Chapter 152 - Something Seems Suspicious
Li Min didn't have a good impression of this Li Yuan.
While Li Luxain kept himself aloof and detached from everyone, never fighting for attention from grandparents, Li Yuan had a habit of making every effort to impede her attempts to make grandmother like her.
It was difficult, to begin with. Grandparents held conventional views and didn't see girls as important.
But Li Yuan made it impossible.
She couldn't tolerate but she was helpless to do anything.
He was like a bone stuck in her throat. Unable to swallow down, unable to spit out.
Li Guan Yu, Li Luxain's paternal Uncle came down with the news that an urgent issue arose at the office and he had to leave. Since Li Guang was the elder brother and shouldered greater responsibilities, how could he stay back and enjoy leisure time when an issue arose?
He glanced at Li Shanguaan, worried about her.
"Just go, I'll be fine." At her encouragement, Li Guang asked her to call him if something unexpected happened.
Li Shanguaan assured him she will even though she wouldn't; she would rather endure than cause Li Guang any worry.
At her reassurance, Li Guang left with Li Guang Yu.
Soon, something unexpected did happen.
"Sister-in-law, didn't your messenger say it was going to be a family gathering?" Li Shanguaan asked after more than a dozen people joined them, all of them being Ye Zan's kin or friends.
Not having heard anything good about Li Shanguaan from Ye Zan, they kept their distance from Li Shanguaan.
Li Shanguaan endured in the beginning. But as time passed, small groups of ladies would whisper among themselves, throwing glances at Li Shanguaan and snickering.
A word or two fell into Li Shanguaan ears. And nothing of what they said was pleasant to ears.
"That was the plan beforehand but then I discussed Mother-in-law and we decided to invite a few more people. The mother-in-law doesn't come to the city every day and a lot of people had a wish to say their good wishes to mother-n-law. I sent another person to deliver the words. Did sister-in-law not receive it?"
"No, we did not." Li Shanguaan was restraining resentment, her tone came out accusing.
"Oh, I see what happened." Ye Zan laughed, playing it down. "It's that steward. He has gotten old and forgetful. I might need to reprimand him a bit. Sister-in-law, it was my fault. Accept my apology."
Li Shanguaan would have believed it had it been the first time a thing like this happened. But she had had a fair number of bitter experiences with Ye Zha; she knew it was deliberate.
When Li Shanguaan stayed silent for a while, Ye Zan smiled.
"I understand. Brother-in-law keeps you locked up all year long and Sister-in-law dislikes crowds. But this is all family. You can unwind."
"You are being too serious. I don't mind at all." Nonetheless, in Li Bai Yuan's presence, Li Shanguaan couldn't argue.
Ye Zan went back to engaging guests. When Li Shanguaan spotted another person among the guests, her smile dropped.
"Ling'er you have come." Li Min approached Wang Hualing, holding onto her hands. Their behavior implied a close relationship. Facing Li Shanguaan, Li Min looked apologetic. "Aunt, it was me who invited Ling'er at today's gathering. It's just that before everything we spent our childhood together. Grandmother also views her as one of her grandchildren. She really wanted to come and see Grandmother. Hope Aunt wouldn't mind."
Wang Hualing had a good relationship with Li Shanguaan before.
Why would she mind now?
It was of course because Chen Yi was to come to today's gathering. There was already a lot of controversy among these two, especially after everything was escalated by the media.
Now Li Luxain's ex-fiancee and long-term lover, and the cheating mistress who bewitched and made the prodigious CEO abandon his childhood sweetheart in one strike — as per media — would be in the same room.
Of course, the women would be at each other's throats. A spectacle for the audience.
No matter who lost or win, Li Guang's family reputation would be compromised.
Ye Zan and Li Guan Yu really wanted them to make a scene. This step of theirs revealed their intentions; they didn't leave any stone unturned in their attempts to make it difficult for Li Shanguaan family.
If Li Guang was here, maybe he would have taken a stand. But Li Shanguaan own, held back by her mildness and lack of experience was helpless.
After the appearance of Wang Hualing, the trio of women who had whispered and snicked at her approached her. "Your daughter-in-law has still not come, we have heard a lot about her."
Of course, they had. Before Li Luxian silenced everyone, the media had been defaming Chen Yi till its mouth ran dry, blaming her of all the wrongs in the world.
"She must be really very pretty to have Li Luxian. I wonder what family she belongs to?" One of them asked.
"President Li is keeping her hidden, it really makes one curious. Li Shanguaan you have to do something about the rumors go around."
"Rumours? What kind of rumors?"
"Oh nothing, it's just people being insensitive about the Li family privacy. Li Luxain only brought his wife to a ball whose decorum demanded hiding one's face under a mask. So people are being speculative."
Li Shanguaan didn't like the feeling. "My daughter-in-law is very pretty."
"Of course we know, President Li wouldn't take a loss. But just have a look at Wang Hualing. People love to compare. And it wouldn't be easy to overcome a competition like her," The woman shook his head as if Wang Hualing had already won, sighing for President Li And Li Shanguaan.
Li Shanguaan had a difficult time figuring out how to counter those smooth and subtle attacks.
She always hated those gatherings.
She hated how everyone would gang up on her, making her feel an outcast, isolated, and rejected.
Her sons and husband couldn't meddle in woman's affairs, she had no daughter to keep her company. And she was grateful it was so, or else she would have to face the same criticism as Li Shaguaan did.
Her sister-in-law and niece would only add oil to the fire, forget standing to her protection.
She just wanted to marry a person she loved. Why did this world love to make it difficult for her? Why could they not let her be happy? Was it really that intolerable that a woman from the lower class married into a higher class?
She thought once her sons grew up and time passed, people would accept her.
But they never did.
She wanted to leave and head back home but she knew she couldn't. That would only make Li Bai Yuan dislike her more. All of sudden Li Shanguaan felt somewhat dizzy.
Lost and helpless, Li Shanguaan's mind no longer registered what the women were saying. But it couldn't be good. Just as she was about to excuse herself, a hand reached out to her back, one to her shoulder.
"Did Mother-in-law miss me?" A smiling face emerged, startling Li Shanguan before her lips broke into a smile.