Financial Independence through Cracked Apps

Chapter 549: Chapter 264: Moral Bottom Line

We’ll just have to see when she can accept it.

When Lin Ping hesitated and failed to give a clear explanation, Zhao Ya pressed on.

"Then let me ask you, does Shen know about your feelings for him?"

"He’s so emotionally intelligent, he probably knows."

Lin Ping feigned uncertainty, which made Zhao Ya sigh in relief, though she was still a bit puzzled.

"I really don’t get it. With Shen’s status and position, what kind of young, beautiful girl couldn’t he find? Why does he have to go for a divorced single mother with a kid like you?"

"What does he see in you?"

"Mom! Can you not make your daughter sound so pathetic!"

Lin Ping felt a pang of resentment. Only in front of her mother would she act with such girlish petulance.

Then, she spun around on the spot, showing off her graceful figure, and patted her soft cheeks.

"Mom, do you really think your daughter is ugly?"

"Well..."

To be honest, Zhao Ya was very confident in Lin Ping’s appearance.

After all, ever since Lin Ping was little, many people had praised her for being beautiful, which was a point of great pride for Zhao Ya.

But Lin Shen’s handsomeness surprised her even more.

Zhao Ya had never seen such a refined-looking young man, at least not in their small county town.

The only place you might find someone like him would be on the set of a TV drama; only a leading man could compare to Lin Shen.

Zhao Ya even felt that with Lin Shen’s charisma and way of speaking, most male actors couldn’t hold a candle to him!

Plus, handsome men were a rarer commodity than beautiful women. A one-in-a-million catch like him was probably the target of many competing women.

Even though Zhao Ya had great confidence in her daughter, she never imagined that her daughter could get involved with such a handsome, young, wealthy heir.

’What if Lin Shen’s family shows up at our door, or even blames my daughter for ruining the relationship between him and his girlfriend? I wouldn’t be able to handle it for Ping at all!’

’They’re probably business tycoons, but we’re just an ordinary family from a small county town.’

’We’re not on the same level at all!’

’Even being his lover feels like she’s punching way above her weight...’

Zhao Ya suddenly started to understand what her daughter was thinking.

In a person’s life, you probably only get one chance to meet your destiny.

If she missed out on a man as wonderful as Lin Shen, it would be a lifelong regret.

Having come to a bit of an understanding, Zhao Ya ruffled Lin Ping’s hair and said gently.

"How you live your life is up to you. I won’t interfere. I just hope you can be happy. That would be enough to satisfy me."

"I know."

Touched, Lin Ping took the initiative to hug Zhao Ya.

"Thank you for understanding, Mom."

"Okay. Let’s go out and eat."

Zhao Ya smiled faintly.

"Lin Shen is probably getting anxious waiting outside."

"Oh, right."

Lin Ping and Zhao Ya quickly left the bedroom.

To be honest, Lin Shen wasn’t anxious at all. He even wished the mother and daughter would talk a little longer.

Because the apartment was so small, the soundproofing wasn’t very good.

Plus, Lin Ping had been a bit emotional at the beginning, making her voice louder.

As a result, Lin Shen had heard her conversation with her mother crystal clear.

When he saw the two of them come out, he gave an awkward little cough, pretending he hadn’t heard anything, and continued chatting with Anan.

Lin Ping, meanwhile, said apologetically.

"I’m sorry, President Lin. My mom and I got into a pretty deep conversation."

"It’s fine."

Lin Shen smiled faintly and gestured for the mother and daughter to sit down and eat, as if he were the master of the house.

Of course, that was technically true, since he was the one paying the rent.

With the matter more or less settled, dinner gradually came to an end amidst their idle chatter.

"I still have some work to do, so I’ll be heading back now."

When dinner was over, Lin Shen didn’t linger and immediately got up to leave.

After all, he didn’t want to disturb Lin Ping and her mother.

The mother and daughter had just reunited and surely had a lot to talk about—things that an outsider like him shouldn’t hear.

Hearing this, Lin Ping quickly got up, went to the bedroom to grab a trench coat, and put it on.

"President Lin, let me walk you out."

"Is that convenient?"

Lin Shen glanced at Zhao Ya, who gave him an understanding, benevolent smile.

"Let Ping see you out. You’re her distinguished guest, after all. We can’t just let an honored guest leave on their own, can we?"

"I’ll help watch Anan and clear the table. You two go ahead."

"Okay."

After getting her mother’s permission, Lin Ping crouched down and stroked Anan’s head.

"Mommy’s going to walk Lin Shen out. You be a good girl and listen to Grandma, okay?"

"I know."

Anan gave a sweet smile and waved goodbye to Lin Shen.

"Lin Shen! Goodbye! I’ll miss you!"

"Me too."

Lin Shen smiled and nodded in response, then stuck his hands in his pockets and led the way out.

Seeing this, Lin Ping quickly swapped her slippers for high heels and followed Lin Shen’s steps with a CLICK-CLACK-CLICK.

"President Lin."

As the two entered the elevator, Lin Ping seemed about to say something to break the silence, but Lin Shen beat her to it.

"I heard everything you and your mother were talking about."

Huh?

Lin Ping froze, her face instantly flushing beet red with shame.

She had been worried just moments before that her voice had been too loud and that Lin Shen might have heard.

And just as she feared, the worst had happened.

"So... you heard it all clearly..."

Lin Ping mumbled, at a complete loss for how to continue the conversation.

But the emotionally intelligent Lin Shen knew exactly how to handle it.

"Your mom is just worried about you. She doesn’t know our real situation, so she can only judge based on what she knows. Don’t argue with her too much. You have to understand how elders think."

"The older generation is very traditional. Plus, our situation is admittedly a bit morally questionable, so it’s best to be a little more yielding."

"Mm."

Faced with Lin Shen’s lecture, Lin Ping didn’t feel the slightest bit of resentment. She just pulled her trench coat tightly around herself.

"Of course, I’m also very grateful that you stood up for me."

Lin Shen reached out and caressed Lin Ping’s slightly flushed cheek, speaking softly.

"Being my lover must come with a lot of pressure, huh?"

"Not at all."

Lin Ping grasped Lin Shen’s hand and, like a kitten, proactively nuzzled her cheek against his palm. She then lifted her mesmerizing, misty eyes to gaze at him affectionately.

"Before I became your lover, I had already prepared myself for this. But I don’t regret it, because I know you’re truly good to me."

"Happiness is rarely a smooth ride. If I couldn’t even handle the pressure of being judged by others, I never would have approached you in the first place."

"Mm."

Lin Shen used his thumb to caress Lin Ping’s delicate, soft red lips. She, understanding his intent, gently bit down on his thumb, allowing him to play with her mouth and her tongue as it peeked out.

This was a common way for the two of them to flirt.

The restlessness and heat in Lin Ping’s heart were gradually stirred up by Lin Shen. The mist in her beautiful eyes grew thicker, and an unnatural flush appeared on her cheeks.

Just as the atmosphere was growing more amorous, a DING announced that the elevator had reached the first floor.

"This is far enough. You should head back up."

Lin Shen smiled, squeezed Lin Ping’s cheek, and turned to leave the elevator.

But he hadn’t taken more than a few steps before he felt a delicate body hug him from behind.

"Don’t go!"

Lin Ping had been eagerly looking forward to a long-awaited night of intimacy with Lin Shen, but Zhao Ya’s arrival had disrupted her plans.

Fortunately, however, they still had a chance to be alone.

Lin Ping didn’t want to let it go, so she hugged Lin Shen’s waist tightly and pleaded.

"President Lin, please stay with me downstairs for a little while longer. I don’t want to go up so soon."

"Alright."

Lin Shen turned around and chuckled.

"Untie your trench coat. I want to see what you’re wearing underneath."

"..."

Lin Ping froze for a moment, then, with a blush on her pretty face, she opened her trench coat. She revealed the flimsy black lace slip she wore underneath, along with the black stockings that enveloped her beautiful legs and the high heels on her feet.

Such intimate attire, now exposed in the dead of night, made Lin Ping’s cheeks burn as if on fire.

Of course, it was also accompanied by a potent sense of thrill.