They stood on the sidewalk by the street, where the neon lights weren't particularly bright. If the environment could affect one's ability to think, then Shen Duoyi's thinking capacity had completely failed at this moment.

He watched Kong Yinhong walking over from across the street, watched her sharp and serious face, and finally understood what Qi Shi'an meant by "evil mother-in-law."

Qi Shi'an had already stepped off the sidewalk. He voluntarily reached out to take Kong Yinhong's suitcase and casually showed concern: "Mom, just got off the plane? Another business trip?"

Kong Yinhong glared at him, the light in her eyes identical to that of a scanner, capable of thoroughly analyzing anyone.

Shen Duoyi immediately walked over but kept a step's distance from Qi Shi'an. He politely nodded: "Hello, Auntie. I'm Shi'an's... friend."

He stumbled over his words, overwhelmed by enormous guilt and helplessness. They had been embracing intimately moments ago, and Kong Yinhong must have seen everything, making his current words both laughable and unconvincing.

Kong Yinhong maintained her final dignity: "Hello, I'm Shi'an's mother. What were you two doing just now?"

Qi Shi'an volunteered an answer: "Hugging. He's not just my ordinary friend, we're dating, the sweet kind."

Shen Duoyi looked at Qi Shi'an in shock, never expecting him to so openly declare their relationship. Kong Yinhong was even more shocked; if seeing it with her own eyes had left a glimmer of hope, hearing it admitted now left no room even for self-deception.

Qi Shi'an stepped forward and put his arm around Kong Yinhong's shoulders: "Mom, it's very late today, let me take you home." After walking a few steps away with Kong Yinhong, he added in a low voice, "Whatever you want to ask, ask me, or take it out on me. Mom, at least give your son some face in front of others."

Kong Yinhong stood still, silently agreeing.

Shen Duoyi felt like he was walking on needles and knife edges. He never imagined his first meeting with Qi Shi'an's mother would be such a mess. He had come late at night because he learned Qi Shi'an was coming out to his family alone, wanting to work together for their future, but reality had shown no mercy.

It made him realize that right now, he could only stand there stupidly, afraid that saying more would mean making more mistakes.

Qi Shi'an had temporarily stabilized Kong Yinhong. He quickly walked back to Shen Duoyi, comfortingly rubbed his shoulder, and instructed: "This was purely accidental, but don't take it to heart. Go home and sleep, I'll show you the new cufflinks at work tomorrow."

Shen Duoyi glanced at Kong Yinhong's back, opened his mouth but couldn't speak.

Qi Shi'an was heartbroken; he had spent so much effort trying to spare Shen Duoyi from this ordeal, who could have expected this sudden interruption? After walking Shen Duoyi to his car and tucking him into the driver's seat, he added: "Drive slowly, don't make me worry."

The black Volkswagen turned around and left. Shen Duoyi gripped the steering wheel, not daring to look at Qi Shi'an and Kong Yinhong in the rearview mirror. He turned the air conditioning vent towards himself, trying to quickly calm down and sort through everything that had just happened.

At the entrance of Yamenting Apartments, Qi Shi'an stood before Kong Yinhong holding the box of cufflinks, saying: "Mom, it's very late, let me take you home."

Kong Yinhong looked at him: "Even if the sky were about to fall, I still want to hear your explanation."

Qi Shi'an didn't have his car keys and didn't want to have a negotiation on the quiet street at night. He picked up the suitcase: "Then let's go upstairs and sit for a while. I guess you won't leave until things are cleared up anyway."

Mother and son returned home. While changing into slippers, Kong Yinhong noticed there were two identical pairs of master slippers, while all others meant for guests were of a different style. When she went to the bathroom to wash her hands, she saw matching sets of toiletries.

Qi Shi'an leaned against the doorframe, knowing none of this would escape his mother's eagle eyes, and voluntarily confessed: "We're not living together, he's only been over once, but I couldn't wait to prepare everything."

Kong Yinhong nearly trembled with anger again, struggling to control herself as she exclaimed in a low voice: "Have you lost your mind?"

Mother and son sat down on the living room sofa. Kong Yinhong's phone kept ringing, probably calls from family members. She hung up without answering and gulped down a glass of warm water like putting out a fire.

Qi Shi'an lazily leaned against the sofa back: "Mom, I know it's hard for you to accept right now, but I can't change my orientation. It's innate."

Kong Yinhong asked: "How can you be sure it's innate? Did I give you this gene, or did your father give you this gene?"

"Now you're making it difficult for me. I developed this gene myself, okay?" Qi Shi'an glanced at the clock on the wall, calculating whether Shen Duoyi had made it home safely.

"Shi'an, maybe your father's and my failed marriage discouraged you, so you developed an aversion to heterosexual relationships from childhood." Kong Yinhong struggled to maintain rationality while quickly organizing a set of analytical theories in her mind. "Then you met someone of the same sex who matched your temperament and shared your views, developing dependency and security, even misunderstanding your orientation."

Qi Shi'an suddenly smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "I also developed sexual desire, so that's not really a misunderstanding, is it?"

Kong Yinhong was momentarily stunned. She bit her lip in disbelief, and when that wasn't enough, she painfully covered her face. Qi Shi'an moved from the adjacent sofa to Kong Yinhong's side and put his arm around her shoulders.

This mother of his had always been proper, sitting perfectly straight even when exhausted after long flights. She never became hysterical, maintaining polite language even in moments of extreme shock.

Kong Yinhong tucked her long hair behind her ear: "This is too much, I cannot accept it."

The outcome wasn't ideal, but Qi Shi'an completely understood. From discovery to explanation, it had only been half an hour. If his mother had readily accepted it without any emotional fluctuation, he would have wondered if he was adopted.

After driving Kong Yinhong home, Qi Shi'an knew this matter wasn't over. He expected to be summoned for talks in the coming days. He didn't hope to handle everything perfectly, only that it wouldn't make Shen Duoyi sad.

In reality, Shen Duoyi had already spent a sleepless night.

After tossing and turning all night, he finally dozed off around five when daylight was breaking. Shen Duoyi held the blanket tightly against himself, his face buried in it so deeply his breathing was inaudible.

He slept for an hour, waking at six. After washing up and changing clothes, it was only six-thirty. He sat in the bay window lost in thought, not even noticing when the light rain soaking his collar.

French Fy was You Si's son, You Si had once liked Qi Shi'an, Qi Shi'an came out to his family alone, their intimate moment was caught by Qi Shi'an's birth mother.

Every event from last night left him breathless, yet they all happened to converge.

Suddenly the bedroom door was pushed open, and Shen Duoyi looked up to find Grandpa Shen quietly peering in. Seeing him fully dressed sitting in the bay window, Grandpa Shen was startled: "What are you doing practicing meditation so early in the morning?"

Shen Duoyi said expressionlessly: "I've already reached the ninth level."

"Well, keep an eye on the time, don't be late for work." Grandpa Shen yawned, "I came to remind you it's raining, it's cool, don't wear short sleeves today. Alright, I'm going back to bed."

Shen Duoyi suddenly spoke up: "Grandpa, what if I, what if I..."

Grandpa Shen looked at him: "What if you what?"

Shen Duoyi helplessly lowered his head: "Nothing."

"Not right in the head." Grandpa Shen muttered, "If you haven't figured out what to say, save it for another day."

The door closed again, and Shen Duoyi continued sitting listlessly. Later, when the light rain showed signs of becoming heavy, he left early for work. The drainage on Central Street was good; even in heavy rain, there was no water accumulation on the ground.

Shen Duoyi entered Ming'an. He mechanically greeted his colleagues, his smile polite but his eyes lifeless. The emergency backup plan that needed to be half completed only had a rough outline drafted. He sat in his office having a fit, wanting to ask Qi Shi'an how things went last night.

But he worried that Qi Shi'an was already exhausted dealing with both families, and his questions would only add to the burden.

Just then, the administrative assistant knocked and entered: "Team Leader Shen, Manager Tang wants to see you."

"Alright, I know." Shen Duoyi raised his hand to rub his eyes, downed an entire cup of extra-strong coffee in one gulp, then took his pen and notebook and got up to leave.

"Ah, meetings so early in the morning." He met Team Leader Qi at Manager Tang's office door. They exchanged glances and understood it was about the emergency backup plan; the manager had probably called them together to assign tasks.

It was just a small meeting, ending in about ten minutes. Shen Duoyi and Team Leader Qi discussed their respective responsibilities. After leaving the office, Team Leader Qi complained: "Not sure if Mr. Qi needs this urgently or not. I still haven't made up for the debt from accumulated marriage leave, dealing with several clients simultaneously, I'm about to drop dead."

Shen Duoyi didn't feel like talking, only responding politely: "Things are okay on my end."

Unexpectedly, Team Leader Qi smiled apologetically and said: "Duoyi, my progress might be a bit slower because some clients keep rushing me, I have to prioritize them, please understand."

"No problem." Shen Duoyi understood Team Leader Qi's hint. Their collaboration needed to maintain synchronization as much as possible, proceeding with mutual discussion. If the other party was slow, he would have to wait, so he might as well help out more, "I'll help you with some of it, you take care of the urgent matters first."

Team Leader Qi repeatedly expressed thanks. Just then, Shen Duoyi's phone rang, ending their conversation.

Shen Duoyi opened the incoming message; it was Qi Shi'an asking him to come to the thirtieth floor. Recalling last night's encounter with Kong Yinhong, afraid of being too conspicuous and seen by someone else, he replied that he would go up during lunch break.

Finally enduring through the morning, Shen Duoyi didn't even go to the company cafeteria, ordering lunch from an outside restaurant instead. After the consulting department staff had all left, he carried two bags of lunch boxes up to the thirtieth floor.

Annie had already gone to lunch. He went straight to knock on the office door. Qi Shi'an seemed to have been waiting right inside, opening the door and pulling him in immediately.

"Dark circles under your eyes, didn't sleep well last night?" Qi Shi'an reached out and pressed his fingertips under Shen Duoyi's eyes, "You look completely listless, the sky hasn't fallen yet."

Shen Duoyi asked: "How did it go last night, is Auntie okay?"

"Not too good." Qi Shi'an answered honestly, "I made my position clear to her, she can't accept it for now, she'll definitely come find me again."

Shen Duoyi continued asking very seriously: "Then what can I do?"

Qi Shi'an grabbed the lunch boxes: "You can eat first, then take a nap on my sofa."

They ate some food on the sofa, cleaned up after finishing, and aired out the room. Shen Duoyi frowned slightly, looking preoccupied, trying to figure out a solution but coming up blank.