Fu Minghao gaped at her, the force of her words rocking him to the core. How could any human being— least of all his daughter— be capable of such malevolence?
"So you would rather trade your life for hers? You would rather rot in prison forever? You should be glad she didn't die, else you might never leave the four walls of the prison!"
On hearing that, Fu Mengyao dissolved into tears again, "That's why you should save me Dad. I don't want to stay here anymore. Help me. Okay, I will go and beg that s**t, I will beg Chuanmo ge as well. I will do anything....."
It was obvious she was mentally unstable. Fu Minghao's eyes turned red. She was his daughter after all. No matter how terrible and cold-blooded she was, she was still his flesh and blood.
While Fu Mengyao was still shouting, the sergeant in charge came to tell him their time was up. She was escorted out amidst shouts and screams.
After leaving the detention centre, Fu Minghao hurried back home to look after his wife. He met her being assisted to sit up in bed by one of their workers. He dismissed her and took over to feed Fu Yinuo.
She accepted two spoons of congee before asking, "how is she?"
"She's okay, holding out as much as possible. She asked after you and said you should take care of yourself."
Fu Yinuo gave a hollow laugh devoid of humor.
"Are you trying to fool me or are you fooling yourself? We both know that Mengyao is not the type to care about anyone other than herself. She's a self-centered socialite who disdains anyone that is not in her class.
I'm very sure she didn't talk about me even once today."
Fu Minghao bowed his head, embarrassed. His wife was a very astute person. He knew he couldn't fool her but he tried to, so as to make her worry less.
But it was of no use. Fu Yinuo looked like she had aged ten years within the past few days. She looked so frail as she leaned on the headboard.
They couldn't even go to plead with the Li couple this time. Fu Minghao tried calling Li Chuanmo on his way back from the detention centre, but Li Chuanmo only said a few words when he eventually picked the call.
"I'm sorry, but Fu Mengyao has to pay!"
*****
Pei Yueran rested well for a few hours in the bedroom arranged for her. Since she was still sulking, Li Chuanmo left her well alone.
It was Li Yuchen that went to get her for dinner.
"My Goddess, it's time to eat", he announced cheerfully from the doorway.
Pei Yueran managed to say, "Come in", before collapsing back into bed. Li Yuchen skipped in happily, but he stopped short when he saw that she still didn't look well. He came to sit by her bed in worry.
"Are you still feeling unwell?"
Pei Yueran felt warmed by his obvious concern. "I feel better, don't worry. But I won't be able to join you downstairs tonight."
At the sad "puppy" look on his face, she smiled and added, "It's just that I need more rest. I'll be fine with just drinking warm water."
She didn't want to add the fact that seeing his dad would make her angry all over again.
Hearing that, Li Yuchen perked up again. "Alright then, let me get you a glass of water."
There was a water dispenser in the room, so he went there. As Pei Yueran watched him with a smile on her face, there was a short knock on her door and it then opened.
After seeing who it was, her smile disappeared.
Li Chuanmo came to her bedside with a bowl of watery congee, "The doctor said you can only drink water and eat light, liquid food for a few more days. Manage this for now."
"I'm not hungry."
"You need to eat something, for your health."
"I really don't want anything."
"Do you want to find yourself in the hospital again?"
Pei Yueran paused, then collected the tray. "Thank you", she said stiffly.
"Do you need me to feed you?"
Pei Yueran's stare could literally put a man six feet underground.
Li Chuanmo looked at her and left without speaking.
Li Yuchen, who was at the corner watching this drama for free: "__"
So Dad was this handsome yet had EQ issues? No wonder! He could sense that something was off between both of them earlier.
Incredible!
Like, who speaks to the person they are interested in like that? From their short conversation, it was obvious that the lady was annoyed with him, yet he kept talking in that boring tone? No coaxing at all?
Li Yuchen, who had been reading a book about emotional intelligence that he found in his dad's library, fancied himself an experienced instructor on the subject.
As far as he was concerned, even if he had not eaten pigs, he had seen pork fly*. His dad needed a capable person like him!
Forget it. Although his dad was not so nice a man, he would not stoop to his level. After all, he was also doing this for the sake of having his Goddess become his mother.
He had to strategize properly and help that Dad of his. Else, who knows when his turtle dad would take action?
So after dinner, he used about an hour to browse through that book, and also search the internet for tips and tricks. He then went to Li Chuanmo's study and knocked on the door.
Li Chuanmo, who was trying to read but couldn't concentrate, raked his hand through his hair as he looked up. Li Yuchen entered, smiling mysteriously.
His father took one look at him and dropped the book, reclining on his chair. After a few moments of Li Yuchen smiling and Li Chuanmo staring, he finally broke the silence.
"Spit it out. What's that look on your face?"
"Dad, you have terrible skills in picking up women."
*Even though one has never eaten pork, at least one has seen a pig running— describes someone who has had observation, but no experience.
Li Yuchen is misquoting as usual.