Chapter 59: Reuniting with Mother Year After Year, Confessing to the Star...
The old man's voice, carrying supreme authority, resounded throughout the council hall, creating an atmosphere so heavy you could hear a pin drop.
A hint of surprise flashed in Li Xinian's deep eyes. He immediately bowed slightly and replied respectfully in a deep voice, "Grandpa."
Old Master Li's words were concise and powerful, casting a shadow of unease over the relief that Li Tingzhu, Li Yuanhong, and Li Wanshan, who were kneeling on the ground and already feeling fortunate to have survived a calamity.
They abruptly raised their heads to look at the aged yet imposing figure at the doorway, their eyes filled with shock, and... an even deeper, more profound fear than when they faced Li Xinian!
The old man was alarmed by this matter, and the first thing he said... sounded like he was biased towards Li Xinian.
Even Li Hai, who had always thought the situation was settled, was now terrified. Cold sweat dripped down his fat face, and he no longer dared to feel any relief, only boundless fear remained.
The old man's appearance meant that the situation had completely exceeded everyone's expectations and control.
The slow, heavy tapping of the cane stopped, and his hunched yet unshakeable figure stood before the door, the dim light casting interlaced shadows on his deep wrinkles.
Without a word, his mere presence alone exuded an aura of authority accumulated over decades of ruling the Li family amidst countless bloodshed and turmoil, a power so palpable it was almost suffocating.
All the guards, along with Li Xinian's confidants, bowed their heads deeply, not daring to look him in the eye.
Li Xinian maintained a slight bow, waiting quietly. Li Tingzhu, Li Yuanhong, and Li Wanshan, who were kneeling, and Li Hai, who was standing, didn't even dare to breathe, their hearts pounding, waiting for the verdict from this old man who truly held the power of life and death.
A surge of overwhelming joy and relief welled up in Li Tingzhu's heart: Grandpa's here!
Grandpa values the prosperity of the family most, and he often says, "Harmony in the family brings prosperity in all things." If Li Xinian wants to completely eliminate the core members of his several branches, it is equivalent to severing an important branch of the family. Grandpa will never sit idly by!
Moreover, she has always been her grandfather's most beloved grandchild. When she was little, her grandfather often let her play in the study. Before she was ten years old, she often accompanied her grandfather to various important occasions. Li Xinian and the others could only envy her!
Grandpa must have heard the news, which is why he came to stop Li Xinian from doing such cruel things!
The moment that thought flashed through her mind, Li Zhengming's sharp, hawk-like eyes, filled with cold disappointment and boundless rage, swept over the disheveled people on the ground and finally settled on Li Tingzhu's face.
He didn't look at Li Xinian, but instead, in a hoarse yet thunderous voice, he shouted, word by word:
"You wicked creatures who harm your own brothers! How could the Li family have such unfilial descendants!"
Before they could react, Li Zhengming raised his sandalwood dragon-head cane, which was not just a gesture, but a solid and heavy blow to Li Tingzhu's shoulder and back!
With a muffled thud, Li Tingzhu let out a painful groan: "Ugh!"
However, although Li Tingzhu was in pain, she dared not wail, lest she worsen the old man's disappointment and disgust.
Li Zhengming's voice trembled slightly with extreme anger. He pointed his dragon-headed cane at Li Tingzhu, then swept it over Li Yuanhong and Li Wanshan: "I poured my heart and soul into cultivating you, giving you resources and power, only for you to use them to fight among yourselves and kill each other?!"
The roar echoed between the thick walls, shattering the hopes in the hearts of Li Tingzhu, Li Wanshan and the others!
"Did you want to disgrace the Li family and create such a shameful scandal that almost made you a laughingstock among various factions?! Do you even have any regard for your family?! Do you even have any regard for this old man like me?!"
Li Tingzhu's mood shifted from hope and relief to fear and despair in an instant, and her psychological defenses were completely destroyed.
"Grandpa! Grandpa, I was wrong! I was bewitched!" Li Tingzhu could no longer care about appearances. Tears streamed down her face as she crawled forward, trying to grab the old man's clothes, but her cane ruthlessly pushed her away.
"Brother! We really know we were wrong! For... for the sake of my deceased father..." Li Yuanhong was in tears, kowtowing repeatedly.
Li Wanshan completely lost his composure, his ashen face filled with fear: "Patriarch...we will never dare to do it again, please...please give us another chance..."
Li Hai watched in fear and trepidation, thankful that he had already "abandoned darkness for light," while at the same time feeling a soul-stirring tremor at the old man's imposing presence.
Li Zhengming completely ignored their cries and pleas for mercy. His chest heaved slightly, clearly indicating his extreme anger.
“The old man is getting old, and there are always people lurking in the shadows, thinking that because he’s old and his eyesight is failing, he doesn’t know anything about these things.” Old Master Li shook his head helplessly. “If you had behaved yourselves and honestly contributed to the Li family’s business, I would never have touched a single branch of your family! But look at what you’ve done! If the Li family hadn’t used its connections to suppress the news, the good deeds you’ve done would have been on the front page of the world’s headlines long ago!”
He slowly turned around, his gaze falling on Li Xinian, who was standing quietly to the side, for the first time tonight.
The anger in his eyes subsided slightly, replaced by a complex scrutiny and a final, decisive judgment.
He tightened his grip on his cane, his voice regaining its composure, yet carrying an undeniable, decisive force that resonated clearly within the ancestral hall where a pin drop could be heard: "Before, there were always those who relied on their seniority, saying that the ring had not yet been passed down, the title had not yet been determined, and that the current generation was too young and inexperienced to touch these 'meritorious elders'."
He gave a cold laugh, seemingly finding it utterly absurd.
"From this moment on, Xi Nian is the rightful head of the Li family, and no one can question his qualifications to clean house and deal with traitors."
As he finished speaking, he slowly raised his wrinkled yet remarkably steady hand and reached for an inconspicuous dark ring on his thumb. The ring appeared antique, but in the shifting light, one could vaguely see a dragon pattern embedded within, seemingly moving within.
The moment the black dragon-patterned thumb ring was slipped onto Li Xinian's finger, the last glimmer of light in Li Tingzhu's eyes was completely extinguished.
It's all over, it's all over!
She collapsed to the ground, her carefully groomed appearance disheveled, like a gorgeous doll whose soul had been ripped out.
Li Yuanhong made a strange hoarse sound from his throat, and his turbid old tears streamed down his face, as if he could already see the tragic scene of his own branch being uprooted.
Despair, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled around everyone's heart, making even begging for mercy a luxury.
Inside the ancestral hall, there was a deathly silence.
***
Sparse bamboos grow beside the bluestone path, rustling in the night breeze, washing away the blood and dust brought from outside.
In stark contrast to the solemnity of the ancestral hall and the hustle and bustle of the front courtyard, this place seems like a secluded sanctuary. Running water is channeled into the courtyard, and a small pond has been dug, where several koi carp leisurely sway their tails under the moonlight.
After passing through layers of heavily guarded sentry posts and winding corridors, Li Xinian returned to his own courtyard deep within the old house.
At this moment, only the study on the second floor is lit with a warm, orange light, like the only lighthouse in the darkness.
Pushing open the heavy wooden door to the study, a warm glow and the familiar scent of cedar enveloped him. Li Xinian closed the door behind him, completely shutting out the somber atmosphere of the ancestral hall and the undercurrents of the old house.
His gaze lingered on the window, and he whispered, "...Mother."
Her dark green velvet dress accentuated her still-graceful figure, and her hair shone softly under the light.
Just that silhouette made Li Xinian's breath catch in his throat, as if time had strangely reversed at that moment. He seemed to still be that child who clung to his mother but pretended to be mature, eagerly running to his mother's side when he got home, but pretending to be calm when calling her name.
He seemed to want to speak, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he ultimately made no sound. He simply stood there quietly, like a silent mountain, with only his slightly curled fingers hanging at his sides trembling almost imperceptibly, revealing the turbulent waves within him that were far more turbulent than their outward appearance suggested.
Isabella slowly turned around, and the mother and son's eyes met. There was no excited shouting as expected, no tearful scene, only a near-frozen, deep silence as deep as the sea.
Her light brown hair, similar in color to Li Xinian's, was elegantly pulled back, revealing her smooth forehead and a face that bore a five or six-point resemblance to Li Xinian, yet was even more delicate and charming.
Time seemed to have been exceptionally kind to her, leaving only a few faint yet more charming traces beside her insightful gray-blue eyes.
Her posture was elegant, bearing the demeanor ingrained in her bones by an ancient aristocratic family, but her back was straight, her eyes were sharp, and her capable and decisive aura remained undiminished.
For a moment, no one spoke in the study; only the silent light streaming through the window could be heard.
A thousand words churned in her chest—about the choices she made back then, about the more than ten years of forbearance, about the unspeakable schemes and loneliness… But when she truly faced the child who had become the master of the behemoth that was the Li family, all the words she had prepared seemed pale and powerless.
Ultimately, it was because she wasn't there for her child when he needed her most. She missed too many important moments in Li Xinian's growth that she should have been present for, and she was absent from many occasions when Li Xinian needed her support and encouragement.
Perhaps her confession came too late, and perhaps Li Xinian no longer needed her apology or explanation.
Thinking of this, pain and sorrow welled up in Isabella's heart again. She took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound steady, and asked a seemingly insignificant question:
"About two weeks ago, I received a call from an unknown number. After I answered, there was silence on the other end... I asked several times in Spanish, but I didn't get a response, and then the call was disconnected."
She gazed into Li Xinian's deep eyes, her voice as soft as if afraid of disturbing something, "...Is it you, Xinian?"
Li Xinian's body tensed up almost imperceptibly for a moment.
He met his mother's probing gaze without flinching, and slowly, very slightly, nodded.
“It’s me.” His voice was low and a little hoarse with weariness. “I just…” He paused, as if choosing his words carefully, and finally chose the most straightforward and direct thought from the depths of his heart, “…I wanted to hear your voice. As long as I know you are safe and well, I will be at ease.”
He raised his eyes, his gaze calm and serious: "I hope that phone call...didn't frighten you."
These words, spoken in a gentle tone, instantly shattered Isabella's efforts to maintain her composure.
The woman's eyes suddenly reddened, and tears welled up in her beautiful gray-blue eyes.
She never expected that after ten years of being deceived by her "death," her son's first concern would be her peace and whether a silent phone call would disturb her.
Seeing his mother's eyes redden instantly and her struggling to hold back tears, Li Xinian felt as if a corner of the hardest ice in his heart had quietly melted.
He took a step forward, closing the distance, and seemed to be able to smell the familiar and nostalgic chamomile scent on his mother.
“I know,” he said softly, his tone firm. “I know you must have… a reason you have to keep quiet, Isabella.”
He didn't call out "Mother," but instead called her by her name.
This title seems to bridge the gap between the two of them for more than a decade, directly touching upon the independent woman who, as "Isabella," had also made difficult choices.
That cry of "Isabella" made the woman lose all composure.
Isabella's tears finally broke free. She could no longer maintain her composure and rushed forward, stretching out her arms to hug Li Xinian tightly, as if she were embracing the whole world she had lost and regained.
Her voice choked with emotion as she poured out the guilt and secrets she had suppressed for over a decade:
"I'm sorry, Xi Nian... I'm so sorry... I faked my death back then, leaving you alone in the Li family because only in the old man's territory would your vicious father and stepmother dare not openly kill you, a member of the Li family. If we had escaped together and broken free from the Li family's control, my son and I would have faced endless pursuit and would not have survived to this day!"
She tightened her arms around him, as if afraid he would disappear, and said in a trembling voice, "I faked my death and escaped to South America so that I could quietly cultivate our own strength out of everyone's sight! That's why I can help you when you need me, like I am today, instead of being a burden to you!"
Li Xinian tightly embraced his trembling, weeping mother in his arms. The tears that had been suppressed for more than ten years burned his shoulders and neck, and also burned open the coldest seal deep in his memory.
His mother was a strong woman, and he could hardly recall her ever shedding a tear.
But he could never forget what happened that snowy night.
By then, the von Hertz family, which had been behind his mother, had already declined, and the ambitious woman, his later stepmother, had already moved into the Li family under the guise of "taking care" of them.
His stepmother was skilled at manipulating power, and a deliberately planned scheme led to his punishment by his father.
He was still a child that year. His thick coat was stripped off, and he was thrown directly into the thick snow in the courtyard.
The biting wind was like a knife, swirling with goose-feather snowflakes that scraped against his bare skin. His knees sank into the icy snow, the piercing chill creeping up his limbs and bones, his teeth chattering uncontrollably, and all he could see was a vast expanse of white and the distant, dim light shining from the main house's windows.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but just as his consciousness was about to freeze, a familiar figure staggered out—it was his mother. She hadn't even had time to put on her cloak, wearing only a thin indoor cheongsam, as she rushed to his side.
"Xi Nian!" Her voice trembled, choked with sobs.
She tried to help him up, but her father, who had rushed over upon hearing the commotion, sternly stopped her: "No one is allowed to help him! Make him kneel!"
The mother froze, looking at her child's bruised and blue face, then at her husband's resolute back and the woman hiding in the shadows with a faint smile on her lips.
The next moment, in Li Xinian's blurred vision, his mother suddenly lifted the hem of her cheongsam and knelt down straight in the snow beside him without hesitation.
The icy snow instantly soaked her dress, and she shivered from the cold, but without hesitation, she reached out and tightly hugged his cold, stiff little body into her arms, using her thin body heat and slightly trembling body to wrap him as much as possible, trying to dispel the deadly chill.
“If you want to kneel, I’ll kneel with you.” He heard his mother say in his ear, her voice choked with sobs but unusually firm.
He couldn't remember how that night ended.
I only remember that I developed a high fever that night. In my hazy state, I felt my mother holding me and constantly applying cold towels to my forehead, calling for the doctor in a broken voice.
In a hazy moment, he struggled to open his heavy eyelids and saw a scalding drop of liquid fall from his mother's red-rimmed eye and land squarely on his forehead.
That was the only time he remembered his mother crying.
Only tonight, with this embrace spanning more than a decade, did the warmth of that tear once again imprint itself on his soul.
"Mother, I understand, please... don't cry."
Li Xinian had already guessed his mother's plans when he learned about her recent activities from Lin Suxing. Now, hearing his mother say it, he couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat.
Isabella looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, at her son's cold profile: "I didn't want you to know I was still alive, I dared not contact you, all so that everyone would ignore my existence, making me a 'pawn no longer on the chessboard'... Only in this way, when you are targeted by several forces and trapped in a desperate situation like today, can I, this 'pawn no longer on the chessboard,' unexpectedly disrupt all their plans. Xinian, perhaps this decision was too presumptuous of me, but please forgive me as a mother for being somewhat domineering in protecting you..."
Her explanation was broken and tearful, but it also carried a mother's deep and desperate love.
Li Xinian listened quietly, sensing the trembling in his mother's body and the heaviness in her words.
He didn't speak, but hugged her tighter, using a silent and firm embrace to tell her that he understood and accepted this "deception" in the name of love, which was more than ten years overdue.
In the quiet study late at night, more than ten years of time and estrangement seemed to slowly melt away in a silent embrace.
The two sat down on the soft sofa, with two cups of steaming black tea on the coffee table between them. Time flew by as they discussed their plans for the future of the Li family.
Isabella's influence in South America needs to be gradually and discreetly integrated into Li Xinian's existing system, which requires time and careful operation. Li Xinian also briefly mentioned the inevitable reshuffling and internal restructuring of various forces that he would have to face after taking over the family business.
Isabella picked up her teacup, gently blew on the steam, and casually mentioned, "I chatted with Su Xing for a while downstairs just now."
Li Xinian paused almost imperceptibly in the teacup he was holding, his gaze falling on the rippling tea. He didn't reply, but a faint blush seemed to rise slightly at the base of his ears.
Isabella took in his subtle reactions, a knowing, slightly teasing smile curving her lips. "He's a smart and sensible boy. Knowing you were coming back, he offered to go upstairs and rest first, leaving us, his son and me, some space. Although we didn't talk for long, we got along very well." She paused, then added, "He's also handsome."
Hearing his mother's evaluation of Lin Suxing, Li Xinian's tense jawline softened slightly.
He put down his teacup, looked up, and his gaze became unusually serious, even solemn: "He is a very good person. When I was at my loneliest, most helpless, and even when everyone doubted me and I was struggling, he helped and supported me time and time again without considering the consequences. Without him, I wouldn't be where I am today."
He rarely expressed his gratitude and recognition for someone so openly, but at this moment he did so without reservation.
“At first, I was just very grateful to him.” Li Xinian continued, his gaze drifting slightly away, as if lost in some memories, his tone carrying a gentleness he himself was unaware of, “But later… I don’t know when it started, my thoughts did change.”
This almost candid confession, and the child's rare display of tenderness, brought a touch of relief and gentleness to Isabella's eyes.
She put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, and asked softly with a hint of curiosity and a kind of good-natured teasing, "So... our Xinian, haven't you officially confirmed your relationship with him yet? When that boy mentioned you, although he was concerned, he didn't seem to consider himself your boyfriend. He even seemed a little shy when he mentioned you."
These words seemed to have struck a nerve with Li Xinian.
He looked away somewhat awkwardly, the composure he had displayed when discussing serious matters vanished, replaced by a rare embarrassment and awkwardness typical of young people.
He pursed his lips, not answering immediately, but his tacit agreement spoke volumes.
Seeing this, Isabella chuckled softly, shook her head, and said with a loving tone, "You're so decisive in dealing with those wolves and tigers outside, but why do you become so hesitant when it comes to the people you care about?"
Li Xinian felt even more uncomfortable after hearing her words, and he explained in a low voice, "...The situation is complicated, and I don't want to force him."
"When it comes to matters of the heart, sometimes you don't need so much calculation and waiting," Isabella gently reminded. "Sincerity is often more powerful than any meticulous plan."
The moonlight outside the window grew ever brighter, while the lamplight inside the study remained warm.
Isabella reached out and gently stroked Li Xinian's cheek with her fingertips.
Her movements were slow, as if she were confirming the real existence of the person in front of her, or as if she were touching that long period of time that she had missed.
At the same time, her gaze carefully traced his eyebrows, eyes, and nose, finally settling on his gray-blue eyes, which were exactly like her own. The pure pride and unruliness that once existed in those eyes had now been tempered by too many hardships that she had never experienced.
After a long silence, she spoke softly, her voice much gentler than it had been on the battlefield, carrying a tenderness born of experience and an almost imperceptible sob, as she whispered, "My little lion... has grown so big."
It was just a simple exclamation, yet it seemed to contain a thousand words.
She didn't reveal too much emotion, but the surging emotions beneath that restraint were all the more moving.
Li Xinian's body stiffened slightly as he felt the long-lost touch on his face, a touch that belonged to his mother. His Adam's apple bobbed, but in the end, he simply lowered his eyes slightly, concealing the turbulent emotions within them.
The thumb ring of the Li family patriarch, which he had just received and was now wearing on his hand, symbolizing supreme power, had become insignificant.
The two people he loved most, and who loved him most, were right beside him; he had no other desires.
***
The bedroom door was ajar, and warm yellow light streamed in through the crack. Li Xinian gently pushed the door open, a smile already appearing on his face.
The floor lamp in the living area was on, casting a soft halo around Lin Suxing.
He had clearly just taken a shower, wearing a light gray cotton pajama set, his black hair half-dry and slightly tousled over his forehead. He looked completely unguarded, like a small animal that had folded all its quills and exposed its soft belly.
He was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, looking down at his terminal screen, his profile appearing exceptionally quiet and well-behaved under the light.
Hearing the door open, Lin Suxing looked up and saw Li Xinian. Her eyes lit up slightly, and she asked softly, "Did you have a good chat with Auntie?"
This carefully considered expression of concern was like a feather gently brushing against the softest spot in Li Xinian's heart.
"Yes, she told me the reason for faking her death." He stepped forward and gently embraced her, feeling the tenderness and trust in her body.
"That's good." The young man's voice was muffled in his arms, and the scent of shampoo instantly filled his nose.
He unconsciously clenched his arms as if embracing the most fragile and precious treasure in the world.
"I'm sorry, I scared you today," Li Xinian said in a low voice, filled with guilt. "It's my fault for not protecting you properly, which put you in danger."
Lin Suxing gently shook her head in his arms, her cheek pressed against his slightly cool shirt, "Nothing of the sort, you've always protected me very well."
The lamplight outlined Lin Suxing's gentle profile. Li Xinian looked at the complete dependence in his clear eyes, and his emotions surged like a warm tide, instantly filling his chest and almost overflowing: "...Suxing."
"Hmm?" Lin Suxing tilted her head slightly to look at him, her bright doe eyes sparkling as if filled with stars.
Li Xinian raised his hand, his calloused fingertips gently stroking the small, fair cheek, causing the young man's ear tips, mostly hidden by his black hair, to turn completely red.
His gaze wandered and unconsciously fell on the soft lips so close to his, and the atmosphere gradually became ambiguous and anxious as their skin touched.
The interrupted kiss was recalled again as the two looked at each other.
Their breaths mingled as they drew closer and closer until finally, Li Xinian lowered his head and gently kissed that warm spot.
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Author's Note: I'll definitely confess in the next chapter! [Winking face][Let me see]
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