Chapter 13: Mr. Li’s True Love
Li Mingye’s gaze was glued to Zhou Yao. He left the dining table and walked toward her. At that moment, pain spread across Zhang Xiluo’s chest, her smile vanished, and her heart plunged into the depths. She had overestimated herself, viewing their love from a godlike perspective—it was anything but easy for her.
Zhang Xiluo took a deep breath, steadied herself, and got up to catch up with Li Mingye, thoughtfully introducing them to each other.
“This is my piano teacher, Zhou Yao, a top student from the Department of Arts at Longcheng University.”
“This is my husband, and that’s my mother-in-law.”
Zhou Yao bowed deeply, clearly nervous, and greeted them softly, “Hello, Mr. Li. Hello, Madam.”
“You know my husband?” I looked at Zhou Yao in surprise. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she was at a loss for words.
Li Mingye was still looking at Zhou Yao, his gaze burning, brighter and more intense than when they first met at the hospital.
He truly loved her!
Zhou Yao’s skin was delicate, her cheeks so red they seemed about to bleed. She lowered her head, looking very much like a child who had done something wrong.
“I’m heading to the office,” Li Mingye realized the situation was inappropriate, reluctantly tearing his gaze away.
“I’ll go with you.” Li’s mother stood, asking him to wait a moment. She wanted to keep a close eye on him at all times, to prevent any mischief.
Little did she know, Li Mingye’s true love was right in front of her!
Zhou Yao remained distant with Li Mingye, barely meeting his eyes; at that moment, she had not yet fallen in love with him.
Everything was still the foolish man’s wishful thinking!
“Sister, Mr. Li accidentally bumped into me before. I only knew his surname was Li—I never expected he was your husband.”
Once everyone had left, Zhou Yao explained to me, her voice like a nightingale, soothing and refreshing.
“Are you all right now?” Zhang Xiluo took Zhou Yao upstairs, where there was an unused piano room she had prepared for Li Mingye.
“I wasn’t hurt.” Zhou Yao briefly recounted the incident, and Zhang Xiluo didn’t press for details.
When they entered the piano room, Zhou Yao’s eyes sparkled, a look of awe flashing within them. “A Steinway grand piano…”
Just that piano alone cost five million. Zhou Yao had never imagined she would see one in person.
“Could you play ‘Moonlight’ for me?” Zhang Xiluo asked with a gentle smile.
Zhou Yao nodded, sat upright, and her slender, fair fingers danced across the keys like sprites. Sunlight poured over her face, making her seem like a fairy accidentally fallen to earth…
Two hours later, Zhang Xiluo asked Xiao Zhao to take Zhou Yao back to school, arranging the next lesson for the following weekend.
By dusk, Li Mingye was dragged home again by his mother, his face darker than dirty socks.
Zhang Xiluo didn’t want to sleep beside him, so she made an excuse and went back to her parents’ house.
“Luoluo, you haven’t suffered any grievances lately, have you?” After dinner, Mother Zhang pulled Zhang Xiluo aside to chat.
Zhang Xiluo rarely used to come home, but now she visited every other day, making her mother worry.
“Of course not.” Zhang Xiluo nestled into her mother’s arms. “Life’s been wonderful lately—I just want to spend more time with you.”
“Tell me honestly—what’s going on between you and Li Mingye?”
“It’s still the same, don’t worry.” Zhang Xiluo still didn’t want to mention the divorce yet. “I ate too much, so I want to go for a walk.”
She quickly changed her shoes and slipped outside, hearing her mother sigh through the door, her heart warming and sweetening.
“You silly child, come home early!”
Wandering aimlessly through the neighborhood, Zhang Xiluo passed the little square and saw a group of children playing, their laughter infectious. She couldn’t help but smile.
“If you like children, you can have one. That expression of yours looks like you’re about to steal one.” Suddenly, someone spoke behind her, startling her so badly she nearly jumped.
“What are you doing here?”