Chapter 48
“I said I can’t sign it, and I meant it. Which one will you choose?” Xu Ke placed his hand on the reconciliation agreement, looking calmly at Li Lihua. “If Mengyao signs this agreement, from now on, the Lin Family’s affairs will have nothing to do with her. If you give up the agreement, no matter how excessive your demands are in the future, I’ll satisfy them. Now, which one will you choose?”
“Who do you think you are to make decisions for Mengyao? You think you’re someone important? You’re just a son-in-law living off his wife’s family, a good-for-nothing. Know your place, and don’t get in my way. If you upset me, I’ll make Mengyao divorce you, and you’ll end up with nothing.” While speaking, Li Lihua tried to pry Xu Ke’s fingers away but found that his hands were like steel claws, completely unmoving.
“Let go of me!” Li Lihua’s face twitched with anger as she pointed at Xu Ke’s nose and shouted loudly.
“You still haven’t made your choice,” Xu Ke said, standing firm.
“Fine, you’re tough. Listen, I want the reconciliation agreement!” Li Lihua said determinedly.
Compared to the demands of such a good-for-nothing, the reconciliation agreement seemed more practical, so Li Lihua didn’t hesitate to decisively give her answer.
“Alright, I’ve made my choice, now let go of my hand,” Li Lihua said as she looked at Xu Ke’s unmoving hand on the reconciliation agreement.
“For the sake of you being Mengyao’s mother, I’m giving you one last chance to choose again.”
“Haven’t you had enough? I already said I want the reconciliation agreement. Can’t you understand human speech? Let go of my hand immediately. Can you afford the consequences of delaying my affairs, you eyesore?” Li Lihua reached out to tug at Xu Ke’s arm, but Xu Ke avoided it. This was the first time since their three-year marriage that Xu Ke evaded her attack.
Li Lihua was initially shocked and then annoyed, but when she saw Xu Ke sign his name with a flourish on the reconciliation paper, her displeasure was temporarily suppressed as she stared intently at the paper and the pen, as if expecting a flower to blossom on it.
Xu Ke threw the paper signed with his name at Li Lihua, expressionless. “What you wanted is signed. Now go.” For Mengyao’s sake, Xu Ke refrained from using the word “leave,” but his attitude and expression conveyed its meaning clearly.
“How dare you talk to me like that? Remember your place. Don’t think that just because you’re here, you can ignore the family’s affairs. You don’t work all day, and all your food, drinks, clothes, and uses come from us. Don’t expect to shirk the house chores. You must go home before the end of the day to cook and clean everything. Do you hear me?” Li Lihua carefully put the reconciliation paper into her bag, glaring at Xu Ke.
“Mengyao needs someone here; I have to stay with her. You can manage the house chores and meals yourselves,” Xu Ke calmly sat in the chair, selecting the largest apple from the washed apples on the table, and started peeling it.
“Ourselves? Are you joking? Mengyao is old enough to take care of herself. Don’t think you can be lazy. Let me tell you, you have no chance. If you want to stay in the Lin Family, you better behave and do what you’re supposed to do,” Li Lihua shouted with hands on her hips, like a shrew.
“Excuse me, madam, this is a hospital. Please keep your voice down,” the nurse doing rounds gently said, standing beside Li Lihua after hearing her loud voice.
“Are you a ghost? How come I didn’t hear you walk over? You scared me to death. I’m teaching my son-in-law a lesson, don’t interfere, or I’ll report you,” Li Lihua’s voice grew even louder as if intentionally provoking.
“Madam, this is a hospital. Patients need rest. If you have something to say, do it at home. Don’t shout here. And feel free to report,” the experienced nurse said with an unchanged expression and a steady speech rhythm, her eyes as calm as a still pond, sending a chill to anyone watching.
The nurse’s composure reminded Li Lihua of the horror stories she read in her youth, and cold sweat trickled down her back. She even felt her legs weakening; if not for the fear of embarrassment, she would have collapsed.
“Don’t think I won’t do it; I’m going to report you now, just wait,” Li Lihua, trying hard to maintain a fierce look, turned and left quickly as if chased, without looking back.
The nurse snorted, turned around, and said to Xu Ke and Lin Mengyao in the ward, “Keep quiet, don’t disturb others.” Then she left for another ward.
Lin Mengyao watched everything unfold, unsure of what to say, as the earlier unpleasant emotions dissipated due to this unexpected turn of events.
“Open your mouth,” a gentle voice sounded near her, and instinctively, Lin Mengyao opened her mouth. The next second, a small piece of apple was placed into her mouth, bringing her out of her daze.
The unique sweet aroma of the apple slid down her throat, miraculously lightening Mengyao’s mood, “If my mom hadn’t chosen the reconciliation agreement earlier and picked the other option, what would you have done?” Mengyao felt Xu Ke’s protective behavior was charmingly manly, yet found his words a bit pretentious. What if her mom had really demanded something excessive?
Hearing that Xu Ke had a legitimate business, Mengyao’s brows relaxed, and her expression softened. “It’s good that you’re progressing, I’m happy for you. I hope you keep it up.”
“Yes, I will. I will keep getting better, and our future days will also keep getting better,” Xu Ke replied with a gentle smile.