Li Wenyue was the quickest to react. She hurried past her son, who had let his arm drop in defeat, and walked briskly outside.
“What happened? How did you end up all banged up like this?”
Not only were there obvious injuries on his body, but his clothes were also filthy. Li Hanting, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine.
Yin Jianguo let out another faint hiss of pain. He tried to take a step but nearly collapsed to the ground, only managing to stay upright because Li Hanting caught him.
“Ah… ran into a few young thugs.”
The moment Li Wenyue heard that, her eyebrows shot up. “Is it that road behind the factory? Those good-for-nothing scoundrels! If I ever catch them, I’ll skin them alive! A-Jie, go get the first aid kit!”
Then she looked at Yin Jianguo with concern, especially at his face.
His face was indeed battered—there were small cuts at the corners of his eyes and mouth, along with scrapes on his leg. Even so, it only made Yin Jianguo look somewhat more vulnerable.
Qin Yumei just stood there in a daze, first glancing at the three younger people, then at Li Wenyue, who was fussing over Yin Jianguo.
Feeling everyone’s eyes on him, Yin Jianguo was a bit embarrassed. Who would have thought that at his age, he’d end up beaten like this by a bunch of youngsters?
He waved his hand and pointed at Li Hanting. “It’s nothing, it’s nothing. Just minor injuries. Luckily, this kid happened to pass by, or I’d be in real trouble.”
“That’s still not okay. I need to talk to the factory manager about this. There are plenty of female workers at the factory—this is too dangerous!”
“Ah…” Yin Jianguo sighed. He didn’t mention that the thugs had been so thoroughly thrashed by Li Hanting that they probably wouldn’t dare come back. But since Li Wenyue wanted to put a complete stop to it, he agreed. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he shot a sharp look at Yin Li, who had been standing there in shock.
“Li Li, what nonsense were you just spouting?”
He had been too dazed from the beating to process it clearly, but it sounded like his daughter had said something about having someone she liked, wanting to get married or something.
Besides, normally, if she saw him injured, she would have rushed over immediately.
Only now did Yin Li snap out of it, trying to brush it off. “Dad, it’s nothing. You’re hurt—let’s get you patched up first!”
“No, don’t try to dodge the question. Explain yourself clearly.” Yin Jianguo winced as Zhao Xiujie applied alcohol to his wounds—it stung badly. Seeing this, Li Wenyue took the cotton swab and tended to him herself.
“Oh, Dad… everyone’s here,” Yin Li said awkwardly. Who would have known that when she opened the door, other people would be there? She just wanted to delay this whole conversation and figure something out later.
But Zhao Xiujie spoke up. “Let me say it.”
No way! If he said it in front of Aunt Li, everything would be ruined!
Dad would divorce Aunt Li, Dad would die, and she would be sold off!
It’s over, it’s over—everything will be destroyed!
Yin Li felt like her soul was about to leave her body. Her voice shot up abruptly, and she shut her eyes, blurting out, “Dad, I have someone I like!”
She opened her eyes a crack to gauge everyone’s reactions.
Aunt Li didn’t seem too surprised. Zhao Xiujie’s face instantly turned pale. Li Hanting had no reaction at all.
But Yin Jianguo… his eyes went wide.
In his mind, his daughter was still that little girl—even as she grew up, she was still the same child who used to cling to him and his wife, still a young girl who needed looking after, even as she was about to start college.
She had been studying so hard lately, so mature that it broke his heart.
But Yin Jianguo wished she didn’t have to be so mature. All of this was because she had come with him to live with Li Wenyue.
If she didn’t have to be so careful, what young girl would be that obedient? She had no choice but to grow up.
Whenever Yin Jianguo thought about it, he felt both comforted and guilty.
As for dating and marriage, that thought had never even crossed his mind.
But seeing how agitated his daughter was, Yin Jianguo softened his approach instead. “S-So suddenly? Who is it?”
He had a faint guess in his heart but decided to ask anyway.
Who was it? Yin Li herself didn’t know. She looked around the room and realized there was no other choice.
Sorry, Li Hanting. I’ll use you as a shield for now and explain it to you later.
“It’s him.” Yin Li extended a finger and pointed subtly at Li Hanting, who had remained silent since entering.
Li Hanting was clearly taken aback. He raised his head abruptly, as if unable to believe it.
But everyone else looked as if they had expected it. Li Wenyue was the first to stand up. “Li Li, are you serious? This isn’t something to be careless about.”
Yin Li had no choice but to keep spinning her story. “Mm… I originally wanted to tell you, but I was afraid you’d scold me… and when my brother found out, he’d get mad at me for not focusing on my studies and thinking about such things instead.”
Zhao Xiujie’s mind had gone completely blank. He stared at Yin Li, who kept talking, not knowing how to react.
“It’s my fault for not being more attentive. I didn’t realize our Li Li has grown up. Having someone you like is perfectly normal.”
Yin Jianguo looked at his daughter, then at Li Hanting, who was clearly stunned by the news, and asked uncertainly, “Sweetheart, don’t joke around. Dad won’t be mad at you. It’s all Dad’s fault for neglecting you.”
Tears instantly rolled down Yin Li’s cheeks. Both her father and Aunt Li were being so understanding. Especially Aunt Li—how disappointed she would be if she ever found out about the improper feelings Yin Li once had for Zhao Xiujie.
But when she cried, Yin Jianguo assumed she was scared by his questioning and felt even more pained. “How is this a distraction from your studies? You’ve always been such a good girl. Don’t cry, don’t cry.”
Strangely, no one paid any attention to Li Hanting’s reaction.
Zhao Xiujie’s throat went dry. It took him a long while to find his voice. “No, that’s not right. It’s not—”
Just as Zhao Xiujie was about to say something, Yin Li’s alarm bells went off. She immediately blurted out, “Dad, I like Li Hanting. I… I just don’t know what to do anymore. I want to marry him.”
Only by getting married, she thought, would Zhao Xiujie finally give up. Besides, it wasn’t like Li Hanting would actually agree to it. This whole thing would just blow over.
Hearing this, Li Hanting’s eyes flickered with a complex emotion, but he remained silent.
Yin Jianguo, however, turned to look at him. Seeing the young man standing there like a wooden block, he frowned slightly.
His daughter wasn’t in a one-sided love, was she?
But Yin Li, feeling quite proud of her quick thinking for having averted the crisis, grew more confident as she spoke. “He’s always been very good to me. He not only protects me but also thinks of me in everything. He’s never once lost his temper with me. I… I’ve liked him for a long time…”
She lowered her head shyly as she finished—and that part wasn’t an act. She had never spoken so bluntly or boldly before.
Li Wenyue, ever the clear-headed one, interjected, “Oh, you kids. What do you really know about like and dislike? Let’s eat first. Everyone must be hungry. We can talk about this another day.”
Yin Li felt as if she had been granted a reprieve. She thought to herself that she had managed to get through this hurdle.
But at that moment, Yin Jianguo placed a hand on Li Hanting’s arm. “So, young man, what do you think?”