Chapter 605: Crisis Imminent!

Su Monong's face instantly flushed red, then slowly drained of color.

Su Monong's eyes darted, her lips moved, but she ultimately couldn't argue, only lowering her head in silence.

Lin Yuan watched the stalemated mother and daughter, heaved a heavy sigh.

Lin Yuan unconsciously tapped his fingertips on the table, his expression complex.

For a moment, Lin Yuan also didn't know how to begin his explanation.

This atmosphere was really too awkward.

Inside the room, only an awkward, heavy silence remained.

After a long while, Su Monong finally lifted her head.

Su Monong's beautiful eyes were full of fatigue and guilt.

Su Monong sighed softly, "Mom admits, Mom does have some liking for Lin Yuan. That day in the office, it was Mom who couldn't hold back and initiated the kiss."

Hearing this, Su Zhiyuan's tears instantly burst forth.

Su Zhiyuan clenched the corners of her clothes with both hands, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.

At this moment, Su Zhiyuan was both angry and jealous!

Su Zhiyuan's voice choked as she accused, "You two…… really are like this……"

Su Monong watched her daughter's tears, her heart tightened.

Su Monong's tone carried a hint of helplessness and admonition: "Zhi Yuan, you and Lin Yuan aren't suitable, do you understand? Your ages and experiences are too far apart."

"If Lin Yuan and I aren't suitable, then are you?" Su Zhiyuan snapped her head up, tears blurring her eyes.

Su Zhiyuan's voice was full of anger: "You already have a daughter, and you're so much older than Lin Yuan—how selfish can you be? Just because you like him, do you have to deprive me of my emotional rights?"

This questioning…… felt like a heavy hammer striking Su Monong's heart.

Su Monong opened her mouth, but for a moment she had no words to reply.

"You want to have an affair with Lin Yuan, so you want me to sacrifice? What right do you have? Su Monong, you're already over forty! If you want a man, you should find someone in his forties—what right do you have to go after Lin Yuan?! He's so much younger than you?!" Su Zhiyuan grew angrier as she spoke, her emotions spiraling out of control.

Upon hearing her daughter's questioning, Su Monong's emotions also suddenly spiraled out of control.

"How dare you!" Su Monong raised her hand…… and slapped Su Zhiyuan.

With a crisp "slap!" the sound was especially piercing in the room.

Su Zhiyuan's cheek instantly showed a red mark.

Her tears flowed even more fiercely.

Su Zhiyuan stubbornly bit her lip, refusing to speak, her eyes brimming with grievance and resentment.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan quickly rose, extending his hand to shield Su Zhiyuan behind him.

Lin Yuan said in a low voice to Su Monong, "Don't act impulsively!"

Afterwards, Lin Yuan turned to Su Zhiyuan, his tone easing a bit.

Lin Yuan patiently explained, "Zhi Yuan, I really am not suitable for you. Moreover, I have no such relationship with your mother. That day was just an accident; your mother lost control and kissed me, but I pushed her away right away—nothing happened."

Su Monong looked at her daughter's flushed cheeks and tear-filled eyes, also regretting deeply.

Su Monong quickly went along with Lin Yuan's words…… playing along, her voice apologetic: "Yes…… it's Mom's fault. I and Lin Yuan indeed had no relationship; that day was just a momentary lapse, I only kissed him once."

Su Zhiyuan peeked out from behind Lin Yuan, reaching up to wipe her tears.

Her eyes still held lingering grievance and obvious suspicion.

Su Zhiyuan stared at her mother, pressing: "Mom, are you sure? You really didn't do anything else?"

Su Monong quickly nodded, her tone sincere and laced with guilt.

Su Monong reached out…… wanting to touch her daughter's cheek, but fearing to stir her emotions, she could only withdraw her hand.

Su Monong spoke gently, "Mom is certain. Mom knows Lin Yuan is young and doesn't want to hinder him, so I absolutely had no improper relationship with him—rest assured. Mom has it under control, I won't mess around."

Lin Yuan also nodded in agreement at the right moment, his gaze calm as he looked at Su Zhiyuan.

Lin Yuan added, "Zhi Yuan, I and your mother really were just an accident, with no other involvement."

Hearing their consistent account, Su Zhiyuan's inner jealousy and grievance…… eased somewhat.

Su Zhiyuan's complexion also softened a bit.

Seeing this, Su Monong seized the moment to advise: "Daughter, I'm also doing this for your own good. Lin Yuan truly isn't suitable for you; your life paths are too far apart. From now on I'll treat Lin Yuan as a professional manager to cultivate, letting him help handle affairs. He and you are ultimately not on the same road, so you should also watch out for avoidance and avoid unnecessary misunderstandings."

Su Zhiyuan bit her lower lip, her heart still unwilling.

But, seeing her mother's remorseful expression and hearing Lin Yuan's earlier stance……

Su Zhiyuan also knew that continuing to quarrel was pointless.

She and Lin Yuan were indeed impossible.

Su Zhiyuan could only grit her teeth fiercely, nodding reluctantly.

But Su Zhiyuan still lifted her gaze toward Su Monong……

In Su Zhiyuan's eyes lay a hint of warning; she spoke obstinately: "Mom, I hope what you say is all true. You and Lin Yuan must truly have no connection; if I discover even a hint of impropriety between you…… then don't blame me…… for disregarding mother‑daughter ties! If you cross the moral line first, then I will too!"

After saying that, Su Zhiyuan let out a cold snort, turned her face away and refused to look at her.

Su Monong's heart trembled, she sighed helplessly.

Su Monong quickly nodded, her tone solemn: "Rest assured, Mom guarantees you that from now on my relationship with Lin Yuan will be purely work‑related, with absolutely no personal entanglements."

Lin Yuan also voiced his stance: "I will maintain proper distance, keep away from you, and focus on work."

Only then did Su Zhiyuan refrain from speaking further.

She lowered her head to pick at the rice in her bowl, though the reluctance in her eyes had not fully faded.

……

Over the next few days, life gradually returned to calm.

Lin Yuan continued to uphold his duty, each day picking up and dropping off Su Monong and her daughter on time for work.

Su Monong and her daughter occasionally had brief silences, but they no longer erupted into arguments.

As for the people of the Thunder Tiger Sect…… they seemed to have completely vanished, with no further incidents of assassination or harassment……

This allowed Su Monong's anxious heart to gradually relax.

Su Zhiyuan also gradually relaxed her guard against the two of them.

Only Su Zhiyuan's occasional glances at Lin Yuan still held lingering affection and awkwardness.

Before long it was the weekend, and Lin Yuan finally got a rare rest.

But on the weekend Lin Yuan was not idle at all.

He went on time to Zhijiang University, preparing to give the students an elective course in traditional Chinese medicine.

This traditional Chinese medicine therapy course he taught, thanks to Lin Yuan's clear and practical explanations, had long become a popular course at the school.

Moreover, once the students learned that Lin Yuan was the Academic God, every weekend his class would be packed.

Today was Saturday; as Lin Yuan just reached the classroom door, he was startled by the sight before him:

The hallway was packed to the brim, all of them students who had come upon hearing his name.

Even the window ledges were crowded with people; a glance showed a sea of figures.

At that moment, when the students saw that the person was Lin Yuan, they instantly quieted down a bit.

Immediately, the students voluntarily made way, their faces full of admiration and respect.

The students shouted in unison, greeting: "Hello, Academic God teacher!"

The students' voices were uniform and loud, echoing in the hallway for a long time.

Someone handed him a bottle of water, someone busily tidied the space beside them, hoping Lin Yuan could enter the classroom smoothly……

The reverence in the students' eyes was utterly undisguised.

After all, this person before them was the pride of their Zhijiang University!

The Academic God, Lin Yuan—what an awesome existence!

Lin Yuan gave the students a slight nod, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

Lin Yuan raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet: "Thank you, everyone, don't crowd, watch your safety."

As he spoke, he walked forward along the path the students had made.

Lin Yuan along the way occasionally responded to the students' greetings, his steps calm and composed.

When Lin Yuan pushed open the classroom door, the room was already full to capacity.

Even the hallway was packed with students who had come upon hearing his name.

Inside the classroom, the students' voices buzzed…… yet there was also an air of anticipation for the lesson.

Lin Yuan set down the lecture notes, just turning to adjust the projector when he caught sight of You Nianchu sitting in the front row.

As the campus belle of Zhijiang University's School of Economics, You Nianchu today wore a simple white shirt and jeans.

Yet she remained strikingly eye-catching.

At that moment, You Nianchu was looking at him with a half-smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

"All right, class, we're ready to begin the lesson."

Lin Yuan had his lesson plan ready, and then began today's class.

As soon as the class started, Lin Yuan dove into the explanation.

He clearly broke down…… the techniques of acupressure massage.

But You Nianchu wasn't paying attention.

In class, You Nianchu kept looking for chances to tease him:

After a while, You Nianchu deliberately raised her hand to ask: "Teacher Lin, your technique is so good—do you often give massages in your spare time?"

After a while, You Nianchu pretended her notes were incomplete, deliberately came up to Lin Yuan's lectern desk, and asked again.

The distance between You Nianchu and Lin Yuan remained very close.

This caused the surrounding students to frequently glance sideways……

The students whispered about the relationship between Lin Yuan and You Nianchu, their eyes full of gossip.

Lin Yuan furrowed his brows slightly, responding in a flat tone, trying to draw attention back to the lesson itself.

But You Nianchu became increasingly brazen, even deliberately dropping her pen on the floor, bending to pick it up while intentionally leaning toward his leg……

Lin Yuan, helpless, could only pause his explanation momentarily and gesture for her to sit properly.

Faced with this little troublemaker You Nianchu disrupting class……

A flicker of helplessness crossed Lin Yuan's eyes, hardly noticeable.

……

At the same time, along the tree-lined path of Zhijiang University's campus…

Two figures were speaking in lowered voices.

The two of them…… wore ill-fitting student uniforms.

The two deliberately concealed their hostile aura, disguising themselves as college students.

These two were precisely the two chief Dharma Protectors of the Thunder Tiger Sect.

Azure Dragon and White Tiger, the two chief Dharma Protectors!

Behind them followed several more who were similarly disguised as Thunder Tiger Sect lackeys.

All of them were dressed up as students.

Only these few had wary eyes scanning the surroundings.

This group of Thunder Tiger people were hurrying quickly toward the School of Medicine.

The White Tiger Dharma Protector raised a hand to tug at the loose sleeve of his oversized uniform, his tone tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

White Tiger Dharma Protector lowered his voice and asked: "Azure Dragon, are you sure? Is Lin Yuan really teaching at Zhijiang University? This kid is young, but he's hiding deep."

Azure Dragon Dharma Protector's gaze was cold and deep, sweeping over the students coming and going not far away.

Azure Dragon Dharma Protector replied firmly: "I'm sure! I've investigated it thoroughly; he's teaching in a classroom at the School of Medicine. Follow me, we'll disguise as students and sneak in—anyway, he doesn't know us, so he won't suspect anything."

Azure Dragon paused, his steps unceasing, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes: "Today the school is crowded and chaotic, perfect for us to strike; amid the confusion we'll take him down, unseen and unheard. Once we obtain the Ghost Doctor Sect's secret art, we'll give an explanation to the Gang Leader!"

White Tiger heard this, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, and nodded slightly.

The few of them quickened their steps, blending with the crowd into the School of Medicine teaching building...