Chapter 15: Mom Supports You

As the bell rang for the last class of the afternoon, Jiang Cheng grabbed his bag and headed out the door.

He paused only briefly at Wang Yu’s seat.

His deskmate hadn’t returned for any classes all day. 

From the teachers’ side, it seemed he had taken leave.

No need to guess—it was President Wang who took him away.

Jiang Cheng glanced at the wristband and strode off.

On the bus home, he kept thinking: President Wang seemed to have misunderstood his relationship with “Jiang Chen.”

From her position, she probably hadn’t said any accusing words.

Though her attitude wasn’t great… Recalling President Wang’s cold demeanor, Jiang Cheng inexplicably felt depressed.

But he could understand. 

The one who had interacted with her all along was Jiang Chen. 

To her, he was essentially a stranger.

The bus stopped. 

Jiang Cheng hopped off and hurried home.

The moment he unlocked the door with his key, he saw high heels at the entrance.

Mom’s already home?

Jiang Cheng rushed to the living room—no one. Then to Mom’s bedroom.

He knocked at the door.

A hoarse voice came from inside, accompanied by coughing.

“Mom, I’m coming in?”

Jiang Cheng’s heart tightened.

Without waiting for a reply, he pushed the door open.

Jiang Xiaoyue leaned against the headboard, a cooling patch on her forehead, a laptop on her lap.

She typed while jotting notes on her phone, coughing now and then.

She didn’t notice her son enter until a tall, slim shadow passed in front. 

Only then did she look up.

“Ah… Little Cheng, you’re back.”

Jiang Xiaoyue’s cheekbones were flushed, her lips pale. 

Jiang Cheng leaned in and touched Mom’s hand.

It was frighteningly hot.

“We’re going to the hospital.” 

Jiang Cheng decisively set the laptop aside.

“It’s fine. I just took medicine. I’ll sleep it off… This quarter’s report isn’t done yet.”

“Mom, your body can’t handle more work right now.”

Jiang Cheng held Jiang Xiaoyue’s hand. Mother and son stared off like that.

After a while, Jiang Xiaoyue sighed and waved him off.

“Let Mom change first.”

Jiang Cheng nodded. 

As he stood from the bed, he didn’t forget to take her phone and laptop out.

“This kid…” 

Jiang Xiaoyue shook her head, a smile on her lips.

She dragged herself up, changed out of her pajamas, and bumped the cabinet in a dizzy spell.

“Mom?!” 

Jiang Cheng’s voice came from outside.

“I’m fine. Bumped it by accident.”

She hurried, then came out.

Seeing Mom so weak, Jiang Cheng offered to carry her.

Jiang Xiaoyue glared. 

“Carrying me would tire you out. It’s just a fever. Help me walk.”

She didn’t want to worry her son.

They took a taxi to the nearest hospital from the old factory street.

At this hour, the ER wasn’t crowded. 

They waited briefly before being called. 

Jiang Xiaoyue sat and answered a few questions.

“Immune decline from overwork… Fever meds treat symptoms, not the cause. You need rest.”

The doctor, unfazed, prescribed in the system, then it was Medicare payment.

Jiang Cheng took the slip to the pharmacy, then would accompany Mom for the IV.

“What do you want for dinner? I’ll buy outside.”

By the time Jiang Xiaoyue sat with the needle in, it was dark outside.

Neither had eaten yet.

Jiang Xiaoyue wasn’t hungry. 

She ordered mushroom chicken porridge—only because her son insisted on something with meat.

Jiang Cheng went to a small alley outside the hospital with many eateries. 

He picked a clean-looking one and ordered.

He got himself noodles, then bought oranges from a nearby fruit shop.

Back in the infusion hall, Jiang Xiaoyue dozed in her chair.

“Mom…” 

Jiang Cheng approached, offering his shoulder.

“Hm…” 

Jiang Xiaoyue’s response was nasal.

“Eat first, then sleep.”

“Okay…” 

Jiang Xiaoyue forced her eyes open, looking at her son.

Perhaps illness made emotions fragile. After gazing at Jiang Cheng, tears welled up.

“Son… Little Cheng.” 

As if confirming he was there.

The hall was quiet, only a few other patients.

Jiang Cheng noticed curious glances in his peripheral vision. 

He patted Mom’s shoulder and whispered.

“I’m here.”

“Hm… I want to eat.”

Perhaps from crying, Jiang Xiaoyue looked more relaxed.

Jiang Cheng opened the porridge box and spoon-fed Mom. 

She felt shy at first but was too inconvenienced to eat herself.

She simply enjoyed her son’s care.

After two bottles, Jiang Cheng cleaned the trash, then supported Mom out.

On the way home, both were quiet in the car.

Jiang Cheng fiddled with the wristband, thinking. 

Jiang Xiaoyue stared out the window, lost in thought.

Only upon entering home was Jiang Cheng called.

“Mom thinks some things need saying tonight.”

Jiang Xiaoyue seemed to muster great courage—or mental preparation.

For a moment, she felt ashamed. 

As an adult and his mother, her behavior in some matters wasn’t very mature.

Her son must have been vulnerable last night—no, he had been helpless this whole time…

Yet he never thought to seek help from his mom. It was her failure as a mother.

Seeing Mom’s dimming gaze, Jiang Cheng guessed what was coming.

His heart raced. Like that night, they sat on the living room sofa.

This time, side by side.

Jiang Xiaoyue held Jiang Cheng’s hand. 

The warm palm and fine lines eased his tension.

“Little Cheng, since your dad left, Mom has been working hard. Do you know why?”

Jiang Cheng looked at Mom and shook his head.

“For our life, and to give you confidence someone has your back. But after last night, Mom wondered if she’s neglected your thoughts… Maybe Mom hasn’t done enough, making you feel wronged.”

“No! Mom, I… I really haven’t felt wronged.”

“But you transferred for the scholarship, your life is just studying… Even with this, you didn’t confide in Mom. Mom wonders if…”

Jiang Xiaoyue gripped her son’s hand tighter. 

She knew she had an obsession—to prove something.

Relatives back home urged her to remarry, but she refused for Jiang Cheng. 

To prove they could thrive alone, she pushed.

Worked desperately, saved money, made her son study hard. 

Unknowingly, she had grown distant from him.

Refusing his part-time job might have been her pride.

She didn’t want her persistence proven wrong.

“No, Mom. I know it’s all for me… I’ve always believed no one loves me more than you. I love you too and want to share the burden.”

Jiang Cheng grew shy saying it. He had never expressed love for Mom so directly.

Jiang Xiaoyue wiped her eyes, mouth bitter, unable to speak.

Silence again.

“Mom wants to say—for what you’re facing now, or in the future… Mom has your back. This transformation… there’ll be a solution! Whatever you need, Mom will help!”

Jiang Xiaoyue leaned on her son. 

This rare closeness dispelled her recent fatigue.

Jiang Cheng touched his wrist and turned away.

“Mom, actually, I have a task now.”

“Eh?”

Ten minutes later—

Jiang Xiaoyue sat on the sofa, staring at her skirt-wearing son—no, daughter now—in a daze.

Though she had been shocked once, prepared mentally, and resolved to encourage her son fully…

Seeing such a beautiful girl as her “son” still caused a brief shutdown.

Jiang Chen twisted her skirt hem, shyly saying.

“In girl form, the countdown slows… And next week, I have to attend school like this.”

“Yes… Little Chen. Mom will request leave for you, then… arrange transfer enrollment.”

Though pronounced the same, Jiang Chen knew which name Mom meant.

She nodded and added.

“Just one week. This week I’ll be a girl. Anyway, at home I’ll be like this too… You can adapt, right?”

“Yes, yes… Hahaha, Mom’s happy to have a daughter.”

Though the daughter being her son felt odd.

Jiang Chen exhaled in relief. 

Her biggest fear upon becoming a girl was Mom not accepting. Now it was a happy ending.

And completing the task gave a chance to revert.

She checked the wristband. 

A new message.

【hello! I believe you’re ready. Wishing you a smooth transfer experience, but a small tip~】

【Your prepared Jiang Chen identity must not be discovered as fake—limited to school.】

Jiang Chen frowned slightly. She didn’t fully understand.

As Jiang Chen, she was a fabricated existence. 

As long as she didn’t say, no one would guess.

But the warning wasn’t baseless. 

Was there something she overlooked?

“Little Chen, anything else hard to solve?” 

Jiang Xiaoyue asked worriedly, seeing her frown.

“Nothing. Just get through this week. Oh right, Mom—I told my deskmate I’m ‘my’ own cousin. I’ll enroll as that.”

“Yes… Mom remembers. Anything else?”

Jiang Xiaoyue stared at Jiang Chen, hesitant.

“Anything else?” Jiang Chen couldn’t recall. 

Too much lately; she kept forgetting.

“That sister who picked you up at the community…” 

Jiang Xiaoyue’s voice was faint.

“Ah…” 

Jiang Chen felt awkward. 

She had forgotten when confessing.

“Um, she’s the school scholarship donor. Helped me.”

“Hm~” Jiang Xiaoyue’s eyes probed. 

“Tell Mom when you’re ready.”

Jiang Chen thought she never would.

“Mom has something to tell you too.” Jiang Xiaoyue smiled mysteriously.

“Good news?” 

Jiang Chen sat beside Mom. Perhaps as a daughter, Mom pulled her into a hug.

The intimacy felt unfamiliar. Jiang Xiaoyue didn’t notice and continued.

“Mom’s been busy lately because of a job change.” She smiled. 

“More time with you… and our income will rise again.”

“New job! Where?”

“Hm… southern new city. New company, backed by a big group… Mysterious. Headhunter said little.”

“Don’t get scammed, Mom.” Jiang Chen teased.

“Tch, Mom would know if there’s a catch. Don’t worry. I checked credentials, visited… After handover, less than half a month.”

“Yes.”

They chatted more.

After accepting son-to-daughter, Jiang Xiaoyue had new enthusiasm.

She directed Jiang Chen to try several outfits.

“Hey, your clothes are nice but mature. Mom will take you shopping later.”

Jiang Chen looked helplessly at her excited mom, her own mood lifting.

Everything was heading in a good direction… right?