This slap landed squarely on Yumo’s face, startling everyone else.

“What are you doing!?”

Even Liyu’s mom was shocked.

“Hey!!” “Bro!?”

Chen Xiang and Yuxin were genuinely furious, but Yumo gestured for them to hold back.

“I can vaguely understand how you feel. You needed to vent, so I let you slap me. Feeling better now?”

“Uh…”

“But that’s it—just this once. Try it again, and I’ll use this on you.”

Yumo shook a small spray bottle in his hand. Inside the semi-transparent container sloshed an unidentifiable foaming liquid.

“…What is that?”

“Something you absolutely don’t want to experience. A *special* little tool.”

“What are you talking about!? I—I wasn’t trying to hit you! You insisted on taking it yourself… Don’t you dare say I assaulted you!”

“You have the guts to strike but not the guts to take responsibility. Do you really think that’s good parenting? You were clueless about your daughter’s struggles at school, yet you strut around acting all high and mighty in front of the people genuinely trying to help her. You only lash out after the fact, never bothering to communicate beforehand… Seriously?”

“It’s because her father and I are swamped with work! Nine-to-nine jobs, constant business trips—we don’t have time! You make it sound like I don’t care about her at all! She’s my daughter, of course I care! But she’s just so hopeless! Never gives us a moment’s peace—”

“You care about your daughter, sure—but you care more about saving face, don’t you?”

“What did you say!? You—”

“Let. Me. Finish!!”

Yumo suddenly erupted. His earlier calm expression vanished like a mask ripped away, jolting Liyu’s mom.

“Are you blind!? Yes, she’s overweight! She’s timid! She’s socially anxious! Her grades are average! She embarrasses you as a parent—but so what!? Look at her! Your own flesh and blood has been working her heart out this past month. She wants to be prettier. Braver. More outgoing! What’s wrong with that!? And you? Your very first words to her were rejection! Dismissing her efforts! Dismissing everything about her!”

“What do you know? I’m her mother—I understand her better than anyone—”

“You don’t know shit! Me, my mom, my sister—even regulars at the gym—we all know her better than you! You’re just using aggression to cover up your parenting failures. Too little time with your daughter? Blame work. All you really mean is, ‘My daughter might be fat and clumsy, but don’t lump me in with her!’ Excuse after excuse until nothing’s left! If you’d just once swallowed your pride and actually talked to her, she wouldn’t be so crushed by self-doubt!!”

“You—”

“I’m not yelling at you—I’m making you see! I’m laying out the truth, trying to get you to understand! I’m begging you—begging you to talk to her properly. To listen to her heart. To mend your fences! She’s your daughter, not a show dog or a trophy on display! If you truly listen to her, protect her, trust her, encourage her—she won’t disappoint you. Yet you always reject everything before she even gets to show you her progress! Think hard about this! Your chance to be a good mother is right here. This might be your last chance—not just for her, but for yourself too. Take it, okay!?”

Yumo gripped Bao Lilong’s shoulders the entire time, getting right in her face.

Bao Lilong was completely overwhelmed by his intensity.

Every word he said cut deep. Unanswerable.

“That’s all I’ll say… Liyu, you too—stop shrinking into yourself. The two of you need to talk properly.”

“Huh? I…”

“If she gives you trouble, call me.”

…

…

Liyu was taken home by her mother. The atmosphere between them was tense.

Yumo’s family watched them leave.

“You’re just letting her take Liyu away like that?” Yuxin whispered to Yumo. “What if her mom keeps being stubborn?”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll handle it.”

“How?”

“I’ll have a *friendly chat* with her after slipping some sodium thiopental into her drink.”

“What the hell is that!?”

————————

————————

Liyu’s father was often away on business trips. Her mother, Bao Lilong, worked in HR—a demanding job. Liyu couldn’t even remember the last time they’d walked home together.

Bao Lilong stayed silent the whole way, radiating quiet pressure.

Before, Liyu would’ve lost her head with fear. But Yumo’s words had given her courage. Even facing her mother, she didn’t shrink back.

It was just a matter of who spoke first.

At home, Liyu quickly prepared a late-night snack—two dishes and a soup. She knew her mom probably hadn’t eaten dinner after the trip.

“I’m not hungry…” Bao Lilong said.

“Eating on time matters. Auntie Chen taught me that.”

“That woman? Yumo’s mother?”

“She’s a professional fitness coach. She’s been training me hands-on this whole month.”

“Hmph…”

Bao Lilong studied her daughter. Her face stayed neutral, but inwardly, she was stunned.

A month apart, and Liyu’s transformation was undeniable.

She’d slimmed down. Her skin glowed. Faint traces of the radiant girl Bao Lilong once was—a beauty chased by crowds of boys in her youth—now flickered in her daughter.

“Mom… try some?”

“…………Fine.”

The clatter of bowls and chopsticks filled the quiet room.

Liyu cooked well. People who love food usually do.

“Aren’t you eating?” Bao Lilong asked.

“Me? Haha, no… Strict diet for weight loss.”

“Aren’t you worried about malnutrition?”

“I’m getting all the essential nutrients. No worries.”

“Hmm…”

Bao Lilong kept wanting to lecture, but the words stuck. She’d always scrutinized her daughter for flaws. Now, to her surprise… there were fewer and fewer to find.

*“Your own flesh and blood has been working her heart out this past month! And you? Your very first words to her were rejection! Dismissing her efforts! Dismissing everything about her!”*

—Yumo’s rebuke echoed relentlessly in her mind.

It pissed her off.

Annoying as it was—she couldn’t refute a single word.

She was the one in the wrong.

“…………Xiaoyu. Come here.”

“Mm…”

Liyu obediently sat across from her mother. She straightened her back, mustering courage to meet her parent’s eyes.

“……………………Sigh.”

Bao Lilong exhaled heavily.

Then, swallowing her stubbornness, she chose her words carefully—

“Just… tell me. Your thoughts. Your… experiences. Explain it all to me.”

“!!!”

That simple sentence made Liyu beam. She scooted closer, grasping her mother’s hand, bubbling over with stories of the past month.