Just then, Auntie Wu came out of the kitchen with a tray of pastries and tea, letting out a soft sigh. "Shuanglei had a son so late in life and has always spoiled him terribly. It's how he developed these bad habits."
I stole a glance at her. The curves of her ample chest stretched the fabric of her white dress. Below her smooth, soft waist, her hips began to taper. Even though the hem of the dress was very loose, it couldn't hide the taut, upward curve of her buttocks. She had taken off her high heels and changed into house slippers, but she still stood tall and poised, her posture elegant, unconsciously exuding a captivating charm unique to a mature woman.
I watched as she set the plate down on the table. Her skin was well-preserved, fair and delicate. With a face like a peach blossom and a curvaceous figure, she carried a subtle, elegant fragrance, the very essence of a beautiful, mature woman. As her shapely upper body bent forward, her neckline dipped, revealing a vast expanse of the fair, tender flesh of her chest. The sight of her large, firm breasts was a sudden, breathtaking glimpse of spring. Her creamy skin was smooth and alluring, as fine and radiant as jade. The deep cleavage, accentuated by her bent-over posture, seemed even more profound, making the two proudly swelling mounds appear even larger.
I couldn't help but lick my lips, feeling a surge of heat in my groin. As a child, I hadn't understood the ways of men and women, but looking closely now, I could see that Mrs. Yao was a very sexy, charming mature woman. Especially those tall, full breasts – they didn't sag in the slightest. They could almost rival my mother's.
A woman like that in bed, writhing in passion, would surely be a creature who could make a man feel like he's in heaven. I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy for that old bastard, Yao Shuanglei.
"What are you staring at! Mom's talking to you!"
Yao Wei gave my hand a sharp pinch. The pain was so intense I yelped, "Ouch!" I saw that she had probably noticed my lecherous expression, as she was glaring at me with wide, furious eyes, as if she were about to beat me senseless.
I looked as guilty as a thief. I hadn't heard a word of what Auntie Wu had asked. Then I saw her laugh, completely unconcerned with our squabbling. She sat on the sofa opposite us and said, "I was saying, Xiao Bin, you're close with Xiaoliang, and you're good friends. You're more well-behaved and sensible, so you should try to be a good influence on him. It would be best if your two personalities could balance each other out."
Auntie Wu couldn't help but smile at her own words and began asking me about recent family matters. Yao Wei, still sulking beside us, was engrossed in her phone, ignoring us completely.
A short while later, the butler, Max, walked over and whispered in my ear, "Mr. Yao has requested your presence in the study."
I was secretly surprised. After letting Auntie Wu and Yao Wei know, I followed Max up to the second floor. After turning the corner in the hallway, the last room at the end was his study.
I knocked on the door, and his deep voice came from within, "Come in."
I entered the study. The room wasn't very large, but it was filled with heavy books. The furniture was made of expensive, dark-red wood. In the center sat a massive, heavy desk, cluttered with books and documents. The master of the mansion sat in the chair behind the desk, his somewhat portly body sunk deep into the genuine leather armchair.
He still looked very dignified, but there was a sense of weariness about him, like an old lion, banished from his pride and wandering in his twilight years.
"Sit," he said, pointing to a large chair in front of him.
I sat down without a word. By all rights, I should have offered a greeting, but the moment I remembered he was the chief culprit behind my family's downfall and ruin, a flame of hatred began to burn fiercely within me. It was a feat just to remain calm in his presence.
But I couldn't make a move yet. Revenge would come, but not now, I thought to myself.
He didn't speak either, lighting a cigar and smoking it on his own. I stared at him unblinkingly. He was so different from how I remembered him in my childhood. Back then, I thought he was a kind and amiable uncle, but he was actually a jackal with sinister intentions.
"Xiao Bin, our families have been friends for generations. As an elder, I've always been concerned about you," he said.
I cursed him inwardly. That bastard, after all his scheming and plotting, was now putting on this false act for me. But I couldn't let it show. I gave a slight smile and said flatly, "Thank you, Uncle Yao."
He paused, not looking at me, but out the window at the night view. "I truly didn't expect your father to leave your family. Before he left, did he leave you with any instructions?"
I remembered everything my father had told me, and of course, I wouldn't reveal a single word of it. I said slowly, "No, he didn't say anything."
Yao Shuanglei's face was expressionless. He took a few more puffs of his cigar. "By rights, he should have left you with something. Unless he never left at all."
My heart skipped a beat. I didn't know what he was implying. I watched as he slowly stood up and walked around the desk. "Our families have been like brothers for so many years. If he were really in trouble, how could he not come to me? Even if he had to leave, he would have at least told me."
He walked to the window and continued, "Your family has been through so much in recent years. You must have matured a great deal. That's why your father felt at ease leaving you with your mother."
"Xiao Bin, you have to understand, no matter what happened in the past, the world keeps moving forward. If you don't advance, you fall behind. The old ways are useless now. This is a time to break the old and establish the new, to create a new situation."
He droned on, and I was secretly puzzled. What was all this nonsense? Why was he telling me, a high school student, all this?
"We may have shouldered many missions and tasks in the past, but now is the time. We must broaden our horizons, look further ahead. Some things passed down from our ancestors are not necessarily all correct."
Yao Shuanglei said, turning to stare at me. His gaze made me very uncomfortable.
"Uh... yes... Uncle Yao."
I replied, not quite understanding what he meant, feeling a bit confused.
Yao Shuanglei took another puff of his cigar, paced over to my side, and patted my shoulder, asking in a low voice, "Xiao Bin, where did your father go? Do you really know or not?"
In that instant, his expression turned extremely grim. I instinctively felt he was testing me, and my response would be absolutely critical.
"I don't know. He left over half a year ago and didn't say where he was going," I said calmly. This was the truth, and I didn't hesitate.
He pressed on, "Then before he left, did he leave you anything, or give you any message?"
I looked at his aging but solemn face, his small eyes shining with a sharp light as he stared at me. I knew I couldn't hesitate now, or he would definitely suspect me. I immediately said, "No. He just left on his own, without leaving anything behind. After that, I just lived with my mom."
He stared at me for a moment longer, and I stared back, refusing to back down.
After a long while, he stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray on the desk and paced back to his armchair, sitting down. He covered his eyes with a hand, looking utterly exhausted. "Alright, I understand. Xiao Bin, you'll stay here tonight. It's late outside. I'll have Max arrange it for you."
With that, he lowered his head and opened the book in his hands, ignoring me. I said my goodbyes and left the study on my own.
Was he just trying to test me, or did he still care deeply about my father? Logically, he could just send his own men to look for him. Why bother asking me?
I remembered what Zhu Yun had told me about the "mission" of the four great families. Yao Shuanglei had just mentioned it too, but he seemed to dismiss it, even being opposed to it.
I still had no idea what this so-called "mission" was. My father's words from before he left still echoed in my ears.
Max was waiting for me at the corner of the hallway. He walked over with a smile and said, "Mr. Yao would like you to stay the night. A guest room has been prepared for you on the third floor. I'll take you there."
"Thank you," I said. His mannerisms carried an English style, and his way of dealing with people was extremely pleasant. The Yao family certainly knew how to live well, even choosing the best for their servants.
He gestured for me to go up the stairs. As I walked up beside him, I happened to glance at his wrist, where his shirt cuff was pulled back, revealing his dark skin. There was a tattoo there that looked like the club symbol from a deck of cards.
*****
Read 25+ chapters ahead at:
Patreon: CliffTrevor
patreon.com/CliffTrevor