If it were any other day, Li Duo'er might not have refused his invitation.
But not today.
Today was Jiang Yuxin's birthday, and the entire Jiang family was present, along with many guests.
If he left now, it would be like trampling Jiang Yuxin's dignity into the ground.
The relationship, so painstakingly repaired, would shatter in an instant.
He knew Jiang Yuxin's personality too well.
So, he flatly refused, "Today is your sister-in-law's big day, I have no time!"
Upon hearing this, the smile on Li Duo'er's face froze for a few seconds, a misty layer forming in her large eyes, making her look incredibly wronged.
The burly men behind her simultaneously wore unpleasant expressions.
Fingers flexing, they were ready to teach this boy who dared to reject the young lady a lesson.
One burly man with a scar near his eye couldn't help but step forward. "You ungrateful brat! The young lady is speaking to you nicely, and you refuse? You're asking for death!"
*Slap!*
As soon as the words left his mouth, Li Duo'er slapped the burly man across the face.
The smile vanished from her pretty face as she coldly rebuked, "Get back! Am I speaking to my big brother? Is it your place to interrupt?"
The burly man's head turned from the blow, no hint of resentment on his face.
He quickly retreated two steps and rejoined the ranks.
The others looked on with lingering fear, grateful they hadn't rashly stepped forward.
Otherwise, they would have gained nothing and been beaten.
"Duo'er, have you had enough fun? You're welcome as a guest, but it's not appropriate to cause trouble today," Li Chonglou said, his gaze calm and collected, as he watched the scene unfold.
He had cultivated a pair of discerning eyes; his judgment of people went beyond the surface.
The first time Li Chonglou met Li Duo'er, she had displayed herself as no ordinary person.
How could a normal person steal a priceless jade?
But this did not conflict with his feeling that Li Duo'er was approachable.
Li Chonglou himself was hardly a saint.
Therefore, he was not surprised by what was happening now, he just didn't want Li Duo'er to stir up any more trouble.
"Big brother, what if I told you that the person looking for you knows your father's whereabouts?" Just then, Li Duo'er walked closer to Li Chonglou and whispered into his ear, in a voice only they could hear.
*Boom!*
Li Chonglou's pupils contracted to their absolute limit, his eyelids twitching violently.
He gritted his teeth and asked, "What did you say?"
His father had disappeared when he was young, with no news for many years.
He had asked his mother and searched for many years, but after his mother passed away in his previous life, all the clues were lost.
He was left in darkness, and over time, he stopped obsessing.
But now, to hear this from Li Duo'er's lips.
Even though his composure was usually unwavering, he could no longer suppress the surging emotions within him.
No child would wish their father were not alive.
A father was the source of strength, a role model for every child. In Li Chonglou's life, aside from his mother, his father's absence was a profound regret.
He couldn't even remember what his father looked like.
He had long lost hope of ever finding him.
But now, Li Duo'er's words instantly reignited all his extinguished hope.
"If you want to know, then come with me, big brother. Since ancient times, it's been difficult to have both worlds. You can only choose between your father and your wife," Li Duo'er said, her eyes full of playful mockery.
Though her voice was soft, it carried an air of coercion.
It was clear that after today, this opportunity would be gone.
Li Chonglou couldn't fail to see this blatant pressure.
If it were anyone else who dared to speak to him like this, they would already be by the throat and lifted up.
But facing this girl, Li Chonglou ultimately did not act.
His eyes narrowed into slits, a flicker of determination flashing within them. "Let's go!"
This wasn't a single-choice question.
He could explain to Jiang Yuxin, but if he lost the lead to his father, he didn't know if he'd ever have another chance to find him.
What if Li Duo'er disappeared? How would he investigate?
Although Li Chonglou harbored great doubts about his father's matter, he was unwilling to give up even the slightest chance.
After speaking, he strode towards the exit.
"Brother Li!" Lu Yunxu called out urgently upon seeing this.
"Yunxu, help me tell Yuxin that I have something important to attend to in Yong'an," Li Chonglou said without looking back, stepping out of the Jiang family's villa grounds.
Li Duo'er stuck out her tongue at Lu Yunxu and quickly followed him out.
Lu Yunxu stood frozen, looking at a loss.
It wasn't until Jiang Yuxin came out of the house that she was roused.
"Li Chonglou left?" Upon hearing the news, Jiang Yuxin's brows furrowed, and then a flash of anger crossed her eyes.
She took out her phone and dialed Li Chonglou's number.
But all she got was "the number you have dialed is out of service," making the call impossible.
No one answered her WeChat voice or video calls.
Jiang Yuxin finally couldn't help but throw her phone onto the sofa, gritting her teeth, her face turning green. "This is too much!"
She had never imagined that on her birthday, Li Chonglou would leave with another woman in full view of everyone at the Jiang residence.
Completely disregarding her feelings and her reputation.
What's more, it was a beautiful woman!
A woman who called Li Chonglou "big brother"!
She had intended to announce the matter of Li Chonglou gifting her Huashan Villa at the birthday banquet, to bring honor to the Jiang family, and more importantly, to herself and Li Chonglou.
But unexpectedly, such a complication had arisen midway.
"Yuxin, calm down first. Brother Li must have had some difficulty. He asked me to tell you that he had important matters to attend to," Lu Yunru said, holding Jiang Yuxin's hand and gently persuading her. "From what I know of Brother Li, he isn't someone who shirks responsibility."
"You know him? Do you know him as well as I do?" Jiang Yuxin's eyes were filled with disappointment, tears welling up as she let out a cold laugh.
She thought that Li Chonglou had improved, changed, and grown during this period.
With a heart full of joy, she was ready to welcome a new relationship.
But today's blow had struck her so painfully!
It had also completely awakened her.
Li Chonglou was still the same Li Chonglou. All the changes were just a facade; deep down, he was still that man who liked to evade and was irresponsible!
"Sigh..." Lu Yunru could see that Jiang Yuxin had already made up her mind, and any further explanation would only pour oil on the flames. She could only sigh inwardly.
Honestly, she also couldn't understand why Brother Li had to leave at this time.
What could be more important than his own wife's birthday?
Couldn't he have rescheduled?
During the rest of the birthday banquet, Jiang Yuxin forced a smile, greeting the guests.
No one dared to mention Li Chonglou again.
But everyone could tell that the atmosphere was awkward. The more they avoided talking about Li Chonglou, the more it bothered Jiang Yuxin.
After finally seeing off the guests,
She kept Lu Yunxu, took out the property deed for Huashan Villa, and handed it to her. "Yunxu, take this house back."
"Why? This was Brother Li's birthday gift to you. What would it mean if I took it back?" Lu Yunxu asked, puzzled.
"Our affairs should not have involved her," Jiang Yuxin explained with a somber expression. "But after today's incident, if he cannot provide a convincing explanation, I will definitely divorce him!"
"You are also a woman, you should understand my difficulties."
"This house was given to him by your family. I shouldn't possess it."
"It's best to return it now."
During the banquet, Jiang Yuxin had meticulously considered the cause and effect.
If Li Chonglou could leave without a word with another woman on her birthday today, he could divorce her for someone else tomorrow.
Rather than investing too much and suffering heartbreak afterward, it was better to cut ties decisively.
After all, in the end, she was just a woman.
And a woman who had been sensitive and independent since childhood!
"I'll keep it for you for now," Lu Yunxu said, knowing that no matter what she said, Jiang Yuxin wouldn't listen.
She could only take the property deed and agree.
At this moment, she didn't know whether she felt sad or happy.