221 — Bitten By A Dog
Pei Yueran listened and felt bad hearing this, "Is there something we can do for her? At least for Yuchen's sake."
She wasn't a saint, but she wanted to help her, to make Li Yuchen feel better and not blame himself in the future.
"I could get her a team of lawyers, but they might not be able to do much. Actually, it's also possible that she might get her sentence further reduced if she could claim the murder was done in self defense, but I don't know much about that."
His tone was flat and emotionless, as if to him, she was an insignificant person. Even the anger he used to feel had long disappeared, not to mention the hurt. She had truly and totally become a stranger.
Pei Yueran nodded thoughtfully.
The conversation ended there, and they got to the Li family villa soon after.
Even as Pei Yueran perked up in the joy that she would soon see the boys, Li Chuanmo grumbled beside her, "I don't know why you're so eager to see them. Am I not enough for you?"
Pei Yueran: "..."
If she didn't ignore him, she wondered how quickly he would make her choke again.
Just as she wanted to step out of the car, Li Chuanmo pulled her to him and captured her mouth in a searing kiss.
Pei Yueran, who was caught unawares didn't even struggle. She melted like hot butter.
By the time they pulled away, her lips were well and truly swollen, and she had a misty look in her eyes.
"What did you do that for?" Even her voice only carried surprise.
"To prove a point."
She couldn't make her brain think about what he meant at that moment, so she let it go.
It was when they got into the house that she understood. From the workers the met on the way that were giving her weird smiles, to the serious Butler Nan who kept coughing every time he looked at her, she got increasingly suspicious.
But it was her mother that spilled the beans, "Ran'er, I see you've been up to quite a lot already." She said, smiling so much that she could hardly close her mouth.
Pei Yueran took one look at Li Chuanmo before moving to the dining room to look into the mirror there.
Seeing the tooth marks on her swollen lips, she didn't know how to react. So this was what he meant!
"Like what you see?"
His words arrived before his reflection in the mirror. She glared fiercely at him.
He was getting too unruly recently. He needed to be punished!
"Are you trying to embarrass me?"
"Of course not. Are you...angry?"
Listening to his cautious voice, her earlier annoyance disappeared, "Forget it, I'll be the bigger person this time."
Even though she knew that he was most likely pretending, she was willing to be deceived ah.
She wanted to retouch her makeup but she realized that she had left her bag in the car. Resigned, she walked back to the living room, Li Chuanmo following her like a stray puppy.
Zhang Heying's reaction was quite similar to Director Zhou's. Both of them exchanged smiles and knowing glances, making Pei Yueran elbow the man sitting beside her.
Li Chuanmo cleared his throat and spoke into her ears, "Wife, if you keep doing that, you'll only injure yourself."
Pei Yueran almost gritted her teeth, but she couldn't refute. Already her elbow was hurting. It made her wonder if his abs were made of rock or similar material. Why were they so hard?!
The two mothers were treated to their public display of affection. Director Zhou felt gratified. She was assured that Pei Yueran was in safe and loving hands.
Zhang Heying could not wait to go and meet her husband in their room ...of course, just to tell him about it, just to "talk".
The boys chose that moment to come downstairs with their luggage. Li Yuchen barreled in Pei Yueran's direction, "My Goddess!"
Pei Yueran also stretched her hands out towards him with a smile, but he was blocked from hugging her by Li Chuanmo, who held out a palm against his head.
Li Yuchen looked aggrieved as he complained, "I want to hug my Goddess!"
Li Chuanmo retorted, "Go and hug your computer. Or better still, go and marry your own wife!"
Li Yuchen and everyone else: "..."
Zhang Heying coughed and berated her son, "Don't teach my grandson bad things. What wife? He's only twelve!"
"Then he should behave his age and stop chasing after my wife."
While others either shook their heads or rolled their eyes, Pei Yueran stretched out a hand to pinch Li Chuanmo as she whispered hotly, "stop saying nonsense here."
Fortunately, Li Chuanmo decided to stop talking and let go of his son's head.
That was when Li Yuchen noticed her lips, "My Goddess, what happened to your lips?" He asked in surprise.
She wanted to say nothing, but looking at Li Chuanmo's smug look, she changed her words, "Oh this? Nothing much, I was just bitten by a dog."
The faces of Director Zhou, Zhang Heying changed as they tried to stifle a laugh. Looking at Li Chuanmo's face that alternated between black and blue, Pei Yueran's lips curved.
Li Yuchen, and even Han Yichen who had walked up to them at this time, showed concern as they told her to go to the hospital and have it checked.
Pei Yueran only smiled and told them that she was fine.
In order to distract them, Li Chuanmo cleared his throat and began to usher people out, "Are you ready to leave?"
The boys nodded and once again carried their bags, while a worker helped Director Zhou carry hers. Qiaoyi, who had come down with Han Yichen, just stood looking at everyone without speaking.
Zhang Heying felt very reluctant to see Director Zhou leave. "Ai, Sister, I'll miss you very much."
Director Zhou held her hand warmly as she smiled, "Me too. I had such a good time here. Thank you for your hospitality. Don't forget to come to City A sometime. I'll make sure to host you properly."
Zhang Heying nodded as they hugged.
Pei Yueran thanked her for hosting her mother for so long, and Zhang Heying waved it off, stating that they were already family.
Just as they got outside, the twins arrived. Li Lianmo was so sad to see them go that she pouted, making her brother laugh. She quickly stuffed the big and small bags she was carrying into Han Yichen's hands before running away.
Han Yichen: "..."
*****