Get lost! I'm your own mother!

Watching Shen Hongmei’s perfect figure from afar, Li Zhiyan couldn’t help but recall that night. It was truly a memory he would never forget in his lifetime. His feelings for Shen Hongmei were genuine and deep. After all, she had taught him so much, transforming him from a novice into an expert. Now, there was hardly anything he didn’t know.

“Better avoid Aunt Shen for now...” Li Zhiyan dodged Shen Hongmei and wandered elsewhere, planning to visit the location indicated by the intelligence tip later.

...

Shen Hongmei felt deeply troubled, especially under her aunt’s torment. On top of that, some recent troubles in her business weighed on her. Known for her fiery temperament, she was feeling unusually gloomy. So when she drove past Baicao Garden today, she decided on a whim to stop and take a stroll. The scenery inside was quite pleasant, with trees and a lake—perhaps it would help her relax.

Upon entering, seeing the vast garden nearly deserted, her mood eased somewhat. It was the perfect place to find some peace and quiet. Walking forward, she felt as if she had stepped into a secluded paradise. Her mind involuntarily replayed the moment when Li Zhiyan had warmed her cold foot by placing it on his stomach, easing not only the chill but also the pain.

“That boy...” she murmured softly, just as an unfamiliar call came through. Shen Hongmei often received such calls due to her business dealings and couldn’t block them.

“Hello, Ms. Shen Hongmei, your daughter has been in an accident. I’m her friend...”

“Get lost! I’m your real mother!” Shen Hongmei snapped angrily before hanging up and blacklisting the number. These scam calls came almost daily. The scammers seemed to know her name well, which only added to her irritation.

Nearby, separated by a hedge, Li Zhiyan overheard Shen Hongmei’s scolding. His fondness for her grew stronger. He understood this was her natural fiery nature—sharp and bold—but she had always been gentle toward him.

In contrast, Zhao Shumin was a downright shrew. Li Zhiyan could never forget how she had pinned him down, tightly choking him until his T-shirt was torn to shreds. It was her usual tactic to inflict psychological distress on her adversaries, like the time she shredded that elderly woman’s blouse until it bled. But it didn’t bother Li Zhiyan much.

...

Now, his T-shirt was reduced to mere scraps, and he was determined to get revenge. To fight fire with fire—that was the best strategy.

...

As Shen Hongmei walked ahead, a young man in his thirties appeared on the adjacent path. At first, she thought nothing of it—after all, there were other visitors here. But after several turns, the man still trailed behind her, making her uneasy. Baicao Garden had many blind spots in its surveillance, and on such a scorching midsummer day, few visitors were around. If he intended harm...

Though Shen Hongmei stood a tall 190 centimeters in heels, the physical strength difference between men and women was significant. No matter what, she would be no match for him. She quickened her pace, her heart pounding, and the man did the same.

Just as fear gripped her, Li Zhiyan appeared around the corner.

“Aunt Shen!” he called out with a feigned look of surprise. His joy was genuine, though the surprise was not. At that moment, Shen Hongmei felt her entire body relax. With Li Zhiyan here, the man wouldn’t dare make a move.

Once the young man passed by, she completely relaxed. Maybe she had just been overthinking it...

“Li Zhiyan, what are you doing here?” Shen Hongmei’s eyes sparkled with unexpected delight as she looked at the young man before her.

“Aunt Shen, Aunt Lai helped me start working in the supply sales department at Changlong International yesterday,” Li Zhiyan explained. “Today’s my first day. Since the job is flexible, I stopped by here for a walk and unexpectedly ran into you. What a coincidence!”

“Hmm...” Shen Hongmei’s heart stirred. How had she run into this boy again, and in such a place? Since it was a last-minute decision, the only explanation was pure chance... such an incredible coincidence.

“Let’s sit on that bench over there for a bit,” she suggested.

...

The two sat on a bench in the park. Shen Hongmei took a bottle of mineral water from her LV bag—obviously expensive—and handed it to Li Zhiyan.

“So, Xiaoyan, how’s your first day at work?” she asked.

“Pretty good, Aunt Shen. It’s my first time stepping into society and working, but I’m grateful to you for helping me get this job.” Though Aunt Lai had helped formally, it was fundamentally Shen Hongmei’s favor.

“That’s good. I was worried you might not adjust well,” Shen Hongmei said.

“Aunt Shen, do you think we’re fated?” Li Zhiyan asked.

Shen Hongmei grew silent for a moment. How could it not be fate? If it weren’t for Li Zhiyan, she might have been terrified.

“It is fate. It’s truly a coincidence. This place is over ten kilometers from where I live, yet we still ran into each other.”

Li Zhiyan wanted to take this opportunity to ask about her romantic intentions, but Shen Hongmei was not naive.

“Xiaoyan, we really do have a mother-and-son bond,” she said. “I want to be your godmother. What do you think?”

She knew Li Zhiyan had feelings for her, but she wanted to end those notions. He was just a child, and if they were together, it would be utterly irresponsible for his future. As a rational woman, Shen Hongmei could never allow such a thing—unless Li Zhiyan matured considerably and they truly had a future together. But by then, he wouldn’t be interested in her anymore. Maturity took at least three to five years, and by then she’d be 45 and likely not as attractive.

In her mind, Li Zhiyan’s affection was mostly driven by hormones—his favorite parts were her face, figure, and body. Such things were fragile. A real relationship required compatibility in values and details to endure. No matter what, they could never be together.

With that, Shen Hongmei pinched Li Zhiyan’s cheek as one would a three-year-old.

Li Zhiyan gazed into her deep, unfathomable eyes, feeling a rush of emotion.

“Aunt Shen, why do you think like that...”

“What? You don’t like me being your godmother? That’s good, isn’t it? I’ll take good care of you. At least in this city, you’ll have someone to rely on.”

“After becoming godmother, can I hold your hand?”

“Of course.”

“Can I warm your feet?”

Shen Hongmei paused, then said, “Yes, that’s filial respect.”

“Then can I kiss you...”