Chapter 966 - Visitation Rights
Chapter 966: Visitation Rights
Old Master Li was lost for words.
On second thought, it seemed like his grandson’s words actually made sense?
But what about that photo, it couldn’t possibly be photoshopped!
Li Lei read Old Master’s mind and said, “Rather than speculate among ourselves, why don’t we just wait for Xiao Ling to be back to find out the truth? Grandpa, once she’s back later, please don’t put any blame on her. Don’t make her feel bad.”
Old Master scoffed but didn’t say a word.
Li Lei turned around and looked at Su Tang solemnly. “And you, Su Tang, don’t you talk about this in front of Xiao Ling. It’s late, why did you follow Grandpa here? I’ll get the chauffeur to send you back. Rest early.”
This was an order.
Su Tang bit her lip and appeared wronged. “I was worried for Old Master and you, so I came along. Moreover, I haven’t seen Xiao Rui for a while. I miss him.” She looked up at Li Lei and gently said, “Ye Xingling made such bad news, I’m worried about the children.”
What she meant to say was: Ye Xingling wasn’t morally upright and hence, wasn’t fit to nurture or raise her child.
Li Lei’s expression darkened. “You’re in no place to comment on Xiao Ling’s case now.” She was his benefactor and he usually tried his best to tolerate her, but these were two separate matters. He wouldn’t let anyone speak of Xiao Ling like this!
“Li Lei!” Old Master Li was unhappy again. This young brat was speaking to Su Tang like this?
Li Lei said, “Grandpa, don’t forget who your granddaughter-in-law really is. Ask yourself, if it wasn’t for your bias, if it was Su Tang or any other girl in this situation today, would you be so sure they were cheating?”
Old Master Li kept quiet. He knew full well that his grandson was right.
If Xia Ling really wanted to be with Pei Ziheng, she wouldn’t have gone through all the prayers for Li Lei. Since she held a prayer concert just to save Li Lei and was so grief-stricken when he was in critical condition… how could she be cheating on him in such a short time? Old Master Li was old, but he wasn’t irrational or incoherent yet. His grandson’s reminder made him realize just how blinded by prejudice he was when it came to Xia Ling.
He sighed. “Su Tang, say no more.”
There was probably more to this than met the eye.
Su Tang’s heart sank. She had the guts to smear Xia Ling’s name here only because she depended on Old Master’s favor for her and his dislike towards Xia Ling. But now he wasn’t helping her anymore? How was she going to get anything out of this alone! She felt defeated and betrayed and wanted to fight for herself, but seeing Li Lei’s awful expression, she stopped herself.
The fact that she was able to stay in the Li household until now said something about her ability to react appropriately to body language and situations.
Su Tang forced a smile and changed the subject. “I’ve gone overboard. I’m sorry, Young Master. But could you let me take a look at Xiao Rui? I hit him only because I was sick back then. Now that I’ve undergone treatment, I’m able to control my depressive symptoms. I miss the child, I really want to see him.”
“Xiao Rui won’t see you.” A clear voice came from behind her all of a sudden.
Everyone turned around and saw Xia Ling sauntering in through the front door. As her clothes swayed in the night breeze, her petite stature made her appear all the more like a graceful bird. She was calm and composed, both in her expression and her movement. With the help of a housemaid, she removed her cardigan and approached them.
“Xiao Ling.” Li Lei smiled. “You’re back.”
She side-eyed him a little unhappily and scanned the surroundings to understand the situation. “What’s Su Tang doing here?” She had no objection about Old Master Li coming to see his grandson, but what did Su Tang come along for?
“She missed Xiao Rui.” Li Lei tried to keep it as brief as possible. “So she decided to follow Grandpa along to see him. On that note, since Grandpa hasn’t seen his two great-grandsons in a while, he could just stay the night. As for Su Tang, Xiao Rui doesn’t wish to see you for now. You could make a prior appointment to see him next time.”
Make a prior appointment?
Su Tang was stunned. Since when did it take a prior appointment to see her own son?!
“Young Master!” Her eyes turned red and tears were almost welling up.
Li Lei was completely unswayed. “You don’t have to plead with me. Xiao Ling is the matriarch here, she takes charge of the household matters. If you have any issue with it, you can tell it to her directly.” He knew that Xia Ling got jealous easily; rather than have anything to do with Su Tang, he might as well let Xia Ling deal with her personally.
Xia Ling was satisfied with his response. Yes, Hubby’s the best.
She smiled at Su Tang. “Children are very fragile on the inside. After you hit him so badly the last time, he’s still having nightmares from it. Su Tang, you abused the child and had unpredictable violent tendencies from your disorder. Hasn’t the court already deemed you unfit to raise Xiao Rui, and given Li Lei the custody? I am Li Lei’s wife, which makes me Xiao Rui’s mother. As a mother, I won’t let you see him now.”
Her words were fully justified, but it reeked of arrogance.
Hmph, she just didn’t like Su Tang and wanted to make her angry. As if it wasn’t obvious enough that she was here for Li Lei!
Su Tang did her best to conceal her anger and tried to fight with logic instead. “Even if I don’t have the right to raise him, I have visitation rights!” Ye Xingling is such a wretch, she’s actually declaring herself Xiao Rui’s mother? Su Tang was almost shaking from the anger—not because she really loved the child, but because Xia Ling was actually taking away yet another thing that belonged to her!
“What visitation rights? Why don’t I know about it?” Xia Ling replied as calmly as always.
“I can sue you in court!” Su Tang clenched her jaw.
Xia Ling smiled. “Sure, go ahead and sue me.”
Seeing her fearless expression, Su Tang finally got it. She definitely knew that biological mothers had the rights to visit their children, but she never thought of respecting that rule! Su Tang could barely deal with how much of a bully Xia Ling was being.
So what if she really sued her?
Xia Ling had so much backing. The Li family had the best lawyers in the world, and it was a piece of cake for any of them to defeat a lone girl. Su Tang knew that there was no way she could win the case…
Helpless, she looked to Old Master for help. “Old Master!”
Before Old Master Li said anything, Li Lei said, “Grandpa, we have our rules in the household. Such situations are handled by the matriarchs, it’s best that we as men don’t interfere.” The Li family was more traditional in their thinking than other locals, possibly because they were an overseas Chinese faction. Hence, they’d always adhered to the ideology of men taking charge of external affairs while women took charge of domestic affairs. With regard to anything that was considered household matters, the woman had the final say.