Chapter 548 - 264: Moral Bottom Line
Chapter 548: Chapter 264: Moral Bottom Line
The more Lin Ping spoke, the more agitated she became. Glistening tears welled up in her eyes.
She had truly been through so much lately.
Her marriage had been a disaster, and Shen Mingchuan had even tricked her right before the divorce. She’d nearly lost the last bit of financial security she had for Anan.
If it weren’t for Lin Shen, she couldn’t imagine living her current, comfortable life. The two of them might have even ended up on the streets.
After all, at her age, it would have been very difficult for Lin Ping to find a steady job.
But then Lin Shen appeared and pulled her back from the brink, even giving her a whole fragrant, lush garden in its place.
This moved Lin Ping deeply.
That was why, even when faced with her own mother’s disapproval, she stood her ground, determined to stay by Lin Shen’s side.
Even if it meant being branded a homewrecker, she had no regrets!
"..."
Seeing Lin Ping’s stubborn yet hurt expression, Zhao Ya felt a sudden, inexplicable pang in her heart.
’Ping’s actions might be wrong, but she’s my daughter!’
At this thought, the anger in Zhao Ya began to subside. She pulled Lin Ping into her arms, gently stroking her back and hair. Her voice was filled with a mother’s tenderness.
"Ping, I know you were wronged so many times in your last marriage, but you can’t take it out on someone else’s relationship, can you?"
"Shen already told you he has a girlfriend, yet you’re still doing this..."
"So what?"
Lin Ping might have seemed gentle, virtuous, and obedient, but when it came to something she wanted, she was more stubborn than anyone.
"If President Lin treats me this well even though he has a girlfriend, doesn’t that just mean he wants me to be his mistress?"
!?
Those words were a sudden wake-up call for Zhao Ya, and a shocking realization dawned on her.
’That’s right!’
’It’s wrong for my daughter to seduce Lin Shen, sure, but is he blameless?’
’You already have a girlfriend, so why are you being so nice to another woman?’
’His motives are obviously not pure!’
"I knew it. Shen must have had an agenda when he approached you."
Zhao Ya huffed.
"How could a handsome, wealthy rich kid like him ever be faithful? A man like that is no different from Shen Mingchuan! Ping, you have to think this through. You can’t make the same mistake all over again."
"It’s not like that, Mom. My relationship with Lin Shen is different."
Lin Ping smiled through her tears.
"Our relationship is already as immoral as it gets. How much worse could it possibly become?"
"Besides, there’s a reason President Lin is unfaithful. He went through something similar to me in the past—he was betrayed by a girlfriend, and only met his current one after that."
"Then shouldn’t that make him even more devoted to his current girlfriend?"
Zhao Ya asked, confused.
"If you’ve been caught in the rain yourself, you shouldn’t go around tearing up other people’s umbrellas."
"Mom, actually, President Lin is very good to his girlfriend."
Lin Ping quickly explained on Lin Shen’s behalf.
"The company I work for now is called Shennan. He and his girlfriend started it together. They have a great relationship."
"Now I’m really confused,"
Zhao Ya said. She really couldn’t understand how young people thought about relationships these days.
On the one hand, Lin Ping was saying Lin Shen and his girlfriend had a great relationship, but on the other, she was saying he was a cheater.
’It was a total contradiction!’
Seeing her mother’s bewildered expression, Lin Ping quickly took her hand.
"Mom, don’t overthink it. All you need to know is that your daughter is fighting for her own happiness and her daughter’s happiness!"
"..."
Zhao Ya was silent for a long moment before finally letting out a soft sigh. She poked Lin Ping on the forehead again, her expression one of exasperated affection.
This time, however, the gesture held little anger. It was mostly just a mother’s fond indulgence toward her daughter.
"I swear, I don’t know what to do with you! If Shen’s girlfriend comes knocking and this whole affair is exposed, don’t come crying to me for protection!"
"Hehe, don’t worry."
Seeing that Zhao Ya was starting to relent, Lin Ping looked at her expectantly.
"Mom, does this mean you approve of what I’m doing?"
"I don’t."
Zhao Ya said bluntly, and Lin Ping’s momentary happiness instantly deflated.
But then she sighed and continued.
"Of course, I’m not going to oppose it, either. You’re my daughter, after all, and you’re a grown woman. As an adult, you should be able to make your own choices and judgments."
"But I have one condition: this business with you and Lin Shen cannot get out back home. Otherwise, you’ll bring shame on my old face!"
"Of course."
Lin Ping immediately nodded in agreement.
"I only go back once a year. What are they going to hear back home?"
"You’re not coming back for the National Day holiday?"
Zhao Ya raised an eyebrow, holding fast to Lin Ping’s hand.
"The whole reason I came was to bring you home for the holiday. How long has it been since you’ve been back?"
"Now that the divorce is final, you have to come back and explain things to our relatives. Otherwise, Shen Mingchuan’s mother will keep spreading nasty rumors all over town!"
"Alright. I’ll have to ask what President Lin has planned."
Seeing her daughter consult Lin Shen about every little thing exasperated Zhao Ya so much that she couldn’t help but complain.
"Ping, are you my daughter or Shen’s? I’m getting the feeling you like him a little *too* much. Why do you have to listen to everything he says?"
"Well..."
Lin Ping’s cheeks flushed. She was too embarrassed to reveal the true nature of her relationship with Lin Shen.
She had only scratched the surface by talking about how she had supposedly seduced President Lin.
’If she told her the truth—that she was being kept by President Lin—wouldn’t her mom get so angry she’d end up in the hospital?’
In any case, Lin Ping didn’t dare say it. She could only continue to slowly test her mother’s limits.