Chapter 454

"Big brother, I don't know if Pan Xiaoying is a good person, but she's clearly done her homework on Ning Pingping—you'd better be careful dealing with her."

Li Ye ultimately added one more warning, since Wen Guohua had always treated him like family, and he owed him a heads-up.

"I'll deal with her? Pfft! It's not even official yet—why's she sticking her nose in? Who the hell is she to interfere?"

Li Ye: "."

The Wen Guohua Li Ye knew, though often a bit rough around the edges, was still a power heir cultivated by the Wen family, so he usually had some decorum.

That's why Li Ye was surprised when Wen Guohua swore—realizing this big brother-in-law wasn't as heartless as he seemed.

At least Ning Pingping held some real weight in Wen Guohua's heart.

And Pan Xiaoying's inquiry about Ning Pingping had stirred up the "Big Wen."

………………

"Fine, we'll wait—just hurry up, or the plane won't wait for us."

Li Yue kept pressing: "Hurry up! I just called Hong Kong—Mom got there yesterday. Are you really that slow? Don't you miss her at all?"

But the question was—could he even beat Li Ye?

And judging by the current situation, they'd have plenty more tussles ahead.

"Unless Teacher Ke says otherwise, I won't interfere. Ning Pingping is one of Fenghua Clothing's top advertising faces—abandoning her lightly would mean big losses."

Li Ye quickly pulled on his clothes, grabbed his bag with the boarding documents, and was ready to leave in three minutes.

Li Ye had intended to comfort Li Yue, but instead of calming her, his words made her burst into tears.

"Alright, if Pan Xiaoying asks about Ning Pingping again, tell her to come ask me directly."

Li Ye knew why Li Yue's eyes were red—it was the classic syndrome of a daughter-in-law far from home.

Wen Guohua sneered: "Did she hint to you to get Fenghua Clothing to terminate Ning Pingping's advertising contract?"

Mentioning their mother Fu Guiru instantly made Li Yue look up to her—clearly, she now saw the formidable Fu Guiru as her own future standard.

Two minutes later, Li Yue sniffled and whispered: "I'm fine. I just thought about how Mom spent all these years raising Xiao Ruo alone out there—how did she even manage?"

"You're right, brother—how can a man let a woman control him?"

After hanging up, Li Ye couldn't help thinking of Wen Leyu's worries that day—she feared Pan Xiaoying, as a sister-in-law, would make her brother suffer.

"Heh, true—she's a formidable one."

"That's exactly what she means," Wen Guohua said, irritated. "So what are you going to do? Ning Pingping is currently in a training program at the Beijing Film Academy—should we ask her to pause filming for her studies?"

Li Ye was telling the truth: though he'd told Pan Xiaoying on the phone that a man with a girlfriend should keep distance from other women, he had no intention of helping her crush Ning Pingping.

Even if Pan Xiaoying eventually became his sister-in-law, they'd still be equals—true authority in this household still rested with Teacher Ke. But Teacher Ke never treated Li Ye like a servant; instead, he deeply respected Li Ye's feelings.

Li Ye's heart sank. He walked over and asked softly: "Sis, are you upset? Did you fight with Yang Yumin? Or are you mad at your mother-in-law?"

"How could Mom cry? You're underestimating her—she's the type who'd bleed from a head wound and never shed a tear."

"It's only nine—why the rush?"

Li Ye let his sister Li Yue in, then went to change his clothes.

Because he'd slept late the night before, Li Ye lingered in bed the next morning, still trapped in the warm embrace of the blanket-god past nine.

But when he turned around, he noticed Li Yue's eyes were red.

This was the first Spring Festival since Fu Guiru had reunited with Li Yue and Li Ye, but due to special circumstances, they couldn't celebrate together.

Li Yue missed her mother terribly, and since Li Ye was traveling to Hong Kong soon, they'd agreed to meet there after the New Year—Li Ye had a house there, so it wasn't inconvenient.

At this moment, even his father who always annoyed him, his grandmother who scolded constantly, and his rigid grandfather all seemed strangely dear.

"Next time you miss home, just drive back and stay a few days. If you miss Mom, I'll pay for your plane ticket—hey, sis, don't cry…"

But if you did that, you'd be close to family—yet your entire future would be completely predictable.

That's why so many girls cry every time they return home after marriage.

"I didn't think that," Li Ye said honestly. "I believe family matters are family matters, and work matters are work matters. Even if she does become my sister-in-law, does one word from her mean I have to obey instantly?"

Li Ye blurted: "I can't fly to Hong Kong by myself! Our flight's at 1 p. m. —you're not seriously planning to wait at the airport now?"

Wen Guohua's tone shifted—he went on lecturing from the other end of the line: "Women can't be coddled. If you do, they'll keep pushing boundaries, like you owe them something."

Li Yue scolded Li Ye again, then sat down to wait.

Seeing Li Ye's state, Li Yue scolded sharply: "Xiao Ye, you're still in bed? What time is it?"

"I understand, big brother. But I think she won't ask me again."

And now, Li Yue's life would surely be brilliant.

"Hmph, she's using you to send me a message! Look how clever she thinks she is."

The door opened, and Li Yue stood outside.

Li Ye said: "She didn't say it outright, but I sensed a hint of it—though maybe I'm overthinking. I've never been in that circle."

Li Ye: "."

Li Yue sniffled, sounding wounded: "It's not them—it's just that I suddenly felt sad. On the second day of the New Year, I can't see Dad or Grandma, and to see Mom I have to fly. Once a daughter's married, she's like water spilled out—why is it so hard?"

After all, Li Yue had always been used to a lively family reunion during the New Year back home; now, surrounded by unfamiliar surroundings, she was deeply saddened.

But Li Ye just smiled faintly.

This year, since it was her first year married to Yang Yumin, she'd returned to the hometown with Yang Huahua and Yang Yumin to pay respects to ancestors, and couldn't make it back to Qingshui County by the second day.

To see her mother, she had to go through so much trouble.

Li Ye thought for a moment: "When you get to Hong Kong, ask Mom—has she ever cried?"

"Sis, this year's situation is special. Next year, you and Yang Yumin will definitely spend the New Year in Beijing—then driving back to Qingshui County on the second day will be easy. Look, I drove all day and came back just now."

In truth, Li Yue's distant marriage was Li Ye's fault—if he hadn't intervened, she'd likely have married someone local in Qingshui County and never left within a hundred li.

Li Ye fell silent. How could a girl who married far from home not feel wronged?

Big brother, your words are perfectly polished! First you say you shouldn't coddle women, then you threaten to beat me if I treat Xiao Yu badly? This double standard is glaring!

Alright, Wen Guohua really was acting like a proper big brother-in-law—his sister was hurt, so he wasn't happy.

After venting, Wen Guohua asked Li Ye: "So she just asked if you knew Ning Pingping? Did she ask anything else?"

But a loud "bang-bang-bang!" at the door forced him to jump up, throw on his undershirt and pants, wrap himself in a coat, and rush to open it.

After marriage, those who loved and cared for her were far away—all the bitterness and sweetness of life fell on her shoulders alone.

But after boasting about male dominance, Wen Guohua suddenly shifted tone: "But if a woman is reasonable, like Xiao Yu, then a man shouldn't throw tantrums—if he's unfaithful, he'll get beaten."

And when a girl feels more and more wronged, the best thing is to let her cry—once she cries, half her hurt vanishes.

Wen Guohua rambled on, making Li Ye feel like he'd been back in his past life, drinking and bragging with his best friend.

Out in public, he's a hero; at home, he's a whimper.

Li Ye replied: "She didn't ask anything else. I told her I didn't know Ning Pingping well, but she clearly didn't believe me—she even found out I'm a scriptwriter for Fenghua Advertising and that Ning Pingping played a supporting role in 'Wangxiang Gujun.'"

No matter how strong a woman is, she's still a woman—she never cries?

You just haven't seen her cry.