The next morning.
Jiang Yao stretched lazily and pulled open the curtains. The sky outside was still dark, though the wind had weakened somewhat compared to the previous night. In this tranquil dawn when most households were still deep in sleep, activity had already begun inside the Su Family Villa.
Her precious son was still in school and had morning self-study sessions.
As usual, she performed a divination. Seeing that there was nothing major to worry about, she casually put away her tools.
Gathering her nightgown around herself, she shuffled downstairs in slippers and saw the father and son already fully dressed and prepared to leave.
She had thought Su Jingyang had merely spoken casually yesterday about taking Su Muzhe to school, but unexpectedly, he had actually followed through.
Judging from their outfits, were they planning to ride bicycles?
Ever since her good son had moved into Mid-Mountain Villa, he seemed to go everywhere on a motorcycle. Although there was a Driver at home, Su Muzhe had claimed he did not want to be too flashy. But honestly, riding a motorcycle was even more attention-grabbing, alright?!
Jiang Yao did not understand the traffic regulations of this world at all, nor did she know that middle school students were not supposed to ride motorcycles on the road.
She looked the two of them over. Su Jingyang wore a tracksuit, while Su Muzhe remained in his school uniform.
Tsk tsk tsk. Handsome people with good figures really caught the eye. Even wearing burlap sacks would still look pleasing.
Unfortunately, the moment that rebellious brat opened his mouth, she immediately wanted to beat him up.
Soon, the two figures disappeared from the Living Room. Jiang Yao found it strange that she did not hear the roar of a motorcycle engine outside.
Then she heard Auntie Li happily remark, “Now that Sir has come back, Young Master has become more obedient too. Riding motorcycles is far too dangerous.”
“Motorcycles are dangerous?” Jiang Yao asked after hearing that.
“Yes! Once the speed gets too high, both the rider and the bike can be thrown flying.”
Tsk. Being a mother really was exhausting.
Jiang Yao returned to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed with a heavy sigh. She still wanted to plan a few things, but sleepiness overtook her again. She burrowed back under the blankets and went back to sleep.
When she woke up again, the sun was already hanging high in the sky, shining warmly.
As her cultivation gradually recovered, the amount of time Jiang Yao spent sleeping became shorter and shorter. Her energy also grew more abundant, and when she felt particularly spirited, she could even go out for a walk.
After changing into comfortable clothes, Jiang Yao walked into the garden, regulating her breathing and absorbing the essence of heaven and earth.
It was already deep winter. The courtyard looked bare and lifeless, with only a few brightly blooming flowers remaining inside the greenhouse next door.
Jiang Yao practiced a set of拳法 to stretch her body. Yet after only moving a little, every bone in her body crackled noisily.
After Su Jingyang left that morning, he once again disappeared for several days.
During these days, Jiang Yao accompanied Su Muzhe for dinner every night. Sometimes, if she woke up early enough, she would also sit with him while he ate breakfast.
However, the mother and son each ate their own meals in silence. Even though they sat at the same table, neither spoke to the other.
Lately, Su Muzhe found Jiang Yao increasingly strange.
If one said she was healthy, there were times when she looked weak and exhausted. But if one said she was ill, then recalling the way she had kicked a hooligan flying that day made the idea seem absurd.
As though sensing Su Muzhe’s probing gaze, Jiang Yao raised her head.
“What are you looking at? What’s wrong?”
“Who’s looking at you? Stop flattering yourself!” After saying that, he lowered his head and continued eating breakfast.
Jiang Yao immediately felt irritated. This brat.
“Why haven’t you gone to school yet?” Usually, he would have already left by this time. And perhaps because his father had caught him riding a motorcycle, he had been obediently riding a bicycle these past two days.
That rebellious son lazily replied, “There’s an exam today. It’s not time yet.”
“An exam? Then do your best!” Jiang Yao immediately dropped her previous careless attitude and sincerely encouraged him.
An exam?
Thinking back to her previous life, despite being praised as a once-in-a-generation genius, she had still needed to study by candlelight before exams if she wanted to place first.
Yet this rebellious brat had spent the past two nights playing games after returning home. There was not the slightest sign of studying at all.
“Do my best?” The rebellious brat sneered. “Who are you mocking?”
With that, he set down his bowl and left the table.
Looking at the bowl before her that looked as though a dog had gnawed through the meal, Jiang Yao’s expression darkened rapidly.
After barely three sentences, he slammed down the bowl and walked off again. He was truly spoiled rotten! She needed to find an opportunity to properly discipline him.
The two exam days quickly passed, followed immediately by a two-day break.
That rebellious brat disappeared somewhere early in the morning before Jiang Yao even woke up, wandering around all day without showing his face.
She discovered that failing to report one’s whereabouts seemed to be a hereditary trait of the Su Family!
However, Jiang Yao currently had no spare time to contemplate the Su Family genes because over the past two days she had discovered something wonderful—
A cellphone!
The winter sunlight spread across the Living Room, filling the entire space with warmth. Auntie Li sat on the nearby sofa knitting a sweater.
Jiang Yao found a comfortable position on the couch, holding her phone in hand. She looked utterly content.
Suddenly, the phone vibrated. Jiang Yao suspiciously answered the call.
“Hello?”
“Jiang Yao, what’s wrong with you these past few days? Your phone’s been switched off every time I call! And what do you mean ‘hello’? Don’t tell me you can’t recognize my voice anymore? Stop pretending!”
Jiang Yao looked confused. After thinking carefully for a moment, a vague memory surfaced in her mind.
It seemed to be the original owner’s fake plastic bestie, Lin Shuangshuang.
Before Jiang Yao could speak, the voice on the other end rattled on nonstop.
“You really are forgetful now that you’re living the good life. It’s me, Lin Shuangshuang. We haven’t met in forever. Come out and hang out.”
Hearing that, Jiang Yao readily agreed.
“Sure.”
Coincidentally, she no longer fell asleep randomly these days. Going out for some activity would be beneficial as well.
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow at three in the afternoon, let’s meet at Xizi Café in Yuewu Plaza.”
After hanging up, Jiang Yao sat up and stretched lazily.
The luxurious life of a wealthy modern madam would begin with afternoon tea.
Auntie Li had been sitting beside her knitting the entire time and had heard everything. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Jiang Yao was filled with worry.
Seeing through her thoughts immediately, Jiang Yao casually said, “We’re just going out for afternoon tea.”
When Auntie Li still looked unconvinced, Jiang Yao added, “I’ve already decided to become a good mother. I won’t set a bad example for Su Muzhe. Don’t worry.”
Auntie Li sighed. She wanted to say something more, but swallowed the words back down.
Night gradually fell before Su Muzhe finally returned home late.
He glanced at Jiang Yao, who was eating dinner, but did not even greet her before heading upstairs.
Hey, this rebellious brat truly had no manners at all!
Things could not continue like this forever. She had to find a reason to properly discipline him and make him sincerely submit.
The next day, after finishing her cultivation practice, Jiang Yao lay on the sofa watching television dramas. The TV series in this world were far more entertaining than many of the things she had experienced personally.
Although most of them were complete nonsense.
In the afternoon, she simply freshened herself up, slung a small bag over her shoulder, and headed out.
Driver Wang had already been waiting outside.
Fortunately, the weather cooperated today. The sky was clear as a mirror, making it a perfect day to go out.
“Madam, I’ll wait for you in the parking lot. Call me once you’re done,” Master Wang said as he parked the car and opened the door for Jiang Yao.
The winter sunlight was somewhat dazzling. Jiang Yao narrowed her eyes while sizing up the towering buildings before her.
Although she had already learned about this rapidly developing technological era through television, witnessing it with her own eyes was still incredibly shocking.
“There’s no need to wait specifically for me. If there’s somewhere you want to go, then go ahead. Just call after I’m done.”
With that, she walked toward her destination.