Bad Boys Boot Camp: V1-C41

Chapter 41: Conscience

This novel was posted on cntranslations [dot] com, by anasiana. If you're not reading it there, you get what you get ￣へ￣)

_{Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.}
My home was different from what I remember.

Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.

_{“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”}“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_{Shen Zhuoyun: {So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}}“Yes, I will. So long as it’s you.” Shen Zhuoyun replied seriously, taking Qin Mo’s hand into his own. “If you want to run off to kill someone, I’ll follow you. If you want to run off to save someone, I’ll follow you, too.”

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”}Do you understand it now?

“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”

_{Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.}As the woman spoke, Qin Mo noticed the faint fragrance on her body, along with the youthfulness on her face—things no longer possessed by his mother. From the woman’s ingratiation and the traces of expectation in her eyes, one message was clear: she was his father’s remarriage partner.

Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.

_“Yeah?”
It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

“Yeah?”

_{“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."}Do you understand it now?

“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."

_{“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”}Do you understand it now?

“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”}
Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.

Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”

_{After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.}“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.

_{Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”}
“Hi, there. I’ve heard about you from your father for so long that it's nice to finally meet you.” The one standing before him was a woman who perfectly fit the definition of beautiful. Leaning towards him slightly, that woman revealed a warm smile just as pretty. “May I call you Momo? Oh, I’ve also heard from your father that you are quite the student…”

Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

_{Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.}
As the woman spoke, Qin Mo noticed the faint fragrance on her body, along with the youthfulness on her face—things no longer possessed by his mother. From the woman’s ingratiation and the traces of expectation in her eyes, one message was clear: she was his father’s remarriage partner.

_{“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”}Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.

“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{“How long was I out for?”}Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

“How long was I out for?”

_{“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”.}Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”

“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”

“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”

_{Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.}“Yes, I will. So long as it’s you.” Shen Zhuoyun replied seriously, taking Qin Mo’s hand into his own. “If you want to run off to kill someone, I’ll follow you. If you want to run off to save someone, I’ll follow you, too.”

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_{All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.}.

All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

_“Yeah?”But do you still know that? That you’re my father?

“Yeah?”

_.
“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”

_{But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."}After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.

But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."

_{Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}
Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”}“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”

_{Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!}
Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!

Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!

_{During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.}All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_{Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.}If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.

Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

_{“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.}
Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!

“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

_{Qin Zhen looked through the so-called evidence in shock, thinking either she or her cousin had gone mad. “But this is real life, Qin Mo, not some drаma! Have you been reading so many conspiracy theories that you’re going through some edgelord prepubescent rebellion?”}Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

Qin Zhen looked through the so-called evidence in shock, thinking either she or her cousin had gone mad. “But this is real life, Qin Mo, not some drаma! Have you been reading so many conspiracy theories that you’re going through some edgelord prepubescent rebellion?”

Personal Fable and Imaginary Audience are terms coined by the psychologist, David Elkind, in his theory of adolescent egocentrism.[]Imaginary audience: a belief that one is constantly being observed and criticised by others, resulting in one’s continual construction of or reaction to said audience.[]Personal fable: a perception of one’s own experiences, feelings, and thoughts as unique and exceptional. A constructed self-perception that is not true.

_{Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.}
“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.

_N/A“How are you going to go about it, then?” Qin Zhen questioned. “Do you have the money? Do you even have the manpower?” Qin Zhen was cut from the same cloth as her cousin. They were both mature for their age, but what she was witnessing was unrealistic.

N/A

Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.

“Oh, honey, there’s no need for all that. Really.” The woman gave the man a nudge, her face still all smiles as she coaxed. “As for you, Qin Mo, you can just call me Aunty, Aunty Su. So just do that, alright? I have no other intentions, I promise. I just want—”

_{Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!}During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!

_{“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”}“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

_{“How long was I out for?”}
Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

“How long was I out for?”

_{After his mother passed, Qin Hongjun neglected Qin Mo for four years, years that Qin Mo took refuge at his grandfather’s. During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out.}Do you understand it now?

After his mother passed, Qin Hongjun neglected Qin Mo for four years, years that Qin Mo took refuge at his grandfather’s. During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out.

_{{So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.}}Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!

So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.

_{Qin Zhen looked through the so-called evidence in shock, thinking either she or her cousin had gone mad. “But this is real life, Qin Mo, not some drаma! Have you been reading so many conspiracy theories that you’re going through some edgelord prepubescent rebellion?”}Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_{Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.}Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_{“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”.}
“Oh, honey, there’s no need for all that. Really.” The woman gave the man a nudge, her face still all smiles as she coaxed. “As for you, Qin Mo, you can just call me Aunty, Aunty Su. So just do that, alright? I have no other intentions, I promise. I just want—”

_{Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”}Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”

_{Slowly eating the dinner Shen Zhuoyun had put aside for him, Qin Mo suddenly remembered, “By the way, why did you leave the drive with Jiang Shao? I thought you didn't want to get involved in Mo Nian's business?”}
Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”

Slowly eating the dinner Shen Zhuoyun had put aside for him, Qin Mo suddenly remembered, “By the way, why did you leave the drive with Jiang Shao? I thought you didn't want to get involved in Mo Nian's business?”

_{If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.}All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.

_{Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”}“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

_{Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”}“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

_{As the woman spoke, Qin Mo noticed the faint fragrance on her body, along with the youthfulness on her face—things no longer possessed by his mother. From the woman’s ingratiation and the traces of expectation in her eyes, one message was clear: she was his father’s remarriage partner.}“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

As the woman spoke, Qin Mo noticed the faint fragrance on her body, along with the youthfulness on her face—things no longer possessed by his mother. From the woman’s ingratiation and the traces of expectation in her eyes, one message was clear: she was his father’s remarriage partner.

_{Qin Mo suddenly felt calmer at the other boy’s response, all the negativity clinging to him from his dream dissipating.}
After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.

Qin Mo suddenly felt calmer at the other boy’s response, all the negativity clinging to him from his dream dissipating.

_{{Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.}}If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.

Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.

_{But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."}“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_{Do you understand it now?}
.

Do you understand it now?

_{Shen Zhuoyun: {So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}}“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{Shen Zhuoyun: {So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}}But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{“How are you going to go about it, then?” Qin Zhen questioned. “Do you have the money? Do you even have the manpower?” Qin Zhen was cut from the same cloth as her cousin. They were both mature for their age, but what she was witnessing was unrealistic.}“How long was I out for?”

“How are you going to go about it, then?” Qin Zhen questioned. “Do you have the money? Do you even have the manpower?” Qin Zhen was cut from the same cloth as her cousin. They were both mature for their age, but what she was witnessing was unrealistic.

_{Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.}“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_.It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

_{After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.}All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

_{“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”}
.

“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_.Chapter 41: Conscience

_{“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”}
“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”

“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

_{{It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.}}Qin Mo suddenly felt calmer at the other boy’s response, all the negativity clinging to him from his dream dissipating.

It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

_◈◇◈It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

◈◇◈

_{“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”}
“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{Chapter 41: Conscience}But do you still know that? That you’re my father?

Chapter 41: Conscience

_{“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”}
Qin Zhen looked through the so-called evidence in shock, thinking either she or her cousin had gone mad. “But this is real life, Qin Mo, not some drаma! Have you been reading so many conspiracy theories that you’re going through some edgelord prepubescent rebellion?”

“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

_{So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.}“Yeah?”

So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.

_{“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”}Do you understand it now?

“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”}N/A

“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

_{After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.}
But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."

_{Slowly eating the dinner Shen Zhuoyun had put aside for him, Qin Mo suddenly remembered, “By the way, why did you leave the drive with Jiang Shao? I thought you didn't want to get involved in Mo Nian's business?”}“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.}If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.

“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.

_{So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.}Immediately pursing his lips, Qin Mo lowered his head and stepped backwards to make some distance.

So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.

_{My home was different from what I remember.}
“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”

My home was different from what I remember.

_.“Oh, honey, there’s no need for all that. Really.” The woman gave the man a nudge, her face still all smiles as she coaxed. “As for you, Qin Mo, you can just call me Aunty, Aunty Su. So just do that, alright? I have no other intentions, I promise. I just want—”

_{A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.}“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”

A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

_{“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”}Do you understand it now?

“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”

_{“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.}“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.

_.
“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”

_{“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."}Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."

_{Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”}A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_{“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”}“Hi, there. I’ve heard about you from your father for so long that it's nice to finally meet you.” The one standing before him was a woman who perfectly fit the definition of beautiful. Leaning towards him slightly, that woman revealed a warm smile just as pretty. “May I call you Momo? Oh, I’ve also heard from your father that you are quite the student…”

“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”

_{“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.}
Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.

_{During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.}Qin Mo suddenly felt calmer at the other boy’s response, all the negativity clinging to him from his dream dissipating.

During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_{{My home was different from what I remember.}}Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!

My home was different from what I remember.

_{Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.}“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”

Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.

_{“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”}After his mother passed, Qin Hongjun neglected Qin Mo for four years, years that Qin Mo took refuge at his grandfather’s. During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out.

“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_{Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”}
If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.

_{Personal Fable and Imaginary Audience are terms coined by the psychologist, David Elkind, in his theory of adolescent egocentrism.[]Imaginary audience: a belief that one is constantly being observed and criticised by others, resulting in one’s continual construction of or reaction to said audience.}Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!

_{Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.}“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.

_{Personal Fable and Imaginary Audience are terms coined by the psychologist, David Elkind, in his theory of adolescent egocentrism.[]Imaginary audience: a belief that one is constantly being observed and criticised by others, resulting in one’s continual construction of or reaction to said audience.}
After his mother passed, Qin Hongjun neglected Qin Mo for four years, years that Qin Mo took refuge at his grandfather’s. During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out.

_{“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.}During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

_{Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”}
During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_{During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.}Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.

During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_{Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”}Already aloof by nature, and having parted ways with the man as a young child, those four years without his father had eroded what little familial bond Qin Mo had towards his father. So if it were simply about his father’s remarriage, he would have no reason to put up such a fuss and rebel. It was after he started noticing something suspicious about his mother’s death that he reacted.

Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”

_{“Yes, I will. So long as it’s you.” Shen Zhuoyun replied seriously, taking Qin Mo’s hand into his own. “If you want to run off to kill someone, I’ll follow you. If you want to run off to save someone, I’ll follow you, too.”}
Already aloof by nature, and having parted ways with the man as a young child, those four years without his father had eroded what little familial bond Qin Mo had towards his father. So if it were simply about his father’s remarriage, he would have no reason to put up such a fuss and rebel. It was after he started noticing something suspicious about his mother’s death that he reacted.

“Yes, I will. So long as it’s you.” Shen Zhuoyun replied seriously, taking Qin Mo’s hand into his own. “If you want to run off to kill someone, I’ll follow you. If you want to run off to save someone, I’ll follow you, too.”

_{A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.}N/A

A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

_{But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."}Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.

_{Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!}A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

_{Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.}
All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_{“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”}So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.

“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

_{Immediately pursing his lips, Qin Mo lowered his head and stepped backwards to make some distance.}
Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.

Immediately pursing his lips, Qin Mo lowered his head and stepped backwards to make some distance.

_{{My home was different from what I remember.}}But do you still know that? That you’re my father?

My home was different from what I remember.

“Really? How do you know I didn’t want to get involved?” Though he couldn’t see it, Qin Mo could tell that boy spoke with a cheeky smile.

_{“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”.}A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

_{Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”}“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_{“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”}
Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.

“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”}Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.

After his mother passed, Qin Hongjun neglected Qin Mo for four years, years that Qin Mo took refuge at his grandfather’s. During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out.

_{“Oh, honey, there’s no need for all that. Really.” The woman gave the man a nudge, her face still all smiles as she coaxed. “As for you, Qin Mo, you can just call me Aunty, Aunty Su. So just do that, alright? I have no other intentions, I promise. I just want—”}
“How are you going to go about it, then?” Qin Zhen questioned. “Do you have the money? Do you even have the manpower?” Qin Zhen was cut from the same cloth as her cousin. They were both mature for their age, but what she was witnessing was unrealistic.

_{“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”}“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”

“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_{Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.}So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.

Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

_{If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.}
Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

_{{So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.}}“How long was I out for?”

So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.

_{During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.}So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.

During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_.All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

◈◇◈

_{So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.}
Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.

_{Shen Zhuoyun: {So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}}Qin Mo suddenly felt calmer at the other boy’s response, all the negativity clinging to him from his dream dissipating.

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!}Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.

_{If Qin Mo’s feelings were truly to be analysed with regard to his father, his feelings were actually a bit complex. After all, when his mother was still alive during his early youth, despite that man’s less than adequate fulfilment of his fatherly duties, he did shoulder enough to earn the title of “father”—but this was only while his mother was around.}It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

_{“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."}A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."

_{Chapter 41: Conscience}
“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

Chapter 41: Conscience

_{Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!}Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!

_{{Do you understand it now?}}Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.

Do you understand it now?

_{“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”}So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.

“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

_{Already aloof by nature, and having parted ways with the man as a young child, those four years without his father had eroded what little familial bond Qin Mo had towards his father. So if it were simply about his father’s remarriage, he would have no reason to put up such a fuss and rebel. It was after he started noticing something suspicious about his mother’s death that he reacted.}
“Yeah?”

Already aloof by nature, and having parted ways with the man as a young child, those four years without his father had eroded what little familial bond Qin Mo had towards his father. So if it were simply about his father’s remarriage, he would have no reason to put up such a fuss and rebel. It was after he started noticing something suspicious about his mother’s death that he reacted.

_{{Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.}}“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.

_{“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”}.

“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”

_{“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."}
Qin Mo suddenly felt calmer at the other boy’s response, all the negativity clinging to him from his dream dissipating.

“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."

_{{Do you understand it now?}}.

Do you understand it now?

_{During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.}Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_{Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”}Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.

_{All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.}◈◇◈

All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

_{Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.}
A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

Hearing his words made Qin Mo’s head lift, his sharp gaze laced with pure ice as it locked its sights on Qin Hongjun.

_{Without waiting for her to finish, Qin Mo gave her a glance before turning to head to his room. As he walked away, that man’s shouts rang out behind him. “Hey, Qin Mo! Your Aunty is still talking to you! Get back here!”}Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

_{Chapter 41: Conscience}Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”

Chapter 41: Conscience

_{Shen Zhuoyun: {So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}}“Yeah?”

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.}
“How long was I out for?”

All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

_{During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.}.

During that time, the man stayed out from day in to day out. Then, after another four years, he remarried Su Wen.

_{Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.}Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

_{Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!}“So don't think you can show off just because you’ve read a couple of my introduction to psychology books,” Qin Zhen continued to criticise. “Furthermore, can’t this obsession you have with such an outlandish theory be understood as nothing but an illusion crafted to play into your sense of uniqueness? Can all this be nothing but a method to satisfy the restlessness of your teenage heart, Mr Qin Xiao Mo?”

Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!

_{So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.}
“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

So today is the evening of the 10th. Three more days until January 13th, then.

_{“Hi, there. I’ve heard about you from your father for so long that it's nice to finally meet you.” The one standing before him was a woman who perfectly fit the definition of beautiful. Leaning towards him slightly, that woman revealed a warm smile just as pretty. “May I call you Momo? Oh, I’ve also heard from your father that you are quite the student…”}“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”

“Hi, there. I’ve heard about you from your father for so long that it's nice to finally meet you.” The one standing before him was a woman who perfectly fit the definition of beautiful. Leaning towards him slightly, that woman revealed a warm smile just as pretty. “May I call you Momo? Oh, I’ve also heard from your father that you are quite the student…”

_{“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”}A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.}“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{As the woman spoke, Qin Mo noticed the faint fragrance on her body, along with the youthfulness on her face—things no longer possessed by his mother. From the woman’s ingratiation and the traces of expectation in her eyes, one message was clear: she was his father’s remarriage partner.}
Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.

_{Immediately pursing his lips, Qin Mo lowered his head and stepped backwards to make some distance.}Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

Immediately pursing his lips, Qin Mo lowered his head and stepped backwards to make some distance.

_{All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.}Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!

All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

_N/A
Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

N/A

_{All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.}It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

All his computing skills were learnt for the sake of investigating this case.

_.Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.

_{But do you still know that? That you’re my father?}
Slowly eating the dinner Shen Zhuoyun had put aside for him, Qin Mo suddenly remembered, “By the way, why did you leave the drive with Jiang Shao? I thought you didn't want to get involved in Mo Nian's business?”

But do you still know that? That you’re my father?

_{“How long was I out for?”}Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.

“How long was I out for?”

_{Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.}Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.

Waking from his dream, Qin Mo discovered darkness still before him. Most of the memories of that dream had faded; only the most bitter moments left their trace.

_{“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.}“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

_◈◇◈N/A

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_{{My home was different from what I remember.}}Already aloof by nature, and having parted ways with the man as a young child, those four years without his father had eroded what little familial bond Qin Mo had towards his father. So if it were simply about his father’s remarriage, he would have no reason to put up such a fuss and rebel. It was after he started noticing something suspicious about his mother’s death that he reacted.

My home was different from what I remember.

_{“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”}But do you still know that? That you’re my father?

“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”}“Oh, honey, there’s no need for all that. Really.” The woman gave the man a nudge, her face still all smiles as she coaxed. “As for you, Qin Mo, you can just call me Aunty, Aunty Su. So just do that, alright? I have no other intentions, I promise. I just want—”

Yet, in response, that boy simply tapped his head and stated, “I have this,” then tapped his keyboard and added, “I also have this.”

_{It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.}
“Oh, so you do have a conscience, do you?” Qin Mo reached over to poke that boy’s chеst. “How come I’ve never seen it, then? Huh?”

_{Personal Fable and Imaginary Audience are terms coined by the psychologist, David Elkind, in his theory of adolescent egocentrism.[]Imaginary audience: a belief that one is constantly being observed and criticised by others, resulting in one’s continual construction of or reaction to said audience.}But despite her words, Qin Mo calmly pushed up his glasses and explained simply, “I’m going to turn 16 this year, Qin Zhen. So, psychologically speaking, my logic and reasoning abilities are already intact."

_{Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.}Qin Zhen looked through the so-called evidence in shock, thinking either she or her cousin had gone mad. “But this is real life, Qin Mo, not some drаma! Have you been reading so many conspiracy theories that you’re going through some edgelord prepubescent rebellion?”

Sadly, his skills were still quite limited, so he had yet to uncover the full truth of the past. But everything he had discovered so far did hint that his suspicions did hold some merit.

_.“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!}
Shen Zhuoyun couldn’t help but chuckle, his body reclining back even further before he spoke. “Because of you. I got involved because you did.”

_{Qin Mo: {In just three days, we’ll be completely free.}}“Shen Zhuoyun?” Hearing how nasally his voice sounded, Qin Mo shifted himself slightly, quickly sitting up straight when he realised he was leaning on Shen Zhuoyun.

Qin Mo: In just three days, we’ll be completely free.

_{{Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.}}It still had the same white walls, the same bright windows, the same spotlessly clean glass coffee table, and the same grandfather clock ticking—even the LCD television mounted on the wall was the same as three years ago.

Only one thing was unfamiliar: the person currently standing before me.

_{Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.}“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_◈◇◈
“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

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_{“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”}“That may be, dear cousin. But while your critical thinking skills and creativity are clearly increasing, your prejudice and superficiality are still quite pronounced.” Qin Zhen countered her cousin, fuming. “So despite it all, adolescent egocentrism can lie at the heart of such thinking, allowing the manifestation of a ‘personal fable’ and ‘imaginary audience’.”

“How on earth could you think such a thing?” A flabbergasted Qin Zhen stared at her cousin. “At the end of the day, he is still your father.”

_{A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.}
“Yes, I will. So long as it’s you.” Shen Zhuoyun replied seriously, taking Qin Mo’s hand into his own. “If you want to run off to kill someone, I’ll follow you. If you want to run off to save someone, I’ll follow you, too.”

A hiss from beside him then drew his attention. Hearing Shen Zhuoyun, Qin Mo guessed he must have lain on that boy's arm until it numbed.

_{Slowly eating the dinner Shen Zhuoyun had put aside for him, Qin Mo suddenly remembered, “By the way, why did you leave the drive with Jiang Shao? I thought you didn't want to get involved in Mo Nian's business?”}Hearing her rebuttal, Qin Mo was well aware he could not best that sharp-tongued cousin who dominated all debates at B-University, so he shook his head and restated firmly, “Regardless, I know what I’m doing, Qin Zhen. This is something I have to do. I need to investigate this.”

_{After getting to his room, Qin Mo’s door was shut in a manner that was neither too soft nor too firm before he pressed his back against it. As he leaned there, his body gradually sank to the floor, curling into a huddled mass, allowing the cold to seep through his thin layers of clothing and calm the heat raging in his heart.}Now, even his son would look at him with those eyes!

_{“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”}So, Qin Mo had to investigate it. He had to uncover the truth of what happened that year.

“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”}Qin Zhen looked through the so-called evidence in shock, thinking either she or her cousin had gone mad. “But this is real life, Qin Mo, not some drаma! Have you been reading so many conspiracy theories that you’re going through some edgelord prepubescent rebellion?”

“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”}Yes, Qin Zhen was correct in her assertion that Qin Hongjun was a clumsy and ordinary man. He possessed neither the courage nor madness to lay his hands on Qin Mo’s mother—to kill her. But the thing about suspicion is that once those seeds are planted, they will grow wild and fester.

“Who the hell do you think you’re glaring at?!” Qin Hongjun screeched like a trаmpled cat, his thіck fingers jutting towards Qin Mo’s face. “I am your father!”

“But what if I tried to kill someone?" Qin Mo teased. "What if I ran off to commit arson? Would you still come running then?”

_{Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.}Immediately pursing his lips, Qin Mo lowered his head and stepped backwards to make some distance.

Qin Mo wanted to throw this comment back at him but held his tongue instead. After seeing the shameless confidence on that man’s face, he lost all interest at once.

_{“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”}
“Qin Mo, you are my conscience."

“Qin Mo!” Qin Hongjun’s bellow came just as quick. “Is that how I taught you?! Show her respect and call her Mother!”

_{Shen Zhuoyun: {So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.}}Qin Hongjun flinched, despising the eyes locked upon him—he hated those eyes the most. When Qin Mo’s mother was still alive, every time they argued, she would glare at him all the same. Those eyes made him feel like a fool—like a pitiful drunkard. They never made him feel like he was a man, the man who was the head of his house!

Shen Zhuoyun: So there’s still three days. Three more days I get to spend alone with Qin Mo.

_{“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”}Chapter 41: Conscience

“A good few hours,” Shen Zhuoyun replied, his numb hand sneaking around Qin Mo’s waist. “Our dinner got dropped off a while ago.”

_{“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”}“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to think about such a thing either,” Qin Mo replied, “but the evidence right now is telling me the possibility exists.”

Author's Note:

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Notes:

Personal Fable and Imaginary Audience are terms coined by the psychologist, David Elkind, in his theory of adolescent egocentrism.

Imaginary audience: a belief that one is constantly being observed and criticised by others, resulting in one’s continual construction of or reaction to said audience.

Personal fable: a perception of one’s own experiences, feelings, and thoughts as unique and exceptional. A constructed self-perception that is not true.

Updated on a Saturday. Raws: jjwxc

Bad Boys Boot Camp: V1-C41

Chapter 41: Conscience

Author's Note:

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