Chapter 36: This Kid… He Just Can’t Stop Worrying Me!

Pushing Li Zhiyan away with a hint of panic, Rao Shiyun turned her back to him, her face burning hot and her eyes shut tightly.

How am I supposed to face this child again?

She clenched her fists, replaying the moment in her mind. She was 42 years old, for heaven's sake! Just a few days ago, she had spoken calmly with her husband, discussing their potential reconciliation.

And yet tonight… she had kissed an 18-year-old boy.

The mere thought made her cheeks redden further. If my husband ever found out about this, any chance of reconciliation would be completely destroyed.

"I'm sorry… husband…" she whispered internally, her guilt weighing heavily on her.

Behind her, Li Zhiyan stood silently. He could sense her unease but knew better than to speak.

Truthfully, he hadn't planned for things to escalate like this. But when Rao Aunty kissed him, he simply couldn't resist. Her beauty and allure were overwhelming.

Now that she had sobered up, it was best to give her space. She was, after all, the elder in this dynamic. He would wait for her to break the silence.

---

After what felt like an eternity, Rao Shiyun finally turned around.

Her face, though composed, still carried a faint blush. Her earlier actions were something she could hardly believe herself.

She thought, He's just a child, just a boy barely stepping into adulthood… And yet, I…

Rao Shiyun exhaled deeply, determined to put the incident behind them.

"Xiao Yan, let me take you home. We're not far from your place anyway," she said, forcing a calm tone.

She decided to act as if nothing had happened. Time would blur tonight's memories, and they could return to their previous dynamic—a simple Aunty and the boy she looked after.

That would be best for both of them.

However, when she tried to steady herself, she wobbled slightly. The alcohol she had consumed earlier was still affecting her.

"No, Rao Aunty, let me take you home instead. I'd feel uneasy otherwise," Li Zhiyan replied. "We can call for a driver. I'll make sure you get back safely before heading home myself."

She hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright."

The awkward atmosphere gradually eased as they chatted about mundane topics, carefully avoiding the kiss under the willow tree.

---

After ensuring Rao Shiyun was safely home, Li Zhiyan walked through the quiet streets, the cool night air refreshing his senses.

He felt the alcohol leaving his system quickly—a testament to the power of his new Alcohol Deity skill.

"This skill is amazing," he mused. Then, remembering the system's promise, he pulled out his trusty VIVO flip phone.

Sure enough, the system's reward of 70,000 yuan had been deposited into his account.

"Now I have 200,000 saved up. Just 800,000 more to hit my goal of becoming a millionaire," he thought with a grin.

Still, he wasn't too fixated on his financial ambitions at the moment. His mind wandered back to Rao Shiyun. Her soft whispers, her guidance during their kiss…

His heart raced as his imagination spiraled. If only I could have stayed longer… If only she could truly…

Realizing where his thoughts were going, he shook his head furiously. Focus, Li Zhiyan! No more daydreaming!

---

When he arrived home, the warm glow of the living room lights greeted him.

Pushing the door open, he saw his mother, Zhou Rongrong, sitting at the dining table, waiting for him as always.

"Xiao Yan, are you hungry? I made dumplings tonight," she said with a gentle smile.

"I'm starving!" he replied, his stomach growling in agreement.

Zhou Rongrong watched fondly as her son devoured the food. But as she leaned closer to him, she sniffed the faint smell of alcohol lingering on him.

"Xiao Yan, were you drinking tonight?"

Li Zhiyan froze momentarily, then quickly denied it. "No, Mom. I didn't drink. Someone else at the dinner table was drinking, and the smell must've rubbed off on me."

Suspicious, Zhou Rongrong leaned in for another sniff. Satisfied that the smell wasn't too strong, she finally relaxed.

As her gaze lingered on her son, she noticed something unusual—a faint smear of lipstick at the corner of his mouth.

Her heart skipped a beat. This boy… has he been kissed?

Her mind began racing. Could he really be dating an older woman? Could she be in her 40s?

The thought was almost too much to bear. She loved her son dearly, but the idea of him bringing home a woman her own age…

No, I have to prepare myself mentally. If that day ever comes, I need to stay calm.

---

Meanwhile, at her own home, Rao Shiyun tossed and turned in bed.

The events of the night replayed over and over in her mind.

Was that really me?

She groaned, covering her face with a pillow. "How could I kiss an 18-year-old? And not just kiss him—I even… taught him!"

The memory of her whispered instructions and her willingness to demonstrate made her face burn with shame.

"I must have been crazy… It's the alcohol. It has to be the alcohol."

She opened her phone, staring at Li Zhiyan's contact on QQ. Her finger hovered over the delete button.

Should I just delete him? Pretend he never existed?

Her thumb hesitated. Deleting him felt too cruel. He hadn't done anything wrong.

He had stood by her, protected her, and even drunk himself silly to shield her from harm. He was such a good child—how could she sever ties with him?

The thought of him sitting beside her, braving glass after glass of alcohol, filled her with guilt.

In the end, she couldn't bring herself to press the button. Instead, she sent him a message:

"Xiao Yan, are you feeling okay? Still uncomfortable?"

Seconds later, his reply came.

"I'm fine, Rao Aunty. I'm good at handling alcohol."

Her chest tightened. Even now, he's trying to reassure me…

---

The following days passed uneventfully. Both Li Zhiyan and Rao Shiyun avoided mentioning that fateful night.

They chatted as usual, their conversations light and unassuming. Rao Shiyun focused on treating him as she always had, while Li Zhiyan took the hint and refrained from pushing boundaries.

By the fourth day, as Li Zhiyan lounged in the internet café with his friend Li Siyu, a system notification finally arrived.

"New mission: A distant cousin of Gu Wanzhou is looking to sell his Brotherhood Internet Café for 200,000 yuan. He has approached Gu Wanzhou for help finding a buyer.

"Task: Purchase the Brotherhood Internet Café.

"Reward: Skill Upgrade – 20CM Enhancement."

Li Zhiyan blinked, reading the details again and again.

20CM… Enhancement?

His heart pounded as he realized what this skill implied. He didn't need further convincing.

"This mission is non-negotiable—I have to do it!"