Chapter 122
“That’s why you should get a divorce, let Mengyao be free, please don’t be so selfish, give Mengyao a bright future.” Li Lihua made a gesture of prayer with both hands, actually appearing somewhat like a kind mother.
“That man just now is what you call a bright future? An idiot with an annual salary of a million?” Xu Ke squinted his eyes slightly, tightening his grip on Lin Mengyao’s arm.
“An annual salary of a million is not little, and he just graduated. Which young person can reach this level right after graduating? Although he doesn’t earn much now, he will certainly make a lot of money in the future. My daughter following him will fly high, much better than being with you.” Li Lihua said angrily, “And now it’s all messed up by you, how will you compensate for this?”
“Alright, Mom, don’t say anymore. Whether what you just said was truly for my good or to fulfill your own selfish desires, I don’t want to pursue it. But from now on, I don’t want things like this to happen again. Also, the thing about the property being let go of wasn’t me who resolved it, it was Xu Ke. Since we’re discussing this, let’s clear everything up once and for all.” Lin Mengyao put on her serious expression typical of business negotiations.
“What do you mean clear everything up? I don’t know what you’re talking about, I’m tired, I’m going to rest. You all should rest early too. By the way, that nanny should be dismissed—gone all day without a trace, not cleaning or cooking, lazy as hell.” Li Lihua felt a little flustered for the first time and waved her hand randomly, trying to leave this troublesome place.
“The nanny injured herself; I told her to rest,” Xu Ke said coldly.
“Mom, leaving won’t help. Some things need to be clarified sooner or later. No matter how much you evade, you can’t escape,” Lin Mengyao said coldly, watching Li Lihua’s retreating figure.
“You can dodge today, but what about tomorrow? Can you hide forever? We all live here; we have to meet sooner or later.” Lin Mengyao dragged Xu Ke, her large human attachment, towards Li Lihua’s direction.
“What do you want to say? What do you want to say to me? Today’s matter is merely good intentions turning into bad deeds. Who am I doing this for, if not for you? Yet you don’t appreciate my kindness nor understand my intentions, and even see your mother as so sinister. I am your mother; even a tiger doesn’t eat its cubs. Do you think I could do something so heartless?”
“I really have raised my daughter with all my heart, only to end up in a bad situation and be hated.” As Li Lihua spoke, her eyes turned red and she began to cry.
Lin Mengyao’s eyes turned red as well, her small body trembling slightly in Xu Ke’s arms. “Even if you say that, I still have to say what I need to say. If you’re truly thinking for my sake, please stop interfering in my marriage. Don’t make decisions on my behalf, saying it’s for my good while doing things that hurt me. If you really care, please treat Xu Ke well. Don’t treat him like a slave; his kindness towards you is out of grace, not obligation.”
“And this house was bought by him, not by me, so he is the owner. I hope you can abide by the rules he sets. Today’s matters are both the first and the last occurrence. If you still can’t help meddling in my marriage, or claim to act on my behalf yet harm me, please move out of this villa. It will no longer welcome you. I will only fulfill the legal obligations of support, nothing more.”
After clearly articulating these words, while controlling her emotions, Lin Mengyao finally collapsed into Xu Ke’s arms, letting all her weight lean onto him.
“And where did he get the money to buy this villa? He’s just a pauper. He married into our Lin Family. This house was bought by you, and you’re lying about it to deceive me. How cruel you are,” Li Lihua pointed her trembling finger at Lin Mengyao’s nose.
“I’ve said what I had to say, listen if you want to. I’m tired, Xu Ke, let’s go up and rest.” Lin Mengyao said, closing her eyes wearily.
This mother-daughter relationship exhausted her mentally and physically. She wanted to rest well, then wake up early tomorrow to greet a brand-new day in a fresh state of mind.
Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao went upstairs to rest, but Li Lihua no longer had any intention of resting.
Lin Mengyao’s words were a blatant warning, warning her to behave and refrain from saying unnecessary things. But she didn’t even mention how she disliked the things her mom did before.
“Why is this happening? She used to listen to her mom just fine, why not now? Why does she want to escape her mom’s control now, why?” Li Lihua murmured fearfully.
“Xu Ke, it must be because of Xu Ke. I underestimated him. Mengyao turned out this way all because of you. As long as I separate you two, Mengyao will go back to being the obedient child who listens to her mom. As long as I separate you, it’ll be fine.” Li Lihua seemed lost in her thoughts, muttering to herself that separating them would solve the problem, her eyes growing noticeably brighter.
After this day, Li Lihua indeed became much more behaved, no longer causing trouble, as if she had come to terms with something overnight and appeared much quieter and gentler. Her behavior surprised both Lin Shichang and Lin Mengchen.
Xu Ke, in fact, was somewhat vengeful by nature. After comforting Lin Mengyao, without waiting for the next day, he went straight to the balcony to call Xu Jie with a cold voice, asking, “Did Jiahe recently hire someone named Jiang Cheng into the company?”
“Yes, is there an issue with Jiang Cheng?” Xu Jie quickly put down the files she was processing and asked seriously.
“Fire him.” Xu Ke offered no explanation, only his final decision.
“Alright, I’ll inform him of this tomorrow.” Xu Jie responded respectfully.
Thinking of the expressions on that mother and son’s faces upon hearing this news tomorrow, Xu Ke felt much better.