Chapter 313 - 311: Li Xiu’s Forbearance
When Professor Xiao and Professor Fan entered the house, they saw the family of four squeezed onto the sofa and smiled in contentment.
Seeing Professor Xiao and Professor Fan come in, Li Xiu smiled, stood up to make some tea, and brought it over. He glanced at his wife and two children snuggled on the sofa, then walked to the table and sat down with the professors. Handing them their cups, he said softly, "I wasn’t home these past few days. Thank you for all your hard work, Professor Xiao, Professor Fan."
"It was no trouble at all. That girl is very sensible. Now that you’re back, everything will be fine," Professor Fan said with a smile, shaking his head.
Understanding that the family’s recent troubles couldn’t be hidden from Professor Fan, Li Xiu nodded with a smile and said, "I’m sorry to have worried you, Professor. It’s nothing serious. Please, don’t worry."
After a lively dinner, Zhou Lian stayed with the two children until she had coaxed them both to sleep. Sister Fang watched her and said gently, "Go back to your room. I’ll watch the children. Think about what you’re going to say. Don’t hide it—you can’t, anyway."
"I know, Sister. I’ll head back now." Zhou Lian nodded at Sister Fang, smiled, and slipped out of the children’s room. She let out a deep sigh. ’Li Xiu is still waiting for me in our room. This isn’t going to be an easy conversation.’
Watching Zhou Lian pace back and forth outside the door, Li Xiu was so exasperated he almost laughed. ’Is she afraid I’ll be angry, or is she afraid I’ll worry?’
"Still haven’t thought of an excuse, Bao’er? Why don’t you come inside and think?"
Zhou Lian looked up at Li Xiu, who was watching her from inside. She gave him an appeasing smile and slowly walked into the room, only to be pulled straight into his arms. He touched her hands and face, relieved to feel that her temperature was normal. Li Xiu finally let out a breath. ’What am I supposed to do with such a treasure? I can’t be too soft with her, but I can’t be harsh either.’
Holding Zhou Lian, he walked to the edge of the bed and sat down. Li Xiu sighed softly and said, "Go wash up first. We can talk properly in a little while, okay?"
"I’ll be right back!" Hearing this, Zhou Lian quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She wrapped her arms around Li Xiu’s neck, gave him a quick kiss, and then hopped off the bed and hurried out. ’Every second I can delay is a win!’
While dinner was being prepared, Sister Fang had already told him everything in detail, which had eased some of Li Xiu’s anxiety. However, he knew his Bao’er’s sudden fever wasn’t from a simple cold. Otherwise, Doctor Wang wouldn’t have used a phrase like "a fit of rage." He suspected something had gone wrong, either in the Capital City or with the Ping Family. It probably wasn’t a major issue, but right now, Zhou Lian was what mattered most.
Li Xiu personally went and dragged the dawdling Zhou Lian back to their room. He helped her take off her outer clothes and held her as they leaned against the headboard. "Bao’er," he said gently, "I’m not angry. I’m just worried about you."
"I know. I just didn’t want you to worry. Look, I’m all better now. There’s nothing wrong anymore, so please stop worrying, okay?" Sighing, Zhou Lian thought, ’I’m never worried he’ll be angry. I’m just afraid of making him worry again.’
He gave her a gentle kiss. "Alright then," Li Xiu said softly. "If you don’t want me to worry, then tell me everything in detail, okay, Bao’er?"
"If I tell you, you can’t get angry. After all, it’s possible I misunderstood."
Seeing Li Xiu nod, Zhou Lian continued, "After you left, I had someone take down the Sun Family in Ping Jing’s name. The results came in that same night, and I let Ping Jing handle the follow-up. Not two days later, after I went to pick up Professor Xiao and Professor Fan, I came back to a message that the ’garden’ side was looking for me. The Eldest Young Madam threw a massive fit, crying and making a scene all the way to Elder Ping and Mrs. Ping. Elder Ping got furious and ordered Mrs. Ping not to interfere, so the matter was handed over to the Ping Family’s Eldest Young Master and the Eldest Young Madam."
She paused for a moment, feeling Li Xiu gently patting her back, then sighed and went on. "The three of them couldn’t figure out what to do, so they came to me. I couldn’t refuse, so I just gave them a little hint, telling them to push the blame onto the Sun Family. But the Eldest Young Master kept asking me how his takeover went so smoothly, probing me again and again. It made me uncomfortable. On the way back from the ’garden,’ I was walking slowly... I probably caught a cold then."
"Alright, Bao’er. Leave this to me from now on. Don’t worry, I won’t let you meddle in everything like this anymore," Li Xiu said, suppressing the turmoil in his heart as he looked at her tenderly.
’The treasure he cherished and doted on with all his heart had been tormented into sickness in just a few days. She’d had a high fever, and just as she was getting a little better, she had to endure her discomfort and continue to clash with them in secret. Do they think I’m dead? Just you wait. I’ll get every single one of you. No one will escape!’
"Jin Chen, I’m a little tired. I want to sleep," Zhou Lian murmured. Lying in Li Xiu’s arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, she felt a wave of drowsiness. She hadn’t slept well for days. Perhaps knowing that Li Xiu was here—that she could go back to not having to think or worry about anything, just doing whatever made her happy—allowed her heart to finally relax. Her body could no longer hold on.
He gently patted her back and said in a soft voice, "Okay, Bao’er. Sleep. I’ll hold you. Just sleep peacefully."
Watching Zhou Lian fall into a deep sleep within moments, Li Xiu took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were bloodshot. ’They’re all fucking bastards. But it’s my fault, too. I got too arrogant. I thought I had seen through human nature, but in the end, that same human nature hurt my most precious treasure!’
’He knew the Ping Family’s Eldest Young Master, Ping Jing, was suspicious, but he never expected him to be suspicious to this degree. It was his, Li Xiu’s, miscalculation. And the Ping Family’s Eldest Young Madam... he thought he had her figured out, thought she was a decisive woman who could distinguish right from wrong. It seems he overestimated her. Then there’s Liu Shengnan—useless. Zhou Lian had taught her everything she should and shouldn’t know, yet with a simple matter like this, did she fail to understand, or did she pretend not to?’
’It was best if Ping’an had no connection to this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t let Ping’an off so easily. Sooner or later, word of this would reach Ping’an, and he would just wait and see how Ping’an reacted. Fine. This was also an opportunity to test the important members of the Ping Family, to see who was a friend and who was a foe.’
Suppressing the murderous desire in his heart, Li Xiu looked down at Zhou Lian sleeping soundly in his arms. The bloodshot color in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a look of deep, tender affection. He knew she was smart, but he never imagined she could accomplish this much on her own. He kissed her forehead, his heart aching at the thought of her suffering with a high fever while he wasn’t by her side, a wave of misery washing over him.
’On his trip back this time, Li Xiu had done everything he could to resolve the matters and deal with the people in his hometown, leaving no worries behind. So here in the Capital City, Zhou Lian had managed to carve out a thorny path for them over these past few days. It was still a difficult road, but it was much easier than the one they were on before. The New Year was approaching. He might as well take this chance to completely resolve all these rotten affairs before the year’s end. That way, his own treasure wouldn’t have to worry anymore.’
’He had already promised Ping’an and Elder Ping that he would do his best to help Ping’an reach the top. But now Ping Jing had popped up. The influence of the Ping Family’s Eldest Young Master was not to be taken lightly. If used correctly, it would be far more effective than just getting twice the results with half the effort. However, if he had misjudged Ping’an, they would simply part ways and go on as if they’d never met. He believed Ping’an was a smart man; he wouldn’t—and wouldn’t dare to—have a complete falling out with him.’