Mister Li, the Heart Bandit

Old Madam Li did not ask at once about what happened, but started a recollection instead.

“Oh, Shaoling. How long was it since you came to our family?”

“Twenty years, Grandmother.”

“Twenty years…” There was a distant look in Old Madam Li’s eyes. “So, it has been that long.”

Her thoughts unknown, she sighed. “Get up.”

Li Shaoling slowly got to his feet and sat beside her, waiting for her next words.

“Shaoling, you have been destined to be special since the day I brought you in the family.” She said meaningfully and earnestly, holding his hand. “I know you’ve shouldered much since a young age, but that is your fate even if I wished it wasn’t so. No one is born with absolute luck, and everything from your addition to our family to taking the reins is CBS is all your own effort. When you were a child, you’ve already known what you need or wanted, and I didn’t have to tell you…”

Li Shaoling merely lifted an eyebrow. “Tell me what you want, Grandmother.”

There was no need to draw it out.

“I’m telling you this day that Jianing is a good girl, and you’ll be missing out if you don’t marry her! That child likes you and would definitely be a good wife—what are you being unhappy about?”

That again, and just as he expected.

Before meeting Ji Weixi, Li Shaoling never would have hesitated to marry Ji Jianing and start a family with her, pleasing Old Madam Li.

Now, however, he had found both Ji Weixi and Ji Jiayu. It was therefore impossible for him to give up on them and marry some other woman.

That was lowest of the low.

Ever resolved and determined, Li Shaoling never expected a moment that he would be indecisive.

“Grandmother, I am thankful that you paved the way so that I could become who I am today,” he said quietly and calmly. “Nevertheless, you also understand that it has never been what I wanted. I never knew what happiness was until today—when I found it right beside me. Please give me your blessing.”

Old Madam Li straightened at once, feeling a creeping sense of foreboding. “Are… Are you serious about Ji Weixi?”

Li Shaoling did not answer directly. “Weren’t you asking for a great-grandchild, grandmother? I’ll bring him to visit you someday.”

“She actually had a child with you?!” Old Madam Li exclaimed, the delight in her eyes irrepressible. “Where’s the child? Bring him to me, quick!”

‘She actually had a child with you…’

Was that not a little too obvious?

Li Shaoling’s eyes darkened then. “If you know about Ji Weixi, grandmother, why did you hide her from me?”

***

After Li Shaoling had recovered from his accident four years ago, he had the thought of looking for a woman, but he neither knew her name or what she looked like.

Old Madam Li had also told him that that the accident was a setup, but never once mentioned ‘that woman’.

But now, she was not even surprised that he was a father, and even knew that the mother was Ji Weixi.

The cat was out of the bag!

Old Madam Li froze and quickly averted her eyes. “Shaoling, I wasn’t trying to keep it from you… But after she got her hands on you four years ago and also caused that accident, why shouldn’t I hide her from you?!”

Ji Weixi, scheming? Setting up that accident?

“I don’t believe you.”

He knew Ji Weixi was not a woman who would resort to underhanded measures.

Meanwhile, Old Madam Li was gritting her teeth at him, unhappy that her plans were unraveling. “Oh, Shaoling! Why are you being such a fool? I lied but it was for your own good… You mustn’t be with her because she is a person of motives—you might find her alright at the moment because you had lost your memories, but I’m telling you that you would regret it once you regain it!”

However, as Li Shaoling stayed silent, Old Madam Li continued earnestly, “Shaoling, isn’t the child four now? Bring him back to us—he is a Li, in the end. As for that woman, I’ll just pay her off so she won’t have to worry about anything for the rest of her life!”

Li Shaoling rose to his feet, his lips tightened and his face full of resentment. “She’s not that type of person, Grandmother.”

And he would never allow anyone to insult her.

“If she’s not that then what could she be?” Old Madam Li shot back, losing patience at the stubbornness of her grandson. “Why would she give birth to your son if not for money?! What else could she want if she’s not aiming for our fortune?! Just watch—all I have to do is hand her the money and she’ll leave you immediately! You’ll see who is best for you!”

With the way Old Madam Li was chewing out Ji Weixi for her greedy motivation, one would almost think that only the Li family had money.

Angered, Li Shao Ling’s was clenching his fingers as a fire glimmered over his gaze. “Then give her the money,” he said coldly, and started to leave.

“Shaoling!” Old Madam Li panicked as he walked away without a look back, and as all patience evaporated, she yelled, “Is she really that important to you!? Is she worth more than Ji Jianing?!”

Li Shaoling stopped in his tracks.

“Yes!” He declared without hesitation.

“You would give up on CBS and your place as heir to our entire family for her?!”

“Yes!” He declared once again and without hesitation.