Chapter 1264: Sudden Appearance of Wei Lingnan
Xia Yingluo was too lazy to nitpick with them. There were too many stupid people in this world, so how could she possibly nitpick with them all?
She only cared about Gu Jinxiu. Today’s incident was obviously started by Gu Jinxiu. She didn’t know what enmity she had with this woman, but why did they have to have disputes every time they met? She pulled on her mother’s elbow and said in displeasure, “Didn’t Uncle Du say that this banquet was held as a welcoming to us? He obviously knows that we hate the Gu family, so why did they still invite them here, seriously.”
Xia Ling comforted her. “Uncle Du also did that out of goodwill. It’s not worth it to ruin the relations.h.i.+p between our two families just because of little Gu Lin.”
Gu Jinxiu heard her calm tone and said immediately, “Yes, Aunt…” She saw Xia Ling’s expression change and immediately changed her words. “Madam Li really has a high notion of duty. Aunt Gu Lin’s incident was so many years ago, she has already gotten her punishment. Our Gu family still wishes to repair our relations.h.i.+p with the Li family. Our two families’ relations.h.i.+p didn’t come easy, we should cherish it.”
Xia Ling said lightly, “We should cherish it.”
Gu Jinxiu said carefully, “Madam and Uncle are finally back in China, how about you come to our Gu family as guests next time? Our family will be sure to serve you well. Our home has been newly renovated, Sister Yingluo is bound to like it.”
Xia Yingluo sneered. What the h.e.l.l, she had just been urgently wanting to chase her out, but now that she knew her ident.i.ty, she switched from arrogance to deference?
She hated this kind of people.
Xia Ling patted her hand, signaling her to keep calm. She turned and asked her husband, “Li Lei, what do you think?”
Li Lei looked at the pair of them. These two little vixens already had their own ideas yet wanted him to play the bad guy. But oh well, who told him to be both their husband and father? He turned to Gu Jinxiu and changed to a stern expression. “Ever since Gu Lin went to prison, I’ve already put a lid on this incident. Things have only come to this because your father and grandpa hates me. Gu Jinxiu, do your father and grandpa know that you’re here today? If they are still resentful, your efforts today would be wasted.”
Gu Jinxiu was elated and she said hurriedly, “They know. Actually, over the years, they also feel regretful and understand that Aunt has brought it onto herself. Uncle Li, if you visit my house, I promise you that my father and grandpa will welcome you.” She had spent a lot of effort to convince her stupid father and her stubborn opinionated grandpa to give up on their hatred for the Li family—they didn’t have any other choice but to give up! The Gu family’s business was deteriorating steadily and, if they didn’t have this outside support, before grandpa even pa.s.sed, their family might go bankrupt and be completely struck off the rich family list!
Rather than suffer such an evil consequence, it wasn’t all that unacceptable to repair their relations.h.i.+p with the Li family.
Li Lei nodded. “Your father and grandpa are magnanimous. It hasn’t been easy on them these few years.”
Gu Jinxiu saw that things were picking up and was unable to control the excitement in her heart. She said quickly, “Right? They not only worried about our family but also often regretted what happened back then. They kept telling me that it was the Gu family’s fault back then, that we brought it onto ourselves and that they miss you, Uncle Li.”
Li Lei didn’t believe anything she said.
When Grandfather Gu had still been alive he had doted on Li Lei and had told his worthless offsprings to learn from Li Lei. It was good enough that Gu Jinxiu’s father and grandpa didn’t hate Li Lei to the core, but to miss him? Who was she kidding?
Wasn’t she just trying to ask the Li family to help her revive her family business? Otherwise, why would she attempt to renew old cordial relations so hypocritically?
“The previous generation’s enmity really shouldn’t continue to drag on in this generation,” Li Lei said.
Gu Jinxiu was elated. “Thank you, Uncle Li, for forgiving our Gu family. Why don’t you come over to visit soon?”
Li Lei said, “Who said I forgave your family?”
Gu Jinxiu was stunned.
Li Lei said calmly, “What a pity. I had originally wanted to forgive your family. Gu Lin’s incident was such a long time ago and it’s simply not worth a mention. However, who told you to offend Yingluo? Yingluo is our family’s treasure, and usually, her mother and I don’t even dare to scold her. Now that she’s out on her trial, our family worries over her constantly in case she suffers bullying outside. But you’re good, you bullied her time and time again, did you think she was a punching bag?”
Gu Jinxiu’s face was pale. “I, I didn’t know Sister Yingluo was your daughter…” She turned and looked pleadingly at Xia Yingluo. “Sister Yingluo, isn’t it enough if I make it up to you. On the account of me not being guilty because I was unaware, could you please not nitpick with me?”
Xia Yingluo was unhappy. Who was she trying to show her innocent look to?
Those who didn’t know would think that Xia Yingluo was the one bullying Gu Jinxiu!
Li Lei interrupted and sneered. “It’s useless even if Yingluo forgives you. I, as her father, won’t forgive you. As long as I’m here, our Li family will never repair our relations.h.i.+p with the Gu family. Gu Jinxiu, just give up.”
Xia Yingluo looked up at her father in wors.h.i.+p. She simply wanted to give him a round of applause. He was so oppressive and handsome, this was her blood father!
He grinned at her as well, letting Gu Jinxiu dwell in her failures.
She didn’t expect all her efforts for such a long time would be ruined under the hands of this Xia Yingluo. Who knew that an unknown trainee had such a big power?! Gu Jinxiu was crying but was without tears.
Jin Ying looked pitifully at her.
Since she didn’t like Xia Yingluo and Jin Ling’er either, she also felt furious at Gu Jinxiu’s setback. However, she didn’t dare to say anything in front of the Li family. The people who could disrespect the Li family boldly had more or less disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Except for one person.
In the silence, a man came out from an alley not far away that was hidden from view. He wore a pair of clean pants, a white s.h.i.+rt, and was carrying something in his hands. His figure was long and slender, elegant like some sort of mysterious beast. He walked step by step towards the crowd, making people hold their breaths as he pa.s.sed.
Wei Lingnan.
Xia Yingluo took a tiny step back. Why was he here?
“I heard there was a banquet here.” Wei Lingnan walked to them and said with a hint of a smile. “All the famous people in the city are here, why didn’t you invite me?” His gaze swept past the crowd and then stopped on Xia Yingluo’s face before moving away quickly.
Xia Yingluo was a little nervous. Ever since she escaped from that underground prison, this was the first time they met.
They met without warning.
Gu Jinxiu was happy, however. She called, “Lingnan!” She walked up to him and stood beside him.
In the crowd, Du Jingjing heaved a sigh of relief. As the only representation of her family, she didn’t dare to offend the Li family nor the Gu family and saw that the atmosphere was getting more and more stiff. Now, it was great that someone was here to warm up the atmosphere.