At eleven-thirty in the morning, a Bentley pulled up below Si Bin’s apartment building.
Si Bin’s phone vibrated twice. He checked his WeChat and said to Lin Murun, "My mom is downstairs."
Lin Murun, who had been sitting on the sofa working through practice problems, nodded. He picked up Dabai, who was napping on his lap, and moved the cat to the scratching post.
"Wait a second." Seeing Lin Murun about to head out, Si Bin caught his hand.
"Hmm?" Lin Murun turned, only to find Si Bin’s face suddenly leaning in close.
"There." Si Bin smiled as he plucked a stray cat hair from Lin Murun’s locks. He gave his cheek a light kiss and said with a grin, "Don't worry, my mom is very easy to get along with."
Lin Murun nodded.
Despite Si Bin’s reassurance, Lin Murun couldn't help the trepidation in his heart. The thought of meeting Si Bin’s mother face-to-face made him feel a bit out of his element.
Si Bin sensed his unease and kept their hands firmly clasped as they walked down the stairs.
The moment they stepped out of the building, the Bentley’s window rolled down. A young-looking woman with voluminous wavy hair smiled, revealing a row of bright white teeth as she slid her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose.
"Hi there, handsome!" she greeted Lin Murun.
"Hello, Auntie," Lin Murun said politely.
"Don't be so nervous," she said, resting her arm on the window frame. Her voice was warm. "Si Bin was bragging to me last night about the birthday gift you gave him. To be honest, the photos were quite well-taken."
Shen Xinning’s features were strikingly beautiful. Though she was over forty, there wasn't a single wrinkle on her face. Beneath her thick lashes, her dark eyes sparkled with a dazzling light when she smiled. Si Bin looked remarkably like her; even the way they smiled was nearly identical. Faced with that familiar expression, Lin Murun gradually relaxed. He returned the smile and said softly, "They’re just photos of everyday life."
"Isn't romance born from everyday life?" Shen Xinning urged them into the car while suggesting, "When you two graduate, how about the three of us take a set of photos together and make an album?"
"Mom, you’re planning way too far ahead. We still have a year and a half until graduation," Si Bin said after getting into the car.
"What’s wrong with a year and a half? Time flies." Shen Xinning pushed her sunglasses back up and looked back at Lin Murun with a smile. "Right, Runrun?"
"Mom, don't call him that..." Si Bin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Why not? Did you patent the name 'Runrun'? Strictly speaking, Runrun is part of my family now, so why can't I call him that?" Shen Xinning talked as she started the engine.
Si Bin was left speechless. He shrugged at Lin Murun and whispered, "See? I told you she’s easy to get along with."
"Everyone says that," Shen Xinning interjected from the front seat. "They also say that while my son and I look alike, our personalities are worlds apart."
Their features were indeed very similar, though Shen Xinning’s facial contours were softer. She possessed a flamboyant confidence that Si Bin lacked, radiant as a sunflower in full bloom. Si Bin, by contrast, was more like an ancient well—deep, reserved, and still.
Lin Murun replied, "You are certainly more extroverted."
Shen Xinning laughed candidly, her deep red lipstick curving into a beautiful shape. "My son always says I talk too much. A quiet personality like yours is better; you and Si Bin must have plenty to talk about."
"Yes, we do," Si Bin answered, gently squeezing Lin Murun’s hand.
Shen Xinning caught the gesture in the rearview mirror. She smiled and shrugged. "Want some music?"
"Sure," Si Bin replied.
She nodded and switched on the car’s audio system.
The melodious strains of a violin filled the car. It was the very piece Lin Murun had played in the recital room the day they first met—*Air on the G String*.
Realizing his mother’s little scheme, Si Bin smiled silently and traced small circles in Lin Murun’s palm with his finger.
Forty minutes later, the car turned into a high-end private club.
After parking, Shen Xinning turned off the music and beckoned them. "Let’s go."
The club’s atmosphere was exquisite. Upon entering, one was greeted by a screen depicting green bamboo, landscapes, and auspicious clouds. Various pebbles were arranged in the corners, and meticulously designed details were visible everywhere.
They followed Shen Xinning into a private room. As soon as they were seated, an array of elegantly plated dishes was served.
Shen Xinning picked up her chopsticks first and served each of the boys a portion of Longjing Shrimp.
The fresh shrimp were large and firm, with a pleasant chewiness and the delicate fragrance of Dragon Well tea.
"I originally thought about taking you to a Western restaurant, but those places are always crowded. It’s hard to feel at ease," Shen Xinning said as she ladled a bowl of soup for herself. "So I thought I’d bring you to a club owned by a friend. It’s just us—quiet and relaxed."
Lin Murun finished the shrimp in his bowl and nodded. "Thank you, Auntie."
"There’s no need for thanks. I should have treated you to a meal long ago," Shen Xinning said, setting down her spoon. "But I’ve been so busy with work lately that I couldn't get away. I finally have some free time today, so I’m making up for it—and celebrating Si Bin’s birthday while I’m at it."
Si Bin, seemingly used to being an afterthought to his own celebration, placed some food in Lin Murun’s bowl. "Go ahead and eat. My mom went out of her way to ask me what your favorite dishes were."
Lin Murun nodded. He was about to say something when he was interrupted by the sudden ringing of Si Bin’s phone.
Si Bin set down his chopsticks and pulled his phone from his coat pocket. His brow furrowed when he saw the caller ID.
"Sorry, I need to take this," he told them before standing up and stepping out of the room.
Seeing Lin Murun watching Si Bin’s retreating back thoughtfully, Shen Xinning spoke up. "It’s likely a relative from his father’s side."
"Is Uncle’s condition not good?" Lin Murun asked worriedly, setting down his chopsticks.
"It’s not good at all." Shen Xinning also put down her chopsticks, the smile fading from her lips. "His father’s illness has worsened, and his siblings over there are fighting tooth and nail. He’s probably not going to make it, so they’re calling Si Bin to discuss the division of the estate—and to decide what to do with that woman and her daughter."
Si Bin had never mentioned these things, but Lin Murun had heard bits and pieces from Gao Yuan.
"But..." Lin Murun frowned slightly. "He shouldn't have to worry about these things."
Shen Xinning smiled. "What 'should' be, and what 'shouldn't' be?"
Lin Murun didn't answer immediately.
"It’s alright. Say what’s on your mind. I won't be angry," Shen Xinning said with a smile, as if reading his thoughts.
"I heard..." Lin Murun hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I heard you have custody of him. He hasn't been in contact with Uncle Si for years. Matters like inheritance and the support of minors should be handled by the elders. Even though Si Bin is Uncle Si’s son, he is still a junior in the family. He only just became an adult today."
Shen Xinning listened intently until he finished. She nodded and said, "I’m happy to hear that, because you’re looking at it from Si Bin’s perspective. Theoretically, you’re absolutely right. But Runrun..." Her tone shifted, and the warmth in her eyes dimmed. In that moment, she looked strikingly like Si Bin when he was expressionless.
"If Si Bin were just a child from an ordinary family, then as his mother, I would do everything in my power to shield him from these troubles and let him grow up carefree." Shen Xinning’s expression wasn't exactly stern, but it carried an undeniable weight.
"But he is also a child of the Shen family," she continued. "Adulthood is only the beginning. Countless responsibilities will be placed on his shoulders in the future. Once he truly takes over the burden from me, no one will care how young he is or whether he 'should' have to do things he doesn't want to do."
"He will simply have to do them. He’ll have to find solutions. If it doesn't work the first time, he tries a second. If not the second, then a third. When he was a child, he could cry when he fell, because no one blames a child. But starting today, he is no longer a child." Shen Xinning didn't spell it out too bluntly, but Lin Murun understood.
A child can cry over setbacks, but an adult with responsibilities cannot. When an adult falls, they must get back up, grit their teeth, and keep moving forward.
"I could certainly step in and handle his father’s affairs, but that would be meaningless. I can't help him forever." Shen Xinning reached out and ladled a bowl of soup for Lin Murun, placing it gently in front of him. "Consider this his first life lesson. If he truly can't solve it and needs my help, I certainly won't refuse. But for now, he doesn't need me. More importantly, I have faith in his abilities."
Having said this, Shen Xinning’s expression brightened, and her formidable aura vanished. The curve of her lips was just right, making her look once again like a warm sunflower.
"Runrun, you should have a little more confidence in your boyfriend."
Lin Murun’s fingers brushed the edge of the bowl. The warmth of the soup slowly seeped through the porcelain into his skin. After a long silence, he finally nodded.
"You probably haven't studied the text *Chu Long Persuades the Dowager Queen of Zhao* yet, have you?" Shen Xinning asked.
"No," Lin Murun replied. "But I’ve read it before."
Shen Xinning nodded. "The Queen of Zhao didn't want to send Lord Chang'an as a hostage because she loved her son dearly. But sending him was actually planning for his future. As the saying goes, 'A parent's love for their child means planning for their long-term future.'"
"I will hold you to the same standard as Si Bin, Runrun." Shen Xinning looked at him. "Love during student years is the most precious and pure. I can see that Si Bin truly loves you, so as his mother, I sincerely hope the two of you can go the distance together. But it’s not enough for only one person to grow. You must learn to support each other... You might feel that what I’m saying is too far off, but soon you’ll take the college entrance exams and enter university. Once you’re in university, you’ve already got one foot in society."
"As a mother, I hope to provide as much help as possible in the time I have, to clear more obstacles for your future. It’s better to plan ahead than to fix things after they break."
Lin Murun’s fingers rubbed together unconsciously. He lowered his eyes in thought for a long time before answering, "You’re right."
Just then, through the transparent floor-to-ceiling glass wall, Lin Murun saw Si Bin hang up his phone at the end of the corridor.
"Auntie, what major does Si Bin want to study?" Seeing Si Bin walking toward the room, Lin Murun hurried to ask.
"He plans to study Finance at S University," Shen Xinning said.
"Then I’ll apply for the Law School at S University," Lin Murun said quickly. "I want to help him, rather than just watching him face problems alone like I am now."
Shen Xinning’s hand paused mid-air with her spoon. She smiled. "Studying law—especially civil and commercial law—can be very tedious."
Lin Murun shook his head, his gaze resolute.
"I have a friend who is a graduate supervisor at S University." Just before Si Bin pushed the door open, Shen Xinning said softly, "When you get into S University’s Law School, I’ll introduce you."
Si Bin pushed the door open. Seeing both Shen Xinning and Lin Murun looking at him, he smiled and asked, "What are you two chatting about behind my back?"
"Nothing," Lin Murun said.
"Runrun and I were talking about your future majors," Shen Xinning answered candidly.
"Mom, we’re not even in our senior year yet. Don't put pressure on Runrun." Si Bin sat down and habitually placed a shrimp in Lin Murun’s bowl. "It’s not easy for us to get together for a meal. Let’s not talk about school. Let’s eat."
***
