Chapter 38: Praise

In a private room at a certain hotel, Yang Zhiyi and Li Dasong were sipping tea and chatting.

Li Dasong shouted angrily, "Yang Zhiyi, we agreed on five million, why did you only give me five hundred thousand?"

"Brother Dasong, calm down," Yang Zhiyi replied with a sly grin. "I'm not refusing to pay you, it's just that things are tight right now. I'll give you the rest a bit later."

He intended to drag things out without actually defaulting. From now on, if Li Dasong wanted money from him, it would depend on his performance.

"You must give me the remaining balance next month," Li Dasong demanded, purposely putting on a stern face.

"Brother Dasong, I heard your family doesn’t get along with Li Qingying. Why don’t we join forces? What do you think?" Yang Zhiyi poured him a cup of hot tea.

"What do you mean by that?" Li Dasong was startled.

Yang Zhiyi explained, "It’s very clear. We share a common enemy. If you don’t help me, how can I still consider you a brother? You helped me this time, making Bailei Group lose thirty million. If Li Qingying finds out, won’t she seize the opportunity to kick you out of Bailei Group?"

With a bang, Li Dasong slammed the table and stood up, furious.

This was blatant blackmail!

Yang Zhiyi shot him a look and laughed, "Li Dasong, is there any need to get so worked up? You’ve already taken my money and helped me out—you think you can escape? If something happens to me, you’ll be implicated too."

"You... What exactly do you want?" Li Dasong deflated, collapsing onto his chair like a punctured balloon.

Yang Zhiyi glanced at him and said, "Brother Dasong, what else would I want? Of course, to help you push Li Qingying off her pedestal. Once you become the general manager of Bailei Group, the two of us can stride into the future together."

"And what do you get out of it?" Li Dasong asked.

"My benefit is Li Qingying," Yang Zhiyi’s face twisted with malice. "As soon as she’s kicked out of Bailei Group, she’s mine. Besides, you need to help me investigate her more—if there’s dirt, dig up as much as you can."

Li Dasong reluctantly agreed. Their previous cooperation had always been secret and mutually beneficial.

Now that Yang Zhiyi had leverage over him, he’d have to do as told.

Early in the morning, He Haoxuan was sleeping soundly when Li Qingying woke him up with a kick.

He Haoxuan opened his eyes and asked, "What are you doing? Isn’t today Saturday? You don’t have to work, so why get up so early? Even if you’re up, don’t disturb my peaceful dreams."

"He Haoxuan, did you forget? We’re going to your house for lunch today, and you promised to make French cuisine for me." Li Qingying stood with her hands on her slim waist, looking fierce.

But no matter how fierce she acted, her beautiful face always captivated He Haoxuan.

Seeing that he still wasn’t getting up and was staring at her, Li Qingying threatened, "If you don’t want to go, I’ll call your dad."

"No, I’ll go," He Haoxuan sat up immediately.

Li Qingying secretly smiled. He Haoxuan’s weakness was his father—mention him, and He Haoxuan would always comply.

After washing up, He Haoxuan found Li Qingying sitting in the dining room downstairs, tapping the table with a chopstick. "He Haoxuan, I’m starving, I want breakfast."

"Just wait a bit, it’ll be ready soon," He Haoxuan hurried into the kitchen.

If Shage or Scorpion ever saw He Haoxuan playing the role of househusband, they’d be utterly shocked.

Li Qingying had grown used to his cooking. Whether it was noodles or small dishes, she always relished them.

If she had no social obligations, she’d always return home for his meals. The dishes prepared by hotel chefs never tasted as good as He Haoxuan’s.

Soon, He Haoxuan brought out two bowls of noodles.

On weekends, Li Dong and his wife were sure to go out for morning tea.

"Give me mine," Li Qingying snatched a bowl and dug in hurriedly.

After they finished eating, He Haoxuan asked, "Honey, do you like my noodles?"

"Rogue," Li Qingying glared at him with playful annoyance, "He Haoxuan, if you keep saying things like that, I’ll get mad."

"Sigh, when will I ever hear you call me 'husband'?" He Haoxuan sighed dramatically.

Li Qingying pretended not to hear and called out, "We still need to go to the market to buy ingredients for the French dishes."

He Haoxuan shook his head, "I’ve already arranged that. When we go to my dad’s, someone will deliver the ingredients."

Li Qingying had no idea—authentic French cuisine needed French ingredients, which weren’t available at the local market.

He Haoxuan had coordinated with Xiao Qiang early on to have them delivered.

He called Xiao Qiang, instructing him to send everything to his father’s place.

"Let’s go now," Li Qingying said, handing over the car keys as soon as the ingredient issue was settled.

He Haoxuan got into the driver’s seat, "Let’s buy a few things to bring over."

"Hmph, if we wait for you to buy them, the sun will set. I already bought everything yesterday and put it in the trunk. Just carry them in when we arrive," Li Qingying shot him a look.

The BMW pulled up outside the He family’s small courtyard, where He Haoxuan saw his father chatting with neighbors.

When He Wei spotted He Haoxuan and Li Qingying getting out of the car, he immediately told the neighbors, "Look, that’s my daughter-in-law. Isn’t she beautiful?"

"Wow, Old He, your ancestors must be smiling down on you! Your son’s just a laborer, yet he managed to marry such a beautiful and wealthy wife?" said Uncle Chang with envy.

"That car looks really expensive," an elderly woman wiped her eyes as she spoke.

He Wei straightened his chest with pride, "Of course, it’s a BMW—over a million yuan. How could it not be expensive?"

Surrounded by the neighbors, Li Qingying felt a bit overwhelmed.

He Haoxuan hurried to rescue her, wanting to lead her inside.

But Li Qingying shook her head, opened the BMW’s trunk, and took out some candies and biscuits, handing them to He Wei, "Dad, could you give these to the neighbors for me?"

"Absolutely!" He Wei exclaimed, delighted.

He never expected Li Qingying to be so courteous—visiting him and bringing treats for the neighbors. The neighbors would surely sing her praises afterward.

These neighbors lived in the slums, their clothes far from clean, yet seeing Li Qingying unbothered and placing candies and biscuits in their hands, they couldn’t help admiring her, "Haoxuan’s wife is truly wonderful."

He Haoxuan watched silently from the side, a subtle feeling stirring in his heart.

He Wei was the happiest, boasting about his daughter-in-law’s virtue and filial piety, feeling immensely proud.

It seemed Li Qingying truly accepted him as her father-in-law, never minding his poverty, and his son had found a place in the Li family without suffering.