Xiao Yeci said, "Nannan, you eat at home first. I’m going out for a bit, but I’ll be back soon."
Xiao Yeci followed Xiao Manli and left the mansion.
Lu Chunying frowned slightly. Oil Peach called for several Support and ordered them to follow Xiao Yeci.
「...」
On Dongping Road, Xiao Manli and Xiao Yeci sat opposite each other in a private room at a coffeehouse.
Xiao Manli said, "The moment I saw Chunying, I knew she was my child. She looks just like me, in every way."
Xiao Yeci picked up her coffee, took a sip, and said, "Are you here this time to take Nannan back?"
Xiao Manli sighed. "I know I’ve done some things wrong, but I am her mother, after all."
Xiao Yeci frowned. "You still remember you’re her mother? In all these years, have you ever once asked about her?"
"You know I had my reasons back then."
"And you don’t have them now?"
Xiao Manli was silent for a long time before looking up. "Whatever wrongs were committed in the past, they’re over now. Lu Chunying is my own flesh and blood; no one can change that."
Xiao Yeci put down her coffee cup. "I’m not saying I want to change anything. You should go to Chunying and tell her the truth!"
"If I tell her the truth, how would you maintain your position in the Lu Family? Even if Chunying could accept you, would the Lu Family still accept you?"
Xiao Yeci gritted her teeth. "If they can’t accept me, then so be it! I can survive anywhere!"
Xiao Manli sighed. "Yecai, don’t say things in anger. Seeing you become Madam Lu, I’m truly envious. What woman wouldn’t be? In Puluo State, when it comes to wealth and status, how many can compare to you? Are you really willing to give up such a good life?"
Xiao Yeci shook her head. "You don’t need to tell me all this. I don’t care!"
"Saying you don’t care is a lie. You’ve suffered hardships too," Xiao Manli said, grasping Xiao Yeci’s hand. "I wronged you in the past, and I genuinely want to see you live well. Promise your older sister one thing. If you do this, I’ll leave immediately and never interfere in matters between you and Chunying again."
"What is it?" Xiao Yeci couldn’t figure out Xiao Manli’s intentions.
Xiao Manli said, "I want you to help me arrange a meeting with someone. I really want to see him."
"Who?"
"Li Qi."
Xiao Yeci was startled. "You know him?"
Xiao Manli nodded. "I know him. He deceived me, he took advantage of me, he toyed with me. He hurt me so deeply. I want an explanation from him. You arrange for him to come out. Don’t say it’s me looking for him. Just let me see him once. That’s all your older sister asks. Can you promise me?"
Xiao Yeci thought for a long time. "What exactly happened between you and Li Qi?"
"Don’t ask so many questions. Just tell me, will you help me or not?"
"This... for something like this, it’s better if you talk to him yourself..."
"He won’t see me. He doesn’t want to, and he wouldn’t dare! Yecai, are you going to help me or not?"
"I..."
Xiao Manli stood up. "If you don’t help me, I’ll go to the newspapers tomorrow! If word of this spreads, Duan Shaoxia will definitely not tolerate you, and the Lu Family certainly won’t either. No matter where you go, you won’t find a way to live! You’ll be a fraud, a fraud who abducted someone else’s daughter! Everyone will see you as a fraud! Just you watch, the entire Puluo State won’t have room for you!"
Xiao Yeci remained silent for a long time.
Xiao Manli calmed down a bit. "Yecai, I don’t want to push things that far. I’ll give you one day. Think it over carefully..."
Xiao Yeci shook her head. "Whatever happened between you and Li Qi, you should tell him directly. Why drag me into this?"
Xiao Manli suddenly started sobbing. "I don’t have any other motive. I just want to see that heartless man once. I just want to make things clear with him. Once I’ve made things clear, I’ll leave immediately. I won’t pester you, and I absolutely won’t pester him. This is my only request. Why can’t you agree? You think about it carefully. I’ll come back to find you at this time tomorrow."
After leaving the coffeehouse, Xiao Manli got into a carriage where Da Boyins was already seated. He asked, "Did it go smoothly?"
"She didn’t agree, but she will. I know her too well." Xiao Manli drew aside the carriage curtain and glanced out.
She saw Xiao Yeci leaving the coffeehouse, with several Support following her from a distance.
Xiao Manli asked, "Those men didn’t go into the coffeehouse, did they?"
"No," Da Boyins had been watching very clearly. "Those men didn’t go upstairs. I took precautions with your private room beforehand; no one could have heard your conversation. I’m just worried that after Xiao Yeci gets home, she’ll tell Lu Chunying the whole story."
"She won’t," Xiao Manli shook her head. "She’s the type to swallow her broken teeth rather than spit them out. How could she possibly let Lu Chunying know about something like this? I’m more worried she won’t be able to lure Li Qi out at all."
"She can," Da Boyins said with great confidence. "Duan Shaoxia would find it very hard to get Li Qi to meet her. Even if she managed it, Li Qi would definitely be on his guard. But Xiao Yeci is different. She’s someone Li Qi trusts. If she asks Li Qi to meet, he wouldn’t even bring a single Support with him."
Xiao Manli sighed softly. "If I had known this earlier, you wouldn’t have needed to ask Duan Shaoxia for help. If you had come to me directly, things would have been much easier."
Da Boyins said, "Perhaps Dick had his considerations. After all, he’s a cautious person."
"What does that have to do with caution?" Xiao Manli sneered. "It’s nothing more than you all not trusting me!"
Da Boyins frowned. "If you want to earn someone’s trust, you need to show some actual commitment, especially when your reputation is so poor."