Mom's Back. The Villain Triplets Are in Trouble.

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: Mom’s Education on the Philosophy of Love

”You can sleep here for now.” Huo Xingye’s expression was normal, but his tense body betrayed his discomfort. ”Later, I’ll have someone renovate and make a dedicated bedroom for you.”

Gu Qingyin was happy to be thought of by her son. ”Do Xinghai and Xingchen have their own dedicated bedrooms too?”

Huo Xingye shook his head. ”We all moved out and lived separately after we became adults.”

Gu Qingyin sighed inwardly. ’The three brothers’ relationship doesn’t seem as close as I thought.’ She didn’t press the issue and put on a smile. ”Thank you, son. Go to bed early.”

The tips of Huo Xingye’s ears turned a little red, but his face remained calm as he nodded. ”Good night.”

Gu Qingyin wasn’t the type to have trouble sleeping in a new bed. After washing up, she wrapped herself in a bathrobe and fell asleep, sleeping soundly and comfortably until dawn.

When she woke up the next day, she saw a message from Huo Xingye on her phone. New clothes had been delivered and were hanging on the doorknob outside.

Gu Qingyin smiled warmly, then got up to wash.

Once she was ready, she opened the door, intending to go downstairs. Unexpectedly, she heard a muffled thud from the room at the end of the hallway.

Huo Xingye’s sick friend was staying in there. If she hadn’t heard anything, she would have left it alone, but since she had, she couldn’t just ignore it.

Gu Qingyin walked over, knocked on the door, and asked softly, ”Hello? Do you need any help?”

The room was silent.

Gu Qingyin waited a few seconds but didn’t say anything more. She was sure her voice was loud enough for the person inside to hear. ’Since there’s no reply, he probably doesn’t want me to come in.’

Gu Qingyin shrugged and turned to leave.

As she was going downstairs, Huo Xingye happened to be coming out with congee. ”Come and eat.”

Gu Qingyin was surprised. ”You made this?”

”Yeah. I don’t cook much, so just make do.” Huo Xingye put the bowl down. ”If you don’t like it, we can buy something on the way.”

Gu Qingyin sat down, took a deep breath, and said with a beaming smile, ”Getting to eat a loving breakfast made by my son first thing in the morning... I must be the happiest mom in the world!”

Huo Xingye’s ears reddened. He turned his head away awkwardly. ”Don’t praise me in that tone, like I’m a little kid.”

Gu Qingyin raised an eyebrow. ”I know you’re all grown up, but you’ll always be my son.”

Huo Xingye couldn’t argue with that. He went back to the kitchen, brought out another bowl of congee, and sat down across from Gu Qingyin to eat in silence.

”Now that’s more like it. Breakfast is important; you can’t skip it.” Gu Qingyin nodded in satisfaction. She took another bite before remembering the person upstairs. ”Your friend is probably awake. Should we bring a bowl up to him?”

Huo Xingye’s movements paused. ”No need. The housekeeper will be here later to make some nutritional porridge for him.”

Gu Qingyin didn’t pursue it, commenting casually, ”I can’t tell if that friend of yours is aloof or just shy. I knocked and spoke to him, but he didn’t make a peep.”

Huo Xingye drank his congee calmly. ”He probably got startled. He’s never heard your voice before.”

Gu Qingyin’s eyes widened. ”He’s that timid?” She frowned, analyzing it from a professional perspective. ”It’s normal to be a bit timid, but if he’s always jumpy and even gets scared by someone talking, it might be caused by an unstable soul. Do you want me to take a look at your friend?”

Huo Xingye smiled. ”Not for now. Let him rest for a few days. If he’s still not better by then, we’ll see.”

Gu Qingyin nodded. ”Just call me anytime you need help. Don’t be a stranger.”

After breakfast, Gu Qingyin rode with Huo Xingye to the company. Bored on the way, she opened the company’s gossip group chat and saw the clarification message in the group announcement.

Gu Qingyin was left completely baffled. Then it dawned on her, and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’These people’s imaginations are running wild!’

Once she was over her amazement, Gu Qingyin’s gossipy side flared up. ”Son, is there a girl you like? Did you ever write love letters in school? Are you... still a virgin?”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but worry. ’Logically, a father should be the one to teach his son about the birds and the bees, but his dad died young. I guess it’s up to me, his mom, to step up.’

Huo Xingye froze for a moment, a suspicious blush creeping up his cheeks. He gave an awkward cough. ”I skipped a few grades, so everyone in my year was much older than me. I never wrote any love letters, and I’ve never...”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it, but Gu Qingyin understood.

She patted her son’s shoulder and advised him earnestly, ”You must remember to respect and cherish girls, or you might end up single for life.”

Gu Qingyin recalled the overbearing CEO novels she had read and stressed, ”And whatever you do, don’t get into that whole forced romance thing. That will only push the person you like further and further away.”

For a second, Huo Xingye dazedly wondered if she knew something, but a closer look revealed she really was just speaking hypothetically.

Huo Xingye nodded silently.

Gu Qingyin seemed to have discovered the joy of educating her child and continued, ”When you can’t control your passion and want to get intimate with your girlfriend, you must remember to use protection! Most importantly, before you start anything, you have to get her consent! If she shows even a hint of reluctance, you cannot continue!”

Huo Xingye was exasperated. ’Just what kind of person does Gu Qingyin think I am?’

”Did you get all that?”

Huo Xingye: ”...Got it.”

Gu Qingyin nodded in satisfaction. ”After you get together, you have to remember all the holidays and anniversaries, clear as day. You can’t skimp on gifts and surprises. Girls care most about romantic gestures! It shows how much you care about her!”

This part, Huo Xingye took to heart. He nodded and replied, ”Okay.”

”And one more crucial thing!” Gu Qingyin’s expression turned serious. ”You must be faithful during a relationship. Be mindful and keep your distance from other women to give your girlfriend a sense of security!”

”If the feelings fade, say so as soon as possible. Men who cheat and use ’I don’t love you anymore’ as an excuse are the most disgusting.” Gu Qingyin seemed to think of something and added disdainfully, ”A three-legged toad is hard to find, but two-legged men are a dime a dozen.”

Huo Xingye: ”...I know.”

Gu Qingyin pondered. ’Is there anything I missed? Ah, well. I’ll just tell him later if I think of something else.’

Huo Xingye breathed a sigh of relief. The topic was finally over. He was just grateful that he was the one driving today. Otherwise, there would be one more fired driver in the world.

Huo Xingye stepped on the brake and waited for a red light. From the passenger seat, Gu Qingyin suddenly spoke again. ”Son, what’s your type?”

Huo Xingye: ...

By the time the mother and son took the elevator to the sixteenth floor, every employee who saw Huo Xingye had the same thought: ’The CEO must have pulled an all-nighter working! He looks so tired his eyes are glazed over! As his employees, we definitely can’t drag him down!’

’Hustle! Let’s get grinding!’

That day, the employees of the Huo Corporation burst forth with unprecedented enthusiasm for work. Well... it didn’t last very long.

Gu Qingyin hadn’t run into Bai Jiali that morning, which was a bit of a shame. ’Sometimes, watching an idiot make a fool of themselves while thinking they’re clever can be pretty entertaining.’

But she never expected that Bai Jiali, who had been quiet, would suddenly make a huge splash—by dropping a massive pile of trouble on her!