Chapter 17

Bǎobāo's belated greeting made Yu Ke directly roll her eyes.

"But I'm talking about you two." Bǎobāo looked at Yu Ke, then at Cheng Li, and said.

They are my friends.

Young Mistress, without the Young Master's permission, no one except you can enter.

They'll just go in for a while, is that not okay? Liuli asked.

No, Young Mistress.

Think it over, I am the Young Mistress, your Young Master listens to me on everything; later I'll tell him you didn't obey me, and see how he deals with you.

When did she, Chu Liuli, become so good at intimidating people? Cheng Li beside her couldn't help laughing.

Yu Ke glanced at him, as if saying "What are you laughing at, you guy!"

Young Mistress, but...

Just say it, will you let them in or not?

She coldly threw down a sentence.

Bǎobāo really feared she would say something to the Young Master and thus let them in.

Liuli, well done!

Yu Ke whispered in Liuli's ear.

Liuli pretended to be proud and lifted her chin.

"Grandma, I've come to see you!" She ran to the grandmother's bedside as if flying.

Little Liuli, you've come.

The grandmother's eyes were full of her.

"Grandma, Cheng Li also came to see you." She pulled Cheng Li to the grandmother's side, "This is Cheng Li."

Grandma, do you still remember me?

I remember, you helped me and Liuli so much, how could I forget you.

The grandmother grabbed Cheng Li's hand, her eyes full of affection and gratitude.

Grandma, this is my new friend, she is Yu Ke.

Liuli was introducing Yu Ke to the grandmother.

"Grandma, you need to get better soon, so you can hold a grandson later!" Hearing this, the grandmother laughed happily.

She really wants to hold a grandson now.

All along, Liuli had only Cheng Li as a friend; seeing Liuli make a new friend, the grandmother couldn't hide her joy.

"Liuli, you need to keep it up!" Yu Ke gave Liuli a look.

Grandma, you're feeling better, right? In a few days it's the final exam; I will definitely get first place for you.

Liuli glanced at Yu Ke, then quickly changed the subject.

Just like other parents' elders, the grandmother feels proud whenever Liuli gets first place, and she tells other elders that her granddaughter always gets first.

To make the grandmother happy and also for the scholarship, she must get first place.

Grandma, how did you raise Liuli so well that she always gets first place!

Yu Ke said somewhat enviously.

This child, she's been sensible since young; first place isn't important, I just want her to be happy.

Grandma, the thing that would make Liuli happiest is still your health improving and living a long life.

Cheng Li said, he understands Liuli's wishes better than anyone.

Grandma will surely get better, she's waiting to hold a grandson and also wants to see the two of you settle down.

The grandmother has endured much hardship; when she smiles, wrinkles appear at the corners of her eyes.

Grandma, you must watch them two settle down!

Liuli finally also teased the two of them.

The two of them both looked at Liuli, as if wanting to make her look good.

They were chatting happily when a tall figure entered.

Is it Gu Die? How did he come?

Gu Die originally intended to come see the grandmother after finishing his work, but unexpectedly ran into them.

She even brought that man Cheng Li along?!

He couldn't contain his anger, but seeing the grandmother, he held it in.

Little Die, you came to see me.

The grandmother was very happy to see Gu Die.

Grandma, are you feeling better? With so many people keeping you company, your mood should be much improved, right?

Liuli always felt that sentence sounded a bit odd; was he saying she brought others in?

Alright, you all go back; in the hospital I have food and drink, the doctors are taking good care of me, you go get busy!

Grandma, then we're leaving.

Liuli now just wants to pull Cheng Li and Yu Ke away.

Okay.

Grandma, we'll come see you again when we have time. Cheng Li said.

Good, good, good.

The grandmother responded repeatedly.

They then left Gu Die behind.

This Chu Liuli simply didn't put him in her eyes at all!!

"Doctor, how is my grandmother's condition?"

She happened to run into the doctor and asked the question she had been wanting to ask.

"She definitely needs surgery, but the surgery carries great risk; you need to prepare yourself mentally in advance."

"When is the surgery?"

"In three days, we still need to finalize the surgical plan."

"Okay, thank you, doctor."

"Come over more often these few days to keep her company."

"Okay."

Liuli herself wasn't afraid, but the doctor said the risk was too high, so she couldn't help but worry.

"Liuli, don't worry, your grandmother will be rewarded for her goodness; she'll be fine." Yu Ke looked at her expression and comforted her.

"Mm."

She saw Cheng Li and Yu Ke off, then waited for Gu Die to come out.

Gu Die saw her waiting for him, and his anger subsided considerably; fortunately she still knew to wait for him!

Now her mind is filled only with her grandmother's surgery in three days.

Arriving at the Gu Family residence, the meal was already set; she barely ate two bites before going upstairs.

After her bath, she saw Gu Die lying on the bed reading documents; he really was quite busy.

But he could still find time to visit her grandmother, and she suddenly felt quite moved.

The man before her didn't seem so distant either.

"Gu Die, thank you today for visiting my grandmother."

"It's nothing to thank me for; I just happened to pass by." He said while still looking at the documents, "Don't you have anything to explain?"

"Today I brought Yu Ke and Cheng Li to the hospital; I didn't have time to tell you, but I insisted on letting them in—it's nobody else's business."

She was now somewhat worried about the guard, after all, it was because she spoke that way that the guard let them in.

"Don't worry, the guard who let you in has already resigned."

"It was me making a fuss that got him to let me bring people in."

"You made a fuss?"

"Yes, it has nothing to do with that person."

"Anyway, he's resigned, so it's no longer any of your concern."

"Cheng Li and Yu Ke just wanted to see my grandmother—why wouldn't that be allowed?"

"Didn't the guard tell you that nobody can enter without my permission?"

"He said it; I said I'm the Young Mistress, and you Young Master listen to me, so he let us in."

"What kind of Young Mistress are you?" His cold tone drowned out her earlier feeling—"Just a title without substance."

"Just a title without substance? That's all?"

Hearing his words, she inexplicably felt awful.

"I know—I was just trying to scare him."

"Cheng Li, is their family in the winery business?"

"What are you planning to do?"

His question made her panic; because the guard had let them in, he then dismissed the guard, and it's not hard to imagine what he might do to the Cheng family.

"You care about him that much?"

He tossed the documents in his hand aside and walked over to her.

"If you have something against me, come at me—don't hurt the people around me."

She definitely couldn't let Cheng Li get dragged into this.

"How come you're coming at me?"

He reached out to lift her chin; his hair wasn't even blown dry, and water dripping from his hair fell onto her forehead.

"What do you want me to do? I could work for the Gu Family as a servant, just to earn money for my grandmother's medical bills—don't hurt the people around me. When my grandmother gets better, if you want a divorce, I'll leave."

"You're already thinking about divorce?"

His anger flared up again.

"This marriage isn't so easy to get out of."

Suddenly he bit her lip; she only felt pain.

She had long regretted marrying him—it was just a momentary impulse, one misstep leading to another.

All she wanted was to push him away; she didn't want to become his plaything.

"Give me a child, and I'll let Cheng Li off." He didn't loosen his grip, "Have a child for me sooner, and you can divorce sooner."

He has so many women; why must it be her who bears his child?

She never understood what he was thinking.

She didn't even ask Cheng Li for help, yet ended up dragging him into it.

She couldn't let the Cheng family be destroyed by him like this.

"Just tonight then."

She took off her pajamas and stood naked before him.

Her body was fully exposed to his view.

She tiptoed up, kissed him actively, and took off his clothes.

"This woman, she thinks so much for that man? For him, she can even go to bed with a man she doesn't even love or hates?!"

"His face was like it had frosted over, and all his anger was directed at her."

"He pushed her onto the bed and began to desperately kiss her."

"Really boring."

"Seeing the woman beneath him look deathly pale, he stormed out, slamming the door."

"She was afraid, not knowing why she feared him, she curled up under the blankets, her heart feeling an indescribable emotion."

"All she could think of now were the words he had said: 'You're really boring.'"

"What exactly does she count as in his eyes?"

"She barely ate dinner, and now she's so hungry her stomach hurts."

'"Young Mistress." The knock sounded, and Lín āyí waited outside holding the soup.'

"This is the soup I made for you; drink it while it's hot."

"She saw the soup in Lín āyí's hands at the door, and her mouth almost watered."

"Thank you, Lín āyí."

"Young Mistress, you don't need to thank me; if you want to thank someone, thank the Young Master. He specifically told me to make this soup for you, and he didn't even let me tell you that the Young Master actually cares about you quite a bit."

"He cares about her?"

"Where did he go?"

"Lín āyí didn't speak, just glanced at the lit bedroom, and Liuli understood."

"He went to look for another woman again."

"Lín āyí, you should rest early."

"Young Mistress, aren't you going to have a look?"

"Lín āyí saw that she had no intention of stopping the Young Master, so she anxiously asked."

"Not going."

"Even if she went, it wouldn't help, right?"

"But Young Mistress, he's your husband; being with another woman, aren't you going to manage him?"

"I can't control him."

'"Young Mistress, the Young Master has never treated anyone else the way he treats you; if you want to rein him in, you naturally can, for he holds you in his heart." Lín āyí sighed, "I've said all I needed to say; this boy has been under my watch since childhood, and he's not bad."'

"Liuli still didn't say anything."

"Young Mistress, drink the soup while it's hot."

"Lín āyí saw that she couldn't be persuaded, so she stopped speaking."

"She entered the room, sipping the soup while thinking over Lín āyí's words."

'"How could I possibly control him?" she muttered to herself, "He has me in his heart? How could that be?"'