"Wife, you really make me feel a pang in my heart. How about I give them one hundred million? If that’s still not enough, we can even give them this house. I’ll buy another one later," Ye Yun said directly to his resolute wife.
Ye Yun was never one to be bullied. However, the thought of Li Mengyao sacrificing herself to a tiger in his past life, suffering immensely, and ultimately taking their daughter with her in a final act of defiance against their tormentors, weighed heavily on him. For Li Mengyao, he would spare no effort, no matter the cost. Even though he had already been utterly disappointed by her parents, if Li Mengyao wished it, Ye Yun would readily cast aside his principles.
"No, Ye Yun, you don't need to worry about this. I'll handle it myself!" Li Mengyao's gaze grew even more determined.
"Sigh, if you need anything, just call me," Ye Yun could only sigh.
Meanwhile, Li Mengyao picked up her phone and dialed Li Menghao's number.
...
On the other side, at the Old Li family residence.
The elderly couple returned home, muttering curses. Wu Lan’s anger flared the moment she saw Old Man Li.
"You useless old fool! Why weren’t you more assertive earlier? Those two ungrateful brats, they don’t even know how to show us filial piety! And that little one, she doesn’t even care about her grandmother, not even letting me play with her little piggy bank!" Wu Lan scolded everyone, having gained nothing from their efforts.
As she spoke, her anger intensified. "Those heartless couple, they actually called the police on me! Hmph, hmph, hmph! I’m so angry, so furious! They have no conscience at all! I’ll turn their lives upside down!"
"I @#￥%…………&&%……%*"
By the end of her rant, Wu Lan was spewing vulgarities.
"Alright, you've been cursing this whole way. Can you just calm down? My head is about to explode," Li Zengguo said, rubbing his temples as he plugged his scooter in to charge.
"Then what do you suggest we do? Are we just going to let it go? Just watch them live good lives while we get nothing? They live in a villa and eat lobster, while we're stuck in this dilapidated house eating vegetables? They drive luxury cars every day, being called Mr. Ye and Ms. Li, while we can only work as cleaners or doormen, being called Aunt Wu and Old Man Li?" Wu Lan asked indignantly.
Her words immediately stoked Li Zengguo's emotions.
"How can we let that happen! We need to think this through! You didn’t notice back then, but that Ye fellow actually softened and was willing to give us one hundred million! It was that stubborn girl Mengyao who refused to accept it, that’s why we didn’t get the money! Let’s figure out a way to not only get that one hundred million but also that house in Ying Tian Fu! We have to take it!" Li Zengguo said viciously.
The thought of that house made the couple's mouths water. A three-story villa in the heart of Jinling City, complete with a garden, spacious courtyard, and a basketball court! They had inquired from nearby residents; the villa alone was worth over one hundred million! If they moved in and bought a million-dollar luxury car, who wouldn’t address them as Mr. and Mrs. Li in the future?
Just as the elderly couple was lost in their pipe dreams, Wu Lan's phone rang again. It was Li Menghao. This time, Wu Lan didn't hang up. Instead, she rubbed her mouth, which had been stretched into a grin from her fantasies. She feared she might burst into laughter while talking to her son, overcome by the thought of their impending good fortune!
Indeed, women are natural actors. The moment she answered, Wu Lan immediately launched into a wailing, tearful performance, full of bitterness and resentment.
"Wuwuwu, Menghao, you don't know... Mengyao, she..."
However, before Wu Lan could finish her sentence, a furious roar erupted from Li Menghao on the other end of the line.
"Shut up!"
...Silence! A deathly silence!
Wu Lan and Li Zengguo exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to proceed. They could only hear Li Menghao's strained breathing on the phone. Even without seeing him, anyone could tell he was consumed by extreme anger.
"You two are home now, right? My dad should be with you! Put it on speakerphone, I have something to say to both of you!" Li Menghao shrieked.
After about ten seconds, Li Menghao took a deep breath.
"Dad, Mom! This is the last time I’ll call you that! My sister has finally found a good life, and if you dare to ruin the happiness she’s worked so hard to achieve, are you even human anymore? If you go to Ying Tian Fu to cause trouble again, I’ll die right in front of you! With parents like you, what's the point of living!"
"You two, you're both over fifty! Can you think about us for once? Have you ever considered that once you do this, people will point fingers at us behind our backs, saying, 'Look, his parents are shameless'? I don't know if you can handle it, but I certainly can't!"
"Mom, Dad, I'm telling you one last time, if you go to Ying Tian Fu to harass my sister and brother-in-law again, I, Li Menghao, will die to prove it to you! You're always biased towards sons, aren't you? You've always wanted me to give you a grandson to continue the Li family line, right!"
"You know my temper, if you push me too far, I'll do anything! If you still don't listen to my advice, you can bet I’ll go through with it!"
Li Menghao's voice grew heavier and more uncontrolled. He was truly at his wit's end with his parents. Ye Yun had held his wedding for him, earning him immense respect. Li Menghao knew Ye Yun was likely wealthy, but he had never called him, not even once. Why? For him, as long as his sister Li Mengyao was happy, nothing else mattered! Therefore, even if he knew a single phone call could change his future, even a promotion, a raise, becoming a general manager, or a CEO, was within reach, he wouldn't take that gamble. What if Ye Yun minded? What if he blamed his sister for it? Even if the probability was slim, Li Menghao wouldn't risk it! Only he knew how much his sister had suffered in the past, and how hard-won her current happy life was! Li Menghao knew that not only he, but his second sister, Li Menghan, felt the same way! But who knew that their parents would shamelessly demand money and even involve the police! How could he stand it any longer?
Hearing Li Menghao's threat, the elderly couple panicked. They knew Li Menghao's temper well. He was a hothead! Otherwise, he wouldn't have severely injured Ye Yun in a fit of rage and ended up in jail for a month!
"Menghao, no! Please, don't!"
"Dad promises you, we won't go to Ying Tian Fu again, and your mother won't either. But you have to promise Dad, if we don't go, you won't do anything foolish, alright?"
"Remember what you said! If you keep your word, I'll keep mine!" Li Menghao said and hung up abruptly.
Wu Lan slumped dejectedly. Did this mean she could no longer threaten Ye Yun's family? However, Old Man Li by her side began to chuckle coldly.