The next morning, Chen Bin finished washing up and went to the dining room.
He saw Zhao Xinmei sitting silently at the dining table.
Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she seemed to be troubled by something.
Chen Bin wasn't sure if her expression had anything to do with the stockings incident.
So to cover his awkwardness, he quietly sat at the table, pretending as if nothing had happened.
However, Zhao Xinmei eventually spoke.
"Xiao Bin, did you see the stockings I left in the bathroom last night?"
Of course, the thing you fear always comes true!
Chen Bin felt a clench in his heart and quickly shook his head.
"No! I washed up and went straight to bed last night, I didn't see anything."
Staring at Chen Bin, Zhao Xinmei's phoenix eyes were filled with scrutiny.
"Lying is not what a good child does, I hope you tell the truth."
"I... I really didn't take it." Chen Bin obviously lacked confidence.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Xinmei forced herself to suppress her anger.
"It was just the two of us at home last night, if it wasn't you, who else could it be?!"
"I really don't know."
Chen Bin had already decided that no matter what, he wouldn't admit to anything.
As long as his godmother had no evidence, she couldn't do anything to him.
"Okay, you're getting more capable, aren't you? Just watch how I deal with you!"
With that, Zhao Xinmei got up and headed to Chen Bin's room.
The latter remained calmly seated in the chair.
After finishing up last night, he anticipated that he might get caught.
So he hid the stockings in a place that was absolutely safe.
There was no way Zhao Xinmei would find them.
However, in less than three minutes, Zhao Xinmei stormed out of the bedroom.
In her hand was the pair of stockings Chen Bin had hidden under the mattress.
What the heck?
His godmother would make an excellent detective!
Chen Bin was initially stunned, then 'thud'—he dropped to his knees.
"Mom, I know I was wrong, I won't dare do it again!"
Seeing Chen Bin's frightened expression, Zhao Xinmei was momentarily taken aback.
A strong wave of guilt washed over her heart.
It was her lack of guidance that had led Chen Bin to this.
Scolding wasn't going to solve the problem, persuasion was key.
With that realization, she casually tossed the stockings onto the nearby sofa.
Gently pulling Chen Bin up from the floor.
"Come up and have your breakfast, I won't scold you today."
Hearing this, Chen Bin was a bit bewildered.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
Once Chen Bin was seated, Zhao Xinmei managed a faint smile.
The beauty mark at the corner of her mouth curled up slightly, making her look very enticing.
"You're at an age with vigorous energy, I understand your needs, but you can't use my things. After all, I'm your mom, and the two of us... sigh, you won't do this anymore, okay?"
Nodding his head, Chen Bin didn't dare say much.
He actually knew that his relationship with his godmother was something that stood there.
If nothing unexpected happened, nothing would ever occur between the two in this lifetime.
But she was just too perfect, and every night when he closed his eyes, she was all he could think about.
If he didn't let off some steam, he couldn't even sleep.
In the moments that followed, neither of them spoke.
Chen Bin found it hard to bear the oddly quiet atmosphere.
After eating his bread, he immediately started drinking milk.
That's when Zhao Xinmei's hesitant voice came again.
"Xiao Bin, some words aren't really mine to say, but I'm your mom, I must let you know, taking it easy is good for health, overdoing it is harmful. Your godfather, in his youth, did it so much that now in bed he just…"
"Pfft—"
Chen Bin didn't expect Zhao Xinmei to talk to him about this.
He couldn't hold back and spat out all the milk he had in his mouth.
As he hurriedly got up to find a cloth, Zhao Xinmei casually grabbed some tissues and gently wiped the table.
Yet her phoenix eyes didn't move away from Chen Bin.
"That sip of milk is like your resource, using a bit means lessening a bit. Not knowing moderation when young leads to deficiency when older, which isn't good for family harmony, you know?"
These words made Chen Bin's eyelids twitch.
He never expected his godmother to discuss this with him.
But thinking about it, it made sense indeed.
If Wang Jun wasn't suffering from deficiency, Zhao Xinmei wouldn't have used the green hat as a threat last time.
As Chen Bin was lost in thought, Zhao Xinmei spoke again.
"What are you daydreaming about? Want some of my milk?"
What?
Chen Bin was slightly stunned and subconsciously looked at Zhao Xinmei's chest.
She chided softly, "You stinky boy, where are you looking? I meant the milk!"
As she spoke, Zhao Xinmei handed her own cup of milk to Chen Bin.
Only then did Chen Bin realize, feeling his face turn red, wishing he could find a hole to hide in.
Just then, the phone rang.
As soon as Chen Bin picked it up, Wang Jun's demanding voice came through.
"Where have you been? Your supervisor is looking all over and can't find you, if you don't come back, don't bother coming at all!"
"Godfather, I..."
"Who the hell is your godfather? From now on, call me Secretary Wang!"
"Secretary Wang, I was just..."
"I don't care what the reason is, if you don't report in twenty minutes, just get out of my house!"
With that, Wang Jun hung up the phone.
Listening to the busy signal, Chen Bin felt a wave of anger rise in his heart.
All his life, he kept his head down in front of Wang Jun.
He thought he had never done anything to wrong Wang Jun, yet the old man kept pushing him.
This was simply too much!
Zhao Xinmei obviously heard Wang Jun's voice too and quickly said.
"Xiao Bin, don't take your godfather's behavior to heart, he's just like that. Quickly grab a cab to the county, do you have enough money? Do you want me to transfer some?"
"I have enough! I'll get going then."
Without wasting a moment, Chen Bin got up and ran to the door.
As the door closed, Zhao Xinmei hurried to the sofa.
She picked up the stockings she found in Chen Bin's room and brought them to her nose to sniff.
Perhaps the scent was too strong, making her recoil slightly.
After a few seconds, she leaned in again.
Before long, she adapted to the smell.
Finally, she took a deep breath and a satisfied smile appeared on her face...