Urban Villain: The Game of Wealth and Women

{Chapter: 299 Hold the knife tightly!}

Mei Yuxian's frustration only deepened the moment she heard Gui Qingtong's sincere and innocent words.

The reason she was in this embarrassing and infuriating situation was entirely because of Lin Yuan!

That man was far too bold—shameless even!

But Lin Yuan, completely unfazed, smiled calmly and said with a gentle voice, "Of course. I'll help Sister Yuxian with her treatment. It's the least I can do."

His words sounded proper on the surface, but Mei Yuxian knew all too well the double meaning behind them.

He was pushing her boundaries far too often, and now, under the eyes of her daughter no less, she was being emotionally and physically overwhelmed. It was becoming unbearable.

Adding to the torment, Gui Qingtong kept glancing over from the living room with her usual bright and trusting expression, clearly unaware of the subtle tension in the kitchen.

Being caught in this tug-of-war—physically tormented by Lin Yuan while having to pretend everything was normal in front of her daughter—was like a cruel joke. It was exhausting beyond words.

Unable to take it anymore, Mei Yuxian finally snapped. With a tight expression and clenched teeth, she said stiffly, "Xiao... Xiao Yuan, why don't you go and watch TV with Qingtong? You're our guest today, after all. There's no need to stay here."

She tried to sound natural, but there was a thinly veiled edge in her voice.

Lin Yuan, however, didn't budge. With his usual casual charm, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "No need. I'm not tired at all. Really. If I left, wouldn't you be stuck doing everything by yourself, Sister Yuxian? That wouldn't be fair to you."

There was a clear glint of mischief in his eyes, and although his tone was polite, Mei Yuxian could feel his teasing.

She ground her teeth in frustration and lowered her voice to a harsh whisper, "I'd be even more tired with you here, do you understand?"

Then, practically growling under her breath, she added, "Go. Just go and sit with Qingtong. Now!"

Her tone was sharp, and her cheeks were flushed from a mix of embarrassment and anger. It was clear she had reached her limit.

Finally, seeing that she was genuinely upset, Lin Yuan decided not to push further. With a shrug and a sly grin, he turned around and casually made his way to the living room to sit beside Gui Qingtong.

Mei Yuxian let out a long sigh of relief the moment he left. It felt like a heavy weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

She leaned against the kitchen counter, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face, trying to steady her breathing and regain her composure. While fixing the clothing below.

She had never imagined that a young man like Lin Yuan would be so hard to handle. She had completely underestimated him. Far from being simple to manage, he was a hundred times more difficult than she had anticipated.

She simply couldn't control him—at all.

And just as she was regaining her calm, she overheard Gui Qingtong's sweet voice from the living room.

"Mom, I really think it's nice having Brother Lin Yuan around," Gui Qingtong said earnestly. "You seem to get tired so easily. If there's a man like Brother Lin Yuan in the family to help out, it makes everything feel so much easier and more comforting."

The moment those words reached her ears, Mei Yuxian's temple twitched.

She knew her daughter meant well, but hearing that kind of innocent yet suggestive praise made her blood pressure rise again. It was clearly a subtle way of once again implying that Mei Yuxian should consider Lin Yuan as a potential partner—not for herself, of course, but as a son-in-law.

And that implication alone drove her mad.

Mei Yuxian turned her head slightly and gave Gui Qingtong a sideways glance, her eyes narrowing just a bit.

She couldn't help but raise her palm to her forehead, exasperated.

What in the world is this child saying? Having a man in the house makes things easier? What kind of nonsense is that?

For the most part, they had a full-time housekeeper. She barely needed help doing anything around the house!

It was obvious that Gui Qingtong's words weren't about chores—they were for Lin Yuan's benefit.

Yet that also revealed something else: how deeply Gui Qingtong liked Lin Yuan.

She had fallen for him in a quiet yet unwavering way, a young girl's love that was as pure as it was persistent.

Not only had she repeatedly tried to win her mother's approval for Lin Yuan, but she had also thrown herself wholeheartedly into her studies—all for the sake of being admitted to the prestigious Jiangbei Conservatory of Music, just to stay close to him.

There was no doubt now. Gui Qingtong's feelings for Lin Yuan weren't just fleeting admiration. They were deeply rooted, sincere, and perhaps even intense beyond what Mei Yuxian had realized.

And that made things all the more complicated.

These tangled relationships—between mother, daughter, and the young man who had casually walked into their lives—were becoming harder and harder to manage.

Mei Yuxian quietly stirred the soup, her expression mixed with annoyance, confusion, and a deep, growing anxiety she couldn't quite place.

The peaceful warmth of her home had turned into a battlefield of emotions—and it all started with Lin Yuan.

While Mei Yuxian continued preparing dinner in the kitchen, the warm aroma of spices and sizzling oil filling the air, Lin Yuan returned to the living room and settled onto the sofa next to Gui Qingtong.

Before he came back, Gui Qingtong had already made herself quite comfortable. Her petite frame was sprawled out lazily across the soft cushions, occupying more than half the sofa like a lounging cat soaking in the warmth of the evening.

Noticing that Lin Yuan had returned and there wasn't quite enough space left for him, Gui Qingtong tilted her head and gave him a playful, mischievous smile.

"Brother Lin Yuan," she said sweetly, her voice soft and laced with innocence, "would you like to watch TV while holding me?"

Her words carried a gentle boldness, one that only a girl deeply infatuated would dare say aloud.

Lin Yuan blinked at her, slightly surprised, then instinctively turned his head toward the kitchen. Mei Yuxian was still cooking, her back facing them, but he could practically feel her presence like a silent pressure looming nearby.

If he really dared to hold Gui Qingtong in his arms right now, he had no doubt Mei Yuxian would storm out of the kitchen with a chopping knife in hand and chase him straight out of the house. That woman did not play around.

It was not just embarrassing—it could be life-threatening for her.

So Lin Yuan, with a calm smile, shook his head and replied, "Let's not go that far. I quite enjoy being alive."

Gui Qingtong giggled softly. "Really? Are you sure? Would you mind… just a little?"

Even though he didn't agree to hold her, Gui Qingtong shamelessly adjusted her position and gently rested her slender, snowy-white legs across Lin Yuan's lap. Her delicate, fair-skinned feet—impeccably maintained—landed softly on his thigh as if they belonged there.

Lin Yuan glanced down but didn't object. She was just teasing, after all.

What he didn't expect was for her to start playfully wiggling her toes against him.

It was clear she was doing it on purpose, trying to provoke some reaction.

Lin Yuan gave a sly smirk and, in retaliation, lightly scratched the soles of her feet with his fingers.

"Ahh! That tickles!" Gui Qingtong burst into laughter, covering her mouth with both hands as she squirmed and giggled uncontrollably.

The sound of her laughter echoed through the quiet room, filled with innocence and joy.

Meanwhile, from the kitchen, Mei Yuxian turned her head slightly, and the sight that greeted her made her fingers clench tightly around the kitchen knife.

If it had been any other young man daring to touch her daughter so casually, she would have pointed the knife at his face without hesitation. No one was allowed to play around with her daughter like that.

And yet, the fact that it was Lin Yuan made it somehow even more intolerable.

It wasn't just jealousy. It was a strange cocktail of emotions she couldn't quite put into words—conflicted, annoyed, and… something else she didn't want to admit.

Soon after, dinner was ready, and Mei Yuxian called out with practiced calm, "Alright, you two. Food's ready. Come to the table."

Lin Yuan and Gui Qingtong got up and headed over.

The dining table looked beautiful, covered with steaming hot dishes that were vibrant in color and rich in aroma. Mei Yuxian had clearly put a lot of effort into this meal—there was braised fish with scallions, stir-fried vegetables, golden-brown sweet and sour pork ribs, and a few other delicacies that would make anyone's mouth water.

Mei Yuxian's culinary skills were clearly no joke. It was a spread worthy of a professional chef.

After taking their seats, the three of them began to eat.

"This braised fish is amazing," Lin Yuan said after taking a bite, nodding in approval. "The flavor's rich, and the fish is cooked just right. Not too soft, not too firm."

Gui Qingtong, eager to please, immediately picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs with her chopsticks and placed it in Lin Yuan's bowl. "Try this next, Brother Lin Yuan. I think you'll love it."

He smiled and took a bite. "Mmm, delicious. Really good."

Then, in an unexpected but smooth move, Lin Yuan used his own chopsticks to pick up another rib and gently placed it in Mei Yuxian's bowl.

"Sister Yuxian, you should try it too. This one's amazing. You've really outdone yourself tonight."

Mei Yuxian hesitated for a second, but then accepted it silently and brought the piece of rib to her lips.

Her cheeks turned a faint shade of red.

But it wasn't because she was shy from his compliment. Nor was it just the warmth of the food.

It was because while Lin Yuan was serving her food with a polite, innocent face…

…his other hand under the table had just brushed lightly against her thigh.

She nearly dropped her chopsticks.

Flustered, she bit into the rib and looked away, pretending not to notice.

But the redness on her cheeks said otherwise.

That man! He looked so composed on the surface, but beneath that gentlemanly mask was a true scoundrel—one who knew exactly how to make her heart race and blood boil.

And she had no idea how much longer she could keep pretending it didn't affect her.