Mother

It was 10:46 at night.

Shen Heng leaned against the headboard, the screen of the phone gripped tightly in his hand glowing faintly.

His fingertips tapped away at the screen, seemingly typing something.

A moment later, he stopped and stared intently at the phone screen, where the words stood out clearly:

Private detective. Can help catch cheaters. Guaranteed ability. Interested? Add me on WeChat: XXXXXX

After a long hesitation, Shen Heng finally pressed confirm, and a message immediately popped up on the screen:

"Post successful!"

"Phew!"

He slowly let out a stale breath and sighed softly:

"One penny really can bring even a mighty hero to his knees!"

Just as Shen Heng was about to post more ads on other platforms, a conversation stood out from the surrounding noise and caught his attention.

Shen Heng went to the window and looked in the direction the voices came from.

Two figures stood talking below a building twenty or thirty meters away.

The residential complex was so old that it did not even have streetlights. Shen Heng could not make out what either figure looked like, but the voice alone was enough for him to recognize one of them.

It was the original owner's mother, Xu Yuqin!

"Xiao Xu, are you going again tomorrow?"

"Yes. While I can still manage the work, I should do a little more!"

"Oh, honestly! You've already worked more than ten days straight, haven't you? Why not take this chance to rest? Besides, tomorrow's Sunday. Your Xiao Ning and the others have the day off, so you could stay home and spend some time with them!"

"..."

There was a brief silence.

"I'd better do a little more!"

"You... oh, forget it. Decide for yourself. Just don't work yourself into the ground!"

"I won't. Thank you, Sister Wang!"

"I'll head upstairs, then!"

"All right!"

Their conversation ended. One figure went straight into the building beside them, while the other walked in his direction.

Shen Heng glanced at the approaching figure and was about to go wait in the living room when he paused.

The approaching figure suddenly stopped, then reached into the bag she was carrying and rummaged for something.

Shen Heng's gaze lingered on the bag. He vaguely recognized it as possibly a takeout bag used to keep food warm or prevent leaks when the original owner ordered delivery.

A moment later, she seemed to find what she wanted and took it out.

She was still a little too far away, and there was no light. Shen Heng could not see what she had taken out at all. He could only see her tilt her head back and put it into her mouth.

Shen Heng watched the figure walking toward him, his brows furrowing slightly as he recalled what he had just seen.

Was that... medicine?

Was she sick?

But what medicine did she have to take out on the street?

He searched the original owner's memories, trying to find any recollection of his mother having an illness, but found nothing at all.

The only memories he could find were of the original owner's mother coughing occasionally over the past two or three years!

But an occasional cough did not prove anything.

After a moment's thought, Shen Heng went to wait by the living room sofa.

A few minutes later.

Click!

The front door opened.

Xu Yuqin walked inside and saw Shen Heng as soon as she entered. The corners of her lips lifted slightly without her realizing it.

"Xiao Heng!"

Shen Heng opened his mouth, wanting to call her Mom as the original owner had, but found he could not quite get the word out. After hesitating, he said instead, "You're back. You must be tired?"

Her son's unexpected concern left Xu Yuqin briefly stunned, then her smile grew even brighter.

"It's fine. I'm not tired!"

"Sit here in the living room. I made some soup today. I'll bring you a bowl!" Shen Heng said simply, then turned and went into the kitchen.

Xu Yuqin stared after Shen Heng in bewilderment, seeming unable to believe it.

Only when a bowl of old hen soup was set before her did she have to accept this fact.

Xiao Heng had made a bowl of soup... for her?

Xu Yuqin looked at Shen Heng in astonishment and asked:

"This... you made this?"

Shen Heng nodded lightly. "Have some. It's still spring, and the mornings and evenings are a little chilly. Drink some to warm yourself up."

"I know, but..." Xu Yuqin stared at the bowl of soup in disbelief. "When did you learn to make soup?"

"There are plenty of tutorials online. You just watch one and learn!" Shen Heng tipped his head slightly, gesturing to her. "Drink it before it gets cold!"

Smiling, Xu Yuqin nodded emphatically.

She carefully picked up the chicken soup and drank it sip by sip, savoring this warmth she was experiencing for the first time.

Meanwhile, Shen Heng quietly observed the original owner's mother.

Although she was only in her early forties, her husband's illness and treatment in earlier years, followed by years of helping the original owner repay his debts, had left her face particularly weathered. If she went out looking like this, people would believe she was fifty, let alone forty.

Besides, if she keeps working like this, she'll age even faster... Shen Heng thought.

As Xu Yuqin drank the soup, she occasionally glanced at Shen Heng, who was watching her.

Why was Xiao Heng acting so strangely today? Was it because she'd been paid today, and he wanted to ask her for money? But he'd never acted like this before!

Looking at Xu Yuqin, Shen Heng hesitated and was just about to ask about her taking medicine earlier when his ears twitched. After a little thought, he closed his lips again.

A moment later, accompanied by a click, Shen Shuning also came out of her room.

She first glanced at Shen Heng sitting on the small sofa, then turned her gaze to Xu Yuqin.

"Mom, you're back!"

"Xiao Ning, come here! Xiao Heng made chicken soup today. It's delicious!" Xu Yuqin said, smiling at her daughter.

"I've had some. He called me to eat today!" Shen Shuning replied.

At this, Xu Yuqin gave Shen Heng another somewhat astonished look.

Only after a moment did she turn back to Shen Shuning.

"That's good. Oh, right, here's this month's living expenses!"

As she spoke, Xu Yuqin took a stack of money from her pocket, counted out twelve hundred, and handed it to Shen Shuning.

Only after Shen Shuning took it did she turn back to Shen Heng and say somewhat fearfully:

"Xiao Heng, I can't give you money to repay those platforms this month. I need to save the rest and find a way to put together your older sister's university tuition!"

"Yes, that's how it should be!" Shen Heng nodded calmly.

Xu Yuqin looked at her son in puzzlement. Everything she had seen since coming home today had felt strange, including this.

She had not given him any money this time, yet he had not even cursed at her!

Still, this was a good thing. Xu Yuqin breathed a sigh of relief, then seemed to remember something and looked at Shen Heng as she asked:

"Xiao Heng, didn't you come home yesterday?"

Shen Heng opened his mouth, not quite knowing what to say.

Should he say he'd run into a big black dog yesterday, nearly died, been taken to the hospital, and only woken up at noon?

That would only make them worry more...

Just as Shen Heng was considering what excuse to use, Shen Shuning cut in coldly:

"No need to wonder. He must have won at gambling again and run off somewhere to spend the money!"

Hearing this, Xu Yuqin turned to look at Shen Heng, seemingly waiting for his confirmation.

Shen Heng pressed his lips together slightly and chose to remain silent.

Although this was not a very good excuse either, it fit the original owner's circumstances, and the original owner really had planned to do exactly that last night.

When Shen Heng said nothing, Xu Yuqin understood what he meant. She hesitated, then decided to try making a suggestion while her son was acting a little strangely today.

"Xiao Heng, um..."