Mrs. Fu, please be mindful of the appropriate boundaries.

"no."

The man got up and started to walk out, trying to forcefully end the conversation.

Ding Jing was furious when she saw him like this. "Yu Shinan, if your dad were still alive, he'd really beat you a few times to see if you could make a sound and tell the truth! You're hiding something from me too!"

"Mom, you're overthinking it."

Without waiting for Ding Jing to ask any more questions, he turned and left.

Hearing the door close, Ding Jing angrily brewed a large cup of chrysanthemum tea.

relieve inflammation.

Yu Shinan dug a hole with a shovel, worked diligently for a while, and worked up a sweat.

He carried the shovel inside, glanced at Ding Jing who was standing at the door staring at him coldly, and said, "Didn't you want to plant a magnolia tree outside the door? You can just plant it when the tree comes."

"It's none of your business. A few contract workers can handle it," Ding Jing said irritably.

Yu Shinan didn't argue with her. He took some water to wash his hands and face. "Once I'm done with this busy period, I'll find someone to see if we can dig a well over there in the garden. That way, you won't have to drag that water pipe every day and risk hurting your back."

The man's deep voice echoed in the night. The light from the black capped chandelier in the courtyard wasn't very bright, but it still illuminated the sweat on his neck.

Ding Jing's eyes stung as she watched him splash some cold water on his neck.

The Yu family wasn't a wealthy family; they had climbed their way up through a life of constant danger. This gray path was like walking a tightrope; even if they weren't schemed against by Wei Jingwu and his gang, they might still have been defeated by something else entirely.

Yu Shinan's father had said countless times that the Yu family would have to transform sooner or later, because times had changed, but before that could happen, he was gone.

When the Yu family fell from grace, plummeting from the top to the ground, countless people mocked and vilified them, taking every opportunity to trample on them, regardless of whether they were human or not. All the burdens fell on his shoulders, yet he never complained.

Despite the scolding, he is still his own son, and he feels both heartache and sadness.

If he could find someone he likes to spend his life with, that would be fine.

Ding Jing frowned. "Take a shower and go to bed early. You don't need to worry about my affairs. I'd be grateful if you could think more about your own business."

Turning to go inside, she stopped, still unwilling to give up. "You're all grown up now, I can't fathom your thoughts. But I am curious, who is the person you still hold dear?"

Yu Shinan paused, his hand holding the towel still. After a long while, he chuckled, his head aching. "Mom, what are you thinking?"

"That's true. If you're really going to pretend, you can't act like this with Lin Yuanqing," Ding Jing said irritably. "Every time she comes and calls me 'Mom,' I don't know whether I should answer. Yu Shinan, dragging things out isn't the spirit of a man from the Yu family. If you're going to marry, then marry quickly; if you're not going to marry, then break up quickly!"

Ding Jing left those words in a huff and went back to her room, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Yu Shinan stopped in the yard for a while, then took a change of clothes and went to the shower room to take a shower.

The clothes she had worn were neatly folded and placed on the bed, along with the clothes he had changed out of and carelessly tossed on the bed.

Those inappropriate images appeared clearly before his eyes, magnifying little by little, until he could almost see the texture of her skin.

Her skin was cool, and when I touched her, every cell in my body seemed to come alive suddenly, out of control…

Yu Shinan glanced down at himself, cursed under his breath, and turned to take a shower.

The weather is warm, not hot, but dry.

When the cold water came down, my body felt like a red-hot iron that hissed and steamed as it met the water.

The man braced himself against the wall with one hand, the muscles in his arm conveying a suppressed strength. Water gushed down from above, landing on his shoulder and running down the taut muscles of his broad shoulders.

The man's jawline was so taut that even the veins on his neck were bulging.

Brother Nan...

The girl's long black hair, her fair skin like tofu, and her tearful cry of "Brother Nan" were like the most deadly poison—you knew it was wrong, but you were still addicted.

The weather was lovely; even the stars in the night sky seemed brighter. The night was cool and still, perfect for a good night's sleep.

The man lying in bed couldn't fall asleep.

He has no one in his heart, no one at all.

His mother is really overthinking it.

Yu Shinan pressed down on his violently heaving chest. The more serious he appeared on the surface, the more shameless he was behind the scenes.

She respectfully calls him Brother Nan, treating him like an older brother.

But that kind of thought was all he could think about.

They are worse than beasts.

Yu Shinan closed his eyes, thinking about how cautious she was when she spoke to him, and how relaxed and smiling she was when she talked to Han Yi.

She married the person she loved.

If all the pain he had inflicted on her could be healed in this way, that would be good too.

She can still have a proper conversation with him, which is perhaps the best possible outcome.

When Tao Xi arrived at Shuguang Farm, she found Fu Sichen already in the room. She was surprised. "Didn't you say you weren't coming tonight, but tomorrow morning?"

"Yes, Brother Nan and his girlfriend went back, so it's not appropriate for me to stay there," Fu Sichen said calmly.

"Ah! The aunt you said you went to see, is she your brother Nan's mother?" Tao Xi suddenly realized.

Fu Sichen hummed in response, without any particular expression.

Tao Xi suddenly leaned closer, "Si Chen, I'm a gossip."

"What?"

"Did you ever have a crush on your brother Nan?"

Fu Sichen was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Tao Xi, "Are you crazy? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

"Oh, come on, you're married now anyway. But a young girl's heart is always so poetic. You said so many guys were pursuing you, but you wouldn't go out with them, saying they were too young little brats. I just felt you liked older, more mature types. Back then, all I heard you say 'Brother Nan' all the time, I was sick of it." Tao Xi recalled, resting her chin on her hand. "You have no idea how envious I was back then, ahhhhhh, I wanted a romantic older brother like that too."

"What nonsense are you thinking! Don't let your boyfriend hear you say that." Fu Sichen smiled, deftly changing the subject.

Fu Sichen was not unaware of Lin Yuanqing's hostility, but defending his own territory didn't seem wrong.

She really doesn't want to get caught up in that unrequited love anymore; it's too painful. Since she's already let go, she shouldn't cling to it.

……

The opening ceremony of Shuguang Farm was held outdoors, with flowers in full bloom and exquisite designs. It was clear that the event was specially designed, with many units to facilitate photos and videos by celebrities and online influencers, and even a live broadcast after the event.

There were a lot of people there.

Fu Sichen came with Tao Xi, so he naturally followed her.

As soon as she sat down, Tao Xi nudged Fu Sichen's elbow, "Hey, you over there."

"Which one?"

"The one in the pink floral dress, Ruan Weiyue."

Fu Sichen didn't react for a moment, and Tao Xi rolled her eyes. "That little starlet who had a rumored affair with your husband a while ago!"