CH: 297 You can’t!

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{Chapter: 297 You can't!}

Mei Yuxian, who had just been pinched again by Lin Yuan's wandering fingers, resisted the overwhelming urge to cry out. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment, and she quickly took a step back, placing distance between herself and Lin Yuan. She glared at him, her beautiful eyes full of grievance and quiet frustration.

Today, Lin Yuan was clearly behaving especially out of line.

Mei Yuxian hadn't originally intended to lecture her daughter, Gui Qingtong. She simply wanted to spend a peaceful day. But Lin Yuan's inappropriate teasing had disrupted that plan entirely.

After offering a few sharp yet restrained words to the two of them, she took a deep breath and decided to shift the atmosphere.

"I'm going to cook something," Mei Yuxian said with a calm, matriarchal tone that hinted at her desire to escape the awkwardness.

"Qingtong, you and Xiao Yuan can relax and watch TV in the meantime," she added.

It wasn't often that Mei Yuxian personally cooked at home. As someone who enjoyed the finer things in life, she typically left the daily chores, especially cooking, to the household staff. She liked to live freely and indulge herself from time to time.

But today was different.

She had invited Lin Yuan to their home and wanted to personally prepare a meal for him—perhaps as a subtle gesture of affection, perhaps to test the waters of their growing connection. Mei Yuxian was a woman of many talents, graceful and composed, and her cooking was no exception.

She knew the age-old truth well: the way to a man's heart often passed through his stomach.

Lin Yuan was an extraordinary man—charming, intelligent, handsome. He was the kind of person who naturally attracted attention wherever he went. Mei Yuxian had no doubt that there were many young women quietly competing for a place in his heart. Even though she hadn't seen any of them directly, it was evident from the way Gui Qingtong was already so attached to him.

But deep down, Mei Yuxian was not the type to bow down to others. She had always been the head of the household, the pillar of strength in her family. Even now, in the presence of someone like Lin Yuan, she instinctively resisted yielding control.

After Mei Yuxian disappeared into the kitchen, Gui Qingtong exhaled a soft sigh of relief.

The Mei family mansion was enormous, a luxurious estate with all the modern amenities and traditional flourishes. The floor they were on had not one, but two kitchens. There was a stylish open kitchen, typically used for preparing fresh vegetables and quick meals, and a more traditional, fully-equipped kitchen behind it.

At this moment, Mei Yuxian was standing in the open kitchen, preparing ingredients and chopping vegetables with practiced precision. Although the open space allowed her to see Gui Qingtong and Lin Yuan from time to time, it felt far less tense now that she wasn't directly in the room with them.

Lin Yuan gently patted Gui Qingtong on the head, signaling her to relax. Then, his eyes drifted toward the elegant figure of Mei Yuxian as she worked in the kitchen. A smile played on his lips.

"Sister Yuxian, you seem very busy. Isn't it tiring to cook everything by yourself? How about I give you a hand?" Lin Yuan asked casually, walking toward her.

Mei Yuxian paused mid-chop, raising her eyebrows in surprise.

"You? Cook?" she asked suspiciously, turning to look at him.

She didn't expect Lin Yuan to be the type of man who knew his way around a kitchen. His hands looked more accustomed to steering conversations and signing documents beating thugs than handling knives and pots.

Gui Qingtong's eyes lit up with excitement.

She felt that this was an opportunity—a rare chance for her mother to see Lin Yuan from a different angle. Perhaps her mother hadn't completely accepted him yet. After all, there were two obstacles: first, Gui Qingtong was still very young; and second, her mother might still be evaluating Lin Yuan's character to see if he was worthy of marrying into their family.

So, she eagerly nudged Lin Yuan and said, "My mother really does get tired cooking alone. Brother Lin Yuan, go and help her out. If I weren't so clumsy, I'd help too."

She turned to Mei Yuxian and added sweetly, "Mom, let Brother Lin Yuan help you. Cutting meat and bones is man's work, anyway."

Lin Yuan chuckled and stood up, stretching lazily. "Well then, I'd be happy to offer my assistance."

With confident steps, he made his way toward the open kitchen.

Mei Yuxian, still doubtful but unable to reject both her daughter and the guest, finally gave in. She stepped to the side and allowed Lin Yuan to take her place at the cutting board, deciding to supervise rather than protest.

Lin Yuan picked up a kitchen knife and began handling the ingredients skillfully, surprising even Mei Yuxian. His movements were smooth, practiced—not at all like someone who had never cooked before.

Gui Qingtong watched the two of them from the living room with fascination. She rested her arms on the back of the sofa and leaned forward, watching the interaction unfold.

She had no idea that the relationship between her mother and Lin Yuan was far deeper and more complicated than she imagined.

At this moment, all she saw was a sweet and charming scene—her beloved Brother Lin Yuan standing side-by-side with her elegant mother in the kitchen, cooking together like a picture-perfect family.

And to her, it felt just right.

The moment held subtle yet undeniable significance for all three of them.

For Gui Qingtong, letting Lin Yuan help her mother in the kitchen wasn't just a casual suggestion. In her heart, she believed that this shared activity could improve their relationship—perhaps even help her mother see Lin Yuan as a suitable future son-in-law. At the same time, it gave Lin Yuan a chance to see her mother not just as a formidable businesswoman, but as a gentle, elegant homemaker—someone who could be seen as a warm and capable mother-in-law.

It was a clever move, one that she hoped would benefit everyone involved.

Two birds with one stone.

Gui Qingtong turned and looked at Lin Yuan with a bright, hopeful smile, her eyes full of quiet encouragement. Lin Yuan, seeing her expression, smiled faintly. He picked up the kitchen knife and began slicing vegetables and meat with precision.

Although he hadn't undergone any formal culinary training or practiced fancy knife skills, Lin Yuan had a secret advantage—his physical stats were far superior to an average person's. With his attributes as high as 200 points, his reflexes, speed, and coordination were on another level entirely. While he wasn't some comic book superhero, he could certainly pass for a "Little Superman" in the real world.

As he worked, the knife in his hand moved with surprising speed and accuracy, slicing through meat and vegetables like a seasoned chef. Despite the slight awkwardness of his movements, which betrayed his lack of kitchen experience, the power and control behind each cut were unmistakable.

Mei Yuxian couldn't help but be impressed. She paused in the middle of preparing a pot of soup and cast a sidelong glance at Lin Yuan, observing his movements with raised eyebrows.

She had always known Lin Yuan was energetic and full of potential, but watching him handle kitchen work so smoothly still came as a surprise.

'He's full of surprises…' she thought.

Standing nearby, Gui Qingtong beamed with satisfaction. Watching her mother sneak glances at Lin Yuan, her heart swelled with hope. It felt like progress—her mother was starting to see Lin Yuan in a more favorable light.

However, as the novelty wore off, Gui Qingtong began to lose interest in watching them cook. Feeling a little bored, she turned away and focused on the television in the living room. The faint sounds of cooking, the bubbling of soup, and the clatter of the knife on the chopping board created a cozy, domestic atmosphere in the background.

Everything seemed peaceful and normal—on the surface.

But behind the stove, something subtle and mischievous was happening.

Mei Yuxian suddenly flinched, a sharp breath escaping between her teeth. A barely audible whisper escaped her lips.

"You—stop it! You can't do that here!"

Her expression shifted slightly as she struggled to maintain her composure. Lin Yuan, her troublemaker, had taken advantage of the moment once again.

Mei Yuxian hadn't changed out of her office attire when she returned home. Wearing a tailored business outfit paired with a simple apron tied around her waist, she gave off a strangely captivating image—a rare fusion of elegance and homely charm. Her long legs and graceful posture gave her a dignified aura, yet the apron added an unexpectedly gentle touch to her normally powerful image. A perfect MILF if you will.

To Lin Yuan, she looked absolutely stunning—like the embodiment of two contrasting worlds. On one side, the cold, commanding chairwoman of the Mei Group; on the other, a beautiful, refined woman preparing dinner in a warm home. The contradiction only made her more alluring in his eyes.

And truth be told, this was the real reason Lin Yuan had offered to help with the cooking.

Of course, spending time with the adorable Gui Qingtong would have been nice too, but he had something more exciting in mind.

He wasn't exactly noble in his intentions.

Lin Yuan's eyes glinted with mischief, and though his hands were busy at the chopping board, one of them seemed to have wandered somewhere inappropriate.

"Let go of your hand. Quickly!" Mei Yuxian hissed through gritted teeth, leaning closer so Gui Qingtong wouldn't hear her.

But Lin Yuan only smiled calmly, as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. With one hand, he continued to chop vegetables at an efficient pace. With the other—he was multitasking.

It was a bold and audacious move, one only someone like Lin Yuan could pull off.

Mei Yuxian felt equal parts angry, flustered, and strangely... excited. She was the matriarch of the Mei family, the one who always commanded respect. No man had ever dared to behave toward her in this way.

And here was this younger man, shamelessly teasing her while her daughter sat just a few meters away, watching television.

She should have slapped his hand away, put him in his place—but she didn't.

Why?

Because deep inside, even if she wouldn't admit it, there was a part of her that didn't want him to stop.

The contrast between her public identity and her private desires made her feel unsteady. It was new. It was dangerous. And it was thrilling.

Lin Yuan, of course, understood her thoughts perfectly. He knew exactly what kind of woman Mei Yuxian was—strong, proud, and used to being in control. But that didn't bother him.

He wasn't trying to break her. He was taming her, slowly and methodically. Not through brute force, but through dominance that didn't have to raise its voice.

He was laying the foundation for the future.

Lin Yuan didn't believe in letting his woman lead him. While he respected capable women, he didn't want a power struggle in his own relationship. He wanted trust, closeness—and submission, eventually.

Mei Yuxian was no inexperienced girl who would fall head over heels after a single romantic gesture. She was seasoned, clever, and cautious. She still harbored the urge to resist, to maintain control.

But Lin Yuan was patient.

This was only the beginning.

Meanwhile, Gui Qingtong continued to watch TV with a smile on her face, completely unaware of the quiet, electric tension simmering behind her in the kitchen.

After a few minutes, her curiosity returned. She tilted her head, thinking it wouldn't hurt to take another peek at how things were going between her mother and Lin Yuan.

With a light smile, she turned her head to glance back toward the kitchen—completely unaware of the secret dance unfolding just out of sight.

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