Li Yunli listened quietly as Zhang Fenglan spoke. “No matter what, I’m older than Xiao Zhen, so I believe I’ve thought my decisions through very carefully.”
Speaking as someone who had been through it all before, Zhang Fenglan continued, “It’s careful, yes—perhaps too careful. You know Xiao Zhen hasn’t experienced much of life yet. She definitely wouldn’t handle many things as smoothly as she should; after all, maturity takes time. You’re a bit older than her, so this isn’t about moral pressure, but you do need to be more tolerant of her.”
Li Yunli nodded. “I am very tolerant of her.”
She tolerated everything about Ji Zhenshi.
But then Zhang Fenglan shifted her tone. “Tolerance doesn’t mean blindly doing what’s ‘best’ for her or always giving in.”
She was referring to how Li Yunli had broken up with Ji Zhenshi after Yang Ying had threatened suicide.
A gentle smile shimmered in Li Yunli’s eyes, and a soft laugh rose between them. “I know what you’re getting at, Grandma. I know her flaws, and I’m willing to accept all of them. What I’m doing isn’t indulgence. You and Xiao Zhen might not agree, but I couldn’t stay with her feeling guilty. At her age, she should focus entirely on what she loves. I don’t want her worn down by all this messy pressure, body and soul exhausted. Right now, neither of us can convince Auntie, so it’s best to set it aside for now.”
She knew every one of Ji Zhenshi’s shortcomings—perhaps even better than Ji Zhenshi knew them herself. Yet she accepted them all. That was love.
Love meant letting go. Love meant making sacrifices.
In truth, Zhang Fenglan’s visit was no different from Ji Zhenshi’s pleas the night before. Both were criticizing her choice, insisting Li Yunli shouldn’t have done it.
Zhang Fenglan hesitated, unsure how to argue back. “Xiao Zhen was really upset. You should at least have told her happy birthday. She hasn’t come home since she got hurt last time, and no one knows where she is now. Last night, she spent her birthday alone.”
Zhang Fenglan had assumed Li Yunli would go to Ji Zhenshi, so she hadn’t. But then she learned Li Yunli hadn’t shown up. Thinking of how Ji Zhenshi had sobbed to her in grievance—and how Li Yunli had still done this—she understood why Ji Zhenshi felt so hurt.
Their rift was even worse than she’d imagined.
Zhang Fenglan had originally planned to let the young ones sort out their issues while she kept an eye on Yang Ying, nagging her relentlessly.
But now it seemed she had to step in.
From Zhang Fenglan’s description, Li Yunli could picture it all too clearly. She lowered her gaze. “I know.”
How could she not know? Last night, she had stood downstairs for a long time, watching the light in that room until it flickered off deep into the night before finally moving her stiff, frozen body.
In a way, she had kept Ji Zhenshi company on her birthday.
Xiao Zhen, this year’s birthday wish probably doesn’t include me anymore.
“Yunli, are you two serious about this?” Zhang Fenglan asked solemnly.
“Yes.”
“Just because of her mother?”
“We can’t convince Auntie. That’s the reality.”
“You don’t have to worry about her. Don’t you know her mother by now? She wouldn’t really go through with it—who threatens their own daughter with their life? Xiao Zhen only agreed that day out of impulse. You two don’t need to actually break up. Her mother can’t see it, but I can: you both care about each other. What a shame to split up over this.” Zhang Fenglan was still advocating for Ji Zhenshi; that was the whole point of her visit—to reconcile them.
“Besides, Xiao Zhen has been working hard to convince her mother. They’ve talked several times. Xiao Zhen even said she’d spend her life alone without you. When her mother made her choose between family and you, she picked you. That angered her mother so much she hasn’t gone home in half a year. She told her mother to stay out of her life, and now her reach doesn’t extend that far. You two could just be together—her mother can’t control her anymore.”
Ji Zhenshi had nearly cut ties with her family just to be with Li Yunli.
But Li Yunli hadn’t given her the chance.
Meeting Zhang Fenglan’s gaze, Li Yunli’s expression remained steady. After a moment’s thought, she spoke heavily. “Xiao Zhen has never brought this up with me. Do you know why, Grandma?”
“Why?”
“Because Xiao Zhen knows I wouldn’t agree.”
“Yunli, why put yourself through this?” Zhang Fenglan sighed.
These two girls were going to give her a headache—one more stubborn than the other.
If Li Yunli had been even a little selfish, things wouldn’t have gotten this difficult. Why torture herself—and Ji Zhenshi—like this?
Li Yunli gave a helpless little smile. “At least these past six months show that without me, her career is really taking off. In just that time, she’s paid back half of what she owed Teacher Tang.”
The facts proved Tang Xien hadn’t been wrong about her; Ji Zhenshi was a true dark horse.
Neither Zhang Fenglan nor Li Yunli could dispute that.
Zhang Fenglan changed tack. “Fine, no more arguing right or wrong. Why haven’t you opened that second coffee shop? Didn’t Xiao Zhen say you’d already rented the location? Half a year later, and nothing?”
At that, Li Yunli’s face changed slightly. “Some reasons came up, so I’m not opening it.”
Some reasons. Unavoidable ones.
What reason could it be? The only thing that could make Li Yunli willingly go this far was Ji Zhenshi.
Zhang Fenglan saw right through it. “You gave the money to your dad? Still suing him?”
She had noticed the file folder in Li Yunli’s hand at the coffee shop. Clearly, she’d been to court today.
Li Ying had started a new family and never cared for Li Yunli, so Zhang Fenglan couldn’t fathom how he had the nerve to take money earned by a daughter who could barely communicate.
Was that what a father should do?
He was utterly selfish, shameless beyond belief.
Li Yunli didn’t hide it. “Yes. Before, I didn’t want him harassing me and Xiao Zhen, so I gave him the money for some peace.”
Worried Zhang Fenglan would think her foolish, she hurried to explain. “But suing my dad isn’t because of Xiao Zhen. It’s about the house my mother left behind. Once I regained my ability to communicate, I suddenly regretted letting a deadbeat father—who ruined my life—get such a huge windfall. I want it back. If things go smoothly, I’ll open another shop—a coffee shop or a flower shop. I like work that’s peaceful like that. Anyway, I’ll make it happen.”
Li Yunli never gave up on her dreams. She had only paused the shop plans to avoid Li Ying troubling Ji Zhenshi, but given the chance later, she would push forward.
“You can’t let your dad take that for nothing. Is a man like that even a man? How’s it going on your end?” Zhang Fenglan asked.
Li Ying wouldn’t let such a prize go easily.
“It’s going smoothly. That house was my maternal grandparents’ premarital gift to my mother. Later, due to various reasons, the property deed was changed to my name. The process is on track now; I’ve entrusted it to professionals to sell. It’s valued at six or seven hundred thousand. I’ll give my father a small cut, and the rest will more than cover opening a shop.”
For months, Li Yunli had been back and forth to court. After over half a year of hassle, it was finally settling.
She said it was smooth, but only she knew the twists and turns.
Li Ying hadn’t agreed easily, of course. He’d tried every trick—threats, bribes, you name it. But the more Li Yunli saw their true colors, the less she wanted to compromise. Without hesitation or pity, she sued him. With a good lawyer, no matter how he raged, the house ended up hers.
He got a hundred thousand, but at a steep price.
Li Yunli wasn’t one to be trifled with. She cut ties cleanly and took back what was hers.
With her inner demons vanquished, the house held no meaning for her anymore. Better to sell it.
She had already begun a new life; she shouldn’t stay trapped in the past.
Zhang Fenglan smiled approvingly. She’d been a bit worried Li Yunli would go soft and let Li Ying profit for free, but hearing she’d stood firm, she gave her a look that said that’s my girl. “Good, that’s the way. Don’t listen to anyone saying suing your own father is wrong—he never treated you like a daughter anyway. Take what’s yours. Hundreds of thousands! It’s barely compensation for all the hardship you’ve endured growing up. Use it freely, no guilt whatsoever.”
Li Yunli had always been too kind, but who could blame her? Her disability had made life an uphill battle.
Thankfully, everything was better now. She had endured.
But the one who had always been by her side was gone.
Li Yunli murmured her agreement and smiled lightly. “Of course I know. I won’t feel guilty—it’s my mother’s house. If not for rumors of demolition back then, Li Ying would’ve sold it at the start. Grandma, I’m not as foolish as you think. It was always mine; no amount of time in his hands makes it his.”
It had taken a stroke of luck to keep the house at all. She wasn’t so noble as to let it go. She had her own dreams, places she wanted to reach—and they all required money.
She wanted to chase her passions with everything she had, just like Xiao Zhen.
That had to be pretty cool. It just had to.
“That’s the best way to think about it. I never thought you were foolish. Our Yunli is wonderful—great personality, beautiful looks, and decisive when it counts. How could I think you’re silly?” Zhang Fenglan laughed, subtly praising her again.
In her eyes, everything about Li Yunli was perfect. She hated the thought of Ji Zhenshi missing out on someone so ideal.
Li Yunli blushed at the compliments, lowering her head as warmth softened her features.
Zhang Fenglan studied her profile for several seconds before suddenly asking, “Did you give your dad that money because of Xiao Zhen?”
“No,” Li Yunli denied.
“Yes, you did,” Zhang Fenglan insisted.
Their eyes met, and Li Yunli looked away first. It was obvious enough.
Li Yunli still wasn’t good at lying or hiding her feelings; her eyes always gave her away.
That’s why she never dared hold Ji Zhenshi’s gaze—her emotions laid everything bare.
Zhang Fenglan watched her quietly. In the pause, her thoughts churned, and pity surfaced on her face. “Look at you. Does money grow on trees? You handed it over so easily. No wonder you suddenly wanted the house back—must be because you gave him everything and couldn’t keep going yourself. How much was it?”
“It wasn’t that bad. The shop’s daily operations weren’t affected; I’d planned for it. I just wanted peace of mind. A hundred thousand bought out our father-daughter relationship.” Li Yunli spoke lightly, not wanting to dwell on details like the exact amount.
A hundred thousand or fifty—it had been everything she had at the time.
And Li Ying hadn’t bothered Ji Zhenshi, which she was satisfied with.
He had his new family anyway. He’d never cared before; what right did he have now?
Zhang Fenglan’s heart sank. She let out a long sigh. “That much? No wonder you couldn’t even open the shop.”
Li Yunli’s fingers rubbed the strap of her bag, her mind drifting. She said nothing.
“Xiao Zhen doesn’t know about any of this,” Zhang Fenglan said with strange certainty.
Li Yunli had done so much in secret, and Ji Zhenshi was none the wiser.
Why go to such lengths? If either had been a bit more selfish, they could be together happily. Li Yunli had let go to set her free—a decision that seemed infuriating but was agonizingly hard. Who knew the heartbreak behind it?
Li Yunli, watching her soar to unimaginable heights—are you more glad for her success or regretful at not sharing the joy by her side?
That was why Li Yunli was so admirable and heartbreaking. She had truly let go—and that took immense love.
“Whether she knows or not doesn’t matter. I just don’t want to see that day repeat itself. I don’t want her hurt.” Li Yunli led Zhang Fenglan to a resting area and sat down.
She used the excuse of buying water to deftly sidestep the topic.
There was no need for Ji Zhenshi to know. It was all in the past.
Xiao Zhen, I’ve firmly chosen you.
Perhaps reaching this point had been a mistake—Li Yunli’s choice too abrupt, too unmindful of Ji Zhenshi’s feelings. But the outcome was good. That was enough.
Li Yunli could bear Ji Zhenshi’s cold words of misunderstanding, even long separations. She just wanted her to fly free, not be a tethered kite.
Ji Zhenshi had been right about one thing: Li Yunli had painfully let go of her love.
The love Li Yunli showed was just the tip of the iceberg. The depths beneath only she knew—how much it hurt, only she understood.
“Grandma, have some water. You’ve been walking a long time; you must be tired.” Li Yunli thoughtfully poured plain water at just the right temperature.
Sitting beside Zhang Fenglan, she subconsciously bit the straw as she drank.
Unwittingly, she had picked up Ji Zhenshi’s habit. When she noticed, her breath would catch, and it took ages to swallow the bitterness in her chest.
Cradling the cup in her jade-like fingers on her lap, Li Yunli said, “Grandma, have you seen Xiao Zhen’s recent shows? She’s doing wonderfully, gaining tons of fans. She’s truly exceptional. All she needed was a chance. I believe she’ll keep shining on those stages.”
She wanted to say that without ties holding her back, Ji Zhenshi would go far.
Let her charge ahead, focused solely on what she loved, soaring unbound.
Zhang Fenglan took a sip and chuckled twice. “So she’s got real charm, draws the eye. Her looks aren’t exaggeratedly otherworldly, but she inherited the best features from her parents.”
Truth be told, Ji Zhenshi and Ji Tingjun both had striking features, just shaped into utterly different vibes.
Li Yunli’s expression eased at that, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curving her lips. “My taste is pretty good.”
A touch smug—Li Yunli allowed herself a bit of pride over such things.
The conversation kept circling back to Ji Zhenshi, but the air felt less tense now.
Zhang Fenglan smiled with her. “Both of you have great taste.”
“Yes.” Li Yunli agreed, a flush rising to her cheeks.
Praising Ji Zhenshi praised Li Yunli too. They’d poured their lifetime’s worth of discernment into choosing a spouse.
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