All Chapters of The Approval System: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

When I set the photocopy of my in-state residency transfer in front of my mom, she was absorbed in watching Calvin Pierce’s son, Noah Pierce, play video games.I recognized the T-shirt Noah was wearing. I had seen it in a mall display window just last week. The price tag had four digits on it.In contrast, the sweatshirt on my own body, which was washed so many times that it had faded, already had frayed cuffs."What does this mean?" Mom picked up the paper, her brows knitting into a tight knot.I said calmly, "I transferred my in-state residency. I'll be living at school from now on."The sound of the game stopped. Noah blinked those wide, innocent eyes of his."Bro, don't be angry," he said softly. "Mom is doing this for your own good."Calvin walked over with a fruit platter and echoed him smoothly, "Miles, your mom doesn't earn money easily. Now that Noah is training in sports, our expenses are high. We're all family. We should be understanding of each other."Such familiar

Chapter 2

She thought I would be the same as before. She believed that after a few days, I would lower my head and admit I was wrong.Just like the last time I wanted to buy a competition prep book. Calvin had rejected the request, "There are pirated copies online anyway." I had swallowed the humiliation and rewrote a more detailed application in the Family Expense Portal.Just like the time before that, when I needed money to participate in a school study program. Calvin had said, "These activities are just a waste of money." I had no choice but to go to my homeroom teacher, Ms. Carter, and ask her to help prove the necessity of the program.None of that mattered anymore.If that $500 registration fee had arrived on time a month ago, maybe I would have kept enduring it.She never answered that phone call from me.That day, in the Family Expense Portal application, I wrote: "Math competition registration deadline is today. Registration fee is $500. Attached are screenshots of the registrat

Chapter 3

A month later, my phone received a text from an unfamiliar number."Miles, it’s Mom. Calvin says you blocked him? Stop being stubborn. Come home. Noah actually misses you."I deleted the message without replying.A short while later, my phone rang. It was Mom.I answered. She said, "Miles, that’s enough. I had Calvin transfer $2,000 to your card. That should last you for a while. Come home this weekend for dinner. Families don’t hold grudges overnight."I looked at the computer screen in front of me.I had just finished writing a block of code. This was my first freelance project, and the payment was $3,000."No need," I said. "Keep the money. I’m not coming back.""You—" She suppressed her anger. "Where are you right now? I’ll have the driver pick you up.""I’m where I’m supposed to be."I hung up.A few minutes later, Noah sent me a message."Bro, don’t be mad at Mom. She actually cares about you. So does Pops. He’s just afraid you’ll spend money recklessly and pick up ba

Chapter 4

When she saw me, Mom clearly froze.Noah spoke first, his voice sweet and innocent, "Bro? What are you doing here? Are you working a part-time job?"Calvin looked me over, his gaze lingering on the volunteer T-shirt I was wearing. A trace of barely concealed disdain flashed through his eyes, but his tone remained mild. "Miles, it’s been a while. Why are you helping out here? Is your coursework not that intense?"I ignored them and looked at Mom. "Did you need something?"Her expression was complicated; it was a mix of surprise, irritation, and a trace of something else. Maybe guilt.She stayed silent for a few seconds before speaking quietly, "Noah wants to apply to this university through the athletics track. We came to take a look."She paused, then lifted her eyes to me. Her tone was conflicted. "So… you really were recommended for admission."It did not sound like a question, more like a confirmation that came too late. Perhaps she had known all along. She just never truly t

Chapter 5

After that day, Mom began contacting me frequently.Sometimes it was a text message. "Miles, I passed by that fried chicken place you used to love today. I bought your favorite flavor. Do you want to come pick it up?"Sometimes it was a phone call. "Is there anything missing in your dorm? I can bring it over."Once, she showed up at my school in person, several shopping bags hanging from her hands."This is the latest phone model. I also bought you a top-of-the-line laptop." She tried to press the bags into my hands. "And these clothes… Noah said this is what young guys like these days…"I looked at the logos on the bags and suddenly felt a deep sense of irony. "Mom, do you know what size I wear?"She froze."Do you know what colors I like?"Do you know that I actually don’t care much about electronics? As long as it can run code, that’s enough for me."The anticipation on her face slowly turned into confusion, and finally, embarrassment. "I… I can ask…""No need." I pushed t

Chapter 6

I shook my head. "Dad, this was my own choice.""And your mom…""She came to see me last week," I said. "She said she wanted to give me some money, so I wouldn’t struggle too much abroad. I turned her down."Dad let out a sigh. "Your mom actually came to see me a few times after that. She asked what you like, what you need… She seemed like she really wanted to make up for it.""It’s too late," I said. "Once lost, some opportunities are gone permanently."Like that math competition and those three years that should have been cherished.Before leaving, I still went to see Mom one last time. She waited for me at a café downstairs from her office building, appearing to have aged a lot."So you’re really leaving?" she asked."Yeah. My flight is tomorrow."She handed me a bank card. "The PIN is your birthday. Don’t refuse it. Just think of it as… startup money from me."This time, I took it, not because I needed it, but because I knew that if I didn’t, she would carry this burden f

Chapter 7

"I can’t help you," I said.There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. Then came a sharp, piercing scream. "How can you be so heartless? We’re family!""We never were," I said calmly. "Noah, you’re 18 now. It’s time you learned to take responsibility for yourself."I hung up.I opened my laptop and searched the local news."Pierce Group Chairwoman Kills Husband" had already made the headlines.The report was detailed: Elaine Porter discovered that her husband, Calvin Pierce, was still entangled with his ex-wife and had been transferring company assets to overseas accounts. After a violent argument, Elaine struck Calvin in the head with a heavy object from the study, killing him on the spot.The article included a photo of Mom being escorted into a police car. Her head was lowered, her hair streaked with gray. She looked like an ordinary elderly woman, nothing like the powerful business figure she once was.In the comment section, netizens eagerly dissected the scanda

Chapter 8

"Where are you staying?" I asked."A friend’s place," he said vaguely. "Sometimes it’s… a coworker’s dorm."I didn’t press."Miles, I know I wronged you before." Noah’s tears fell into his coffee. "I shouldn’t have taken your things. I shouldn’t have spoken badly about you in front of Mom. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have dragged out that $500 for your competition registration…""It’s all in the past," I said."Can you forgive me?" He looked up with tear-filled eyes. "I really… really have nothing now."I watched the pedestrians rushing past outside the window.I thought of many years ago, when Noah spun around the living room in a brand-new pair of sneakers and grinned at me."Bro, look at the new sneakers Mom bought me. Aren’t they cool?"Back then, I was wearing a school uniform that had been washed until it faded white, my hand clenched around an expense request that had just been rejected in the Family Expense Portal.All I could say was, "They’re cool.""Noah," I said

Chapter 9

"I know about the $500 registration fee. It slipped out later from Noah. He said Calvin delayed it on purpose until it expired."I wanted to talk to you about it. But every time the words reached my lips, I didn’t know how to say them. I was afraid to admit I was wrong. Afraid to face the fact that I was a failed mother."Miles, I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I just want you to know that in my heart, you were always my proudest son."Every grade you earned, every step you made forward… I knew about them all. I knew you worked at the library, tutored on the side, and took on freelance projects."I went to see you secretly. Many times. I just didn’t dare let you see me."There’s a million on this card. It’s an account I opened with my own savings. Calvin didn’t know about it. The PIN is your birthday. It’s not much, but it should be enough to help you get through the early days abroad."Miles, fly. Fly as high as you can. As far as you can. Don’t look back."Don’t end up lik

Chapter 10

The project negotiations went smoothly. I stayed two extra days and met with several investors.On the final day, I went to the prison.Mom still had eight years left on her sentence.She had grown much thinner. Her back was slightly hunched, but her eyes were clear.When she saw me, she froze. Then her eyes reddened almost instantly."Miles…" Her voice caught.We picked up the phones on either side of the glass."Are you doing well?" she asked."Very well," I said. "The company’s growing steadily. I just bought a house in the Bay Area."She nodded, tears falling as she smiled."Good. That’s good… Mom is happy for you."After a moment of silence, I asked, "How are you?""I’m doing okay. I’m learning knitting." She forced a small smile. "Maybe after I’m released, I can open a little shop."Another stretch of silence."Noah…" she began with difficulty. "He came to see me twice. Then he stopped coming. I heard he’s not doing well…""Everyone has to take responsibility for t

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