Chapter 186: Feel wronged?
“In biology, incompatibility is usually a matter of species,” Lian Li said calmly, without haste or change in expression. “I know I’m human. May I ask what species you consider your son to be?”
Chen Shifei smiled, as if at Lian Li’s naivety. “Young, yearning for love, not considering the pros and cons, not knowing your place. Do you think you can get past the elders of the Jin Family?”
“Do you think your son isn’t good enough and needs you to personally choose a spouse for him? Or do you think his judgment is poor and he’s easily deceived?” Lian Li retorted directly. “Are you unhappy with the person he likes, or unhappy with him? The two aren’t that different. However, I truly don’t understand, what are you unhappy with regarding your son?”
This young girl seemed approachable, gentle, and soft-spoken, with a pleasant tone. In reality, she had a very strong sense of self.
She wouldn’t be swayed by others’ words, nor would she let them affect her own logical thinking.
She could even interfere with your thoughts.
The composure most people possess is an aura from top to bottom; they are at ease with those of lower status but helpless against the families that control their power.
Chen Shifei guessed that Lian Li might stubbornly say with red eyes that she loved him for who he was, that she only wanted him, emphasizing feelings, using only feelings as chips.
However, Lian Li had never spoken of love since she was young, so she couldn’t argue with Chen Shifei using claims like how she and Jin Shi Yue were madly in love.
Those underhanded tactics might defeat Lian Li, but Chen Shifei disdained using framing and false accusations.
Coercion and bribery would have no effect on Lian Li.
She had no family for Chen Shifei to threaten; friends, Chen Shifei wouldn’t touch Xue Shufan; studies, Lian Li had Lu Huier and Elder Mei behind her, so no one dared to touch her; forced expulsion from the capital, Jin Shi Yue and Jin Yan Ting would be sent back in a few days… she was almost impenetrable.
“Miss Lian, it seems you haven’t understood who I’m displeased with.” Chen Shifei paused, then turned her head, looking at the well-protected courtyard, and suddenly asked, “How do you like this place?”
“A key cultural relic, with historical research value.” Lian Li didn’t comment on how beautiful the courtyard was, but rather on its value, though the value she spoke of was different from conventional monetary value.
Chen Shifei: “If it weren’t for those two, how many lifetimes do you think it would take for you to get in here?”
The children of the Jin Family, every step is planned, their studies, careers, and marriages, all meticulously chosen.
If she merely said verbally that Lian Li and Jin Shi Yue’s statuses were too disparate and they couldn’t be together, Lian Li certainly wouldn’t waver.
Having been by Jin Yan Ting’s side for so many years, she was bold and unafraid of trouble; how could she be dissuaded by a few words?
Moreover, Chen Shifei knew that Jin Yan Ting had introduced Lian Li to many important figures, and Lian Li handled herself with ease, which meant she was good at communication and articulate.
“They were born into the Jin Family and understand the weighing of pros and cons better than anyone. In the face of power, feelings are always fleeting,” Chen Shifei said, turning to Lian Li. “Rather than regretting it later, it’s better to make a graceful exit early.”
Lian Li, however, was dismissive. “Feelings can exist forever when conditions are sufficient. Power can also disappear when conditions are sufficient.”
Chen Shifei found it amusing, even ridiculous. “Are you planning to wait for the Jin Family’s power to disappear?”
Lian Li shook her head. “You came to find me because you can’t convince Jin Shi Yue. He’s your son, and he doesn’t listen to you. Why would you think I, who am not related to you by blood, would obey your command?”
“How big the disparity in our statuses is, we both know clearly, no need for others to tell us. As for you saying his feelings for me are fleeting, I’m not sure how you reached that conclusion. May I be so bold as to ask, don’t you trust Jin Shi Yue?”
Chen Shifei was stunned again.
This young girl spoke softly, avoiding the issue of status, as if seeking justice for Jin Shi Yue.
You are his mother, you don’t trust his choices or judgment, and you don’t wish him happiness?
She projected her dissatisfaction with herself onto Jin Shi Yue.
The gap in status and the Jin Family’s approval were not important to Lian Li. Even though these were realistic problems she and Jin Shi Yue had to face.
“If Jin Shi Yue wants to break up with me, he’ll tell me himself. If he doesn’t, no one can stop him,” Lian Li said. “I trust your son, and I hope you can trust him too.”
Trying to dissuade them with things they didn’t care about was like a fantasy.
After Lian Li left, Chen Shifei sat on the chair, her chest heaving.
For the first time since her birth, she had been lectured, and by a young girl in her early twenties.
Truly ignorant of her own limitations.
Did she really think that mutual love was enough to guarantee peace of mind? Without the permission of Old Master Jin, Jin Zhengchuan, and the clan elders, they couldn’t last.
Lian Li was stubborn and unyielding, her heart as steady as a divine needle; no amount of coercion or bribery could shake her.
Li Ye received Ling Yu’s call and immediately contacted the Second Young Master. He rushed over without delay, only to see Lian Li walking out leisurely as soon as he got out of the car.
And she even had the mood to appreciate cultural relics…
Li Ye’s mood was a little complicated.
Chen Shifei, the third young lady of the Chen Family, was proud and arrogant; she wouldn’t resort to violence or base tactics.
In normal communication, Lian Li was the one who would break others down; others couldn’t mess with her mindset.
Li Ye called out to her, “Miss Lian.”
“Assistant Li, what are you doing here?” Lian Li glanced at the Cullinan by the roadside. “Did Jin Shi Yue call you over?”
Li Ye said yes. “The boss and Tao Su are in Shanghai and haven’t returned yet. He instructed me to come pick you up.”
Lian Li blinked. In her heart, she wanted to share the cultural relics she had just seen with Jin Shi Yue, but she held back.
She got into the back seat, opened the storage cabinet, and unwrapped a milk candy.
Li Ye, in the driver’s seat, watched her through the rearview mirror.
Miss Lian’s psychological fortitude was beyond ordinary people.
However, caution was still necessary; not everyone was like Madam, who only spoke and didn’t act.
Lian Li returned to Xi Shang Yuan and had dinner, but Jin Shi Yue still hadn’t returned.
She sat by the clear lake in the garden, listlessly scattering fish food into it. The calm lake surface rippled, and the koi leaped, tumbling and fighting for food.
Thinking about today’s events, her thoughts were a jumble.
Her mother’s message, the meeting with Chen Shifei.
Jin Shi Yue and Chen Shifei’s mother-son relationship seemed quite delicate, like one was indifferent, and the other was protective.
Lian Li’s pupils unfocused, and she gazed aimlessly at the still-rippling lake water before her.
When she came to her senses, she realized the swaying reflection on the lake surface had become two.
She didn’t turn around immediately, waiting for the lake surface to calm down before clearly seeing the other reflection.
After a few seconds of silence, Lian Li continued to throw fish food into the lake, watching the reflections of the two people on the water surface ripple again.
“Were you wronged?” Jin Shi Yue asked, lowering his head slightly, close to her ear.
