stayed silent for a long time.
All Cui Xuemei could hear was Chu Ci's heavy breathing. Unsure what he was thinking, she could only venture, "Cici, have you been doing well lately? Mom misses you so much. Unfortunately, I'm not very capable and couldn't give you a comfortable life, so I didn't dare contact you."
Cui Xuemei had lived long enough to know how to handle a softhearted boy. "If I hadn't come across your video online a while ago, I wouldn't even have known our Cici had become so capable... Why didn't you discuss something as important as entering the entertainment industry with Mom?"
"I didn't have your contact information."
The boy's voice was taut.
At those words, Cui Xuemei knew her chance had come. She sighed. "That was indeed my fault, but I really have had a hard time all these years. I don't have much of an education, and I couldn't find work. I didn't want our Cici to suffer along with me..."
"I have money."
Chu Ci's long, thick lashes trembled violently. "You're my mom. I won't let you go through hard times."
Hearing this, Cui Xuemei immediately beamed with delight.
But she still put on a troubled air. "But Mom hasn't done anything for you all these years. I can't spend your money..."
"Your bank account number."
"Mom really can't take your money..."
"Your bank account number."
Chu Ci repeated himself.
Only then did Cui Xuemei "reluctantly" give him her bank account number. Back then, Chu Ci had only just begun making a name for himself in the entertainment industry. He knew nothing about "clout-chasing" or "CP bundling," and there weren't so many haters attacking him online. It was also the smoothest period of his career. He had fifty-five thousand yuan in total and transferred fifty thousand to Cui Xuemei's account in one go.