Chapter 294: Chapter 173: The Conflict Has Begun

Huh?

Shen Yun’s eyes widened slightly. She truly hadn’t expected Nuonuo’s request to be *this*!

She knew her daughter was precocious, but this was far too blunt!

’Couldn’t she be a little more tactful...’

Shen Yun’s already flushed face instantly grew more radiant, and she couldn’t help but chide her daughter.

"Nuonuo! What kind of person do you take me for? Shen and I are just dating like a normal couple. We haven’t gotten to that stage yet!"

"..."

’Oh, my dear mother, do you even believe that yourself?’

Xia Nuonuo was a bit speechless. She knew her mom was just being shy, so she let out a soft sigh.

"Just remember what I said. If Lin Shen insists on you having his baby, you have to break up with him!"

"He would never..."

Shen Yun muttered under her breath. That much was true.

She had a very clear understanding of their situation. Her relationship with Lin Shen was purely that of a lover, not a real girlfriend.

He definitely wouldn’t agree to having children, and given her age, it worked out perfectly for both of them.

All they needed to do was enjoy the process without worrying about the outcome.

However, Xia Nuonuo’s words did spark an idea in Shen Yun’s mind.

’Should I take some... permanent measures?’

’Like getting a procedure done at the hospital or something...’

’I can’t just keep taking pills or using condoms forever!’

’The pills are bad for my body, and the condoms ruin the experience.’

As Shen Yun silently mulled it over, Xia Nuonuo abruptly changed the subject.

"Is the information about Lin Shen all true?"

Xia Nuonuo asked, looking straight into Shen Yun’s eyes.

"He looks like he’s only in his twenties. How could he earn tens of millions on his own? I don’t believe it."

"I wasn’t lying about that, you know,"

Shen Yun said with a gentle smile.

"He really did make a fortune from investments and currency trading. He’s working hard to build a business in the pet industry now, and just like me, he’s completely self-made."

"That’s also why I li— um, admire him so much. He’s truly remarkable, and he has a wonderful personality. You saw it yourself at lunch yesterday, wasn’t he so good to me? And don’t you think Shen is incredibly handsome? That strong brow, those sharp, chiseled features, and his body is amazing, too..."

Once the topic turned to Lin Shen, it was as if Shen Yun couldn’t stop talking. She chirped on and on, praising and boasting about his virtues with a faint, happy smile on her lips.

Seeing her mother looking so blissfully happy, Xia Nuonuo actually let out a quiet sigh of relief. She was genuinely happy for her.

She understood just how awful her mother’s experiences had been over the years, how arduous her life had been.

A failed marriage, the pressures of her career, even her own daughter talking back to her sometimes...

Although she appeared to be holding the entire family together, her lonely heart desperately needed a man to lean on.

And then, Lin Shen appeared at just the right moment.

’Perhaps this is fate?’

Xia Nuonuo decided not to dwell on Lin Shen’s identity and family background anymore. ’With Mom’s shrewdness, she must have already done a thorough background check anyway.’

She glanced up at Shen Yun’s infatuated expression, the look of someone completely lost in love, and couldn’t help but sigh again.

’I just hope Mom doesn’t get deceived.’

—

—

「12:40 PM, Xichao Apartment Community.」

A solid black Mercedes-Benz E-Class was parked in front of Building 4.

Cheng Yue sat in the driver’s seat, glancing repeatedly at the Rolex on his left wrist.

He was already ten minutes past their agreed-upon meeting time, but he waited patiently.

Before long, Gu Wanting came downstairs.

Since she was meeting her parents and sister today, she was dressed more modestly than usual, opting for a wholesome and casual style.

She wore a light blue, ribbed-knit top with a cartoon print, blue-and-white checkered wide-leg pants, and a pair of round-toed, thick-soled white sneakers.

It was a fresh, clean look, perfect for a daily commute or for meeting people, and it gave her an energetic vibe.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go."

"No problem."

Once Gu Wanting was settled in the passenger seat, Cheng Yue pulled away from the curb and added with a chuckle,

"I got some gifts for your parents and your sister. They’re in the trunk. You can give them to them when we get there."

"Oh? What did you get?"

"Some health supplements, and your sister’s favorite Disney plush toy."

"Wow! You’re so sweet!"

Gu Wanting said, beaming.

"Thank you, Cheng Yue. You’re the best~"

"Heh heh."

Cheng Yue rubbed his nose, a warm feeling spreading through his chest at her praise. His eyes kept darting over to steal glances at Gu Wanting beside him.

He was crazy about his girlfriend.

It wasn’t just that she was gorgeous with a great body; she also knew how to make him feel good.

Sure, she threw a little tantrum now and then and could be a bit stubborn and willful, but he could always win her over by buying her a gift. She was easy to manage.

But there was one thing that he just couldn’t stomach.

That was Gu Wanting’s ex-boyfriend, Lin Shen.

The thought of her living with him for three years was like a knife twisting in Cheng Yue’s gut.

And the worst part was, back when he helped her move out of their old rental, he’d found a bunch of sexy cosplay outfits!

For a while, Cheng Yue found that almost impossible to accept!

’But what could he do? He was the one who fell for Gu Wanting.’

’Besides, what kind of world is this, anyway? It’s not like you can find that many "pure" girls out there anymore!’

’Get real, man!’

Cheng Yue had to console himself with these thoughts every time it came up. He quickly changed the subject.

"Tingting, how’s work been lately?"

"Ugh, don’t even ask! What even *are* my coworkers? They’re a bunch of monsters! Total fakes!"

Gu Wanting launched into an irritated rant, but he, who had all the emotional intelligence of a rock, was terrible at comforting people. He actually told her to reflect on whether *she* was the problem and to try looking for the cause within herself.