Chapter 87: All Grown Up

Crash.

One moment, Chu Cheng was cozy in bed, and the next, he was jolted awake by the bright sunlight hitting his face. He squinted against the glare and saw his mom standing by the drawn curtain, looking at him with irritation.

"Not up by ten? It's already morning!" she said.

Chu Cheng wanted to explain that in his gaming world, getting up at ten was normal. As he reached for his phone on the bedside, he was shocked to see the time.

"Isn't it barely nine o'clock?" he thought.

His mom didn't argue further and left the room, leaving Chu Cheng alone. He lay in bed for another ten minutes before finally getting up, still yawning.

The rewards from last night's mission were pretty good, but he was disappointed that the ghostly figure he'd been chasing hadn't been dealt with. He had a feeling it was worth more experience points.

He'd need to wait until next time to catch it.

He also wondered if his energy levels were low because he'd used a lot of his resources operating Moon Knight.

After finishing the fight, he'd logged off, taken some quick oral supplements, and gone to bed.

Feeling better after his nap, Chu Cheng got dressed. When he came back to his room, he saw his mom tidying up his sheets and fixing his bed.

At first, he didn't think much of it, but then he noticed the unused box of supplements on the bedside. He almost said something but stopped himself.

Luckily, his mom didn't ask about the strange things she'd seen and acted as if nothing was wrong.

Chu Cheng guessed that she had seen the supplements but chose not to comment. He didn't want to explain that he was playing games and needed these for energy.

Looking at the box of supplements made him feel a bit guilty. He knew they were useful but hated that they made him seem suspicious.

He wished he could have the protection of the Moon Knight like the ancient Egyptian god Khonsu. In mythology, Khonsu not only protected travelers but also enhanced fertility. So he hoped Moon Knight's powers would have additional benefits.

After a quick breakfast, Chu Cheng took his mom out to find lunch. 

He had planned to visit two popular spots in the opposite business district. However, after a recent poisoning incident at a milk tea shop, the whole area was shut down. Although the Secret Service had cleaned up the infection, the district would remain closed for at least a week.

So, Chu Cheng took his mom to explore the other nearby business district. Unfortunately, with only two places to eat and one being out of commission, the remaining spot was now crowded. Plus, the area seemed particularly busy on weekends.

The roads were jammed early in the morning on the weekend. Long lines of cars stretched for miles, with some drivers honking their horns and exchanging heated words.

This reminded Chu Cheng of how his relatives would get road rage at home, shouting things like "stupid driver" and "learn to drive" at each other. Although these phrases are powerful, using them together could lead to even more chaos.

The shopping mall was crowded too. Even though it wasn't lunch yet, there were already lines at the major restaurants.

Chu Cheng had looked up the restaurant's number online earlier, so when he arrived, there were only a few tables left. He and his mom sat outside to wait.

They hadn't talked much since yesterday's surprising events. Chu Cheng had told his mother that he was working part-time with the Secret Service Nine. Even though it was just a back-office job, it was still with a unit dealing with dangerous situations. Huang Liping, his mother, didn't say much but was clearly worried.

"There's something you don't know," she said after staring at the railing for a moment. "When you first left for college, I was very anxious. You had always been with us, and the thought of you being away made me very uneasy. Your dad laughed and said you were old enough to handle it on your own, but I couldn't shake my worry."

She paused, then continued, "So, I bought a plane ticket and flew to Jiangdu."

Chu Cheng was surprised. "You came to Jiangdu? When I first started college?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"But you and Dad..." Chu Cheng was confused. "You didn't tell me."

"I didn't want you to know I was worried, and I didn't want to interfere too much," Huang Liping said softly. "I stayed just one day. I arrived at six in the morning and watched you from outside—watching you go for breakfast, go to school, and go about your day. You seemed fine and independent, which was reassuring to see."

She sighed. "I flew back that night. Your dad picked me up from the airport and laughed about how I couldn't let go."

Chu Cheng was at a loss for words.

"I never knew..." he said quietly.

"You've grown up and have your own life now. We understand you're dealing with things we might not fully get," Huang Liping said. "We're not going to try to change your plans, but we want you to know that no matter where you are or what you're going through, your dad and I will always support you."

Chu Cheng felt a lump in his throat. He wanted to say something, but the words didn't come easily.

"I'll check on how many tables are ahead," he said finally, standing up and heading toward the counter. As he stood, he noticed someone staring at him from the waiting area.

He looked over and saw a girl in a white dress, sitting and looking at him with large, light blue eyes.