Chapter 108
“Grandma, I’ve made up my mind. Please let me handle this.” Lin Mengyao spoke with unwavering determination, knowing well that she was the most suitable person for this task, both publicly and privately.
Seeing Lin Mengyao’s resolute demeanor, with a hint of defiant fighting spirit in her eyes, Lin Grandma for the first time thought that Lin Mengyao was unlike her mother, who came from a humble background. Instead, she seemed like a true Lin Family member. For the first time, Lin Grandma showed a touch of affection and appreciation towards Lin Mengyao.
“Then go ahead and do it boldly. You don’t need to pledge anything this time. Give it your all and don’t let me down.”
The meeting concluded with Lin Mengyao taking on this hot potato.
“Cousin, give it your best. I have some investigative materials at my place. If you need them, I can bring them to your home some other day.” Lin Zihua patted Lin Mengyao’s shoulder with a gentle expression, showing the demeanor of a caring elder brother.
“Thank you. I’ll come to get them if I need them.” Lin Mengyao didn’t like Lin Shixian, but she didn’t dislike Lin Zihua. Thus, their conversation remained quite cordial.
“Cousin, why are you being so nice to her? She wants to steal the spotlight and show how great she is. You should let her do it herself and not give her what she wants. She’s not necessarily going to appreciate you.” Lin Mengxi stood in front of them with her arms crossed, glaring openly at Lin Mengyao without any courtesy.
“Cousin, I still have things to do, so I won’t chat with you any longer. Let’s get together another day.” Lin Mengyao treated Lin Mengxi like an annoying fly, not causing any real harm but being thoroughly irritating. Without bothering to respond, she turned to leave after speaking to Lin Zihua, preferring to spend time with Xu Ke rather than argue with her.
Lin Mengyao was meeting up with Xu Ke when Li Lihua caught up with them.
These days, Li Lihua had been having a hard time. Finding a house without losing face was like a massive stone pressing on her heart, leaving her breathless. On top of that, Song Meishu kept pestering her, asking questions over the phone, driving her crazy. Her hair had lost its luster, and she shed quite a bit of it over the matter.
“Where have you two been living lately?” With the stress of finding a house weighing on her, Li Lihua was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, her mind constantly occupied by it. Seeing Lin Mengyao and Xu Ke, who hadn’t been home in a long time, she didn’t miss the chance to chase after them and ask without any formality.
“I thought you didn’t care where we lived?” Lin Mengyao retorted coolly, looking at the woman who was half a head shorter and visibly more haggard.
Seeing Li Lihua like this, Lin Mengyao’s heart no longer ached for the other person. She had once wanted to protect her family and had been nearly indulgent towards Li Lihua. But now she could lie to Li Lihua’s face without any hesitation or guilt.
“I’m living in Mingxing District, Third Unit, Building Eight, Room 303. Give me a call before you come, and I’ll open the door or pick you up.”
Xu Ke raised an eyebrow as he watched Lin Mengyao brazenly lie, while Li Lihua glared fiercely at Lin Mengyao upon hearing this before speaking bluntly: “You’ve lived with your grandpa for years and recently managed a major project, yet you don’t have a penny to your name? Have you gone mad with poverty, living in such a rundown area? Don’t tell anyone you’re my daughter, Li Lihua! A so-called young lady being this stingy is embarrassing beyond words.”
“And you, why are you trailing behind her at the company? Don’t you know you’re a joke? Do you want more people to laugh at you? Lin Mengyao is young and ignorant, but what’s your excuse? Has your brain been fed to pigs or kicked by a mule that you dare come? You’re going to drive me mad! Leave before anyone notices you!” Li Lihua glanced at Xu Ke behind Lin Mengyao, scolding him without mercy, drawing curious looks from passersby.
“We’re in the same boat. Why should I leave when you’re here?” Xu Ke had sensed Lin Mengyao’s cold demeanor towards Li Lihua and wasn’t going to endure her abuse anymore. He struck back mercilessly.
“What do you mean by that? Is this how you, as a junior, speak to me? Have a few days away dulled your sense of identity? You clearly need a lesson.” Publicly shamed by Xu Ke, Li Lihua could no longer remain calm, pushing aside Lin Mengyao, raising her hand to slap Xu Ke.
“Mom, enough is enough.” Lin Mengyao grabbed her mother’s raised hand from behind.
“Let go! I’m your mother. You’ve never defied me before. Since you moved out with him, you’ve changed. Did he say something to you? I’m going to kill this male vixen!” Li Lihua raised her voice, shaking off Lin Mengyao’s grip, lunging at Xu Ke.
“How much money do you want?” Lin Mengyao rubbed her temples wearily, feelings mixed beyond description, feeling exhausted and powerless dealing with Li Lihua.
“Is this how you see me? You’ve no conscience! I raised you single-handedly, and this is what you think of me? If you’re so set against me, I’d be better off dead!” Though Li Lihua spoke of death, she made no real move to do so, clearly using filial duty to pressure Lin Mengyao, without any genuine intent to die.
“I want to support you. How much do you want?”
Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Li Lihua stopped the commotion, casually wiping her tears, and held out two fingers to Lin Mengyao.
“Two hundred thousand?”
“No, I want two million.”
Lin Mengyao paused sharply, the bankbook in her hand freezing as she looked at Li Lihua. “What do you need that much money for?” Two million wasn’t an impossible amount for her to produce, but it wasn’t trivial either. This sum was her fallback, and any decrease posed a significant problem.
“Why do you care? If you really want to honor me, just give me the money.” To compete with Song Meishu, Li Lihua had already emptied her little stash from over the years, but she was still short for buying a house in Dingsheng Garden. She couldn’t shell out anymore; naturally, she expected Lin Mengyao to supply it, after all, a married daughter is said to be like spilled water.