Chapter 165: Sincerity! The Price of a Mother's Love
Shen Anyu's expression was calm; he was accustomed to delicacies and naturally wouldn't act like a pervert. However, he was still quite interested in the mature beauty, Wang Qin, before him.
While beautiful young women like Su Hongmian, Jiang Linlin, and Liu Mi were Shen Anyu's favorites, having grown accustomed to delicacies, occasionally enjoying delicious home-cooked meals could also whet his appetite. Eating everything ensures a balanced diet.
[Location: Wang Qin's Apartment - Living Room]
The small, cramped living room felt stiflingly intimate. The hum of the cheap electric fan in the corner did little to dispel the heat, which seemed to rise with every second of silence.
Shen Anyu sat on the worn beige sofa, his bespoke suit contrasting sharply with the peeling wallpaper. He crossed his legs elegantly, his posture relaxed, like a king inspecting a new territory. His gaze lingered on Wang Qin, analyzing her with the precision of a predator.
Especially when he thought that Wang Qin was the biological mother of that annoying Child of Destiny, Xu Ping'an, Shen Anyu felt even more excited. It was a twisted, dark thrill—the pleasure of the Hunter.
Shen Anyu truly detested Xu Ping'an. That [Damage Reflection Aura] was like a hedgehog, a thorny annoyance that made it difficult for Shen Anyu to act directly without dirtying his own hands. Previously, Xu Ping'an even dared to flirt with Jiang Linlin in front of Shen Anyu, fanning the flames and causing trouble, acting as if he were the center of the universe.
'To strike the dog, one must first dismantle its home,' Shen Anyu thought, his eyes narrowing slightly.
If Shen Anyu didn't properly deal with him and make his mentality collapse, would he still be a Destined Villain? To destroy a "Son of Destiny," breaking his bones was temporary; breaking his spirit was eternal. And what better way to shatter a man than to conquer the woman who gave him life?
Looking at the anxious mature beauty, Wang Qin, Shen Anyu took out his phone. The screen glowed in the dim room, a harbinger of doom.
He spoke seriously, his voice laced with grave concern:
"Xu Ping'an isn't injured, but he did injure others. The situation is far worse than you imagine. Look!"
With that, Shen Anyu flipped through a few photos on the high-definition screen.
The images were visceral. In the photos, Xu Ping'an had a smug and arrogant expression, his chin tilted up, looking as if everyone else was trash beneath his feet. It was the classic "arrogant protagonist" pose, but in this context, it looked like the face of a violent thug.
At Xu Ping'an's feet lay several muscular men, all in pain, twisting on the ground. Some were clutching their stomachs, others were bleeding profusely from their noses and mouths. The bright red blood contrasted horrifyingly with the grey pavement.
"This…" Wang Qin gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes widening in horror.
Shen Anyu pointed a slender finger at one specific photo.
"Especially one of them, whose two 'eggs' were directly shattered by Xu Ping'an's knee, almost beyond saving. The doctors say he might lose his fertility permanently. That is a grave injury, Ms. Wang. It destroys a family's lineage."
Wang Qin felt the blood drain from her face. She felt dizzy.
Looking at these pictures, at her son Xu Ping'an's arrogant and smug expression, and at the pained, ruined faces of the muscular men, Wang Qin's face was filled with shock and disbelief.
"How could this be… how could this happen?"
She whispered the words, her voice trembling. She had watched Xu Ping'an grow up; in her eyes, he was always a sensible, if somewhat impulsive, child. How could Xu Ping'an fight like a gangster? And how could he be so strong as to injure several muscular men single-handedly?
However, the photos and videos before her were not fake. The blood looked real. The agony on the victims' faces looked real. And that face… that was undeniably her son.
'Ping'an… what have you done?' she cried internally, a wave of disappointment and fear washing over her.
Wang Qin's graceful oval face, full of charm even in her distress, looked at Shen Anyu with difficulty. Her eyes were rimmed with red, shimmering with unshed tears.
"Sir, are you here for compensation?"
She asked the question she dreaded most. She wasn't an inexperienced young girl; she had managed the Xu household for years. She naturally knew that such severe injuries—permanent disability—would definitely require substantial compensation.
Thinking of this, Wang Qin became worried; she had very little money left. Her bank account was barely keeping them afloat as it was.
Shen Anyu observed her panic. He had already sent people to investigate thoroughly, even knowing Wang Qin's preferences, her bank balance, and her current rental dispute, so he naturally knew she had no money.
No money? That was perfect.
If she had money, she would have dignity. Without money, dignity was a luxury she couldn't afford.
Shen Anyu had money! He had more money than she could fathom.
Shen Anyu looked at Wang Qin with a serious expression, locking eyes with her to establish dominance, and said in a deep voice:
"Medical expenses, nutritional fees, emotional distress, lost wages, and the potential disability settlement… At least one million Yuan is needed. And that is a conservative estimate to settle this privately."
"One… one million?" Wang Qin breathed out, her voice barely audible.
"Yes. Otherwise, the victims will press charges. Your son, Xu Ping'an, will likely go to jail for intentional injury causing grievous bodily harm. Once he has a criminal record, he won't get his academic or graduation certificates. He will be expelled from Modu University. After he gets out of prison, he will be labeled a convict. He will probably be stuck at the bottom of society for the rest of his life, unable to find a decent job, unable to marry a good wife."
Shen Anyu leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper that sounded like a devil's enticement.
"Ms. Wang Qin, you don't want your son to go to jail, do you? You don't want his bright future to be completely ruined because of a moment of impulse?"
Wang Qin was struck as if by lightning.
Her body swayed, and she grabbed the armrest of the sofa to steady herself. Her face lost all color, her graceful oval face instantly turning pale as a sheet of paper.
One million.
How could she possibly come up with one million?
Even one hundred thousand would be difficult for her to produce right now! She had sold her jewelry, she had used her savings… she was empty.
Shen Anyu was amused inwardly, savoring the despair radiating from her, but his expression remained serious, professional, almost sympathetic.
"Ms. Wang Qin, you've seen the hospital's medical records. The people injured by Xu Ping'an are severely hurt. One million in compensation is absolutely not a lot; we are not asking for an exorbitant amount. Even if it goes to court, the compensation will only be more, not less. And by then, Ping'an will already be in handcuffs."
"Your son, Xu Ping'an, got into a good university like Modu University. It is one of the top institutions in the country. You don't want his future to be ruined, do you?"
Every word was a hammer blow to Wang Qin's heart.
Wang Qin's red lips parted slightly, quivering. She hesitated, looking at her hands, then sighed helplessly, a sound of utter defeat.
"I know… I know one million in compensation isn't a lot for such injuries… but I can't afford it. I really can't afford it right now. What should I do?"
Tears finally spilled from her eyes, rolling down her pale cheeks. She felt trapped. The walls of the small apartment seemed to be closing in on her.
However, she couldn't possibly abandon Xu Ping'an; he was her biological son, her own flesh and blood. Even if he was wrong, even if he was violent, a mother could not watch her son go to prison. She would sacrifice anything for him.
Shen Anyu watched this scene with great interest. The prey was in the trap; now, it was time to tighten the noose.
At this moment.
Wang Qin pursed her moist red lips, lowered her head, her hands nervously clasped together in her lap, her slender fingers turning white from the effort. Her exquisite, beautiful oval face was filled with deep sorrow, appearing particularly pitiful and melancholic.
The floral dress she wore seemed to droop with her mood, yet it still clung to her ample curves. The vulnerability she displayed stripped away the barrier of age, leaving only a woman in need of a savior.
Such a gentle, exquisite mature beauty, in such a vulnerable state, was even more enticing than when she was composed.
At this moment, Wang Qin seemed like a white butterfly caught in a spiderweb, struggling, uneasy, sorrowful, and helpless. Her wings were beating frantically, but the silk was too strong.
"Sir…" She looked up, her eyes swimming with tears. "Can I owe it for now? I promise I will compensate. I will find a job… I will work day and night. Can I pay in installments? How about that?"
Wang Qin took a shallow breath, causing her chest to heave noticeably. She bit her moist lips with her pearly teeth, looking at Shen Anyu with a pitiful, pleading expression that would have melted the heart of any ordinary man.
This was her only option! Begging.
Shen Anyu, however, shook his head and chuckled softly, a sound that was both cruel and charming.
"How could it be paid in installments? The hospital is waiting for medical fees for the surgery. The victims are waiting for cash to calm their anger. How can they afford to delay? They want money now, or they want Xu Ping'an in a cell."
At this point, seeing Wang Qin's beautiful eyes gradually turn despairing and pale, losing the last glimmer of hope, Shen Anyu knew the timing was perfect.
Shen Anyu's lips curved upwards into a faint, enigmatic smile. He leaned back, spreading his arms along the top of the sofa, opening his posture invitingly.
"Ms. Wang, actually… there is another way."
He said slowly, his voice dropping an octave, becoming husky and magnetic.
"I can pay the one million for you. I can settle this matter instantly. I can make the charges disappear."
Wang Qin's eyes lit up with sudden hope. "Really? You… you would help us?"
"But," Shen Anyu interrupted, his gaze traveling deliberately slowly from her tearful eyes, down her neck, over her heaving chest, to her waist, and back up. "What will you give me in return?"
The true motive was revealed!
Shen Anyu's voice was soft, but it struck Wang Qin's ears like a clap of thunder, leaving her mind blank. She froze.
She looked at Shen Anyu in shock and disbelief.
Wang Qin had not expected that this excessively handsome young man—who looked like a noble prince, who carried himself with such elegance—would also harbor such ill intentions toward her, just like other men.
Just like the landlord. Just like the lecherous bosses she had encountered.
"You…" Her voice failed her.
However, a cruel realization dawned on her. She had been able to refuse the landlord Qian Haofu before because she could move; there was a solution. She had a choice.
But now? With her son's freedom on the line? She was helpless, with no options left.
"Sir…" Her face flushed a deep crimson, a mix of shame and sudden, confusing heat. "I… I must be only a few years younger than your mother! I am an old woman!"
"What does that matter?"
Shen Anyu interrupted her effortlessly.
"You look like you're only twenty-seven or twenty-eight. You are ripe, Ms. Wang. Much more flavorful than those green, unripe apples."
Shen Anyu crossed his legs and smiled at the mature beauty before him, the biological mother of the Child of Destiny, Xu Ping'an, Wang Qin.
His gaze was burning, stripping her bare mentally.
Time seemed to stand still in the small room.
There was only the whirring of the electric fan, chopping the thick, tension-filled air, and the long, mournful meows of a stray cat outside the window, echoing the chaos in her heart.
Wang Qin's mind was a whirlwind.
He wants me? This young, handsome, wealthy man wants me?
Resentment warred with a strange, undeniable flattery.
She looked at Shen Anyu. He was undeniably handsome. His skin was flawless, his features carved like a statue, his eyes deep and mysterious. Compared to the greasy, pot-bellied landlord Qian Haofu who smelled of stale smoke and sweat, Shen Anyu smelled of expensive agarwood and clean, masculine pheromones.
If she had to sell herself… if she had to sacrifice her body to save her son…
Wasn't it better to give it to a dragon than to be gnawed on by a rat?
After a long, long time.
Wang Qin finally raised her head. Her graceful, exquisite, and beautiful oval face was flushed, her eyes misted over. Her sparkling almond eyes looked at Shen Anyu with a complex expression—shame, resignation, and a flicker of something she dared not name.
She took a long, trembling breath, her chest rising sharply.
"Alright. I agree!"
The words were spoken softly, but they sealed her fate.
After saying this, Wang Qin felt a sense of relief wash over her, followed immediately by a wave of heat.
Her biological son, Xu Ping'an, would be saved. He wouldn't have to suffer imprisonment. She had done her duty as a mother.
Furthermore, what puzzled Wang Qin was that she didn't feel too bad about it.
Deep down in her heart, a shameful thought emerged: A handsome young man and a greasy middle-aged landlord are always different.
It's like a beautiful young girl scolding you is being tsundere—it's cute. But a fat, ugly woman scolding you is being a shrew—it's annoying.
Humans are always sensory creatures! Double standards exist everywhere.
Although Shen Anyu's actions were fundamentally no different from that landlord Qian Haofu—both were using their power to coerce her—Wang Qin's level of acceptance was vastly different.
One was a transaction that made her feel nauseous. The other… felt almost like a illicit tryst.
Shen Anyu's lips curved upwards, not surprised in the slightest. He watched the emotions flicker across her face, reading her thoughts like an open book.
He looked at the mature beauty before him, the biological mother of the Child of Destiny, Xu Ping'an, Wang Qin. He saw the flush on her neck, the way her legs pressed together, the submission in her eyes.
He leaned forward, extending a hand to lift her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes.
He said slowly, his voice dripping with anticipation:
"Then let me see your sincerity~"
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