Chapter 58 Bringing someone home for dinner
Chapter 58
Having been away for so long, seeing the familiar school gate and the ginkgo-lined path, Wen Yining felt a mix of excitement, anticipation, and unfamiliarity, just like when she was a freshman registering for college.
She had only been in school for a short time when she "took leave" for a month. The two of them were both surprised and delighted by her appearance. Gu Lingling sprinted over to hug her, and Wen Yining, who was prepared, was still knocked against the wall by her.
Gu Lingling was shorter than Wen Yining, so she hugged her tightly, burying her head in Wen Yining's neck and nuzzling her frantically, "Wenwenwenwen, we missed you so much!"
Wen Yining subconsciously raised her hand to hug Gu Lingling, and exchanged a smiling glance with Jiang Feng who had rushed over. Wen Yining smiled helplessly and patted Gu Lingling's hair.
Others who saw her asked her what illness she had.
It seems that Li Changjing requested sick leave for her.
“I…” Wen Yining suddenly had an idea, pointed to the faint scar on her forehead, and said with an embarrassed smile, “I accidentally hurt my head.”
Gu Lingling and Jiang Fengqing were both skeptical. When they finally got in touch with Wen Yining, they didn't dare ask too many questions over the phone. But now, seeing the scar on her forehead, they were terrified.
Back in the dorm, Gu Lingling grabbed her arm. "Could it be that he abused you and you're injured, which is why you haven't come for so long?"
Wen Yining was both amused and helpless. "I did this myself. I'm really fine."
"So what exactly happened? Tell me!"
It's unclear whether there will be any further developments regarding the list. Li Changjing won't do anything to her, but if something else happens, it's best to know as little as possible.
"Actually, it's nothing. I just had a little conflict with Li Changjing and hurt my head. By the way, you didn't answer any of that person's calls as I told you, did you?"
Gu Lingling angrily pushed her away and stood up. "You're kidding me! Do you think I'm stupid? Do you still consider us friends? You won't say, huh? Fine, I won't say either!"
Jiang Fengqing glared at her too, "You used to complain that the guy surnamed Li never said anything and liked to shoulder everything himself. We didn't dare to complain about you back then, but you're actually exactly the same as him!"
Wen Yining was startled and suddenly realized that it seemed to be true... This was one of the reasons why she hated Li Changjing the most. She knew how annoying this problem was. After thinking for a while, she omitted the list and Fang Qi's matter and only said that the two of them finally had a conflict. In order to prevent her from leaving, Li Changjing locked her in the room in a fit of anger.
"He's making a movie? They escalated a simple argument into illegal detention! What kind of forced love is he acting in! So what if he's powerful and influential!"
"I knew it! He looks all respectable, but he's just a yandere! A pervert!"
"Those rich people all have psychological problems!"
Listening to the two of them, unaware of the truth, hurling a torrent of abuse at Li Changjing, from his personality to claiming he had over a dozen mental illnesses, Wen Yining nervously tilted her head and pinched her earlobe, feeling extremely uneasy. "Actually, it's not like that. He's not that...perverted. Actually, this whole thing is my fault..."
"Wait a minute, what's going on with your friend?" Jiang Fengqing looked at her suspiciously. "You...cheated on him? And he caught you?"
What is all this?
"Yes, the night you took leave, your friend called me more than a dozen times!"
Wen Yining hurriedly asked, "And then? You didn't contact him again, right?"
"No, I told him you took leave and haven't come back yet. He told me to let him know if I got any news, so I haven't called again."
Wen Yining nodded, relieved, and sat back down.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and connecting these events, she realized something she had overlooked. During this time, she had been in so much pain that she deliberately avoided thinking about anything, drifting in and out of her mind, not wanting to use her brain. Only now did she realize that when Li Changjing smashed his phone and locked her up, she thought he was just too angry, but now she realized that he did it on purpose.
Li Changjing had already noticed something was wrong with her and sent her a fake list, but he couldn't believe she would really do this to him. So he stood alone outside the study. He must have heard her crying inside. After confirming that she had indeed sent it, he didn't pretend he didn't notice anything and let her go. First, he was sad and angry; second, he was afraid she would run away; and third, he was putting on an act of being furious.
Fang Qi couldn't contact her, so he must have realized something was wrong. If she successfully obtained the list and returned to school smoothly, it would be too easy and would seem strange and arouse suspicion. How could someone like Li Changjing be so easily fooled without noticing anything amiss? But sure enough, she ran into trouble halfway through, and Li Changjing's "angry revenge" actually increased the credibility of the list.
Anyway, Fang Qi already has the list, and the information on it is half true and half false, so he will definitely believe it to be true. If Li Changjing tries to create some other obstacles...
Wen Yining suppressed her emotions and came back to her senses, letting out a breath, not wanting to think about it anymore.
It's not that most people are stupid; it's just that most people don't have this habit of either harming others or guarding against being harmed. They habitually calculate and scheme in every single thing. Who in their right mind would think so much about something like this? It's not like we're in a palace intrigue.
Let them scheme all they want; she'll distance herself from these people sooner or later anyway, and she won't have much contact with these high-ranking officials' children for the rest of her life.
Although her teacher had previously hinted that she wouldn't have any problems, Wen Yining was now missing too many classes and was working herself to the bone every day. She finally felt another kind of revenge from Li Changjing and wished she could rush back and punch him twice.
After quickly washing up, Wen Yining hurriedly turned on her computer. Gu Lingling suddenly came in from the balcony with a strange expression. "Wenwen, your friend called again."
Wen Yining was taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Why should I ask him?"
Gu Lingling came over while holding her phone and said, "Wenwen, I support you even if you cheat on him, since that guy surnamed Li threatened you to be with him. But you should probably just let it go for now... What if Li Changjing finds out again? He's quite scary."
“…He didn’t cheat on me…” Wen Yining didn’t dare say that this was Li Changjing’s former friend. “I answered the call and asked him what he wanted, and told him never to call again.”
Gu Lingling then handed the phone to her.
Wen Yining went to the balcony to answer the call and suddenly noticed a car parked in the distance not far from the dormitory building.
Fang Qi's usually clear and youthful voice was a little hoarse, "Ningning, he let you out?"
"Yeah, didn't I say never to call again? Don't involve my friend in this!" Wen Yining said angrily in a low voice.
"For safety reasons, I can only contact your friend. Don't worry, this is the last time. I'm downstairs in your dorm building. Come down and we'll talk."
Fang Qi hung up the phone before Wen Yining could speak.
It really was him.
Wen Yining glanced at the car downstairs, returned the phone to Gu Lingling, and prepared to go and make things clear and end things.
"Wait, who is this person?"
Wen Yining put on her coat. "You've met him, Li Changjing's friend."
"Ah, so it was him! That playboy?" Gu Lingling's expression and tone changed immediately. She pursed her lips shyly and said softly, "So it was him."
Wen Yining was startled, "Lingling, you wouldn't..."
"How could that be!" Gu Lingling hurriedly shook her head. "I just thought he was quite good-looking. I never expected that he was the one who kept making the phone calls."
"He's not a good person, we absolutely mustn't get too involved with that group!" Wen Yining was extremely anxious. If it were before, she wouldn't have been so afraid, but now that she was getting too involved in their circle, she decided to give up.
She took Gu Lingling's phone, deleted all his contact information, and even deleted the number from his WeChat chat history.
"Don't be afraid, I just like handsome guys, but I don't like those playboys."
Wen Yining frowned as she went downstairs. As she got closer, the person in the car seemed to see her, opened the car door and got out. Fang Qi was wearing a baseball cap and smelled of cigarettes. After not seeing him for many days, he had obvious dark circles under his eyes on his fair face, and his eyes were bloodshot. The once arrogant and flamboyant young master Fang now had a serious coldness and haggardness.
"Get in the car."
"No need, let's just talk here. I'm in a hurry to get back." Wen Yining was now very wary of this group of people.
Fang Qi noticed her wariness, lowered his head, smiled bitterly, and didn't press the matter. "How have you been lately? Is he willing to let you out?"
"Okay. Don't contact my friend again, not even once."
Fang Qi frowned. "Did he threaten you again?"
Wen Yining shook her head, "I'm no longer of any use to you, there's no need to contact me anymore."
Fang Qi frowned, then suddenly stepped forward, reaching out as if to grasp her arm. He raised his hand, then lowered it without touching her.
"Ningning, is that what you think of me? I've already made arrangements. You really wanted to leave, didn't you? I promised you, I'll have someone send you out right now. But you'll have to endure some hardship. Go to the border first, and transfer through Myanmar. I will definitely get you out."
He actually cared so much about promising her that he was willing to do this. Wen Yining was surprised for a moment. Before she could think of anything, the driver's side window suddenly rolled down, and a person said in a low voice, "You can't take her away now! We've already alerted them by coming here. We were followed as soon as we left the house. And you actually drove all the way here. With how closely Li Changjing watches her, she can't get out at all!"
“I’ve already arranged another car. I’ll drive out and distract them. You take her in the other car.”
The man was clearly taken aback and became furious, shouting, "You!"
Like listening to a storyteller, what is all this nonsense?!
Wen Yining frowned, instinctively taking two steps back, and looked at Fang Qi with a puzzled expression.
Fang Qi ignored the man and turned to look at Wen Yining. He was much taller than her, and bent down slightly to look at her, earnestly promising, "Ningning, don't worry, I will definitely let you leave. I have made all the arrangements over there, and I will come to see you."
His attitude is so strange. They're not that close, are they? Why does he seem so concerned?
Wen Yining instinctively felt there was a conspiracy.
The man in the car said in a low voice, "With your family background and abilities, can't you focus your attention on other things and stop clinging to Li Zeqing? Even if you take her away, so what? How many years can Li Zeqing be heartbroken?"
Fang Qi turned around and angrily shouted, "Meng Ying!"
really!
“I won’t go with you. Li Changjing hates me to death right now. Even if I leave him, it won’t hurt him in the slightest, except make him hate me even more. You don’t need to use me as an excuse anymore.”
"Why aren't you leaving!" Fang Qi was a little anxious and subconsciously wanted to hold her hand, but Wen Yining took a step back and dodged, so he put his hand down.
Did he threaten you?
Wen Yining didn't answer. Seeing that some classmates were passing by, she was afraid that Fang Qi would go crazy and attack her. She quickly said, "Let's pretend that our agreement didn't exist. I don't blame you. Don't come again, and don't call the people around me anymore. I don't think we need to meet."
He is no longer Fang Qi, and she has no feelings for him anymore.
Seeing that there were people around and he wouldn't dare to make a move, Wen Yining turned around and ran quickly back to the dormitory after she finished speaking.
She's very wary of them now, always feeling that they're all law-abiding citizens who might suddenly go crazy.
Wen Yining quickly went upstairs, walked to the balcony and looked down. Fang Qi was still standing there. Only then did she turn around, open the car door, and drive away.
*
Wen Yining began to suffer from insomnia, her mind constantly wandering between sleep and wakefulness, unable to stop thinking about Li Changjing's mother's words and the current situation. He was getting married at the end of the year, and his mother had come over, yet he still showed no sign of letting go. This was unlike Li Changjing; he probably knew she wanted to leave and was deliberately retaliating against her.
Is she destined to be trapped here, watching him marry someone else while she becomes his mistress, hated and resented by him? Is she destined to live a life of mutual loathing and no pleasantries whenever they meet?
Wen Yining stayed at school for a day and didn't return until Saturday evening.
Yue Feng always picked her up in a very ordinary car, and she never wore any gold or silver jewelry. In addition, she received a high scholarship every year. Although it was known that she stayed at her boyfriend's place on weekends, there were never any rumors that she was being kept by a rich man.
What if his wife comes knocking on his door later and spreads the news at school and home?
Wen Yining shook her head, quickly interrupting her uncontrollable wild thoughts.
After getting out of the car, Wen Yining subconsciously glanced over there. Li Changjing's car was parked in the parking space outside. He was at home, but he didn't park in the garage. It seemed that he was going out later.
Turning her gaze away, she walked into the courtyard. As soon as she entered the gate, she saw Li Changjing walking out. His expression was cold and he looked like he was going out. He wasn't dressed casually; his clothes weren't very formal, but they were definitely not casual either.
Luo Hao followed behind him, talking as he walked, as if he were reporting something.
Li Changjing looked up and saw her, then paused. His gaze was strange, indescribably strange. Wen Yining had a feeling that his trip was not simple.
Are you going on a blind date?
Wen Yining lowered her eyes and continued walking inside, even with her head down, she could feel Li Changjing standing there watching her. She didn't look up, and walked past him with a cold face. Neither of them intended to speak. Except when they were in bed, Li Changjing never spoke to her. Even in bed, he would speak coldly and hatefully to her. Wen Yining also retaliated without showing any weakness.
It's better not to say anything.
In the instant they brushed past each other, her arm was suddenly grabbed, and Wen Yining was pulled back a few steps. She struggled instinctively, but Li Changjing pulled her even harder to his side.
Wen Yining suddenly remembered that Fang Qi had come to find her. He knew about it, but she didn't go with him. If Li Changjing still came to her, it would be unreasonable!
Frowning, Li Changjing looked up at her, his delicate and beautiful eyes slightly upturned, his eyes filled with a deep emotion. He didn't seem to be looking for trouble, but simply gazing at her.
"You just watched me leave without saying a word?" Li Changjing's tone was as cold as ever, but he didn't seem angry or throwing a tantrum.
That's strange.
Her arm was aching from his grip, and Wen Yining didn't say anything nice, coldly asking, "When are you going to let me go?"
They're about to get married, how long will this go on?
Li Changjing forcefully shoved Wen Yining away, and she stumbled back several steps. Luo Hao instinctively reached out to help her, but then withdrew his hand and didn't touch her. He only held her back lightly to prevent her from actually falling.
Wen Yining steadied herself, and Li Changjing looked at her coldly, but he didn't say anything harsh like before. A strange feeling flashed through her mind, and she rubbed her arm that had been pinched so hard and turned to leave.
After taking a few steps, the bodyguard at the door looked up and whispered, "This cat is quite bold."
These bodyguards were different from Yue Feng and Luo Hao; they weren't as rigid and rule-bound as the others, and they had a lot more of a down-to-earth feel to them. If it were Yue Feng and his group, they would never have said these things in front of Li Changjing.
Although he is much more silent and rigid than when he first arrived, the old habits still remain.
Upon hearing the word "cat," Wen Yining subconsciously looked up and saw a chubby calico cat appearing on the wall. This was the first cat she had seen here; the cat from the other side had been taken care of by the property management after their breakup.
Wen Yining's brow relaxed. "Mimi."
The kitten turned its head, stopped, looked at her, and meowed.
Wen Yining was taken aback, then subconsciously smiled at it and continued to call out to it gently in a soft voice, "Mimi Mimi, you're so cute, come down, okay? I'll get you something delicious."
Several months have passed since their breakup and reunion, and she has never again shown such a gentle, girlish smile.
The bodyguard next to it also shouted at it.
Wen Yining's eyes were curved and a gentle smile was on her face. As she smiled, she seemed to sense something and turned her head, meeting Li Changjing's eyes without warning.
He hadn't left yet; he stood there, watching her from a distance in the slightly chilly evening. Luo Hao was still beside him, whispering something with his head down.
Li Changjing stared intently at her, the mist that had been obscuring his eyes vanishing. For the first time, he revealed his true feelings, his emotions laid bare, his eyes filled with a mixture of hatred, love, and sorrow.
It was as if everyone else had vanished from his sight in that instant; he was only looking at her, his gaze incredibly deep, the sorrow in his eyes like moonlight shining on December frost. All the extreme love, hate, and past years were contained in that one look, and he was only looking at her.
Wen Yining stared blankly at him, feeling a strange sadness welling up inside her from his gaze, and the smile on her face slowly disappeared.
Wen Yining couldn't bear Li Changjing's gaze and hurriedly looked away. She didn't know if she couldn't bear the clear and intense love or the clear hatred in his eyes. Her heart felt wet and damp. The bodyguard next to her was still playing with the cat. She pursed her lips, forced a smile, and continued to pretend to be nonchalant as she played with the cat.
Yue Feng walked in from outside and said in a low voice, "Sir, we can set off now."
Li Changjing gave Wen Yining a deep look, then turned and walked out.
The cat was still tricked into coming down. Wen Yining was talking absentmindedly to the bodyguard when she couldn't help but turn her head. The courtyard was empty, and Li Changjing was gone.
*
At the dinner table, as before, they talked about the same topics in hushed tones.
Li Changjing barely touched his chopsticks, keeping a gentle and respectful smile as he spoke to Li.
Li Quanguo suddenly looked up at Li Changjing, picked up his cup, and said to him slowly and gently as if he knew nothing, "I met Peng Chunlin's daughter a few days ago. She's a nice girl. I heard she's leaving the day after tomorrow. Last time I asked you to bring her home for dinner, but you refused. This time, be good and bring her home in a few days."
Li Quanguo's voice was always unhurried and not harsh, even gentle and caring, but every word carried an irresistible force and pressure.
As soon as he finished speaking, the dinner table fell silent, and everyone subconsciously looked at Li Changjing, who stood to the side without any expression.
Author's Note: (Answer)
Because he knew his mother's temper, he was afraid she would hit him with a cup.
Things that won't hurt him—being polite by bowing and delivering things downstairs; things that might hit him—a cup, which he has someone carry far away.
I think Fang Qi's feelings for Wen Yining are rather complicated.
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