Xie Li wasn't very interested in having dinner with Ding Huizhu and directly refused, saying, "I'm not going."

She was too busy to pay attention to Ding Huizhu.

Ding Huizhu's expression changed instantly. "Not going? You're going out too? What are you going to do there?"

Seeing that Xie Li didn't stop, she rushed forward and grabbed Xie Li's arm. "Are you going to find that thug?"

Xie Li was taken aback, then frowned slightly: "What thug?"

Ding Huizhu: "Don't think I don't know about your philandering outside! How can you act like a proper young lady?"

"Furthermore, the engagement with the Pei family cannot be called off, nor is it allowed! You think you can just call it off like that? Do you want the Xie family's investment of over a billion yuan to go down the drain?"

Her chest heaved rapidly, clearly realizing that she couldn't control Xie Li and could only try to control him financially.

With so much money, Xie Li probably wouldn't dare to, and couldn't, shoulder such a heavy responsibility.

Zhang Ma stared at Ding Huizhu in disbelief. The old lady knew Ding Huizhu's ways all too well.

"So you contacted Mrs. Pei last night to apologize, and made an appointment with her for dinner today?"

Ding Huizhu's expression turned slightly cold: "Xie Li made a mistake, shouldn't he apologize? The Pei family hasn't been angry enough to pursue the matter with that thug, which is already out of respect for the Xie family."

Aunt Zhang was even more bewildered: "Have you even heard the truth of the matter? Why are you so eager to make the young lady apologize?"

Zhang Ma was unaware of what happened last night, but when Ding Huizhu instructed Butler Wu to arrange a car this morning, she learned that it was to invite Madam Pei to dinner.

But Xie Li also said last night that she had broken off the engagement, and she seemed very happy about it.

Ding Huizhu's behavior is simply incomprehensible.

The child didn't like it, so they returned it, and Grandpa Xie agreed. But instead, she secretly contacted the Pei family behind Grandpa Xie's back.

Who's so eager to marry off their daughter?

Ding Huizhu was somewhat displeased; Zhang Ma, a mere servant, had gone a bit too far.

"What's the truth about this? Was Pei Si beaten up by Xie Li's thug friends? I only care about reason. Wrong is wrong!"

Xie Li never expected the engagement to have such a commotion, and it was incredibly annoying.

It took her so much effort to control her rage. "Pei Si has a girlfriend he's already living with. Didn't Mrs. Pei tell you?"

Ding Huizhu was stunned. "What?"

Xie Li: "They're in Pei Si's apartment in Wenlan Garden, coming and going together, understand?"

Ding Huizhu slowly realized what was happening, and her first reaction was to open her mouth and explain, "Perhaps there's some misunderstanding. Pei Si isn't that kind of person..."

Zhang Ma: "Madam! You've gone too far! You don't believe what the young lady says, yet you use other people's words to question her!"

The old lady was heartbroken and devastated, utterly disappointed in Ding Huizhu.

No wonder Grandpa Xie called specifically to ask her to take better care of Xie Li. After all, no matter how much Grandpa Xie does, it can't make up for the love and care that female elders should give.

Judging from her appearance, it would be better if Ding Huizhu, her biological mother, didn't exist.

Zhang Ma: "You say you're the young lady's mother, but have you acknowledged her as your mother? When something happens, you're the first to distance yourself from her. When she's wronged and bullied by outsiders, you don't say anything, don't comfort her, and don't stand up for her. Instead, you join forces with outsiders to scold her!"

As Zhang Ma spoke, she became increasingly distressed, and tears streamed down her face.

Ding Huizhu was humiliated and wanted to defend herself, but found herself at a loss for words.

Xie Li handed a tissue to Zhang Ma, "Grandma, don't cry, it's okay."

He paused, his gaze sweeping lightly over Ding Huizhu's face. "Anyway, I've never considered her my mother."