Chapter 18: Advancing by Retreating

Perhaps because they were in a confined space, Li Haoxuan was more agitated than usual, completely different from his usual restrained demeanor.

Xu Ruyan didn’t expect to run straight into someone the moment she opened the door. She slightly lowered her head, unconsciously twisting the edge of her clothes, the blush on her face growing even deeper.

Anyone who could appear in this home had to be Li Haoxuan’s family. She was afraid they would misunderstand her as a frivolous woman, blocking her path to a bright future.

“That must be the younger sister-in-law! She’s really pretty,” Li Guifen smiled as she stepped forward, but the warmth in her eyes didn’t reach deep—there was instead a trace of excitement.

A few days ago, upon learning that Li Haoxuan had quarreled with Shen Nanqing, unlike the Li family members who were heartbroken, she was secretly pleased.

Li Yanhong had never liked her, and now that Shen Nanqing was out of the picture, this family probably no longer had a place for her.

“This is my elder brother’s wife,” Li Haoxuan said with a bright smile after changing his shirt.

Xu Ruyan obediently greeted, “Sister-in-law.”

Li Guifen’s gaze flickered between the two. After exchanging a few polite words, she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

Xu Ruyan, wanting to leave a good impression, didn’t sit idly by but followed her to the kitchen. Passing by the table, she noticed the peach pastries that had obviously been touched and cast a contemptuous glance.

“Sister-in-law, let me help you,” she whispered.

Li Guifen nodded approvingly and warmed up to her a little.

This was far better than Shen Nanqing, who never helped and just sat waiting to eat every time she came.

But she seemed to have forgotten that Shen Nanqing never came empty-handed—she always brought rare and special things.

The two of them busied themselves in the kitchen while chatting. Though they called it chatting, it was more like subtly probing for information.

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Li Yanhong hadn’t had a single smooth day these past few days. After work, she cursed all the way home. On the way, she met a few acquaintances who all said her youngest son had brought his girlfriend home. This made her so angry it hurt her heart, but she had to put on a calm face.

She hurried home and met her husband and son, who were also just off work.

Li Yanhong quietly scrutinized Li Gaoyi’s expression. Seeing him look normal and thinking about the situation at home, her heart was in her throat.

“Husband, no matter what happens later, please don’t lose your temper, okay? Haoxuan is immature. If we just persuade him, he’ll surely realize his mistake.”

She hadn’t spoken yet when she heard this, but Li Gaoyi’s face immediately darkened.

Pushing open the door, the aroma of the meal wafted out.

Xu Ruyan was carrying dishes out of the kitchen. When she looked up, she bumped right into Li Yanhong and the others just entering.

She was momentarily stunned but quickly lifted the corners of her mouth into a sweet smile and softly said, “Uncle, Auntie, Big Brother, you’re back.”

Li Gaoyi paused, his gaze sharp as he sized up Xu Ruyan from head to toe. His face betrayed no extra emotion, only a slight nod in response.

The dishes were laid on the table, steam rising lightly, but the atmosphere in the room was awkward. Even seven-year-old Li Xiaotao sensed it, shrinking beside Li Guifen like a frightened quail.

Li Yanhong scrutinized Xu Ruyan with a critical eye. Seeing that she looked alright and wore a decent quality fabric dress, she assumed the family background was fairly good.

Her expression softened somewhat as she smiled and asked, “Are you also with the Workers’ Union?”

Xu Ruyan nodded.

“Where is your family from? What do your parents do? How many people are in your family?”

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Xu Ruyan felt increasingly tense from the barrage of questions. She nudged Li Haoxuan with her foot, silently asking him to help defuse the situation.

“Mom, I’m going to live with Ruyan, not with her parents. Why ask so many questions? Let’s just eat first,” Li Haoxuan said.

He knew about Xu Ruyan’s family situation—how her parents treated her poorly, and how she had to pay for her own expenses. Sometimes, when she was short on money, he even helped her out a bit.

Just then, Li Gaoyi cleared his throat heavily. Li Haojun interrupted, “Little brother, marriage isn’t just about two people; it’s about two families. Naturally, you have to understand each other well, right?”

Though he seemed to be speaking to Li Haoxuan, his gaze was fixed on Xu Ruyan.

Li Yanhong was sharp; she saw clearly that Xu Ruyan was just a pretty face and nothing more. She suddenly stood up with determination and said firmly, “I don’t agree to this marriage.”

Xu Ruyan’s face instantly turned pale, and her hand tremblingly clutched Li Haoxuan’s sleeve.

Li Haoxuan quietly patted her hand and then said, “Mom, this is the modern age—marriage is about freedom.”

“I don’t care! You’re my son, so you should listen to me!” Li Yanhong’s voice sharpened as she pointed accusingly at the “white lotus,” cursing, “It must have been you, that shameless seductress, who lured my son away!”

“Haoxuan was doing well with Shen Nanqing before. It’s definitely you who came between them and broke them up. Honestly, you don’t deserve to set foot in the Li family. My daughter-in-law can only be someone like Shen Nanqing.”

Xu Ruyan lowered her eyes, trembling with anger, never imagining the marriage situation would turn out this way.

She had long known Li Haoxuan was spoiled at home, and combined with how his sister-in-law treated her, she thought the marriage might go smoothly—but reality dealt her a harsh blow.

The “military love report” had already been submitted. She had invested too much time in Li Haoxuan; now she had no choice but to keep going down this dark path.

Raising her eyes, tears instantly welled up. Crystal-clear drops fell as she sobbed, looking at Li Haoxuan with a choked voice, “Forget it. It seems we really aren’t right for each other. I’ll just leave…”

Saying that, she turned around, covered her face, and ran out the door crying.

Seeing this, Li Haoxuan’s heart seemed to be torn apart. Filled with pain, he instinctively wanted to chase after her, but his older brother grabbed him, preventing him from moving. He could only helplessly watch Xu Ruyan’s figure disappear through the doorway, his heart full of anxiety and frustration.

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Xu Ruyan left the Li family home, tears still streaming. When someone curiously asked what was wrong, she only looked pitiful and said nothing.

Once she was out of the residential compound, her tears suddenly stopped. She took out a handkerchief to wipe her face, expressionless as she walked toward the public phone booth.

The old courtyard was arranged in a square layout, with houses tightly clustered around the edges. The center was a small patch of uneven ground, with an old utility pole standing in the middle, tangled with a chaotic web of wires.

Xu Ruyan pushed open the half-closed door of her home, the door creaking loudly. She frowned slightly, complaining, “Didn’t Dad say he was going to replace the door? Why hasn’t it been changed yet?”

“It’s just like Dad to be so stingy. Unless this door can’t be used anymore, he won’t change it,” Xu Baofeng came out of the room, glanced at Xu Ruyan’s hands, and said disappointedly, “Sis, you’ve changed too. You came back so rarely, and you didn’t bring anything!”

“There was an accident. I forgot,” Xu Ruyan replied, picking up an enamel cup on the table and pouring herself some water. “Is Mom not home?”

“She went out,” Xu Baofeng said lazily, slumping in a chair like he had no bones. The chair creaked under his weight.

Xu Ruyan gave him a displeased glance. “Shouldn’t you be at work at this hour?”

“I’m too tired, didn’t want to go. I took a day off,” he replied carelessly.

When Old Xu wanted a son, his wife bore him children like giving birth to calves. They had already sent several daughters away. Finally, after waiting so long for Xu Baofeng—their only son—he was naturally spoiled beyond reason.

During the rural movement, the Xu family feared their son would suffer, so they spent a fortune buying him a job, but he didn’t take it seriously and only worked when he felt like it.

“With you like this, who would want to marry you?” Xu Ruyan muttered to herself, suddenly thinking of someone.

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