Chapter 87

Chapter 87

Interstellar Bay Hotel was a five-star chain hotel invested in by Jiang Corporation, and Jiang Corporation was its largest shareholder.

And just like that, Yun Li had acquired ownership of the best suite in the entire hotel.

Based on their last experience, Jiang Baichuan had already automatically interpreted Yun Li’s request to get a room as her wanting to sleep.

When she was in a bad mood, she liked to sleep.

But they had just come back from that little restaurant, full from dinner, and from the way she looked now, Jiang Baichuan could tell her mood did not seem quite so terrible anymore.

If her mood had improved, then she probably would not want to sleep.

Jiang Baichuan’s brain cells were unusually active right now. He stared at Yun Li without so much as blinking.

His gaze was far too intense for Yun Li to ignore.

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Baichuan poured her a glass of water and handed it over, his voice low. “Do you still want to sleep?”

“Jiang Baichuan, thank you.” Yun Li’s tone was full of sincerity.

Jiang Baichuan guessed what she was about to say next, so he answered casually, “Mm. You’re welcome.”

“I want to be alone for a while.” Sure enough, Yun Li once again said her catchphrase.

“Come to me if you need anything.” Jiang Baichuan rose cleanly to his feet, picked up the suit jacket beside him, and draped it over his arm. After hesitating for a moment, he still said what was on his mind. “Don’t always think about pushing me away. And don’t lie to yourself.”

“Yun Li, you need me.”

The room fell empty and quiet. Yun Li’s eyes drifted slightly out of focus.

Only after a long while did she admit it to herself.

Yes. It seemed she really did need him.

Perhaps she was being willful for once, or perhaps she wanted revenge-wanted Yun Meilan to experience that same anxiety and panic of not knowing what was happening. Ever since Yun Li had come here with Jiang Baichuan, she had turned off her phone. She sat alone in a daze for a very long time, and later, hugging a throw pillow, she fell asleep on the sofa.

When she opened her eyes again, night had fallen.

The moment she turned on her phone, it was filled with messages and calls from Yun Meilan.

There were some from Liang Jing too.

Yun Li tapped into the chat and read the messages Liang Jing had sent.

Liang Jing: [I was only responsible for sending your mom to the hotel. This whole idea was hers. It had nothing to do with me.]

-[Where are you? Your mom is looking for you. She’s called me several times in a row, and I don’t have time to deal with this.]

-[My mom isn’t in good health. Handle your own family matters properly. Don’t let her come to our house and spout nonsense.]

Her phone vibrated again. It was a new message from him, sent just now: [Yun Li, what the hell are you making a scene for?]

Making a scene.

How was this making a scene?

She knew very well what she was doing right now.

Exiting the chat, Yun Li replied one by one to the messages of concern from Xia Wanzhi and Jiang Baichuan. Then she tidied up briefly and prepared to leave. Only when she got downstairs did she realize her car was still parked at Zhuoyue Hotel.

Standing in the night, Yun Li was briefly at a loss.

She clearly had a car, but at the time, it was as if she had completely forgotten. Somehow, in a daze, she had gotten into Jiang Baichuan’s car just like that.

With no other choice, she could only take a taxi to Zhuoyue Hotel and drive her own car back.

When she got home, the apartment was pitch-black. Only a little light from outside the balcony filtered in, and Yun Li vaguely saw a shadow sitting motionless on the living room sofa.

With a click, she turned on the lights and lowered her head to change her shoes.

On the living room sofa, Yun Meilan looked over expressionlessly. “So you still know how to come back.”

Yun Li did not respond. She set down her phone and keys, then went to wash her hands.
“The food is still warm. Come eat.” Yun Meilan carried the reheated dishes from the microwave to the dining table.

Yun Li froze for a moment, then walked over in a daze and sat down across from her.

This suffocating pressure was exactly the same as when she was a child.

Yun Li had long since gone numb. She ate while waiting for her mother to speak.

Yun Meilan looked at her for a long time. She wanted to scold her, but seeing her like this made her heart ache, so she skipped that part and got straight to the point. “I thought you and Liang Jing were just having a little spat. I didn’t expect you to have gotten involved with some shady people out there.”

Her tone was calm, but Yun Li could still feel the displeasure radiating from her.

“What do you mean, shady people?” Yun Li put down her chopsticks and met her gaze. “Did Liang Jing tell you that? You believe every word he says, but you won’t listen to a single word from me. Which one of us is actually your child?”

“What has gotten into you today? Did you swallow gunpowder?” Yun Meilan slammed the table, staring in disbelief at this daughter of hers, who had always been gentle and obedient, now suddenly so aggressive and confrontational.

“That’s because you’ve never understood me.” Yun Li’s eyes stung, and the sound she let out was more like a sob than a laugh. “You only like the daughter who listens to you and does whatever you say. You’ve never cared about what I like. You only care about what you like.”

“Wasn’t I only-”

“You weren’t doing it for my own good!” Yun Li’s emotions suddenly erupted. “I’m sick of hearing that line. I’m begging you, please stop holding it over my head, okay?”

That sentence had trapped her for so many years.

Her mother’s “I’m doing this for your own good” and “I worked so hard to raise you” had imprisoned her in a cage where she could never see the light of day.

Yun Meilan said nothing.

The way Yun Li had reacted today, and everything she’d said, did bother her.

She had reflected on whether she had pushed Yun Li too hard.

But the more she thought about it, the more she felt that Yun Li’s unusual behavior today had been instigated and influenced by someone else.

Her daughter had always been obedient.

She believed that firmly.

“How long has that man been pestering you?” Yun Meilan did not answer Yun Li. Instead, she changed the subject, her attitude growing forceful again before she even realized it.

Yun Li wasn’t surprised by the question.

“Not long. About three months.” Yun Li looked straight into her eyes and corrected her, “And he wasn’t pestering me. He was pursuing me.”

“He knew you had a boyfriend and still pursued you!” Yun Meilan slapped the table and raised her voice. “And you actually like someone with such poor character?”

“That’s right. I like that kind of person.” Yun Li leaned back, giving up on herself. “I like that he has poor character.”

“You…” Yun Meilan was so angry she pointed straight at her face. “What are you making Liang Jing think of you?”

“I don’t care what he thinks of me.” Yun Li no longer wanted to argue with her. When she stood up, she looked down at her mother and gave a bitter smile. “Mom, you might not even realize it, but in your eyes, Liang Jing is practically your real son.”

After returning to her room, Yun Li heard the sound of cups being smashed in the living room. She sat quietly for a while, then called Liang Jing. “Come to my house.”

Liang Jing sounded impatient. “It’s late. What are you trying to stir up now?”

“If you don’t want me taking this to your house, then come over.” Yun Li’s voice was ice-cold.

As if she’d grabbed him by the throat, Liang Jing got ready to leave. “This had better be something important.”

Ever since their last argument, when Yun Li had exposed his facade, he hadn’t even bothered pretending anymore.