Chapter 85 Thanks to you. "Don't know me, just passing by." ...
Li Yong appeared earlier than Li Leshan had expected, so Li Leshan didn't need to go to great lengths to find him. Even if he really wanted to find him, he had no clue where to start; Li Yong didn't seem to have a fixed address. Besides the nearby gambling dens and bars, Li Leshan didn't know where else he could possibly find him.
"Lele," Jiang Yueming jumped up from the sofa, "Are you leaving? No, won't you sit a little longer?"
Sweetie's game was suddenly interrupted, and she was a little dissatisfied, so she tugged at Jiang Yueming's sleeve. As expected, Jiang Yueming shoved her sleeve away.
Li Leshan nodded. "Grandma is still waiting for me at home. She's been having trouble sleeping lately and can only fall asleep when she sees me."
"I'll take you..." Jiang Yueming hurriedly grabbed a coat from the sofa, casually put on a pair of shoes (it's unclear whose shoes she was wearing), and followed Li Leshan out.
At home, he didn't dare to go too far, because his aunt and Tian Tian were there. Jiang Yueming could only suppress his emotions and pretend that nothing was wrong. As soon as he stepped out the door, he leaned against Li Leshan, shoulder to shoulder.
"Sweetie, you're too clingy," Jiang Yueming complained softly, of course without really blaming Sweetie. "I haven't been able to talk to you properly at all."
“It’s rare for her to like you so much.” Li Leshan smiled, recalling their love-hate relationship as siblings. “Just looking at you is enough for me.”
“But I’m not enough.” Jiang Yueming tightened her grip on his shoulders. He felt it really wasn’t enough; wasn’t this making things difficult for him? His partner was right in front of him, but he couldn’t hug or touch her; he could only look at her? This could almost be listed among the ten most cruel tortures of the Qing Dynasty.
Li Leshan rubbed his head, "Don't bother seeing her off. Go back and play with her."
He pointed to his ears, "I could hear Tian Tian crying from far away."
Jiang Yueming hadn't heard it before; perhaps he'd become immune to it from childhood. This time, he listened carefully for a while and, sure enough, heard the little girl's shouts. He said irritably, "She's faking it. She's really putting on a good show, trying to make you feel sorry for her."
Jiang Yueming was used to this trick. To be honest, he had seen it too many times. This little girl only had a few tricks up her sleeve: crying, making a scene, and shouting. He had long since fallen for it.
“Then I’ll cry too.” Jiang Yueming held her hand in front of her eyes, and although there were no tears, she still symbolically wiped them away. “Please feel sorry for me too.”
“I’ve always felt sorry for you,” Li Leshan rarely picked up on this topic, “so I didn’t want you to get cold.”
Jiang Yueming beamed, instantly appeased. He exaggeratedly spread his arms wide, gesturing, "I'm not cold. I feel—this hot right now."
He and Li Leshan walked downstairs side by side. The stairwell was dark and quiet, with only the soft echo of their footsteps. Finally, some light appeared at the exit of the stairwell. The two stood at the entrance, reluctant to part. Neither of them wanted to leave, as if this farewell would last for years.
"If you're worried I'll be cold, hold my hand," Jiang Yueming said with a smile, her eyes crinkling. "That way I won't be cold. Even if it's cold, I'll feel fine."
Li Leshan silently squeezed his hand and put it into his coat pocket.
A chilly wind was blowing outside as he and Jiang Yueming walked quietly down the alley. The warmth from his hands slowly rose to his heart. Li Leshan slowed his pace, wishing the road could be a little longer, not too much longer, because he was afraid Jiang Yueming would get cold if she stayed too long. Just a little bit longer would be perfect.
When he was about fifty meters away, Li Leshan suddenly stopped. A figure flashed into the tenement building not far ahead, and the figure made Li Leshan's heart tremble.
Li Yong.
Regardless of whether he had misread it or not, and regardless of whether it was true or not—to be honest, he hadn't seen it very clearly either—but he believed it was better to kill a thousand innocent people than let one guilty person go free. He absolutely could not give Li Yong any chance to come into contact with Jiang Yueming, not even the slightest chance.
Li Leshan subconsciously pulled his hand out of his pocket and deliberately stood in front of Jiang Yueming, blocking Jiang Yueming's view.
"Just leave it here," Li Leshan said in sign language.
Jiang Yueming was a little confused, but she still nodded obediently, her eyes filled with hope, "Can't I take you upstairs?"
"No need." Li Leshan glanced at him. He couldn't stay here with Jiang Yueming any longer, not even for a second longer. But looking at Jiang Yueming's pitiful expression, his heart softened.
"Good girl." Li Leshan raised his hand and touched Jiang Yueming's face, which was a little cold from the wind. "I'll watch you leave."
Jiang Yueming couldn't persist any longer. He really wanted him to stay; he wanted more than just to be escorted upstairs—he wanted him to move in directly. But since Li Leshan wouldn't say anything, there was nothing he could do. He couldn't just do what Tian Tian did, could he? Doing what Tian Tian did certainly wouldn't work either.
“Le…” Jiang Yueming hesitated for a moment, glanced into the stairwell, and reluctantly took a half step back. “Then I’m leaving?”
"If you were to try to keep me here now, even with just a glance, I wouldn't leave no matter what," Jiang Yueming thought.
Li Leshan nodded firmly, making no attempt to stop him or do anything else. Jiang Yueming met his gaze for a few seconds, then waved goodbye.
"How about a hug?" Jiang Yueming opened her arms.
Li Leshan pursed his lips, his gaze almost imperceptibly glancing back. The moment he saw the figure emerge, Li Leshan frowned.
His gaze towards Jiang Yueming held an unquestionable intensity, a look Jiang Yueming had never seen before—a look that was both serious and urging. He didn't know what was happening, so he slowly withdrew his hand, a pang of sadness in his heart. His voice trembled slightly, almost inaudibly, "Okay, then I'll be going."
Finally, as he watched the figure recede into the distance until it was no longer visible, Li Leshan breathed a sigh of relief. He felt his heart slowly calm down, so he turned around and walked towards the stairwell.
The moment his eyes met Li Yong's, Li Leshan slowly looked away.
"You know that kid? Is he your friend?" Li Yong asked, a cigarette dangling from his lips, as he looked him up and down.
Li Leshan's Adam's apple bobbed. His face remained expressionless as he controlled his trembling hands. "I don't know him. I was just passing by."
“That’s true.” Li Yong stubbed out his cigarette, his voice tinged with mockery. “There aren’t many people willing to be friends with a mute, are there?”
Upon hearing this, Li Leshan curled the corners of his lips, then looked at Li Yong with icy eyes, saying, "Thanks to you."
"Leshan, son." Li Yong uttered a few unfamiliar words. Li Leshan felt like vomiting at the sound of this address. He didn't understand why these words could come out of Li Yong's mouth. Why could he use these words so grandly? What gave him the right?
"Nobody expected what happened back then. You're doing just fine now, aren't you?" Li Yong said as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself, so casually glossing over Li Leshan's most painful years. "Let's not dwell on things from so long ago."
To be concerned about...?
A surge of anger welled up in Li Leshan's heart. He grabbed Li Yong by the collar and slammed him against the wall with a thud. "I'll hold a grudge?"
For so many years, he endured the pain of being unable to speak out, the scorn of others, the helplessness and despair... and now Li Yong was telling him not to hold it against him—these words could be uttered so casually. Why shouldn't he hold it against him? He felt he hadn't held it against him at all!
"What are you doing here?" Li Leshan suppressed his anger and gave up arguing with him.
Li Yong stretched out his hand, his smile was repulsive, and there was not a trace of guilt in his eyes. "The money, it's been almost a month now."
"What exactly are you doing?" Li Leshan took a deep breath. "What about what I gave you before?"
“I lost a little, I spent a little, what’s it to you?” Li Yong laughed shamelessly, taking a step forward. “I raised you all these years, what’s wrong with me spending a little of your money? It’s only natural!”
Li Leshan felt a little dizzy. He didn't know how Li Yong could have the nerve to say such a thing. From beginning to end, had he ever supported him even a little bit?
Li Leshan bit his lower lip. He needed some time to find out where Li Yong was staying. "In a couple of days."
"Damn it!" Li Yong's eyes grew even more ferocious after failing to get the money. He pointed at Li Leshan's nose, "Three days! I'll give you three days. Three days, and I want the money. Otherwise, I'll come to your door in person!"
"Where are you going to stay?" Li Leshan pushed Li Yong's hand away.
"Why are you asking this?" Li Yong asked, puzzled.
“I need to know where you are before I can send you the money,” Li Leshan said in sign language.
Li Yong scoffed, "Ha, it's none of your business to know. I'll come looking for you, and don't even think about running away. If I can't find you in one day, I'll look for you for two days; if I can't find you in two days, I'll look for you for three days. I have plenty of time to waste on you!"
"I won't run away, and don't touch my men." Li Leshan looked at Li Yong, his gaze unwavering.
Li Yong spat and poked Li Leshan's shoulder. "Kid, you've really gone crazy now. But don't blame me for not warning you, I've been to jail before. If there's a next time, don't blame me for taking action."
He turned and left the stairwell.
Li Leshan coldly watched his departing figure. He heard a text message notification from his phone in his pocket, opened it, and saw that it was Jiang Yueming asking if he had arrived home safely.
Li Leshan hurriedly replied with "Arrived," then put his phone back in his pocket. He hid by the door, watching Li Yong walk into the dilapidated food street before turning and disappearing around the corner.
He hated Li Yong. He hated him for giving birth but not raising his children, for his domestic violence, and for coming back to disrupt his new life.
He hated himself even more. He hated himself for not being strong enough, for being powerless, and for the deep-seated fear he had of Li Yong.
This hatred, once it arose, lingered for a long time. Li Leshan thought it would probably never dissipate. Li Yong, he would hate him for a lifetime. And himself, he would hate him for a lifetime too. He would never stop hating, not even when the hatred finally ended.
A sudden gust of cold wind blew into the stairwell, making Li Leshan involuntarily close his eyes. He slowly followed the path Li Yong had taken. He needed to gain some control, even if it was just a little.
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