Li Yu Yan watched Li Xiuying put her teacup on the table and then cross her legs. She thought Li Xiuying would respond but she didn't say a word.
Li Yu Yan was both angry and confused. 'Why was Li Xiuying behaving so differently today?'
Usually when Li Yu Yan told LI Xiuying to jump, Li Xiuying would immediately respond with 'how high?'
Li Yu Yan buried her anger and focused on the task at hand. She had to make Li Xiuying return home and ensure she would never escape her grasp again. How could Li Yu Yan bare to lose such a self sacrificing tool?
Li Yu Yan spoke with concern and mock-sincerity: "Little sister, how have you been? You look like you're doing well. It's good to see that you've recovered from your illness."
Li Xiuying remained expressionless.
Li Yu Yan: "Little sister I've been really worried about you. Mommy and daddy have been worried sick. Mommy couldn't even eat or sleep because she was so worried about you. You suddenly ran away from home. You didn't leave a note and we haven't heard a word from you in days. I was having nightmares of what could have happened to you. You could have called or messaged us to let us know you're okay. "
Li Na: "Jie I told you that you care too much for this piece of tras.h.!.+ She doesn't even care that she's caused you, auntie and uncle to have sleepless nights! She hasn't even uttered a single word of apology! Why are you even showing her concern?! We should directly drag the wretch back and make her kneel in front of auntie and uncle and beg for forgiveness!!!! "
Li Yu Yan looked hurt; a single tear ran down her cheek. Anyone who saw this scene and did not know of LI Yu Yan's penchant for acting would surely rush to her aid.
Li Yu Yan: "Little Xiuying are you upset with big sister? If I've done anything to hurt you please forgive me it wasn't intentionally. Are you upset because of the situation with Brother Chen? Xiuying you simply misunderstood the relations.h.i.+p between us. How could I ever have feelings for my future brother-in-law? I would never hurt you in such a way. Please come home and we can discuss everything. You and Brother Chen can be happily engaged once again and I can get my little sister back. We can immediately announce that your engagement is back on. You will be getting..."
Li Xiuying: "No"
Li Yu Yan chocked on her words when she heard Li Xiuying's strong refusal.
Li Yu Yan: "Little sister what are you saying no to? Tell big sister what's making you so unhappy."
Li Xiuying spoke indifferently: "You've been with Chen Wei for so long. I wanted to allow the two of you to get married because of the level of intimacy you had reached."
Li Yu Yan clenched her fists for a fleeting moment and strived to continue her lotus act: "Xiuying I know you're angry but please don't slander big sister in such a way it could ruin my reputation. I can promise you that Chen Wei and I have a purely platonic relations.h.i.+p. I treated him like my brother-in-law only. If he wasn't your betrothed I wouldn't have bothered to try and get along with him for your sake."
Li Xiuying: "So if he wasn't my betrothed then you wouldn't have given him the time of day and been so intimate with him?"
Li Yu Yan gritted her teeth when she heard the word 'intimate' again. Li Yu Yan tried to compose herself once again but it was becoming more and more difficult to maintain her gentle image.
Li Yu Yan sickly sweet voice was strained: "That's not what I meant. I just meant I only wanted to get to know my future brother-in-law to see what type of person he is and to get an idea of whether he would treat you in the right away."
Li Xiuying nodded: "I understand now."
Li Yu Yan: "Little sister, I'm so happy you understand my intentions. Let's go home and ..."
Li Xiuying: "For the last few years you only acted intimately with Chen Wei because you wanted to a.s.sess whether he would be a good husband for me. You were only test driving the car before I bought it. You didn't want me to suffer. I don't think anyone in the world has a better sister than I do. You haven't given me your verdict. How was the test drive? It must have been really good if it took you so long to return. "
Li Na: "Test driving your head! Stop deliberately twisting Jie's words!!! Jie already said there was nothing going on!"
Li Xiuying: "Big sister don't worry about returning Chen Wei. A car depreciates as soon as it's driven out of the lot and you've clocked up quite the mileage. The Golden Sun hotel Hong Kong 1,216 miles, Lotus Leaf hotel Shanghai 761.5 miles, the Luxury hotel Chengdu 1123.439, Hotel...."
Li Yu Yan paled as Li Xiuying listed the hotel names that she and Chen Wei had visited. She thought that no one knew of her escapades with Chen Wei.
Li Na: "Li Xiuying! Are you some sort of pedometer?! Just shut up!!"
Li Xiuying replied without looking away from Li Yu Yan: "Odometer."
Li Na: "Jie Stand aside. I'm going to drag this wretch back home like we should have done from the beginning!!"
Li Na was about to rush forward to grabbed Li Xiuying's hair.
Li Xiuying looked into Li Na's eyes: "Li Na is that you? I didn't see you because you were constantly in big sister's shadow."
Li Na stopped rus.h.i.+ng forward: "What is a trash like you talking about now?"
Li Xiuying: "Li Na it's not your fault that Big sister's shadow is so big it eclipses you. Hmm you do look quite pale. Is it because you're always standing in the shadows? Whether you're with Big Sister or your friends or even your boyfriend you always manage to find the shade and go unnoticed. You should really work on your confidence and low self esteem. I have a suggestion how about you buy some more accessories. Leban has released an exclusive ladies watch I'm sure that will get you noticed. "
For someone as superficial and simple minded as Li Na the thing she craved and valued the most was getting attention. She wanted to constantly be in the spotlight and behave arrogantly in front of her peers.
Li NA may be lacking in the IQ department but how could she not understand what Li Xiuying's was saying. Li Na began to think to herself. Was she always in Jie's shadow?
Li Na looked at Li Yu Yan from the corner of her eye. She spotted a Leban watch on Li Yu Yan's delicate wrist. The same watch she had reserved three months in advanced but couldn't buy because they had to watch her spending.
Li Na frowned. 'Why does Yu Yan have the watch I wanted? Why does she still get to spend money?' Li Na began to wonder if she was truly always in Li Yu Yan's shadow. Her frown depended when she thought of the possibility that her uncle and auntie were hiding money from her. She unconsciously turned away from LI Yu Yan.
And so the seed of doubt was planted.
The two elders in the room both couldn't believe their eyes. It had only taken a few sentences from Dr. Li to cause a crack to appear in the bond of the two women before them.
Li Yu Yan snapped out of her shock she took two steps forward. Her pale face only enhanced her lotus flower facade. Two glistening tears rolled down either side of her face.
Li Yu Yan spoke like she was mistreated by the whole world:"Little sister. Please believe me Brother-in-law and I are not in any kind of relations.h.i.+p. Nothing has happened and nothing will ever happen between us. Please come home we can discuss everything comfortably. I'm sure I'll be able to answer all your doubts. Please just give your big sister another chance."
Li Xiuying quirked an eyebrow. It's finally time to break Li Yu Yan's facade.