Chapter 11

"Stop thinking so much. If you need money, I'll lend it to you." "Brother Yan, please don't be like this. I'm scared. Did you do something illegal?" "Cut the chatter. To New Year Square we go." As the two boys just stepped into the internet café, they saw an alluring, graceful mature woman walking in. She was wearing a white button-down shirt paired with a black hip-hugging skirt. Beneath the skirt, a pair of long, snow-white legs possessed an almost mesmerizing charm. "Mistress!" Li Shiyu stood up instinctively; getting caught surfing the net by a teacher's wife was still pretty terrifying. Li Zhiyan was also rather surprised, not expecting to run into Jiang Xian here. Looking at Li Shiyu's reaction, it was clear he hadn't yet shaken off his identity as a student. During the gathering the other day, he had already thought the teacher's wife was exceptionally beautiful. Even at forty, maintaining herself so well was truly no easy feat. In the past, he really hadn't paid much attention. Jiang Xian said gently, "Don't be scared, you boys. The final year of high school has already started." "Your teacher asked me to check out the nearby internet cafes to see if any students are sneaking out to surf the web." "Go on with your game." As she spoke, she looked at Li Zhiyan. She remembered how bravely Li Zhiyan had confessed his feelings to Yu Sisi's mother back then. Whatever else might be said about this kid, he certainly had guts. In his class, Li Zhiyan had three people he particularly loathed. The first was the head teacher, Yan Zhengjin, who spent all day demanding various bribes from the students. Since his mother didn't have extra money to send gifts, he was given a hard time everywhere in class. The second was the class monitor, Liu Yaolong. His grades were terrible, but because his family sent plenty of gifts, he got to be monitor, throwing his weight around the classroom all day and constantly forcing Li Zhiyan to do extra cleaning duty. The third was Liu Zifeng, who frequently mocked his family for being poor and kept finding trouble for him at every turn. Looking at her now, the teacher's wife was genuinely gorgeous. Aunt Rao was also an absolute stunner. He wondered what Liu Yaolong's mother looked like. At this thought, Li Zhiyan couldn't help letting his imagination run wild. "Mistress." Just as Jiang Xian finished looking around and was about to leave, Li Zhiyan called out to her. "What is it?" The teacher's wife was as gentle as ever. "Mistress, could I add your QQ? Once I go off to college, I probably won't be able to see you anymore, and I'll miss you." Seeing the reluctance in Li Zhiyan's eyes as he looked at her, Jiang Xian felt a twinge of emotion in her heart. "All right. You can chat with Mistress whenever you're free in the future." Watching the two exchange QQ contacts, Li Shiyu looked at Li Zhiyan with absolute, ground-shaking admiration. Brother Yan is a legend! He actually dared to add the teacher's wife on QQ! What is he trying to pull? ... Meanwhile, Gu Wanzhou went out to her family balcony and looked at the freshly dried bedsheets. She gathered them up, brought them back to her bedroom, and folded them with meticulous care. She really hadn't expected her reaction to be so intense. She was still the same as before... Gu Wanzhou's Inner Conflict A mature woman could be described as utterly luscious, and top-tier mature women like Gu Wanzhou were no exception. The other day, when she was massaging Li Zhiyan's legs, she simply hadn't been able to control herself. "Mom." At that moment, Yu Sisi walked in from outside. "How come you seem a bit absent-minded? Did something happen to you?" "What could possibly happen to your mother? Nothing." Looking at her daughter, Gu Wanzhou had a lingering feeling that her daughter would live to regret this one day. "It's nothing, just thinking about some things." ...That evening, when Li Zhiyan returned home, Zhou Rongrong had already prepared a table full of dishes and was waiting for him. "Son, you're in a pretty good mood, aren't you?" Looking at her precious son, Zhou Rongrong always felt he seemed a bit different from before, though she couldn't quite put her finger on what had changed. "Maybe it's because I've made some money." The old Li Zhiyan had been utterly mediocre, lacking in confidence and completely invisible wherever he went. But now, not only did he have 80,000 yuan in savings at the age of eighteen, but he also possessed some special skills. How could his mood not be good? "Mom, once I save up enough money, I'll definitely buy you a new house so we can move out of this rental." "Alright, my good son. Then Mom will just wait for you to buy that new house." Zhou Rongrong scooped food onto Li Zhiyan's plate. Though in her heart she thought it was completely impossible, she didn't want to dampen her son's enthusiasm. Finding joy in hardship and having aspirations was always a good thing, after all. "Mom, you're getting prettier by the day." Looking at the beautiful mother before him, Li Zhiyan couldn't help offering a compliment. For a mama's boy, his mother was always the most gorgeous woman in the world. "Oh, you child." "Why are you suddenly so good with words?" "You're like a completely different person." "Mom, I'm just telling the truth." Looking at his son, who had matured so much before her eyes, Zhou Rongrong suddenly felt the future was full of promise. "Oh right, Mom, I won't be back for dinner tomorrow night. I'll be home a bit late." Zhou Rongrong looked at her son with a trace of suspicion. Could this brat have started dating? That might not be a bad thing, either—in a single-parent family, finding a partner later on was always quite a hassle. Starting early might make the whole marriage business go a bit smoother. "Then be safe, Xiaoyan. If you're dating, make sure to treat the girl well." Li Zhiyan felt a bit helpless. Everyone was always lecturing men on treating girls well. And the end result was the creation of countless little princesses who took a man's devotion completely for granted. "Mom, how do you feel about age-gap relationships where the guy is younger?" "No, wait, I mean mother-son style relationships—like, what if I found a girlfriend twenty years older than me? Could you accept that?" Li Zhiyan was indeed talking about a woman. Just not a young girl, but a breathtakingly gorgeous forty-one-year-old mature woman. "Huh?" Zhou Rongrong was momentarily stunned. What was wrong with this kid? Did he really not like girls his own age? "Son, you don't like girls your own age?" "A little. But I'm just asking to see if you could accept a relationship with a twenty-year age gap." Zhou Rongrong thought about it for a moment, then said seriously, "Son, Mom doesn't know what kind of girl you'll like in the future, but whatever you like, Mom will support you." "You can rest easy about that." "Even if you find someone around Mom's age, I'll agree to it. Nothing in this world matters more than my precious son's happiness." Listening to his mother's understanding words, Li Zhiyan felt deeply moved. "Mom, you're so good. You can even accept something like that." "What's so unacceptable about it? Mom isn't some rigid traditionalist. Son, just go ahead and do what you want with a peace of mind; Mom will always be your backing." Tapping Li Zhiyan on the head, Zhou Rongrong harbored some complicated thoughts of her own. This brat wouldn't really go and find a girlfriend his mother's age, would he? Never mind, no use overthinking it. As long as her son is happy, anything goes. ... The next day, Li Zhiyan and Li Shiyu spent the entire day at the internet café grinding Dungeon & Fighter and CrossFire. In between games, he periodically checked the learning progress of the system's skills. The loser system truly lived up to its name; that progress bar crept along just like the very last loading square of CrossFire. Fortunately, by afternoon, the loser system finally finished processing the skill. That evening, after calculating the time, Li Zhiyan arrived ahead of schedule at the park indicated by the system. In the park, he tried throwing a punch; sure enough, the current him was no longer that feeble high school student. He was now a genuine powerhouse capable of taking on five men single-handedly. "The system is still powerful! It can directly use skill mechanics to let me learn this kind of stuff. I wonder if it's possible in the future for me to learn the talents of Lao Ai or Ji Xiaolan?" That didn't seem entirely out of the question. Reborn once, Li Zhiyan also wanted to play the role of King Chulun. Sure enough, before long, he saw Gu Wanzhou arrive at the park, wearing a black professional suit paired with flesh-colored stockings and high heels. "Aunt Gu really loves dressing like this." While Li Zhiyan was deep in thought, Gu Wanzhou had already walked up close. Li Zhiyan could tell that Aunt Gu seemed to be wearing a face full of sorrow. Why would that be? Could it be because of his confession to her? Li Zhiyan's mind raced, and the time grew closer and closer to 7:14. There were quite a few people in the park. After reaching the pavilion, Gu Wanzhou gazed blankly at the artificial lake as fish continually leaped from the surface. She truly had never imagined that one day she would be confessed to by an eighteen-year-old boy. Moreover, he had been so sincere with her. She genuinely liked Li Zhiyan, but not in a romantic, man-and-woman sort of way—it was simply the appreciation of an adult for a child. Precisely because of that, she had been thinking in her heart about taking him in as her godson. Yet he insisted on wanting to be with her. Reject hering him? She didn't have the heart to hurt such a wonderful kid, but being with him was equally out of the question.Not only because he was just an eighteen-year-old kid while she was twenty-three years older than him. It was also because he had once pursued her daughter Yu Sisi. All these factors destined that there could never be anything between them. What was she supposed to do? As her relationship with him grew closer, handling this matter in the future was bound to become increasingly troublesome. Lost in these thoughts, Gu Wanzhou's mind wandered off. This brat truly made one both adore him and find him an absolute headache. "You little brat... how dare you sneak a kiss." Recalling everything that had happened that day. Gu Wanzhou's face felt warm all over again. Until a dyed-blonde punk appeared before her. "Pretty lady, let's exchange QQ numbers. I feel like we really hit it off." Looking at the blonde punk who stood well over six feet tall in a completely deserted area, Gu Wanzhou felt a wave of panic wash over her. 026 Li Zhiyan is such a fighter! This place was rather remote at night, and Gu Wanzhou was already regretting coming here alone. Just then, she saw a figure from not far away approach close by. Yet compared to the six-foot-tall blonde punk, this person was far smaller in build. Even if she called out for help, he certainly wouldn't dare to get involved. This person was naturally Li Zhiyan. The moment the blonde punk appeared, Li Zhiyan had already locked his eyes on him.Li Zhiyan was a man with an extremely strong sense of possessiveness, and his craving for Gu Wanzhou was insatiable.

Therefore, no matter what, he could not allow the punked-up youth any chance to harass Aunt Gu.

"I don't want to add you on QQ."

"I'm sorry, I could be your mother."

Feeling a flutter of panic in her heart, Gu Wanzhou rejected the blonde punk before her.

"Come on, beauty, just add me on QQ. I'm huge, I promise you won't be disappointed."

"I don't mind that you're old, beauty, you look so young and pretty."

"You're practically my dream lover."

As he spoke, the blonde punk struck what he thought was a cool, edgy pose.

"I have five hundred yuan here, take it and spend it. Aunt really can't add your QQ."

By now, lust had completely clouded the blonde punk's judgment.

"Aunt, I just want your QQ, I want to sleep with you."

"I want to fuck you."

"Aunt, you must be very lonely, right?"

"I think you need me to fulfill you."

"I can definitely satisfy you and make you happy."

The filthy language made Gu Wanzhou feel both nauseated and deeply terrified.

"I'm leaving."Gu Wanzhou turned to leave; she felt completely unsafe in this overwater pavilion.

"Hey beauty, don't go."

With that, Blondie reached out to grab Gu Wanzhou's chest.

She was so well-endowed—such an ultimate mature beauty.

He just needed to break her in properly so she would appreciate what he had to offer. If she was cooperative, and since nobody was around, he could just have his way with her right here in the pavilion and save the cost of a hotel room.

Terrified, Gu Wanzhou squeezed her eyes shut and stepped back, screaming for help.

Though she was a strong-willed career woman, she was still just a woman. Stripped of the protection of social order in this moment, she was utterly panicked and lost.

"Get lost!"

Li Zhiyan delivered a swift kick to Blondie's hand, knocking away the hand reaching out for Gu Wanzhou.

Blondie let out a miserable yelp. When he looked down at his wrist, he found it already swelling up from the kick.

Li Zhiyan never dreamed in his wildest dreams that his leg could move so fast and pack such a punch!

The system was truly invincible. He was looking forward even more to the day he would be enfeoffed as the Marquis of Changxin.

Amidst her screams, in a haze of fear and disbelief, Gu Wanzhou heard those two words.

That voice—it sounded just like Li Zhiyan!

How could Xiaoyan possibly be here?

Opening her eyes, she saw that it really was Li Zhiyan standing in front of her.

That figure, which seemed so slender and small compared to the hundred-and-eighty-pound Blondie, gave Gu Wanzhou a sense of security she had never known before.

It felt as though, as long as he was here, no one could possibly hurt her.

"What the fuck, you got a death wish?"

Blondie was the kind of punk who regularly hung around middle and high schools shaking people down for protection money. When had he ever taken such an insult? Now, having his wrist swollen by a kick from a seventeen or eighteen-year-old kid—and losing face in front of such a gorgeous mature woman—made him lose his temper completely.

"Now, now."

Gu Wanzhou pulled Li Zhiyan behind her, terrified that Blondie would beat him up.

"I still have five hundred yuan in my bag, you can take it, just please don't bully us."

Looking at Gu Wanzhou shielding him, Li Zhiyan's heart swelled with emotion. Aunt Gu really was good to him.

"Aunt Gu, step back. It's fine."Blonde-haired punks existed in every era, and 2010 was a wild time. Ruffians and thugs were everywhere back then, a fact Li Zhiyan remembered all too clearly. When he was back in his hometown, the township had blocked the rural highway with two stone pillars to keep overloaded cargo trucks from passing. In response, the truck convoy used dirt to raise the entire road, creating ramps on both sides so their trucks could pass smoothly. After an uncle living at the head of the village shoveled away the dirt, the truck convoy thugs grabbed him and broke his legs right on the spot, and nothing ever came of it. In this era, street fights were a regular occurrence, and armed gang brawls never stopped. This blonde punk was nothing more than a small-time nobody. Today, he was just looking to stretch his muscles properly. Yet this punk had dared to curse his mother. If he didn't beat the punk until he bled, he wouldn't even be a man! Clenching his fists, Li Zhiyan charged straight at the blonde, spun around, and delivered a flying kick directly at him. The blonde never expected that this kid—who stood a head shorter than him and wasn't in the same weight class at all—would actually dare to strike first! Moreover, his speed seemed ridiculously fast, giving him the strange feeling of watching a kung fu movie. The next second, the punk took the hit. A piercing pain ripped through his stomach as the full force of that kick landed squarely on his body, sending him crashing to the ground. Li Zhiyan marched up and began a flurry of ferocious stomps. "I'll teach you to curse my mom!" "I'll teach you to curse my mom!" As a supreme mama's boy, Li Zhiyan absolutely would not tolerate anyone cursing his mother. He kept stomping savagely on the blonde's stomach and face. Soon, a few of the blonde's teeth were kicked out, and his face was bruised purple and black. Watching Li Zhiyan brutally beat the punk, Gu Wanzhou could hardly believe her eyes, especially given the huge disparity in their builds. How was it that the blonde punk couldn't beat Li Zhiyan? Was Xiaoyan really this good at fighting? Recovering her senses, she quickly pulled Li Zhiyan back. "Stop hitting him, sweetheart! If you keep going, you'll kill him! Let's get out of here." Li Zhiyan snapped out of his violent state as well. After all, he was just acting in self-defense to protect Aunt Gu. If he actually beat the man to death, it would cross the line into excessive self-defense. "Let's go." Li Zhiyan took Gu Wanzhou's hand and headed out of the park. ... Twenty-some minutes later, the two of them stopped in a secluded alley. Gu Wanzhou was still shaken. If Li Zhiyan hadn't shown up, would she have been violated by that blonde punk? The mere thought sent a wave of lingering fear through her heart. Breathing heavily, Gu Wanzhou asked with deep concern, "Xiaoyan, let Auntie look at you. Are you hurt?" With that, she cupped Li Zhiyan's face to check for injuries, then patted him up and down across his stomach and legs, searching anxiously for any sign that he was hurt. "Aunt Gu, I'm really fine. You don't need to worry." Once she was certain Li Zhiyan was unhurt, a terrified Gu Wanzhou pulled him into a tight, desperate embrace. "Sweetheart, you really scared Auntie to death..." Feeling Aunt Gu's 36D chest pressing against him, Li Zhiyan naturally wrapped his arms around her waist. Opportunities like this, where Aunt Gu threw herself into his arms of her own accord, didn't come along very often. *Auntie will seriously consider dating you!* Aunt Gu truly was blessed by nature; how could someone with such a slender frame possess such a proud bust? 36D... Though if Aunt Gu were a D+ like Aunt Rao, walking around might actually get a bit tiring. "Don't be scared anymore, Aunt Gu." "I told you the two of us are destined to be together." "Whenever you're in danger, I'll always show up in the nick of time." They held each other until Li Zhiyan's physical reaction became noticeable, at which point Gu Wanzhou blushed and pulled away from him. This kid—though she always thought of him as a child, he wasn't really a child anymore. After all, he had snuck a kiss from her last time. "When you put it like that..." "It really does seem like the two of us are destined." Originally, Gu Wanzhou didn't believe in things like destiny at all. After all, it sounded a bit far-fetched—who could believe in something so ethereal and vague? Yet right now, Gu Wanzhou suddenly felt as though some invisible, predestined thread really was at work between them.