Shen Hongmei's heart had always seen Li Zhiyan as a child.
Even after what happened last night, seven times.
That still couldn't change the image of Li Zhiyan in Shen Hongmei's mind.
He was just a kid, after all.
"Aunt Shen…"
"Actually, I think it's pretty normal for people to assume you're my mom. After all, there's a 22-year age gap between us."
"I really don't think it's a big deal. Love knows no age, doesn't it?"
"As for those worldly judgments…"
"Aunt Shen."
"I've never cared about what people think."
"Because I've always believed that life belongs to oneself—it's not meant to be lived for others. If you live only under the eyes of others…"
"You're wasting your own life, living the way others want."
Despite thinking that Li Zhiyan was immature, Shen Hongmei found his words to be very reasonable.
But she truly couldn't bring herself to ignore others' gazes.
"And Aunt Shen, you're so beautiful, your figure is amazing, your skin is flawless. If people knew I had such a girlfriend, they wouldn't criticize—they'd envy me."
"I genuinely want to be with you."
"Whatever consequences come from being with you, I'm willing to bear them."
Shen Hongmei couldn't help but chuckle. Her slender, stocking-clad legs stretched out against the windshield, constantly drawing Li Zhiyan's attention.
"Li Zhiyan, do you have a fixation or something?"
Shen Hongmei asked softly.
"Maybe a little, but Aunt Shen, I really like you. It's absolutely not some fixation that makes me want to be with you."
"I also know you can't accept the idea of being with me in your heart."
"But please don't reject me outright. Just give me a chance, okay?"
"Even if it's a tiny chance, I will show you that my feelings for you are real."
Looking into Li Zhiyan's sincere gaze, Shen Hongmei felt an urge to reject him outright there and then.
But a twinge of reluctance in her heart stopped her from hurting him directly.
After all, last night she had shared an impulsive intimacy with him.
If Shen Hongmei claimed she felt no special emotions toward him, that wouldn't be true.
"Alright then."
"Li Zhiyan, people say if two people are meant to be together, it's fate."
"If fate allows us to meet again, and Aunt thinks you're dependable, then maybe Aunt will be with you."
"Forget about last night, okay?"
"It's already late. Let me drive you home, alright?"
Shen Hongmei knew her work kept her incredibly busy, running all over Shanghai.
In this vast city, the odds of the two of them meeting again were like finding a needle in a haystack.
From now on, she and Li Zhiyan would likely never cross paths again.
"Okay, I understand, Aunt Shen. I believe we'll have our fated chance."
Li Zhiyan could tell Shen Hongmei was subtly rejecting him. For most people, that would be the end of their encounters with her.
But he possessed information about the future.
Based on assessments, this information was related to the people he recently interacted with—like Xu Qianqian and Liu Jinxin, whose intelligence had been passed to him.
Watching Li Zhiyan's naive expression, Shen Hongmei couldn't help but internally remark: silly kid.
He still believed they had a connection, that they'd meet again. While favor had been repaid, it was better not to interact again.
Such an approach was beneficial to both herself and Li Zhiyan.
…
After driving her Audi A6 to the rental apartment, she finally bid him farewell.
"Aunt Shen, goodbye."
Shen Hongmei thought for a moment and stepped out of the car, standing in front of Li Zhiyan.
"Li Zhiyan, remember to work well at Changlong Group. Once you're officially permanent there, your monthly salary will exceed ten thousand, along with the five insurances and one fund. If it weren't for Aunt Lai, you couldn't have possibly gotten a job like this."
"I know, Aunt Shen. You must keep your word this time."
"Yes, of course."
Shen Hongmei promised, knowing there'd be little chance of meeting Li Zhiyan again.
"Aunt Shen, since we're parting, can I hug you?"
Standing in front of her, taller than an SUV, Li Zhiyan spoke with reluctance in his heart.
Last night's frenzy had opened him up to a world he'd never experienced before.
His heart was now irreparably ensnared by everything mature and sensual.
With Shen Hongmei, his feelings were no longer ambiguous—he genuinely liked her.
Initially, Shen Hongmei wanted to refuse, to cut off his thoughts while she still could. But thinking that this could be their final meeting, she nodded.
Then, Li Zhiyan stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"Aunt Shen…"
He wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, as if wanting to meld into her entirely.
Greedily inhaling her fragrance, Li Zhiyan felt an intense urge to place his hands on her supple, stocking-covered thighs.
But that clearly wasn't possible right now.
Shen Hongmei gently patted his back, sensing his fiery affection for her.
This boy—he really was in the prime of his youthful vigor.
"Alright, Li Zhiyan, Aunt needs to leave now."
When they finally separated, Shen Hongmei noticed a corner of a stocking peeking out of Li Zhiyan's pants pocket.
"You stuffed my stockings in your pocket?"
Shen Hongmei's gaze turned odd. This kid—what was he thinking, gathering up her stockings?
Li Zhiyan realized he had overlooked it.
Still, he didn't bother hiding it; the more you try to conceal such matters, the more awkward it becomes.
"Aunt Shen, earlier today at the hotel room, I saw that you threw them away."
"So I picked them up. Because some people online buy those kinds of used stockings."
"The hotel staff might collect and sell them."
"So I just kept them instead."
Shen Hongmei furrowed her brows.
"There are people like that now?"
"There are. Some men even wear stockings themselves and sell them."
Shen Hongmei's frown deepened.
"Alright, toss them out when you get a chance. Li Zhiyan, Aunt is leaving now. If you have difficulties in life, just message me on WeChat."
Shen Hongmei decided: although she might help him financially in the future, they couldn't meet again.
Last night's events were merely an accidental mistake.
Such mistakes couldn't be repeated.
After watching Shen Hongmei leave, Li Zhiyan carefully took out her flesh-toned stockings.
They still bore traces from being soaked.
As the delicate fragrance wafted up, Li Zhiyan gently sniffed them.
The image of holding those beautiful, plump legs in his arms flashed in his mind, making his heart itch uncontrollably.
"My Aunt Shen is stunning—those legs at 183 cm, utterly captivating."
"Even the stockings smell so good…"
As he thought about it, Li Zhiyan's heart longed once more to hold Shen Hongmei tightly in his arms.