His Genius Wife is a Superstar

It took many moments for Long Jian to process what was happening. The shock hadn't worn off yet. Perhaps it wouldn't wear off for days to come, maybe even longer. The hits on his chest became more violent and the hysterical accusations much more vicious. He caught his mother's arms and shook her by force to make her stop.

"Mom, stop it! I said stop!!!"

Zhu Ning was too far gone in her hysterical fury to allow him to calm her down. She continued fighting against his hold and cursing at her own son. The ruckus alerted the housekeeper waiting for them to eat dinner downstairs.

The housekeeper checked on them but didn't dare to go inside the bedroom upon seeing what was happening from the small gap in the doorway. She quietly withdrew and returned downstairs to cover the dishes for dinner. Although the commotion alarmed her, she wasn't surprised at all. Zhu Ning losing her temper and wrecking everything in her path was a common occurrence in the house. There was no household staff who could stay for long in her employ. 

Sir Jian wasn't particularly warm towards them, the help, but he was at least courteous and never insulted them. He might be impatient sometimes but it was understandable because he often brought a lot of work to home. He was terribly busy and worked late into the night in his home office. Despite this, he was still generous and would secretly give each of them bonus during special occasions without his mother's knowledge who would surely kick up a fuss if she had known about it.

In short, if it were only Sir Jian, the household staff would have no problems staying loyal. It was unfortunate that their actual employer, Madam Zhu Ning, was far from ideal. The housekeeper didn't know how many came and left before her. She was already planning to quit a while back but then the madam got arrested. Life in the house became more peaceful and she decided to stay for the meantime. But now that the vicious madam was back, the housekeeper's original plan to quit returned. She would just wait for her latest pay and leave afterwards.

Long Jian had no idea that their current housekeeper was planning to leave soon. He had no time to think about anything else right now aside from calming his hysterical mother. Nothing worked.

Frustrated, he threatened, "Mom, if you don't stop this right now, I'm going to leave you and this house!"

It worked like a charm.

Zhu Ning stopped trying to attack him and looked at him with disbelief. She was still furious but there was now growing panic mixed in.

"What did you say?! You're going to leave your own mother?!"

Long Jian tried to take a few deep breaths to calm himself down but the adrenaline rush from the situation didn't allow him to completely restrain his own temper.

He snapped at his mother, "Since you called me a traitor, then what's the point of staying here with you? I did everything I could think of to find a way to free you from jail and the crimes you're being charged! So what if I asked Xiulan and her husband for help? She's my sister and he's my brother-in-law! Mom, can you please stop this senseless hatred towards Father's other women and children? I'm so tired of this!"

Zhu Ning's face twisted and she moved to slap him again but he caught her hand in time. "How dare you speak to your mother like that?! No respect at all!"

"MOM!!!"

His sudden roar scared her. She froze in shock.

Long Jian looked like he was barely able to control himself. If Zhu Ning had a nasty temper, he had it too. They were mother and son after all. It was just that he learned to have more self-control, discipline, and to be less impulsive in order to pursue his high ambitions.

"You're my mother, so of course I respect you. I've always been filial to you. But mom, any more respect beyond filial piety is something that needs to be earned. It's not automatic even between a parent and child."

Zhu Ning looked like she had just been slapped by her own son.

He continued in a grim tone and expression, "I've always hated Xiulan and my other half-siblings just like what you always taught me. But you know what? Now that I'm an adult who's continuing to meet more people from all walks of life and varying backgrounds, my worldview has begun to open up and change. I realized that my original hatred towards my half-siblings wasn't even my own. You're the one who planted it in me the moment you gave birth to me."

"You're blaming me, your mother?!"

Long Jian sighed. There was a mixture of helplessness, frustration, and defeat in his expression.

He didn't answer her question but said instead, "Mom, whether I continue hating my half-siblings or build some sort of cordial relationship with them will be my own decision from now on. I'm an adult man now, capable of my own thoughts. Thank you for giving birth to me, raising me, loving me, and treasuring me as your only son, but I'll take over my own life now. Don't worry, Mom. I'll take care of you for the rest of your life and continue to be filial to you. But I'm telling you now that I won't allow anyone, even you, to forcefully interfere with the way I choose to live my life from now on."

"You!" Zhu Ning burst into tears and tried to hit him again. This time, however, his words must have shocked her too much because there was no force in her hits at all.

Long Jian allowed his mother to hit him. Each hit broke his heart, causing him great pain and guilt. However, it also felt like something was healing inside him, giving him a kind of peace in the mind and heart that he had never experienced before. A huge weight was lifted off his shoulders, raising him up, and making his view of the world much clearer.

His mother would surely resent him after this. Their relationship as mother and son might even change forever, but for the first time in his entire life, he felt like the air he was breathing in was fresher.