For a moment, the atmosphere between the four of them was a bit awkward.

Of course, it was to be expected.

Xia Nuonuo was naturally quiet, and Shen Yun couldn’t be bothered to speak to her ex-husband or the sister she’d cut ties with.

Shen Yuanyuan had even less reason to speak, as she was only there to accompany Xia Qingguo while he saw his daughter.

Everyone had their own reasons for being silent, so there was no way they could all sit together and have a pleasant chat.

Fortunately, Xia Qingguo was good at finding topics for conversation. He used ordering food as an excuse to start talking, managing to salvage the atmosphere and prevent a total freeze.

Not that it was very lively, of course.

It was mostly Xia Qingguo who was enthusiastic, showering Xia Nuonuo with all sorts of questions and showing his concern, trying to reawaken the father-daughter bond that had lain dormant for years.

But Xia Nuonuo remained silent most of the time, only murmuring a few quiet words when the conversation turned to music.

Once Xia Qingguo noticed this, he immediately zeroed in on the topic. With great emotional intelligence, he took a step back and let Xia Nuonuo take the lead.

This strategy served two purposes: one, it would make her feel a sense of importance from being deferred to, and two, it showed that he shared her interests.

This clever conversational tactic gradually got Xia Nuonuo to open up, and she became slightly more talkative.

Seeing her daughter chatting idly with Xia Qingguo, a jealous Shen Yun, not to be outdone, began recounting how much she’d supported Xia Nuonuo’s musical pursuits.

As the three of them were making idle chitchat, Shen Yuanyuan, who had nothing to contribute, looked up and suddenly noticed a person standing at the restaurant’s entrance.

He glanced left and right, as if looking for someone.

Shen Yuanyuan froze for a second, then a look of stunned admiration flashed in her eyes.

’What a handsome guy!’

He was dressed casually in charcoal tie-dye shorts and a short-sleeved outer shirt over a white T-shirt. The classic black-and-white pairing made the whole outfit look simple yet stylish.

The outfit might have been casual, but you can’t hide a perfect build!

His textured, spiky hairstyle highlighted a sharp hairline. He had a prominent brow, deep-set eyes, and a chiseled, almost severe, jawline.

He had a powerful presence, exuding the vibrant energy of a handsome young man without lacking a mature, steady air.

At over 1.8 meters tall, he was eye-catching just standing there. The definition in his calves showed that he worked out; ’he must lead a very disciplined life.’

’Clearly, he was physically flawless!’

Even though she had seen all kinds of handsome men abroad, the man at the door instantly caught Shen Yuanyuan’s eye.

’If Xia Qingguo weren’t sitting beside her, she might have gone right up to him and started a conversation.’

’What a shame!’

Just as Shen Yuanyuan was lamenting her missed opportunity, she was surprised to see the man slowly walking toward their table, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

’Wait!’

’Could it be?’

Shen Yuanyuan’s heart suddenly raced. She stole a glance at Xia Qingguo beside her, wondering how she could subtly downplay their connection. But just then, Shen Yun, sitting diagonally across from her, abruptly stood up, smiled, and linked her arm with the man’s.

"Lin Shen, you’re finally here... Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Lin Shen, my boyfriend."

Huh?

The other three people at the table stared in astonishment, each for their own shocked reason.

Xia Nuonuo was surprised because while she knew her mother had a boyfriend, she never expected him to be so young!

’She’d assumed he would be a successful, middle-aged man in his thirties.’

’But who would have thought her mom was actually dating a college guy more than ten years her junior!’

’Though, he really is handsome.’

Even though Xia Nuonuo despised men, she had to admit that Lin Shen was more handsome than most guys she had ever seen.

’But there’s no way he’s ’doing very well in his career,’ is there?’

’What kind of career could someone that young have built?’

’He’s probably just after Mom’s money.’

’A classic toy boy!’

In an instant, whatever favorable impression Xia Nuonuo had of Lin Shen due to his looks vanished completely, replaced by a growing sense of revulsion.

Meanwhile, Xia Qingguo, sitting across from them, put down his knife and fork. His eyes were wide with utter disbelief.

His purpose for coming today, aside from seeing Xia Nuonuo, had been to show off his own happy relationship in front of Shen Yun.

After all, from his perspective, a forty-two-year-old divorcée with a child was probably done with romance for good.

And what does she do? She turns around and starts keeping a handsome college kid!

The move caught Xia Qingguo completely off guard, and his expression instantly turned awkward.

’I forgot how rich Shen Yun is!’

Shen Yuanyuan, on the other hand, wore a look of pure disdain.

’So she’s keeping a man, big deal!’

’Calling him her boyfriend... Yeah, right. Who’s she kidding?’

’What is wrong with handsome guys these days? With looks like that, he could do anything, get any girl he wants.’

’Why go for a forty-something-year-old hag?’

’Such questionable taste!’

The three of them were lost in their own thoughts, but Shen Yun had only one thing on her mind: showing off Lin Shen.

"Was work busy? You must be tired."

Shen Yun thoughtfully pulled out a tissue and dabbed at the non-existent sweat on Lin Shen’s forehead. After he sat down, still on her arm, she smiled and explained.

"Sorry about that. My boyfriend was busy helping with his family’s business, so he’s a little late."

’Helping with his family’s business?’

The words caught Shen Yuanyuan’s attention, and she immediately gave Lin Shen a thorough once-over.

An LV shirt, a Rolex watch.

’The whole outfit must be worth over five hundred thousand...’

’Are those his own?’

’Didn’t Shen Yun buy them for him?’

Shen Yuanyuan was puzzled. She decided to probe.

"What does your family do?"

"Just a small business. Nothing worth mentioning."

Lin Shen said humbly. But the more humble he was, the more uncertain Shen Yuanyuan and Xia Qingguo felt.