!?

Luna’s sudden move startled Xia Nuonuo, making her jolt to the side. She covered her mouth with one hand and glanced over at the rideshare driver. Seeing that the driver hadn’t noticed, she let out a quiet sigh of relief and whispered with a frown.

"Didn’t we agree not to do this outside?"

"I was just worried about you. I wanted to comfort you."

Luna held Xia Nuonuo’s hand tightly, her words filled with concern.

"What’s wrong? You don’t look so good..."

Xia Nuonuo fell silent for a long moment before suddenly asking.

"Luna, why are you..."

"Because you’re handsome."

Luna’s eyes were filled with adoration and admiration for Xia Nuonuo.

"You can play the guitar, you’re responsible, and you’re so considerate of others. It’s just so cool!"

"But there are plenty of other people like me."

Xia Nuonuo stared into Luna’s eyes.

"Why don’t you like them?"

"If I don’t like them, I just don’t. Does there have to be a reason?"

Luna blinked and immediately retorted.

"Aren’t you the same as me?"

"I’m only like this because I’ve seen my father’s disgusting true colors, and it makes me sick."

Xia Nuonuo stated in a solemn voice, then sighed softly, her words laced with melancholy.

"But I recently found something out. My mom has a new boyfriend, and he’s more than ten years younger than her."

"That’s pretty normal, isn’t it?"

Luna gently tried to console Xia Nuonuo.

"Hasn’t your mom been divorced for a long time?"

"But whenever I think about my mom being with that man, I feel really uncomfortable. It’s disgusting and upsetting."

Xia Nuonuo said fretfully, clutching her chest. Seeing this, Luna instantly understood.

"Don’t tell me... when you went home, you saw your mom and that man..."

"That’s exactly it."

Xia Nuonuo quickly cut Luna off, her expression lost and helpless.

"I don’t know how to face them, so I ran away. I know my mom wants to find happiness again, but I’m just so repulsed by what she’s doing."

"She was clearly hurt so badly in her relationships, and yet..."

"You’re not actually repulsed by your mom."

Luna hit the nail on the head, pointing out the reason for Xia Nuonuo’s inner turmoil.

"You just want your mom to be like you so you can get her approval. You want her to understand your situation, right?"

Luna’s words made Xia Nuonuo’s pupils shrink. She then gave a bitter smile.

"So I’m that selfish of a person..."

"It’s not selfishness. It’s a manifestation of the loneliness that comes from a lack of companionship."

Luna squeezed Xia Nuonuo’s hand and said gently.

"Find a chance to have an honest talk with your mom. I’m sure she’ll understand you."

"I don’t dare."

The usually strong Xia Nuonuo now seemed fragile enough to shatter, hugging her own shoulders and murmuring.

"I’m afraid my mom will hate me. Then I’ll have no family left."

"Then how about talking to your mom’s boyfriend?"

Luna suggested.

"Didn’t you say he’s more than ten years younger than your mom? That means he’s around our age. Maybe he’ll be able to understand you."

"If he agrees with you, I think he could help convince your mom, especially since she likes him so much. And if he doesn’t agree, he probably won’t tell her about this conversation. Given their relationship, he’ll definitely want to get on your good side."

Luna’s words made Xia Nuonuo’s eyes light up, as if she had found new hope.

’That’s right!’

’If Mom really likes Lin Shen, maybe I should talk to him first?’

Xia Nuonuo silently mulled it over.

—

—

「September 14, 2025. Monday.」

24°C–31°C, partly cloudy, level-2 southeast wind, 36% humidity.

[Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received a deposit of RMB 240,000 on September 14 at 12:01 AM. Current balance: 14,400,000.]

At 4:30 in the morning, the sky was a pale, hazy gray.

It wasn’t completely bright yet. It was as if the thick ink of the night sky had been diluted with water, turning it a deep cyan.

Lin Shen rarely woke up at this hour. Except for climbing Taishan the day before yesterday, he was usually fast asleep in bed at this time.

So he had no idea that the hazy, pre-dawn twilight could be so beautiful!

"Baby, look, the sky’s getting lighter."

The hazy gray sky filled her vision. A few sparrows perched on the branches in the garden, curiously observing the scene inside the master bedroom.

Shen Yun pressed her lips together, her watery, alluring eyes squinted into a slit. She could vaguely see the sky brightening outside the window, her expression overflowing with amorous bliss.

If Shen Yun had the chance to go back, she would immediately return to the moment last night when she’d provoked Lin Shen and warn herself not to run her mouth!

Otherwise, the consequences would be just like this morning.

—

—

「8:00 AM.」

Lin Shen drove out of Shen Yun’s villa, feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Even though he’d barely slept all night, his Spirit was still at its peak, and his stamina was extraordinarily high.

This was the effect of his attribute bonuses and items.

Lin Shen turned the steering wheel with his left hand, humming a little tune along with the car’s music, a faint, satisfied smile on his lips.

’Mature women really are something else. So delicious! When he was with Qin Yuenan, Jiang Wan, and the little girl, Lin Shen always felt like he was holding back. After all, those three were just rookies who needed to be handled with care. Lin Ping was better; he could be a bit more unrestrained with her. But Lin Shen didn’t dare use his full strength, as she was still too young. Only with Shen Yun could he be completely unrestrained. He even completed a mission!’

[Sports Health:]

[Challenge Mission: Accumulate 30 minutes in horse stance (Completed).]

[Reward: Sports Health Lv. 16 → Lv. 17]

[Reward: Exercise effect increased from 210% → 220%]

[Reward: Endocrine Regulation Potion x1]

[Challenge Mission: Hit the bullseye ten times in archery on a standard range.]

To be honest, the items Lin Shen had obtained by now had pretty much covered every aspect of his body’s functions.