Mom, If I Won’t Let You Grow Old, You Must Not Grow Old

As soon as they stepped outside, the parents immediately surrounded Joy Zheng, all begging her to start her own tutoring class—and saying the price was negotiable.

These days, finding a truly reliable teacher isn’t easy. And since they all know Joy Zheng’s character and background, they feel extra reassured.

“I still need to think it over.”

Even though the parents offered extremely generous terms, Joy Zheng still didn’t agree right away.

Only after everyone left did Joy Zheng finally let out a breath of relief.

“Auntie Zheng, you’re really popular!” Lynn Chen grinned at Joy Zheng.

“Yeah, unlike those two just now—they don’t act like teachers at all, just obsessed with money.” Yolanda Fang nodded in agreement.

Joy Zheng smiled at the two of them. “Did you have fun out today?”

“It was fine—wasn’t Evan Lin with us the whole time? Right?”

Yolanda Fang and Lynn Chen both looked at Evan Lin, who nodded as well.

It was getting late, and Joy Zheng didn’t feel like cooking at home, so she just ordered a few dishes at the nearby restaurant for a simple meal.

After dinner, the group took a walk together. Joy Zheng heard that Lucy Lu would be coming to Whitewood County soon, and she sighed that it had been ages since they’d met—she was really looking forward to it.

After dropping Yolanda Fang and Lynn Chen off at their hotel, Evan Lin walked home with Joy Zheng.

“Mom, I want to take you somewhere.” Evan Lin glanced at Joy Zheng beside him, feeling a wave of emotion at the white hairs visible at her temples.

Back when he’d just been reborn, he hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment yet, and without fire, he couldn’t refine pills at all.

Now, Evan Lin had a hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, some century-old ginseng, and the Fire Crystal Stone he’d taken from Elder Leonard Huo. He could finally use them to refine pills.

As for not having a pill furnace, Evan Lin wasn’t too worried about that.

For beauty pills like the Face-Nourishing Pill—which focus on appearance rather than cultivation strength—you can refine them directly without a furnace. It just takes more effort, but for Evan Lin, that’s no big deal.

“Where are we going?” Joy Zheng asked, a little confused.

“Just come with me.” Evan Lin smiled.

Seeing Evan Lin keeping secrets, Joy Zheng gave his head a playful smack. “You little rascal, keeping things from your mom?”

As they walked toward Mooncrest Manor, Joy Zheng thought about the resettlement housing work that had started recently and smiled with delight. “Xiao Yi, when we get our new apartment, let’s buy a bigger one and save it for your future wedding.”

“And if you don’t end up living here, we can always sell it and use the money for a down payment wherever you work. No matter what, we’ll have enough for the first payment.”

“When you graduate college, start working, get married and have kids—that’s when Mom will be old.”

Joy Zheng looked at Evan Lin with eyes full of warmth. “I always thought of you as a little kid, but suddenly you’ve grown up so fast.”

“And that money you threw in Teacher Huang’s face—was that prize money you won? That’s really not okay, it’s disrespectful. If you don’t like someone, just ignore them. Got it?”

Joy Zheng kept gently lecturing him, not stopping for a moment.

Evan Lin didn’t argue. Being nagged like this actually felt pretty nice—for once, he got to just be a regular son, living a normal life instead of chasing immortality and the Heaven-Ascending Gate.

On the Immortal Martial Continent, Evan Lin had the title Nine Mysteries Immortal Lord, but in reality he was only at the tribulation stage, not yet truly through the Heaven-Ascending Gate.

Now, Evan Lin felt calm and peaceful. Looking at the thousands of lights in the distance, his heart was serene and undisturbed by worldly troubles.

“Mom, you won’t grow old—I promise.”

As they walked along a quiet sidewalk, Evan Lin suddenly spoke.

Joy Zheng couldn’t help but laugh at his words. When she smiled, the crow’s feet at her eyes deepened; she reached out and stroked Evan Lin’s head. “Silly boy, how could Mom not grow old? Everyone gets old.”

“But even when Mom’s old, I’ll still protect you. Xiao Yi, if you ever run into trouble out there, you have to tell me, okay?”

Joy Zheng’s voice was gentle.

“Mom, if I don’t let you grow old, you won’t grow old. I promise!” Evan Lin turned to look at Joy Zheng, his expression serious.

“Alright, alright, Mom won’t get old. For you, I’ll stay young forever.” Joy Zheng burst out laughing, but clearly didn’t take Evan’s words to heart.

After all, how could anyone not grow old in this world?

Heroes fading, beauties aging—it’s always been one of life’s saddest truths.

Sometimes, Joy Zheng would reminisce about her youth—back then she was still a girl, full of hope, beautiful and carefree. But in the blink of an eye, her wrinkles had deepened and white hairs had appeared.

Joy Zheng sighed, but when she glanced at Evan Lin—now taller and more resolute than ever—she felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

They walked slowly the whole way.

Outside the gates of Mooncrest Manor.

Joy Zheng thought Evan Lin was just going to walk her around the sidewalk outside, but to her surprise, he led her straight to the main entrance.

Joy Zheng was startled. “Why did you bring me here? People can’t just walk into this place, can they?”

Joy Zheng hesitated, standing outside the gates.

Mooncrest Manor is the most upscale villa neighborhood in Whitewood County. Security is tight—you can’t get in without a key or access card.

“Mom, remember how I told you I won a lot of money? I wasn’t lying.” Evan Lin saw Joy Zheng hesitate, so he took her hand and led her inside. As they walked, he pulled out a key and an access card, swiped them, and opened the door.

“I know—you gave me a hundred thousand, and I’ve saved it all for you.” Joy Zheng was stunned when she saw Evan Lin swipe the card and walk straight in.

“That hundred thousand is just a tiny part. I won over seven million, and I bought a house here for you. From now on, this is your home.”

“Since our old place is being demolished, we can just leave the resettlement apartment alone. Come check out this house first. If you think it’s too big for just one person, you can invite Helen Cai to live with you—you’ll have company.”