Urban Villain: The Game of Wealth and Women

{Chapter: 301 What are you doing? Why aren't you cutting them?!}

Based on Mei Yuxian's tone, Lin Yuan could clearly sense a tinge of jealousy.

Her voice carried a subtle sourness, a kind of hidden bitterness that only someone attuned to the nuances of emotion would catch.

Lin Yuan blinked, momentarily stunned.

He hadn't expected Mei Yuxian, usually poised and graceful, to display her feelings so openly—especially not in front of her daughter.

It was subtle, yes, but it was definitely there.

She was acting out of jealousy.

Gui Qingtong, on the other hand, didn't immediately pick up on the emotional undercurrents in her mother's tone.

She was too young, too innocent, and still immersed in the happiness of being close to Lin Yuan.

But even then, something about the situation struck her as...odd.

She tilted her head slightly, watching her mother.

The way Mei Yuxian raised her foot and softly asked Lin Yuan to cut her toenails—it didn't seem like something a mother should casually do in front of her daughter.

Gui Qingtong had long harbored feelings for Lin Yuan.

Her heart raced at the mere thought of getting closer to him.

For her, acting coquettishly and asking him to cut her toenails was already stepping far out of her comfort zone.

But Mei Yuxian?

She was a mature woman in her thirties.

A mother.

How could she behave this way?

Gui Qingtong's thoughts were swirling with confusion.

She couldn't quite understand what her mother was thinking, but her instincts told her it wasn't normal.

After all, the same action, when performed by people with different roles and identities, could carry vastly different meanings.

A cute gesture from a girl her age might seem sweet.

But when done by her mother, it felt oddly provocative.

She frowned slightly, beginning to realize just how strange the entire scene had become.

Meanwhile, Lin Yuan's mind was racing.

He hadn't thought Mei Yuxian would act so boldly, especially in front of her own daughter.

Raising her delicate, flawless foot and looking at him with those slightly pleading eyes…

It was a dangerous game.

But he also knew that Mei Yuxian wouldn't withdraw unless he did as she asked.

If he refused, it might damage the delicate balance he was trying to maintain with both women.

So, Lin Yuan made a difficult decision.

He gently took Mei Yuxian's elegant foot in his hands and began cutting her toenails, just as he had done for Qingtong earlier.

Gui Qingtong sat stunned.

She had thought—she had hoped—that Lin Yuan would politely decline.

But he didn't.

He actually started doing it!

Her mouth parted slightly in shock.

And as she watched Lin Yuan carefully trim her mother's nails with the same tenderness he had shown her just moments ago, a sharp sting of jealousy pierced her heart.

Even though it was her mother, Gui Qingtong couldn't help the emotions that surged inside her.

She had only just begun feeling close to Lin Yuan, and now this?

Her jealousy was stronger than Mei Yuxian's, more direct and intense.

Unlike her mother, who tried to hide it under layers of dignity, Qingtong was too young and too emotionally raw to conceal her feelings.

The longer she watched, the more agitated she became.

She finally couldn't take it anymore.

Just as Lin Yuan finished cutting two of Mei Yuxian's nails, Gui Qingtong abruptly spoke up.

"Brother Lin Yuan, let me do it."

The sudden firmness in her voice surprised both Lin Yuan and Mei Yuxian.

Gui Qingtong turned to her mother and said, almost reproachfully, "Mom, it's not right to ask Brother Lin Yuan to cut your toenails. That's something I should've noticed earlier. I'm sorry… I should've helped you myself."

Without waiting for permission, Gui Qingtong reached out and took the nail clippers from Lin Yuan's hand.

Then, with a boldness she rarely showed, she gently but decisively took her mother's foot away from him.

Her movements were smooth but firm.

She wasn't going to let her mother monopolize Lin Yuan any longer—not like this.

Both Lin Yuan and Mei Yuxian were completely taken aback.

They had never seen Gui Qingtong behave this way.

Normally, she was sweet, gentle, and obedient, especially around her mother.

But right now, she looked like someone defending her claim.

Was this what jealousy looked like on a little girl?

Lin Yuan stared at her in awe.

The transformation was both surprising and revealing.

It told him one thing: winning Gui Qingtong over might take longer than he had planned.

Things were getting complicated.

The situation hadn't even escalated to a full-blown conflict yet, and it had already evolved into what the Japanese would call a shuraba—a messy, emotional battlefield.

Lin Yuan sighed and rubbed his temples.

This was starting to give him a headache.

Mei Yuxian was just as stunned as he was.

She hadn't expected her quiet, well-behaved daughter to react so fiercely.

And to make things worse, there was no reasonable counterargument to what Qingtong had said.

Everything she said sounded proper, even filial.

But in her heart, Mei Yuxian felt something far more personal—like she was losing something precious.

For a brief moment, she felt a pang of vulnerability.

Was her sweet little girl being taken away from her?

By Lin Yuan, no less?

She turned to glare at him, her eyes filled with unspoken emotions.

Lin Yuan, meanwhile, simply watched the unfolding scene.

He couldn't help but feel a little guilty—but also intrigued.

Gui Qingtong continued cutting her mother's toenails with surprising care.

But Mei Yuxian, now feeling a bit sulky, didn't lift her other foot when the first was finished.

She crossed her legs and leaned back slightly, her expression unreadable.

Mei Yuxian smiled softly and said, "Qingtong, I must be troubling you. But that's enough for now, sweetheart. It still feels a little uncomfortable when someone else does it. I'll cut the nails on the other foot myself later."

Gui Qingtong nodded, her expression sweet and obedient. "Okay, Mom."

Although Mei Yuxian spoke as if she intended to handle it on her own, she couldn't help but glance at Lin Yuan out of the corner of her eye.

That single glance spoke volumes.

Lin Yuan immediately understood her unspoken message.

It meant—you'd better finish the job.

After the three of them sat together watching television for a while, Gui Qingtong pulled Lin Yuan toward her room, saying she wanted his help practicing her singing.

Ordinarily, Mei Yuxian would allow Lin Yuan to tutor her daughter until about ten o'clock in the evening.

But tonight, before it even reached 9:30, Mei Yuxian walked up to Gui Qingtong's room and knocked firmly on the door.

Her voice came through softly but clearly: "It's getting late, Qingtong. Time to get ready for bed. And Xiao Yuan, could you come over for a bit? Sister Yuxian has something she wants to discuss with you about the company."

She sounded gentle, but it was clear her words were not up for negotiation.

Gui Qingtong pouted slightly, her face full of reluctance. Though visibly disappointed, she could only watch as Lin Yuan stood up to follow her mother.

Still, she whispered softly to him as he reached the door, "Brother Lin Yuan, teach me again tomorrow, okay?"

Lin Yuan turned and gave her a warm smile. "Of course. I'll come teach you again tomorrow. But the weather is getting colder day by day. You should really put a thicker quilt on your bed. The one you're using is too thin. If you're not careful, you'll catch a cold. Your throat's already feeling sore, and aside from overuse, I think the cold might be the cause."

Gui Qingtong nodded quickly, her eyes shining with joy.

She was so touched by Lin Yuan's concern that she didn't even focus on the warning in his words. Instead, she felt over the moon that he was paying such close attention to her well-being.

After leaving Gui Qingtong's room, Lin Yuan walked directly into Mei Yuxian's bedroom.

This time, as soon as they entered, Mei Yuxian locked the door behind them without hesitation.

Clearly, what had happened last time was still weighing heavily on her mind.

The moment they were alone, Lin Yuan didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Mei Yuxian's soft, voluptuous figure.

But just as things were heating up, Mei Yuxian gently pushed him away and said, "Wait a moment. I have something to say first."

Ignoring her for the moment, Lin Yuan smirked mischievously, lifted her up with ease, and gently tossed her onto the bed. "What is it?" he asked.

Instead of answering immediately, Mei Yuxian lifted her delicate, pale feet and held out a nail clipper to him. "Cut my nails," she said with a straight face.

Lin Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

Taking the nail clipper from her hand, he gently held her foot in his palm.

Her feet were indeed like flawless jade—smooth, elegant, and slightly larger than Gui Qingtong's, but no less beautiful.

Lin Yuan admired the dainty curve of her toes and the perfect shape of her nails.

But instead of clipping them right away, he lightly ran his fingers over her toes, teasing her skin with soft strokes.

Mei Yuxian's cheeks flushed. "What are you doing? Why aren't you cutting them?" she asked, trying to sound stern.

Lin Yuan chuckled and set the nail clipper aside. "Let's not waste time on nails right now. There are much more important things to handle," he said before climbing onto the bed with her.