291— Telling The Boys

"Anytime Boss. Really, I always thought it was such a shame. Your amazing aura is very suited to being the Boss of the under— I mean, of our company. Just one stare could freeze our opponents to death, how wonderful is that?"

Li Chuanmo: "...."

Then Charlie added, "Just don't tell Second Boss I said that. He would beat me up. You youngsters are so quick to use your fists these days, it's tiring for an old person like me to keep up."

Li Chuanmo was already tired of this absurd conversation, "I'll keep in touch."

Before the other man could speak, he ended the call.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Everything about Big Boss is good, but his temper is just too bad." The guy said aloud in amusement.

"Still calling him Big Boss in front of me?" A surly voice sounded beside him. He really blamed his father for leaving the position of the Big boss to that stuck-up computer nerd.

Just thinking about it made him want to vent his anger. He cracked his knuckles loudly, sounding like a hooligan. It was in stark contrast to his cultured, scholarly features.

Pretending to be startled, Charlie said, "Second Boss, you scared me to death. So you've been here all along?"

Lancaster rolled his eyes. This man that was like an uncle to him could be super annoying at times. Sometimes, he felt his father purposely left him behind just to irritate him, knowing he would not be able to kick him out.

"Why did he contact you to talk about the Black Shadows?" The implication was, why not me?

"I'm sure he knew you would not pick his call if he tried to call you first." Charlie spoke with undisguised glee.

For the first few weeks after the incident, the two young men really hit it off. Then their relationship suddenly fell apart after the Big Boss said he could not join them.

"Of course. Why should I? He rejected me so cruelly, even when I invited him with sincerity." Lancaster tried to sound indifferent, but a little resentment still showed through.

"You sure know how to hold a grudge, Second Boss. At least he saved Old Boss's life. And don't forget that he also helped us gain a foothold in the financial market."

Lancaster was not interested in being reminded of Li Chuanmo's goodness, "Yeah, whatever."

Charlie asked, "And wasn't it partially because of him that our organization was reformed? Why didn't you tell him that the last time?"

They were in the same line of work as the Black Shadows, but had since dropped most of the illegal parts and were now partially, almost legal. It took them several years, but it was worth it. It certainly didn't hurt that they made more extensive connections along the way.

"Since he didn't want to join in the first place, it wouldn't have changed anything."

Lancaster felt he was looking down on them for being part of the underworld. But Li Chuanmo just didn't see that as his own thing. He was a law-abiding citizen, and what's more, he preferred brain work.

Besides, with all that was going on in his life at the time— working long hours, traveling all over the globe and fighting with Xie Weiwan— he didn't have the time to spare.

Charlie spoke again, "Well, now he needs our help. Old Boss will probably contact you soon. I'm in charge of the trip in three weeks, but if there's a need for further action, it'll be your turn."

Lancaster didn't look the least bit eager. Rising up, he strode out on long legs as he left the words, "He would have to beg me first."

*****

Two weeks passed in a flash, and Pei Yueran was no surer about the banquet than she was when she first heard about it. But seeing how increasingly enthusiastic her birth mother became, nothing had changed, so she still had to go.

That afternoon, she had Fang Bo drive her down to the boys' school, since Li Chuanmo was on a business trip. The plan was to let them know about her birth family so that they would not be caught off guard.

They got there just after lunch. She informed them via the family group chat and settled down to wait for them.

About five minutes later, Li Yuchen's noisy chatter alerted her that they were on their way, bringing a smile to her face.

She went out of the car, and Li Yuchen ran into her arms, "My Goddess!"

"Little Rascal, it's good to see you so lively."

"Lunch does that to me." Li Yuchen said with an adorable grin, while Han Yichen nodded his head in agreement. Li Yuchen was truly different from ordinary people who felt sleepy after food.

He greeted his mother with a hug before asking about her wellbeing.

"Let's not just stand here. Is there somewhere we can sit for a chat?"

Li Yuchen nodded and proceeded to take her hand. They chatted pleasantly as they walked to the playing field. At present, no match was being played, so it was mostly empty.

They sat down on the available seats, facing each other.

"Mum, what's up?" Han Yichen, ever the sensitive one, asked first.

For the umpteenth time, Pei Yueran repeated what had been happening. The more she told it, the more detached she felt, but the boys were more invested in the story.

Apparently it wasn't everyday someone they knew had some sort of birth secret.

"Wow, so Grandma Zhou is not your only mother? You have another mum? Cool!" Li Yuchen said with excitement. Then he sobered up slightly, "But is she nice to you...do you like her?"

She had become almost numb to it, but her heart warned at his obvious concern, especially in the light of the kind of mother he had, "Yes she is."

As for liking her, she gave a wry smile. Did it matter? But she still said, "She's a nice person, so yes. But it's not just another mum. I also have another Dad and two siblings —a brother and sister."

"That's a big family." Li Yuchen said thoughtfully.

Han Yichen kept quiet at first, observing his mother. He knew she wasn't saying everything because her eyes held some emotions that were hard to decipher.

"Are you okay with all that's happening Mum?" He finally asked.

Pei Yueran swallowed past the lump in her throat. Both boys were really making her heart swell with emotions. She managed a smile as she said, "Not really, but I'm trying to be."