Liu Renzhi’s heart sank. He quickly crouched beside Liu Siyue’s bed.
“What are you thinking about? Why ask that all of a sudden?”
Liu Siyue didn’t know how to explain, and finally brushed it off:
“It’s nothing, big brother. I was just talking in my sleep.
“It’s late—you should go back to rest.”
Liu Renzhi knew she wasn’t telling the truth. He still held her hand:
“Yueyue, your big brother will always be your big brother, always a member of the Liu family.
“Go to sleep. I’ll leave once you’re asleep.”
Liu Siyue insisted that he leave.
He was tired enough—she didn’t need him watching over her.
In the end, Liu Renzhi gave in to her insistence. He set the air conditioner to 26 degrees, then turned and slowly closed the door.
Back in his own room, he lit a cigarette and sat by the window.
Huang Chunlian’s sudden appearance today had stirred up the calm waters of his life.
He didn’t understand. Back then, she had left so resolutely. Why come back now?
If she was going to come back, why couldn’t she just live quietly?
Why did she have to go and cause trouble in front of Su Jing?
Why?
Cigarette butt after cigarette butt—he sat there all night.
As soon as dawn broke, he made a call to Assistant Chen:
“Help me arrange a meeting with Ms. Huang.”
Huang Chunlian was overjoyed when she got the call.
Liu Renzhi taking the initiative to see her—how could that not be good news?
Chen Siming wanted to go along:
“Mom, let me come with you. Our company really can’t hold out much longer.”
Huang Chunlian thought it over:
“No. I still don’t know what his attitude is yet. You going might provoke him.
“Be good and wait for my news. Mom will figure something out for you.”
Huang Chunlian dressed up meticulously. She had barely stepped out the door when Chen Siming slipped out after her.
He wanted to see for himself what kind of person Liu Renzhi really was.
Wasn’t it just that he had a little more money?
What was so great about that? They were born to the same mother—how impressive could he be?
In the private room of a coffee shop.
Huang Chunlian waited a few minutes before Liu Renzhi appeared, his face expressionless.
For some reason, facing Liu Renzhi now made her feel timid.
She didn’t understand why—after all, she was his mother, and he was her child.
But the moment she saw him, she couldn’t help standing up:
“Renzhi, you’re here. Finally willing to see your mother.
“I ordered you a coffee—American style. You should like that.”
She pushed the coffee toward him, but he didn’t even touch it.
He leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs:
“Ms. Huang, the main reason I came to see you today is to make it clear: from now on, please don’t come to my house.
“And especially don’t disturb my family. They are my bottom line.
“Do you understand?”
Huang Chunlian hadn’t expected that the mother-and-son reunion she had hoped for wouldn’t happen, and all she would get was a cold warning from him.
She was heartbroken. Her eyes reddened instantly:
“Renzhi, I’m your mother—your biological mother.
“I know you’re still blaming me for what happened back then, but I had my reasons.
“I can explain—I was forced to marry your father.
“He didn’t love me, and he wasn’t good to me. I truly couldn’t bear it anymore and had no choice but to leave after he passed.
“And back then, I didn’t abandon you—I just hadn’t stabilized my life yet and couldn’t bring you over.”
“I…”
Liu Renzhi cut her off:
“I don’t want to hear about the love and hatred between you two. Ms. Huang, my father has been dead for thirty years. You can say whatever you want now.”
"So I don’t want to hear it at all. I’m only here to tell you, or rather, to warn you.
Stay away from my family. Listen clearly—stay away from every single one of them."
Huang Chunlian’s tears fell.
"Fine, I’ll stay away from them. They were never any of my business anyway.
I’ll only contact you. Is that acceptable?"
"No, it is not."
Liu Renzhi rejected her outright.
"I haven’t finished yet, Ms. Huang. Not only are you to stay away from my family, but even more..."
He paused deliberately, drawing out his words:
"Stay away from me!"
"You... Renzhi, I..."
Liu Renzhi gave Huang Chunlian no chance to say anything more. He stood up and left.
He left her with no trace of hope.
Huang Chunlian was so enraged she smashed a teacup.
Chen Siming, who had been sitting next door, walked in.
"Mom, what kind of attitude was that? You're his mother.
It’s utterly unreasonable."
Huang Chunlian clenched her teeth.
"That slut Su Jing must have been badmouthing me all these years, driving a wedge between him and me.
And Nanny Wu—I explicitly told her to instill in Renzhi the idea that I had no choice back then, but clearly she didn’t say a word.
She must have turned against me, just like Su Jing.
They’re all no good, every last one of them.
Hmph."
As she ranted, she suddenly laughed.
"But so what? Just you wait, son. Sooner or later, I’ll make him come crying back, calling me Mom.
Whether it’s him or Liu Jianming, they’ll never escape my grasp."
On the way back, Assistant Chen handed Liu Renzhi a folder.
"Sir, I looked into it. Ms. Huang’s husband started a company overseas after a few years of playing around.
But since they don’t know how to run a business, it’s been hemorrhaging money.
The last two years have been especially bad—I estimate a hole of several hundred million.
She suddenly returned to China this time, and I suspect her goal is to target you. They need money, and you have it."
"I thought as much."
Liu Renzhi’s heart sank with disappointment.
"Back then, he took every single cent of Dad’s money and left me nothing.
Now he wants to suck my blood again? He’s dreaming."
In truth, Liu Renzhi had already anticipated this possibility.
Huang Chunlian cared only about money.
He had noticed earlier that all the jewelry, accessories, and even handbags she wore were fakes.
It was just a front.
Thinking about handbags, he turned and instructed the driver to go to Lin Wanyi’s place.
Before he even reached her home, he saw Wang Hao.
Wang Hao was carrying several bags of snacks and knocking on the door.
"Wanyi, open up. I went back to Wangjia Village and brought some local specialties for you and Keke.
Open the door, please. These bags are heavy."
From inside the door, Lin Wanyi’s voice was calm and flat.
"Take them away, Wang Hao. Keke and I don’t like anything from Wangjia Village.
Get rid of them."
Wang Hao persisted, knocking and knocking.
"You may not like them, but Keke does! I specifically bought her favorites.
Just open the door!"
Lin Wanyi finally opened the door. Just as Wang Hao was filled with joy, Liu Renzhi stepped out from behind him, wrapped his arms around Lin Wanyi, and said,
"Come, take me shopping for a few things."
Lin Wanyi had no idea what Liu Renzhi was up to, but she opened the door when she saw his message.
Wang Hao hadn’t expected to see Liu Renzhi here again.
Especially not with Liu Renzhi holding Lin Wanyi.
His anger flared up, but he forced it down and quickly placed the things in the courtyard before speaking:
“You two eat up. When I come back next time, I’ll bring you more.”
Lin Wanyi ignored him, directly shut the courtyard gate, and got into Liu Renzhi’s car.
This left Wang Hao, his fists clenched, standing alone.
