Chapter 37: Where Are the Old Friends Now?
Unsurprisingly, Li Sishi encountered the man who would become her stepfather in her past life during this Miss World pageant.
The current election process is as follows: the "Supermodel" segment has just ended, and the contestants from various countries have entered their daily activities, waiting for the event's schedule while preparing for the upcoming "Talent Competition" segment that will test them.
Because there are so many contestants participating in the Miss World pageant, the process is definitely not like that of the Miss Hong Kong pageant. Even the grouping is much "larger" - Li Sishi is currently in the Asian group.
In Li Sishi's memory, this year's Miss World is a black pearl from the Blue Mountains, while the 1992 winner was a beauty from the northern fighting nation, and the 1994 and 1995 winners were from India and Orchid Country, respectively, which are known for their beauty pageants... With such a combination, it is hard to say that there were no political factors behind the final winner.
Based on this series of results, Li Sishi could probably predict her final performance in this competition: the legendary actress Shang Lanyu, who was 17 years old at the time, also competed and finished in the top 15; while Chang Baoning finished in the top 12 and won the "Queen of Asian Beauty" award, which is the best result ever achieved by a Miss Hong Kong contestant as a regional representative in the Miss World competition.
A contestant like her, who had prepared well in advance for her second attempt, had already taken advantage of her newfound status to prepare thoroughly and avoid the tournament's routine surprise room checks that would result in point deductions. Unfortunately, her current age of 17 was a real disadvantage; in all my memories, and even in the future, the youngest champion has been 18 years old...
Based on this calculation, she is determined to win the title of "Queen of Asian Beauty," then try to maintain a top-five position, and finally strive for the third place in the final – this is her plan for participating in the Miss World pageant this time.
In any case, she is currently unable to compete with the racial advantages of the Black Pearl. Not to mention that the Blue Mountain Country is another beauty pageant powerhouse that has produced two Miss World champions in history and whose beauty pageant strength and enthusiasm are second only to India and Orchid Country. Being able to win the third place and the Asian Beauty Queen award from such strong competitors is already a satisfactory result for Hong Kong.
With such a contented mindset, Li Sishi appeared particularly calm. If it weren't for the fact that her face clearly showed signs of age, and the fact that Asians generally look younger than Black and White people, many people might have thought that she, who had always appeared relatively composed, had the look of a champion.
The real downside is that she's too young, and her 1.7-meter height, which is quite adequate for everyday life, is overshadowed by the 1.8-meter models next to her.
A tall stature that overwhelms the presence needed for a champion or runner-up might at most secure a third-place finish – which is a rare achievement for a Chinese face in an international competition. Going back further, only two Taiwanese contestants managed to win second and third place in the 1960s when the competition format was not yet fully developed.
However, Li Sishi didn't pay much attention to the whispers behind her back, since just following the daily activities arranged by the conference had already exhausted most of her energy.
If I hadn't deliberately made myself pay attention to my stepfather Li Jinhao's affairs beforehand, I might have missed them all in the busy competition activities that came and went in my previous life.
This time, Li Sishi intentionally changed her temperament in her daily activities, trying to lean more towards her mother Zhou Jiaxian's gentle and delicate demeanor.
Then, during her handshake meeting with Li Jinhao, whom the staff member introduced as a "well-known lawyer in the United States," she saw a moment of shock and bewilderment on his face.
Good fish have taken the bait.
Although, based on what she knows about Li Jinhao's personality, he would probably choose to contact her only after the competition ends to avoid affecting her condition as a contestant; however, if the external stimulus is strong enough, Li Jinhao might try to take advantage of the rest time during his daily activities to contact her in advance.
After the conference's surprise inspection team finished checking the room's interior and left, Li Sishi quickly received a note from Li Jinhao saying that he had something very important to ask her and invited her to meet him at a restaurant near the hotel.
Presumably fearing that Li Sishi might interpret the note as an invitation with ill intentions, he specifically wrote that it was about her parents and included her mother Zhou Jiaxian's name and some personal information.
After reading the note, Li Sishi looked up at the clock on the wall: "Very good. Li Jinhao chose a good time. If he goes out now, he should have enough time to return before the curfew—for reasons such as ease of management and arrangements."
While the organizers do not restrict the contestants' activities during their rest time after daily events, they do set a time limit for them to return home late.
After quickly disguising herself, Li Sishi slung her handbag over her shoulder and walked briskly to the private room in the restaurant mentioned in the note.
As soon as the waiter opened the door, Li Sishi immediately saw Li Jinhao sitting inside.
It must be said that the Li family's ancestors enjoyed wealth and luxury for generations, accumulating wealth and luxury.
The health regimen she came up with was indeed quite good. Li Jinhao, a "middle-aged man" who was not far from his thirties or forties, looked like her older brother at first glance.
The Li family's aloof and noble air is also a unique inheritance. The stepfather, Li Jinhao, and the scumbag father, Li Jinhuai, are actually distant cousins separated by four generations, yet they look quite like brothers, with only one being the difference in temperament—one a refined gentleman and the other a playboy.
Her facial features and face shape resemble her mother's, but her temperament and charm are inherited from her father. In addition, with the accumulation of years of reading, if she doesn't smile or make big expressions in daily life, she seems to resemble her distant cousin Li Jinhao more.
While Li Sishi was sizing up the other person and her thoughts were racing, Li Jinhao stood up with great poise, pulled out a chair for her, and made an inviting gesture.
Li Sishi sat down and, at Li Jinhao's sincere invitation, ordered a coffee and some of the restaurant's specialties before raising her head and looking at him very seriously.
"Excuse me for asking, what is your relationship with my mommy?"
Looking at the elegant-looking man in front of her, Li Sishi stirred the coffee in her cup with a small spoon and asked softly.
Perhaps realizing that his invitation tonight was too abrupt for a young girl, Li Jinhao composed himself, forcibly suppressing the urge to search for traces of an old friend in Li Sishi's eyes, and instead answered with a somewhat bitter tone, "I... I'm your mother's old classmate..."
Such a humble tone, if Li Sishi hadn't witnessed his gentle yet sharp demeanor in court in her past life, she would almost have thought that the man in front of her was just a coward who lacked the courage to face the past.
But in reality, the main reason for his behavior was that his extremely sincere feelings in his youth had suffered the most desperate calamity, so much so that they had become a scar he was most unwilling to touch.
However, once a memory is triggered by a certain event, he will want to seize the opportunity and make up for everything he has missed.
Unaware of the turmoil in Li Sishi's heart at this moment, Li Jinhao, perhaps fearing that the identity of this old classmate was not enough to convince the girl in front of him, thought for a moment and added: "I am your father's distant cousin, and according to the family's birth order, you are also my niece..."
"Don't mention that loser to me!" Before Li Jinhao could finish speaking, Li Sishi's face immediately turned cold.
Sensing that Li Sishi's feelings towards her father, Li Jinhuai, were different, and likely negative, Li Jinhao softened his voice and expression, offering kind words of advice.
After exchanging a few words, it was only through Li Sishi, who had recovered from her emotional turmoil, that she learned of Li Jinhuai's despicable act of abandoning his wife and children and running away alone after his business failed.
“No wonder…” Li Jinhao muttered to himself.
He had heard about Li Jinhuai's sudden death from a heart attack six months ago due to two business failures, and the funeral invitation had even been sent to his home. However, because he was busy with work at the time, he could only ask his mother, who was idle at home, to attend the funeral in his place.
Looking back now, I have to ask myself honestly—was he really completely unable to find the time back then?
No, the reason he didn't want to attend the funeral was because he didn't want to face his distant cousin who had taken away his first love; he was even more afraid that if he saw the person he had been obsessed with since his youth again, he might do something terrible.
She was already married and had children. Although her cousin stole her away while he was studying abroad, at least he dared to restrain his philandering, take responsibility, rebel against his family, and flee to a foreign country for her sake... Compared to that, what is this coward?
With this in mind, Li Jinhao has never dared to inquire about his first love over the years, fearing that her happiness and fulfillment would plunge him back into that frenzied and desperate state of mind.
But... hearing about his cousin's outrageous behavior from Li Sishi, Li Jinhao's hands were clenched so tightly that the veins on the back of his hands bulged out: all these years he had forcibly suppressed himself from destroying other people's families, but he was not about to let Li Jinhuai treat the person he wanted to cherish and protect for a lifetime so badly, giving her hope only to plunge her into despair!
Even if Li Jinhuai only started to hold a grudge about his wife's past relationship with his cousin after the initial sweetness and passion faded, isn't Li Sishi still his biological daughter?!
As a father, he sold his own daughter to an old man with perverted fetishes like a commodity.
If the mother and daughter hadn't been alert and fortunate enough to escape this calamity, how would this child, who looks far too young, possibly survive in this cruel and heartless world?!
Sensing the storm brewing in Li Jinhao's eyes, Li Sishi lowered her gaze: If she didn't have memories of her past life, she would never have so easily trusted this "uncle" who suddenly came to her door, and she would never have brought up the old story that she and her mother least wanted to remember.
Only after thoroughly understanding Li Jinhao's personality could she make all the necessary preparations for their next encounter.
The stronger the medication she administers, the more determined and swift Li Jinhao will be.
They planned to return to the port city to develop their careers, and then try to rekindle their romance before the old lady Li, who had already broken them up once, found out.
Thinking back to her past life, Li Sishi realized how foolish she had been to occasionally, without her knowledge, and Old Madam Li, hinder the already difficult relationship of a woman from remarrying, because people around her always said it was bad for a woman to remarry. She felt like a piece of barbecued pork brainwashed by feudal dregs...
Watching Li Jinhao stand up angrily and turn his back to her to compose himself, his slender back seemed to overlap with the lonely figure who came to pay respects to her alone in her previous life. Li Sishi gritted her teeth inwardly: This time, she would act as the knight of this loving couple and escort them on their bumpy road of love!
Of course, if Mommy, who has now recovered and gone back to school, doesn't plan to rekindle the relationship but instead wants to be a strong woman or an independent woman, she will strongly support her!
Having been repeatedly battered by reality, Li Sishi has lost much of the high spirits she had when she was reborn, believing she could achieve great success through her newfound life… Now, although she is "full of ambition" when making decisions…
But when it comes to actually doing it, it's not so childish; instead, it's about being cautious and planning before acting.
However, as a support, it mainly depends on their future choices. Ultimately, the future is something I have to control myself.
At only 17 years old, Li Sishi was truly immersed in the silent blessings and encouragement she received from her parents, who were a generation older than her.
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