ine scoffed, saying, “Dead.”


    Feeling puzzled, the master replied, “What? Dead?”


    ine, with emphasis, dered, “Didn’t you ask if my husband smokes? Well, I’ll tell you this: he smokes, and now he’s dead.”


    The master’s face soured at her words, but he managed to respond weakly, “You know how it is with you Lesbians; you don’t pay attention to what’s being said. There are plenty of reasons someone might die. How can you be sure it was from smoking?”


    “Lung cancer!” ine shot back. “The doctors told me he couldn’t be saved, that he might have another three months at best, but he passed within a week. I donated his body to the medical team. I thought they could use him for their studies, let the medical students dissect him as a way to contribute to society.”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    With a hint of nostalgia, ine continued, “You wouldn’t believe it—ording to the medical school professor, my husband’s lungs were darker than coal. The moment they opened him up, the stench of smoke hit them; it was so overwhelming that the old professor nearly choked. They took out his lungs, and they looked like freshly smoked pork, dripping with oil from the tar! So, tell me, did he die from smoking?”


    The master’s face twisted in disgust, as if he had just eaten something revolting.


    Noticing his difort, ine muttered, “You know, it’s fascinating how resilient cancer cells are. His lungs were practically charcoal, yet the cancer thrived, just like mold can flourish on rotten wood. Isn’t that interesting?”


    The master, exasperated, thought to himself, “What on earth does that mean? What kind of ridiculous metaphor is she using, that irritating old woman?”


    Meanwhile, Charlie sat in the back, feeling utterly helpless. He thought, “My mother-inw is really out for revenge. All because my father-inw didn’t pick her up, she’s here cursing him in front of the taxi driver. To die from smoking and end up as a dissection subject for med students—who talks like that?”


    ire was equally frustrated, sitting behind ine and listening to her berate her father. She found it hard to ept.<fn6dfd> Read full story at f?ndnovel</fn6dfd>


    However, she didn’t want to confront ine in front of the taxi driver, fearing it might confuse him, so she coughed loudly a few times instead.


    ine picked up on ire’s cough and understood her daughter’s hint. Yet, her anger toward Jacob overshadowed her concern for how her words might affect her family. She persisted, addressing the driver, “You know, you’re right about smoking being amon thing. It’s only natural to get lung cancer. Just smoke freely, enjoy life—it’s all about living happily, right?”


    The master looked ufortable, stammering, “Uh, well… smoking really isn’t good for your health. You should try to cut down…”


    ine smiled at the driver, asking, “So, how much do you smoke in a day?”


    Feeling awkward, the master replied, “Uh, I smoke a bit more than… just a little, really…”


    ine nodded, adding nonchntly, “Before my husband passed, he was smoking one and a half packs a day, and he was gone by his early thirties.”


    Curious, she turned to the driver and asked, “I think you’re in your forties or fifties, right?”


    The master chuckled, “I’m fifty-two…”


    “Excellent!” ine cheered, giving him a thumbs up. “You’re doing great! If youst ten more years, you’ll outlive my husband by a long shot.”


    The master’s expression became even more strained, almost as if he were about to cry.


    ine sighed, “What’s the point of living so long anyway? My husband left early, free from all worries. I have to juggle being both a father and a mother. Sometimes, I think it would be better if I had left instead, so I could move on and find peace sooner.”


    The master stole a nce at the center console and spotted a pack of Aurous Hill cigarettes, feeling a mix of emotions.


    ire, unable to hold back any longer, tapped on the back of ine’s seat, eximing, “Mom! Can you please stop?”


    ine turned around, defending herself, “ire, I’m just expressing my grief for your father. I’m trying to warn this driver about his health. If he takes my advice, it could extend his life. Isn’t that a good thing?”


    She waved her hand dismissively, “Okay, maybe I’m not saving his lifepletely, but even if I help him live just a little longer, isn’t that worth something? They say saving a life is more valuable than building a pagoda, right? I’m just trying to umte some good karma for myself.”


    ire shot back angrily, “What about my dad? You think it’s okay to say those things about him? Aren’t you worried about your own karma?”


    ine replied seriously, “He’s dead. What can I say?”


    ire retorted, “Mom! That’s really too much!”


    Seeing her daughter genuinely upset, ine quickly added, “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more. I’ll stop talking.”


    Then, turning to the driver, she said, “Master, don’t take anything I said seriously. Just think of it as me joking around.”


    The master’s mouth twitched, and he awkwardly replied, “Uh… okay…”


    For the rest of the ride, ine seemed to have vented all her frustration and fell silent.


    Charlie and ire also chose to remain quiet, caught in the awkward atmosphere.


    After more than half an hour, the taxi finally pulled up in front of the Tomson Yipin vi area.


    Charlie paid the fare, and the three of them exited the vehicle.


    As they walked away, the driver, feeling the weight of the conversation, grabbed the half pack of Aurous Hill cigarettes and tossed them out the window, muttering, “Forget this, I’m done smoking!”


    Before Charlie entered the door, he caught a glimpse of something flying out of the driver’s window. He was momentarily taken aback, hearing a voice echo in his mind, “ine, merit +100. Current merit bnce: negative one hundred eight thousand…”