Walking to the sofa, Xu Bin smoked silently without saying a word. He glanced at her and said, "Mom, I'm sorry if I disturbed your sleep."
Influenced by the earlier events, Shen Ruyu wore a conservative nightgown, though it couldn't hide her curvaceous figure.
Seeing Xu Bin's cold demeanor, Shen Ruyu sat down beside him and frowned, "Son-in-law, if you have something on your mind, you can talk to me if you can't communicate with Yao Nan."
"Mom, it's nothing. You should go to sleep."
Xu Bin wanted to quickly resume his communication with the system and stubbed out his cigarette, planning to go upstairs.
But Shen Ruyu pulled him back, huffing, "What do you mean 'nothing'? You're just like your brother, keeping everything to yourself. Today, you're going to talk, or I won't be happy."
Xu Bin smiled wryly, "Mom, I just need a good night's sleep."
"What do you mean 'need'? Spill it out. What's there to hide from your mom?"
Shen Ruyu opened the door, ready to give him a piece of her mind, but noticed something unusual.
The living room was too quiet, and the TV was off. When she opened the door, Xu Bin wasn't even on his phone. That wasn't normal.
Shen Ruyu, now treating him as a son, pulled him to the sofa and said, "Come on, tell me what's wrong. You can talk to me if you can't talk to Yao Nan."
Xu Bin felt a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Mom, I'm fine. I just need some sleep."
"Nonsense," Shen Ruyu insisted. "You're my son-in-law, and you're hiding something from me. Today, you're going to talk."
Shen Ruyu dragged him out of the house, and they ended up at a nearby barbecue restaurant. She ordered a variety of skewers and, blushing slightly, added sheep testicles, sheep penis, and oysters to the order without consulting him.
Her dominant personality and desire to control were evident. Of her three daughters, Yao Nan had it the worst, though the other two also rebelled against her.
"Six bottles of beer, extra cold..."
Shen Ruyu ordered loudly.
Xu Bin quickly interjected, "Mom, maybe some drinks would be better."
"Nonsense, a few beers won't kill you. Just drink up and talk. I won't let you drive if you get drunk. I want to know what's bothering you so much that you're moping around like this."
Shen Ruyu was in a generous mood and ordered a private room. Her face lit up with curiosity, eager to know what was troubling her recently triumphant son-in-law.
"Ding... 'Entering a Woman's Heart,' initiate?"
The system's voice suddenly echoed in his mind. This thing was delayed, had bugs, and seemed to have a personality. The alert made Xu Bin's scalp tingle, and he wasn't sure whether to use it.
This ability came up suddenly, and he hadn't even finished discussing the previous system reward. Its instability was frustrating, but Xu Bin was also afraid it would malfunction, so he chose to initiate it.
"Ding... The skill 'Entering a Woman's Heart' has two modes."
"Mode 1: Hypnotic State. Even if she denies it, you can communicate directly with her soul and get answers to all your questions. However, she will have no memory of the conversation upon waking."
"Mode 2: Confidant State. Best used with alcohol. It suppresses her mental barriers and ethical reservations, allowing her to speak freely. She will remember everything clearly, even if she's drunk."
Xu Bin understood now that the system wasn't as buggy as he thought.
"Select Mode 2!"
He saw the item 'Entering a Woman's Heart' disappear from his inventory, leaving only 'Charm Powder (Male).'
Shen Ruyu, who had been chattering away, suddenly paused, took a swig of her beer, and looked at Xu Bin seriously, "Son-in-law, I know the money for the bracelet came from legitimate sources, but are you feeling guilty about spending it?"
"Have you always been cold to my daughter? Ever since I knew you, you've been distant. Now that you've spent money on her, are you feeling regret?"
Her questions were direct and probing, showing the effect of the skill. Even though Shen Ruyu was naturally sharp-tongued, she usually wouldn't ask such personal questions directly.
Xu Bin realized they were in the 'Confidant State.' The hypnotic state would have been like talking in a dream, meaningless.
In this state, she asked questions she normally wouldn't, and it was up to him to engage in the conversation.
"Mom, you're overthinking it!"
Xu Bin took a sip of his beer and thought for a moment, "It's hard to talk to Yao Nan about some things. I've invested in a lot of ventures, like the 100,000 yuan I cashed out today. But there are always worries."
"What's wrong with your investments? I've heard Yao Nan mention that you're into a lot of things."
Shen Ruyu asked, concerned.
"I don't understand, and neither does she, so I won't say much. But I'm worried, Mom."
Xu Bin had an idea and continued, "Mom, I work hard to make money. I'm not as poor as you think."
"Today, I made a profit from stocks, but I've also had losses. Overall, I've made money, but it's not much."
"I've also invested in foreign futures. I put in a few thousand and made tens of thousands. But now the market is volatile. I'm making money, but I don't know how much."
Shen Ruyu's eyes widened in surprise, "Son-in-law, you're under a lot of pressure. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Xu Bin sighed, "Mom, I didn't dare tell you. I've been watching the markets at home. You and Yao Nan don't understand, but I've been into blockchain and Bitcoin for a long time."
"Those old computers of yours are important?"
Shen Ruyu was astonished.
Seeing her reaction, Xu Bin pressed on, taking a big gulp of his beer and slamming the cup down, "I have multiple stock accounts. The most frustrating part is that I didn't sell when I should have. Now, I've only taken out 100,000 yuan."
Effectively, 100,000 yuan had vanished. Shen Ruyu sighed, "You should have told me. I thought those were just old computers."
Xu Bin looked dejected, "Mom, it's not just you who doesn't understand. Even Yao Nan, after being scolded by you, still doesn't get it. She thinks I'm into scams."
"Nonsense, she doesn't know anything. You should have told me sooner."
There are all kinds of people in the teahouse, and the only thing they believe in is money. Shen Ruyu knew how much one Bitcoin is worth in US dollars.