FM-V2-22

Chapter 22 Fallen Mother Volume Two: Continuation 

I was a little taken aback. 

Dissatisfaction? Of course I was dissatisfied. 

Not just a little, but a lot! In that instant, I almost blurted out everything I was unhappy about. 

But just then, Mom’s phone rang, cutting me off. She quickly took her phone from her bag and answered it. 

“Old Jiao,” Mom said. 

My heart sank. That old man again. 

How did he manage to call her? 

Then I remembered there was a landline at home if he knew the number, he could call. Mom must have given him all the numbers, so he could reach her. 

I said nothing, just looked up at Mom as she answered. On her cold, beautiful face, a rare smile appeared as she spoke her tone was gentle, as if comforting Old Jiao on the other end. 

After quite a while, the call ended. 

Mom put her phone away and told the sales clerk, “Please wrap up this phone.” 

“Of course.” The clerk was delighted a phone sale meant commission. 

Mom and I left the phone store. 

At this point, my hands were full of shopping bags mostly clothes. The iPhone, packed in a gift bag, was carried by Mom; after all, it was worth thousands, and it would be a shame if I dropped it. 

But honestly, I wished that phone would just get lost. 

We left the department store together. 

At the parking lot, I loaded everything into the car and took the front passenger seat. 

Mom drove us home. 

By the time we got home, it was already past nine in the evening. 

Old Jiao was sitting in the living room watching TV, but he clearly wasn’t paying attention the news was on. 

As soon as Mom and I entered the living room, Old Jiao jumped up, grinning at Mom. 

“Oh, girl, you’re all sweaty! Here, wipe off.” 

He quickly pulled out several tissues and handed them to Mom. 

She took them, and Old Jiao immediately took her bag and put it on the sofa. 

Then he went to the fridge and brought out a drink. The old man was very attentive to Mom, but didn’t forget about me he wouldn’t dare ignore me with Mom present. 

But I noticed that when he handed me the drink, his eyes showed a hint of impatience. 

Yet when he turned to Mom, he smiled like a kindly old man, showing no trace of his true feelings. 

The drink was cold. I took a few sips. 

Mom, however, set her cold drink on the coffee table. 

Old Jiao was puzzled. 

“I can’t drink it,” Mom explained, noticing his confusion. 

Can’t drink it? Old Jiao was confused. 

I was too. 

But then I realized something. 

“Mom, I’m going to shower,” I said. 

I didn’t want to stay there especially with Old Jiao around, I felt irritated for no reason. I left for the bathroom. 

After showering, I was going to my room, but on a whim, I went to the living room. 

I did this because I thought Mom and Old Jiao might be getting close in the living room, and my sudden appearance might make them more cautious. 

When I arrived, I did see Mom and Old Jiao sitting together but there was no physical contact. 

Old Jiao was playing with a brand-new iPhone, tapping away excitedly, while Mom just sat beside him, watching but not interfering. 

Mom would occasionally look at Old Jiao’s face, her gaze carrying an indescribable feeling almost like… 

Spoiling? 

I wasn’t sure if that was the right word, but that’s how it felt. 

Both of them were focused on the phone. I stood in the hallway, quietly watching. They didn’t notice me, so I turned and went back to my room. 

At my desk, I decided to stop thinking about everything, turned on my computer, and played games to calm myself. 

Normally, I wouldn’t dare play games with Mom home I’d pretend to be reading. 

But now, I didn’t care. 

And to my surprise, I played for an hour or two without interruption. 

Of course, I wore headphones, so maybe Mom came by and I just didn’t hear her. 

I played until almost eleven, when I finally had to pee and took off my headphones to go to the bathroom. 

But as soon as I left my room, I saw Old Jiao coming out of his. 

He closed his door like a thief, turned, and saw me and I saw him. 

For a moment, we just stared at each other. 

Then he grinned, “Xiao Fan Fan, up so late?” 

“Bathroom,” I replied coldly. 

“Oh, go ahead.” 

“Why are you out?” I asked. 

But Old Jiao didn’t seem embarrassed at all. He just smiled, “I need the bathroom too.” 

I opened my mouth, about to say “You first,” but he beat me to it. 

“You go first, I’ll wait. Go on, go on,” he said. 

I was annoyed, about to insist he go first, but then Mom came out of her room. 

Seeing her, I felt a little guilty and said nothing, heading straight to the bathroom. 

I don’t know what happened outside while I was in there. 

When I finished, I saw Old Jiao still standing in the hallway, but Mom was nowhere to be seen. 

Weird! And when I looked at Old Jiao, he was still grinning, but his wrinkled face looked a bit sinister. 

With no other choice, I went back to my room and locked the door I just felt uneasy. 

I wanted to sleep, but couldn’t. 

Thinking of Old Jiao’s creepy look, I put on my headphones, opened my phone, and turned on the hallway camera. 

As soon as it loaded, I saw Old Jiao wandering the hallway. 

No more accurately, he was pacing outside my room. 

I broke out in goosebumps, glancing at my door, shivering at the thought of him lurking outside. 

Just then, Mom suddenly came out of her room. When she opened the door, Old Jiao heard and quickly stood up, then jogged over to her with a smile.