Chapter 5

The hospital room fell silent for a few seconds. My mother turned her head and looked at me suspiciously.

"I know I shouldn't have made you angry."

I continued, my voice carrying exhaustion and helplessness.

"The college application... wherever you want me to apply, I'll apply there."

My mother's eyes lit up instantly:

"Really? You're willing to stay local?"

I smiled bitterly. "What else can I do? You're already hospitalized from anger, you changed the password. What can I do?"

"Oh! Now that's right!"

Michelle clapped happily.

"Julian, that's right! Would your mother hurt you? She's doing everything for your own good!"

My mother's face immediately brightened. She reached out to pat the back of my hand, her tone rarely gentle:

"Now that's my good son. You're still young, all you think about is going out to explore. In a few years you'll understand your mother's good intentions."

"Staying local is so much better. Mom can still cook and do laundry for you. If you go out of state, who'll take care of you?"

Her hand was warm, gripping mine tightly.

In my past life, she also held my hand like this, saying "I'm doing this for your own good."

Then at the gas station, exposed to wind and sun, my hands cracked from the cold, earning only three thousand dollars a month.

I discovered that woman had stolen all my savings and run off with another man, without even a word of explanation.

I let her hold my hand without pulling away, only saying softly: "Mm."

Over the next two days, I became unusually obedient.

My mother logged into the college application system at least twice a day to confirm I hadn't changed anything.

I didn't say much, even actively leaned over to look, saying "the major you chose is actually pretty good."

Every day I accompanied her shopping and cooking, helped massage her shoulders and back.

Whatever she asked me to do, I did, without any resistance.

She finally relaxed, laughing cheerfully when talking to relatives on the phone.

Saying I'd finally become sensible, that I understood her devotion.

On the evening the college application deadline closed, after dinner, I proactively told her:

"My classmate said there's a meteor shower on the mountain in the suburbs tonight. I want to go see it."

"If you're worried about me, you can hold my phone or come with me."

She paused, probably not expecting me to actively make a request.

She took my phone and scrolled through it for a long time, finding nothing suspicious.

Seeing my expectant expression, she nodded:

"Alright, I'll go with you. Better than letting you run around."

When we climbed the mountain it was just past nine. There were already quite a few people waiting.

I sat quietly beside her, chatting with her, showing no sign of anything unusual.

At eleven-forty, I tugged her sleeve and said:

"Mom, I need to use the restroom."

My mother, afraid I'd pull something, followed me and stood outside the men's room waiting.

I walked into the innermost stall, locked it, then pulled out an old phone from a hidden pocket in my jeans.

It was an old phone from high school, long since deactivated, but it could still connect to Wi-Fi.

I quickly powered it on, connected to the observation deck's public network, then logged into a cloud note app.

Inside was a complex password string and a phone number.

I dialed the number. It rang three times, then connected.

"Hello?" A young male voice answered.

"It's me," I lowered my voice.

"You can do it now. Right now."

The call ended. I heard my own heart pounding like a drum.

My palms were already soaked with sweat.

I took several deep breaths, stuffed the phone back in the hidden pocket, flushed, and walked out of the stall.

My mother was waiting at the door. Seeing me come out, she looked me up and down:

"Why so long?"

"My stomach felt a little uncomfortable."

I touched my stomach.

She didn't ask more, just urged me to hurry back.

When we returned to our seats, it was exactly midnight.

My mother let out a long sigh of relief, a victorious smile on her face:

"Good. Now the college application system is closed. Everything's settled."

"Just wait for the acceptance letter from the local university."

I turned to look at my mother.

Her face in the distant firelight appeared blurry and soft, filled with the relief of a mission accomplished.

I smiled too. "Yes, Mom."

My voice scattered in the night wind, very light but very clear.

"Everything's settled. I'm definitely going to that out-of-state school."