Her reaction was so strong that it even startled Zhao Xiujie.
But since he had already decided to speak his mind today, there was no way he would back out halfway.
“Li Li, I don’t believe you don’t know how I feel. I like—”
“Stop! Bro, I have someone I like!” Yin Li’s voice rose slightly. Ignoring the shock in his eyes, she pulled her hand free.
“What’s going on with you two? Why are you stopped here?” Li Wenyue stood by the car, bending down to ask.
Yin Li felt wronged. Who just randomly declares they like someone like that? In her dream, she had fallen for him step by step. But since when did Zhao Xiujie actually like her?
Ever since that fever broke, she had been walking on eggshells every single day. And now he was being this bold—did he not care about their relationship at all?
If anyone found out, what would she do? She and her father would both be the target of gossip and scorn.
“Mom…” Fear and shame surged up. Tears instantly welled in Yin Li’s eyes as she called out pitifully.
Li Wenyue still had Li Tianbao and his family with her, but they were all family. She shot a sharp look at her son. “What’s wrong? Did your brother bully you?”
A moment ago, from across the street, she had seen the two of them grabbing at each other. Li Wenyue’s instincts told her something was off, so she hurried over.
But now, seeing Yin Li on the verge of tears, looking so pitiful—though she seemed delicate, she rarely cried.
“No…” Yin Li seized the chance to get out of the car, walked over, and hugged Li Wenyue’s arm. “I made my brother angry.”
With his mother suddenly appearing, Zhao Xiujie’s mind cleared instantly. He gripped the steering wheel, slightly lowering his head, saying nothing.
Relieved that her son wasn’t the one in the wrong, Li Wenyue still found it strange. Yin Li didn’t seem like the type to make anyone angry.
Least of all Zhao Xiujie.
“What happened? Your brother won’t hold a grudge. If you don’t mind, tell me.”
Yin Li pressed her lips together, looking reluctant to speak.
“Ajie, take your uncle and the others home first. Li Li and I will talk for a while.” Li Wenyue made a quick decision.
She had been fighting with Yin Jianguo frequently before, but things had improved a lot lately. Since her stepdaughter seemed troubled, Li Wenyue wanted to help resolve it and bring them closer.
Zhao Xiujie remained silent the whole time, driving Li Tianbao’s family away.
Once it was just the two of them, Li Wenyue softened her voice. “Siblings squabble all the time. Even if you really did something, Ajie wouldn’t truly be angry with you. What’s really going on? Don’t bottle it up and make yourself miserable.”
Aunt Li was such a good person—so caring toward her stepdaughter. Yin Li genuinely felt that she was despicable.
Why was she so convinced the dream was real? Because she really had harbored inappropriate feelings for her stepbrother before.
And those feelings were so fragile that a single nightmare could scare them away instantly.
Either way, she was letting down Aunt Li, who loved her father wholeheartedly.
“Mom…” Yin Li made up her mind, but she couldn’t spill everything. She had to think of something. Her eyes darted around and landed on the watch on her wrist. “I… I have someone I like. My brother thinks my focus shouldn’t be on that right now…”
“Ah?” Li Wenyue was stunned.
Stunned, first, that this young girl had someone she liked. And second, that Zhao Xiujie would actually be angry about it.
It still felt strange, but Zhao Xiujie had always been a disciplined person. Even abroad, he never fooled around, always prioritizing his studies. If he thought his stepsister, so young, was already thinking about these things, it made sense he’d be upset, right?
Li Wenyue didn’t know why, but she kept trying to convince herself.
“Mom, could you not tell Dad? I… I won’t let it affect my studies.” Yin Li’s mind was in turmoil. All she wanted was to dispel Aunt Li’s suspicions.
Li Wenyue frowned. In her generation, people married young, but most introductions were arranged. When it came to actual feelings, there wasn’t much to speak of.
Yin Jianguo was the first man she had truly loved. But now, society was beginning to advocate for free love.
That wasn’t the point, though. The point was that Yin Li was about to enter university.
Starting a relationship at this stage would certainly not be a good thing for her.
Li Wenyue didn’t want to hide this from Yin Jianguo. She knew how much he cared about his daughter.
“No, Li Li. You’re at a critical moment right now. Tell me, who is it? Let’s figure this out together.” Li Wenyue didn’t beat around the bush—she directly said no.
Yin Li fell silent again, but inside, she was panicking. What a terrible excuse she had come up with! How was she supposed to talk her way out of this now? Where was she supposed to find such a person?
But Li Wenyue watched her fall silent, watched her hand touch the watch on her wrist—what else was there to understand?
It had to be that kid Li Hanting!
No wonder Ajie was angry. Li Hanting might look decent enough, but he didn’t have a good job, didn’t have a good family background, and on top of that, his temperament didn’t seem great either.
How could Yin Li fall for someone like him? It looked like she’d lost her mind.
Li Wenyue felt a headache coming on. If Ajie had fallen for someone unsuitable, she would be angry too. Marriage was a serious matter that required caution.
Now Yin Li had fallen for Li Hanting. Wouldn’t Yin Jianguo be furious?
Having never raised a daughter before, Li Wenyue found herself facing a dilemma for the first time. She could only say tactfully, “You’re going to university. You’ll meet many more people. Don’t make such a hasty decision…”
There were plenty of good men in the world. Don’t get trapped in love so young!
Yin Li just answered softly, “I understand, Mom.”
What exactly do you understand?! Li Wenyue wanted to say more, but couldn’t be harsh. If it were Ajie, she’d have scolded him senseless.
“Let’s go back first. But I can’t hide this from your father. He’ll worry.”
“Okay… Mom, could you please tell him for me? I’m afraid he’ll be mad at me…”
Li Wenyue took a small, quiet breath. Great. She’d just volunteered for a terrible task.
Yin Li’s brain was spinning at full speed. She had made it past this hurdle. If Aunt Li ever found out that Zhao Xiujie had just been confessing his feelings to her—the consequences were unimaginable.
In her dream, she had been drugged, kidnapped somewhere unknown. She didn’t even dare recall that experience.
Could things get any worse than that?
The truth was, she was afraid every single day. Afraid of being sold off like cargo.
Of ending up in that person’s hands again. Of living that life every day…
When Zhao Xiujie had just said he liked her, the images that flashed through her mind were Aunt Li’s disappointed gaze, a huge fight with her father, her father dying young…
There was no trace of joy at being liked.
Yin Li shook her head slightly and clung tightly to Li Wenyue’s arm.
Li Wenyue thought she was just nervous because her secret was out. She patted Yin Li’s hand. “Don’t be afraid. How could your father bear to blame you? But you need to think—is he really worth your affection?”
“I don’t know…”
Yin Li truly didn’t know. She was completely absorbed in her own world.
She didn’t notice that at the street corner, Li Hanting was leaning against his large truck, watching them quietly. No one knew how long he had been standing there.