Chapter 542 - 542: Unable to Hold Back in the Heat of Passion

"Ahem!"

Just as the two were lost in a passionate moment, an ill-timed cough suddenly cut through the silence of the night, making them both jump in fright.

Following the sound, Zhao Yuan was horrified to see Lin Xue's mother, Xue Wanyun, standing at the villa's entrance.

Zhao Yuan was completely floored.

'Damn, does it have to be this coincidental? I finally get a goodnight kiss, finally manage to conquer the high ground, and before I can even enjoy it, I get caught by my future mother-in-law... Is there anything more awkward than this in the whole world?'

"Ah, Mom, you... why aren't you asleep yet?" Lin Xue hastily let go of Zhao Yuan. Seeing that he still had his hand foolishly stuck inside her clothes, she was overcome with a mix of shame and annoyance. She quickly yanked his hand out and frantically straightened her clothes.

Zhao Yuan snapped back to his senses. Though incredibly embarrassed, he had to bite the bullet and greet her. "Hello, Aunt Xue."

"Mm, hello. When did you get back?" Xue Wanyun asked.

Her expression didn't change, so Zhao Yuan couldn't tell if she was angry. He answered honestly, "I got back this afternoon. I just accompanied Xiaoxue to her high school classmate's birthday party."

"Oh, I see." Xue Wanyun nodded. "Why don't you come inside and sit for a while?"

Zhao Yuan politely declined, "No, thank you, Aunt Xue. It's too late. I won't disturb your rest."

Xue Wanyun didn't insist. Instead, she said, "Alright then. When you have time, come over for a visit. I'll cook for you myself. I'll make a few of my specialty dishes to reward you for defeating the Japanese Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners and bringing glory to our country!"

Of course, Zhao Yuan wouldn't refuse such an invitation, but he hesitated slightly. "For you to cook for me personally, Aunt Xue, I'm truly honored. But I'm afraid I can't before the New Year. I have to go back to my hometown tomorrow. How about after the New Year? Would it be alright if I came to visit then?"

"Fine, after the New Year it is!" Xue Wanyun agreed.

With that settled, Zhao Yuan and Lin Xue bid each other a reluctant farewell. With Xue Wanyun there, they certainly didn't dare do anything that would set sparks flying again.

As they were parting, Zhao Yuan didn't forget to take out the gifts from Cheng Haoyu and give them to Lin Xue and Xue Wanyun.

Xue Wanyun was very happy to receive the gift.

It wasn't because Zhao Yuan had given her a designer bag and cosmetics; she wasn't lacking for things like that. What she valued was that Zhao Yuan had gone to Huashang and still remembered to bring a gift back for her. Regardless of what the gift was, or how much it was worth, the thought alone was wonderful.

After that, Xue Wanyun took Lin Xue inside, and Zhao Yuan turned to leave.

As soon as they were inside, Xue Wanyun asked in a low voice, "So, how far have you and Zhao Yuan gone?"

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Being asked such a private question made Lin Xue very shy, and the fact that it was her own mother asking made it even more awkward.

Xue Wanyun said, "I don't object to you dating Zhao Yuan, but you have to protect yourself. You should know, for men, the easier something is to get, the less they'll cherish it..."

How could Lin Xue not understand what her mother was implying? Her pretty face instantly turned beet red. Not daring to continue the conversation, she hurriedly said, "I'm so tired. I'm going to take a shower and go to bed. Mom, you should get some rest too."

She then fled to her room as if escaping, leaving Xue Wanyun standing there alone, muttering in dissatisfaction, "Honestly, this child. I'm trying to talk to you about something serious, why did you run off?"

Lin Liangzhe came out of the study and said, "Let the children live their own lives. Wanyun, Xiaoxue is a smart and independent girl. She can handle her own relationships; you don't need to worry yourself over it!"

"I'm just afraid Xiaoxue will be taken advantage of," Xue Wanyun said.

Lin Liangzhe shook his head. "That Zhao Yuan is a good kid. Him and Xiaoxue together are like a real-life golden couple; they couldn't be a better match. I can also tell his love for Xiaoxue is sincere. So you can rest assured, Xiaoxue definitely won't be taken advantage of. As for you, if you insist on meddling, not only will you not be any help, you'll probably just make things worse."

Xue Wanyun pondered for a moment, thinking Lin Liangzhe had a point, and nodded. "Alright. I'll listen to you, Dad. I'll let them develop on their own and stop worrying needlessly."

"That's more like it!" Lin Liangzhe laughed heartily, then asked, "Hasn't Liqiang come back yet?"

Xue Wanyun replied, "Not yet. Recently, thanks to the popularity of the Soul-Stabilizing Incense, Vitality Pills, and Beauty Pills, the supermarket's sales have been soaring. He's planning to take this opportunity to open several more branches and expand the chain to the counties and cities around Rongcheng City. So he's been busy working in the surrounding areas these past few days."

Lin Liangzhe advised, "Tell Liqiang that no matter how hard he works on his career, he still needs to pay attention to his diet and rest. He can't work himself to the bone."

Xue Wanyun replied, "Don't worry, Dad. I'll remind Liqiang."

Lin Liangzhe turned off the study light and walked toward his bedroom. "I'm off to bed. you should get some rest too."

"Goodnight, Dad." Xue Wanyun watched Lin Liangzhe return to his room, glanced toward Lin Xue's room, and shook her head before returning to her own bedroom.

Meanwhile, Lin Xue was lying on her stomach on her bed, texting with Zhao Yuan.

"You totally killed me today! I can't believe my mom caught us. You have no idea how mortified and awkward I was."

Zhao Yuan replied instantly: "I can imagine, because I was super awkward too. Didn't you notice I could barely speak properly? Oh, right, what did our mom say after she went back? She didn't badmouth me, did she?"

Lin Xue's face flushed red, but she was secretly delighted. She replied, "What do you mean, 'our mom'? She's *my* mom!"

Zhao Yuan chuckled and replied, "It's just a matter of time. Besides, that's not the point. The point is the last part of my question."

"Don't worry, she didn't badmouth you. But my mom did say..." Lin Xue left him hanging.

Zhao Yuan quickly asked, "What did our mom say?"

Lin Xue replied, "My mom said I shouldn't let you trick me."

"Heaven and earth are my witness, how could I ever trick you?" If he had been there in person, Zhao Yuan would have definitely sworn an oath to the heavens.

Lin Xue replied indignantly, "And you say you wouldn't! We were just supposed to have a goodnight kiss, but where did your hands wander?"

"Well..." Zhao Yuan was suddenly at a loss. After thinking for a long time, he replied, "The passion was just too strong to hold back!"

When Lin Xue saw that reply, she almost died laughing.

'The passion was just too strong to hold back, my ass! He's too much!'

After chatting for a while longer, they said goodnight to each other. Lin Xue went to take a shower and get ready for bed, while Zhao Yuan walked out of the gate of the villa complex.

The Bone Woman had been waiting in the shadows. Seeing him come out, she immediately went to greet him and said respectfully, "Master, the hotel has been arranged. Would you like to check in now?"

"No hurry." A cold glint flashed in Zhao Yuan's eyes. "First, let's find an internet cafe. It's time to expose the Ant Thieves!"