Li Qianfan had not really expected that he would one day visit the Helan family in Si Jiu.
Even less had he expected that one day, Mr. Qunxing, the head of the Helan family, would treat him with such warmth and politeness.
After all—
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, when he had wanted to visit the Helan family to offer New Year's greetings, he had been rudely turned away with the words, "We don't see people named Li."
What's more, on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Sister Wujiang had directly kicked down the Helan family's "ancestral" decorative screen!
That was a complete falling out.
But now.
When he visited the Helan family in the evening, he received a warm welcome as if he were a "distinguished son-in-law arriving."
This made Li Qianfan feel a sense of unease all over.
Yet, he had no choice but to smile politely (though disingenuously) at Helan Qunxing, who was personally greeting him, and they exchanged pleasantries as they walked towards the moon gate of the courtyard.
"Qianfan, you chat with Tingmei first. I'll go prepare dinner. Hehe, tonight we'll drink until we drop. Oh, I misspoke. If you get drunk, you can just stay at the Helan residence. This courtyard is yours and Tingmei's home anyway."
Helan Qunxing's words perfectly encapsulated the saying, "Whoever gives benefits is like a mother; whoever gives benefits is like family!"
Could Helan Qunxing be blamed for this?
If anyone was to blame, it was Helan Tingmei, this good daughter of the Helan family.
It was precisely Helan Tingmei's sacrifice that had earned the Helan family great merit.
After the fall of the Yao family in Si Jiu, they had feasted greedily.
"Qianfan, don't worry about getting along with Tingmei. Her marriage to the Lu family has been completely dissolved," Helan Qunxing whispered to Li Qianfan before leaving.
Speaking of this matter, Helan Qunxing was filled with frustration.
He now knew that after Helan Tingmei married a certain young master of the Lu family, they had never lived as husband and wife.
It was purely a superficial act.
Yet, the Lu family had brazenly seized a large piece of the pie precisely because Helan Tingmei was nominally their daughter-in-law, especially after the fall of the Yao family in Si Jiu!
Originally, that piece of pie should have been claimed by the Helan family.
"Hehe."
Li Qianfan looked at the woman in the courtyard and forced a smile, saying nothing.
Helan Qunxing also glanced at Helan Tingmei before tactfully leaving.
Li Qianfan stood at the courtyard entrance.
Helan Tingmei stood in the courtyard.
Separated by more than ten meters, they looked at each other for a full minute before the woman turned and slowly walked into the house.
By the time Li Qianfan lifted the exquisitely artistic door curtain and entered the room, Helan Tingmei had already brewed some fragrant tea.
Li Qianfan sat down opposite her.
Helan Tingmei cupped a cup of tea in her hands and offered it to him, her voice soft, "Tonight, don't leave, alright?"
Li Qianfan countered with a question, "Are your injuries completely healed?"
"Unknowingly, it's been three months since I was injured," Helan Tingmei said, putting down the teacup. "In fact, I was completely healed two weeks ago. It's just that today is cloudy, and the injured areas still ache faintly."
"Three months already?" Li Qianfan was stunned and said, "Time flies."
Helan Tingmei said nothing, merely picked up the teapot again and poured herself a cup of tea.
They drank their tea in silence.
Although only a low table separated them, they both felt an invisible, thick wall between them.
"You look much younger than you did three months ago," Helan Tingmei said, breaking the awkward silence after pouring Li Qianfan another cup of water. "You look more in line with your actual age now."
Li Qianfan asked, "I'm 22 this year. How much older are you than me?"
Helan Tingmei's hand paused slightly as she poured the water, and she replied, "I'm seven years older than you."
"Hmm," Li Qianfan nodded. "We're not suitable."
*Click.*
Helan Tingmei put down the teapot and said coldly, "Su Nanyin, although she looks younger than me, isn't her actual age much greater than yours? And Chu Yazhi, she must be around forty, right?"
Li Qianfan picked up his teacup. "Can you compare yourself to them?"
Helan Tingmei retorted, "Why can't I compare myself to them?"
Li Qianfan took a sip of water. "Whether it's Su Nanyin or Chu Yazhi, they can do anything for me. Of course, I can do the same for them. What can you do for me?"
Helan Tingmei pursed her lips and remained silent.
Li Qianfan added indifferently, "Even if I stay tonight, I'd probably have to look at your displeased face and diligently serve you, right?"
Helan Tingmei scoffed, "Heh, when men and women are together, isn't it always the man who works hard?"
"There are some things you don't understand," Li Qianfan said, unwilling to continue this topic. He changed the subject, "What are your plans for the future? Will you continue to stay in Anren, find a job to coast by, or do you still want to go abroad and continue your extraordinary life?"
"I want to stay in Anren," Helan Tingmei said without hesitation. "Li Wujiang and Su Nanyin have already agreed. Only by staying in Anren can I avoid being ridiculed."
"Alright then," Li Qianfan stood up. "After tomorrow, you can start working at Anren anytime. Except for a few of us, even your secretary Xiao Xia doesn't know about your past. You've always stayed away from Anren because you were waiting for me to invite you. Now that I'm here tonight, and you've gained the face you wanted, you can achieve your life's value by working hard at Anren from now on."
Helan Tingmei asked, "Are you leaving?"
Li Qianfan walked towards the door. "Yes, I'm leaving. I've made it clear. I came tonight because I knew you were waiting for my invitation. Now that you've gotten what you wanted, I naturally have to leave."
"Li Qianfan!"
"What?" Li Qianfan, standing at the door, turned back and looked at her calmly.
Helan Tingmei said with difficulty, "Tonight, stay."
"If I stay, will I have to look at your deadpan face?" Li Qianfan sneered. "Do you think I'd be like you, a slut who likes to act cheap by joining Anwang just to pursue the extraordinary?"
Helan Tingmei's face changed drastically.
Li Qianfan raised his hand and lifted the door curtain.
"Li Qianfan, stay tonight!" Helan Tingmei suddenly stood up, saying eagerly, "I, I will smile at you!"
"It's best if you keep that deadpan face. Don't smile at me. I can imagine your smile would be exceptionally ugly." Li Qianfan finished without looking back, then lowered the door curtain and quickly strode away.
Helan Tingmei stood there stunned for a long time.
Li Qianfan naturally didn't care how she felt. After walking out of the courtyard, he put on his polite smile again, repeatedly declined Helan Qunxing's earnest invitation to stay, and took his leave.
At half-past eight in the evening.
Li Qianfan, carrying a gift box, arrived at the Murong family residence in Si Jiu.
Mr. Qianfan's sudden arrival was quite unexpected for the Murong family. However, they were very pleased and quickly welcomed him into the living room.
Murong He, who was responsible for receiving him, even instructed his wife to inform Murong Mingyuan.
He also smiled at Li Qianfan and said, "Since Mingyuan returned from the Black Water Forest, she's developed a habit of resting once it gets dark due to her injuries. She's even been neglecting her work at the disco."
Indeed. After being injured in the Arctic snowfield, Murong Mingyuan had been listless for a long time. She was not only sensitive to the cold but also extremely sleepy, and had gradually developed the habit of falling into a deep sleep shortly after dark.
"Mingyuan, Mingyuan, open the door." Murong He's wife hurried to Murong Mingyuan's door, knocking lightly. "Li Qianfan is here to see you!"
In the bedroom.
In a corner—
Murong Mingyuan, who was crouching with her forehead against the wall, trembled slightly before abruptly raising her head. Hearing her aunt's voice, she finally responded. She then quickly hid a thin booklet under her pillow before starting to get dressed.
Li Qianfan had come tonight to check on Murong Mingyuan's injuries. The Murong family, being considerate, had invited him to Murong Mingyuan's boudoir.
Li Qianfan did not stand on ceremony. He walked in confidently, sat on a chair, and extended his right hand to Murong Mingyuan. "Come, let me check your pulse."
Murong Mingyuan hesitated for a moment before extending her right hand. Li Qianfan's fingers gently rested on her pulse. After a moment, he frowned.
Murong Mingyuan, feeling nervous, asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Li Qianfan smiled and shook his head. "The reason I frowned is that I can't understand why your injuries, which should have left sequelae like persistent coughs, aren't apparent. Instead, from your strong pulse, I can sense that your physical fitness is better than ever."
Murong Mingyuan pursed her lips and quietly placed her left hand on the pillow. "My physical fitness is better than ever. Isn't that good?"
"Of course, it's good!" Li Qianfan was afraid this unruly and capricious little mare would misunderstand, so he quickly said, "It's just that from a doctor's perspective, I'm perplexed."
"Li Qianfan."
"Hmm?"
"If one day I become your enemy, what will you do to me?"
"Ha," Li Qianfan laughed. "Weren't you my enemy before last year?"
"You're right too." As Murong Mingyuan nodded, Li Qianfan's phone suddenly buzzed. He took out his phone, looked at the caller ID, stood up, and said to Murong Mingyuan, "I need to take a call."
"Okay," Murong Mingyuan casually pointed to the balcony. "You go and make the call there. I'll make you some tea."
"Mhm." Li Qianfan casually grunted, then quickly walked onto the balcony and put his phone to his ear. It was Chongchong calling.
Chongchong had known that Li Qianfan had returned to Si Jiu the day he arrived. She also knew that Li Qianfan had to visit Tang Xiaoni, Helan Tingmei, and Murong Mingyuan before going home. Therefore, she hadn't contacted him during these days. Tonight, however, she had called; it wasn't a text message, so something must be urgent.
"Chongchong, what's wrong?" Li Qianfan asked after answering the phone.
Chongchong called out anxiously from the other end, "Qianfan, hurry home! Maomao, Maomao is about to give birth!"