28 Chapter 28- Blood is Thicker than Water

For the second day in a row, Hao Mei found himself leaving the office by himself. It was strange how quickly he had grown accustomed to having KO's company after work, and he wasn't sure he liked how lonely he was now feeling. It's been two days... it's not like it's been weeks or months. He couldn't even get mad about KO spending his weekend at the office- even though they had a month before the demonstration, what KO and Xiao Nai were trying to do was extremely complicated and it made sense to get started sooner rather than later. It made sense... but Hao Mei was feeling rather resentful about giving both men a wave, through the office window, when it was his turn to leave for the weekend.

Dragging his feet through the foyer of his apartment building, he almost missed the wave of the security guard. Ah! That's right. The locksmith.

"Do you have my new keys?"

"No Sir." The security guard bowed his head. "Your mother was here when he arrived so he left them with her. I believe she's waiting for you."

"My mother?" The lump in his stomach- the one that had taken all night and all day to disperse- quickly reformed. "Why was my mother allowed to collect the keys?"

"She is on the registration of the apartment, Sir. As one of the owners, she is allowed to authorise tradesmen."

Mei felt a migraine forming to offset his churning stomach. "My mother isn't on the registration."

"Sir? It was updated recently; we were informed so we knew who to allow in..."

Sighing, Mei waved a hand at the now visibly concerned man. "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. Don't worry."

It wasn't. He'd spent the elevator ride trying to conjure a scenario where his mother appearing on the house registration, was entirely accidental. However, in no way did it make sense. There was no way this was just a "misunderstanding." This was called "machinations." And he really should have expected it from his parents.

"Ma." The door was unlocked and Hao Mei had a brief moment of relief that he hadn't been forced to knock on the door of his own home. His mother was waiting for him in the lounge room; perched on the edge of the couch, ramrod back and hands neatly folded on her lap. Mei hid a smile. That couch had been chosen precisely for how soft it was- swallowing you as soon as you sat on it, giving you no choice but to sink backwards and relax. Watching his mother balance on the edge, determinedly keeping her composure, was a small revenge for the lump in his stomach.

He still needed an explanation though. The words were too hard to find, and to buy himself time he looked into the kitchen. Pots and pans from last night's fiasco were piled in the sink. Dirty plates, glasses and cutlery, dropped sauce and stained the cream bench. A petty revenge for leaving that girl- what was her name again- here last night and encouraging her to ring her friends.

A subtle cough from the couch told Hao Mei that he couldn't ignore his other any longer. Smiling politely, he dutifully greeted her before pulling a dining chair over to sit on the other side of the coffee table. The two stared t each other, each waiting for the other to speak and neither willing to break the silence. Mei was confident in his patience. He already had a fair idea what had happened- he was his father's son after all and had no illusions where his parents were concerned- but he wanted to hear the words.

As expected, his mother spoke first.

"We will arrange a meeting between the Wangs to organise the details of the engagement. You will, of course, return to your father's company and learn the ropes so that after your first wedding anniversary you can take your rightful place. Your father is ready to step down and enjoy his golden years."

Silent, Mei raised an eyebrow at her, which his mother took as acceptance.

"Of course, between two such prominent families, these things need to be done carefully, with planning... Mrs Wang and I were thinking that a spring wedding would be romantic. You'll need to apply yourself through this next six months so that when you marry, you are already established within the company. Your father will expect you in his office on Monday." She sniffed and looked around the apartment, taking in the sparseness of its decoration and the simplicity of its style. "You can stay here until it sells. We've already listed it."

"Until it sells?" Mei struggled not to give his mother a visible reaction, channelling KO at his most impregnable. The thought of his friend warmed him, giving him strength. "Ah... that reminds me. How did you and Father end up on the house registration of my property?"

His mother looked confused for a moment before her face cleared and she waved a hand at him. "That was so long ago- your father organised it as soon as you bought the place. He just kept quiet about it until now. Don't worry; he "bought" it off you. One of his friends helped him with the paperwork side of things. The money is sitting in your company account."

"He bought it off me? Why?"

"As a wedding present, of course. He's already bought the house you'll move in to after your marriage. It's much more suitable for a family."

"So why are you selling this one?" He almost rubbed his forehead but restrained himself. It's just like sitting opposite a tiger: do not show fear.

"Market value in this area skyrocketed! It would be silly to hold on to it when the value had almost doubled."

Mei sighed, his weariness with the conversation evident. "Do what you want with this place. It was bought as an investment so I suggest holding off for at least two more years when the new precinct is finished being developed. Value should be triple."

He stood up, tugging his tie loose as he looked down at the woman sitting tidily on his couch. "As for the rest, I will not be going in to the company on Monday. I will not be learning the ropes. And I will not be getting married in the spring."

"Hao Mei! What kind of son are you? Of course there will be a wedding in the spring. What kind of son have I raised that he would treat a girl so carelessly?"

"Me? Who have I ever treated carelessly?"

"Wang Fang. She was here this morning when I arrived. She told me all about how you let her invite her friends over and how she didn't have time to do the dishes before going to bed... I'm not an idiot. She was coming out of your bedroom when I came in." As her voice rose, his mother stood, anger clenching her fists at her side. "Of course there will be a wedding."

"Did she tell you I was here last night?"

His mother froze. "Huh?"

Mei strode over to his bedroom door and flung it open. The destruction of the room didn't really surprise him. He'd expected something of the sort when he'd encouraged her to ring her friends and then left: someone unstable enough to think last night was a good idea, would be the type of person to want revenge for the humiliation. He took in the stripped bed, the emptied drawers and the overturned dresser. Lipstick on the mirror and windows proclaimed him to be a "bastard", in a variety of spelling.

"This was the woman you chose for me?" Mei moved back to let his mother fully into the room. Her eyes were wide and her painted lips formed a burgundy moue. "You appear to have questionable taste in daughters-in-law."

"She is high spirited..."

"No. She is a spoiled brat with enough dreams of romance that you successfully orchestrated last night. What was your plan, mother? Coincidentally drop in to visit your favourite son and accidentally catch us over breakfast at the kitchen table?"

The answer was written over his mother's face before she wiped it clean.

"I don't know what you're talking about. But even if there is no wedding, you will return to the company and you will be a filial son."

"I will be a filial son. I will visit you for birthdays, anniversaries, religious holidays. I will accompany you and Father where a son should. And I will respect you, with the respect I am given."

The mauve shade creeping over his mother's face would have been amusing under different circumstances. As it was, the lump in Mei's stomach grew harder and harder, heating at his core. All night, he had lain awake in the hotel room, staring at an unfamiliar ceiling... thinking. Thinking about his Father's constant, disparaging remarks about his interest in computers. Thinking about how abruptly he was cut off from all family support when he dared apply for a University, and a course, his parents hadn't approved off. Thinking about the friendship his three brothers and shown him... and finally, thinking of the love that KO was showing him... and teaching him what a home could feel like, full of warmth. So very different to the mausoleum of his youth.

Hao Mei bowed deeply to his mother and once more left his apartment with only his laptop and the office keys.

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