Chapter 129: Jade Han

Zeng Xiaofan felt his heart skip a beat at these words, his footing faltering for a moment. He had naturally understood the subtext of Lin Yuru’s remark, and he couldn't help but freeze in place. The two stood there, gazing at each other across the distance, locking eyes for a long, lingering moment.

Finally, Zeng Xiaofan offered a gentle smile and said softly, "No, thank you, Auntie... I’m still quite full. Perhaps I’ll try your steamed buns another time when there’s an opportunity." With that, he turned and walked away.

After watching Zeng Xiaofan’s figure disappear, Lin Yuru, overwhelmed with shame, retreated into her courtyard and slammed the gate shut, bolting it tight. Backed against the wood, she began to pace frantically. "Good heavens... what have I just done?! I... I actually seduced that boy! I must be out of my mind... Lin Yuru, what is wrong with you today? No, no, no... I only wanted to thank him properly, I am absolutely not attracted to this man’s charm. Oh... Xiaofan! Your cursed charm! You’ve stirred up such a spring in your auntie’s heart! You bad, bad boy!"

She collapsed to the ground, her face buried in her hands, her beautiful curves shifting as she bit her lip, trembling with a mixture of agony and a strange, hidden smile. Clearly, in the span of just one night, Zeng Xiaofan had caused a tempest in her long-dormant heart. "Xiaofan, you little heart-stealer! One day, I will have you, and I will punish you severely, you little rascal! Oh, Lin Yuru, listen to the mad things you’re saying! You have no shame! Have you gone man-crazy? But for Xiaofan, what if I have? Oh, Xiaofan! I want to ride you like a wild horse and let myself go!"

Inside her, two versions of herself were engaged in a fierce battle: one urged her to remain a chaste and virtuous woman, while the other goaded her to become the most wanton of seductresses. Lin Yuru muttered to herself, occasionally startled by the sheer boldness of her own inner thoughts. It was truly as they said: at thirty, a woman is like a wolf; at forty, like a tiger; and at fifty...

On his way back, Zeng Xiaofan’s own heart was equally restless. His clothes still carried the faint, lingering scent of Lin Yuru, and his mind was filled with visions of that beautiful scene. It wasn't that he didn't want to or didn't like it; on the contrary, he felt an intense, burning desire to go back to Yuru’s place and "eat those buns." Yet, he felt that doing so would be wrong—he couldn't quite articulate why, but his conscience held him back, and he ultimately couldn't bring himself to take that step.

When Zeng Xiaofan returned to Bai Qingyao’s house, his mind in a state of turmoil, his mature and sophisticated Auntie Yao was already asleep. Pushing open the slightly ajar door, he saw her sound asleep in a thin nightgown. The body-con uniform gifted by the 4S dealership lay on the bedside table, its tags removed. The slight creases in the fabric suggested she had already tried it on, indicating a willingness to wear it for him. The thought sent a jolt of excitement through him, followed by a pang of regret that he had returned too late to admire her in it. Looking at the sleeping woman, he couldn't bear to wake her; he simply pressed a light kiss to her cherry lips and quietly slipped away.

Early the next morning, Zeng Xiaofan took Li Bixian to the fields to organize the work. Many villagers had signed over their land as shares the day before, expanding his plantation dozens of times over. Now, the entire valley belonged to his company. With more land came more work. By the time they had finished assigning roles and coordinating, it was nearly ten o'clock. Zeng Xiaofan left Li Bixian to oversee the fields while he drove his Tyrant pickup truck to Lin Yuru’s house.

The moment Lin Yuru stepped out of her gate, Zeng Xiaofan’s eyes widened. She had tied up her dark hair, revealing smooth, delicate ears adorned with pearl earrings. Her lovely face was radiant, her full, supple lips touched with a hint of lipstick, and as she parted them slightly, the glimpse of her pink tongue added an air of infinite, sultry charm. She wore a snow-white shirt that hugged her full figure tightly, paired with black, straight-leg trousers that accentuated her lush, rounded curves. Her feet, clad in dainty sandals, looked exquisite. Just standing there, she exuded a potent, wild, and mature allure.

Truly, a naturally beautiful woman only needs a little effort to become dazzling. Zeng Xiaofan was momentarily dazed, thinking to himself that if she had been dressed like this last night and had stripped off those pants in front of him, he wasn't sure he could have maintained his restraint. He could almost smell her faint fragrance again.

"Ahem... have you seen enough?" Lin Yuru asked with a playful, coy smile.

Zeng Xiaofan snapped out of it, shaking his head with a grin. "Auntie, you look truly beautiful today..."

"You rascal, your tongue is certainly sweet." With a mock-pout, she walked with a graceful, swaying gait around the front of the car and opened the passenger door. As she circled, Zeng Xiaofan couldn't help but track the lush silhouette beneath her tight black trousers. When she lifted her leg to get in, he noticed she had even painted her toenails. It was clear she had put great effort into her appearance, despite her nonchalant demeanor.

After yesterday, there was a tacit understanding between them. The drive was filled with pleasant conversation, yet both maintained a careful, respectful distance. Soon, they arrived at her parents' home in the neighboring village. Before the car had even come to a complete stop, the sound of porcelain shattering echoed from inside, followed by a woman’s hysterical scream.

"Oh no! Yuhan is having another episode!"
"Quick, hold her! Don't let her get the shards!"
"Yuhan! Stop! Listen to Dad! Put it down!"

The shouts of men and women spilled from the house. Lin Yuru, usually so composed, turned frantic. "Oh no! My sister is having an episode again!" She didn't wait for the car to stop; she flung the door open and bolted toward the house, nearly twisting her ankle in her haste.

Inside, the room was a scene of chaos. Her sister, Lin Yuhan, had ripped her clothes to shreds, and broken glass and pottery littered the floor. Most heartbreakingly, Lin Yuhan clutched a jagged shard of ceramic in her hand, repeatedly cutting into her own arm, blood spraying everywhere.