Old Master Lì slammed the table heavily: "Lì Běijué! You dare hit my precious great-grandson, are you trying to get me to spank your butt!"
Lì Běijué: "..."
Lì Běijué never expected to hear such words at his age, all he felt was speechless.
"Great-Grandpa, Yǎn Bǎo is still young, and some things shouldn't be indulged."
"I didn't tell you to indulge him, but no matter what, you cannot hit a child!"
Old Master Lì, completely favoring Yǎn Bǎo, held the little one in his arms even tighter.
"Yǎn Bǎo, if your Daddy scolds you again, call Great-Grandpa directly!"
"Okay! Great-Grandpa is the best!"
Mòbái was overjoyed watching Lì Běijué get scolded, and he then planted a kiss on the old man's face!
Old Master Lì nodded repeatedly with satisfaction, rubbed Mòbái's little head, but a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes.
This child's personality is indeed drastically different from before...
But it doesn't seem like a bad thing.
Children should be this lively.
Old Master Lì pondered for two seconds and didn't dwell on the matter any further.
After a brief conversation, they heard sounds from the doorway.
Everyone subconsciously looked over and saw a middle-aged man in a suit and a young boy walking in.
Lì Běijué's expression immediately darkened.
Old Master Lì's expression was also a bit subtle.
"Xīnghuá? Why are you back today?"
Old Master Lì asked, seemingly displeased that his precious time with his great-grandson had been interrupted.
The middle-aged man smiled, handed the gifts he brought to the butler, and sat down on the sofa.
"Dad, Běichén happened to be free today, and I specially brought him to see you."
Lì Xīnghuá said, his gaze falling on Lì Běijué beside him: "Běijué, I didn't expect you to bring Yǎn Bǎo back to see Grandpa today, too."
Lì Běijué nodded and faintly greeted him as 'Dad', acknowledging him.
Mòbái's big eyes scanned the people, and he quickly understood what was happening.
So this person was Grandpa, Lì Běijué's father...
Why does it feel like Daddy doesn't have a good relationship with him?
Mòbái thought, his gaze falling on the other person with a hint of confusion.
As he was wondering who he was, he heard the other person speak: "Grandpa, I specially asked someone to bring you bird's nest soup from abroad. It's very good for your health. You must remember to drink it."
"Mm, Běichén is thoughtful." Old Master Lì nodded faintly, not appearing very enthusiastic.
Mòbái snuggled obediently in Old Master Lì's arms, understanding about seven or eight parts of the situation.
So this person called 'Běichén' is Daddy's brother!
Which means he's his uncle!
Daddy's family is too big!
He's almost losing track!
No one spoke for a moment, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.
Old Master Lì was thinking of an excuse to let them leave when he noticed Lì Xīnghuá make a move.
"Běijué, how has the company been lately? Have you encountered any difficulties?"
Lì Xīnghuá asked, seemingly concerned about Lì Běijué.
Lì Běijué replied faintly: "No."
Lì Xīnghuá noticed his cold attitude and his expression dimmed for a moment.
However, he persisted: "That's good. I heard... that girl from the Liu family returned to the country recently, have you met? What are your plans afterward?"
"What do you mean?" Lì Běijué's brow furrowed slightly, and his tone suddenly turned colder.
Old Master Lì immediately perked up and followed up: "Of course, it's about dating and getting married! You brat, you're not planning to stay single forever, are you?"
Lì Xīnghuá's expression immediately became tense.
With the Liu family's influence, if they were to form a marital alliance with the Li family...
He glanced at Lì Běichén beside him, feeling a vague sense of worry.
Someone he sent earlier said that the girl from the Liu family had already met Běijué...
Chapter 39: Only I Can Bully Daddy
Lì Xīnghuá couldn't help but worry.
As he was thinking, he heard Lì Běijué faintly say: "I have no such plans, Dad. Didn't you come to see Grandpa today?"
Lì Běijué's tone was devoid of emotion, his words clearly indicating that Lì Xīnghuá should stop paying attention to his affairs.
Lì Xīnghuá's eyes flickered for a moment. Recalling his wife's instructions before leaving, he opened his mouth, but swallowed his words back.
However, a sharp glint flashed in Lì Běichén's eyes, and he naturally picked up the conversation: "Big Brother, don't blame Father. He's just worried about you. It's because of the recent rumors outside that have become excessive..."
"What rumors?" Old Master Lì frowned and immediately asked.
Lì Běichén immediately put on a hesitant expression: "This... Grandpa, do you really want to hear it?"
Old Master Lì sharply tapped his cane: "What is there I can't hear? Speak!"
Lì Běichén hesitated for another two seconds, then looked at Lì Běijué: "Big Brother, I'm telling you, absolutely don't get angry..."
Lì Běijué calmly shifted his gaze, remaining silent.
He was already used to it.
It would be truly strange if this father and son came here and said nothing today.
Lì Běijué thought, and then heard Lì Běichén slowly say: "I also heard from someone that there are rumors outside that Big Brother actually doesn't like... women..."
Lì Běichén spoke slowly, subtly observing Lì Běijué and Old Master Lì's expressions, and continued: "And that Yǎn Bǎo was specially arranged through... a surrogacy agreement to add an heir to our family."
"Nonsense!"
Old Master Lì's cane once again hit the ground with a bang!
Lì Běijué, as the person involved, showed no reaction, his expression remaining as calm as before.
Lì Xīnghuá also hurriedly said: "Dad, don't get angry first. We're also worried, so we want to ask Běijué today what's going on? If he really is... we'll know the situation. The Li Group's stock has dropped several points recently, and this might be the reason."
Lì Běijué's eyes suddenly sharpened, and his expression finally showed some emotion.
He had indeed heard such rumors recently but hadn't paid them any mind.
The slight drop in stock prices would eventually recover and pose no threat to the Li Group.
He just hadn't intended to tell Grandpa and worry him...
"Běijué, is what Běichén said true?" Old Master Lì's face indeed became much more serious than before.
Just as Lì Běijué was about to answer, he heard Lì Xīnghuá speak again: "I happen to know some well-bred young ladies. Why don't you meet them? If you're interested in any of them, it's best to get married soon. Those rumors will naturally dissipate. Besides, Yǎn Bǎo needs a Mommy too."
"No need." Lì Běijué refused without thinking, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Did they really think he didn't know their intentions?
Even if he were to marry, he wouldn't marry a woman they arranged!
Lì Xīnghuá's face immediately looked displeased.
Respecting the Old Master's presence, he didn't say much more.
Lì Běichén, however, was somewhat displeased with Lì Běijué's attitude.
"Big Brother, talking to Dad like that is too impolite! He's doing this for your own good. You are the helmsman of the Li family now, representing the entire Li family's reputation! If these rumors spread outside, it will be Grandpa who loses the most face! Have you considered him at all!"
Lì Běichén's words immediately elevated the matter to a higher level, involving Old Master Lì.
An anger suddenly flared in Lì Běijué's eyes.
Just as he was about to speak, his gaze suddenly caught the movement of the little one in the Old Master's arms.
"Why would this kind of thing cause loss of face?" Mòbái asked with wide eyes, looking innocent and pure.
The adults in the room fell silent for a moment.
Lì Běijué's expression was also a little surprised.
Mòbái, however, was getting displeased.
He didn't know why, but hearing Lì Běijué spoken of like this made him very unhappy.
If Daddy didn't like women, how could he have had him with Mommy?
These two people are so annoying to talk to!
Only he could bully Daddy!
He wouldn't let anyone else bully him!
A certain little child didn't realize that he had already assigned Lì Běijué a place in his heart.
Mòbái thought, and seeing no one answer him, he deliberately asked: "Great-Grandpa, do you think my Daddy has embarrassed you?"
"Of course not!" Old Master Lì immediately shook his head. "Your Daddy is the most outstanding child our family has ever had! He has never disappointed Great-Grandpa!"
Upon hearing this, Lì Běichén's expression became rather subtle.
Mòbái deliberately nodded as if enlightened: "Then what did Uncle mean? Teacher taught us that a clear conscience fears no slander! Why should we care what others say? And the people who say bad things about Daddy are outsiders. Why doesn't Uncle help Daddy explain but instead urges Daddy to get married quickly?"
The child's questions were always direct and sharp, leaving the adults present in silence once again.
Lì Běichén clenched his fists tightly, his eyes falling on Mòbái with displeasure.
What's wrong with this little mute today?
He's talking so much!
He usually doesn't like to talk!
Lì Běijué's expression was also somewhat surprised.
He never expected Yǎn Bǎo to speak up for him.
Just then--
"Well said... 'A clear conscience fears no slander!'"
A voice suddenly came from the doorway, sounding a bit tipsy.
Everyone in the living room turned towards the door and saw a man in a floral shirt and white trousers staggering in.
"Lì Xiāo! Why are you drunk again!"
Old Master Lì looked displeased at his youngest son, his brows filled with helplessness.
Lì Xiāo waved his hand, stepped forward, and rubbed Mòbái's little head.
"Dad, among the rich, there are many who are attracted to both men and women. There will always be gossip, and besides, Běijué has never done anything wrong, so why bother with it?"
Old Master Lì paused slightly and suddenly seemed to understand something.
Lì Xiāo's lips curved slightly, and he turned to look at Lì Běichén: "Běichén, don't bring up these words at home in the future. If some gossipy servant overhears them and spreads them, they might think you're deliberately bad-mouthing your Big Brother in front of Grandpa."
He said this with a half-smile, as if it were just a drunken remark, or perhaps a warning.
Lì Běichén immediately lowered his head: "Third Uncle, I understand."
Lì Xiāo withdrew his gaze, waved his hand, and said: "You all continue talking, I'm going upstairs to rest."
He left those words behind and walked towards the stairs.
Mòbái watched Lì Xiāo's retreating back, blinked his eyes, and suddenly became curious about him, feeling a fondness for him.
As he was thinking, he felt himself being pulled back into Old Master Lì's embrace.
A large hand also rested on his head.
"Ah... if only... she were still here, how good that would be."
Old Master Lì muttered softly, but his voice was indistinct when he said the name.
Mòbái, however, heard it clearly...
Jiāng Bǎobǎo? Did Great-Grandpa just say Mommy?
Mòbái's big eyes darted around, and he then deliberately asked: "Great-Grandpa, did you just say Mommy? Mommy is back!"
Chapter 40: Daddy is Still in His Probationary Period
"What?"
Everyone present was stunned.
Lì Xīnghuá and Lì Běichén exchanged a glance subtly.
That woman, Jiāng Bǎobǎo, is back?
The Old Master was very fond of her!
Lì Běijué was even more speechless.
He thought Yǎn Bǎo had forgotten about it, but why bring it up now!
Lì Běijué thought, feeling Old Master Lì's gaze on him, and had to admit: "Yes, Jiāng Bǎobǎo is back, apparently for work reasons."
Fearing Old Master Lì would misunderstand, he added an explanation.
Old Master Lì looked at the little one in his arms, his heart suddenly stirred, and he hurriedly asked: "Yǎn Bǎo, have you seen Mommy yet?"
"Yes, I have!" Mòbái immediately nodded. Seeing Old Master Lì's excited expression when mentioning Jiāng Bǎobǎo, he quickly praised: "Mommy is great! Very gentle! She's the most beautiful Mommy I've ever seen!"
Old Master Lì felt a surge of warmth upon hearing this.
Yǎn Bǎo had been clamoring for a Mommy since he was little...
He stopped mentioning it as he grew older and became quiet, unlike a five-year-old child.
Did his personality change so much because Jiāng Bǎobǎo returned?
Reminiscing about past events, Old Master Lì couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
"Běijué, since that girl Bǎobǎo is back, it means you two still have fate! Yǎn Bǎo has always missed his Mommy. When can you invite her over to sit at home? Or... consider remarrying? After all, back then..."
"Grandpa." Lì Běijué directly interrupted Old Master Lì, his eyes icy cold: "She is not worthy of being Yǎn Bǎo's Mommy."
Old Master Lì's hand holding Mòbái stiffened.
Mòbái's little face also showed confusion.
Why would Daddy say that about Mommy?
Yǎn Bǎo clearly loved being with Mommy!
He's not worthy of being his Daddy at all!
"Great-Grandpa, Mommy is really nice! I super like Mommy!"
Mòbái deliberately said loudly, wanting to anger Lì Běijué.
He even regretted speaking up for him just now.
Hmph! Bad Daddy!
He only knows how to say bad things about Mommy!
Lì Běijué suddenly stood up from the sofa.
"Grandpa, I need to talk to Yǎn Bǎo."
He unceremoniously took Mòbái from Old Master Lì's arms.
Mòbái didn't want to cause too much of a scene in front of the elder, so he obediently remained still.
Lì Běijué found a quiet spot and began to negotiate with the little one before him.
"Yǎn Bǎo, from now on, don't mention that woman in front of his grandfather again. Otherwise, no matter how much you fuss afterward, I will cancel that investment."
Why!
Little Mòbái immediately wanted to retort unhappily.
But the words he was about to say were swallowed back.
"Oh, I understand." He agreed readily.
Lì Běijué was a little surprised but didn't say anything further, leading him back to the living room.
Mòbái followed behind him, deliberately making a big goofy face.
If he doesn't say it, he won't say it!
It's good that Mommy's investment is resolved!
Daddy is still in his probationary period!
When the two returned to the living room, they found that Lì Xīnghuá had already left with Lì Běichén at some point.
Old Master Lì, thinking about what had just happened, couldn't help but advise: "Běijué, what your father said just now..."
"It doesn't matter." Lì Běijué replied indifferently.
Old Master Lì sighed and said no more.
Ever since Lì Xīnghuá brazenly brought the woman he had in the outside world and their illegitimate child into the house ten years ago, Lì Běijué had become this way.
The father-son relationship had become frozen.
Old Master Lì had been furious. Seeing that Lì Xīnghuá was utterly infatuated with the woman outside and obeyed her every command, he was extremely disappointed in him.
This was precisely why he directly passed on the position of helmsman of the Li family to his eldest grandson, Lì Běijué.
Old Master Lì reflected on the past with a sigh and casually waved his hand: "Forget it, let's talk about something else. That girl Bǎobǎo this time...
"Grandpa, I don't want to talk about this." Lì Běijué again interrupted Old Master Lì forcefully.
He didn't want to hear that woman Jiāng Bǎobǎo's name anymore!
Old Master Lì had no choice but to change the subject: "Are you still looking for that girl from back then?"
"Mm." Lì Běijué's expression shifted, and he nodded.
Old Master Lì sighed helplessly upon hearing this and couldn't help but advise: "It's been so many years... Běijué, being too persistent about one thing isn't good. It's time for you to give up and find a suitable one soon..."
"Grandpa, you know my personality." Lì Běijué directly interrupted Old Master Lì, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
Old Master Lì immediately fell silent, only shaking his head, regretting it inwardly.
Back then, concerned about safety in the country, he had sent Běijué abroad immediately after the incident.
If it weren't for that, perhaps he could have met that girl again...
If he had known this boy was so tenacious, he would have insisted on finding her back then!
But so many years had passed...
Old Master Lì didn't bring up the matter again and smoothly changed the topic.
Mòbái listened from the side, also feeling a bit confused.
Who was Great-Grandpa talking about?
Is Daddy looking for someone?
Never mind! It has nothing to do with him anyway!
The little fellow didn't overthink it and put the question out of his mind.
The grandfather and grandson chatted for a while, and after lunch, Lì Běijué took Mòbái away.
In the car, the little fellow was still thinking about investing in Jiāng Bǎobǎo.
"Daddy, when will you go and invest in Mommy's company? Do it quickly! If the competition starts soon, there won't be enough time!"
Mòbái spent his days immersed in programs and games, and he understood the intricacies involved.
Lì Běijué knew his son was concerned about this matter and replied while driving: "I'll have people discuss it tomorrow. Can you rest assured now?"
"Mm-hmm!" Mòbái's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this.
Tomorrow is still in time!
Now Mommy won't have to worry!
Lì Běijué glanced sideways at his son's happy expression, a dark glint passing through his eyes.
Tomorrow, he would have Jiāng Bǎobǎo take the money and get lost!
...
The next afternoon.
When Jiāng Bǎobǎo received the call, she almost thought she had misheard.
Standing in front of the coffee shop where they had agreed to meet, she still felt doubtful, wondering if she was dreaming.
Did Lì Běijué suddenly change his ways?
After being treated that way by her, he still intended to invest?
Could he have called her here just to play with her?
But even if she didn't come, he might find a way to approach her...
She absolutely couldn't let him see Mòbái again!
Thinking this, Jiāng Bǎobǎo put up her guard with all her might and pushed the door open to enter.
Upon entering, she discovered the place had already been booked.
"Tch... so flashy..."
She casually muttered and walked towards the corner seat.
Lì Běijué was already waiting there.