Chapter 515: How Are You Going to Apologize to Me?

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"We were originally hosting guests at Qingshui Restaurant, but we happened to run into your former father-in-law also hosting a banquet—it seemed to be for Sun Zi's full-moon celebration."

"Little Xia Yue seemed to have said to Gao Gao Xiaoyan, 'You have no shame,' and your former partner got upset, demanding that Little Xia Yue apologize to her family."

"With Little Xia Yue's temper, not hitting her is already a miracle—apologize?"

Zou Zou Zhiguo sped the car while explaining to Li Ye.

"Don't keep calling her 'your former partner,'" Li Ye said coldly. "I'm done with her."

"If it had nothing to do with you, Little Xia Yue would've already slapped her."

When Li Ye arrived at Qingshui Restaurant, he didn't see his sister Li Xia Yue losing her temper or hitting anyone.

Li Xia Yue stood coldly in place, facing off silently with Lu Lu Jingyao.

Lu Lu Jingyao looked equally furious, her face dark as water as she glared at Li Xia Yue, refusing to yield an inch.

Both were the most fashionable women of the time, their postures, attire, and presence far beyond ordinary people—so much so that everyone around dared only to watch from afar, none daring to intervene.

Li Ye strode forward, grabbed his sister Li Xia Yue's arm, pulled her back a few steps, and whispered, "Enough, sister. I'll handle this. You can't get angry—anger harms the baby."

Li Xia Yue turned and shot Li Ye a scornful look. "You come up and immediately tell me to calm down when I'm arguing with her? You're such a coward."

Li Ye sighed. "I'm not a coward, but today your matter is important. Arguing with someone tarnishes your image."

"Besides, Grandpa said you can't drink, you can't get angry. Go over there and host the guests—I'll take care of this, okay?"

Li Xia Yue gave Li Ye a disdainful look, snorted, and turned away.

She wasn't giving Li Ye face—sisters don't owe brothers face. It was just that hundreds of sales staff from across the country were present; fighting in front of her subordinates would damage her image as a leader.

But Li Xia Yue wanted to leave—Lu Lu Jingyao wouldn't let her.

"You can't leave. You must apologize. You must apologize to my family."

Seeing Li Xia Yue turn to leave, Lu Lu Jingyao stepped forward to chase after her, trying to block her path.

But Li Ye was faster. As Lu Lu Jingyao took her first step, she suddenly felt her wrist seized and yanked back violently.

And since she was wearing high heels, she nearly twisted her ankle.

Only when she finally steadied herself did she realize Li Ye, face icy and stern, had already closed the distance.

"Who are you demanding apologize? I ask you—what exactly do you want her to apologize for? Did studying overseas rot your brain?"

Lu Lu Jingyao instinctively tried to step back—Li Ye's proximity filled her with an unprecedented sense of oppression.

Since the winter of 1981, the Li Ye Lu Lu Jingyao had seen had always been cold and detached, as if he didn't care about her—or anything at all.

But now, Li Ye was truly angry.

Yet Lu Lu Jingyao couldn't step back—Li Ye held her wrist, trapping her in place.

Lu Lu Jingyao suddenly panicked.

"Let go! Let go of me!"

She struggled fiercely, but Li Ye's grip was like a clamp, turning her wrist red.

At that moment, Gao Gao Xiaoyan—the woman who had once knelt outside Li Ye's door—rushed out in a panic.

"Li Ye, Li Ye, let go of my sister-in-law! I don't need an apology—I really don't want one. Actually, I should thank you."

Li Ye glanced at the anxious Gao Gao Xiaoyan, then finally released Lu Lu Jingyao's wrist.

Lu Lu Jingyao drew a deep breath, still gritting her teeth: "Li Ye, you're an educated person—you know everyone has dignity. Gao Xiaoyan was unjustly insulted by your sister—doesn't she deserve an apology?"

Lu Lu Jingyao hesitated, then added: "You hold prejudice against me. Your Li family hates me—I understand. But you can't humiliate Gao Xiaoyan."

Li Ye frowned slightly.

Because by 1985's social moral standards, Li Xia Yue's remark of "no shame" toward Gao Gao Xiaoyan's premarital pregnancy was entirely justified.

But Lu Lu Jingyao, accustomed overseas to "freedom and dignity," believed Li Xia Yue had no right to shame a single mother suffering hardship.

Even though the Li family now dominated Qinghe County, and Lu Lu Jingyao still owed Li Ye a moral debt, she still stepped forward demanding Li Xia Yue's apology for Gao Gao Xiaoyan's sake.

Li Ye thought for a moment, then said to his sister Li Xia Yue: "Gao Gao Xiaoyan is a tragic soul. You shouldn't have insulted her. You should've cursed Lu Zixue for being a piece of trash."

After Li Ye spoke, Li Xia Yue rolled her eyes, Lu Lu Jingyao froze in outrage, and Gao Gao Xiaoyan could only offer a helpless, awkward smile.

"Ha."

Li Ye sneered. "You think I just insulted Gao Gao Xiaoyan?"

Lu Lu Jingyao whirled to face Li Xia Yue, chest heaving—but she said nothing more.

Since Lu Lu Jingyao left for university, she had never again spoken privately with Li Xia Yue.

And because of Li Ye's "indifference," she had seemingly forgotten that in mainland China, under these circumstances, for Li Ye's sister to call her "no shame" was mild.

Of course she would scold her.

"Hmph."

Seeing Lu Lu Jingyao seething, Li Xia Yue walked off smugly.

Li Ye glanced at Lu Lu Jingyao, then walked toward the Lu family's full-moon banquet table.

"Li Ye, what are you doing?"

Lu Lu Jingyao hurried after him, trying to stop him.

But Li Ye moved faster, reaching the Lu family's banquet table first.

"I'm sorry—my sister had a minor conflict with you all, so I've come to explain."

Li Ye picked up the bottle and poured himself a large cup of wine.

"Perhaps my sister's words were harsh, but please understand: if someone cuts you with a knife, even after the wound heals, the scar remains forever."

"As long as the scar remains, seeing it will inevitably stir emotion. So please, forgive us. Thank you."

Li Ye finished speaking, downed the wine in one gulp, and turned to leave.

Everyone stood stunned, none understanding what Li Ye meant.

Did Li Ye apologize? Of course not—didn't you hear his "scar" speech?

But Lu Lu Jingyao seemed to understand.

I can tolerate you, Lu Lu Jingyao—but my family may not.

When you see her again, when she insults you, you'll have to endure it.

"Oh, by the way."

Li Ye suddenly turned back and smiled at Lu Lu Jingyao.

"Lu Lu Jingyao, you studied so much about dignity in the West—when insulted, you demand an apology. So how are you going to apologize to me?"

"Ask yourself—have you, Lu Lu Jingyao, ever sincerely apologized to me?"

(End of Chapter)