Chapter 165

Chapter 165

This was the first time Yu Shu had seen Chen Yun. She could not be described as "pretty" - despite being only around thirty years old, Chen Yun appeared haggard, looking over forty. Her eyes were lined with wrinkles, yet her gaze was clear and bright.

Yu Shu had never seen such a gaze before, full of determination and conviction.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

Two open suitcases sat by the table, filled with neatly stacked renminbi. Yu Shu was also seeing this much cash for the first time, and found the sight quite impressive and stunning.

Yu Fanxing pushed a gift agreement towards Chen Yun, her tone calm and flat. "Sign this agreement, take these five million, and live a good life with my son."

Chen Yun's response was firm and resolute. "I will not take it. I will be with Yuxiao, not for his money."

"Take this money," Yu Fanxing tried to reason, maintaining her composure. "You need not make any sacrifices or pay anything in return. Why not take it?"

"Precisely because of that, I cannot take it. One should not receive unearned rewards. If I take this money, I will lose the equality between Yuxiao and myself."

Yu Shu interjected, "But you are not equal to him even if you don't take the money."

Their knowledge, income, family backgrounds, and social statuses were worlds apart.

Chen Yun looked at her with a hint of disdain. "Our external circumstances may not be equal, but our thoughts and souls stand at the same level."

Yu Shu was taken aback, suddenly feeling shallow and vulgar.

Chen Yun then asked her, "Are your external conditions equal to Youlin's? Why must you impose upon me what you would not wish upon yourself?"

Indeed, few families in the world could match the Shen family's conditions.

"You're right, you're right," Yu Shu admitted. "I was being narrow-minded. But Miss Chen, if you take this money, you can provide the orphans with a better life. The orphanage's operating funds would be secured for a long time to come."

Ever since the Shen family discovered that Shen Yuxiao had been "brainwashed" by Chen Yun, they had limited his large expenditures, leaving him with only 100,000 yuan per month to use.

What could be done with such a small amount?

Yu Shu was startled by her own thought - she had become so accustomed to luxury that she thought 100,000 yuan per month was insufficient. Had she lost herself in the drunkenness of money and extravagance?

Chen Yun stood up, looking at them proudly. "I have my own pursuits and ambitions. I will not change or stop my path for anyone or anything."

Yu Fanxing could no longer maintain her composure, standing up and glaring at Chen Yun. "Your so-called pursuits and ambitions are to take my son to some godforsaken place to plant trees and raise children?!"

"I'm not taking him," Chen Yun turned away. "He wants to go with me. No matter what, you will always be his mother."

Seeing that her words had no effect, Yu Fanxing became increasingly agitated. "How naïve are you? To think you can change your hometown with just your bare hands? If you don't take Yuxiao away, we can easily set up a special poverty alleviation fund to change the poor conditions in your hometown."

There was a hint of resignation in Shen Youlin's tone. "My brother was raised from birth to be the successor of the family. The shackles were placed on him at birth, shackles made of gold that bound him, while also bestowing unparalleled wealth and status. Before meeting Chen Yun, he only knew of his own suffering, but not what kind of life he wanted."

Yu Shu sighed. "Now he wants to experience the poor and destitute life, facing the sun and tilling the soil, to completely rid himself of money."

"Whether money is clean or not depends on how it is used," Shen Youlin patted her back. "The masses have always pursued money this way, but that doesn't make it right. My brother and Chen Yun have chosen a desolate path."

Yu Shu still didn't understand. "But having money is so much better. It can easily solve most troubles and better protect those you care about."

If she didn't have money, Ou Doudou wouldn't have had the courage and determination to divorce. The Xu family wouldn't have so easily agreed to the divorce, knowing Yu Shu backed Ou Doudou. If she didn't have money, even if she knew about Gu Xiaoxin's tragic background, she wouldn't be able to help her and change her destiny without considering the costs. If she didn't have money, Zhi Yan and Zhi Xia wouldn't have dared to quit their jobs and start Zhabazhahuhu, but would have to work tirelessly to save up for their parents' medical expenses, unable to provide them with better care and living conditions. If she didn't have money, Ye Ping, Yu Feng, and Yu Yang would continue to suffer in poverty...

Her wealth not only changed her own fate, but she also became a powerful dependence for the people she cared about. It gave her and her family and friends the courage to stride forward without worrying about stumbling and being unable to recover.

The life of the poor has such a pitifully low margin for error. One misstep and they can never get back on their feet.

Yu Shu nodded, "You're right. Let them go their own way, and we'll go ours."

"You go your way, I'll go yours."

Yu Shu told a cold joke, "If you go my way, I'll have no way to go."

They both burst into laughter. Yu Shu nuzzled against Shen Youlin's solid chest, feeling the full sense of security from his muscular build.

Her mind wandered, and her hand mischievously slipped under Shen Youlin's shirt to caress his well-toned abs. The feel was exquisite, and she couldn't bring herself to stop.

"You little rascal, what are you doing?" Shen Youlin protested with amusement.

Yu Shu suppressed a naughty grin without answering him as her hand traveled lower...

Shen Youlin was aroused by her touch and was about to take her right there when Yu Shu sprang up like a bunny, putting some distance between them.

With an innocent look, Yu Shu said, "I'm hungry. Let's go have dinner at my sister's place."

"She's out."

"What? My sister actually went out?"

"Shen Yingshuang took her out, said she was taking her to experience a woman's paradise, to find a man to balance out her hormonal imbalance."

"What?!"

This was really going off the rails!