Chapter 85 Drinking Alone
The little mute boy originally came to offer warmth and comfort, but he was accidentally lured into the office again.
The transparent glass couldn't wait to become opaque again...
This time, Li Jichuan couldn't even wait until he returned to his desk. He hugged Su Pu at the door and pulled her onto his lap.
"You came here on purpose to salvage my reputation?"
His heart was completely melted by her cuteness, and Li Jichuan's eyes were overflowing with tenderness.
"My little Pu, you're so bold!"
Su Pu pointed to his watch, indicating that he had limited time and needed to hurry back to work.
The moment it tried to move, it was gripped even tighter.
The little mute boy was so frightened that he opened his mouth and screamed.
Li Jichuan was so fascinated by him that he held Su Pu's face in his hands, rubbing and kneading it here and there, wishing he could swallow him whole like a mochi dumpling.
Have you ever had the experience of your parents treating the whole class to snacks?
After an outdoor activity ended, a beautiful mother smelling sweet and a father dressed in a suit suddenly appeared at the edge of the activity area, carrying packaged snacks, which he distributed to all the children in the class.
It will always be a sunny day, always when everyone is starving.
The parents who suddenly appeared were like two angels, radiating light, and even their child's smile became exceptionally dazzling.
Li Jichuan didn't show it on his face, but he felt a pang of envy in his heart.
It was the second year after his parents passed away. He mentioned to his grandfather that he hoped to see him at the end of the green field, where he could treat the whole class to drinks and hamburgers.
Grandpa nodded to indicate that he understood, ate a couple more bites of steak, and was then called away by a phone call. Li Jichuan did not return after finishing dinner.
For the subsequent events, the meals representing Li Jichuan were delivered on time. The delivery personnel, dressed in bright uniforms, handed each student an expensive bento box.
Grandpa didn't appear, Li Jichuan didn't laugh, and many of his classmates didn't laugh either.
That day was also a sunny day...
Therefore, when Su Pu came today, Li Jichuan felt a sense of accomplishment that was both strange and familiar.
His vanity was soaring that he was so happy he wanted to get up and walk around for everyone right then and there.
Unfortunately, my physical condition simply doesn't allow it.
That's fine then. The joy and emotion that Su Pu brought him made him feel light and happy for a long time afterward.
It's as if, even though he still can't walk freely, he can be repeatedly struck down by such clumsy and simple kindness when he thinks about this matter and about Su Pu.
I was so happy that my soul left my body and floated straight up to the clouds.
...
With spring more than halfway over, the days are getting longer and earlier, and Su Pu's sleep patterns are becoming somewhat unstable.
Sometimes she would wake up in the middle of the night and find that Li Jichuan wasn't beside her. She would pout and roll around on the bed for a while before falling back asleep.
However, he woke up in the middle of the night that day, feeling exhausted as if he had just escaped from a long nightmare, with cold sweat on his forehead.
No matter how hard he tried to recall, he couldn't remember any of the details.
Unfortunately, Li Jichuan was not by his side at this moment.
Su Pu got up and glanced at the time.
It's 2:30 a.m., and Li Jichuan didn't finish work until 11:30 p.m. So he went to rehabilitation again so early?
I shuffled out in my slippers. There was a faint light at the end of the corridor, but it didn't come from the rehabilitation room.
A pair of feet finally crossed the living room and stopped at the edge of the dining room.
Only one light was on in the restaurant, and Su Pu happened to be standing outside the light, quietly watching Li Jichuan drinking alone.
Light fell from above, illuminating Li Jichuan's head, making his hair and even his eyelashes glow with a dark orange light.
The person sitting in the light was shaking a wide-mouthed glass with one hand, the ice balls inside hitting the glass wall with a cold, crisp sound.
Li Jichuan's face was expressionless, his gaze fixed straight ahead, lost in thought.
In the darkness, Su Pu pondered, "This person looks so lonely..."
It's as if someone left it here and waited for a very, very long time.
How could anyone not want Li Jichuan?
How could anyone abandon Li Jichuan?
...
Li Jichuan was not fond of alcohol.
I only drank heavily during my university years. Partly to celebrate finally escaping my grandfather's ever-present surveillance, and partly to squander that freedom as much as possible.
Because such freedom could come to an abrupt end at any time.
He's started drinking again recently. The reason, actually, isn't because of Su Pu.
It comes more from himself.
Balancing career, dreams, rehabilitation, and family, Li Jichuan's physical strength has been severely depleted, and his mental energy is also clearly lacking.
But he never dared to relax, especially recently, he didn't know how to attack anymore.
Due to several serious mistakes, Li Shuwen's influence has dwindled, and her support rate within the group has significantly decreased, causing her to fall to sixth place.
Upon learning the result, Li Shuwen stormed into his office and threw her precious handbag at his face.
"Congratulations! Are you satisfied now?"
Li Shuwen has a very strong personality. Whenever she appears in public, she always looks exquisite with her makeup and hair done perfectly.
That day, her hair was disheveled, and there were black tear stains on her cheeks. She cursed at him in a very unseemly manner.
"Everyone says I'm heartless, but who cares about the environment I grew up in, the situations I face every day? I'm stuck with a father who favors my brother since I was little, and then favors you. Has he ever thought about my difficulties?"
Li Jichuan remained seated, momentarily lost in thought.
Perhaps his self-perceived fairness and justice are always rooted in his own perspective.
He was incapable of helping the world, and he didn't even know, nor did he care to know, why his aunt was so determined to kill him and why she hated his family so much.
Perhaps he also understands that he is a beneficiary of the existing system. If he were to relinquish the title of successor of the Li family, would his abilities truly be sufficient to support the operation of an entire group?
Without the support of a privileged family background, would he have been able to smoothly progress from school to graduation and then to becoming the general manager of the group, and even lose his temper with his colleagues?
If he were just an ordinary high school student who grew up to be an average office worker, would he still have the chance to meet Su Pu and marry her?
The answer is no.
By sheer chance, if he made one wrong step, everything he had would collapse, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue on.
Li Shuwen's shrill questioning voice still echoed in his ears, but Li Jichuan couldn't listen. He was destined to cover his ears and keep walking forward.
Grandpa, when you founded the Li family business, were you always faced with this dilemma?
The darkness enveloped all emotions. Li Jichuan sighed and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.
The ice puck touched his lips, making him itch from the cold.
Looking back again, the little mute boy was already standing in the light.
So thin, so fair-skinned, as beautiful as a dream.
The dream drew near to him.
He was embraced by a dream.
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