Chapter 178 Fatal Question
Max continued his relentless list, "Sixth, you handle ALL the housework! When Mommy and I lived together, I couldn't bear to let her clean anything. She can't cook, so you need to learn. When Mommy's hungry, you cook for her, and it has to be delicious, no terrible food allowed. You have to know how to do laundry, sweep, mop..."
Alexander interrupted, "Is there more?"
Max launched into an unstoppable monologue, "Seventh, Mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world. That's the first commandment of marrying my mommy. You need to proactively learn what she likes and memorize what she hates."
Alexander's expression shifted.
Alexander gritted his teeth and endured Max's recitation of over twenty conditions that sounded like he was reading from a textbook. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "I can meet all the conditions you've mentioned."
Max raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I don't believe you."
"Why not?" Alexander asked.
Grace rubbed her forehead. She had no idea what Alexander was thinking, these conditions seemed rather harsh to her.
"Max, these requirements are too demanding," she said.
But Max wasn't backing down, "I can meet all these conditions myself. If he's sincere about marrying you, why can't he do the same?"
That left everyone speechless.
Alexander said, "I'm mentally prepared."
Max replied, "Really? Are you ready for my formal interview then?"
Alexander was stunned. "There's an actual test?"
"Of course!" Max declared. "If you want to marry my mommy, you need to pass an exam."
With that, he somehow produced a sheet of paper and sat down facing Alexander with such a serious, professional demeanor that made him look like a miniature interviewer!
"Once you're ready, we'll begin," he announced.
Alexander said helplessly, "Alright, test me."
Max emphasized, "Ten questions total, 100 points maximum, 60 to pass. Though knowing your standards, I'm sure you'll aim for a perfect score."
"Bring it on," Alexander replied.
Max immediately launched into the first question, "Using a scoring system, rate Mommy's looks. How beautiful is she? On a scale of 1 to 10, what's your score?"
Alexander answered without hesitation, "10."
"Wrong!" Max mercilessly narrowed his eyes and deducted a point on his scorecard.
Alexander looked confused. "What's wrong with my answer?"
Max turned to Liam.
Liam stepped forward and declared emphatically, "100 points!"
Alexander fell silent.
Grace was absolutely dumbfounded.
Alexander protested, "This question doesn't count—you didn't say the maximum was 100 points."
Max replied innocently, "I also didn't say the maximum was 10 points."
Max looked at Liam with an innocent expression and said seriously, "Mommy's beauty is 100 points. Even Liam knows that."
Liam nodded vigorously and emphasized again, "Mommy is the most beautiful in the world!"
"Next question," Alexander said.
He was actually quite interested in Max's line of questioning.
He was curious what other tricky questions this clever little devil would use to stump him.
Max continued, "Second question: One day, a pregnant woman comes to you claiming you're responsible for her unborn child. What do you do?"
Alexander answered, "Terminate the pregnancy."
Max made a thoughtful sound, "Wrong. Minus 1 point."
Liam muttered from the side, "Why would daddy get another woman pregnant?"
Max said, "There's only one correct answer, this situation would never exist."
Max threw out the third question, "On Valentine's Day, your female secretary messages you on social media saying she needs to work overtime at the office. Do you spend Valentine's Day with Mommy or go to the office?"
Alexander replied, "Spend Valentine's Day with your mommy."
Max looked utterly disappointed. "Wrong, minus 1 point. Why would you have a female secretary on your social media contacts?"
Alexander realized that Max's questions were highly deceptive—they were all traps.
Max asked again, "Fourth question, Who's prettier, your ex-girlfriend or Mommy?"
Alexander said, "I don't have any ex-girlfriends."
Max looked surprised and probed gossip-style, "Really? You really don't have any ex-girlfriends?"
Alexander replied, "I never lie, and I don't stoop to lying."
Only then did Max show a rare satisfied expression before asking, "Fifth question, One day you're shopping with Mommy and pass by a gorgeous woman with an amazing figure. Mommy asks you who's prettier—her or that beautiful lady. How do you respond?"
Alexander looked genuinely baffled, "What woman? I didn't see anyone."
Max nodded approvingly.
Grace was struggling to suppress her laughter.
Why was Max asking such interview questions with such a straight face?
And the key was that Alexander was answering so seriously—they really were father and son.
"Final question!"
Max elegantly propped his chin on one hand and asked, "You have ten seconds to explain the cooking method for 'braised pork ribs.'"
Alexander, who never cooked, drew a complete blank.
Max looked disgusted, "Mommy's favorite food is braised pork ribs, and you don't even know that. You don't understand Mommy well enough at all. I'm sorry, you failed my interview. Please try harder next time."
With that, he solemnly handed Alexander the scorecard.
Alexander took it and glanced over it, "50 points."
He'd gotten seven questions right—how was that only 50 points?
Alexander looked closer and saw that the last question had been docked 30 points.
Alexander asked in bewilderment, "Why did the last question lose so many points?"
Max looked genuinely confused, "I never said each question was worth 10 points. I only said the total was 100 points with 60 to pass. What's the problem?"
Grace couldn't hold back anymore and burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.
Max was just too adorable.
But Max looked innocent, "Mommy, what are you laughing at?"
Grace wiped away tears of laughter and said, "I just think that if every man who wants to court Mommy has to pass your screening first, will Mommy ever be able to get married?"
But Max looked aggrieved, "Mommy, is it wrong for me to strictly vet candidates so you marry a good man? What if you misjudge someone and end up with a bad guy? You'd be better off not marrying at all."
Liam nodded like a little follower, "Yeah! Better not marry at all."
Alexander couldn't help pinching his cheek, "Whose side are you on exactly?"
Liam resisted and struggled, pushing him away and hiding behind Max—his allegiance couldn't have been clearer.
Grace stifled her laughter.