EXTERN

Chapter 20

 

I wasn’t used to situations like the one I was currently facing.

 

And I had absolutely no intention of getting used to them either.

 

“I’m fine now, Mum.”

 

“Fine, my foot, Per! Look at you! You can’t even sit up and eat by yourself yet. If it weren’t for ‘someone around here,’ you wouldn’t have suffered something like this in the first place, sweetheart.”

 

There it was.

 

The phrase ‘someone around here’ shot past my head with about two millimetres to spare. I barely managed to dodge it. And I had a sneaking suspicion that this ‘someone around here’ probably had a shameless face remarkably similar to mine.

 

“Oh, Mum. The person responsible is already facing legal action. Please stop blaming anyone. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault.”

 

I stood there with a blank expression, pretending to be nothing more than air in Per’s hospital room.

 

We had a full house today.

 

Per’s mother, Night’s mother, Per and Night’s father, Mai—Night’s boyfriend—and me.

 

Never in my life had I imagined I’d find myself trapped in some melodramatic soap opera featuring an overbearing mother-in-law and her saintly young master of a son.

 

Mostly because I’d never imagined becoming anybody’s daughter-in-law in the first place!

 

And I certainly hadn’t expected to have to deal with a bloody mother-in-law. I’m a manly man, thank you very much.

 

I don’t have the patience of some long-suffering daughter-in-law putting up with her husband’s mother. I’m a man. And I’m a soon-to-be doctor with more than enough pride of my own.

 

Why the hell should I stand around being criticised and insulted from every direction?

 

“No matter what you say, my son still ended up injured.”

 

Per’s mother was still throwing barbed remarks at me. I was seriously beginning to reach my limit.

 

“Khun Kan, I think you might be a little too stressed.”

 

Khun Kawin, Per and Night’s father, quickly interrupted when he noticed that my expression was probably beginning to reveal just how irritated I was becoming.

 

“I agree. I think you should go to the shopping centre and do a little shopping.”

 

Khun Mae, Night’s mother, immediately backed up her husband, clearly trying to defuse the increasingly tense atmosphere in the room.

 

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll—”

 

I quickly tried to excuse myself so I could finally get some rest.

 

Last night, I’d asked my professor for permission to stay with Per in the ICU all night to monitor his condition. Now that he was stable, I didn’t think there was anything left to worry about.

 

“Doctor Kan, you’re free today, aren’t you, sweetheart? Why don’t you take Mae Kan shopping? Per’s stuck in bed like this, so he obviously can’t go and carry her bags.”

 

Khun Mae interrupted before I could escape.

 

I paused.

 

Something about hearing my name and Per’s mother’s name together felt strangely confusing.

 

“Yes, yes. Go and relax. Leave Per to the doctors and nurses here.”

 

Khun Kawin gave me a kindly smile. Meanwhile, I remained frozen, trying to process the request that sounded suspiciously like an order. You want me to take Mrs Sarcastic herself shopping?!

 

“Er… well, I…”

 

“I’m not going anywhere!”

 

Per’s mother immediately raised her voice, as though she was afraid somebody might physically drag her out of the room.

And that instantly activated my competitive streak.

 

Hmph! You hate me that much, do you? Fine! I’ll make you love me so much you’ll be rushing to ask for my hand in marriage!

 

“Mum… you’ve been worrying about Per so much that your skin is starting to look tired.”

 

“You!”

 

Khun Kan immediately spun around, ready to snap at me. Time to use my ultimate weapon.

 

I walked towards her with my head lowered, stopped close by, then slowly raised my eyes to meet those of the middle-aged woman. I gently took her hand as though she were a queen.

 

“A beautiful woman like you, Mum… if I stood by and let your skin become any more tired than this, I’d never forgive myself…”

“…”

Everyone in the room appeared stunned.

 

Yeah!

 

Be stunned!

 

Flirting with women is bloody easy!

 

Trust Kan!

 

“Would you do me the honour of letting me take you for a relaxing spa treatment? Something to rejuvenate your skin and bring back that youthful glow? I know somewhere that only accepts VVIP clients… I guarantee you’ll love it.”

 

“…”

 

Silence.

 

The entire room was silent.

 

Meanwhile, I gently massaged the soft palm of the woman standing before me and gave her my sweetest, most pleading smile. I could have sworn her expression was starting to soften.

 

“Pleeeeease, Mum?”

 

I used a coaxing voice that even Per had barely ever heard from me and gave her my most dazzling puppy eyes, like some melodramatic stage performer charming his biggest patron.

 

Come on, Mum.

 

Give in already.

 

My bloody cheeks are starting to hurt from smiling.

 

“F-fine!”

 

Everyone in the room looked ready to shout YES! after holding their breath in anticipation.

 

“…But it really is VVIP only, right?”

 

Ahhh.

 

Women.

 

They really were weak to anything that sounded exclusive, weren’t they?

 

“Yes, Mum. If you go with me, you won’t have to wait, and you’ll get the best massage therapist in the entire place. It actually belongs to my mother. They only serve high-class clients—actors, celebrities and wealthy socialites.”

 

My mother wasn’t usually at the spa herself. She’d opened it and left the employees to manage things, only stopping by occasionally.

 

“Then let’s hurry. I suppose I have been looking a little tired lately.”

 

The woman hooked her arm around mine and practically pushed me towards the door.

 

Everyone remaining in the room gave us amused smiles. Per and I exchanged smiles of encouragement. He didn’t say anything, but I thought he looked proud of me. Because I was trying too. For us.

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

“Hello, Khun Nu. Isn’t Khun Ying with you today?”

 

The manager came over to welcome me and Per’s mother, who was still staring around in amazement at the place. To be fair, it was considerably more luxurious than your average massage parlour.

 

“Mum won’t be coming in. It’s almost export season for the family business, so Dad and Mum are probably pretty busy.”

 

I smiled at the manager.

 

My family exported agricultural produce and processed agricultural products. We owned several kinds of fruit orchards as well as a processing factory on the farm. My parents didn’t have time to come here and supervise what was basically a side business they’d opened for something to do.

 

“And…?”

 

The manager gave me a questioning look when Per’s mother stopped beside me. She was probably wondering why I’d brought along a woman about my mother's age.

 

“Oh! This is Khun Kalaya, my boyfriend’s mother. Please take especially good care of Mum for me.”

 

I smiled at Khun Mae. She didn’t look annoyed or uncomfortable at all anymore. If anything, she looked excited. Seeing her like that made me feel strangely affectionate towards her. It almost felt like I was taking care of my own mother.

 

Khun Mae was probably lonely sometimes too. Her husband had another wife, after all, and her son Per probably wasn’t the type to pamper her very often.

 

“Of course, Khun Nu. Mum, please come this way.”

 

“Yes.”

 

She happily followed the manager. Meanwhile, I headed to the lounge to wait. She’d probably be ages. Perfect. I could comfortably sleep while I waited.

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

“So, Mum? How was it? Was there anything lacking in our service? You can criticise anything you like.”

 

Khun Mae finally returned after spending practically half the day being pampered. She’d probably had a massage, skin treatment and spa package all in one. And she couldn’t stop smiling.

 

“It was wonderful, sweetheart. I haven’t felt this relaxed in years.”

 

She smiled at me, and I couldn’t help smiling back. I was genuinely happy to see her enjoying herself.

 

“Then please come whenever you like. I’ve already introduced you to the manager. Next time you come, she’ll personally take care of everything for you.”

 

If cheeks could genuinely burst from smiling too much, I suspected the woman in front of me was dangerously close. She simply would not stop smiling.

 

“Thank you so much, sweetheart.”

 

“You’re welcome. Think of me as your son for the day. You can take me shopping and have me on your arm. I’ll make up for Per not being able to come with you.”

 

I gave her the sweet smile that usually made women squeal and offered my elbow for her to take. Hook!

 

“I’d love that.”

 

She linked her arm through mine, smiling happily. Per definitely wouldn’t come and do something like this. But then again… Charming the public was basically my natural calling.

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

“Doctor Kan, what do you think of the samples from this diamond collection?”

 

I was now convinced Per rarely took his mother anywhere. She’d been absolutely delighted shopping with me, constantly asking for my opinion. And, to my surprise, I was enjoying myself too, especially when I got to help choose beautiful outfits for her.

 

After walking around the shopping centre until we were exhausted, we’d stopped at a famous jewellery boutique.

 

Spread across the counter in front of me was a dazzling selection of diamonds that Khun Mae had asked an employee to take from the display cases for me to examine.

 

And, as it turned out, this jewellery shop belonged to her.

 

“Er…”

 

“Just tell me what you really think, sweetheart. I know you’re someone who speaks his mind.”

 

I swallowed and studied the rather conventional-looking designs in front of me.

 

“Well… I don’t actually know anything about diamonds. So let me comment from an ordinary customer’s perspective instead.”

 

“…”

 

“If the target market for this collection is middle-aged and older customers, then these designs might be suitable. But the shapes and patterns don’t really communicate anything unique about your brand. They make the jewellery look similar to what you could find in other shops.”

 

“Mm…”

 

Khun Kalaya nodded thoughtfully. I was still slightly nervous. Mostly because what I really wanted to say was: They look old-fashioned.

 

“If you’re targeting younger people, working adults and customers up to middle age, I think the designs should be more distinctive. Or they could remain simple but incorporate some unique details—perhaps patterns in the metal surrounding the diamond.

 

“A simpler, elegant design combined with a lower price would make the pieces more accessible, and people would feel more comfortable wearing them in everyday life.”

 

I offered my completely uneducated opinion, purely from the perspective of a man imagining himself buying diamonds for a woman.

 

“Mmm… I understand. I’ll discuss it with the designers again. Although I’m afraid when the new collection comes out, I think I’ve already found my presenters.”

 

Khun Mae smiled at me. And suddenly I felt nervous. Surely she wasn’t planning to make me model diamonds? Fashion shows and anything else that made me the centre of attention really weren’t my thing.

 

“Er… well…”

 

“You’ll walk with Per, of course. I think I’ve just found my inspiration for the new diamond collection.”

 

Er…

 

That smile on her face was starting to give me chills. Surely winning over my mother-in-law wasn’t somehow going to end up making my own life even more complicated, was it?