Back to School with My Son

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Gu Susu is the evergreen queen of television dramas. She brings her own fanbase, and whatever show she appears in becomes a hit.

As Gu Susu's only son, Jiang Zi'ang grew up in a wonderful life.

He often asked Gu Susu for autographed photos to give to his classmates, and took all kinds of photos with her to show off on his social media.

But that wonderful life came to an abrupt end.

When he opened his eyes, he and his mother had both returned to the time when Gu Susu was eighteen.

The problem was, Gu Susu was still just an ordinary eighteen-year-old Gu Susu.

Jiang Zi'ang, however, seemed to have inherited all of Gu Susu's star power and became the hottest young actor in the entertainment industry.

The first thing Jiang Zi'ang did after returning to his mother's eighteenth year was go find her. His father had always said that his mother's family was awful, and that she'd had a miserable childhood.

Jiang Zi'ang knew his mother's family life had been unhappy, but he'd never fully understood just how bad it was.

Until the rainy night when he found her, and saw with his own eyes as his maternal grandfather shoved her out of the house. She collapsed with a high fever.

Eighteen-year-old Jiang Zi'ang picked up eighteen-year-old Gu Susu, his gaze resolute. "Mom! I'll make sure you're happy this time. Let me take care of you for a change."

First, he'd buy Mom a house.

Second, he'd buy Mom a car.

Third, he'd buy Mom a limited-edition handbag.

Fourth... Never mind, he'd just give Mom his bank card!

The mother and son officially switched roles. Every day, Gu Susu urged Jiang Zi'ang to go out and take acting jobs. "I'm out of money, I'm out of money! Hurry up and support me!"

Jiang Zi'ang whined. He couldn't act at all. "Mom, come with me."

Gu Susu watched Jiang Zi'ang on set, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "What kind of acting is that?!"

She stepped in to demonstrate and give him directions, moving everyone to tears with her heart-wrenching, deeply affecting performance.

The director's eyes lit up. "Miss, have you considered a career in the entertainment industry?"

Jiang Zi'ang: "Come on, Mom! Get in there! Support me!"

Only after becoming a rising star did Jiang Zi'ang discover that every field had its own difficulties. He was completely unsuited to acting and promptly earned himself the title of pretty face.

His manager was beside himself with worry. The original Jiang Zi'ang had always been criticized for his poor grades.

Now he was in his senior year of high school, and countless netizens were waiting to see his college entrance exam results so they could laugh at him. But now even his once-prized acting skills were gone.

Jiang Zi'ang: "Huh?"

Why didn't anyone tell him earlier? In his previous life, he'd transmigrated right after taking the college entrance exam, and he'd gotten into Qingbei!

Compared to acting, studying wasn't just his comfort zone. It was his dominion.

People don't share the same joys and sorrows.

Gu Susu was falling apart.

She'd been out of school for years, and now she had to take the college entrance exam. Her mind was a blank, and she couldn't remember a single thing she'd learned.

The Gu Susu of the past stared at Jiang Zi'ang. "I ranked second in the whole city back then! You've got none of my old brilliance. How could you get a question like this wrong?"

The Jiang Zi'ang of today stared back at Gu Susu. "Mom, if you get this one wrong again, you have to do a hundred extra questions."

"Mom, if you don't study properly, you won't get into college."

"Mom, I've never taught a student as slow as you."

Gu Susu collapsed and covered her face. She'd lost every last bit of dignity as a mother!

On Jiang Zi'ang's first day back at high school with Gu Susu, someone took a photo of them and posted it online.

Rumors spread that Jiang Zi'ang and Gu Susu were in an ambiguous relationship.

People even said they looked like a married couple.

Jiang Zi'ang: "..."

Could it be that she's my actual mother?

Soon, the scene before him shocked him even more.

His father, who'd never dared say a harsh word before, coldly told his mother, "Stop clinging to me. I'll never like you."

Jiang Zi'ang's jaw dropped. "Y-you... How can you talk to her like that?"

"Don't make it so I can't get home tonight! I'm not going to kneel outside with you."

Jiang Hanshan looked at Jiang Zi'ang, who bore some resemblance to him, then at Gu Susu, whose face was red with anger. He muttered, "Nonsense," and walked away.

Jiang Zi'ang looked at his father's back, then at Gu Susu.

He tried his best to make himself invisible.

Gu Susu angrily slapped Jiang Zi'ang on the back. "I'm telling you! From now on, you're a kid without a father!"

"I'm never going to chase after him again!"

Jiang Zi'ang: "..."

"Oh..."

So Mom really had meant it when she'd boasted about that in the past.

They'd just switched roles.

Still, every time Jiang Zi'ang saw his father being cruel to his mother, his six-foot-one frame would shudder in fright.

He'd look at his father with sympathy and mournful concern.

A few days later,

Jiang Zi'ang earned the nickname "Wanan, the Substitute for the One You Love." Everyone assumed Gu Susu couldn't win Jiang Hanshan over, so she'd found a replacement who looked like him.

Jiang Zi'ang: "Nice."

"I've become a part of my parents' play."

Blurb written on: July 20, 2023.

Theme: Study hard