Maximize Interest, My Money Grows Infinitely-Chapter 176 - 162: Matters of the Heart Cannot Be Controlled by Anyone

Chapter 176: Chapter 162: Matters of the Heart Cannot Be Controlled by Anyone

Wen Shulin stood outside the gate of Wanliu Academy, her eyes dim and dull, filled with deep weariness.

She took out her phone, found her conversation with Chen Cheng, typed and deleted a few times, eventually sending only one message: I’m back.

For her, work was already challenging enough, and now she had to deal with Su Liya, whose behavior was inexplicable.

Still, Wen Shulin managed to squeeze out a smile, placed her hand on the fingerprint lock, and opened the door.

Mrs. Shen heard the noise and came out from the nanny’s room, "Madam."

She took the bag from Wen Shulin and handed over slippers.

Wen Shulin changed her shoes, "You haven’t rested yet?"

"Waiting specially for you to come back," Mrs. Shen responded, "Would you like to eat something?"

Wen Shulin glanced at the time; it was almost midnight. "No need, you go rest."

"Alright, Madam."

Wen Shulin walked toward Su Liya’s bedroom, standing at the door and first listening for any sounds inside.

The room was quiet. Wen Shulin gently pushed open the door and saw Su Liya lying on the bed; the "Good Girl" dress she had just bought was already thrown on the floor.

She tiptoed over, smiling as she gently patted Su Liya’s bottom, "Such a big girl, why aren’t you wearing clothes?"

Su Liya didn’t expect Wen Shulin to come back tonight, her face showing a bit of surprise, "Mommy, why are you back?"

Wen Shulin sat on the bed, touching her head, "I came back after finishing my business!"

Su Liya sat up and hugged Wen Shulin’s arm, coquettishly saying, "Mommy, I thought you didn’t care about me anymore."

Wen Shulin gently scraped her nose, "Silly girl, how could Mommy not care about you?"

Su Liya pouted, "But you haven’t spent much time with me recently."

Wen Shulin looked guilty, "It’s Mommy’s fault, work has been too busy. But Mommy’s always thinking of you."

Su Liya blinked, "Then can Mommy spend more time with me in the future?"

Wen Shulin nodded, "Of course, baby. Tell Mommy, have you had any troubles lately?"

Su Liya lowered her head, shaking it, "No, just no one to talk to when you’re not here."

Wen Shulin smiled, "Then tonight Mommy will talk with you, is that good?"

"Aren’t you leaving?"

"Don’t you want me to stay?"

Su Liya shook and then nodded her head.

Wen Shulin, still smiling, "You lie down nicely; I’ll go take a shower."

Su Liya obediently crawled into bed, yet her eyes steadfastly watched Wen Shulin.

Wen Shulin walked to the wardrobe, her back towards Su Liya, gently unbuttoned her shirt collar.

Her nimble fingers moved skillfully. She slightly turned her head, glanced at Su Liya lying quietly on the bed, and continued unbuttoning.

As the buttons came undone one by one, her pale neck gradually exposed, and the blouse opened to reveal the delicate collarbone underneath.

Slowly, she slid the shirt off her shoulders and hung it on the clothes hanger nearby.

Then, her hands moved to her back, unhooking her bra. That instant, her body slightly relaxed, as if shedding a layer of constraints.

Bending over, her fingers hooked the zipper of her skirt, gently pulling it down, the skirt slid down her slender legs and fell to the floor, gathering into a soft pile of fabric.

Wen Shulin took out one of Su Liya’s pajamas from the wardrobe, "Can I wear this one?"

Su Liya obediently nodded, "Mommy, your figure seems even better now."

"Really? You should exercise more too." Wen Shulin turned around, gently kissed her forehead, "Go to sleep if you’re tired."

"I’m not sleepy."

Wen Shulin smiled, walking into the bathroom.

Shortly after, the sound of running water came from the bathroom.

Su Liya lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind filled with images of Chen Cheng.

Ding!

A notification sound of a message delivery.

Su Liya turned to look at Wen Shulin’s phone left on the bedside table, initially disregarding it.

Ding!

Another sound.

"Who’s looking for Mommy this late?"

Hesitating, Su Liya eventually couldn’t resist picking up the phone.

The screen lit up, displaying a message from Chen Cheng.

"Uncle!"

Su Liya’s heart thumped.

She pursed her lips, glanced in the direction of the bathroom, and her fingers unconsciously unlocked the screen, entering Wen Shulin’s password.

Chen Cheng: Okay.

Chen Cheng: Rest early, good night.

Su Liya’s eyebrows furrowed, full of confusion.

Wen Shulin had already deleted all chat records with Chen Cheng before entering the house.

"What do these two disconnected messages mean? What exactly are Mommy and Uncle talking about?"

The more Su Liya thought, the more it felt off. "Uncle telling Mommy goodnight?"

She exited in a trance, clicked on the gallery.

But at first glance, she saw that low-key declaration of love that was trending a few days ago.

Su Liya gasped in surprise, covering her mouth. From the photo, it seemed the location was taken somewhere quite a distance from the Citibank Building.

As she scrolled up the photo, the detailed location appeared before her eyes.

"Bao Lijia Hotel?"

Su Liya wondered to herself, "Mom always stays exclusively at the Tan Palace; why did she go to a hotel?"

More and more questions began swirling in her head.

Her fingers continued to swipe left.

The next second, Su Liya’s eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat.

She saw a photo of Wen Shulin and Chen Cheng at Yu Garden.

In the photo, the two of them were very close; Wen Shulin was even linking arms with Chen Cheng.

Her hands started to tremble, tears swirling in her eyes.

"How could Mom be with Uncle, and smiling so happily?"

She continued scrolling and saw the photo Wen Shulin took of Chen Cheng mixing crab roe noodles.

For a moment, Su Liya’s mind exploded in chaos.

She clenched her phone tightly, murmuring to herself: "So, the reason Uncle didn’t accept me was because..."

Her gaze unconsciously drifted towards the bathroom, "Why..."

Right then, the sound of water from the bathroom stopped.

Su Liya quickly put the phone back in its place and lay down again.

Creak~

Wen Shulin came out in her pajamas, a towel in her hands, drying her wet hair.

She looked at those bright, wide eyes and smiled, "What’s up? Did you drink coffee tonight? Your eyes are so wide."

Su Liya shook her head frantically, still unable to believe her own mother also liked Chen Cheng.

But recalling the few times she witnessed, Wen Shulin seemed to have had feelings for him already.

"Could it be that uncle showed the surveillance video just for Mom, not for me?"

Wen Shulin noticed something was off with Su Liya, sat on the bed, and asked with concern, "Li Ya, what’s wrong? Is there something you’re hiding from Mom?"

Su Liya bit her lip but shook her head.

"Are you being bullied at school?" Wen Shulin asked again.

"No... my classmates are quite good to me." She paused, then sat up and looked at Wen Shulin.

"So, you are..."

Su Liya took a deep breath, "Mom, how far have things progressed with Chen Cheng?"

Wen Shulin’s eyebrows knitted, a flash of panic crossing her face, "Li Ya, why do you suddenly ask this?"

Su Liya’s eyes reddened, not sure what to say, so she simply said, "Today I saw him at school."

"What?"

"Not exactly saw, I just watched a girl getting off his car." Su Liya clutched Wen Shulin’s hand, "Mom, you and him..."

Wen Shulin looked at Su Liya’s eyes, filled with eagerness and grievance, feeling tangled inside.

After a long silence, she slowly spoke, "Li Ya, Mom and Chen Cheng just started knowing each other, nothing has been determined yet."

Tears swirled in Su Liya’s eyes, her voice crying, "Mom, would you ignore me because of him?"

Wen Shulin hugged Su Liya tenderly, "Never, my dear. Mom will never ignore you."

Su Liya broke free from Wen Shulin’s embrace, "Then can’t you let him go?"

Wen Shulin’s heart twisted painfully. She then realized why Su Liya was unhappy.

"You two just met, then..."

"Li Ya."

Wen Shulin said softly, "You don’t understand adult matters."

"I don’t understand? How do I not understand! I’ve seen the photos in your phone! He even told you goodnight!"

Wen Shulin’s color drained from her face, not expecting Su Liya had seen so much.

"Li Ya, Mommy..." Wen Shulin faltered, unsure how to explain.

Su Liya’s tears wouldn’t stop flowing, "Mom, tell me, what are you thinking?"

"Mom likes him."

Su Liya trembled, she turned and buried herself in the blanket, crying heartbreakingly.

Wen Shulin sat by the bed, her heart wrenching as she listened to her daughter’s cries.

She didn’t know how to choose; on one side was Chen Cheng, who stirred her heart; on the other, her dearly loved daughter.

"Li Ya."

Wen Shulin gently tugged at a corner of the blanket, but Su Liya held it tightly.

"Mom will handle this matter." Two lines of tears slid down Wen Shulin’s cheeks, "Mom doesn’t want to see you this sad."

At that moment, Su Liya fiercely threw off the blanket, her eyes swollen as she looked at Wen Shulin, "Mom, for me, can’t you stop seeing him, please?"

Wen Shulin bit her lip, her mind filled with memories with Chen Cheng.

"Mom can promise you anything except this."

Su Liya was stunned by Wen Shulin’s words. She stared blankly at her mother, never having seen such a resolute and firm gaze before.

"Mom, how could you do this? You know I like him too!"

Wen Shulin turned her head away, not daring to look her daughter in the eyes, "Li Ya, Mom doesn’t want this either, but Mom truly likes him."

"What should I do then? You’re my mom, why are you competing with me?"

Wen Shulin turned back, her eyes also filled with tears, "Li Ya, this isn’t about competing, feelings aren’t something one can control."

Su Liya clenched the duvet, looking at Wen Shulin’s silhouette, "My feelings aren’t something anyone can control either."

"Li Ya!"

Wen Shulin was silent. She looked at her daughter’s defiant eyes, as if she also saw herself in those deep blue irises.