Li Si still didn’t believe it. She shook her head firmly, "Without evidence, your words don’t count. I won’t believe what you say based on one side of the story! Since you’re saying my dad took in from another place, where did he do it? I’ll go and find out. If it’s finally confird that I’m really not a child of the Li Family, I’ll return everything to you, not a single cent will be kept. You can rest assured about that!"
"My eldest son brought you back from Beijing. Go and find out. For now, don’t move into the house. And there are 20,000 yuan left by my eldest son—when the ti cos, I hope you’ll keep your promise!" The old lady casually ntioned the na of the university Li Guoqiang attended and a rough address.
Seeing Li Si about to leave, her second aunt hurriedly grabbed her arm. The second uncle couldn’t hold back, "Mom, how can you be so muddle-headed! Just letting her leave like this! What if this kid runs off? Where will we go to ask her for the money? No way, at least leave the house keys behind!"
"Rest assured, these are the house keys my dad left behind. Before I figure out the truth, I won’t leave this city. Also, I’ll go to Beijing soon. Here, take the keys. After I’ve investigated everything, we’ll decide on how to handle things. Is that okay? Can you promise that?"
Li Si took out the keys from her bag, avoiding Zhang ihua’s outstretched hand, and resolutely placed them in Grandma Li’s hand. Her head felt like it was about to explode. A glimr of clarity remained, hoping she wouldn’t sell the house first.
This house carried too many mories of her and her dad. If what the old lady said was true, then she indeed had no right to keep it!
"Alright, I’ll keep the keys here for now. When you return from Beijing, we’ll handle it together!" With Grandma Li’s assurance, Li Si walked out in a daze.
After Li Si left, the Li family surrounded Grandma Li, bombarding her with questions.
"Mom, is this true? How co you’ve never ntioned it before?" Li Guozhi chid in, feeling a bit skeptical. From her perspective, Little Li Si still shared so resemblance with her eldest brother. Their lips, after all, looked almost identical.
Grandma Li’s expression turned slightly unnatural as she raised her voice. "How can it be fake? There must’ve been a reason for not telling you all earlier."
"Guozhi, even if we don’t trust anyone else, how can we not trust what Mom says?" Wu Dachuan glared at Li Guozhi in frustration. This troubleso woman always caused delays. What did it matter if it was true or not? As long as they ended up benefiting, wasn’t that enough?
"Exactly, Guozhi, it’s not like I an to sound harsh. You saw the situation earlier. Our family hasn’t treated Li Si poorly. But in the end, when we ask for a little pension, she doesn’t even consider it. Has her conscience been eaten by a dog? Thankfully, Mom knows what to do. By the way, Mom, how do you plan to handle the house?" Zhang ihua affectionately clung to Grandma Li’s shoulder. "Why don’t we sell the house, Mom?"
Zhang ihua had her calculations. If the house was sold, surely her younger brother’s family would be prioritized to buy it. Then, they could negotiate a lower price, creating a win-win situation. Her brother would get a sweet deal, and she could still manage to get a share of the money. Especially considering the money left by the eldest brother—it should surely be split with her family getting the lion’s share, right?
"The house won’t be touched for now. Let’s wait until Li Si returns from Beijing!" Grandma Li felt so unease. As for what was true, her eldest son was gone. She, as an old lady, was the only one who knew the truth. They shouldn’t be able to uncover anything, right?
After a stiflingly hot day, the sky finally decided to release the rain. Li Si stumbled through the downpour. The rain poured from above, streaming down her face, into her eyes, mixing with her tears, and flowing together downward.
The rain was heavy, accompanied by flashes of lightning and rolling thunder that rged with the sound of the rain to create a symphony. Passersby hurriedly sought shelter or rushed ho. Cars passed by, occasionally splashing water.
Only Li Si wandered aimlessly, a lonely figure in the downpour. It was as if only this storm could bring her any solace. Could it really be true? That she was a child taken in by her dad? Then where were her biological parents? Why did they give her away? Or was she originally an abandoned baby, picked up by chance by her dad?
Recalling her previous life, after her dad passed away, she lived in her second uncle’s house, leading a life dependent on others. Grandma, aunt, everyone in the family acted as if she didn’t exist.
How much she had hoped soone might care about her. When she saw the entire family gathered, laughing and chatting, she felt invisible, like an extra, completely unable to fit in.
Each ti, she would think about why she had never seen her mom since childhood, and why even her dad left so early, leaving her to wander this world alone.
Looking at the storm raging across the world, was even the heavens moved by her grievance and sorrow?
Countless lit hos—where was her ho?
Where could she go? Back to school? She didn’t want to. She didn’t want to face the oppressive atmosphere in the dormitory or the questions from others. Back to the house she shared with her dad? But the keys were now in soone else’s possession, even if she wanted to enter, she couldn’t! Right, she could still go find Brother Leng!
Li Si wiped the rainwater off her face with her hand. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone from her already soaked bag. The rain blurred her vision and drenched the phone.
Li Si directly dialed Leng Mochen’s number, her heart silently pleading, Brother Leng, please, you must answer.
As if hearing her plea, the phone was picked up after just two rings. A deep and pleasant voice ca through, "Kiddo, what’s wrong?"
Li Si sobbed uncontrollably, biting her finger hard. Earlier, in front of so many people, she hadn’t cried. But now, under the cover of the rain, she let her tears flow. Upon hearing his voice, it was as if she finally found soone she could confide in, and she couldn’t hold back any longer.
Hearing Li Si’s stifled sobs, Leng Mochen anxiously asked, "Kiddo, where are you? I’ll co pick you up!"
Li Si looked around her surroundings, trying to steady her emotions. "Brother Leng, I’m near Man Han Restaurant, but I don’t know exactly where! Co pick up quickly! I need to talk to you! Waaa!"
"Are you out in the rain? Find a place to take shelter imdiately, I’ll be there soon!" Leng Mochen hurriedly spoke while heading toward the garage.
anwhile, Li Si obediently found the entrance of a shop. She stood under the eaves, watching the drenched passersby. Only then did she realize her entire body was soaked and freezing. She tried to hug her own arms for warmth, but it didn’t help.
The rain continued, and the wind hitting her face and body made her feel even colder. Her sandals were completely drenched, leaving the soles of her feet icy. Ti seed to have frozen. All she could hear was the sound of rain, thunder, and passing cars. The air carried a stark chill. (To be continued. If you enjoy this story, please visit qidian to vote and support! Mobile users, head to m.qidian to read.)
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