Chapter 316 - 314: Clearing the Air

Chapter 316: Chapter 314: Clearing the Air

"Then what about the situation in the Capital City? Jin Chen, are you still going to get involved?" Zhou Lian asked Li Xiu, looking a little uneasy.

Gently patting her back, Li Xiu said casually, "Bao’er, don’t worry. All sorts of unsavory characters have crawled out of the woodwork this time, so it’s about time we cleaned out the trash. Besides, as things stand, it’s completely impossible for the Ping Family’s eldest son to take full control. The battles in the world of fame and fortune are a bloodless war, and he doesn’t have enough power to sway the outcome yet!"

"Bao’er, you have to understand, being suspicious isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But being overly suspicious means he probably can’t manage the entire game. Don’t worry. I don’t need to do anything about this. I estimate Ping’an already knows what’s happened in the Capital City. Just watch. In less than a week, that kid will rush back to the Capital City to clean up the mess his older brother left behind. Just wait, he’s in for a major headache!"

Staring at Li Xiu for a long moment, Zhou Lian finally let go of the tension in her heart. She let out a long sigh of relief and said, "That’s good. As long as you have a plan. I’m really not cut out for these kinds of mind games. This stuff is just too exhausting. Jin Chen, it must have been so hard for you all these years!"

"Oh, my silly Bao’er. Maybe it’s hard, and maybe it’s cruel. But when you see the results you wanted, the feeling is quite breathtaking. Let’s not talk about this. Bao’er, just know that I won’t push myself too hard. After all, I can’t bear to have you always worrying about me and feeling sorry for me!" While Zhou Lian wasn’t looking, Li Xiu gently wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

He had finally reassured her. He had promised not to lie to Zhou Lian. Actually, this wasn’t really a lie. He just told her what he could and was vague about what he couldn’t. ’That doesn’t count as lying, does it?’

"Jin Chen, I haven’t had a chance to ask, how is everything at home? How’s Grandma?" Unwilling to continue the heavy topic, Zhou Lian lowered her eyes and changed to a lighter subject.

Letting out an almost inaudible sigh of relief, Li Xiu said gently, "Everything at home is fine, and Grandma is doing well too. I’ve taken care of all the family matters. I’ve also made arrangements for my married younger sisters. The little ones are all studying very hard, so getting into a university here in the Capital City won’t be a problem. Bao’er, don’t worry. No one in our family is taking the college entrance exam next year, so it won’t affect us at home. Rest assured!"

Nuzzling against him, Zhou Lian found a more comfortable position in Li Xiu’s arms. She played with his long, slender, and slightly calloused fingers, nodding gently. "This turmoil is under the control of those big shots, so it probably won’t get too out of hand. Jin Chen, will you get involved?"

"No, but I’ll probably fish in troubled waters when the time comes. After all, a crisis is also an opportunity! It just depends on how you look at it," Li Xiu said softly, raising an eyebrow.

After a pause, Zhou Lian said helplessly, "Well, you handle it then. There are too many smart people out there. Just don’t get carried away."

"How could I? I’m not that greedy. Don’t worry! Bao’er, let’s take a trip after the New Year!"

Glancing at Li Xiu, Zhou Lian asked in confusion, "Where to?"

"Let’s go to Qiong Province. I’ll take you for a walk by the sea. The weather is warm there, and you’ve never been!" Li Xiu said without hesitation. He had planned it before, intending to take her as soon as the vacation started, but plans can’t keep up with change. Fortunately, going after the New Year would still work.

Shooting Li Xiu a sidelong glance, Zhou Lian asked softly, "Just the two of us? We’re not bringing the kids?"

"When would they have the time? Teacher Xiao and his husband are tutoring them right now. Their biggest task at the moment is to study hard. If they want to have fun, they can wait until they’re a bit older. Once they can take care of themselves, we can occasionally take them out!"

The words he blurted out instantly made Zhou Lian understand his intentions. Li Xiu had no plans to bring their two children along. Looking at him helplessly, Zhou Lian said softly, "They’re your own flesh and blood. Do you really have to dislike them that much?"

"Dislike them? I don’t dislike them. I know they’re my flesh and blood. It’s precisely because they are that I’m like this. After all, some opportunities are lost if you don’t seize them. I just don’t want them to have regrets later!" Li Xiu said with self-assurance. In his heart, however, he was thinking, ’What’s the point of taking my wife on a trip if I have to bring two little third wheels along! No way!’

"Jin Chen, about this trip back to our hometown... what about Li Hua and the others...?"

Scoffing, Li Xiu understood what Zhou Lian meant and gently explained, "Bao’er, they aren’t stupid. They’re a bit clever in their own way. I heard from Grandma, and Li Bo and Li Yuan also told me in detail. Li Hua had another boy this year, so she has both a son and a daughter now. Li Man hasn’t gotten approval for a second child yet. Li Yi has one boy. Li Yong got married this year, and his wife is pregnant. Li Xin got married and had a son. They’ve all started their own families. I suppose my father can finally rest in peace."

"Jin Chen, then you..."

"Bao’er, I’ve said it before. As long as my mother is at the old house, I won’t go back. Those weren’t just empty words. The best outcome is for my mother and me to never see each other again as long as we live." Li Xiu gently cut off Zhou Lian’s unspoken words. He knew that even asking her to call his mother "Mother-in-law" would be difficult for her.

Sighing softly, Zhou Lian didn’t know what to say. In two lifetimes, she had never been able to understand just what kind of mentality Li Xiu’s mother had to treat her own son this way. It would be one thing if she didn’t dote on him—you could just chalk it up to a weak family bond. But to treat your own son like an enemy... that was something else entirely.

"Bao’er, you still haven’t said yes. Come with me on the trip after the New Year, okay?" Li Xiu rested his chin gently on top of Zhou Lian’s head and murmured.

Sighing softly, Zhou Lian said helplessly, "Okay, I promise. We’ll go after the New Year."

Delighted, he gave Zhou Lian a kiss. Li Xiu smiled sweetly, the kind of smile that reached the corners of his eyes. It truly had the feeling of spring blossoms after a long winter. Such a smile was rarely seen on Li Xiu’s face, and the few times it appeared, it was because of Zhou Lian. Everyone said he spoiled her, but in reality, she spoiled him too.

"Bao’er, let’s go by plane. It’ll save time, so we can have a couple more days to enjoy ourselves!" Li Xiu said gently to Zhou Lian after a moment of thought.

It was true. In their two lifetimes, neither he nor Zhou Lian had ever been on a plane. When they were young, they never had the chance, and when they were old, they had no interest. But now was different. They were in the prime of their lives, with both money and free time. They could really go and experience the world. After all, you can’t take anything with you when you die. Besides, who knew if they would even have a next life?

"A plane... hmm, we really have never been on one before! I wonder what planes are like these days?" Zhou Lian said, her interest piqued.

Smiling, Li Xiu said softly, "I don’t know either. Let’s go find out. You see, Bao’er, there are so many things we’ve only ever heard about but never experienced. We were lucky enough to get this second chance at life. Shouldn’t we let go of everything and just enjoy ourselves? Seize the day!"

Looking up at Li Xiu’s brilliant smile, Zhou Lian nodded. ’He’s right. It would be good to cast off the shackles on my heart and enjoy this rare extra lifetime. After all, when you’re dead, you’re dead. As long as I’m alive, I should live each day to the fullest.’