Chapter 99: The Swollen Instep
Chapter 99: The Swollen Instep
A fish-belly white color appeared in the eastern sky. As soon as it was 5 o’clock, Li Zian opened his eyes. He didn’t know if it was related to the Great Sluggard Cauldron, but Li Zian’s biological clock was as precise as a real clock.
For the first time, he woke up feeling soft and relaxed, not the impulsive kind of waking up.
However, after a whole night of cultivation, his back wasn’t sore anymore, his spirit was especially energetic, and there wasn’t as many smelly sweat beads on his body as before, but there were still some.
Li Zian went to take a shower and entered the kitchen to make breakfast.
It was almost 7 o’clock when Yu Meilin came downstairs for breakfast. She wore office lady attire, with a tall figure and long legs, exuding an indescribable mature and beautiful aura. As usual, she carried a briefcase in her hand, giving the impression that she was always in her best working condition, ready to handle any task or situation at any time.
“Good morning,” Li Zian greeted her and placed a bowl of porridge he had served at her usual seat at the dining table.
Yu Meilin placed her briefcase on the sofa and walked towards the dining table, a bright smile appearing on her face. “Did you try on the clothes?”
Li Zian nodded. “I tried them. They fit quite well. Thank you.”
Yu Meilin slightly lifted the corner of her mouth. “Didn’t I say that there is no need for politeness between husband and wife?”
Li Zian smiled. “Alright, no politeness. Hurry up and eat. The porridge isn’t hot, it’s just right.”
“Last night, I wanted to come down and ask if they fit, but I was worried you were already asleep and it would disturb your rest, so I didn’t come down. Can you put them on now and let me see? I want to see how you look in that outfit. It must look very good,” Yu Meilin said, her eyes full of expectation.
“Now?” Li Zian glanced down at the apron he was wearing.
“Just wear it for me once. I have to leave after I finish eating,” Yu Meilin’s voice was soft, carrying a slight pleading tone.
This was the first time Li Zian heard her speak in such a gentle, soft voice. He felt a strange, indescribable feeling in his heart.
“Dad, I want to see you wear the new clothes too,” came Li Xiaomei’s voice.
Lin Shengnan and Li Xiaomei had also come downstairs.
Li Zian smiled. “Okay, I’ll go change.”
Yu Meilin slightly lifted the corner of her mouth again. “My words aren’t effective, only Xiaomei’s words work.”
Li Xiaomei said while running, “Of course! He’s my dad, not your dad!”
On previous days, hearing Li Xiaomei call him ‘Dad’ made Li Zian incredibly happy and comfortable. But hearing that ‘Dad’ this morning, he actually felt a sense of guilt.
It was all because of eating the peach.
“Dad, lift me onto the chair,” Li Xiaomei hugged Li Zian’s leg.
“Mmm, Dad will lift you,” Li Zian forcefully suppressed the guilt in his heart, bent down, picked up Li Xiaomei, and placed her on her usual high stool. Afterwards, he picked up a bowl to serve porridge for the Old Matriarch.
Yu Meilin put down her chopsticks and took the spoon and bowl from Li Zian’s hands. She said, “Hurry up and go change. I’m still waiting to see you.”
“Okay,” Li Zian responded and turned to go change.
Lin Shengnan muttered, “What’s so good-looking about it? Good looks can’t fill your stomach. A man should focus on his career.”
Li Zian’s ears were almost calloused from hearing this.
Yu Meilin placed a bowl of served porridge in front of Lin Shengnan and said with a smile, “Grandma, this grandson-in-law was the one you picked for me. Isn’t he not just good-looking, but also promising?”
Lin Shengnan said, “What promise does he have? All he does all day is mess around. But the soup he makes is really good.” A slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Li Zian finished changing and came out of the room.
The clothes looked like a Tang suit, but they also incorporated some fashionable elements. The more he wore them, the more he appeared heroic, dashing, and spirited. He even had a bit of the charm and bearing of an elegant young master from ancient times, making people’s eyes light up.
Yu Meilin looked at him and was slightly dazed for a moment.
Lin Shengnan let out a sigh. “Ah, an embroidered pillow.”
Li Zian gave an awkward smile. “At least a pillow can be used for sleeping, so it’s still useful.”
These words seemed to touch a nerve in Yu Meilin. She coughed dryly and changed the subject. “I do have good taste. This outfit looks really good on you.”
Li Xiaomei exclaimed, “Mom, you have to keep a close watch on Dad! He’s so handsome, other women might snatch him away, and then I wouldn’t have a dad anymore.”
Li Zian’s heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, and he felt a strange pang of pain.
Yu Meilin patted Li Xiaomei’s head and said with a smile, “Well, your dad would have to be willing to be taken by other women for that to happen. Your dad can’t bear to part with you, so other women can’t take him away. If you don’t believe me, ask Dad.”
“Dad, is that true?” Li Xiaomei looked at Li Zian with eager eyes.
Li Zian walked over and gently bumped his forehead against Li Xiaomei’s head. He said softly, “It won’t happen. Xiaomei will always be Dad’s good girl. Dad can’t bear to part with you.”
Li Xiaomei leaned in, pursed her little lips, and gave Li Zian a kiss. A mark from the rice porridge was immediately left on Li Zian’s face. The little one, instead of wiping it off for her dad, found it funny. “Giggle, giggle, Dad’s face wants to drink porridge too.”
Li Zian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but his mood improved.
Yu Meilin pulled out a tissue and reached over to wipe Li Zian’s face. When her hand touched his face, Li Zian stiffened slightly. A mix of complex feelings surged in his heart again: a slight warmth of being touched, guilt, self-reproach, aversion, and some other things he probably couldn’t even name himself.
“Dad, Mom, kissy kissy,” Li Xiaomei suddenly blurted out.
Yu Meilin said in surprise, “Yaoyao, what are you saying?”
Li Xiaomei looked very serious. “Like how I just kissed Dad, Mom, you kiss Dad too. I’ve never seen you kiss Dad.”
Yu Meilin’s face turned red, and she glanced at Li Zian.
Li Zian was also very embarrassed. “Xiaomei, where did you learn about ‘kissy kissy’?”
Li Xiaomei said, “From TV.”
Li Zian: “…”
Kids these days, only three years old and they already know this stuff.
Back in the day, when your dad was three, I didn’t even know where I was playing with mud!
“Mom, kiss him,” Li Xiaomei urged.
Yu Meilin glared at Li Xiaomei. “Eat your meal. If you say things like that again, I’ll spank your bottom.”
Li Xiaomei immediately pouted.
Li Zian felt sorry for her. “Oh, why are you scolding the child again for no reason? Xiaomei, eat quickly. After you finish, Dad will perform a magic trick for you.”
Only then did Li Xiaomei smile.
Yu Meilin sighed. “You… you only know how to spoil the child.”
Li Zian listened but didn’t say anything. It wasn’t that he didn’t know spoiling a child was bad, but he just couldn’t control himself.
Ding ling ling, ding ling ling…
Li Zian’s mobile phone rang with an incoming call. He took out his phone. Yu Meilin glanced at the screen out of the corner of her eye.
To be honest, the moment the ringtone sounded, Li Zian was really afraid it was Mu Chuntao calling him. Fortunately, a glance showed it was an unfamiliar number.
Li Zian swiped the answer key. “Hello, who is this?”
A woman’s voice came from the phone. “Master, can you recognize my voice?”
Li Zian thought the voice sounded a bit familiar, then suddenly remembered who it was. He smiled and said, “So it’s Miss Du. I thought your voice sounded familiar. How is your father doing?”
“My dad is much better. He can even get out of bed and walk a few steps. I’m calling you so early; I hope I’m not disturbing you?”
“No, you’re too polite. Please, tell me what’s the matter.”
Du Linlin’s voice: “It’s like this. I want to hold a Recovery Banquet for my father at the Oriental Hotel. My father really wants to see you. He specifically told me to call you and said I must invite you. I was afraid you might be out if I called later, so I called this early. Could you honor us with your presence at the banquet?”
“Okay, no problem. My wife and I will come together,” Li Zian said.
Du Linlin said, “It would be our family’s honor if the Master could bring your esteemed wife. Should I send a car to pick you and your wife up?”
Li Zian said, “No need for that trouble. We’ll drive over ourselves.”
“Okay, good. Then it’s settled. See you later.” Du Linlin hung up.
Yu Meilin looked at Li Zian. Although she couldn’t hear the voice on the phone, she could guess what it was about from what Li Zian said. She said, “Was that the Du Family calling?”
Li Zian nodded. “It was Du Linlin calling. She said they are holding a Recovery Banquet at the Oriental Hotel and invited me. Previously, you said if she invited me to a meal, you wanted to go too. So I accepted on your behalf without asking you. Do you have anything important to do today?”
A smile appeared on Yu Meilin’s face. “I don’t have anything important today. I need to call Kun Li and have her handle the company affairs. Then I still need to change my clothes; I can’t go wearing this.”
Li Xiaomei said, “My mom is the most beautiful. She looks good even without clothes.”
A strange expression immediately appeared on Yu Meilin’s face.
Li Zian wanted to laugh but held it in forcefully.
Lin Shengnan stood up and muttered, “Just as well. I feel like eating vegetarian today. You don’t need to worry about me. When Tang Qing arrives later, I’ll just have her cook something simple for lunch.”
Yu Meilin went upstairs.
Li Xiaomei watched Yu Meilin go upstairs. As soon as she was out of sight, she immediately grabbed Li Zian’s sleeve. “Dad, perform the magic trick for me quickly, otherwise it will be bad if your wife finds out.”
Li Zian really felt like spanking her little bottom, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Li Xiaomei shook Li Zian’s sleeve. “The magic tricks Dad performs are the best looking. Hurry up and do it!”
Without waiting for Li Zian to prompt her, she closed her eyes and waited.
Li Zian sighed, then pretended to recite an incantation: “Heaven spirit, earth spirit, Taishang Laojun reveal your power, mami mami hong!”
It was while reciting the incantation that he quietly slipped the chocolate he had prepared earlier into Li Xiaomei’s little pocket.
“Dad, is it ready yet?” Little Cotton-padded Jacket was very anxious.
“Ready,” Li Zian said.
Li Xiaomei immediately reached into the small pocket on her clothes. Her little hand grabbed a piece of chocolate, then she looked at Li Zian with a questioning gaze. “Dad, why is there only one piece?”
Li Zian: “…”
Little ancestor, when your dad was your age, he hadn’t even seen what chocolate looked like!
While washing dishes in the kitchen, Li Zian sent a message to Mu Chuntao: Taozi, Miss Du invited me to a meal at her place. Meilin wants to go. Do you want to go? If you do, we can go together.
Even though it was awkward, and he was stuck in the middle and destined to feel uncomfortable, Mu Chuntao was the one who went with him to the Du Family to ‘solve problems’. No matter what, he had to notify her about this kind of thing.
A few seconds later, Mu Chuntao replied: I better not go. So awkward.
King Kong Lolita: It’s not that I’m afraid of Yu Meilin. I want to go, but I can’t, my bro.
Li Zian: Why can’t you go? Do you have something going on?
King Kong Lolita: Swollen.
Li Zian: Swollen? Where is it swollen?
King Kong Lolita: The instep!
Li Zian: How did your instep get swollen?
King Kong Lolita: Aiyo, it’s hard to explain clearly. You guys go ahead. I can’t walk properly, so I won’t go.
Li Zian: Then I’ll come see you after I get back.
King Kong Lolita: I don’t want you to see me.
Li Zian was bewildered and also felt a bit frustrated.
Perfectly fine, how could her instep get swollen?