Before Zhou Yun could even speak after the scolding, Li Shengnan turned to her father and said, “Dad, ever since this woman married into our family, she’s been causing trouble every few days. There hasn’t been a single peaceful day. With a troublemaker like this in our Li family, I’m afraid one day the whole family will be finished. Hurry up and kick her out. Otherwise, I’ll publish a notice in the newspaper and cut off relations with her.”
Zhou Yun was her stepmother. Relying on the fact that she had given birth to a son, she acted like a great contributor to the Li family. She even spread rumors about Shengnan’s biological mother, who had passed away years ago, saying she was a hen that couldn’t lay eggs and couldn’t give birth to a son. Zhou Yun stirred trouble every day. In the past, she had even tried to abuse Shengnan, refusing to give her food. Li Shengnan hated Zhou Yun to the core.
Being slapped in front of so many people made Zhou Yun feel utterly humiliated—she had to regain her dignity. Covering her swollen, reddened cheeks, she roared at Li Shengnan, “Li Shengnan, you damn manly woman! This is a matter between elders. What right do you have to tell your dad to kick me out? You’re a daughter who married out—married daughters are like spilled water. Do you even have the right to speak here?”
Li Shengnan was the eldest daughter of the Li family. With her neat short hair and fiery temperament, she wasn’t afraid of Zhou Yun at all. “Even if I married out, I’m still part of the Li family. I’m my dad’s daughter. If you drag the Li family down, harm my family, and damage my interests, then I have every right to interfere.”
“That’s enough, Shengnan. Family matters will be discussed at home,” Li Jianmin stopped his daughter. His cold gaze swept back to Zhou Yun, his voice low and filled with warning. “Zhou Yun, apologize to Regiment Commander Fu. Now.”
Sensing the anger on her husband, Zhou Yun no longer dared to act up. She bowed toward the man in the wheelchair and apologized, “I’m sorry, Regiment Commander Fu. I failed to recognize your stature. Please forgive me this once. I won’t dare do it again.”
Fu Chengyu’s phoenix eyes were dark and menacing, his voice icy. “Apologize to this female comrade as well.”
His looks leaned toward the traditional Chinese handsome ideal of the era—thick brows and big eyes, a restrained, almost ascetic aura. His high brow ridge made his eyes appear fierce, and when he lifted his gaze, an oppressive, sinister killing intent radiated invisibly.
Zhou Yun’s heart skipped a beat under his gaze. She hadn’t expected that venting her bad mood on a random person would land her in trouble with someone she absolutely couldn’t afford to offend. Apologizing to Fu Chengyu was one thing—but why should she apologize to that bitch as well?
She felt more wronged than Dou E. For no reason, she’d been cursed, slapped, and humiliated. She was the one who suffered, yet she was the one apologizing. Never in her life had she endured such grievance. Tears and snot streamed down uncontrollably.
Li Jianmin reacted quickly, urging her on and pushing her slightly. “Hurry up and apologize.”
Forced into it, she muttered unwillingly, “Sorry… that’s enough, right?”
Li Jiyue crossed her arms, lifted her chin slightly, and raised an eyebrow. “Auntie, that apology has no sincerity.”
Having stumbled upon a powerful backer, of course she was going to make good use of it.
Zhou Yun glared. “You… you called me auntie…” She was only in her early thirties—only a few years older than this bitch. How did she suddenly become an auntie?
“E—Auntie, hasn’t anyone taught you that apologies should be sincere?” Li Jiyue corrected herself lazily.
Li Shengnan couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Pfft!”
Finally, someone even better at infuriating people than herself. It’d be best if this vicious stepmother were angered to death.
Zhou Yun sniffed hard, her voice hoarse, and bowed unwillingly. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
She swallowed it today. In the future, she’d see how she dealt with this bitch—shaving her into a half-bald head and sending her to the far northwest to eat sand.
Li Jiyue noticed the hatred in her eyes. “…Barely passable.”
This vicious supporting female character was truly something else. Just coming out for a simple meal and she’d already made enemies. Sigh. The original owner’s parents had been sent to the far northwest—no one to protect her. Any random cat or dog could step on her. This was really troublesome.
Maybe she should find a powerful thigh to cling to?
She lowered her gaze to the man in the wheelchair. Even a director had to bow and scrape before him. This thigh was thick and solid enough. Maybe she should cling to his—marry him? He seemed interested in her too. With injured legs and infertility, there’d be no need to fulfill marital duties or have children.
Seeing how big a scene this had become, Li Jianmin had no face left to stay. After exchanging a few polite words with Fu Chengyu, he hurriedly left with his son and entourage.
“Sis, you’re impressive. If fate allows us to meet again, I’ll definitely come learn from you,” Li Shengnan said as she reached the door, turning back and winking at Li Jiyue.
Li Jiyue’s mouth twitched. The day Li Shengnan cursed Wang Aihua on the street, she’d been even fiercer than herself—and now she wanted to learn from her? That was a bit too modest.
Only the two of them were left.
Li Jiyue walked behind the man. “Regiment Commander Fu, I’ll push you back.” Her small hand reached for the back of his wheelchair.
“Thank you, but I can manage myself,” Fu Chengyu declined gently, reaching back to hold the wheelchair—only to accidentally cover the back of her hand.
Li Jiyue, “…”
Oh? Still pretending? Who was it that had been secretly looking at her earlier?
Inside the space, the system screamed wildly, “Master! You’ve taken a fancy to him?! No, no, no! He’s seriously injured—three legs are injured! His chance of fertility is only 0.01%! Absolutely not! If you marry him, the mission will fail! I might as well smash my head to death—if that doesn’t kill me, I’ll jump into a river; if that doesn’t work, I’ll bash my head against a wall! Don’t get together, waaaah—”
The system had checked Fu Chengyu’s information. It was actually very optimistic about him and the host, hoping they’d develop further. It trusted the host’s medical skills—believing she could heal all three of his “legs” and his face, and that infertility was just a minor issue. Since the host liked doing the opposite, the system decided to go against the grain too—two negatives make a positive. Heh heh.
The louder the system screamed, the happier Li Jiyue felt. She could treat his legs and his face. Once his legs were healed and he stood up, she’d have a powerful thigh to cling to—and no need to have children. Perfect.
Stop. That was thinking too far ahead. Maybe he already had someone. She’d have to ask when they introduced themselves later.
Li Jiyue secretly examined his hand—long fingers, distinct knuckles, thick calluses at the base of the thumb, small scars on his fingers, and a large scar on the back of his hand where the scab had fallen off, revealing pink flesh beneath.
Fu Chengyu noticed her gaze, his eyes darkening. He quickly withdrew his hand, an unnatural expression flashing across his handsome face.
“Regiment Commander Fu, that was life-and-death revolutionary camaraderie. Don’t be polite with me—it was nothing,” Li Jiyue said warmly, gently placing his stiff, half-raised hand back onto his leg.
“Li Jiyue! What do you think you’re doing? Let go of my uncle!”
At that moment, an urgent voice came from the doorway.