"I’m not eating," Chen Feng said dejectedly, then went into his room with his schoolbag. He flung it onto his desk and collapsed onto his single bed.

Chen Feng stared blankly at the ceiling, his head still buzzing.

’How could my grades have fallen so much?’

’What exactly went wrong?’

Li Xiaomei sensed something was wrong with her son. She immediately heaped a bowl with food until it was overflowing and brought it to him.

"Xiao Feng, are you sick? Here, let Mom take a look."

’Her son was her lifeline now. He was her most important bargaining chip in her plan to successfully get back with Shen Zhengfeng.’

’That hot-tempered little terror Du Liya gave birth to is so awful, while her son—Li Xiaomei’s son—is brilliant.’

’Shen Zhengfeng must know, clear as day, which son is better.’

’As for Shen Zhengfeng suspecting Xiao Feng isn’t his son... Hmph, that bastard must have been tricked!’

’As if she, Li Xiaomei, didn’t know who the boy’s father was!’

But seeing his mother’s concerned expression, Chen Feng only grew more irritated. The smell of the braised pork made him feel sick.

"I’m fine. I’m not eating."

"You always eat something when you get home at night. Huh, your forehead isn’t hot." Li Xiaomei touched her son’s forehead. After confirming he didn’t have a fever, she finally relaxed.

She set the bowl on the nearby table and said gently, "Did something happen to upset you? Or did you have a tiff with Lin Nian? Let me tell you, that girl has a temper. You can’t spoil her all the time. Besides," she added, "Mom’s telling you, she got with you when she was so young. In the future, you’re the only one who can dump her. She would never dare leave you."

Chen Feng rolled over in frustration, not wanting to speak.

Li Xiaomei, however, misunderstood and assumed her son was just in a spat with Lin Nian. She said, "To be honest, I was never a big fan of you two being together. You’re still young, and you need to get into a prestigious university. After that, you’ll go to the provincial capital and make a fortune. What kind of girl couldn’t you get then? Who knows, you might even marry a rich tycoon’s daughter or something."

’It wasn’t just a possibility, actually.’

’When the time comes, her son will be so successful. Then he can return to the Shen Family and be officially acknowledged. After that, their life would be so good they wouldn’t even be able to spend all their money!’

Li Xiaomei lost herself in daydreams of the future for a moment, and her mood brightened. Suddenly remembering something, she said, "Oh, right! Xiao Feng, your third monthly exam results must be out, right? I’m sure you got first place again. Did you make it into the top ten of the grade ranking?"

She had a real knack for touching a raw nerve.

Those words—"I’m sure you got first place again"—sent Chen Feng into a sudden rage. He shot up in bed, grabbed the bowl of braised pork and rice, and hurled it to the floor.

CRASH! The bowl shattered on the floor, scattering soy sauce-stained rice everywhere. The sight stunned Li Xiaomei.

"I bombed the exam! It’s all your fault for fooling around with other men! Are you happy now?!" Chen Feng screamed hysterically. He gave his mother a hard shove and ran out of the room.

"Xiao Feng!" Li Xiaomei collapsed onto the floor, her face drained of color.

But when Chen Feng rushed outside, he realized he was only wearing his thin school uniform shirt. The biting cold should have cleared his head, but instead, he only felt more lost.

He didn’t know where to go.

After a moment’s thought, he started walking toward Lin Nian’s rented apartment.

It seemed the only thing that could soothe him now was Lin Nian’s tenderness.