Cao Cheng looked at the protagonist’s mother standing before him, and his eyes couldn’t help but brighten.
Although the woman’s clothing was simple, her full, well-proportioned figure was perfectly outlined. According to the book, she was already in her mid-thirties, yet her fair and delicate skin made her look nothing like a woman of that age.
Combined with her beauty and the mature charm refined by time, she didn’t appear inferior to an eighteen-year-old girl at all.
Aside from her somewhat outdated attire… she was even more alluring than Haohao’s mother.
Cao Cheng smiled and extended his hand. “Hello, miss. My name is Cao Cheng.”
“Y-you… hello, I’m Xu Qingrou,” Xu Qingrou replied timidly, but she didn’t take his outstretched hand.
Cao Cheng wasn’t annoyed. After all, it was their first meeting, and under such circumstances, it was understandable.
He calmly withdrew his hand and gave Wang Long a glance.
Wang Long immediately understood and quietly left the area.
Afterward, Cao Cheng shifted his gaze back to Xu Qingrou. “Miss Xu, don’t be nervous. I only asked you here to ask a few questions. I have no ill intentions toward you.”
Hearing his gentle, magnetic voice, Xu Qingrou’s guard lowered slightly.
She let out a quiet breath and began to secretly observe the man before her.
The first thing that caught her eye was his strikingly handsome face.
Her pupils widened slightly as she unconsciously studied him more closely.
The faint stubble on his chin… his slightly messy yet unruly hair… and that noble aura he carried—paired with his warm smile…
For a moment, Xu Qingrou didn’t understand what was happening to her heart.
It seemed to slip out of her control, beating wildly in her chest.
“Miss Xu?”
Cao Cheng’s soft call brought her back to reality.
She met his curious gaze and responded in a fluster, “W-what is it?”
Seeing her flushed face, Cao Cheng chuckled inwardly.
Interesting…
However, the situation nearby was on the verge of turning into a fight. He didn’t want to waste more time.
Although the system had already informed him of the general situation and he knew that most of those people were simply troublemakers seeking money, as someone raised under modern values, he couldn’t bring himself to deal with these villagers too harshly.
He still wanted to understand the details.
“Miss Xu, let me ask you something. You’re here to block the demolition—does that mean our company didn’t give you your compensation?”
“I-it did,” Xu Qingrou answered hesitantly.
“Then was it not enough?”
“It was enough.”
“Then why are you still here blocking the demolition? Is there some hidden reason, or… are you hoping to get more money?”
Xu Qingrou opened her mouth, reluctant to answer.
Although she wasn’t here for money, under Cao Cheng’s sincere gaze, she found it difficult to speak.
After all, he addressed her as “miss.”
It was clear he saw her as someone his own age, or at most only slightly older.
But she was here because of her son, Chu Fan.
Xu Qingrou was already 36, yet no matter how old a woman was, she still wished to appear younger in others’ eyes.
Especially in front of a man as handsome as Cao Cheng.
She didn’t want to shatter that image.
Still, as a mother, her child always came first.
After hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath and spoke, “I’m here because my son is missing. I can’t find him. I’m afraid that if I leave, he might come back and not be able to find his home.”
Just as she expected, Cao Cheng immediately showed a shocked expression. “Your son? Miss Xu, how old are you to already have a son?!”
Xu Qingrou smiled faintly, feeling a sense of relief. “I’m already 36. Isn’t it normal to have a son?”
Cao Cheng maintained his surprised look. “36? You really don’t look it. Honestly, you look no different from a woman in her early twenties.”
If someone else had said this to her in the past, she would have told them to get lost.
After all, as a widow in the village, accepting such words could easily lead to gossip.
But now, there was no one else around.
And somehow, hearing it from Cao Cheng didn’t make her uncomfortable at all. Instead, it made her feel… pleased.
Her guard relaxed further.
“Don’t joke with me. I really am 36.”
Cao Cheng noticed the change in her expression and thought to himself, just as expected—no matter the age, women love being told they look young.
Compared to earlier, she was no longer as tense or afraid.
So he continued, “So you’re blocking the demolition because of your son, afraid he won’t find his home when he returns. Then what about them?”
Xu Qingrou glanced in the direction he pointed and replied, “I… I don’t know.”
She was lying.
She knew those people were here for money.
Cao Cheng looked at her deeply, then pretended to think for a moment. “In that case, let me solve your problem first.”
“H-how do you plan to solve it?” Xu Qingrou asked nervously.
Only then did she remember—the man before her was no kind figure.
Cao Cheng smiled. “Ma’am, don’t be nervous. It’s broad daylight—I’m not going to do anything to you.”
If she hadn’t just seen Sun Er being beaten and heard his screams still echoing in her ears, she might have believed him.
But she had no better option.
She could only stand there and wait.
“First,” Cao Cheng said, “I have to tell you that no matter what, you can’t continue blocking the demolition. Since your son is missing, he won’t return anytime soon. We can’t let this delay the project.”
Seeing her growing anxious, he added, “But don’t worry, I’ll help you find another solution.”
“What solution?” she asked quickly.
Cao Cheng began calculating in his mind.
Looking at the mature beauty before him, certain… less-than-wholesome thoughts surfaced.
“Tell me your son’s basic information and your current address. I’ll pass it to the nearby authorities and ask them to keep an eye out. If your son comes back and can’t find home, he’ll most likely contact them. Then they can connect him to you immediately.”
“What do you think?”
Xu Qingrou frowned slightly, thinking carefully.
Looking at the handsome man before her, with his gentle smile, she found it hard to associate him with the ruthless figure from the rumors.
Moreover, his words made sense.
Even if she could block the demolition for a while, she couldn’t stop it forever.
In the end, the house would be torn down.
After thinking it over again and again, she sighed. “Alright… but can you give me a few more days?”
“Is there something else you need to do?” Cao Cheng asked.
“I’m sorry… I haven’t found a new place to live yet, and I still run a breakfast stall. I haven’t had time to pack everything.”
Hearing this, Cao Cheng felt a surge of delight.
He had been wondering how to find out where she lived—yet she had just handed it to him.
On the surface, however, he appeared thoughtful. “Didn’t we notify everyone months ago? Why haven’t you found a place yet?”
Xu Qingrou looked embarrassed.
Although the notice had been given months ago, she chose the compensation money instead of housing, and with her breakfast stall, she simply hadn’t found the time.
Seeing her awkwardness, Cao Cheng continued, “The project can’t be delayed. How about this, Miss Xu—I’ll help you find a place and arrange for people to help you move.”
She immediately waved her hands. “No, no, there’s no need to trouble you. Just give me some time, I can handle it myself.”
But Cao Cheng had no intention of letting this go.
“It’s not about troubling me. It’s not that I’m forcing you out either—it’s just that this project is extremely important to me and cannot be delayed at all. Let’s be considerate of each other, alright?”
Hearing him say this, Xu Qingrou hesitated before finally nodding.
Afraid she might change her mind, Cao Cheng immediately waved to Wang Long in the distance.
Within seconds, Wang Long jogged over. “What is it, Young Master?”
Cao Cheng glanced at him and pointed at Xu Qingrou. “Take a few workers, bring a vehicle, and follow Miss Xu to her home to help her move her things.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
After speaking, Wang Long turned with a flattering smile toward Xu Qingrou. “Miss Xu, please lead the way.”
Xu Qingrou looked at him in a daze.
Earlier, she had been too nervous to notice, but now she realized—he was acting completely differently, almost like a submissive dog.
Nothing like his earlier arrogance.
She couldn’t help but glance at Cao Cheng.
Could it be… he didn’t know what his subordinates were doing behind his back?
“Miss Xu?” Cao Cheng called softly.
She snapped back to her senses.
Looking at the harmless and gentle Cao Cheng before her, she felt her belief grow stronger.
He should be a good person… right?