Chapter 90

Chapter 90

Yun Li had promised to treat Jiang Baichuan to dinner tonight, but as the time drew near, Yun Meilan called to say that Liang Jing’s parents had come over for a visit and told her to close up early and go home with Liang Jing for dinner.

“Sorry. I’ll treat you next time,” Yun Li said, looking a little dazed.

Yun Li could more or less guess why Liang Jing’s parents had made this trip.

Everything she had said last night had only been her side of the story. She had no evidence, and Liang Jing hadn’t admitted to anything-nor would he ever.

Not only would he refuse to admit it, he would even think of every possible way to manipulate Yun Meilan.

He knew that controlling Yun Meilan meant controlling Yun Li.

So the Liang Family parents had come here specifically to apologize on Liang Jing’s behalf.

By dragging the elders from both families into this, Liang Jing was putting pressure on Yun Li.

Seeing that she was so distracted she was about to snip the flower stem in her hand to pieces, Jiang Baichuan raised his hand and covered the back of hers, stopping her next move. “Saying sorry doesn’t help. I’m pretty hurt. Treat me to two meals next time.”

Yun Li: “…”

As expected of a capitalist.

But considering he’d spent the whole day working for her for free, Yun Li nodded. “Then I’ll owe you for now.”

As she spoke, she awkwardly pulled her hand back. Their fingertips brushed, leaving behind a trace of warmth.

Jiang Baichuan lifted a brow slightly, the smile in his eyes deepening. “Want me to drive you?”

“No need. My car…” Yun Li stood up, but her words came to an abrupt halt when she saw Liang Jing standing at the entrance of the flower shop.

No wonder Yun Meilan had said to have her and Liang Jing go home for dinner together.

So he’d dropped by on his way to pick her up.

At this hour, it was exactly when he got off work.

Seeing Jiang Baichuan at the flower shop once again, Liang Jing hid the anger in his eyes. He had seen what had just happened, but this time, reason outweighed his fury.

Tonight’s dinner was his only chance to win Yun Li back.

“What a coincidence.” Jiang Baichuan rose and stood beside Yun Li, speaking in the tone of a scheming little innocent. “Mr. Liang, don’t misunderstand. Yun Li and I were classmates once. I had nothing to do, so I came by to help out. You don’t mind, do you?”

Yun Li felt her scalp tingle. “…”

He was getting more and more unserious.

Liang Jing restrained his emotions and forced out a magnanimous smile. “What are you saying, President Jiang? Last time, I misunderstood the two of you. I still owe you an apology.”

Jiang Baichuan lifted his chin. “What did you misunderstand? How come I don’t know?”

Liang Jing’s face darkened. He nearly couldn’t keep up the act.

Never mind that he didn’t dare provoke Jiang Baichuan-even if he did, he was no match for him.

Yun Li glanced lightly at Jiang Baichuan.

This man’s level of play was truly high now.

“I have my own car. Let’s each drive separately.” Yun Li tidied up, then shut the door and locked the security lock. The lock was a little rusty and needed force to latch properly. Jiang Baichuan stood beside her and very naturally reached out to help.

His palm pressed against the back of her hand, his movements slow and unhurried.

Behind them, Liang Jing watched, practically smoking with rage.

No matter how dissatisfied he was, he couldn’t provoke Yun Li any further.

As for Jiang Baichuan…

The Jiang family held a rather high status in Beicheng. The wealthy had all kinds of methods ordinary people couldn’t even reach.

And he was only a new employee at the Audit Bureau who had just secured a stable government paycheck.

The reason he had gone home that day and flown into a rage at Yun Li wasn’t because his possessiveness had erupted, but because he couldn’t stand the fact that someone so outstanding existed by Yun Li’s side.

In his eyes, she was nothing more than a flower seller.

Jiang Baichuan’s palm was slightly warm. Yun Li lifted her eyes and glanced at him, somehow wanting to laugh.

Sometimes this man unconsciously gave off a bit of childishness.

Maybe even he himself didn’t know it.

Once the door was locked, Yun Li walked straight toward her own car without sparing Liang Jing a single glance.

After she got home, Yun Li set down her keys and politely greeted the elders. When Yun Meilan saw that Liang Jing wasn’t behind her, she hurriedly asked, “Where’s Liang Jing? Weren’t you two coming back together?”

Yun Li went to wash her hands, the sound of running water nearly drowning out her voice. “I have a car. I had to drive it back. Otherwise, how would I get to the flower shop tomorrow?”

Yun Meilan didn’t know whether Liang Jing’s parents in the living room had heard that. She stepped forward and tugged Yun Li’s arm. “Are you still angry? His parents are here today too. Don’t go too far.”

Yun Li looked at herself in the mirror and answered numbly, “I know.”

Ten minutes later, Liang Jing finally rang the doorbell. Yun Li was shoved by Yun Meilan to go open the door.

As soon as he entered, Liang Jing said apologetically, “It was rush hour after work. The traffic was a little heavy.”
They had all come back by the same road. Yun Li knew perfectly well whether there had been traffic or not.

Liang Jing drove the way he carried himself: pretending to be steady and composed, when in reality he was a coward. A trip that should have taken twenty minutes could take him more than half an hour.

Yun Meilan was still as warm and attentive as ever while hosting their family. No matter how unhappy Yun Li was, she would not take it out on Liang Jing’s parents, so her tone and attitude remained relatively polite.

But the moment they sat down at the dinner table, their intentions became clear. One side urged Liang Jing to serve food onto her plate; the other chatted and laughed on her behalf, subtly trying to help her and Liang Jing make up.

Yun Li’s last shred of patience ran out.

“Liang Jing only quarreled with you like that because he acted on impulse. I already gave him a good scolding, and he definitely won’t do it again.” Mother Liang had been in and out of the hospital repeatedly during this period, and Yun Li had been the one taking care of her most of the time. She was extremely satisfied with Yun Li. Now, she took the initiative to place some food on Yun Li’s plate and said gently, “Why don’t we just let this matter pass? I really like you. I’m still waiting for the day you call me Mom. I truly can’t bear to see the two of you split up.”

Yun Meilan chimed in, “Exactly. I feel the same way. It would be such a pity if you broke up.”

Yun Li chewed the rice in her mouth without making a sound.

This was exactly the kind of person Yun Meilan was. She couldn’t see reality for what it was.

Even if she had briefly doubted Liang Jing last night, she was still more willing to trust her own instincts.

Not a single word Yun Li had said had gotten through to her.

Liang Jing took the opening Mother Liang had given him and softened his voice as he apologized to Yun Li. “Yun Li, I really didn’t mean it that day. I’m truly sorry. I’ve thought it over. It was all because I didn’t take proper care of you that you thought I…”

He promised, “I’ll change. Believe me just this once. I’m serious about you. The kind of serious where I want to build a family with you. Give me one more chance.”

His attitude was so sincere that Yun Meilan was almost moved to tears. Under the table, she patted Yun Li’s hand, signaling her to respond.

Yun Li set down her bowl and chopsticks. “This isn’t a matter of whether I give you another chance or not. I don’t like you.”

Her tone was serious. Since both families were here, she might as well make things clear. “Liang Jing, I’ve never liked you. Uncle and Auntie may not know why I agreed to be with you, but you do. So stop pretending you don’t understand when you know perfectly well.”

The moment she said that, everyone’s expression changed.

Yun Meilan was afraid that Liang Jing’s parents would find out she had threatened suicide to force Yun Li to be with Liang Jing.

Likewise, Liang Jing did not want his parents to know about it either. Especially what had happened yesterday, when he helped Yun Meilan stage her disappearance. That absolutely could not reach their ears.

Father Liang’s expression also changed drastically. Looking somewhat embarrassed, he said, “Are you saying that out of anger? Our Liang Jing likes you so much, and you’re being this heartless?”

Yun Li spoke slowly. She was clearly answering Father Liang, but her eyes were fixed straight on Liang Jing. “Does Liang Jing really like me?”

Liang Jing’s entire body nearly went rigid. Sweat had already gathered in his tightly clenched palms.

He felt fear.

Putting down his bowl and chopsticks, he darkened his face and left with his parents before even finishing the meal. “You can refuse to believe me, but you can’t insult my character in front of my parents!”

The meal ended on bad terms.

Yet Yun Meilan did not make a scene. Instead, she sat dazedly at the dining table. “Are you satisfied now? Such a good match, and you ruined it just like that. Do you know that before you two came back, his parents told me they’d already prepared three hundred thousand yuan for the bride price? They were just waiting for you two to get married at the end of the year…”

“What’s three hundred thousand yuan as a bride price? That uncultured suitor of mine bought me a gift worth more than that.” Now that she could finally cut ties with that bastard Liang Jing once and for all, Yun Li’s laugh carried a lightness born of genuine relief. She didn’t mind dragging Jiang Baichuan into this for a spin. It made her happy, and it could also choke Yun Meilan a little.

No one knew a mother better than her daughter. Yun Li understood Yun Meilan far too well.

Liang Jing’s reaction just now had clearly made her think of what had been said last night.

The doubts she had dispelled had returned, and this time, her suspicion of Liang Jing had deepened once again.

She simply wasn’t willing to accept the outcome.

She wasn’t willing to admit that she had misjudged Liang Jing.

So she mercilessly pushed all the blame onto Yun Li.

But Yun Li accepted it.

As long as Yun Meilan stopped forcing her to be with Liang Jing, Yun Li would accept whatever she said.