Chapter 1The Ex-Change

On Mother's Day, there was an "Exchange Love for Items" event on the roadside. My younger brother was clamoring to exchange for an ice cream.

I wanted to take him to the nearby supermarket to buy one.

But Mom stopped me: "Why waste that money? Just exchange your love for it, wouldn't that be better?"

I couldn't believe it and confirmed again: "My love for you?"

Mom said indifferently: "What do I need that useless thing for? Might as well exchange it for an ice cream to make your brother happy."

I glanced at the promotional poster and nodded in agreement.

Fine, then I'll satisfy Mom's wish one last time.

* * *

"Are you sure you want to exchange your daughter's love for you for an ice cream? Once confirmed, this transaction cannot be reversed," the staff member confirmed again.

Mom nodded without a trace of hesitation: "It's just a fake thing anyway. Keeping it isn't as useful as exchanging it for something practical."

Listening to Mom's brisk words, my heart felt like it was being repeatedly tortured by a dull knife.

But the next second, Mom's expression changed when she got the procedure form, and she prepared to turn and leave: "Forget it, forget it."

Although I knew it was because the procedure was too cumbersome, I still breathed a sigh of relief.

At least, I could still fantasize that Mom was a little bit reluctant to let go of me.

Hearing this, my brother sat on the ground. At eighteen, he started throwing a tantrum like a child: "I want to exchange for ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!"

I hurried to pull him up, comforting him gently: "Justin, if you want ice cream, I'll take you to the supermarket next door to buy it."

But Justin wouldn't agree no matter what. Sitting on the ground hugging Mom's leg, he started wailing: "I want this one! I want this exchanged ice cream!"

I instantly understood. He didn't necessarily want to eat it; he did it on purpose.

Since childhood, he liked to snatch my things and do things I didn't want to see.

He said he would be angry if I went on family trips, so I never traveled with the family.

At home, my room was just his storage room.

Just because he wanted to occupy my room as a toy room, I could only sleep in the utility room.

And Mom never cared about my feelings, always trying her best to satisfy him.

And my momentary resistance out of extreme grievance would only be met with: "He's your brother, what's wrong with letting him have his way?"

This time, as expected, Mom compromised for him again.

"Okay, okay, okay, baby!"

"Get up quickly, the ground is dirty. Don't get germs on you, my ancestor."

After Mom agreed, Justin finally stood up, looking at me with triumph in his eyes, and even mouthed provocatively:

"See, I'm going to use your love to exchange for ice cream, hehe."

I involuntarily clenched my fists.

Mom got back in line and said impatiently to me: "What are you standing there stupidly for? Hurry up and come over!"

"I finally coaxed your brother, can't let him cry again."

I walked to Mom somewhat distractedly, comforting myself that this "Exchange Love for Items" was just a gimmick.

A person's emotions and subjective feelings are formed over a long time. How could they be deprived so easily?

Mom probably thought so too, which is why she agreed.

But the next second, I heard the staff member speak.

"Our event is realized by the latest technological means. It has been proven by tens of thousands of experiments. There is no room for regret. I confirm again, are you sure you want to exchange your daughter's love for you for an ice cream?"

I also saw the dense list of famous research institutes, top professors, and famous companies. The exchange process would be shown in the form of a live broadcast.

I was shocked. Perhaps my love for my mother could really disappear because of an ice cream.

Before I could recover from the shock, I heard Mom say: "If it's real, then it's real. As long as it makes my son happy, I'm willing. Everything else doesn't matter."