Chapter 10: Cichuan, Je t’aime!

When Lu Cichuan woke up again, the first thing he saw was a white ceiling and the strong smell of disinfectant in the air.

“You’re awake!” Li Mo’s delicate face appeared before his eyes.

“Mm…” Lu Cichuan didn’t know what to say. “How long have I been out?”

“About two days,” Li Mo replied, recalling the day they rescued him. She was still angry about it. “How could they treat you like that? It was just too much!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the doctor entered. “Mr. Lu, you’re awake. Your girlfriend has been by your side for nearly two days!” This made Li Mo’s face turn a little red, and Lu Cichuan awkwardly cleared his throat.

After the doctor checked him and confirmed that everything was fine, he said that Lu Cichuan could go home after a few more days of rest. After the doctor left, Li Mo’s face grew even redder. “Well… I’ll head home for some food now. See you later!” She quickly grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

“Um… my name is Lu Cichuan. What’s yours, Miss?” Lu Cichuan’s voice trembled a little, but it was gentle.

“Li Mo!”

With a bang, the door closed, and Lu Cichuan couldn’t help but laugh. She was really cute…

Lu Cichuan waited for Li Mo to come visit here everyday, but instead, Li Ye came. He tried to get up to greet him, but Li Ye stopped him. “You’re injured. Stay put and rest.”

“Thank you, Sir…”

“We both haven’t eaten yet, so how about we eat together?” Li Ye smiled kindly, and with a wave of his hand, a tray of food was brought in.

Lu Cichuan felt a bit overwhelmed and quietly sipped on his porridge. Suddenly, Li Ye casually asked, “Do you like my daughter?”

Lu Cichuan quickly put down his spoon, feeling guilty. “Sir, I don’t…”

Before he could finish, Li Ye gave him a disapproving look. “If you like her, just admit it. Don’t lie to yourself.”

“I like her…”

“So, how would you feel if I let you marry her?”

The question startled Lu Cichuan. He nervously looked at Li Ye.

“What are you afraid of? I do have one condition, though,” Li Ye added.

“What condition?”

Li Ye wiped his hands with a napkin. “I’ll give you a new identity and 50 million yuan to start a business. You’ll have to build a career for yourself and provide a future for my Mo.”

Lu Cichuan thought about it, and Li Ye added some pressure. “If you’re not up for it, forget it. Once you’re out of the hospital, you’ll go back to the Cheng family, and you’ll never see Li Mo again.”

“I can do it!” The determination in Lu Cichuan’s eyes pleased Li Ye.

“Good! You’ll start once you’ve recovered in a month.”

After being discharged, Lu Cichuan stayed at the Li family’s home. Every day, he helped with small tasks around the house, which earned him the favor of many people. Li Mo clung to him constantly, whether they were climbing mountains, planting flowers and vegetables, or fixing faucets. Even when she played the piano, she’d always call out, “Ah Ci!”

Li Ye and Li Yan began teaching him about business and even took him along to some contract negotiations. Occasionally, he’d sneak off to visit his sister.

Lu Cichuan wasn’t a fool. When he lived with the Cheng family, he often served tea at business meetings. Cheng Yanlin never paid attention to him, thinking he didn’t understand any of the business conversations.

At the dining table, Li Mo whined, “Dad, you and Ah Ci was always spending time every day! I’m so bored…”

“My dear daughter, we only take up three or four hours of his time. The rest…”

“Stop! No talking while eating!” Li Mo quickly quieted down and focused on her meal. Li Ye couldn’t help but laugh at his daughter, as did Li Yan, who was the loudest.

“If Mom were here, she’d be laughing so hard! Haha!”

“Li Yan!” Li Mo glared at her brother.

“Alright, alright. No talking while eating. Eat up,” Lu Cichuan gently coaxed her, offering her a piece of her favorite chicken wing.

“Ah Ci is the best. Not like my annoying brother!” Li Mo shouted at Li Yan.

“Are you itching for a fight?!”

“Bleh, bleh, bleh…”

One day, Li Mo overheard the agreement between her father and Lu Cichuan. She counted the days—only two were left before he had to leave.

“Dad, I want to go to Erhai tomorrow,” Li Mo said, blinking her eyes at Li Ye.

“Sure. Be safe, and take your best friend Yuwan with you.”

“I want to go with Ah Ci.”

“Cough, cough…” Li Ye nearly choked on his soup. His daughter was becoming more and more bold.

“Tomorrow, we’ll go, and the day after we’ll come back by the afternoon. Is that okay, Dad?”

Lu Cichuan looked at both Li Ye and Li Yan. Li Yan helped out, “Dad, let her go. Last time she went to Erhai, the Cheng family ruined it for her.”

Li Mo nodded eagerly. Li Ye smiled indulgently. “Alright, go ahead. Have fun while your mom’s away. She’ll be back the day after tomorrow.”

“Huh?” Li Mo was both happy and worried.

Lu Cichuan smiled as he looked at Li Ye, his eyes full of gratitude.

Erhai was beautiful. The last time Lu Cichuan stood here, he was a mess, and Li Mo had seemed like an unattainable dream. But now, he was getting closer to her, step by step.

“Ah Ci, I really love this sea!” Li Mo’s back was bathed in sunlight, the sea behind her, looking like hope itself.

“Li Mo, I like you!” Lu Cichuan’s heart raced as he watched her stunned expression.

Li Mo’s smile was warm, and it was imprinted in his heart.

“Ah Ci, Je t’aime!” she said.

Lu Cichuan didn’t quite understand, but then Li Mo kissed him, and he understood.

She had lit a fire in his quiet, young heart—one that would never go out.