{Chapter: 163 Mei Yuxian's heartbeat!}
Lin Yuan's gaze unintentionally drifted toward Mei Yuxian, and despite her loose-fitting purple evening gown, he could clearly discern the alluring outline of her broad, graceful hips.
Though the gown was designed to be modest, almost too conservative, its flowy fabric couldn't completely disguise the dangerous allure hidden beneath. The faint silhouette visible under the soft lighting hinted at a body that was both unique and utterly fatal in its charm.
Lin Yuan was no fool—he could tell that Mei Yuxian had deliberately chosen such a dress. She wasn't the type of woman who flaunted her figure unnecessarily. In fact, it was precisely because she understood how potent her allure was that she went out of her way to conceal it.
But ironically, that very restraint only added to her mystique. The modesty of the gown didn't diminish her appeal—it enhanced it.
The slight tightening of fabric around her waist and hips whne she moves was already enough to ignite the imagination. And Lin Yuan wasn't the only one affected. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that many of the men present had been stealing subtle glances in her direction.
She wasn't just beautiful—she was mesmerizing.
There was something inherently provocative about her presence. It wasn't lewd or overt; rather, it was a refined and mature kind of charm, the type that could stir a man's heart with a single glance. One look was enough to send the hormones racing.
What little could be seen was already tantalizing, but Lin Yuan had a strong hunch—what was hidden beneath that gown was even more breathtaking.
And to this day, no man had been lucky enough to see what lay beneath. That veil of mystery made her all the more captivating.
Just then, Mei Yuxian finished her conversation with a few guests. Her elegant smile faded politely as her daughter, Gui Qingtong, tugged at her arm with enthusiasm.
Together, the two walked toward Lin Yuan.
Seeing them side by side was truly a sight to behold. Despite their true relationship as mother and daughter, they looked more like a pair of stunning sisters. Mei Yuxian's mature elegance and Gui Qingtong's youthful vibrance created a dazzling contrast, yet they shared enough similarities in their features that one could mistake them as siblings at first glance.
As they approached, a soft breeze seemed to carry a blended fragrance toward Lin Yuan.
It was subtle, but unmistakable.
Two distinct scents intermingled—one light, fresh, and innocent like cherry blossoms in spring; the other deep, warm, and slightly seductive, reminiscent of midnight jasmine. The combination of Gui Qingtong's and Mei Yuxian's perfumes didn't clash but instead created a unique harmony, enveloping Lin Yuan like an invisible embrace.
"Brother Lin Yuan! Good evening!" Gui Qingtong called out sweetly the moment she was close enough, her voice brimming with joy.
Lin Yuan turned toward her and offered a warm smile, replying gently, "Good evening, Qingtong."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she stared up at him. The days without seeing Lin Yuan had clearly felt long for her, and the emotions she was holding back almost burst at the seams. She wanted nothing more than to run into his arms and hold him tightly.
But she held herself back.
Even a simple gesture like reaching out to grab his hand—she didn't dare. The reason was simple: her mother was standing right next to her.
Mei Yuxian, while loving, was known for being a strict and composed parent. Gui Qingtong respected her mother deeply, and out of that respect—or perhaps a little fear—she restrained her emotions.
Lin Yuan, of course, understood the situation well. He knew full well that without Mei Yuxian nearby, Gui Qingtong would've already leapt into his embrace with glee.
After nodding to Gui Qingtong, Lin Yuan turned to Mei Yuxian—and this time, it was a full-frontal view at close range.
From this angle, her beauty was even more striking.
Now that he was standing right in front of her, Lin Yuan could admire her elegant features in detail. Her face carried the timeless allure of a woman in her late twenties, around 26 or 27 by appearance, though he knew she was a little older.
She and Gui Qingtong truly looked alike—so much so that no one would believe they were mother and daughter unless explicitly told. The resemblance was uncanny, but where Gui Qingtong had innocence, Mei Yuxian carried mystery and poise.
Lin Yuan remembered the photo Song Xuan had once shown him. The woman in that image—mature, refined, breathtaking—was none other than Mei Yuxian. Seeing her in person now, that beauty hadn't faded in the slightest.
Her face was a textbook example of elegance: a perfectly shaped oval, with high cheekbones, a delicate nose, and soft, full lips.
Time seemed to have left no trace on her features. Her skin remained smooth and radiant, her expression calm yet enchanting, and those mesmerizing emerald green eyes carried a gentle softness that made people want to open up and trust her.
Despite the passing years, she still looked younger than many women in their prime.
In Lin Yuan's eyes, she was even more beautiful now than she likely had been in her youth. It wasn't just about physical appearance anymore—it was the depth, the experience, and the graceful maturity that made her shine.
While Chi Qian's beauty was like that of an untouchable goddess, ethereal and distant, Mei Yuxian's beauty was that of a real woman—warm, dangerous, and impossible to forget.
If Chi Qian could bring down a kingdom with her elegance, Mei Yuxian could make kings surrender willingly at her feet.
Mei Yuxian's appearance when she was young is as perfect as that of Chi Qian and based on Lin Yuan's aesthetic, he favors Mei Yuxian more.
Even at this time, Mei Yuxian's appearance is still a peerless beauty who can cause the downfall of a country, but of course, her beauty when she was younger can't compare to now.
Of course, her beauty now is no longer as perfect as when she was young.
But even now, Lin Yuan could easily give Mei Yuxian a beauty rating of more than 98 points out of 100. In fact, he might even argue she had become more captivating with time. While age might have softened some of her youthful features, it had given her something far more enchanting—an aura of maturity, elegance, and a sultry magnetism that few women ever achieved.
And her figure? Absolutely breathtaking.
Her curves weren't just well-proportioned—they were dangerously perfect. A flawless blend of sensuality and grace that seemed to defy the natural laws of aging. That alone added several points to her already staggering allure.
There wasn't a single ordinary man who could remain unaffected in her presence. Most wouldn't stand a chance.
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In Lin Yuan's eyes, different women had their own unique strengths. When it came to pure facial beauty and flawless, porcelain-like skin, Chi Qian reigned supreme. When it came to elegant posture and long, perfectly sculpted legs, no one could match Yan Ruyue. And when it came to mature, seductive allure and the kind of soft plumpness that made a man's thoughts wander, Mei Yuxian was unmatched.
They were all perfect in their own way, each representing a pinnacle of beauty in a specific domain.
And if someone asked Lin Yuan to choose only one?
He'd scoff at the question.
Of course not.
Why should he be forced to choose?
Only naïve children are forced to pick between candy and cake.
As a grown man, Lin Yuan believed in taking the whole dessert tray.
He wanted them all.
He wasn't being greedy—he was simply being honest with himself.
After all, he possessed a system—an incredible, otherworldly advantage that gave him the ability to rise above normal limits. If even with such a gift, he didn't dare to dream big, then he might as well crawl into a hole and live out his life in shame.
To possess a treasure and never reach for greatness… that would be a crime against his own destiny.
As Lin Yuan's eyes lingered on Mei Yuxian, appreciating her beauty and presence, she happened to glance at him too.
But their thoughts in that moment couldn't have been more different.
Lin Yuan, as a man, saw her as a stunning woman—elegant, mature, and dangerously attractive.
Mei Yuxian, on the other hand, saw Lin Yuan as her daughter's potential suitor—a junior, possibly her future son-in-law.
Still, even from that perspective, she found herself curious.
Her daughter, Gui Qingtong, who had always been obedient, disciplined, and emotionally reserved, talked about Lin Yuan far more than she talked about anyone else.
And it wasn't just her daughter. Her close friend, Song Xuan, also spoke highly of him—so highly, in fact, that Mei Yuxian began to wonder if the young man really was as outstanding as everyone claimed.
Song Xuan had even described the miracle Lin Yuan had performed in curing her illness—a feat that seemed too incredible to be true.
Mei Yuxian wasn't easily impressed. At her age, she had long stopped caring about youthful appearances. She valued substance—strength of character, confidence, ability.
But when she saw Lin Yuan in person for the first time, she couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
'Handsome.'
That was her first instinctive thought.
He stood like a jade tree swaying gently in the wind—tall, elegant, and graceful. His facial features were sculpted to near perfection. His eyes were clear and bright, his lips a healthy red, his teeth white and neat. There was something magnetic about him.
Beyond his looks, Lin Yuan exuded a kind of charm that words couldn't fully describe.
It wasn't just appearance—it was temperament.
A quiet confidence radiated from within him. It was the kind of calm assurance found only in those who had seen the world and knew their place in it. Most people couldn't put their finger on it. They just knew he was attractive.
But Mei Yuxian understood.
It was self-confidence. It was composure. It was a subtle sense of command, the ability to control the flow of a conversation or the atmosphere of a room without ever trying too hard.
And the reason she recognized it so clearly… was because she possessed that same quality.
Lin Yuan's self-assurance wasn't fake or loud. It wasn't boastful. It was simply a part of who he was. That deep-rooted confidence that came from knowing one's strengths and not needing to prove them.
Appearance, posture, charisma, even family background—Mei Yuxian couldn't find a single flaw.
Even from her seasoned perspective, she had to admit—this young man was dangerously good-looking.
So good-looking, in fact, that she could hardly remember seeing anyone more handsome in all her years.
In that instant, she understood.
She understood why her daughter, who had barely spent time with him, had already fallen so deeply.
She understood why her friend would praise him so highly.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, a playful thought surfaced—if she could go back twenty years in time, would she be able to resist a man like this?
Probably not.
She had once been a bright, wide-eyed girl of sixteen too. And she knew—if this Lin Yuan had appeared before her at that age, she might have fallen for him even faster than Gui Qingtong had.
But she was no longer that girl. The rapid flutter in her chest quickly calmed, replaced by the composed heart of a mature woman.
She re-centered herself, forcing her perspective to return to the proper one—seeing Lin Yuan as a junior, a promising young man, a suitable future partner for her daughter.
And truthfully, he was suitable.
Perfectly so.
With that conclusion in mind, Mei Yuxian's opinion of Lin Yuan rose sharply. Her first impression was excellent.
Smiling faintly, she turned to Gui Qingtong and teased lightly, "So this is the Brother Lin Yuan you've been talking about all day long."
Her voice was light and playful, but it carried a hint of approval.
Upon hearing her mother's teasing tone, Gui Qingtong's face turned bright red. She looked as if she wanted to hide behind Lin Yuan just to avoid her mother's knowing smile.