As soon as the door opened, Ye Yun appeared in Li Menghao's sight, holding Keke.
In an instant, the previously happy Li Menghao's face turned grim.
His eyes were fixed on Ye Yun, filled with fiery anger.
He reached out to snatch Keke, saying, "Put Keke down and get out! You're not welcome here!"
"Menghao!" Li Mengyao quickly grabbed her brother's arm.
"Sister, why did you bring this scumbag here?" Li Menghao threw off Li Mengyao's hands, his voice laced with resentment.
If there was anyone in this world who hated Ye Yun the most, it wasn't Li Mengyao or Keke, but him, Li Menghao!
In fact, Li Menghao hated Ye Yun and himself equally.
If it hadn't been for Li Menghao back then, Ye Yun and Li Mengyao wouldn't have been able to elope and get married. And Li Mengyao wouldn't have fallen into such a dire situation.
Thinking of his sister and niece's heart-wrenching lives, Li Menghao's heart was like a knife twist. That's why when he learned Ye Yun had gambled away Keke's tuition, he rushed to kill Ye Yun! He didn't care if he died, as long as his sister and niece could have a better life afterwards!
"Menghao, Ye Yun is different now. He's changed, for the better!" Li Mengyao, seeing her brother's murderous intent, quickly said.
"Better? Hahahaha! Sister, after all these years, don't you know what kind of person this scumbag is? How many times has he promised to change, only to break his word? If he could change, pigs would fly! Sister, I was blind back then to have helped this scum steal the household registration book! Don't worry, if he still refuses to divorce you, I'll kill this bastard!" Li Menghao stared at Ye Yun with bloodshot eyes, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Menghao, trust me. Ye Yun has truly changed this time. Just believe your sister for once, okay?" Li Mengyao pleaded earnestly.
"Uncle, if you say something bad about my dad, Keke will hate you! Keke originally wanted to invite you to Keke's big room, to drive Keke's little bull car, but now Keke doesn't like you anymore! Hmph!"
Unlike adults, children's worlds are simple. Keke immediately pouted and changed her tune.
The push and pull between his sister and niece only fueled Li Menghao's anger.
"Keke, your dad is a scumbag! He even stole your tuition to gamble. What else can't he do?"
"Sister! Did he feed you some more of his sweet talk? You're still defending him? A big room, did he fool you again, saying he'll buy a big house or something?" Li Menghao asked.
"Menghao, if you drive Ye Yun away, then Keke and I won't stay either!" Li Mengyao, realizing she couldn't persuade her brother, resorted to a threat.
"Sister... you!" Li Menghao was furious at her lack of resolve. But he knew, from their reactions, that Ye Yun must have said some sweet nothings. As for Keke's mention of a big room and a bull car, Li Menghao was so angry he laughed. That scumbag Ye Yun must have painted another rosy picture! But with his sister's words, he was helpless. Li Menghao knew his sister's stubborn nature; once she made up her mind, nothing could change it.
"Menghao, I know I've wronged Mengyao and Keke over the years. And I've failed your expectations. But, as your sister said, give me one last chance! This time, I will absolutely not wrong your sister again. If..." Ye Yun took a step forward, knowing it was time to strike while the iron was hot and change his brother-in-law's perception.
However, before he could finish, Li Menghao sneered and retorted, "If I wrong your sister again, I'll die a horrible death, right? Ye Yun, save it, I'm sick of hearing those words! Damn it, I don't know what was wrong with my eyes back then to believe you, you ungrateful wretch!"
"You win this time. I honestly don't know what kind of spell you put on my sister! For Keke and my sister's sake, I won't kick you out today. But I'm telling you, if you make my sister and Keke suffer any more, I will kill you!"
Facing his brother-in-law's fierce threat, Ye Yun could only smile wryly. He didn't resent Li Menghao's words; instead, he felt even more self-reproach for his past sins. He hated his past self even more than Li Menghao did. If he had the chance, he'd even want to dissect his past self with his own hands!
"Menghao, what's all the commotion at the door? Is it Qianqian's family? Why haven't you invited them in?" Just as the situation at the door reached a stalemate, Wu Lan, wearing an apron, came out of the kitchen.
But as she spoke, she saw Li Mengyao's family standing at the door. Her face immediately darkened. Instinctively, she wanted to drive away Ye Yun, that scoundrel son-in-law. But remembering the five million yuan, she swallowed the words she was about to utter. What if Ye Yun asked for it? Although she would never give it to him, making a scene might look bad in front of her in-laws. Seeing Ye Yun only made her angrier, so she vented her frustration on Li Mengyao, huffing, "Hmph, your family really knows how to pick a time. You only show up after Meng Han and I are done working. Why not wait until we're about to eat? Wouldn't that be better?"
Facing her mother's sarcastic remarks, in the past, Li Mengyao would have been humbled. But ever since Wu Lan suggested she remarry Sun Youcai and forcibly took Ye Yun's five million yuan without regard for her objections, her heart had died. She couldn't even be bothered to reply. In fact, on the way over, she had considered how to repay her parents with kindness now that she had money. But Wu Lan's sarcastic remark shattered all her hopes.
However, Li Mengyao didn't care. Someone nearby was displeased. Li Menghao frowned and retorted, "Mom, what are you saying so sarcastically? Sister was invited by me. If you're unhappy, we'll go out to eat! Keke, come on, your uncle will treat you to a big meal!"
"Stop right there! What are you little brats saying!" Wu Lan was so angry she almost spat blood. But she also knew that her three children had always been very close since they were young. If she kept babbling here today, Li Menghao would really take Ye Yun's family out to eat. After all, Li Menghao's recklessness wasn't a new thing.
"Since you're here, it's not like three extra pairs of chopsticks will make a difference to so many dishes! Hurry up and ask Qianqian's family where they are!" Wu Lan relented.
"I just contacted them. They're already in the neighborhood and will be here soon."
"Ah? They're in the neighborhood and you're not going downstairs to pick them up? Meng Han, Old Li, quickly bring the dishes to the table!" Hearing they were in the neighborhood, Wu Lan busied herself with arrangements.
Soon, the dishes were laid out on the round table. In addition to braised tofu and lamb, stir-fried beef, braised flatfish, sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed pork with preserved vegetables, beer duck, braised chicken, and turtle soup – a table full of main courses – there were also many cold dishes, clearly prepared with great effort. As Wu Lan had said, with such a large table of dishes, three extra pairs of chopsticks for Ye Yun's family were indeed not an issue. Ye Yun even noticed that his father-in-law had really spared no expense this time. On the table, there were even two bottles of Maotai!
Just as the table was full of dishes, several figures appeared at the door...