Last time Lin Tian was in the hospital, Yan Xinrou had already met Xu Ning’an.

She still had a deep impression of her daughter’s complacency.

Although Xu Ning’an and Lin Tian hadn’t shown any relationship, for women, there’s no need for concrete evidence—intuition alone suffices.

"Hello, Auntie, just call me Ning’an." Xu Ning’an leaned on her crutch and smiled gracefully.

In truth, she felt somewhat guilty inside. This scene was as if she’d been caught in the act.

Lin Tian quickly explained, "Mom, Ning’an injured her leg and regular doctors can’t treat it. As her friend, I couldn’t ignore her, so I brought her here... to recuperate with Qingcheng. You don’t have any objections, do you?"

Yan Xinrou continued to ignore Lin Tian and instead handed her bag to him, then walked over to Xu Ning’an with a smile, saying, "It’s cold outside, and your leg is injured too—let’s talk inside."

Being supported by Yan Xinrou like this, Xu Ning’an felt even more uncomfortable, only able to keep nodding and agreeing.

"Aren’t you going to open the door?" Yan Xinrou gave Lin Tian a bland glance.

That look made Lin Tian’s hairs stand on end. The most terrifying person in the world has to be one’s mother-in-law!

The three entered the house, and Yan Xinrou helped Xu Ning’an onto the sofa, then smiled and said, "Mr. Xu, make yourself at home here, don’t feel restrained."

"Sure... sure." Xu Ning’an nodded quickly. Was this a declaration of sovereignty?

"Let’s go, show me how Qingcheng is doing." Yan Xinrou turned to Lin Tian and said.

"Qingcheng’s room is over this way..."

Lin Tian led the way. Once they reached Liou Qingcheng’s room, Yan Xinrou closed the door behind them, looked at Liou Qingcheng, and seeing she was still the same, sat down by the bed, her eyes playfully surveying Lin Tian.

Lin Tian stood to the side, feeling inexplicably guilty under her gaze.

"Qingcheng, how did you fall ill? You’re sick and your man is almost running off with another woman." Yan Xinrou lamented, her tone dripping with exaggerated pity.

"..." Lin Tian instantly felt a line of black dots appear over his head. What was this? What kind of complaining is this?

"Mom, you’re misunderstanding. There’s nothing between Mr. Xu and me. I’m just helping her recover."

"Really?"

"Of course, it’s true! I’ve never even held Mr. Xu’s hand!"

"Hmph, for now, I’ll believe you. But I’ll tell you, my eyes are sharp; no detail can escape them! And, I’m staying here too, you have no objections, right?"

"No objections, of course not, stay as long as you like." Lin Tian immediately accommodated, his survival instincts very much alive.

"Lin Tian, you know, your mother is quite open-minded. Men are naturally flirtatious, but a true man can remain faithful! Do you understand what I mean?"

"I understand!" Lin Tian shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Good, as long as you understand. I won’t say more, but if you betray Qingcheng, there’s nothing I can’t do." She glanced at Lin Tian’s crotch, a cold smile forming at her lips.

"Gulp..." That was the sound of Lin Tian swallowing nervously. He absolutely believed Yan Xinrou would do what she said.

"Mom, there’s something else I need to confess..."

"Speak!"

"Mei Ruyan is staying in the room next to Qingcheng’s, she’s sick too... you’ve met her before, remember?"

"Mei Ruyan?" Yan Xinrou’s expression began to change, sneering, "If I didn’t know the CEO of Qiansimei, wouldn’t I be too ignorant? So, has this villa become your private hospital? The patients are getting prettier each time, how many more are you planning to bring back?"

Seeing Yan Xinrou’s displeased expression, Lin Tian pulled up a chair and sat in front of her, saying, "Mom, let me explain. Ruyan ended up this way because of Qingcheng."

"What do you mean? Explain clearly!"

"Qingcheng’s illness can’t be treated by ordinary medicine..."

Lin Tian selectively recounted the events at Luoyan Dock to Yan Xinrou, with the dangerous parts making her exclaim in surprise.

"So much has happened in just two days, you’ve really had a tough time." Yan Xinrou’s gaze towards Lin Tian softened considerably, "It was wrong of me earlier; don’t take it to heart."

Such a good child, there’s nothing left to doubt.

"Mom, don’t say that, I think you were right..." Lin Tian forced himself to say, for no matter what, he couldn’t let his mother-in-law apologize.

At these words, Yan Xinrou also started to laugh, "Is that so, I also think I was right before, it’s good I didn’t hit you!"

"..." Never guess a woman’s mind, especially Yan Xinrou’s—it’s impossible to predict!

"Let’s go out, we shouldn’t disturb Qingcheng’s rest any longer," Yan Xinrou said.

Lin Tian naturally had no objections. After stepping out, he grabbed a bottle of nutrient solution to take to Mei Ruyan’s room, intending to help her administer it, when Yan Xinrou followed him in.

"Lin Tian, from now on, leave the task of changing Miss Mei’s medication to me. After all, she’s done a lot for Qingcheng, and I feel quite indebted."

"Do you know how?"

"Are you dim? If I don’t know, you can teach me, right?"

"..."

...

"Ning’an, should this fish be thrown directly into the oil pan, or should it be killed first and then put in?" Yan Xinrou turned back and asked Xu Ning’an with a smile.

Due to the situation with Mei Ruyan, her attitude had improved noticeably. Even her address for Xu Ning’an had shifted from Mr. Xu to the more intimate Ning’an.

Leaning on her crutch and looking at the leisurely swimming carp in the water, Xu Ning’an’s facial muscles twitched.

If that lively fish were tossed straight into the oil pan, the splattering oil might scar someone, right?

"It... it should be killed first..."

"Do you know how to kill a fish? I don’t."

"Well... I don’t either..."

Lin Tian stood to the side, amused by the clumsy pair. Clearly, their cooking skills were average, yet they occupied the kitchen as if they owned it.

"Mom, let me do it, you can rest," Lin Tian said, walking forward.

"Stop!" Yan Xinrou lifted the spatula like a sword pointing at Lin Tian, "I want to do it myself, are you taking away my only hobby?"

"Then can I at least help you kill the fish?" Lin Tian asked helplessly.

"Well... alright, I’ll give you a chance to shine." With that, Yan Xinrou made way for Lin Tian.

At the sink, Lin Tian picked up the carp with one hand and, raising it high, slammed it down hard. With a ’smack,’ the lively carp was knocked out cold, eliciting piercing screams from the two women that left Lin Tian’s ears ringing.