Too Late to Regret, She’s Now With the Big Boss - Chapter 57

[Madam Lu, as long as Third Master spares the Li family, you can decide how to deal with Li Kai however you see fit.]

Seeing his nephew staring blankly at his phone without speaking, Uncle Li leaned closer and spoke excitedly into the device.

Even through the phone, Ye Qianqian could sense the urgency in his voice. Unsure how to respond, she simply turned to Li Haoran and said, [Senior Li, could you please tell your family that the Li Corporation will be fine? As for how to handle those who offended Third Master, I truly have no say in the matter. I’m sorry, but I have to go eat now. Goodbye!]

She quickly hung up and turned to coax the big boss beside her, her voice dripping with sweetness, “Hubby, I’m hungry~ Feed me~”

Even she cringed at her own coquettish tone, but the live chat had warned her, the big boss’s jealousy was about to boil over!

“Here, open wide, wifey.” Lu Jingchen was thoroughly charmed by her playful voice. It reminded him of how she sounded in their most intimate moments.

“Hubby, you said I could do whatever I wanted. I already promised Senior Li, you wouldn’t make me break my word, would you~?”

“Hmm, weren’t you hungry? Eat up.” As he fed her, he dialed Bai Lang and ordered him to back off from the Li Corporation, only Li Kai needed to be dealt with.

Bai Lang responded with a single word: “Understood.”

…

The Li family was stunned into silence, exchanging bewildered glances until the patriarch finally spoke. “Xiao Hao, is Madam Lu your junior from school?”

“Yes,” Li Haoran answered woodenly.

“Was she a junior who liked you?” Third Uncle Li asked worriedly. He only had this one son while he wanted him to succeed, his greatest wish was for his happiness.

“She doesn’t like me,” Li Haoran stated firmly. He knew Ye Qianqian’s feelings all too well.

“Second Brother, if she doesn’t like you, why would she help you?” Li Xiangwei snapped, as if she’d swallowed gunpowder.

“Are you deaf? She said it was to repay a favor. A favor.” Li Haoran lowered his gaze, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.

He could hardly believe that the girl he’d once admired held such sway over the ruthless Lu Jingchen. But he knew her well, she never made promises lightly. Part of him was happy for her, yet another part worried.

But the facts left no room for doubt, Uncle Li’s phone soon rang.

Minutes later, Uncle Li announced excitedly, “Father, the Li Corporation is really saved! It’s like the sun rose in the west today! Who knew Madam Lu had such influence? She actually made the ruthless Lu change his mind overnight!”

“Regardless, this is all thanks to Haoran. Starting tomorrow, he’ll take Kai’s place.”

“Uncle, I lack experience. I’m not qualified-”

“Haoran, don’t refuse. I know you’re a good kid. Your elder brother… may no longer have a place in the Li Corporation.” Uncle Li’s tone was resolute.

“Hubby, are you really giving up on Kai just like that?” Madam Li asked bitterly.

“He nearly bankrupted the Li family! Should I abandon the Lu family instead for his sake?” Uncle Li countered, heartbroken.

He had dreamed of his son inheriting the Li Corporation, yet today, they had almost lost everything. Compared to facing ruin and poverty, letting his nephew take over was the far better option.

“……” Madam Li fell silent. Just minutes ago, she too had thought if Third Master Lu would spare the Li family, she’d even be willing to give up her status as the Li matriarch.

“Dad, Mom, please don’t argue because of me. It’s all my fault. I’m willing to leave the Li family,” Li Kai said with an air of reasonableness.

He suppressed the resentment burning in his eyes. As long as the Li family remained, he would reclaim what was his one day.

Since childhood, he had envied and resented Lu Jingchen. His upbringing prevented him from being as rebellious as Lu Jingchen.

They were the same age and had known each other since they were kids. His aunt, out of pity for Lu Jingchen, often brought him to the Li family as a guest before he turned five.

Later, Lu Jingchen would always glare at him and his siblings with a sinister gaze. The elders called him a demon.

Because whenever Lu Jingchen was displeased, he could coldly turn and walk away in front of the elders without so much as a word of farewell.

Every time they clashed, Li Kai wanted to reason with him, but Lu Jingchen would just stare at him darkly, not uttering a single word… who could guess what he was thinking?

People said Lu Jingchen was violent and erratic, acting solely on emotion without regard for consequences. Yet Li Kai envied his freedom to do as he pleased.

Eventually, his aunt stopped bringing Lu Jingchen to the Li household altogether. She admitted she was afraid of him too.

The Lu family avoided him whenever possible, only interacting when absolutely necessary.

By the time Lu Jingchen was fifteen, the Lu family was on the brink of collapse, and he was sent abroad to study.

Burdened by heavy academic pressures, Li Kai slowly forgot about the boy he had once envied and resented.

Under his grandfather and father’s efforts, the Li family thrived. He had expected to see Lu Jingchen return in disgrace, like a stray dog.

Instead, Lu Jingchen employed ruthless tactics and, within just five years, propelled the Lu family to the top of Rongcheng’s wealth hierarchy.

By then, he was only twenty, yet the business world already revered him as “Third Master Lu.”

After returning from abroad, Lu Jingchen learned to control his temper, cold and aloof, but no longer violently unrestrained.

Rumors circulated that Third Master Lu appeared gentle on the surface but was secretly cruel and merciless.

Li Kai knew the truth: Lu Jingchen was the kind of demon who concealed all emotion behind an icy facade.

He hadn’t wanted to oppose a demon, but he had long been infatuated with the eldest daughter of the Wen family, Wen Xinyue, who, in turn, was obsessed with the sinister Third Master Lu.

The woman he adored was pining for a man who couldn’t care less. How could he bear it?

How could he not hate?

But his fury was impotent. He seethed with resentment, yet he had no means of revenge. His only option was to feign weakness and stay in Rongcheng, in the Li family.

A phone ringtone snapped him out of his thoughts.

“Hello, who is this?”

“Brother Kai, can I come work at the Li family’s company? I was fired from the Lu Corporation, and my parents want to send me abroad.”

“……” Li Kai didn’t know how to respond. He himself had just been disowned by his father!

“Brother Kai, are you abandoning me too? Didn’t you say you liked me? Then… marry me, okay?”

“Xinyue, you’d really marry me?”

“Brother Kai, I will. Come to my house right now to propose and deliver the betrothal gifts.”

“Now? It’s already dark, how about tomorrow morning?”

“No, it has to be now. If we wait until tomorrow, I might change my mind!”

Hearing the urgency in Wen Xinyue’s voice, Li Kai eagerly agreed, “Alright.”

Now he felt completely at ease. As long as he could marry the one he loved, what did it matter if he didn’t control the Li Corporation?

With a beaming smile, Li Kai said, “Dad, for the sake of the Li family, I’m willing to resign as general manager. Will you help me arrange the betrothal gifts with the Wen family?”

“Xiao Kai, it’s already dark outside,” Mr. Li replied hesitantly, knowing that the eldest daughter of the Wen family had also offended Third Master Lu.

“Dad, this is my only wish. Don’t you want to help me?”