Yin Luoxue’s face turned pale. “Grandma, what do you mean? Are you asking me to leave?”
Madam Li smiled faintly. “I don’t have the habit of making people leave the table in the middle of a meal. What I mean is, from now on, you should not attend the Li family’s gatherings.”
The old lady emphasized the words “Li family” with particular weight.
Yin Luoxue looked utterly lost and pitiful.
Li Xingze immediately spoke up. “Grandma, Luoxue has never missed a single family gathering. Why are you suddenly forbidding her from attending?”
“That was in the past. Having an extra pair of chopsticks at the table didn’t make much difference, so I never said anything. But now, your sister-in-law has a direct conflict with her. Having them eat together will inevitably lead to disputes. I just want to avoid that.”
Yin Luoxue’s eyes welled up with tears. “But Grandma, I never intended to cause any conflict with Gu Mian!”
Madam Li looked at her. “You don’t hate Gu Mian?”
“No,” Yin Luoxue replied, glancing at Gu Mian. “Because I know that if I hated her, Ting Shen would be caught in the middle. I don’t want to make things difficult for him.”
Madam Li smiled and turned to Gu Mian. “Mian Yatou, do you hate her?”
Gu Mian answered calmly, “Yes.”
She couldn’t pretend, nor did she want to.
“Luoxue doesn’t hold a grudge against you. What right do you have to hate her?” Li Xingze protested indignantly. “Gu Mian, if you had even half of Luoxue’s kindness, the tragedy would never have happened, and she wouldn’t be in a wheelchair!”
Gu Mian took a sip of orange juice and said nothing.
A year ago, she had explained countless times, but no one except Madam Li believed her. She had already served her time in prison. Continuing to explain now was pointless.
“What kind of attitude is this?” Li Xingze grew even angrier at her detached demeanor. “I thought you would repent after being released from prison, but you’re still the same. It’s despicable!”
“Xingze, let me ask you something,” Madam Li interjected. “If you were deliberately pushed down the stairs and ended up paralyzed in a wheelchair, would you hate that person?”
“Is that even a question?” Li Xingze replied without hesitation. “I would kill them!”
“Exactly. I believe anyone would feel the same,” Madam Li said with a smile. “So don’t you think Luoxue’s so-called kindness seems a bit too fake?”
Yin Luoxue’s face shifted between red and white, a vivid display of emotions.
Li Xingze finally caught on and hurriedly defended her. “Luoxue said she forgave Gu Mian because she didn’t want to make things difficult for my brother! She loves him deeply and would forgive anything for his sake. Unlike Gu Mian, who only harms others…”
Madam Li smiled faintly. “Xingze, who do you love most in this world?”
“Of course, it’s my family—Grandma, Mom, Dad, and Brother.”
“If you were pushed down the stairs and left disabled, even if it were done by the person you love most, you would still hate them.”
Li Xingze paused, imagining the scenario. Even if it were someone dear to him, it would be hard not to feel hatred.
“Grandma is right, isn’t she?” Madam Li continued with a smile. “Everyone has a selfish side to some extent. I don’t believe there truly exists a saint in this world who, after being harmed so severely that they can no longer stand, could smile and say they forgive. It’s just too fake.”
Yin Luoxue’s tears kept flowing, “Grandma, you may not like me, but you can’t slander me like this. I really haven’t done what you said…”
“Whether you’re genuine or fake, I don’t want to investigate, nor am I interested. But you’ve caused unrest in the Li family, and that’s your fault.” Madam Li still wore a smile on her face, but her tone brooked no argument. “You neither bear the Li surname nor are you a relative of the Li family. It’s perfectly reasonable for me not to allow you to attend a private family banquet.”
Yin Luoxue looked helplessly at Li Tingshen. “Brother Ting Shen.”..”
Li Tingshen took a sip of red wine. “Grandma, it’s just a meal. Is this really necessary?”
Yin Luoxue felt a surge of joy.
She knew Li Tingshen would always stand up for her.
“It is necessary.” Madam Li’s expression turned more serious. “As long as I live, I won’t allow the Li family to be thrown into chaos!”
Li Tingshen set down his wine glass. “Luoxue, do as Grandma says.”
Yin Luoxue was completely stunned!
Even Li Tingshen had said so—this matter was undoubtedly settled!
Suppressing her anger, she quickly regained her composure.
Ultimately, her exclusion from the family banquet was because this old woman was protecting Gu Mian.
Just wait until Gu Mian’s pregnancy with a bastard child is exposed—let’s see how this old woman can protect her then!
Thinking this, Yin Luoxue hurriedly wiped her tears with a tissue and forced a smile. “Grandma, I’m sorry for upsetting you. I won’t come to any more Li family banquets in the future. Please don’t be angry.”
Only then did Madam Li drop the subject. “Everyone, let’s eat.”
Exquisite and delicious dishes were served one after another.
Madam Li valued etiquette, and maintaining silence during meals was a basic courtesy, so no one spoke at the table.
Yin Luoxue subtly glanced at a maid who was serving dishes. The maid understood and nodded, soon placing a steamed fish in front of Gu Mian.
Gu Mian caught the smell and couldn’t suppress her nausea: “Urgh…”
Li Xingze, who had been looking for an excuse to target her, immediately said, “What’s wrong with you? Making such disgusting sounds—are you trying to ruin everyone’s meal?”
Gu Mian wanted to explain, but her stomach was still churning, making it impossible to speak.
Yin Luoxue spoke up with feigned confusion, “Gu Mian, could you be pregnant?”Ting Shen, congratulations!””
Li Tingshen’s hand, holding chopsticks, paused.
“Don’t you have any common sense?” Li Xingze said with a laugh. “She’s only been out of prison for a few days—how could she be pregnant so soon…”
Yin Luoxue gasped in feigned shock, “Xingze, don’t talk nonsense! How could the child Gu Mian is carrying not be Ting Shen’s!”
Her words immediately drew everyone’s scrutinizing gazes toward Gu Mian.
Gu Mian, having finally recovered, calmly looked at Yin Luoxue. “Who told you I’m pregnant?”
Yin Luoxue had anticipated her denial. “Gu Mian, these are pregnancy symptoms. Why won’t you admit it? Could it be that you’re really carrying someone else’s child?”
Li Tingshen’s face darkened instantly.
Yin Luoxue hurriedly tried to comfort him, “Brother Ting Shen, don’t be angry.” Gu Mian must have her reasons—maybe she was forced…”
“Enough!”
Before Yin Luoxue could finish, Madam Li cut her off sharply.
Madam Li was usually amiable and rarely lost her temper so severely. Everyone at the dining table was intimidated and put down their chopsticks one after another.
“Mom, please don’t be angry.”
Li Hongxuan, Li Tingshen’s father, who had remained silent until now, couldn’t help but speak up. “Don’t take your anger out on the younger generation.”
“How can I not be angry when my granddaughter-in-law is being falsely accused of carrying a bastard child?” Madam Li’s sharp eyes turned to Yin Luoxue. “Without any evidence, you dare slander our Li family! Who gave you such nerve!”
Yin Luoxue looked aggrieved. “Grandma, I didn’t falsely accuse her. She is pregnant! If you don’t believe me, you can call a doctor right now to examine her!”