"There’s no need! As her daughter, it’s my responsibility and duty to take care of her. You’re just an outsider; you don’t have to do all this! However, I still want to thank you for taking care of them over the years when I wasn’t around." Finishing her words, she solemnly bowed to Long Wu.
Long Wu’s eyes grew hot. What did she say? She called him an outsider? Feeling indignation bubble up inside him, he almost lashed out, but Leng Mochen swiftly stopped him.
"Long Wu, I think this arrangent is beneficial to the elder’s recovery. If you’re sincere, you can visit often! I believe Su ng won’t oppose this, right?" Leng Mochen quickly chid in, having already guessed Su ng’s thoughts and nudging things along.
Su ng hesitated for a mont but eventually nodded, "Fine! You can co visit!" Seeing the pain on Long Wu’s face, she relented; she couldn’t bring herself to be completely heartless.
Li Si, standing aside, diated with a smile, "This works, doesn’t it? Then let’s bring the elderly lady to my place. It’s convenient; my apartnt has an elevator, so going up and down won’t be an issue!"
Su ng didn’t want to owe such a big favor. "That’s unnecessary! President Li, if you can let stay in the employee dormitory, that’s already enough! I don’t need to live in your place!"
"How could an elderly person stay in the employee dormitory?" Leng Mochen interjected. The dormitory above the beauty salon was on the fifth floor of an old neighborhood building, with cramped rooms housing four people each. Where would an elderly person stay?
Long Wu, unwilling to give up, suggested, "What if the elder falls ill? It’d be better if she stays with ! That way, you won’t have to exhaust yourself!"
Su ng looked at Li Si helplessly. "President Li, thank you! Then I’ll trouble you for a while. When I’m able to get my own place, I’ll move out." She would rather owe Li Si a favor than have any further entanglents with Long Wu.
"You really can be stubborn! My ho is spacious enough for a few more people. Let’s not worry about the future just yet!" Li Si, however, subtly tried to help Long Wu one last ti.
The group ca to an agreent and brought the elder to Li Si’s ho. Long Wu, reluctant to leave, was practically dragged away by Leng Mochen. As he left, Long Wu looked deeply at Su ng and said, "Get so rest early! Leng Er and I will co tomorrow!"
Li Si and Leng Mochen exchanged a subtle glance, both with a knowing expression about Long Wu’s behavior.
Finally, the n left, leaving only Su ng and the sowhat bewildered elderly woman behind.
Li Si pulled a slightly embarrassed Su ng aside. "You and Auntie, sit down! Don’t be so reserved—treat this like your own ho!"
"Thank you, President Li! If I hadn’t t you, who knows how much longer I’d be stuck in my previous situation!"
Su ng guided her mother to a seat, her face filled with gratitude. To her, eting Li Si had put her life back on track—Li Si was undoubtedly her lucky star.
Li Si waved it off casually. "Please, no more of that! Just call Sisi. It’s fate that brought us together. Out of the billions of people in the world, we managed to et!
Alright, enough about that. Let take you to choose a room with a bathroom for Auntie. She can freshen up and rest for now!"
Su ng once again cast a grateful look at Li Si. She could see her mother’s weariness but hadn’t felt comfortable voicing it.
After finding clothes for her mother, helping her bathe, and getting her to sleep, Su ng stepped out of the room and saw Li Si sitting on the living room sofa, watching TV.
She cautiously approached and asked, "You’re not sleeping yet?"
Li Si smiled, "Your mom’s asleep? I’m not sleepy yet. I usually sleep around 11 p.m. or so. Are you tired? If not, let’s chat for a bit?"
"Alright," she said as she sat next to Li Si. Though they’d known each other for a while now, often eting while renovating the new store, they’d never had a mont like this.
She could sense Li Si’s goodwill yet remained hesitant to open up. It was because she still didn’t know who she really was.
Living in this world without knowing who you are—it’s a truly painful experience. She didn’t know her real na, her birth date, or who her parents were. It felt as if the world had no place for her.
Especially with everyone around her constantly lying, fabricating story after story, she always had this urge to run away.
"Wait here for a mont!" Li Si got up and headed to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of peach juice.
"Here, let’s chat while we snack!" She handed one bottle to Su ng, then pulled a large bag of snacks out from under the coffee table, filled with an assortnt of treats.
Looking at the beef jerky, jelly, preserved plums, and chips in front of her, Su ng finally cracked a small smile. Li Si truly had a knack for snacking.
Noticing Su ng’s relaxation, Li Si comnted, "See, we really are fated to et. It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it?"
"Yes, it is," Su ng agreed with a sigh. "You live here all by yourself?" She knew Li Si wasn’t a local and was curious about what kind of people her parents were.
Li Si chuckled self-deprecatingly. "My dad passed away, and my mom might as well not exist." As far as Tian Yaruo was concerned, there wasn’t much difference between having her and not having her around.
"I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have asked!" Su ng regretted her question. She hadn’t expected such an answer. Since Li Si always seed so optimistic—especially with a caring boyfriend—Su ng had assud her parents doted on her.
"It’s fine! It’s all in the past now. The living can only live well to give the dead so peace of mind." These were her heartfelt words, a philosophy shaped by everything she’d been through—and the sa advice she wanted to give Su ng.
Su ng nodded in agreent, a look of admiration on her face. "You’re absolutely right!"
"What plans do you have for the future?" Li Si asked, taking a sip of her drink.
Su ng glanced down and noticed a tiny patched hole near the big toe of her white socks sticking out of her slippers. Embarrassed, she quickly pulled her foot back.
"I want to keep working while taking good care of my mom. Even though Dad is gone, at least she’s still here. As long as she’s alive, it’s enough!"
Though she wasn’t particularly capable, now that she had found her identity and reunited with her mom, she wanted to give her mother a peaceful, happy later life.
Li Si nodded approvingly. "That’s a great plan. After the New Year, I’ll need to return to school, so I’m thinking of leaving the beauty salon under your managent. How about it? Do you think you can handle it?"
Su ng looked up in disbelief. Flustered, she stamred, "I-I can do it?" Her voice wavered uncertainly, fearing she might ss up and disappoint Li Si.
"Why not? You definitely know more about this than I do, soone who knows nothing about the industry. Don’t worry—there are people Leng Mochen arranged to help out in the shop. You just need to manage the beauty-related aspects."
Li Si truly didn’t think it was a big deal. If Su ng didn’t know, she could learn. Nobody is born knowing everything.
Especially in the future, when academic degrees would matter less than practical managent skills. Haven’t countless big business owners succeeded with only a grade-school education? They’ve built empires regardless.
The essential thing was not whether one lacked education—it was about refusing to learn, laziness, and staying stagnant. Even if a mountain of gold were in front of such a person, they wouldn’t know how to mine it.
"I... I’ll try!" Before being brainwashed, she wouldn’t have had the courage to agree. But now, with her mom unwell and an urgent need to make money, she couldn’t let this opportunity slip by, even if she knew there were ulterior motives in play.
"Great! By the way, ng ng, after you woke up, who told you your na was Xia Yu?" Li Si, having held her curiosity at bay, couldn’t help but ask now. (To be continued. If you like this novel, please visit Qidian to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.)
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