Chapter 365: Li Ye: Sister, Why Won

Li Yue got out of the car and nervously walked toward Fu Guiru; when Fu Guiru turned her face, Li Yue froze for a long moment, then suddenly broke into a run.

She ran while crying, making Li Ye inside the car feel a pang of sorrow and deep discomfort.

Even through the windshield, Li Yue's heart-wrenching sobs pierced Li Ye's soul, making him feel just how violently and painfully her suppressed emotions had erupted.

And when Li Yue, still crying, swung her arms and pounded Fu Guiru again and again, that mixture of resentment and joy made Li Ye burst out laughing.

Great sorrow followed by great joy is different from great joy followed by great sorrow; reclaimed family bonds are surely worth cherishing, aren't they?

Li Ye reached into his pant pocket, then remembered he hadn't smoked in a long time.

He opened the car's storage compartment and found a pack of soft Zhonghua.

Li Ye pulled out a cigarette, stepped out of the car, lit it, leaned against the car body, and took a deep drag—it felt absolutely wonderful.

Without me, Fu Guiru might have taken years before returning to see Li Yue.

Just for that, I, Li Ye, have done immeasurable good.

But before Li Ye finished his cigarette, he saw his sister Li Yue storming toward him, eyes bloodshot and furious.

And as she approached, she sped up, then broke into a full sprint.

Li Ye's observational skills were sharp—he instantly recognized his sister was building momentum.

If she kept going like this, she'd launch herself into a flying kick from three meters away.

Li Ye remembered clearly how Li Yue once kicked a jujube tree so hard it shook for minutes, raining down jujubes with a pattering sound.

If she landed that kick on him, he wouldn't just break a few ribs—he might even spit out a mouthful of blood.

But Li Ye didn't dodge or flinch; he remained calm, merely pointing at her back with his cigarette-clutching finger.

"Sister, sister, watch behind you, watch behind you!"

Li Yue, seething with rage, didn't turn around—she charged straight at Li Ye and launched her flying kick.

Yet at the very moment she leapt, she held back seven-tenths of her strength; she only meant to knock him off balance, not truly strike him.

But sadly, even this half-hearted kick failed.

As soon as she jumped, she felt her collar yanked tight from behind, then slammed hard onto the ground.

"Oof!"

Li Yue, completely unprepared, nearly landed on her rear; she looked up and saw it was her mother, Fu Guiru, who had struck.

"Sister, why won't you believe me?"

Did you think I wouldn't resist, just stood there waiting to be beaten?

Do you know what a sword-bearing guard is? Do you know what the family's top guy means?

Fu Guiru glared with fury: "When I left, didn't I tell you to take good care of your brother? Is this how you've cared for him all these years? Huh? Huh?"

"Mom, let go, let go of my ear!"

The once formidable Li Yue completely lost her temper under Fu Guiru's repeated "Huh? Huh?"

Back in Daocheng, Fu Guiru had cried as she told her to care for her brother; Li Yue was only five or six then, but she'd never forgotten those words.

After Fu Guiru left, Li Yue protected Li Ye for years, just because of that promise.

Even after she started working, half her salary went to Li Ye.

In the 1980s, when clothes were passed down through generations, Li Ye never wore any shirt for more than two years—every season, Li Yue bought him new ones.

Yet after over a decade of care, she now got her ear twisted—and Li Yue felt deeply wronged.

So she began to cry and complain: "Mom, look, Xiao Ye is smoking! I couldn't control him all these years—I'd never have hit my brother if I could've helped it."

"You don't know how wild Xiao Ye has been—he's famous in Qingshui County for fighting."

Sister, you're an adult—why use such childish tactics?

Fu Guiru turned to Li Ye; Li Ye immediately tossed his cigarette butt away.

"Mom, I haven't smoked in ages—I just found this in the car."

Li Ye's single "Mom" instantly dissolved all of Fu Guiru's resentment.

She tightened her grip on Li Yue's ear and scolded: "So what if boys smoke? Which boy hasn't smoked?

You say he likes fighting—then how come your own moves just now were so smooth? Didn't you fight plenty yourself?"

Li Yue's pretty face instantly crumpled into a bitter gourd.

Back home, Grandma Wu Juying spoiled Li Ye until he ran wild—now why was Fu Guiru acting the same way?

Li Yue could only whine: "Mom, Xiao Ye lied to me! He fooled me for half a year—he clearly knew."

"How did he lie to you?"

Fu Guiru cut off Li Yue's lament, but loosened her grip on her ear.

"I told Xiao Ye to keep it secret first—think: if your father found out I'm still alive, what would he do?"

"What would my dad do? Of course he'd—"

Li Yue blurted out, then realized her mistake halfway.

Right—what would Li Kaibian do if he learned Fu Guiru was still alive?

Divorce Han Chunmei and reconcile with Fu Guiru?

Even if Li Yue was spoiled and disliked Han Chunmei as a stepmother, she couldn't say such a thing.

People must have conscience.

After thinking long and hard, Li Yue vented her anger on Li Kaibian.

"It's all Dad's fault—why couldn't he just endure a few more years after holding out for ten? It's all his fault."

But Fu Guiru shook her head: "Xiao Yue, you're completely wrong—this is my fault. All these years, your father raised you two alone, endured hardships only he knows.

I, on the other hand, failed as a mother—I owe you both."

Li Yue lowered her head, tears streaming as she said: "It's not your fault, Mom—it really isn't."

"Enough—past things are past. I'm back now, aren't I?"

Fu Guiru wiped her eyes and added: "Just seeing you two is enough for me—I'm blessed. As for your father, keep it hidden. Let me bear the guilt."

"How could you be guilty to him?"

Li Yue felt deeply wronged on Fu Guiru's behalf, but had no perfect solution—she could only brood in silence.

"Come on, come on—we've finally reunited as a family of three—we must celebrate! Mom will cook you a great meal."

"Yes, yes—I want braised shrimp, steamed yellow croaker, scallion-braised sea cucumber…"

Li Yue listed a string of Daocheng specialties, making Li Ye's mouth water.

But when they arrived at Fu Guiru's residence, Li Yue discovered another girl there—seven or eight tenths her likeness.

"This is your sister Yiruo—she's applying to a mainland university. Talk for a while—I'll go cook."

Fu Guiru went to the kitchen; Li Yue stared at Fu Yiruo, and Fu Yiruo stared back.

Li Yue frowned and looked at Li Ye.

Li Ye whispered: "I don't know the details, but it seems Mom was pregnant when she left Daocheng for Southeast Asia—I dared not ask. Why don't you?"

"I'll ask—I'll ask."

Li Yue marched straight into the kitchen—her blunt nature couldn't bear unanswered questions.

Moments later, she returned beaming.

"Yiruo, which university are you applying to? Beijing has many—why not go to the same one as your brother? We have a house in Beijing—I can cook for you after work."

Fu Yiruo, curious and drawn to this sudden sister, replied gently: "I'd like to apply to Peking University, but Mom says it's too hard—she wants me to study nearby in Pengcheng."

Li Yue slapped her chest: "Pengcheng University has only existed a few years—listen to your sister and go to Peking University. Xiao Hui got in—why can't we?"

Fu Yiruo smiled: "Who's Xiao Hui? Is she our relative?"

Li Yue shook her head: "Xiao Hui is Pei Wencong's sister—you know Pei Wencong, right? He's a shareholder in Pengcheng Red Bull!"

Fu Yiruo stared in shock, and a cascade of questions suddenly clicked into place.

Then this gentle girl shouted toward the kitchen: "Mom, come quick—my brother knows Pei Wencong!"

Then this gentle little girl shouted toward the kitchen: "Mom, come quick, my brother knows Pei Wencong."

Fu Guiru stepped out of the kitchen in three strides, looking at Li Ye in confusion: "Xiao Ye, you know Pei Wencong?"

Li Ye nodded: "Yes—I wrote a few books, and by chance met Pei Wencong."

"Don't believe him, Mom—he doesn't just 'know' him! Listen to me—"

Seizing the chance, Li Yue rattled off Li Ye's exploits; though Li Ye had kept his background well-hidden, what she revealed still left Fu Guiru stunned.

Finally, Fu Guiru gave Li Ye a dangerous smile: "Xiao Ye, it seems your sister's right—you're quite the liar."

Li Ye swallowed hard, calculating whether he could handle a two-woman assault.

But the next moment, Fu Yiruo grabbed his arm.

"How can you blame your brother? Without him, how could we have reunited? He's our family's hero."

See? See? Sisters are better, aren't they?

(End of Chapter)

(End of chapter)