Chapter 787: Chapter 786: Annoyance
The next day.
"Knock, knock, knock!" The sound of knocking echoed.
"Come in." Li Mengxue lazily lied on the bed, covering her body with a blanket, her voice indistinct.
"Miss, the master is looking for you," the servant stood by the bed with utmost respect, answering reverently.
"Oh," Li Mengxue replied languidly.
"Miss, you should get up now, or the master will get impatient."
"I know, I know," Li Mengxue waved her hand irritably.
...
Half an hour later.
Li Mengxue was dressed properly, looking like a beautiful princess.
"The master is waiting for you downstairs, please go down," the servant reminded again.
"Mmm, I know."
"I’m leaving now!"
Li Mengxue waved her hand and turned around, walking downstairs in her high heels.
"Dad."
"Dad..."
Li Mengxue approached her father, calling out cheerfully.
"Mhm."
Li Zhenglong sat on the sofa, his face expressionless.
"Dad, why did you suddenly want to see me this early in the morning?" Li Mengxue asked.
"I missed you," Li Zhenglong said flatly.
"Really?"
"Of course it’s true."
"I knew it, you love me the most."
"We’re a family, always the closest, aren’t we?" Li Mengxue cooed.
"Alright, I need to leave now. If there’s anything, we’ll talk when I return."
Li Zhenglong stood up and walked out.
Li Mengxue asked with a puzzled face, "Dad, why are you rushing out like this?"
"Just going to see an old friend!" Li Zhenglong said and left straight away.
"Old friend? Who?" Li Mengxue tilted her head and thought, but couldn’t remember, "Never mind, who cares."
Li Zhenglong arrived at a bamboo grove.
At this moment, a light rain was sprinkling from the sky, a cool breeze blew, swaying the bamboo leaves, creating beautiful curves.
Beneath such a scene, Li Zhenglong suddenly stopped, looked up, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, "This is so comfortable!"
"I’ve never enjoyed such a refreshing sensation before," Li Zhenglong murmured to himself.
"Old Li." An aged voice reached his ears.
Li Zhenglong opened his eyes and saw an old man with white hair approaching from not far away.
The elder wore a black Tang suit, his hair neatly bundled behind his head, a kind smile on his face, looking very friendly.
"You came," Li Zhenglong hastened to greet him.
"Mhm." The elder smiled and said, "I haven’t seen you in a long time."
"Me neither."
...
The two elders, one was the old master’s father, and the other was Li Zhenglong’s father.
"Did you come to find me for something?" Li Zhenglong asked.
"You’re here, naturally it’s about something important," the elder said with a smile.
"What important thing?"
"Just come with me."
"Mhm."
...
In the bamboo grove, the elder took out a piece of yellow paper and began drawing something on it.
After finishing, he took out a candle from his pocket, placed it inside the yellow paper, and lit it.
"Snap!" A sound was heard.
The yellow paper instantly caught fire, emitting puffs of blue smoke.
Soon, the elder’s drawing was devoured by the flames and turned to ash.
Li Zhenglong gazed at the scene in astonishment and said, "Dad, what... what is this?"
"This is a relic left by our ancestors, also our most precious treasure. Once lit, it will burn everything to ashes."
"Originally it was only three feet long. I merely kept it on my bookshelf, too reluctant to use it. Today you’ve come, so I’ll hand it over to you."
"What?"
"No, no, it’s an unparalleled token of the Li Family, how can it be given to someone else?"
"Don’t refuse it just yet, I’ve already decided on this."
"Haven’t you always wanted to know the truth about that year? This is the answer!"
...
Li Zhenglong hesitated, unsure what to do.
"What’s wrong? Are you afraid?"
"Of course not."
"Then I’ll give it to you."
"But you must promise me not to tell anyone, including your mother," Li Zhenglong warned sternly.
"Mhm, I won’t."
"That’s good."
"Now, can you give it to me?" Li Zhenglong asked.
"Yes, now you can have it."
Li Zhenglong took out a key from his chest pocket, placed it on the table, opened the safe, and retrieved an ancient-looking parchment scroll. After opening it, a piece of yellow cloth with dense text written all over it was revealed inside.
"This is?" Li Zhenglong looked at the writing on the yellow cloth, completely baffled.
"These are the truths about that year," the elder said.
"This... all these years have passed, and I don’t remember any of it."
"This matter involves an extremely mysterious secret, so it must be you to unveil the truth."
"Dad, please spare me."
"I don’t have the heart to do this either!"
"But this is an order, not up for discussion."
"Don’t refuse anymore."
"Alright then."
...
Li Zhenglong looked over the characters on the yellow cloth, his brows hinting at gravity.
"I’ll put it in the safe for now; when there’s a suitable opportunity, I’ll tell you about this."
Li Zhenglong nodded.
Li Zhenglong took the sheepskin scroll and put it away.
"By the way, how come you have time to visit me today?"
"I came to see you."
"Heh, that’s hardly believable. I know you’ve come because you’ve heard about my recent issues and want to persuade me to return home, take over the family business properly, right?" said Li Zhenglong with a sly smile.
"Alas, in all my life I have only one son, such a pity!" the old man sighed.
"Don’t worry, I have my own plan for this."
"Oh? Do you?"
"Don’t you know how smart your son is?"
"Haha, I’ll wait and see then."
"You should come inside first."
"Alright then."
Li Zhenglong nodded and followed the elder back home.
...
At night, Li Mengyao and Su Chen lay on the bed, chatting.
"Mengyao, what do you think of Li Zhenglong?" Su Chen asked.
"Him? He’s just a playboy."
"Does he like you?"
"No, he doesn’t," Li Mengyao hastily explained.
"Then why did you agree to marry him?" Su Chen continued asking.
"Because... because he’s powerful, I feel secure with him," whispered Li Mengyao.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Mhm."
Li Mengyao lightly nodded.
"I see."
"So, what are you planning to do?" Li Mengyao asked again.
"What do you hope I’d do?" Su Chen replied.
"I... I hope you’ll marry her."
Su Chen laughed, shaking his head, "You know, I’m already married."
"This..."
"I won’t let her misunderstand our relationship."
"Alright then."
...
"Mr. Li, is that girl your newly recognized sister?"
"Yes."
"She’s really cute."
"Mhm."
"Mr. Li, why don’t you stay at my place tonight?" the girl said. "You don’t need to bother with that other woman."
"I should still go home," Li Zhenglong replied.
"But she was obviously doing that on purpose just now," the girl persisted.
Li Zhenglong smiled and said, "Don’t I know you? You’re just worried I’ll abandon her."
"Mr. Li... I really like you," the girl confessed, her cheeks reddening.
Li Zhenglong waved his hand and said, "I already have a girlfriend."
"But I really like you, don’t you care about my feelings at all?" the girl said in tears.
"I don’t want to know about your feelings; there’s no possibility for us."
"Why?" the girl asked, crying. "What’s wrong with me?"
"You’re not right for me."
"But you like her, and I like you."
Li Zhenglong shook his head and walked away, unwilling to get further entangled with the girl.
"Mr. Li!" the girl called out.
Li Zhenglong stopped in his tracks but didn’t turn back.
"Don’t you realize you’re breaking my heart?"
"The only thing I can tell you is, I won’t accept you," Li Zhenglong stated firmly.
"Mr. Li! You’re being a hoodlum."
"I’m simply stating the facts."
"You’re really a bastard, a scumbag!" The girl cursed before running out the door.
Li Zhenglong stood outside, giving a bitter smile.
He didn’t know what he’d done wrong to make the girl hate him so.
Li Zhenglong returned home and saw Lin Xuewei sitting in the living room watching TV. He went over and asked, "Sis, what brings you here?"
"I missed you, that’s all!" Lin Xuewei said. "Why, am I not welcome?"
"Of course not," Li Zhenglong replied sheepishly.
"Hmph."
"But... shouldn’t you be with your boyfriend? How come you have time to come over here?"
"You still have the nerve to mention that little slut? I’ve already made it clear to her not to cling to you. Who would have thought she’d be so oblivious and even come knocking? She’s shameless."
"How can you talk about her like that?" Li Zhenglong disagreed.
"Am I wrong? She’s married and still flirts with you all day long. That kind of woman is just shameless."
"We’ve already ended things, I don’t want anything more to do with her," Li Zhenglong said.
"What?" Lin Xuewei’s eyes widened.
Li Zhenglong ignored her and went back to his room to rest.
"Hey, you little brat, what’s the matter with you?" Lin Xuewei followed, huffing and puffing, and grabbed Li Zhenglong by the collar.
"You’re hurting me."
"Let go!"
"I won’t!"
