Reaching home, she walked to her room and as she was inserting the key into the lock, she heard her mother's voice. "Welcome back." She paused and lowered her hands then looked at her guiltily. "Where are you coming from?" she asked. "I-I went out."
"I'm aware of that. I asked where you're coming from Li Fei. Was it to see that man?" she asked as she came to stand in front of her. "Yes," she whispered. "Didn't I forbid you from leaving the house?" "Yes Mom but I missed him," she confessed.
She shook her head and said," You never cease to amaze me Li Fei. You know what, you're going to take me to my early grave."
With that, she walked away leaving her standing there.
Speaking to Jin Liwei at night, he informed her that he was going to Shanghai for a week and will be back soon, but she told him to take his time. The next day after breakfast, Li Fei went to her mother's room and knocked on the door before opening it. Peeking inside, she saw her sitting in front of the mirror and said," May I come in mother?" Turning to look at her, she didn't say anything and went back to what she was doing. Li Fei pursed her lips and went in before closing the door behind her and went to sit on the bed. "Mother, how are you?" she asked. Getting no response, she added," Mother, I know that you're very angry and disappointed in me but at least first listen to my side of the story."
She finally turned to look at her and asked," What should I listen to when it's clear that you fell for the worst man in this world?"
Taking a deep breath, she said," It was Jin Liwei who ordered for my release on remission. If it wasn't for him, I would have still been in prison. When he took me to his house- " "When he kidnapped you to his house is how you should frame it," she interrupted her. "When I reached his house, I was afraid that he was going to mistreat me but none of that happened," she started narrating everything. How he never mistreated her even though she had led to the death of his family. She told him everything that happened between her and Caihong. By the end of the conversation, she was flabbergasted and said, "Oh my God! I can't believe it! Why didn't you tell me about it?!" "I didn't want to worry you." "I can't believe that Caihong could do something like that. Thanks to that man he didn't rape you. What happened to him after?"
"Jin Liwei put him into a mental institution and I visited him the last time I went to Shanghai. The place is good and I think they will help him," she said. For saving her daughter, she was grateful to that man even though she didn't like him.
"But it doesn't change the fact that he ordered for you to be raped in prison. He also ordered for your death when you got stabbed."
"He didn't do it mother. Yes, he asked the warden to torture me but he didn't tell her to do those things specifically. I think the warden was just cruel,"she defended him. "Even then. It doesn't change the fact that he tortured you and us." "He regrets everything mother. With him, I feel safe and happy. He adores me and I love him. I know it was wrong of me to fall for him but I just couldn't help it," she said and her mother's lips were set to a thin line.
Li Fei looked at her and gulped before saying," I know. There's something else you have to know." "And what is that?" she asked. "Uh...I don't how you will take it but I-I once had an abortion," she said and bit her bottom lip.
"When was that?!" she asked completely caught off guard. "In Shanghai," she mentioned. Her eyes narrowed and she asked," Was it his again?" When she nodded, she said," Did he tell you to do it?! Or worse denied it?!" "No mother. I did it without him knowing that I had gotten pregnant. On the contrary, he wanted it but I got afraid thinking that he might reject it," she said. "And you ended up aborting?" she asked to which she nodded and said," I made that mistake which I will never forgive myself.
He's missed on the opportunity of being a father three times and it's all because of me."
She looked at her and said," You shouldn't blame yourself. Everything happens for a reason. I understand everything and I can't blame you for your feelings but I can't let you be with him. He caused too much suffering and agony to us." Li Fei looked away at those words.
"Jianyu is really broken," Li Mei said instead. "Sorry for him," Li Fei replied. "Anyway, I was going to do some shopping when you came in. Would like to join me?" she asked getting up. "Sure. I don't mind," replied Li Fei standing up and together, they left the house.
...
Liling realized that she had gotten her period again and she released a disappointed sigh.
Jing Yue had been on his medication for a month now and she had thought that maybe, this time round it would be different.
Back to Beijing, a month had passed and Li Mei had caught Li Fei a number of times sneaking out of the house to see Jin Liwei.
It got her thinking about the future of her two children and as a parent, she knew that she had to decide.
One morning, the three were done with breakfast when Li Jiang bid them goodbye to go for work. Reaching the car, he heard his mother calling him and he turned to see her coming his way.
"I forgot to tell you something," she said the moment she reached him. "What is it mother?" he asked his brows raising in question. "I need you to call that man Jin Liwei and ask if he's free this coming weekend," she said much to his surprise. "Why?" "I want him to come at the house. I need to have a conversation with him," she replied. "What do you want to talk to him about?" he asked.
"Just call him and tell me what he says," she said and hesitantly, he nodded.
"I will call him when I reach the company," he said and she nodded before walking back to the house.