Chapter 31: Mom, Have You Ever Bitten Dad?
Chapter 31: Mom, Have You Ever Bitten Dad?
Li Zian said with a smile, “Brother-in-law, why are you in such a hurry to leave? Let’s have a few more words.”
Yu Jiahao stopped at the door, looked back at Li Zian, his eyes fierce: “You’re good, I might have misjudged you. But this doesn’t change anything. You know my terms, think it over carefully.”
After saying this, he pulled open the office door and walked out.
A group of people who had been eavesdropping at the door hurriedly made way for him.
Yu Meilin scolded, “Why are you all staring? Go back to work!”
Only then did the crowd disperse.
Kun Li happened to come over and also made way for Yu Jiahao. She then entered and closed the office door.
Yu Jiayong still knelt on the floor, very nervous. With pain and anxiety, he looked like an injured farm dog.
Kun Li asked in surprise, “What happened?”
Li Zian said, “Meilin, you decide how to handle this guy.”
Yu Meilin said lightly, “Yu Jiayong, you can go. Before you leave, hand your resignation letter to Kun Li.”
“I’ll leave right away.” Yu Jiayong immediately scrambled up and ran toward the door, afraid that Yu Meilin or Li Zian might change their minds.
“Meilin, what happened?” Kun Li asked again.
“Tell you later. Go after him and get Yu Jiayong’s resignation letter,” Yu Meilin said.
Kun Li nodded, then turned and left the office.
Yu Meilin looked at Li Zian. “Zian, how did you know Yu Jiahao had another purpose?”
Li Zian said, “Didn’t I do a divination for you? Of course I know.”
Yu Meilin asked curiously, “What did you figure out? Tell me.”
Usually, Li Zian would have told her already, but the last two lines of this hexagram interpretation predicted events between him and Mu Chuntao. Could that be told to her?
“What, can’t you tell me?” Yu Meilin became even more curious.
Li Zian remained silent for a moment before saying, “You drew a bird, a nest, a wolf, and a tree branch in my palm.”
Yu Meilin said in surprise, “That turned into a whole picture? Did I draw so many things? How come I didn’t know myself?”
“Appearance comes from the heart; the divination symbol also arises from your fate and circumstances. You don’t know it, but I do,” Li Zian said.
“How did you know from all this that Yu Jiahao was targeting Grandma? I can’t see anything from it.” Yu Meilin suddenly remembered something and added, “Your divinations have interpretations. What is the hexagram interpretation for this one?”
Li Zian had gone around in circles precisely to avoid mentioning the hexagram interpretation, but now she was pressing for it. How could he tell her?
“Tell me quickly,” Yu Meilin urged.
Li Zian cleared his throat. “The hexagram interpretation for this divination was: The magpie’s nest occupied by the dove is a fog; the wolf’s ambition has another scheme. Outside the home, tigers and jackals await. Cooperating together can break the deadlock.”
The hexagram interpretation was fixed, but people were flexible. Changing it this way removed any hidden issues.
Moreover, he and Mu Chuntao had nothing going on anyway.
Yu Meilin muttered the hexagram interpretation, still a bit confused. “I vaguely sense this interpretation isn’t good, but I still can’t see that Yu Jiahao is plotting against Grandma. Explain it to me.”
Li Zian said, “Didn’t you draw a bird? In that nest, under the tree branch, there’s a wolf gazing up at the bird. The three of us surely aren’t the bird. That bird represents Grandma. That wolf is Yu Jiahao; he’s targeting Grandma. He’s pressuring you not for your house but for the twenty percent equity shares in Grandma’s hands.”
Yu Meilin looked as if she suddenly understood. “So that’s it. Your divination is really accurate. What does the last part mean?”
“Well… the last two lines say your situation is very bad, many villains are trying to scheme against you, but if our family works together, we can get out of this predicament,” Li Zian said.
Yu Meilin pondered Li Zian’s words.
But Li Zian felt secretly guilty and blamed himself.
Was it okay to lie to his wife like this?
But the guilt and self-blame lasted only a little while before he quickly felt relieved.
Yu Meilin was indeed his wife, but only in name. She slept in a separate room. In four years of marriage, she had only collected homework once, and that time he was drunk. She hadn’t fulfilled her duties as a wife. If it weren’t for Li Xiaomei, he would have divorced her. How could such a relationship be considered lying to his wife? Besides, he and Mu Chuntao were completely innocent, nothing happened. Why should he feel guilty and blame himself?
“Zian.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, don’t say anymore that I’m pregnant, okay?” Yu Meilin said.
Li Zian was slightly taken aback for a moment, then nodded.
The Yu Meilin he knew was back.
Earlier, when he said the child in Yu Meilin’s belly couldn’t be saved, that was just to scare Yu Jiayong. But now he didn’t bother to explain.
Just then, the rest room door opened. Li Xiaomei appeared at the doorway. “Dad, the cartoon is over. The people on TV are biting someone.”
“Who is biting someone?” Yu Meilin walked over and picked up Li Xiaomei.
Li Zian also came to the rest room door and saw a young man and woman kissing on the TV screen. He quickly went in, grabbed the remote, and turned off the TV.
Yu Meilin scolded, “What kind of show are you letting the child watch?”
Li Zian smiled wryly. “It was a cartoon just now. I don’t know how it changed to this show. Maybe the program changed.”
Yu Meilin frowned, looking a bit unhappy.
Li Xiaomei said, “Mom, the uncle on TV bit that aunt. Did it hurt her?”
“This…” Yu Meilin didn’t know how to answer.
Li Zian pretended to be serious. “Xiaomei, children shouldn’t ask so many questions. You’ll understand some things when you grow up.”
Li Xiaomei said, “If you don’t understand, you should ask. That’s what Teacher Tang taught me.”
Li Zian was speechless.
“Dad, have you ever bitten Mom?” Li Xiaomei came up with a new question.
Li Zian’s brain froze on the spot, and he felt extremely awkward. He couldn’t help but glance at Yu Meilin, only to find she was looking at him too, a faint blush on her face.
The two adults’ eyes met only briefly before they each looked away.
Deep down, Li Zian actually wanted to know: four years ago that night, when Yu Meilin had the buffet, had she bitten him?
Most likely not, but it was possible she got carried away and bit him. But even if she had bit him, she probably wouldn’t admit it, right?
“Xiaomei, if you keep asking these strange questions, Mom will get angry and spank your bottom,” Yu Meilin said fiercely.
Li Xiaomei pouted. “Fine, I won’t ask if you don’t want me to. Why are you so mean?”
Yu Meilin glared at Li Xiaomei. “You’re still talking? Don’t you believe I’ll spank you?”
Li Xiaomei’s lips trembled; she looked about to cry.
Li Zian’s heart ached. He reached out and took Li Xiaomei into his arms. “Why are you so harsh with the child? Children are naturally curious; asking you a question is no big deal. Is it worth getting angry over?”
“How can you…” Yu Meilin started but didn’t finish.
Li Xiaomei buried her face in Li Zian’s shoulder, tears in her eyes, and stuck her tongue out at Yu Meilin.
Yu Meilin felt both annoyed and amused. “You just spoil the child. If she gets spoiled, you’ll regret it.”
Li Zian didn’t agree with that statement, but he didn’t argue with Yu Meilin.
Arguments between couples often turned into fights and greatly affected the child. That was true even for real couples, let alone him and Yu Meilin, who were just a plastic couple.
“You stay and play with the child inside. I still have work to do.” Yu Meilin walked toward her desk.
Just then, Kun Li opened the door and entered, holding an envelope.
That envelope likely contained Yu Jiayong’s resignation letter.
With Yu Jiayong resigning, the position of Security Section Chief was now vacant. Li Zian wanted to go over and chat, recommend that Wei Dazhuang for the Security Section Chief role. But after thinking about it, he gave up the idea.
This was Yu Meilin’s company, not his studio. He was just here to help. If he interfered too much, Yu Meilin might think he was scheming something, which would just bring him trouble.
“Dad.”
“Yes.”
“Your daughter is upset. Do a magic trick to make her happy.”
Li Zian: “…”
“If you don’t do a trick, I’ll cry and show you,” Li Xiaomei said.
Li Zian smiled. “Are you threatening your dad?”
Li Xiaomei said with tears in her eyes, “If I cry myself to death, you’ll never see your precious daughter again.”
Li Zian was dumbfounded.
To get a piece of chocolate, you’re threatening suicide?
Student Li Xiaomei, you truly are a prodigy—unique and exceptional!
“Alright, alright, Dad will do a trick for you.” Li Zian had no way to deal with his little cotton-padded jacket. He carried her into the rest room, closing the door with his heel.
If Yu Meilin, that tigress, saw him giving the child chocolate, she would surely scold him again.
After the magic trick was done, Li Xiaomei happily ate her chocolate and played by herself.
Li Zian sat on the sofa, looking at his mobile phone.
Beep beep.
WeChat received a new message.
Li Zian opened it to look. It was a message from King Kong Lolita: Are you free to talk?
Li Zian subconsciously glanced at the door, then felt his own reaction was rather amusing. They were just having a normal chat; why should he feel nervous?
He replied: Yes, what’s up?
King Kong Lolita: I contacted that Wen Sheng. He’s coming tomorrow.
Li Zian replied: So fast?
King Kong Lolita: He must be in some trouble, eager to solve it quickly. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be flying over personally.
Li Zian replied: True. What time is he coming tomorrow?
King Kong Lolita: He said he’s taking an early morning flight, probably arriving at my place around noon. Plan ahead, okay? Don’t get stuck at home because Yu Meilin blocks you from leaving. That wouldn’t be fun.
Li Zian: …
King Kong Lolita: I knocked on your door just now, but no one answered. Is everyone in your family out?
Li Zian replied: Meilin and I came to her company. I’m looking after the child here at the company. Grandma went to chant Buddhist scriptures. No one’s home.
King Kong Lolita: So that’s it. Then come to my place tonight to chat. I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.
Li Zian: …
King Kong Lolita: It’s settled then. See you tonight.
Li Zian spaced out on the sofa for a bit. When Li Xiaomei finished her chocolate, he carried her out of the rest room.
Yu Meilin was discussing matters with Kun Li.
Li Zian said, “Meilin, I don’t think there’s anything else for me here. I want to take the child home.”
“Okay, I’ll have Kun Li drive you back,” Yu Meilin said.
Li Zian nodded.
His big client was coming tomorrow. He needed to rush back to make some preparations. The medicinal plaster he needed to prepare had to be brewed in advance. Maybe he should also prepare some props to make a good impression.