Flower City's Peerless Divine Doctor

Chen Wanqiu thought a lot.

If she put herself in Zhang Ruping's shoes, would she react the same way?

The answer was yes.

For a moment, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief that she had ended up with Li Chen instead of on the opposing side.

Otherwise, with this man's tricks, who knew where he might set a trap she'd unwittingly fall into?

Her beautiful eyes stared straight at Li Chen, "Little man, how exactly does your brain work?"

"Are you falling for me?" Li Chen said with a faint smile.

"Indeed, I'm so head over heels I really want to peel back the layers of your heart, your mind, to see what's inside. Are you always this certain when you do things?"

From the moment she met him, Li Chen had exuded an air of confidence.

It was as if everything was under his control.

"Don't... you're making it sound too scary; I'm a bit frightened," Li Chen joked.

"Humph, you're so bold, yet you get scared? You've already snagged my heart, I just want to eat you up," Chen Wanqiu said dreamily.

Her hand reached out across the table and grabbed Li Chen's.

Quite bold.

In those beautiful eyes, Li Chen saw intense desire.

This woman was getting horny again; it looked like she wanted it.

Looking at her seductive, mature face with a hint of makeup, she was quite attractive.

And he couldn't help feeling a bit restless.

"How do you want to eat me? Then we..."

"Giggle, you little rascal. But, are you sure you don't want to go check on that woman? She seems to be scared silly."

Chen Wanqiu said, glancing in Meng Yuqing's direction.

Li Chen was startled; he had been too busy flirting with Chen Wanqiu to remember Meng Yuqing.

"You sit tight for a bit..."

With that, he stood up and walked over to where Meng Yuqing was.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen Wanqiu pouted, looking a tad jealous.

Li Chen, of course, couldn't see that.

Approaching Meng Yuqing, he saw her sitting there in a daze, eyes red, as if shocked, or unable to cope with the blow, completely devastated.

"Auntie? Are you okay?"

"Xiao... Xiao Chen!"

Meng Yuqing lifted her head blankly, her eyes sparkling with tears, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here dining with friends."

"I saw everything that just happened. That guy is a fraudster; don't be too sad, Auntie..."

Before Li Chen could finish, the tears in Meng Yuqing's eyes fell like beads off a string, a flood of emotion pouring out.

She cried harder and harder, utterly heartbroken, leaning over the table.

After being single for over a decade, she finally met a man she thought was decent, but he turned out to be someone else's kept man, a con artist.

Li Chen could somewhat understand Meng Yuqing's feelings.

Heartache from a relationship was the most painful kind.

Sitting beside her, he didn't know how to offer comfort.

In such situations, if the person involved didn't want to open up, whatever anyone else said was useless.

It was better to let her vent, which might help a bit.

After a while, Meng Yuqing's sobbing gradually subsided to a quiet whimper.

"Auntie, let me take you home first. You like this, Yanyan will be very worried about you."

Hearing her daughter's name, Meng Yuqing lifted her body from the table, her eyes red. She took the tissue from Li Chen's hand, wiped her tears, and sobbed, "Okay! Xiao Chen, you mustn't tell Yanyan. I don't want her to worry."

"I know!"

Li Chen responded and stood up.

Meng Yuqing seemed to have cried so hard that when she got up, she staggered.

Li Chen had quick reflexes and quickly reached out to support her, wrapping his arm around her waist to prevent her from falling.

She was still wearing a form-fitting dress that outlined her curvaceous figure perfectly.

His palm rested on her willowy waist, without an ounce of excess flesh.

The feeling was surprisingly pleasant.

But at that moment, Li Chen had no intention of taking advantage; he helped her up and then let go of his hold.

"Auntie, take it slow..."

As he said that, he moved aside the chair that was nearby.

This brief contact didn't stir any reaction from Meng Yuqing, who was utterly heartbroken and somewhat out of sorts.

Li Chen stayed by her side, walking towards the exit of the restaurant.

Just before leaving, he briskly took three steps in two, grabbed the car keys from Chen Wanqiu, quickly said something, and then left the restaurant.

Upon getting into the car, Meng Yuqing leaned on the passenger seat, her gaze staring blankly out the window.

Li Chen drove while keeping an eye on her condition.

He was still somewhat worried.

"Auntie, everyone makes mistakes in judgment sometimes,"

"Actually, discovering it sooner rather than later might not be a bad thing, at least it lets you see him for who he really is, so you won't be deceived by him anymore."

Meng Yuqing gradually reacted as Li Chen spoke nonstop.

She turned her face from the window to look at Li Chen, revealing a touch of heartbreaking beauty with her smile, "Xiao Chen, you don't need to say anymore, I understand!"

"I was too naive, dreaming of beautiful love at my age, which led to this deception. It won't happen again."

"I have Yanyan now. As long as I take good care of Yanyan, see her graduate and get married, that will be enough for me in this lifetime."

At first, Li Chen nodded along, thinking it was best if she had come to terms with it.

But as he listened, he realized something was off.

It was clear she was excessively sad and about to close off her heart.

This was not the outcome he had hoped for.

"What do you mean by 'at your age'? Anyone would think you and Yanyan were sisters if they saw you together without knowing any better."

"No matter the age, everyone has the right to pursue love. Although you met a bad apple this time, perhaps next time you'll find someone who truly cares for you. I believe there will be someone."

Li Chen quickly interjected.

"You young one, there's no need to comfort me. I'm nearly forty; I can't compare with you young folks."

"Forty? If Yanyan hadn't been there the other day, I would have thought you were under thirty. Really, people could think you two were sisters."

Meng Yuqing had a tall figure and fair skin with hardly any wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. She indeed looked young for her age.

Under thirty might be a bit exaggerated, but Li Chen was not just flattering her. Judging by her appearance alone, she looked just over thirty.

"Really?"

"Yeah! If it weren't for Yanyan telling me, I wouldn't have guessed you were her mother."

Li Chen nodded earnestly.

Meng Yuqing's sadness lessened a bit, and she was successfully amused into laughter.

But quickly, she regained her composure, "Auntie knows you're trying to comfort me. Don't worry, I'm an adult; I won't lose my senses."

As she spoke, she sighed, but it was evident that she wasn't as heartbroken as before.

Li Chen also quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

They stopped the car and went upstairs, where Fang Yan was already at home.

"Mom, Brother Chen!"

Fang Yan came to meet them, her gaze sweeping over her mother and settling on Li Chen.

She had many questions but didn't immediately ask.

...