When they got home, the atmosphere was a bit tense. Yin Jianguo hadn’t returned from work yet.
Fortunately, Li Tianbao was perceptive enough to read the room. He spoke up promptly: “We’ve troubled you these past couple of days, sis. Now that the women and kids are all settled, I should be heading back. Can’t stay here forever—the kids are waiting for me at home.”
“Alright. I’ll have Ajie take you to the station.”
“No need. Just having the women see me off is fine. I know the way well.” This time, not only had Li Xiaohe gotten a job at the factory, but Yu Meifeng had found work too. Tiring as it was, it paid more than farming back in the countryside. Li Tianbao couldn’t have asked for more.
Li Wenyue didn’t insist and let them leave on their own.
Yin Li remembered that she hadn’t given Li Xiaohe her things yet. She quickly said, “Mom, I need to say something to Sister Xiaohe.”
“Go ahead, go ahead.” Li Wenyue pressed her fingers to her temples, still worrying about how to tell Yin Jianguo. The last thing she wanted was for father and daughter to have a fight.
Yin Li fetched a few items from her room and went out with them.
“Uncle, Auntie, these are for you. Thank you for bringing such delicious, fresh food. Sister Xiaohe, this is for you. Once you’re settled in, we’ll hang out again.”
Li Xiaohe wasn’t staying at Yin Li’s house either. She was renting a cheap place near the factory with Yu Meifeng. If the factory eventually allocated housing or dorms, they’d move again.
“Okay, thank you.” Li Xiaohe held the bag in her hand, then was suddenly hugged by Yin Li. She didn’t know how to react.
Yu Meifeng, on the other hand, broke into a smile. “You two are as close as real sisters. Looks like it’s fate!”
After seeing them off, Yin Li’s heart finally calmed down. Well, she’d already told the lie. She’d cross that bridge when she came to it.
With that thought, she relaxed a bit. But as soon as she turned around, Zhao Xiujie was standing behind her, watching her with a gloomy expression.
Most of the people in the courtyard had gone to work. There was hardly anyone around, and they were behind some trees.
Yin Li clutched her chest and said cautiously, “Bro, you came out too? Sister Xiaohe and the others already left. Let’s go back inside.”
With that, she tried to walk past him, but her wrist was caught again.
“Li Li, are you worried about my mom? It’s okay. I’ll handle it.” Zhao Xiujie didn’t look particularly strong, but his grip was firm.
Yin Li’s wrist hurt from his grasp, and she felt a flicker of annoyance. Did he really not understand? Whether he told Aunt Li or not, the two of them could never be together.
This wasn’t something that would just work itself out—it had to be shut down.
What good was just talking? Was she supposed to make Dad and Aunt Li get a divorce?
That thought had never even crossed Yin Li’s mind. Aunt Li truly loved Dad, and Dad had feelings for her too—otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared throw tantrums time and again, taking advantage of her affection.
Spoiled by that love—Yin Li understood that perfectly.
She couldn’t tear them apart for her own selfish reasons.
Besides, she realized she didn’t actually feel that strongly about being with Zhao Xiujie.
And the way Zhao Xiujie handled things wasn’t exactly thorough either. If he truly liked her, he wouldn’t have confessed so recklessly while they were still step-siblings.
Now look at the situation—living under the same roof, bumping into each other constantly. How awkward.
She really couldn’t wait for school to start.
“Bro, you’re the one who doesn’t understand. I already told you—I have someone I like.” Yin Li steeled herself and continued.
“Is it him?” Zhao Xiujie’s voice darkened. “But we met first. Is it just because I was away for a while?”
It wasn’t just “a while”—it was several years!
Only now did Yin Li realize that even though they had exchanged letters often during the years he was abroad, most of her impression of him had come from her own imagination.
Back in reality, Yin Li just wanted the two of them to return to their simple sibling relationship.
“Anyway, we can never be together.” Yin Li didn’t give him a direct answer.
But Zhao Xiujie was holding her wrist, and the watch band was pressing against his hand—how could he not understand?
He let go of her hand dejectedly, but his tone was incredibly firm. “Nothing is impossible. Don’t worry.”
With that, he released her hand and strode away.
Yin Li stood there in a daze for a moment before it hit her—he wasn’t planning to go tell Aunt Li outright, was he?
Oh my god! This is a disaster!
She quickly snapped out of it and ran after him.
Li Wenyue felt that something was off, but she decided to wait until Yin Jianguo got home from work to talk things over.
But before Yin Jianguo came home, someone unexpected showed up.
“Yumei?”
“It’s me, Wenyue. I had no other choice, so I came to find you…” The woman at the door was carrying only a small suitcase. She looked about the same age as Li Wenyue, somewhat haggard, but her every move carried a feminine grace.
“Come in, quickly. What happened? Tell me. Where’s your husband?” Li Wenyue was more happy than surprised.
She had never had many siblings, and Qin Yumei had been her close friend. But Yumei had married far away, and they hadn’t seen each other for a long time after that.
As one of the few friends she could truly talk to, Li Wenyue’s concern was genuine.
At the mention of her husband, Qin Yumei’s expression darkened. “He… he’s dead. Crushed to death. You know I don’t have any relatives, no children, only you.”
Qin Yumei’s husband had worked in a coal mine. Li Wenyue didn’t need much imagination to guess it had been a cave-in.
“It’s okay. Stay with me for now. I’ll figure something out for you.” Seeing her old friend in need, and given their past closeness, Li Wenyue wanted to help however she could.
She helped Qin Yumei into a chair and poured her a glass of water.
Suddenly, the door burst open with a bang. Zhao Xiujie walked in. “Mom, I need to tell you something—”
“You reckless child! Whatever it is, it can wait. Can’t you see your Aunt Qin is here?” Li Wenyue shot him an annoyed glare. Her son was usually so composed—why was he embarrassing her in front of her old friend?
Zhao Xiujie choked on his words. But he knew that if he didn’t say it now, he might never get another chance.
A man could read another man well. Li Hanting wasn’t necessarily more patient than him.
“Aunt Qin,” Zhao Xiujie greeted her, but he still didn’t want to wait. He took his mother’s arm and pulled her aside slightly, lowering his voice. “Mom, listen to me. Li Li is my—”
BAM—
The door was pushed open forcefully. Yin Li stood there, panting, holding onto the doorframe, and said loudly: “Mom, Mom, listen to me first! What I told you earlier—I have someone I like, and I want to marry him! My brother is just angry at me for being reckless, but I really want to marry him!”
“Hiss—what did you say? Did Dad hear that right?”
The voice didn’t come from Li Wenyue. It came from behind her.
Yin Jianguo’s face was dark as water, but he looked utterly miserable. He winced as he spoke, most of his body leaning heavily on Li Hanting beside him.