Chapter 63: Mother

When it came to business, Yao Jing was a master, but in matters of love and relationships, she couldn't even compare to Song Siqing's little fingernail.

Yao Jing returned home before eleven o'clock. This was her bottom line. In the four years of marriage, whenever she was in Haixia City, she had never come home past eleven.

When she arrived, Wu Zhiming was sitting on the couch watching TV, engrossed in a vapid family drama. Seeing Yao Jing come in, he greeted her. Yao Jing responded and then walked into her room.

Half an hour later, after removing her makeup and getting ready for bed, Yao Jing emerged from her room in a new set of pajamas. She was wearing a sleek, low-cut, coffee-colored nightgown with spaghetti straps, paired with smooth brown pajama pants.

Yao Jing went into the kitchen, cut up a watermelon, and brought it to the living room, placing it on the coffee table. She then sat on a single sofa next to Wu Zhiming and joined him in watching TV.

Yao Jing was a bit distracted. She kept glancing at Wu Zhiming, only to find that he didn't look at her even once. This annoyed her. She had deliberately put on her more revealing pajamas, hoping to catch his attention so she could casually ask him the question Song Siqing had taught her. But Wu Zhiming didn't react at all. Could it be that Wu Zhiming wasn't interested in women?

This thought suddenly crossed Yao Jing's mind, startling her. Deep down, she felt her suspicion might be true. 

She didn't quite understand her own allure to men, but according to the mindset Song Siqing constantly instilled in her, Yao Jing's impact on a man was akin to a nuclear bomb. Therefore, any man who wasn't interested in her must have different preferences.

This was Song Siqing's exact wording.

Yao Jing had once thought Wu Zhiming kept his distance out of humility and respect. But now, Wu Zhiming was no longer the person he used to be. Yet, he still paid her no attention. According to Song Siqing, this could only mean Wu Zhiming's orientation was questionable!

Reflecting on Wu Zhiming's appearance, he was exceedingly handsome, even to the point of being described as beautiful. Men who looked like that often, it seemed, had unconventional preferences.

Yao Jing looked at Wu Zhiming. His facial features were truly striking—sharp and defined. From the side, he seemed like someone straight out of a painting. 

Back when Yao Jing married Wu Zhiming, a small part of her didn't despair because he was undeniably good-looking. If she had married someone with a large head and a thick neck, she might not have lasted long.

This was ultimately a world that values appearances. If Wu Zhiming had been unattractive, many things in the past three or four years might have turned out differently.

"Zhiming, can I ask you a question?" Yao Jing said.

"Hmm? What is it?" Wu Zhiming replied without looking away from the TV.

"Look at me," Yao Jing said, a bit irritated.

"Huh?" Wu Zhiming turned to Yao Jing, puzzled. Yao Jing had never acted this way before. To him, it felt like she was being coy, despite the hint of annoyance in her tone.

"If my mom and I were to fall into a river, and you could only save one of us, who would you save first?" Yao Jing asked.

Wu Zhiming fell silent for a moment before replying, "I don't have a mother."

Yao Jing was taken aback, and then she remembered that Wu Zhiming's mother had passed away when he was very young. Her heart trembled slightly, and she quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Zhiming. I didn't mean anything by it."

"It's okay. My mom has been gone for many years. But if she were still here and you both fell into the river, I would choose to save her," Wu Zhiming said.

"Why?" Yao Jing asked, puzzled.

"My mom gave birth to me and taught me how to survive in the Wu family... When I was young, after Wu Zhixing pushed me off the roof of the old house, everyone thought I was a goner. It was my mom who stayed by my side in the hospital day and night, begging the doctors not to give up on me. Although I couldn't move during that time, I could hear every word my mom said. She prayed to the heavens every day…" Wu Zhiming said.

"Any mother would do the same for their child," Yao Jing said. She wasn't trying to argue, just stating a fact. Any mother would go to great lengths for her child's survival.

Wu Zhiming smiled, then took off his shirt, revealing his muscular physique. Even sitting down, his eight-pack abs and iron-hard chest muscles were clearly visible.

Yao Jing lowered her head in a fluster.

Wu Zhiming pointed to his lower back, "Do you know what this is?"

Yao Jing looked up and saw a scar on Wu Zhiming's lower back.

"What is it?" she asked.

"This is a gift from my mom, and it's also what gave me the hope to live. That year, after falling from the roof, my organs were damaged, and my kidneys were the most severely affected. After a week in the hospital, the doctors couldn't save my kidneys. Both were failing. The doctors had given me a death sentence, but my mom dragged me back to life. The cost was... one of her kidneys," Wu Zhiming said, gently touching the scar on his lower back, as if reminiscing.

"Are you saying... your mother gave you one of her kidneys?!" Yao Jing asked in shock. She had never heard Wu Zhiming or anyone else mention this. Not even a whisper.

### Chapter 63: Mother

"Yes!" Wu Zhiming nodded, continuing, "A mother can give everything for her child, but not all mothers would sacrifice their lives. My mother wasn't in good health to begin with. After giving me one of her kidneys, her condition worsened, and she had to endure the oppression from Wu Zhixing and Shen Hongyue. So, when I was ten, my mother passed away."

Yao Jing was speechless, overwhelmed by a profound sense of shock.

"Before she died, my mother held my hand and told me one thing… She told me to endure. To endure all the bullying, all the injustice, and everything this world throws at me until I had the strength to fight back against it all. Only then would I not need to endure anymore. So, I've been enduring for over twenty years," Wu Zhiming said.

Yao Jing sighed, saying, "I never knew you had such a story. As your wife, I've never truly cared about you. That's why I'm only learning this now. I'm sorry."

Wu Zhiming smiled, put his shirt back on, and said, "For my mother, I would give up everything. If you and my mother were to fall into a river, I would save her. Then, I would jump in and die with you."

"What?" Yao Jing stared at Wu Zhiming in surprise.

"I failed to protect my mother, and I lost her forever. If I fail to protect my wife again, I would rather die with her," Wu Zhiming said.

He spoke lightly, but Yao Jing could feel the weight of his words. She believed that if such a day ever came, Wu Zhiming would indeed save his mother and then unhesitatingly jump in after her if Yao Jing drowned.

Yao Jing stood up and moved to sit beside Wu Zhiming, leaning gently against him, saying, "Thank you, Zhiming."

Wu Zhiming sat cross-legged, watching TV, without putting his arm around Yao Jing. He knew she was just touched, and only that—just moved. However, he noticed for the first time how fragrant Yao Jing's scent was.

They rarely sat this close. He had heard that Yao Jing naturally had a pleasant scent. Despite being married for four years, this was the first time he truly noticed it. The fragrance was different from the usual smell of shampoos or body washes. It was faint, almost imperceptible, yet it was genuinely there on Yao Jing.

Wu Zhiming collected his thoughts and focused back on the TV plot.

"I apologize on behalf of my mother," Yao Jing said.

"Everyone has someone they are helpless against yet can't give up on," Wu Zhiming replied.

"My mother was very poor when she was young, so she grew up being very calculating, always looking for bargains, and very materialistic. But as you said, she gave birth to me. Without her, there wouldn't be the me that exists today. So no matter what, in my heart, she will always be the most important person to me, no matter how flawed she is," Yao Jing said.

Wu Zhiming nodded, saying, "I understand you."

"I know it's hard for you to forgive my mother. She has done many things that hurt your dignity, but I still hope to do everything I can to help mend the relationship between you two," Yao Jing said.

"Do you know why I don't hold a grudge against your mother for what she's done to me?" Wu Zhiming asked.

"Why?" Yao Jing asked.

"Because I envy people like you who have a mother. No matter how she treats me, she's always good to you. If I were you, as long as she's my mother, no matter what she did, I would forgive her, even if she made me divorce my wife," Wu Zhiming said.

"Then… can you forgive my mother?" Yao Jing asked.

"No," Wu Zhiming shook his head.

"Alright," Yao Jing sighed. The Wu Zhiming of today was uncompromising. Asking him to forgive her mother was indeed very difficult.

"Well, the show's over. I'll head to bed. Sweet dreams," Wu Zhiming said, picking up the remote and turning off the TV.

Yao Jing straightened up, a bit annoyed, and said, "I've only leaned on you for less than a minute, and you're already done?"

"I'm not used to staying up late, you know that. Next time, find me during the day, and I'll let you lean on me all day," Wu Zhiming said with a smile, standing up.

"Only a ghost would want to lean on you," Yao Jing rolled her eyes.

Wu Zhiming chuckled and walked towards his room.

"Zhiming," Yao Jing suddenly called out.

Wu Zhiming stopped and asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing," Yao Jing shook her head. She suddenly realized the question she wanted to ask was silly.

"Oh, by the way, the assistant to the CFO resigned. Please find a replacement for him," Wu Zhiming said.

"The CFO's assistant?" Yao Jing frowned slightly and said, "Can't Wang Hai handle that?"

"You're the CEO's assistant, and it's just an assistant for the CFO. A minor task, really. Please take care of it," Wu Zhiming said, walking into his room and closing the door behind him.

"The CFO's assistant… If it's just being an assistant, Shaojun should be fine, right?" Yao Jing murmured to herself.