Kang never could have anticipated such an unexpected outcome.

Summer Sheng’s plan to visit the company was a golden opportunity. The last time Yue Qin had taken him to the office, it had been after working hours, and the company was nearly deserted.

This time, however, things would be different. They would arrive early, long before the workday ended. He might even encounter his secretary, subordinates, his girlfriend, or perhaps his uncle.

No matter whom he met, it would provide a chance to observe the people around him. After all, he was in a coma after the car accident, unable to wake. All he needed to do was watch for anyone who appeared weary—it would reveal who truly cared for him.

Kang, holding his spoon, found himself so pleased that he couldn't resist eating two extra meatballs. Summer Sheng seemed a little happier too. Lately, their son had been eating less, as though nothing tasted as good as it once had.

Today, however, it seemed like things were returning to how they used to be. "You're excited to see Daddy, aren’t you?" she asked.

Kang nodded enthusiastically, unable to hide his joy.

"Good boy, Kangkang. Daddy will be so happy to see you."

Yue Qin was the head of security at the Feiyue Group, responsible for both the company’s property and personnel safety.

Summer Sheng used to wait for him at the company plaza after work.

Now, with her child in tow, Summer sat again on a bench in the plaza, surrounded by other parents with their children. The little ones were running around, some holding balloons.

She looked over at her son, who sat quietly beside her, his eyes fixed on the office building. He didn’t seem interested in the other children or the balloons.

Summer longed for her son to be like the other children, running and playing with abandon.

At that moment, her phone rang.

It was a call from the arts center.

“She’s mentioned this to me before,” Summer answered, speaking to the person on the other end.

Kang’s gaze remained fixed on the office building across the way. Upon hearing Summer’s words, he quietly stood up. He stood on the bench, straining to hear what his "cheap mom" was discussing on the phone.

 On the other end of the phone, a bright and cheerful female voice spoke. Kang had heard this voice before at the art center—it belonged to the female owner of the center.

"Mrs. Zhang truly enjoys your classes," she said. "She suggests that you could offer a small course on weekdays, two class sessions, just for her."

"I remember your child goes to school in the morning. We can send a car to pick you up, and you can teach Mrs. Zhang from 2 to 4 p.m."

"Don't worry about your child. He's well-behaved and sensible. We can look after him at the art center, either in the classroom or outside. We'll take care of him."

Kang immediately understood upon hearing this—the generous Mrs. Zhang must have made an offer that was simply too good to turn down. That aligned with her usual character.

Summer Sheng asked, "So, what’s the compensation?"

"We certainly won't shortchange you," the woman replied. "Your usual rate is 100 yuan per class, two classes a day. This small course, with fewer students, will be 50 yuan per session. That way, if you continue with the youth classes, you’ll earn 300 yuan a day."

Summer Sheng was indeed tempted, but it wasn’t just the extra 100 yuan that attracted her. With her child growing older, she realized she needed to consider taking on more classes.

"How about this—since I’ll already be coming in to teach the adults, there’s no need for a single lesson. I can just offer a small adult class instead." The pay for a small class was higher than for one-on-one lessons.

"That’s not possible," the person on the other end responded. "You don’t have any experience teaching adults. If we open an adult class directly, we might not get many sign-ups. Start with Mrs. Zhang, and if the results are good, then we can consider a small class."

At this moment, Kang was absolutely furious.

This woman taught seven children a day for only 100 yuan per class. Yet, this "fat sheep" was paying only 50 yuan per lesson for a one-on-one session? What kind of exploitative labor was this? He was certain that, in front of Mrs. Zhang, she had praised Summer Sheng to the heavens and pushed the price to an astonishingly high level.

What did she mean by "we'll just directly open an adult class for you, though there might not be many sign-ups"? It was clearly an attempt to belittle Summer Sheng, trying to force her into submission with such a remark.

In reality, Mrs. Zhang must have insisted on one-on-one lessons.

Kang, infuriated, snatched the phone and hung up.

Summer Sheng was momentarily stunned. She had been about to agree, thinking that, since she had no experience teaching adults, starting with some practice would be beneficial. But now, her son had cut off the call.

"Baby? Do you not want me to go this afternoon?"

Summer Sheng had always believed that her child understood everything, much like she did at his age of four, when she thought she knew everything. Her son, too, grasped things in his heart but was unable to express them outwardly.

The act of snatching the phone seemed like a form of release for him—a way to establish a connection with the outside world.

"Baby, what are you thinking? Can you tell Mommy?" she asked gently.

Kang, holding the phone, felt awkward. He realized that acting impulsively wasn’t the right course of action.

Strangely, Summer Sheng didn’t think his action was odd. Instead, she gazed into his eyes with a tenderness that seemed to say, "Don’t be afraid, Mommy knows you understand everything; you just don’t know how to tell me."

Her gaze was warm and full of understanding.

The phone buzzed again—it was surely a call from the education center.

Summer Sheng didn’t rush to answer, instead focusing on her son. "Baby, do you not want Mommy to answer the phone?"

Kang, who would normally have ignored her, now found himself looking into the young mother’s eyes, and he nodded.

Summer Sheng placed the phone aside without answering it.

Kang was momentarily stunned. He realized there was hope for this person after all.

Kang took the phone again, watching it ring once.

The second time it rang, he declined the call.

Summer Sheng, watching from the side, thought she’d explain the situation later with a call back—it should be fine.

When the phone rang a third time, Kang handed it to Summer Sheng.

She hesitated before answering. "Sorry, my son needed to use my phone just now."

On the other end, the boss was likely already aware of what kind of child Summer Sheng had, but responded cheerfully.

"No worries, no worries. Children just like to play around. After thinking it over, I realize that, considering your situation, fifty yuan per lesson is indeed too little."

"How about this—just like your children’s group lessons, one hundred yuan per class?"

Kang silently snatched the phone and hung up. There was still room for negotiation!

Employees who are capable and competent should have some backbone. Why should they lower their voice and beg others?

Summer Sheng was Mrs. Zhang’s designated private teacher. Given the situation at the art center, they had likely already agreed. They were clearly in the superior position for negotiations!

Kang’s face hardened. No one would drain him, no one would exploit him!

Now that he was living in this young couple's home, they were the ones sucking the life out of him. They were draining him of his precious red-braised pork, meatballs, and salt-braised pork...

No one could touch his daily meals!