Watching Xu Muya kneel before him, her expression serious as she carefully inspected the injury on his thigh… The way she lowered her gaze, her face as picturesque and gentle as still water… Chen Jiang felt a fire ignite in his belly.
Especially when Xu Muya leaned closer, the faint, almost imperceptible warmth of her breath on his thigh was more than he could bear.
As for Xu Muya, she appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, her mind was a mess.
Her heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat.
Chen Jiang’s powerful, bronze skin; the hard, firm lines of his thigh muscles… everything radiated a potent, masculine energy.
At her age, a woman in her prime, the impact of this physique on her was undeniable.
She felt her legs grow a little weak, and strange images flashed through her mind.
But she quickly forced herself to calm down.
‘This is my best friend’s son!’
‘How could I be having such wild thoughts?’
‘Xu Muya, you’re getting desperate!’
It wasn’t her fault.
After all, her husband had developed health problems after they married and had their daughters, Yutong and Yuning.
She had been sleeping alone for many years.
In a situation like this, her reaction was only natural.
Besides, she ran a traditional Chinese medicine wellness center.
Most of her clients were women her age.
Aside from gossiping about their daily lives, some of the bolder ones would even tell their close friends, right in front of her, about the “little fresh meat” they’d found on the side—how young and strong they were, with so much energy to burn!
Every time, she would blush crimson just from listening.
After composing herself, she looked up, forcing a calm expression.
“There really isn’t any injury on your leg.
That’s good.”
But as she looked up, her mouth fell open.
“This…”
Chen Jiang turned away, embarrassed.
“Mrs.
Xu, I told you I wasn’t hurt.
You just wouldn’t believe me.”
Xu Muya suddenly pursed her lips into a smile.
“Jiang, do you have a girlfriend?”
“What girl would be interested in me?” Chen Jiang blushed and gave a casual reply.
Xu Muya smiled gently, her tone teasing.
“You should find a girlfriend.
You’ve got a lot of fire in you.”
Hearing Xu Muya’s teasing, Chen Jiang wished he could find a hole to crawl into.
“Mrs.
Xu, I’m sorry, I…”
“You’re a young man.
I understand.
I just didn’t think someone as old as me could still stir things up for a young guy like you.”
In truth, a part of her was pleased.
Didn’t Chen Jiang’s reaction prove that even though she was a middle-aged woman, she still had her charm?
Chen Jiang said, “Mrs.
Xu, if you walked down the street with Yutong and Yuning, people would think you were all sisters.”
He was telling the truth.
In her current state, Xu Muya looked to be around thirty.
What’s more, she had a mature charm that a young, inexperienced girl lacked.
It was the age when a woman is most alluring, captivating men both young and old.
“Such a sweet talker.” Xu Muya couldn’t suppress a smile.
No woman dislikes a compliment, and she was no exception.
“You’ve met my two girls, Yutong and Yuning.
What do you think of them?”
“If you could get together with one of them and become my son-in-law, it would make our families even closer.”
“Mrs.
Xu, you can’t be serious.” Chen Jiang gave an awkward laugh.
“Why would they be interested in a country boy like me?”
Xu Muya said, “I’m not joking.
I’m actually considering it.
Besides, you’re young, tall, handsome, and masculine.
If I were a few years younger, I probably wouldn’t be able to resist you either.”
Her words made Chen Jiang even more flustered, and he frantically tried to suppress the heat flaring up inside him.
“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you.” Xu Muya’s gentle gaze slid off Chen Jiang like a silk thread.
She softened her posture and said, “Lie face down on the bed.
I’ll put some ointment on your back.”
“Mrs.
Xu, I…
I can’t exactly lie face down right now,” Chen Jiang said, his face beet red.
Her face reddened a bit at his words.
It would indeed be difficult for him to lie face down right now.
“Then just sit up and turn your back to me.
I’ll apply the ointment.”
Chen Jiang had no choice but to obey.
Xu Muya poured the ointment into her hand and began applying it to Chen Jiang’s back.
The gentle warmth of her jade-like hands rubbing his skin felt incredibly soothing to him.
‘Mrs.
Xu is so gentle.’
It gave him a sense of security, like being soothed by his mother.
Having grown up without a mother’s love, Chen Jiang savored this moment.
“By the way, Mrs.
Xu, what do you do for work?
Why are you back so late?” he asked.
“A little over a year ago, after I lost my job, I pooled some money and opened a beauty salon.
We mainly do body sculpting, beauty treatments, and wellness programs for women.”
“Beauty and wellness?” Chen Jiang’s eyes lit up.
‘Isn’t that a perfect match for my skills?’
‘I have quite a few beauty formulas, after all.’
‘And clients like that usually aren’t short on cash.’
‘They might not be in the best health, either, which is where my medical skills could come in handy.’
“Mrs.
Xu, does your wellness center usually get a lot of customers?” Chen Jiang asked again.
At the mention of this, Xu Muya got a headache.
“Business is just so-so.
It was doing alright, but then those debt collectors started showing up every other day to cause trouble, and gradually, the customers stopped coming.”
A deep hatred surfaced in her eyes, but it was overshadowed by a sense of powerlessness.
Chen Jiang’s gaze turned colder.
“Those animals.
They don’t just harass you at home, they go to your shop and cause trouble too?”
“You…
You’ve met them?” Xu Muya was stunned.
Chen Jiang briefly told Xu Muya what had happened that day.
When she heard that they had come to collect the debt again, and had even forced their way into the house with ill intentions toward the two sisters, Xu Muya’s heart sank to the depths.
And now she had to come up with five hundred thousand in three days?
Where was she going to get five hundred thousand?
To open the wellness center, she had not only invested all her savings but had also borrowed money from friends.
With business being so poor now, even if she sold the place, it wouldn’t be worth anywhere near five hundred thousand.
That left only one option…
‘Sell the house!’
But if she sold the house, she and her daughters would end up on the street.
Xu Muya took a deep breath.
“Jiang, I’m very grateful that you chased those animals away for Yutong and her sister today.
I will handle things from here.”
“The five hundred thousand…
I’ll find a way to get it, even if I have to sell everything I own.”
“I can’t let them keep harassing us.”
“Also, you…
you must not fight with those guys.
We can’t win against them.
The power they have behind them isn’t something ordinary people like us can stand up to.”
“Besides, those guys are completely lawless.
I’m afraid something will happen to you…”
Chen Jiang took a deep breath and said, “Mrs.
Xu, let’s not talk about those animals for now.”
“Trust me, I will help you revive this wellness center!
It just so happens I studied traditional Chinese medicine back home.
I know some Tui Na and massage techniques, and I have a few famous formulas for beauty and rejuvenation.
Maybe I can help you.”
“I’ll go with you tomorrow to take a look.
As for the five hundred thousand, I’ll help you get it together within three days!”
Xu Muya was very gratified to hear this, but she also felt Chen Jiang was just being idealistic.
“It’s the thought that counts, but earning five hundred thousand in three days?
It’s not that simple.”
Seeing that Xu Muya didn’t believe him, Chen Jiang didn’t bother explaining further.
The facts would speak for themselves.
Now that he had come to the Xu family, he would never allow Mrs.
Xu and her daughters to suffer even the slightest harm.