She had tried countless times to win back her son. She could give up the man, but she couldn't bear to let go of her child. Despite exhausting all her strength, her son remained distant from her, even showing disdain. Eventually, disheartened, she chose to give up.
Going to the auction to buy the Youth-Renewing Pill was essentially a desperate gamble. If the pill could truly restore youth, she wanted to start a new life. If not, she had already found a burial place for herself. This world was too painful; once was enough for her.
Fortunately, the outcome was good. Her body could truly return to its prime, but her heart remained riddled with scars. She was deeply unwilling to accept this. She wanted to live a vibrant life, to make that father and son regret their choices. Yet she never imagined that Sheng Sinian holding a funeral for Lin Qingyu was a trap to lure her out, with the ultimate goal of trapping her here. Even if she died, he wouldn't let her leave.
Lin Mengxing understood Sheng Sinian well. Since he dared to say such words out loud, it proved that she and Shen Yunyun could never leave this place. They would face social death. If they cooperated, they might survive here unscathed, essentially under house arrest. If they didn't, this villa would become their burial ground.
At this thought, Lin Mengxing felt suffocated. Why had she sought to vent that anger? Now, not only had she failed to release it, but she had also dragged herself and Shen Yunyun into this mess.
Seeing the look of despair on her face, Sheng Sinian was in an excellent mood. He reached out to stroke her cheek: "Qingyu, you're still too naive. This world isn't one where effort alone guarantees success. For a person to succeed, timing, location, and harmony are all indispensable. Tell me, as the treasure that stabilizes the Sheng family, why did you want to run away? Isn't it good to stay in the Sheng family as your mascot? Wealth, status, position—you have everything you want. Why run?"
"If you hadn't come back on your own, I really wouldn't have been able to find you. After all, who would think that a person could transform from a fifty-year-old woman into a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl in such a short time? And I have to say, seeing your tender face now, your body radiating youthful vitality, makes me feel younger too."
As he spoke, he suddenly pulled her close, lifting her chin to kiss her. Lin Mengxing slapped him hard across the face and shouted, "What are you doing? Are you harassing me? Let me go, let me go!"
Her commotion brought Shen Yunyun rushing in, wielding a knife. She kicked the door open: "Let go of my sister Mengxing! Don't you dare bully her. If you touch her, I'll fight you to the death!"
Startled by Shen Yunyun's sudden intrusion, Sheng Sinian's confidence faltered, his face dark as a pot bottom. Seizing the moment of his distraction, Lin Mengxing pushed him away and moved to Shen Yunyun's side. Shen Yunyun pulled her behind her: "Sister Mengxing, don't worry. As long as I'm here, I won't let any bad guy hurt you."
Lin Mengxing had no doubts about her, knowing she carried plenty of tools—pepper spray and a stun baton—any one of which would be enough to give Sheng Sinian a hard time.
Seeing the two seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girls united against him, Sheng Sinian was genuinely surprised. Lin Qingyu had actually managed to make a friend like this—someone who would charge in with a knife to shield her when she was in danger. He rubbed his fingers together and looked at Lin Mengxing: "Since you're unwilling, I won't force you. We'll talk when you've thought it over."