Chapter 8: I Don’t Want to Marry Him!

“You’ve got some skills, haven’t you? The Li family may be newcomers, but you actually managed to get them to lend us money,” Cheng Yanlin stood, while Lu Cichuan and Lu Sheng knelt before her.

“Yili, tomorrow take some valuable gifts to Erhai and propose to the Li family!” Cheng Yanlin said with a smile, looking at her son.

Cheng Yili, lying on the couch, eating sweet cherries while watching a comedy show, responded, “The Li family? Small and insignificant, never heard of them! I’m not going.”

Cheng Yanlin, slightly angry, said, “The Li family is not a small matter. In just a few short years, they’ve nearly caught up with the Cheng family. They’re very capable. This marriage is a business alliance—do you not want the Cheng family fortune?”

Cheng Yili looked annoyed but was swayed when Cheng Yanlin added, “The young lady of the Li family is very beautiful. You’ll be pleased when you see her.”

“Really! I need to prepare!” He rushed off to his room to choose an outfit.

Lu Cichuan clenched his fists, the veins showing on his hands. Sensing something was wrong, Lu Sheng gently held his hand, telling him to stay calm.

Cheng Yanlin glanced at him with disdain, “Tomorrow, you’ll go with Yili. Once the engagement is settled, I might consider letting you and your sister live normal lives.”

—-

In the dilapidated woodshed that served as their home, Lu Sheng got straight to the point: “You don’t want Cheng Yili to marry Miss Li, do you?”

“Sis! That scumbag would ruin her life if he married her!” Lu Cichuan’s intense emotions confirmed what Lu Sheng had suspected all along.

“Then don’t help him. Just stay quiet when you go and mess it up,” Lu Sheng said softly, understanding how much her brother liked someone for the first time. His love was helpless and full of frustration.

“But, Sis, she said she might let us go…” Lu Cichuan hesitated.

“You believe anything that woman says?” Lu Sheng cut him off angrily. Lu Cichuan didn’t believe it, but if there was even the slightest chance to escape this miserable life, he wanted to try.

When Li Mo entered the private room, she immediately spotted Lu Cichuan and felt a bit happy.

Cheng Yili fell in love with Li Mo at first sight. She was so beautiful that he was completely mesmerized…

Li Ye, however, almost slammed the table in anger when he learned of their purpose. “I don’t agree to this marriage!”

“Uncle Li, how could you not agree? The Cheng family’s financial situation is back on track. We’ll repay not just the 50 million, but 60 million. Just think, if the Li family and the Cheng family join forces, the entire city of Huaian would be ours!” Cheng Yili’s exaggerated promises made Li Yan roll his eyes. What nonsense! If his sister married this guy, she’d starve because he talks such big dreams.

“And besides, I’m handsome and charming. Li Mo is beautiful and elegant. We’re a perfect match!” Cheng Yili grinned arrogantly, acting like a spoiled brat. Li Mo, now irritated, muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear: “He looks like a monkey but calls himself handsome and charming, what a joke.”

“Hey! What did you just say?” Cheng Yili, now furious, couldn’t believe she compared him to a monkey. After all, he was adored by so many girls!

Li Ye, holding back his laughter, pretended to scold, “What nonsense are you spouting, young lady! My apologies, Young Master Cheng, my daughter can be mischievous.”

“Tch!” Cheng Yili grumbled, giving Lu Cichuan a shove. “Say something, you!”

“Miss Li is right,” Lu Cichuan replied coldly.

“You…” Cheng Yili was so angry he wanted to hit Lu Cichuan right there, but he held back for the sake of appearances.

The proposal ended in failure, leaving the Li family pleased and the Cheng family frustrated.

As soon as the Li family left, Cheng Yili kicked Lu Cichuan in the chest, then threw a teacup at his head.

“Think you’re something now? You’re just a bastard, a Cheng family dog, and you think you’re worthy?” Furious, he grabbed a teapot and threw it at Lu Cichuan, the scalding tea and shattered ceramic stinging.

Storming off, Cheng Yili didn’t bother taking Lu Cichuan back with him. Since he’d flown there, Lu Cichuan could walk back.

Blood trickled down Lu Cichuan’s forehead as he grabbed a pack of tissues and ran to the underground parking lot.

“Miss Li!” Li Mo, about to get into her car, saw the out-of-breath Lu Cichuan and felt a flicker of joy. “Why are you here?”

“I…”

“You’re bleeding! Did he hit you again?” Even though Lu Cichuan had already wiped the blood away during the ride, it had started to flow again.

Feeling a pang of sympathy, Li Mo took out a handkerchief to help, but he backed away.

Li Mo was momentarily surprised, but quickly smiled again. She placed the handkerchief in his hand and asked Li Yan to bring a small first-aid kit from the car.

“I don’t want to marry him!” she whispered as she handed him the kit, her voice so low only the two of them could hear.

“I know…” he whispered back, even quieter. But Li Mo smiled.

As she got into the car and waved goodbye, her brother teased, “You’ve never cared about me like that!”

Li Ye chuckled at his daughter’s behavior but said nothing. He admired Lu Cichuan and didn’t object to his daughter liking him, but marriage? He wouldn’t agree to that. He also trusted that Lu Cichuan wasn’t someone who would make a move at the wrong time.

Li Mo knew her father could tell she didn’t want to marry Cheng Yili, but she still wanted to say it out loud: “I don’t want to marry him!”