My Virtual Girlfriend-Chapter 467: Madam, the one I like is you!

It must be said, perhaps due to an instinctual biological reaction, Chen Yan was becoming increasingly aware of the allure of mature women.

It’s a temptation far beyond the reach of green, inexperienced young girls.

If a young girl is like an unripe fruit,

then a mature woman is like a sweet pastry dripping with honey, soft and fragrantly sweet when bitten into.

Especially the beautiful mature woman before him, who still secretly harbored feelings for him in her heart.

Chen Yan felt even more restless and distracted.

However, whenever he thought of Yang Rou’s complicated past, her complex relationship with the people around him, her importance to his company, and her vindictive nature, Chen Yan would feel a bit trepidatious.

After all, as wonderful as mature women are, a palace in disarray could be disastrous.

While Chen Yan was hesitating, Yang Rou seemed to sense his indecision.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes looking at Chen Yan with an enchanting gaze.

Then, with a smile that wasn’t quite a smile, she said, "Don’t overthink it."

"I’m just not feeling well. There’s nowhere to lean on, so I’m just borrowing your shoulder for a moment."

"After all, I may have only graduated from high school, but I did study ethics and morality."

Chen Yan: ??

For some reason, Chen Yan always felt that Yang Rou was implying something in her words.

Like... she was beating around the bush to scold him?

After all, for someone like Chen Yan, who was involved with multiple women and still coveting more, such actions were hardly those of a person who studiously learned ethics and morality.

And sure enough, Yang Rou changed the subject and asked, "Can we talk for a bit?"

Chen Yan reflexively asked, "Talk about what?"

Yang Rou, "About your two young girlfriends?"

Chen Yan: ???

She really was scolding him!

And it didn’t stop there. Yang Rou covered her mouth to smile and added, "Is it still two? Or have you moved on to a third or a fourth?"

Chen Yan: .....

Indeed, the cultured way of cursing someone is unique.

Knowing that Yang Rou had already seen through his private affairs, Chen Yan didn’t bother hiding them anymore and said, "Actually, just two. But... I have a bit of a crush on one, um, both of them."

Yang Rou looked at Chen Yan with a hint of surprise after hearing his straightforward admission.

Then she said, "I didn’t expect President Chen to be quite the ladies’ man."

Chen Yan forced a smile and shared his true thoughts, "The ladies’ man part, yes. A scholar, not so much."

"It’s all just luck."

Yang Rou neither agreed nor disagreed.

Perhaps due to the illness, her emotions were amplified. She had revealed more emotions this afternoon than Chen Yan had seen in a year.

She leaned against Chen Yan and then spoke earnestly, "Have you thought about your future with them?"

Chen Yan hesitated.

After a moment, he shook his head, "I don’t know."

He rubbed his temples and said, "I know I’m being greedy. But, I just seem unable to let go of any of them."

He cleared his throat, then added, "In this world, there can’t just be me who is troubled by loving two women, right?"

Yang Rou looked at Chen Yan with an odd expression on her face; her previously foggy eyes gradually focusing.

She shook her head and said, "Not many, anyway."

After saying this, she chuckled, then moved away from Chen Yan’s shoulder to lean on the sofa beside him, sighing, "President Chen, I’ve never talked to you about your love life before."

"And when we do talk, I find out that it’s kind of... well. Scummy."

Hearing Yang Rou’s assessment, Chen Yan couldn’t help but laugh.

He nodded in admission, "I used to think there was nothing wrong with me. I even made up all sorts of excuses."

"Now that I think about it. I really am not that great."

Seeing how earnestly Chen Yan was responding,

Yang Rou paused for a moment, then pulling the blanket around herself, spoke with heartfelt seriousness, "President Chen."

"This world, if you call it big, just a few steps away, you could run into someone you know."

"But if you call it small, maybe after seeing someone once, you may never see them again."

"So, treasure those in front of you."

"Don’t do things you’ll regret, nor things that will make the other person regret."

After listening, Chen Yan nodded silently.

He thought about changing the subject to avoid this weighty issue.

But, after a moment’s pause, Yang Rou looked at Chen Yan and spoke again, "And also. Women are not appendages to men. They’re not objects."

"Both parties are independent individuals."

"If you love, you should clearly say ’Let’s be together.’"

"If you no longer love, you should also clearly say ’Let’s break up.’"

"Only with a clear beginning, there won’t be a vague togetherness or ending..."

Hearing Yang Rou’s words, Chen Yan was momentarily at a loss for words.

Especially when she spoke, even though she was ill, she regained her cool, mature demeanor. Even wrapped in blankets, she exuded an undeniable authority.

With guilt weighing him down, Chen Yan found it difficult to meet her gaze.

He was silent for a while, then decided not to discuss this headache-inducing subject.

He understood the principles.

But... he couldn’t do it.

It was like how everyone knows: if you study hard, you can get into a 985 or 211 university. But how many actually study hard?

So he aptly changed the subject, "Let’s not talk about this anymore. Sister Rou, let’s talk about you instead..."

Yang Rou noticed her topic might have been a tad heavy.

So she nodded.

Chen Yan asked, "I called you yesterday, were you with Nuan Nuan?"

Yang Rou was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Chen Yan continued, "Did you fall ill because of her?"

Wrapped in a blanket, Yang Rou lowered her head, appearing somewhat delicate.

She was silent again for a while, then finally said, "Not exactly."

"I got upset and took a cold shower."

"Then, unexpectedly, I caught a cold."

Even though Yang Rou only revealed a little bit of the topic, Chen Yan was keen to guess the full story.

Yang Rou seemed to realize this too.

So she no longer kept it to herself.

But said, "I don’t know what’s gotten into Nuan Nuan."

"She used to be sunny, cheerful, and lively. She’s always been very sensible since she was young."

"But, starting some time ago, she’s seemed like a completely different person."

"At first, I thought she was just in a bad mood during that time."

"So I didn’t take it seriously."

"Thinking that, after a while, when her mood got better, she would change back."

"But, who knew that later on, I discovered that it wasn’t the case at all."

"She seemed to have genuinely changed."

"She became very unfamiliar, very cold."

"I don’t know if I did something wrong."

"Or if something happened to her..."

"So, last night I found her, wanting to have an honest talk."

Saying this, Yang Rou rubbed her temples and sighed, her face showing exhaustion, "And then, we had a big fight."

"After that... it turned out like this..."

Upon hearing Yang Rou’s words, Chen Yan wasn’t sure what to say.

Because he had an "omniscient viewpoint," he seemed to understand their conflicts better.

Yang Rou thought the original Yang Nuannuan was her real daughter.

But Chen Yan knew that was just a facade Yang Nuannuan had put up.

The current Yang Nuannuan was the real one.

And, Yang Rou seemed unaware that Zhao Qingtian had been in contact with Yang Nuannuan over the years, distorting the past events, making Yang Nuannuan unclear about the true history.

She had always thought Zhao Qingtian was the victim, and Yang Rou was a cold and ruthless woman.

So while Nuan Nuan didn’t dare provoke Yang Rou, she was also learning from the "young" Yang Rou.

And... the most despairing part was, both mother—Yang Rou and Yang Nuannuan—and daughter were the kind of people who didn’t like to reveal their inner feelings.

This only added to the misunderstandings between the two.

Thinking of this, Chen Yan couldn’t help suggesting, "Sister Rou. Have you ever considered telling Nuan Nuan about what happened back then?"

Yang Rou’s emotions were still mired in the previous moment.

Hearing Chen Yan’s suggestion, she looked up strangely, then shook her head, "Not for the time being. Nuan Nuan is still too young."

"I don’t want to expose her to the dark side of society so early."

She hesitated, then said, "At least... not until she interns and gets a little taste of society next year."

After listening, Chen Yan’s brows furrowed.

He wanted to tell Yang Rou: If you don’t take control of the "public opinion," the enemy will.

You’ve always thought about protecting Yang Nuannuan, but what you don’t know is that the enemy has already distorted the facts behind your back, hurting her even more deeply.

And just as Chen Yan was about to persuade Yang Rou once more,

She continued, "After all... being abandoned by one’s parents, and then being raised by a person who is only a foster mother for so many years, such things are quite hard for a child to accept."

Hearing Yang Rou’s words, Chen Yan was suddenly stunned.

He felt as if lightning had struck him.

He was bewildered.

What?

Nuan Nuan was abandoned?

Yang Rou is a foster mother?

Chen Yan’s mouth opened and closed several times, unsure of what to say to express his astonishment.

Yang Rou looked at him coldly for a moment before adjusting to a more comfortable position.

Her fair, slender legs stretched out, appearing especially enticing under the sleeping robe.

She said, "So Meng Xue really didn’t tell you?"

She also nodded, "It seems that she is a person who keeps her promises."

Chen Yan was stunned.

On reflex, he turned on his "Heart Headphones," wanting to hear Yang Rou’s true thoughts.

To see if she was teasing him, lying to him, or just kidding.

As a result, he heard Yang Rou’s inner voice say,

"Little Chen Yan, how cute you look when you’re surprised."

"Not at all like a scumbag."

"Or do all scumbags lie?"

"Interesting...."

Chen Yan: .....

Chen Yan looked at Yang Rou.

Yang Rou still had a cool gaze on him, looking very serious.

Chen Yan: .....

Chen Yan asked, "Sister Rou, was what you just said true?"

Yang Rou gave him a strange look and said, "Otherwise?"

And at the same time, her inner voice also said,

"Little Chen Yan is really suspicious."

"Hasn’t he thought about what benefit there would be for me to deceive him?"

"If it’s a matter of no consequence, why would I deceive him...."

Chen Yan swallowed and felt the situation was truly bizarre.

Yang Nuannuan and Yang Rou aren’t mother and daughter?

This really turned Chen Yan’s worldview upside down.

And more.... Chen Yan thought further.

If what Yang Rou said was true, then the matter was even more serious because, when chatting with Yang Nuannuan under her alias, Chen Yan had actually discovered that Yang Nuannuan always believed Zhao Qingtian was her biological father.

Moreover, she also thought that it was Yang Rou who had wronged Zhao Qingtian in the past.

And Yang Rou probably had no idea about any of this.

Chen Yan felt like his mind was tangled in a mess.

He felt the affairs of Yang Rou and her daughter were really complicated.

Compared to He Mengxue, who is much simpler...

Just relentlessly pursuing him.

Without requiring him to rack his brains.

Perhaps having said what she did, Yang Rou had no more reservations, and she began to speak as if opening a lid of memories, "You don’t know how well-behaved Nuannuan was before."

"At home, it was always her taking care of me."

"From a young age, she was very independent; she could do household chores, cook, and go to school by herself. I never had to worry about anything."

"After she got a cellphone, she would send me text messages every day or call me."

"Later, when WeChat came along, she would update her Moments every few days, recording her life."

Yang Rou’s eyelids drooped, "That way, no matter how busy I was, whenever I wanted to know how she was doing, I could just open her Moments and see the life she shared."

"Know whether she was doing well or not."

"Know what she had done or what awards she had received. How she was getting on with her classmates."

Saying this, she sighed, took out her phone, and then handed it to Chen Yan.

Chen Yan took it.

The phone screen showed Yang Nuannuan’s WeChat Moments.

It was blank.

At the very bottom, there was only a notice that read, "These Moments are visible for half a year only."

Yang Rou said, "She hasn’t posted anything on her Moments for over half a year."

"I have no idea what she has been up to this past half year."

"When I talk to her, she doesn’t say anything."

"I feel like... I don’t understand her life at all anymore."

Hearing Yang Rou’s words, Chen Yan also fell silent.

After a while, he said, "Sister Rou, if you trust me."

"Let me handle this. I’ll have a talk with Nuannuan."

"See if there are any misunderstandings."

Hearing Chen Yan’s words, Yang Rou couldn’t help but glance at him.

For some reason, she understood his look in a second, and he hastily explained, "I’m really not interested in Nuannuan."

"I don’t have any ulterior motives."

"Don’t get the wrong idea!"

Saying this, he even went as far as to blurt out half "without thinking," half "using this to convey my true thoughts," "Compared to her, I’m actually more interested in you."

Hearing Chen Yan’s straightforward words, Yang Rou’s face involuntarily showed a moment of astonishment.

Clearly, she didn’t expect Chen Yan to say something like that.

However, perhaps having faced many confessions over the years, she covered her mouth and smiled gently, rejecting him, "President Chen should take better care of his several little girlfriends first."

"An old woman like me, don’t bother President Chen’s mind."

Saying this, she added, "President Chen, such words, in the future, it’s better not to say them casually."

"After all, I could even take that as harassment."

Meanwhile, her inner thoughts...

"Little Chen Yan’s mouth is really sweet. No wonder he can please so many girls."

"But his taste isn’t bad. Sister likes~"

Chen Yan looked at Yang Rou.

This woman...

Yang Nuannuan is definitely influenced by you! Isn’t she!

And so, the two engaged in a battle of words, where Yang Rou, despite clearly being interested in Chen Yan, kept him at arm’s length with her words.

Later, when Chen Yan saw that Yang Rou seemed a bit tired,

He told her to take her medicine on time, and then he left Yang Rou’s home.

He was seen out the door.

Yang Rou watched as Chen Yan returned to his home. She silently closed the door.

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination.

But without Chen Yan, the house seemed somehow more desolate.

When Chen Yan was there, for some reason, she always felt very warm and filled with laughter.

And once Chen Yan left, the house felt cold and icy.

Combined with the gloomy sky outside, it made her feel a bit chilly.

"Must be feverish again."

Muttering to herself, Yang Rou went back to the sofa and wrapped herself in a blanket.

With the blanket, she finally felt her body’s warmth returning.

Curled up on the sofa,

This successful woman who had struggled for over two decades rarely showed her vulnerable side.

She looked at the ceiling, her mind filled with scenes of Chen Yan’s interactions with her.

She didn’t know when she had developed a liking for this much younger boy.

Was it because of his unreserved trust in her?

Was it because of his argumentative nature, which then proved his abilities?

Was it because of his courage to risk everything for his friends, for his woman, to stand against the world?

Was it because of his confusion, his youth?

In any case, by the time Yang Rou realized it, Chen Yan’s silhouette had already quietly taken root in her heart.

But unfortunately,

He was a wanderer. A man not belonging to any woman.

Having gone through many years, Yang Rou had long understood that such a man could not stay for any woman.

Maybe all women are just passers-by in his life.

So, even though she liked Chen Yan, she always deliberately kept her distance.

Even today, despite a slight transgression due to her illness,

She managed to pull herself back well.

But, when Chen Yan bravely said "I like you better," it must be said... that very moment, Yang Rou’s heart really skipped a beat.

Even though she didn’t show it, for that instant, she had the thought to rekindle the flame.

Or rather, for the first time in years, it ignited...

Over these thirty-plus years, the naive innocence of her youth, the wounds received after graduation, had all made Yang Rou deeply wrap herself within a fortress.

She didn’t want to date, didn’t want to marry, only wanted to strive, to prove herself.

But who knew, she once also longed for love, longed for her Prince Charming.

The young deer that used to jump wildly at the sight of handsome men, upon seeing outstanding males, had grown tired and weary with time.

Yet, when she heard Chen Yan’s "confession," Yang Rou felt as if she heard that old deer inside her yawn and ask her, "Are you sure? Is it this one? Because I’ll only charge one last time."

Yang Rou was a bit stunned.

After a moment, she sighed softly.

Suddenly, she felt a bit envious of her younger self, who back then had more courage than she did now, fewer regrets than she did now, knew less than she did now, and believed more than she did now...

Right now, she truly didn’t know whether to pursue love again.

Especially facing such a sweet-talking young man, whose life was still entangled with many others...

.......

Meanwhile, Chen Yan, who had returned home, had no idea that his "confession" had such an impact on Yang Rou.

After getting home, he tidied up and then thought about how to help resolve the misunderstanding between Yang Nuannuan and Yang Rou.

To prevent any further conflict between the mother and daughter.

Especially knowing that Yang Nuannuan and Zhao Qingtian were unrelated, Chen Yan wanted to explain things to both of them, to avoid distressing Yang Nuannuan while he was bringing down Zhao Qingtian.

However, as he picked up his phone, ready to tiptoe into a conversation with Yang Nuannuan’s alias.

The first thing he saw was a bunch of messages from He Meng Xue.