Chapter 116

An urgent, unregulated kiss, purely to spite Yang Ying.

No matter if Li Yunli reasoned with her or tried every way to persuade her, it was meaningless—Yang Ying would only grow more insatiable.

Ji Zhenshi didn’t want to indulge her anymore. Soft and hard tactics wouldn’t work, so she’d go ruthless.

“Mm…” Ji Zhenshi didn’t know where she got the strength from; Li Yunli couldn’t push her away. A metallic tang flooded between their lips and teeth.

Ji Zhenshi had bitten the corner of her lip hard enough to draw blood, showing just how much force she’d used.

Seeing Yang Ying’s anger peak again, Li Yunli clenched her teeth tightly to keep Ji Zhenshi from invading further and shoved her away with all her might.

“Ji Zhenshi!” Yang Ying, blinded by rage and at the end of her patience, stepped forward to pull them apart.

Ji Zhenshi stumbled from the pull, and with Li Yunli also pushing her shoulders, the two forces sent her back slamming right into the bar counter.

“Hiss…” Ji Zhenshi instinctively reached back for her wound but couldn’t find it, so she leaned on the counter, her features twisting in pain.

Was her wound never going to heal?

One after another, like constant bad luck, always hitting her sore spot just right.

It was just a minor injury, but after all this repeated torment, she could feel it might actually cripple her.

She wiped her mouth casually—there was blood, but it wasn’t hers. It was Li Yunli’s.

“Xiao Zhen!” Li Yunli ignored the burning at her lip corner and anxiously supported her, finally unable to hold back as she turned a cold face to Yang Ying and scolded sharply, “She’s injured! She clearly didn’t want to see you today—why do you keep forcing her? You always want to control her thoughts, but have you ever truly cared about her? She’s had a terrible half-year, and you never even cared if she was eating well or dressed warmly. You’re only ever concerned with your own reputation, interfering in her life over and over! Do you really want to push us to the brink?”

The woman who never reacted to any humiliation now had eyes red with fury, her anger consuming her reason. For the first time in front of Yang Ying, Li Yunli broke down hysterically, shedding her poise and intellect, leaving only a woman defending her love at all costs.

They’d already had it so hard—why treat them like this?

The shackles of societal norms choked them both breathless, as if no amount of effort could change their minds. Li Yunli’s repeated attempts at persuasion always ended in failure; Yang Ying endlessly repeated: you two won’t work, you were once her nominal sister-in-law, you were once a mute, you’re six years older and leading Ji Zhenshi astray. But those were just excuses for their refusal to accept.

Mainstream heterosexuality was normal; homosexuality was sick, shameful, disgusting!

How laughable and tragic!

“I’m going to end up crippled sooner or later.” The pain bent Ji Zhenshi over, waves of grinding dull ache making her breaths shallower.

Li Yunli pulled her into her arms, her hair tangling in her neck, the two inseparable.

Ji Zhenshi’s porcelain-pale skin flushed faintly red as she gritted her teeth, waiting out the wave of dull pain.

Cradling her chin, Li Yunli didn’t dare touch her back, her eyes red with anxiety.

Her heartbreak was obvious.

Ji Zhenshi rubbed her forehead, finding it almost funny herself.

This little wound kept recurring, over and over—probably never healing now, huh?

Yang Ying froze for a few seconds, seeing Ji Zhenshi in such agony. “How did you get injured…”

The next second, Ji Zhenshi suddenly looked up, a small fruit knife in her hand from who-knows-where.

She backed up several steps, eyes bloodshot, nearly resolute. “Enough! I’m really tired, Mom. You once threatened suicide to force me to break up. Now, I’ll use the same way against you. If you interfere in me and Li Yunli’s relationship again, I’ll really die!”

Ji Zhenshi had no intent to just scare Yang Ying; even her trembling hands pressed down hard, the sharp blade sinking into flesh, blood welling up quickly. “Life without Li Yunli is pointless anyway. I can’t find meaning in my life beyond her. Practicing violin every day, performing—it’s become the main melody, my only drive. Do you know what it feels like to play violin all night until you’re exhausted? You don’t, right? In that moment, my heart feels like it stops beating. I’m really going crazy!”

“Ji Zhenshi!”

Li Yunli and Yang Ying both lunged to wrest the knife from her hand.

“Back off! Don’t come near me!” Ji Zhenshi climbed straight onto the bar counter, as if feeling no pain, hot tears streaming from her eyes as she roared in despair.

Li Yunli’s fingertips brushed her hem—she hadn’t grabbed her.

She looked up at her, watching how resolutely Ji Zhenshi defended their love.

So firm, like a scene from an idol drama.

Ji Zhenshi, I’m really going to love you until I go mad.

“Come down first!” Li Yunli reached out to her.

Ji Zhenshi didn’t move, staring dead at Yang Ying. “You really want to force me to die, don’t you? Seeing me suffer makes you happy? I never criticized your failures as a mother—why do you keep pressing me?”

Yang Ying was truly frightened by this stunt, her face changing instantly, staring incredulously as Ji Zhenshi used the exact same tactic against her.

She could only say first, “Come down! We can talk properly about whatever it is, can’t we? There’s a carotid artery in your neck—if you don’t control the pressure, there’s no room for regret!”

Once Ji Zhenshi went ruthless, Yang Ying’s attitude softened in fear.

Because Ji Zhenshi didn’t look like she was acting at all; she hadn’t hesitated, pressing the blade in hard without a second thought.

Ji Zhenshi was even more ruthless than her.

“Mom, don’t you get it? If we could’ve talked it out properly, we wouldn’t be here now. I don’t want this—I’d use any other way if I could. I really want to be an obedient daughter, living the rule-abiding life you want. But I can’t. This half-year has been agony for me; I can’t sleep well, even when exhausted to my limit. No matter where I go, my mind twists back to her. Do you want to see me go insane?” Ji Zhenshi didn’t budge, even pressing harder, bright red blood trickling down the blade.

So, the “L” on those postcards at Ji Zhenshi’s house really was Li Yunli.

She only had Li Yunli!

“Then put the knife down first!” Yang Ying was frantic.

She turned and shoved Li Yunli’s shoulder, snapping sharply, “Can’t you talk her down? Do you really want to see her self-harm like this? Aren’t you good at talking? Now you’re mute again?”

Li Yunli ignored Yang Ying, reaching for Ji Zhenshi, her voice choked. “Xiao Zhen, be good—come down, okay? I know this half-year has been awful for you. It’s over now.”

She’d love her properly.

Ji Zhenshi shook her head at Li Yunli, then suddenly knelt toward Yang Ying, her crying voice trembling and slurring. “Mom, I beg you—let me go. We can love each other in secret, never see you or Dad again, okay? I won’t let anyone around you know we’re together. We’ll love quietly in the corner—is that okay?”

She was humble, so very humble.

Ji Zhenshi, so proud, kneeling to Yang Ying. And Li Yunli, mute for over a decade, her first words also a plea for Yang Ying not to torment them.

So how much love does it take to count as love?

Yang Ying’s vision blurred, the world she’d clung to crumbling.

Her always-rebellious, defiant daughter suddenly knelt, abandoning her dignity. There was no ripple in her heart—just suffocating pressure. “Ji Zhenshi, are you really insane? For a woman like this—is it worth it? Things have escalated to this point—who can clean it up now!”

Ji Zhenshi couldn’t tell which hurt more anymore, but she gritted her teeth and responded firmly, “It’s worth it. She’s worth it—Li Yunli is worth it. In this lifetime, I’ve chosen only her. Without her, I’ll really go mad. Do you want to see me become a lunatic?”

Threats, begging—Ji Zhenshi pulled out all the stops.

She’d never yield or compromise again. Once she had nothing; it was Li Yunli who gave her everything—the care she’d lacked, material fulfillment, then love without reservation.

Yang Ying looked coldly at the kneeling Ji Zhenshi, then at the frantic Li Yunli beside her.

Perhaps she’d never understand why Ji Zhenshi would abandon everything to choose her so firmly. Had Li Yunli bewitched her?

“You’re really willing to sever ties with me for her?” Yang Ying asked finally.

“Ji Zhenshi, come down first! I believe you can handle it—not like this! You’re bleeding; come down and I’ll treat it!” Li Yunli reached to take the knife.

Ji Zhenshi didn’t look at Li Yunli, only at Yang Ying. “I knew at sixteen—I love Li Yunli. So if you torment us again, I’ll die right in front of you!”

She didn’t want to sever mother-daughter ties; she just begged Yang Ying not to torment them anymore.

Yang Ying was helpless against Ji Zhenshi, relenting under the pressure. “Fine! You’re something else! Alright, Ji Zhenshi—if you regret it later, don’t come home crying!”

She’d conceded, compromising for the first time.

In truth, she couldn’t control Ji Zhenshi’s marriage, nor Ji Tingjun’s fate, not even Ji Yuancheng. She was a failed mother and wife.

She didn’t want to admit it, but it was fact.

She’d lost; she couldn’t control anyone.

“Ji Zhenshi, from now on—not one step back home! Li Yunli, don’t you dare step foot in my house again! I won’t have neighbors gossiping behind my back or colleagues scorning me for such a daughter and failed family. Do whatever you want—just never show up in front of me again!” Yang Ying stormed off in fury.

Watching Yang Ying’s retreating back, Ji Zhenshi’s taut nerves finally relaxed.

So, they’d finally won?

“Xiao Zhen, let me see how bad the wound is.” Li Yunli rushed to her, prying Ji Zhenshi’s hand open forcefully.

She’d gripped the knife so tightly—probably from the extreme tension causing inertia—that she subconsciously clutched it hard. Li Yunli pried her fingers one by one to free the bloodied blade.

Ji Zhenshi stared blankly for a long time, blinking dazedly. “My mom won’t interfere anymore? She won’t block us or trouble you again?”

The last part was even an uncertain question.

She could hardly believe she’d actually made her mom compromise.

“Yeah, Xiao Zhen. Come down first; let me see how deep it is.” Li Yunli cradled her chin, helping her stand.

The moment her feet touched the ground, Ji Zhenshi’s legs buckled, and she knelt straight down—the snapped tension draining all strength from her body.

Her blood-smeared hands had terrifying blue veins bulging; Ji Zhenshi barely propped up her shoulders as the delayed pain hit.

The wound wasn’t deep—she’d just lost control in the heat of the moment. The blood had clotted; it wasn’t serious.

Li Yunli quickly grabbed wet wipes to clean her neck and hands, her eyes full of the wound, ignoring everything else for now.

But Ji Zhenshi fixated on Yang Ying’s parting words, weeping with joy. “Today… shouldn’t we go buy lottery tickets?”

It had to be a jackpot, right? Otherwise, how to explain this joy falling from the sky?

Li Yunli fetched the store’s first-aid kit for the workers’ bumps and scrapes.

She disinfected Ji Zhenshi first, then gently applied an oversized Band-Aid. Seeing her react as if nothing happened—even smiling—Li Yunli’s suspended heart finally settled. “How could you be so foolish? Is this how I taught you to handle problems? No wonder they say my family education failed—looks like it did. You scared me to death just now, you know? What if you’d hit the carotid? In under five minutes, you’d never see me again.”

Still shaken, her face pale, Li Yunli couldn’t help lecturing the impulsive girl after her anger.

Ji Zhenshi’s vision blurred faintly; she only saw Li Yunli’s worried scolding, no coercion—just soothing. Her lashes trembled; she even found it pleasant.

Exhaling a hot breath, Li Yunli’s back was soaked through. “I wouldn’t. Who am I? If I died, wouldn’t you be doomed to lonely old age forever?”

Seeing Ji Zhenshi feign ease, Li Yunli finally pulled her into her arms.

Her treasure, her one and only.

Li Yunli held her tight, feeling her warmth and breath for a moment’s peace, patting her shoulder as she secretly wiped a tear.

She felt they should buy lottery tickets too.

Ji Zhenshi’s arms were limp but still clung tightly to Li Yunli, patting her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry—I won’t let you end up alone forever. See? You really believed in me; I handled it. Don’t push me away again, okay?”

One more time, and she’d never dare face Li Yunli again—she might really go mad.

Li Yunli opened her mouth but said nothing, nodding silently.

Never again—they’d never part.

Ji Zhenshi was drained; going to the back, Li Yunli basically carried her.

Seeing her still smiling, Li Yunli flicked her nose and helped her sit in a chair. “She won’t even let you go home, and you can still laugh? Xiao Zhen has a huge heart.”

“No—my heart’s too small. Once it fits you, there’s no room for anything else. Besides, I’m not worried, because you’ve already given me a home, haven’t you?” Ji Zhenshi slumped on the table, her eyes so bright—like back when they were seaside and she said she’d marry her.

You worked so hard to give me a home; I’ll always have a fallback.

Ji Zhenshi smiled at Li Yunli. If not for her messy hair and sweat-damp clothes, she’d look utterly relaxed and composed.

Li Yunli took a breath, smiling lightly without speaking, and reached to lift her shirt.

Ji Zhenshi wore short sleeves; Li Yunli undressed her like a child, checked the back wound—seeping blood again but otherwise fine—then quickly draped her own thin blouse from her long skirt outfit over her.

She’d broken into cold sweat; her clothes were soaked.

Ji Zhenshi obediently put it on. “Li Yunli, nothing can separate us now, right?”

This time, Li Yunli didn’t mind her rudeness, humming in agreement, hesitating to say more.

“But…”

“But though my mom said that, I’ll still fulfill my duties. After all, birth grace is greater than heaven—I won’t keep sulking like the past half-year, ignoring messages or skipping home visits. Even if she won’t have me around anymore, I’ll talk to her nicely, not blow up and fight when my temper flares.”

Ji Zhenshi picked up Li Yunli’s unfinished words, completing them all.

How could she not know Li Yunli?

Li Yunli ruffled her hair. “Mm, good girl.”