199: Chapter 199 Wang Yaqin's Dilemma

Deep in the night, Wang Yaqin sat alone in the living room.

Her conversation with Lin Yuan had just ended, but her heart remained unsettled for a long time.

"Family..."

She softly repeated Lin Yuan's words, her heart fluttering like a frightened deer.

As a mature woman, how could she not feel the changes within her own heart?

From the initial gratitude, to the later dependence, and now to...

She dared not think any further.

It was too crazy.

She was the mother of Ye Qingxue and Ye Qingyue.

And Lin Yuan...

"No, I cannot think like this..."

Wang Yaqin shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off the thoughts that shouldn't exist in her mind.

But, can human emotions be controlled just by saying so?

Especially in this Apocalypse.

When a woman meets a man who can truly give her a sense of security.

That kind of heartbeat is instinctive and irresistible.

"Mom? Why aren't you asleep yet?"

Ye Qingxue walked down from upstairs and saw her mother sitting in the living room, lost in thought.

"Qingxue..."

Wang Yaqin stood up in a panic, a blush still lingering on her face:

"I... I couldn't sleep, so I came down to sit for a while."

"Is it because of Lin Yuan?"

Ye Qingxue asked straightforwardly.

"!"

Wang Yaqin's face turned completely red instantly, and she shook her head in panic:

"No... that's not it! Don't talk nonsense!"

"Mom~"

Ye Qingxue walked over and pulled her mother to sit down:

"I'm not blind; I've seen your reactions over the past few days."

"Every time you see Lin Yuan, you blush."

"Every time he talks to you, you get so nervous you don't know what to do."

"If this isn't liking him, then what is it?"

"I..."

Wang Yaqin opened her mouth, but couldn't find words to refute.

Her daughter was right.

She really... had developed feelings for Lin Yuan that she shouldn't have.

Seeing her mother, Ye Qingxue said with heartache:

"Isn't it normal to like someone?"

"Normal?"

Wang Yaqin smiled bitterly, her voice trembling slightly:

"How is it normal?"

"I am your mother!"

"How can I... how can I like..."

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, but at the critical moment, she stopped, only biting her lower lip hard, trying to control her emotions.

Ye Qingxue looked at her mother's painful expression, feeling a complex mix of emotions.

She hadn't expected her mother to torture herself so much over this matter.

"Mom, listen to me."

Ye Qingxue held her mother's hand and said earnestly:

"I'm not angry; on the contrary... I'm very happy."

"Happy?"

Wang Yaqin couldn't believe her ears.

"Yeah!"

Ye Qingxue nodded:

"Mom, if you can fancy him, it shows you have good taste!"

"And in this Apocalypse, having someone to rely on for Mom makes me, as a daughter, feel at ease."

"But..."

Wang Yaqin's voice trembled, her eyes slightly red:

"I am your mother..., how can I..."

"So what?"

Ye Qingxue shrugged:

"It's the Apocalypse, do we still care about so much?"

"As long as we can survive, as long as we can be happy, nothing else is important."

She paused, then teased with a smile:

"Besides, I actually hope Mom can also get his affection~"

"That way we can be together forever and ever, how nice that would be~"

"Qingxue!"

Wang Yaqin was blushing furiously from embarrassment.

But her daughter's words did lessen the guilt in her heart quite a bit.

Seeing her mother waver, Ye Qingxue continued to push:

"Mom, do you know? The women in the Shelter all want to become Lin Yuan's women."

"They are all competing, all working hard."

"Mom, if you hesitate any longer, you won't have a chance~"

Hearing this, Wang Yaqin's heart pounded violently.

No chance?

At the thought of Lin Yuan being monopolized by other women, a strong sense of unwillingness welled up in her heart.

"And also..."

Ye Qingxue said as if casually:

"I heard that Lin Yuan actually quite likes mature and gentle women."

"He said that while young girls are pretty, the gentleness and thoughtfulness of mature women are incomparable."

These words were like a key, unlocking the shackles in Wang Yaqin's heart.

So... he likes mature women?

Then... does she also have a chance?

But immediately, she thought of another problem:

"But, I'm already over thirty, and I have two daughters..."

"Will he mind that I'm old?"

These words were like a knife, piercing Wang Yaqin's heart.

Age...

She was already in her early thirties, how could she compare to those twenty-something girls?

And she was a mother of two children...

"Mom!"

Seeing her mother's low spirits, Ye Qingxue quickly said:

"Actually, you are not old at all!"

"You are more attractive than those little girls!"

"Mature, gentle, virtuous—these are all your advantages!"

"Lin Yuan will definitely like it!"

Wang Yaqin raised her head, looking at her daughter with red-rimmed eyes:

"Qingxue... do you really not mind?"

"Of course I don't mind!"

Ye Qingxue said earnestly:

"I only hope Mom can be happy."

"And to tell you the truth, I'd be very happy to take care of Lin Yuan together with Mom~"

"You child..."

Wang Yaqin was both angry and amused, but the ice in her heart finally began to melt.

The next day, Wang Yaqin gathered her courage and took the initiative to find Lin Yuan.

She had dressed up carefully, wearing a light blue dress.

Her mature and elegant temperament was even more charming, set off by the dress.

"Lin Yuan, I want to talk to you..."

She said, blushing.

"Of course, Sister Yaqin."

Lin Yuan gently invited her to sit down.

Wang Yaqin sat nervously on the sofa, not knowing where to put her hands.

With the words on the tip of her tongue, she didn't know how to start.

Lin Yuan poured her a cup of tea and said gently:

"Don't be nervous, take your time."

"I..."

Wang Yaqin took a deep breath and gathered her courage:

"I want to thank you for everything you have done for me and my daughters."

"If it weren't for you, we would have died long ago."

"It was you who gave us a new life, a new hope."

As she spoke, her eyes became slightly red.

Thinking of those miserable days at the beginning of the Apocalypse, and then looking at the happy life now.

The contrast was too strong, making her emotions somewhat agitated.

Lin Yuan handed her a tissue and comforted her gently:

"Don't think about the past."

"Now we are a family, and I will protect you all well."

"A family..."

Wang Yaqin chewed on these three words, her heart rate accelerating.

She looked at the gentle man in front of her.

Thinking of his heroic posture when he killed the SSS-rank Demonic Dragon, thinking of his ambition to build the Lin Yuan Shelter.

Thinking of his thoughtful care for every woman...

Unknowingly, she had already fallen for him.

"Lin Yuan..."

She gathered her courage and looked directly into his eyes:

"I... I have something I want to tell you."

"What is it?"

"I..."

Wang Yaqin opened her mouth, but couldn't say it out loud.

It was too shameful.

How could she say such things?

She was Qingxue and Qingyue's mother!

Seeing her hesitation, Lin Yuan said gently:

"It's okay, take your time. I have patience."

His gentleness made Wang Yaqin even more moved.

At the same time, it also made her more ashamed.

"I'm sorry..."

She suddenly stood up:

"I... I can't do this..."

"Sister Yaqin?"

Lin Yuan was a bit confused.

Wang Yaqin blushed, her eyes complex:

"I know this isn't right..."

"I am Qingxue and Qingyue's mother, and you are their... but..."

She suddenly thought of her late husband, and the happy family she once had.

Her expression became even more painful:

"No, I cannot do this."

"I once had a complete family, and had true love."

"I cannot betray that memory just for a moment of heartbeat."

She shook her head painfully:

"I'm sorry, Lin Yuan, I cannot do what Wanrou did..."

"I cannot overcome that hurdle in my heart."

Lin Yuan looked at the struggling woman in front of him, feeling indifferent.

Everyone's heart knot is different.

Wang Yaqin once had a complete family.

This was not her fault.

Instead, it showed that she valued her chastity.

Lin Yuan hugged her gently:

"Sister Yaqin, I understand."

"Everyone's heart knot is different."

"I understand how much you cherish that beautiful memory."

Wang Yaqin trembled in his arms, both grateful for his understanding and self-reproachful for her own weakness.

"Don't force yourself."

Lin Yuan comforted her gently:

"Emotions cannot be rushed."

"Maybe one day you can let go, maybe never, it doesn't matter."

"I will not change how I take care of you and your daughters because of this."

Hearing this, Wang Yaqin hugged him tightly.

Not because of sadness, but because of being moved.

This man was truly too gentle.

He didn't force her, he didn't get angry because he was rejected.

Instead, he understood her difficulties and empathized with her feelings.

How could one not love such a man?

But precisely because of this, she was even more pained.

Clearly loving him in her heart, but unable to express it because of moral shackles.

This kind of torture was harder than death.

That night, the two just slept in each other's arms, and nothing happened.

Although Wang Yaqin's loyalty did not turn green, her favor and gratitude towards Lin Yuan deepened even more.

And Lin Yuan also felt more pity for her because of this matter.

Everyone has their own bottom line and persistence.

Wang Yaqin's persistence actually made her even more special in his heart.

For Lin Yuan, this little setback was nothing.

He already had enough women, and was not in a hurry.

Patience and gentleness are often more effective than force.

Perhaps one day, when Wang Yaqin truly lets go.

Her initiative will be more precious than any conquest.

It can be said.

This little episode, for Lin Yuan.

Was inconsequential.

And just at this moment, on the other side of Jiangcheng.

Sun Wu had already assembled five hundred elites, preparing to march towards the Lin Yuan Shelter.

This team was well-equipped, and everyone was at least a B-rank Esper.

The three A-Rank Espers leading them were Sun Wu's confidants.

"Remember, this is just a probe."

Sun Wu said to his subordinates:

"Do not provoke them actively; everything should be based on scouting the situation."

"But if the other side makes a move first, don't be cowardly either."

"Let them witness the power of our Evolver Guild!"

Five hundred people responded in unison, a massive momentum.

And not far from them, the Masked Woman was standing on a high building, silently watching all of this.

"Let me see, just how strong are you."

"Are you really as invincible as the legends say?"