Momo's Gradual Change

C154. Each with Their Own Sorrows.

Chapter 154: Each with Their Own Sorrows

With her gentle looks and quiet grace, Song Yimo easily won over Aunt You in just a few moments. Aunt You held Yimo's hand and guided her to sit nearby, introducing her own sister and niece.

Outside, Zou Mo cast a relaxed glance at Zhai Muyang, signaling him to step out with him. Once they were alone, Zou spoke up.

“I arranged for some supplies to be added in there, and two caretakers who’ve been with my mom will stay on as well. My aunt’s family will likely be here for a while, too. The car I ordered in Mang City will take a couple of days to arrive—lend me a vehicle in the meantime, will you?”

Zhai Muyang nodded. “No problem, I’ll have it sent over soon. You didn’t go back to Beijing with Aunt You?”

“I’m planning to convince my mom to get a divorce.” Zou Mo offered a cigarette, but when Zhai Muyang declined, he shrugged, lighting one for himself. “Some things… they need to be finished.”

“Just make sure you’re clear about it. Let us know if you need any help.”

Zou Mo chuckled, “When have I ever held back with you all? Honestly, Zou Shiming would’ve crushed me a long time ago if it wasn’t for you, Wu Mu, and Ma Bo backing me up.”

The mere association with influential families like those of Wu Mu and Ma Bo was enough to give Zou Shiming pause, but his biggest deterrent was Yang Shusheng.

In their circle, Zhai Muyang’s parentage was no secret, nor was Yang Shusheng’s overt protectiveness of his son. Everyone understood that if there was one person Yang would go to the ends of the earth for, it was Muyang—and the man had even hinted at the aspirations he held for their close group.

For this reason, Zou Shiming had always refrained from pushing too hard. Thanks to that, Zou Mo had made it through his youth safely, even when his own power was still budding.

Taking a deep drag on his cigarette, Zou Mo crossed his arms. “By the way, there’s news on that thing you mentioned earlier. Because you’re the one leading it—and with all the groundwork you’ve already laid in S City—someone from higher up will likely reach out in the next few days.”

“What about Wu Mu’s role in this? How far can he go, and what share does he get?”

“Getting Wu Mu in will work to our advantage, so we’re all invested. Uncle Zheng’s taking a step back to avoid conflicts of interest, but with the rest of us pushing, that should be enough to pull this off.”

Then, with a nod back at the house, Zou Mo smirked. “But you can’t stay buried in your little paradise forever. You know what’s at stake here—any misstep, and we’re not only failing to outmaneuver others; we risk losing everything.”

“Even if the world’s ending, it can wait until Yimo’s picked her college,” Zhai Muyang replied calmly.

Zou Mo looked at him in surprise. “Isn’t it supposed to wait until her results are out? That’ll take a while—end of the month, right?”

“In some places, they estimate and fill out the application right after the exams. Xinghu’s one of those areas. With Yimo’s grades, she’ll get into the S City Foreign Language University with ease.” Zhai Muyang’s gaze softened at the thought of Song Yimo, a smile teasing his lips, his expression uncharacteristically gentle.

“She’s going on a graduation trip with her friends after that, so I’ll focus on this business then.”

Zou Mo chuckled and shook his head. “You know, I still can’t tell if being the object of your affection is a blessing or a curse. But maybe you could loosen the leash a bit. She’s eighteen now; she deserves some space of her own.”

“Speaking of which,” Zhai Muyang’s expression cooled, “have a word with your cousin—he’d better not start getting any ideas. I won’t hold back just because he’s family.”

“You mean You Shen?” Zou Mo frowned, already dreading the inevitable conversation. “Don’t tell me he’s taking a shine to Yimo?”

Zhai Muyang’s eyes flashed with quiet menace. “He’ll deal with the consequences.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll take care of it. My aunt was already planning to send him abroad for college. Guess I’ll speed things up.”

Muyang nodded approvingly, and they stopped speaking as someone approached.

Zou Mo noticed and snuffed his cigarette in the trash. “Doctor Chen.”

Dr. Chen greeted him warmly, “Mr. Zou, we have the test results. There are no serious issues, but Ms. You is very frail. She’ll need continuous care. Additionally…”

“If there’s something I should know, Doctor, please, go ahead. I can handle it.”

“Ms. You appears to be suffering from what we often refer to as depression. Though she carries herself well, my years of experience suggest some underlying melancholy. I would recommend a formal assessment.”

After a pause, Zou Mo rubbed the bridge of his nose. “About ten years ago, I found out she’d been taking antidepressants. She even… there were scars on her wrists. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I knew she was unwell. I started spending more time at home, took her out whenever I could, and, eventually, the need for medication faded. I thought she was… better.”

Every ounce of strength seemed to drain from him, leaving a hollow exhaustion. Just as he was his mother’s lifeline, so too was she his.

“Your presence likely did help her recover back then,” Dr. Chen said gently, “but, sadly, once someone’s experienced this, it’s easier for the shadows to creep back in. Yet, from what I’ve observed, Ms. You has a calm outlook. There are likely a few things weighing on her mind that have slowly built up over the years. Once she finds closure, her spirits may lift.”

“Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make a note of it.”

Dr. Chen nodded with a smile, handing the report to Zou Mo before departing.

Zou Mo turned to Zhai Muyang, playfully punching him on the shoulder. “Where’d you dig up a doctor like that? Not bad.”

Zhai Muyang shrugged, grinning. “Maybe Aunt You could try seeing a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner?”

“Do you know anyone good?”

“There’s one right here in Xinghu, and I think they’re quite competent.”

“Then introduce us already!”

“Consider it done.”

They bid farewell at the entrance to the clinic, with Aunt You repeatedly reminding Yimo to visit soon. Yimo agreed eagerly.

In the car, buckling her seatbelt, Song Yimo asked, “Big brother, how is it that Brother Mo’s cousin’s last name is You? Is it because he’s a nuxu's son?”

———
TN: The Chinese character 女婿 (nǚ xù) translates to "son-in-law" in English. It refers to a man who is married to a woman.
———

“Yes. Aunt You has three sisters. Her family kept the youngest at home to carry on the family name. Zou Mo’s father felt emboldened because her family’s male line ended early, after her father passed.”

Song Yimo shielded herself from the sunlight filtering in through the window, her delicate chin caught in the light, making her fair skin look impossibly flawless, free of any pores.

“So many people are burdened because of their parents. There’s me, Wu Ting, Mo-ge, even you—you didn’t have a stable family either. Sometimes I’d wonder why I was even born. Wouldn’t it have been easier if they’d just… not had me? It doesn’t cost much to go through with that, surely it would’ve been better than being brought into the world, only to be neglected. But I’ve stopped dwelling on that. It all boils down to selfishness, doesn’t it?”

“We won’t be like them.”

Song Yimo smiled. “No, absolutely not.”

———
TN:
You better be not.