Huiyang Square, B1 Level, Hema Fresh.
After parking the car, Lin Shen led Lin Ping into the store.
In the past, he only ca to places like this to grab a bento box or so self-heating als, treating it more like a convenience store.
After all, while the produce at Hema Fresh was good, it was a bit expensive.
For a corporate drone like Lin Shen, the cheaper wet markets were always a better option.
But now, he could spend without restraint, with no need to even look at the prices.
Pork ribs, fresh shrimp, and all sorts of fresh fruits and vegetables.
Lin Shen tossed anything that caught his eye into Lin Ping’s shopping basket, but she gently stopped him.
"It looks like you don’t go grocery shopping often, Boss."
Lin Ping smiled warmly and began to teach Lin Shen how to pick the freshest produce by its appearance and feel.
These little grocery shopping tricks fully showcased her unique charm as a mature woman.
Especially when she leaned forward to pick vegetables, accentuating the curve of her full hips.
This couldn’t help but stir sothing in Lin Shen.
’No wonder so guys are into older won. They really do have a certain charm!’
Though no longer in her youth, her features held a maturity and allure that a young girl could never possess.
"This should be enough food."
Lin Ping checked the basket, then turned to ask for Lin Shen’s opinion.
"Braised pork ribs, stir-fried tomato and egg, and stead shrimp, with a radish and dough drop soup to finish. Is that alright?"
"Mhm."
Maybe it was because he’d been working out, but Lin Shen always felt that ho-cooked als were cleaner than anything from a restaurant.
However, he was too lazy to learn how to cook himself, so he had to ask the experienced Lin Ping to act as head chef.
"Let’s go."
After they finished shopping, Lin Shen insisted on paying, which made Lin Ping feel particularly embarrassed.
"I can get it."
"You’re cooking for , and you want to pay for the groceries too?"
Lin Shen teased with a light chuckle and, without taking no for an answer, pulled out his phone to pay with a QR code. This gave Lin Ping a strong sense of his domineering air.
However, she didn’t dislike this assertive personality; instead, she characterized it as a special kind of "gentleness."
Of course, Lin Ping didn’t dare to have any special expectations for Lin Shen. She was well aware of the vast gap in their social status.
One was a young, wealthy heir; the other, a divorced middle-aged woman with a child.
Lin Ping knew her own place and didn’t dare to dream of too much.
The only thing she could do now was cook a delicious al for Lin Shen to repay his kindness.
The two left Hema Fresh and, following Lin Ping’s directions, drove into her residential complex.
Xingfu Li.
Although the na sounded warm and happy, the complex’s structure and landscaping didn’t quite live up to it.
Drab and dilapidated.
Alleys crowded with electric scooters, building entrances plastered with ads.
All of this indicated that Xingfu Li was what people online would call a typical "old, small, and run-down" residential area.
This made Lin Ping feel a bit embarrassed, and she quickly apologized to Lin Shen.
"I’m sorry, Boss. The environnt in our complex isn’t great. It’s a little dirty."
"It’s fine."
Lin Shen waved his hand to show he didn’t mind.
"It’s not easy for a single mother raising a child. The rent here must be cheaper, which is perfect for saving on daily expenses."
"Thank you for understanding."
Lin Shen’s consideration once again made Lin Ping feel his gentleness, and a deep warmth slowly enveloped her heart.
’A rich heir who’s this understanding and empathetic toward the common folk... there can’t be many of them left, can there?’
Because the Jaguar XFL was so long, Lin Shen drove a lap around the complex but couldn’t find a suitable parking spot.
Left with no choice, he had to park in front of a bank outside the complex and walk in with Lin Ping.
Building 5, Unit 3.
Passing through a rusty iron gate, they arrived at Lin Ping’s ho on the first floor.
After following her inside, Lin Shen’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Compared to the dilapidated exterior, her ho felt incredibly warm and cozy.
The small space had no superfluous furniture. The overall layout was simple and quaint, with a warm color palette, and the place was exceptionally clean and tidy.
There were even a few pots of flowers and plants on the balcony, basking in the sunlight with a warm glow.
To be honest, Lin Shen really liked this kind of atmosphere, so full of life.
Closing his eyes and taking a light sniff, he caught the fresh scent of sun-dried laundry.
"Boss, please have a seat."
Lin Ping had Lin Shen sit on the sofa while she tied on an apron and went into the kitchen. She first poured him a glass of warm water and also brought out a pack of crackers.
"The ribs will take a long ti to braise. If you’re hungry, you can have a snack first."
"Okay."
Sitting on the soft sofa, Lin Shen felt a faint sense of happiness spread through his heart.
He then crossed his legs, took out his phone, and started to scratch the "scratch-off" he had just received this morning.
[Congratulations! You’ve won the Grand Prize: 68,888!]
Huh?
The usually calm Lin Shen couldn’t help but be stunned when he saw the amount.
He vaguely rembered that the grand prize for the scratch-off from completing the [GoGo Maps] mission was supposed to be 18,888.
’Did the base rewards increase after the 2.0 update?’
Nice!
[Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 received a deposit of RMB 68,888 at 11:32 on August 13. Current balance: 825,000.]
’I’ve finally completed the 800,000 yuan savings mission!’
The mont he saw the bank text, Lin Shen was ecstatic. He imdiately tapped open the [ReceivePal] app, which now had a Red Point.
[Upgrade Mission: Total assets exceed 800,000 yuan (Completed).]
[Reward: ReceivePal Lv. 6 → Lv. 7]
[10,000/day → 10,700/day]
[Reward Item: Indulgence Consumption Card x1 (Please use the 800,000 yuan limit to spend on yourself however you wish. The system will issue a rebate based on your level of inner joy.)]
[Upgrade Mission: Total assets exceed 1,600,000 yuan (825,000/1,600,000)]
After the Self-Image Transformation Card and the Dream Vehicle Card, Lin Shen had finally obtained his third card-type item.
This also allowed him to completely figure out ReceivePal’s reward pattern.
The App Cracking Cards and various item cards were issued every other level, and the item cards’ limits always matched the goal of the just-completed mission.
In other words, after completing the next mission, he would definitely get an App Cracking Card!
’What will it be?’
Lin Shen began to look forward to what the next cracked app would be.
But the task currently before him was how to best "indulge"!
An 800,000 yuan limit wasn’t a small amount, but it wasn’t an incredibly large sum either.
After all, this was Modu, a lavish and extravagant tropolis.
In so of its shopping malls, 800,000 yuan wouldn’t even last you an hour.
Lin Shen mulled it over and decided to use this sum to upgrade his personal image.
First, he had to buy a few more outfits and pairs of shoes. Otherwise, always wearing Louis Vuitton when he went out would be too monotonous.
Second, he had to buy a watch. It was a symbol of a man’s distinguished status, and he would need it for future business dealings or other important occasions.
Finally, a custom-tailored suit!
As a man’s essential "battle armor" for important occasions, a well-fitted suit could be a huge confidence booster and help establish an excellent personal image.
With a rough plan in mind, Lin Shen took out his mo app and jotted it down.
Clothes: 200,000. Watch: 400,000. Custom suit: 100,000.
’That still leaves one hundred thousand.’
Even though this was supposed to be an indulgence, Lin Shen honestly couldn’t think of any other desires he needed money to satisfy.
’Maybe I’ll buy a gift for Nan.’
Lin Shen opened WeChat and realized Qin Yuenan hadn’t ssaged him all morning.
Usually, by this ti, she would have sent a greeting like, "What are you having for lunch?"
It was already noon and she hadn’t sent anything. Was it because she was busy with work?
Or was she shy because of what happened last night?
Recalling that romantic scene, Lin Shen felt a surge of heat within him.
Just then, Lin Ping, who had been busy in the kitchen, began bringing out the finished dishes one by one.
First was a large bowl of potato and braised pork ribs. The rich aroma of fall-off-the-bone at wafted over, making Lin Shen close his eyes and inhale deeply, his appetite roaring to life.
"It slls amazing!"
"Boss, if you’re hungry, please go ahead and start."
Lin Ping served Lin Shen a bowl of rice, and he eagerly dug in.
"Then I won’t be polite."
He had to admit, Lin Ping’s cooking was much better than Gu Wanqing’s.
The little chef simply followed online recipes step-by-step, and while her dishes looked good, the flavor was still lacking.
Lin Ping, on the other hand, had the skill that cos from experience. She had her own little tricks and insights for every dish, and her cooking had a crowd-pleasing flavor.
Even if it didn’t look perfect, the taste was absolutely incredible!
"Amazing!"
After one bite of Lin Ping’s stir-fried tomato and egg, Lin Shen knew that she must cook at ho often.
The simplest dishes are often the best indicators of a person’s true cooking skill.
’A beautiful woman like her is truly sothing else, the very model of a good wife and loving mother!’
"I’m just glad you like it."
In response to Lin Shen’s praise, a faint smile touched Lin Ping’s lips. She proactively peeled a shrimp for him and ladled him a bowl of the radish and dough drop soup.
Three dishes and a soup—it was an absolute feast.
Lin Ping rarely cooked this much. At most, she would make a nutritious al for Nuonuo on the weekends.
But thanks to Lin Shen, she no longer had to worry about daily expenses.
This made the look she gave Lin Shen all the more enchanting, and she subconsciously murmured.
"Boss, I really don’t know how to thank you. Thank you for doing so much for . Thank you!"
"You’ve said that more than enough."
Lin Shen smiled faintly.
"If you really want to thank , just help look after the shop."
"Of course!"
Lin Ping nodded solemnly. Noticing a few grains of rice stuck to the corner of Lin Shen’s mouth, she reached out, wiped them away with her thumb, and subconsciously popped it into her mouth to chew.
A mont later, she suddenly realized how outrageous her action was. Under Lin Shen’s astonished gaze, her face flushed crimson. She covered her face with her hands, stamring, unable to form a complete sentence.
"Um... I, I’m just used to doing that for Nuonuo."
"It’s fine."
The corners of Lin Shen’s mouth curled up as he handed his empty bowl to Lin Ping.
"Another bowl, please."
"Okay."
Lin Ping took the empty bowl and fled the dining area in a fluster. Once in the kitchen, she couldn’t calm her pounding heart.
The image of Lin Shen’s gentle smile was seared into her mind, impossible to forget.
’Could it be that I... toward him...’
Lin Ping clutched the apron at her chest, biting her lip. Her eyes were filled with a swirl of complex emotions, and a trace of so unnaable feeling that even she hadn’t yet perceived.
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