Volume 1 Chapter 7: Pushing Someone
“I want to marry her,” Li Xuzhou said calmly, setting down the newspaper with a serious expression.
Mother Li’s spoon fell into the soup, splashing a little onto the dining table.
A servant immediately came over to clean up, but Mother Li stopped her. She stared blankly and said, “Prepare hotel and wedding dress materials for me, and contact the editor-in-chief of Guangming Newspaper. I…”
Father Li signaled for the servant to step back and said with a smile, “A Qiong, don’t rush. Let’s hear what Xuzhou has to say. Besides, the Ruan family is a bit unusual.”
Li Xuzhou pursed his lips, recalling Ruan Yu’s peculiar behavior, and said, “Mom, she hasn’t agreed yet. Our relationship is a bit complicated.” He was about to explain in detail when his phone rang. It was his secretary calling to remind him of today’s meeting.
“Alright, I’ll be there shortly.” He had been so absorbed in watching Ruan Yu eat this morning that he forgot about the meeting.
He rubbed his temples, stood up, and straightened his suit. “Dad, Mom, I’ll come back tonight and explain everything in detail. I need to go to the company now.”
“Ah—Miss Ruan, why did you push me!” A shout came from the west side of the second floor. Before Father Li and Mother Li could react, Li Xuzhou had already strode toward the source of the noise.
“That’s Xixi’s voice,” Mother Li recognized the person shouting. Li Xixi was the daughter of a subordinate who had worked for them for many years. They often interacted, and Mother Li said in surprise, “How did she get into a conflict with Ruan Yu…”
“I remember her being very well-behaved too. Old Li called me yesterday and asked me to look after Li Xixi,” Father Li said unhurriedly as he wiped Mother Li’s mouth. “Let’s go take a look together and see who needs more care.”
Mother Li pouted playfully, “You just like watching the drama and want to make things difficult for our son!” A pampered woman’s coquettishness was incredibly potent. Though nearing fifty, she was well-maintained and still beautiful.
Father Li affectionately touched Mother Li’s nose. “A Qiong likes it too, don’t you? We should have been together long ago. What a waste of all those years.” Arm in arm, the two also headed toward the second floor.
When they arrived, they saw Li Xixi sitting alone on the floor, with the staircase right behind her. She looked both dangerous and pitiful, especially with her reddened eyes as she turned her face toward them, crying, “Uncle, Aunt…”
She seemed genuinely wronged.
Li Xuzhou stood beside Ruan Yu, his expression unreadable. To someone unfamiliar with the situation, it might seem like he was angry with Ruan Yu.
But Father Li and Mother Li could immediately see his protective stance. He stood slightly behind Ruan Yu, as if unconditionally supporting her.
However, Ruan Yu looked so petite and delicate standing in front of Li Xuzhou. Her puffed-up, angry expression was unbearably cute, while their son stood like a giant beside her. Mother Li wondered if they faced any obstacles when kissing…
Mother Li’s thoughts drifted as she stared, even ignoring Li Xixi’s outstretched hand.
Father Li cleared his throat softly, bringing Mother Li back to reality.
Only then did she take Li Xixi’s hand and hurriedly ask, “Xixi, what happened? Are you hurt?”
Before she could speak, Li Xixi’s tears fell. She glanced timidly at Li Xuzhou and said in a tearful voice, “It’s not Miss Ruan’s fault. It’s all because of me…”
“Don’t worry, Xixi, we’re not blaming Ruan Yu. I was asking if you’re alright,” Mother Li said, both amused and exasperated. She hadn’t seen such petty tricks in years—today’s children really lacked creativity.
Li Xixi was visibly taken aback, clearly stunned by Mother Li’s response. It took her a moment before she slowly replied, “Thank you, Auntie. Xixi is fine.” She brushed the dust off her skirt and lowered her voice. “Last night was too rushed, so I didn’t get a chance to greet Miss Ruan. I came specifically to find her today, hoping to become friends.”
“I saw Brother Li had her room changed and even had dinner with her, so I asked how they met.”
“But she suddenly got angry and pushed me. I wasn’t prepared, so I fell. She even tried to hit me afterward, but luckily Brother Li arrived in time.” Li Xixi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her face flushed with a coy, hesitant expression.
“Thank you, Brother Li. If you hadn’t come in time, I would have already been…” She deliberately left the sentence unfinished, leaving room for imagination.
Ruan Yu also glanced at Li Xuzhou, and seeing his expression only made her more upset.
So worried about Li Xixi, huh? Why not just tie her to your belt and keep her from running around causing trouble for others?
Ruan Yu remembered how Li Xixi had boasted at dinner last night about being childhood friends with Li Xuzhou, how he had watched her grow up, and how their relationship was special. She had made it clear that she was the daughter-in-law the Li family had long since chosen.
And today, she had come looking for trouble, nitpicking at the door for a long time.
Her tone had been provocative: “Aren’t you in the pleasure business? How much did you charge per night at the hotel before? President An is my father’s friend—I know exactly what kind of person you are.”
“I can tolerate others, but someone like you… doesn’t deserve to be a candidate for Brother Li. Brother Li is mine!”
Ruan Yu had no patience to listen further and was about to leave when Li Xixi fell behind her.
In less than a minute, Li Xuzhou had arrived with a dark expression, as if Ruan Yu were about to devour Li Xixi.
Ruan Yu absolutely refused to admit her jealousy and quietly moved farther away from him.
She noticed the gazes of Father Li and Mother Li, and for the first time, she felt a rare sense of anxiety.
Although she hadn’t spent much time with them, Mother Li’s kindness had given her a taste of what family felt like.
She forced herself to calm down and turned to Li Xixi, speaking stiffly, “Where did I push you? Did you fall forward or sideways?”
“You… you…” The rapid-fire questions flustered Li Xixi. She hadn’t expected Ruan Yu to challenge her on the details. Just last night, Ruan Yu had seemed like an easy target—beautiful but clearly uncomfortable in social situations.
Combined with what Uncle An and her father had said recently, Li Xixi was even more convinced that Ruan Yu was beneath her.
No one in their circle would ever respect someone like her.
And when she heard that Ruan Yu’s room had been changed from a guest room to the master bedroom on the second floor, she was furious. Without thinking, she had come to confront her, taking advantage of Father Li and Mother Li’s presence to smear her reputation and get her kicked out.
She had assumed Ruan Yu would be too ashamed of her past to speak up, but she never expected her to question her like this.
“How could I remember? You scared me—how could I possibly remember how I fell?”
Ruan Yu bit her lip and took a step forward, putting some pressure on Li Xixi. “Even if I can’t remember anything else, how could I forget where I pushed you? If I really pushed you hard enough to knock you down, there must be a mark on your body. Do you have one?”
“Li Xixi, you’re lying.”
Her voice was naturally sweet, but paired with her serious tone, it carried a certain intimidation.
Li Xixi stepped back, trying to hide behind Mother Li, while still speaking pitifully, “You used to be a prostitute! I just didn’t want everyone to be deceived by you…”
But the next second, a large hand grabbed her wrist.
She looked up in pleasant surprise. “Brother Li!”
This hand gripped her wrist and flung her toward the staircase entrance, his voice icy.
“Li Xixi, this is what pushing someone looks like.”