Too Late to Regret, She’s Now With the Big Boss - Chapter 59

“Since you’ve already called him to our doorstep, how can we not see him? As for whether you marry him or not, you’ll have to handle it yourself.” Wen Xinyue’s father reminded her uneasily.

“Dad, can’t we just refuse to see him? I really can’t bring myself to reject him face to face.”

As she spoke, Wen Xinyue stamped her foot in frustration. After all, she was the one who had summoned him here, and even with her thick skin, she couldn’t bring herself to say the words.

“Grandpa Wen, Uncle Wen, Xinyue, I’m here.” Li Kai’s voice came from the doorway, and anyone could tell he was in high spirits.

Li Kai was thirty-one this year, and his mother had long prepared a generous betrothal gift for him. Carrying the expensive gifts, he strode confidently into the Wen residence.

But instead of being greeted by Wen Xinyue’s radiant smile, he was met with her frosty glare and an accusatory question: “Brother Kai, why did you lie to me?”

“Xinyue, what did I lie to you about? I hung up the phone and immediately prepared the betrothal gifts. I didn’t delay at all.” Li Kai explained patiently.

“Betrothal gifts? The Li Corporation is bankrupt, who would still want to marry you?” Wen Xinyue retorted angrily.

“Xinyue, you were the one who called and asked me to come propose. Why are you going back on your word now?” Li Kai raised his voice, his tone laced with suppressed anger.

“When I called, I didn’t know the Li Corporation was going bankrupt. Now that I know, of course I don’t want to marry you. Get out, get out of here right now!”

Furious, Wen Xinyue snatched the gift boxes Li Kai had brought and threw them to the ground. She was absolutely livid.

She had thought she had found a way to stay, only to realize she was being used by the Li family. No wonder he had rushed over to propose overnight, he was even more desperate than she was.

“Who told you the Li Corporation is bankrupt?” Li Kai asked, then collapsed onto the luxurious carpet in the Wen family’s living room.

All his hopes and willpower shattered in that moment. Both his career and his love life were now beyond his reach.

Wen Xinyue’s father had initially been skeptical, but seeing Li Kai’s defeated demeanor, he cautiously asked, “Brother Li, the rumors are spreading in our circles. Many companies are cutting ties with the Li Corporation. My assistant asked if Wen Corporation should cancel our cooperation as well. Did you offend Third Master Lu?”

“Yes, but it’s not Third Master Lu’s fault. A few days ago, my son heard that Xinyue had been fired by Lu Corporation, and he took it upon himself to send Li Yurou to the Lu family…”

Seeing the light in his son’s eyes extinguish, Li Kai’s father felt a pang of heartache and wanted to help his son earn some favor in front of his future father-in-law.

But his words only made Wen Xinyue’s father more wary. “Brother Li, I’ve always hoped my daughter could marry your son and unite our families. But over the years, my daughter has never liked Young Master Li. The only reason she called him today was because she offended Third Master Lu and didn’t want me to send her abroad. She acted impulsively by asking you to come propose. What a mess!”

“Uncle Wen, if Xinyue doesn’t want to go abroad, we could move to another city and choose a place-”

Before Li Kai could finish, Wen Xinyue cut him off. “Who said I don’t want to go abroad? Even if I go to another city, I won’t go with you.”

“…” Li Kai stared at the woman he loved, his heart aching. Even if he told her the Li Corporation wasn’t bankrupt, it wouldn’t matter, after all, he was no longer part of the company!

He had wanted to tell her earlier when she called, but she had spoken too quickly and hung up before he could explain.

“Brother Li, if my sister doesn’t want to marry you, I will. Even if the Li Corporation is bankrupt and we can’t stay in Rongcheng, I’m willing to wander the world with you.”

Wen Xinrou walked up to the disheveled Li Kai and spoke gently, bending down to extend her hands toward him.

“Miss Wen… are you really willing to wander with me? Even if I have nothing?” Li Kai looked at the radiant girl, his face full of disbelief.

“Yes, even if you have nothing, I’m willing to be with you,” Wen Xinrou said softly. At this moment, she truly meant it.

Before, she had always thought her infatuation with Li Kai was due to his deep affection for her cousin. Only now did she realize it was his striking looks that had first caught her eye.

Li Kai’s handsome, refined face, illuminated by the lights, was breathtakingly beautiful. With a touch of weariness, it carried a kind of broken beauty that stirred her heart.

“Li Kai, Xinrou is willing to marry you and endure hardships with you. Why are you still hesitating? Do you think she’s ugly?” Wen Xinyue asked with schadenfreude, torn between hoping Li Kai would reject her cousin and hoping he would accept.

Once the Li family went bankrupt, Wen Xinrou and Li Kai would be like stray dogs, scrambling to find work to survive.

The thought of that scene brought Wen Xinyue immense satisfaction. After all, Wen Xinrou had always mocked her for overestimating herself.

“Xinyue, when did you become so sharp-tongued? What right do I have to find fault with her? I hesitate because I feel unworthy,” Li Kai said sincerely. He was grateful that Wen Xinrou had stepped forward to offer to marry him at such a time, sparing him further humiliation.

However, he had little impression of her. In the past, he had either been working or focused on Wen Xinyue and Third Master Lu, no one else had ever caught his attention.

“Since you have no right to criticize her, and Cousin Xinrou has had a crush on you for years, and my second uncle doesn’t object, why don’t you just give the betrothal gifts directly to my second uncle?” Wen Xinyue said. After she spoke, the Wen brothers all turned to look at Second Uncle Wen. As long as Second Uncle and his wife didn’t object, they certainly wouldn’t either.

If their niece Xinrou really married Li Kai, they could use it as an excuse to push the second branch out of the Wen family, eliminating one competitor.

“Fine. If Young Master Li is willing to marry me, he can leave the betrothal gifts. If not, I won’t force him,” Wen Xinrou said gracefully.

Every large family has a few lazy freeloaders, and as it happened, she and her father were the Wen family’s freeloaders.

Her father never fought for anything, yet he lived a carefree and comfortable life. In contrast, her fourth and fifth uncles fought tooth and nail, ending up sick and empty-handed.

Her father was the second son in the Wen family and shared a close friendship with Second Uncle Song, finding kindred spirits in each other. She and Song Yunhuan were also close friends.

During holidays, they traveled the world with their parents, enjoying delicious food and exploring scenic places.

Just yesterday, she and Song Yunhuan had discussed spending some time in a city with year-round spring weather.

They had laughed together at her cousin Song Yuntao, mocking him for mistaking a fish eye for a pearl and turning the Song family upside down.

They secretly despised Song Yuntao for his ingratitude in switching brides, only to end up with a fickle and promiscuous woman.

It was absolutely hilarious!

“Uncle Wen, Brother Wen, let me be frank here: Third Master Lu has already stated that the Li family will not go bankrupt. However, my son is indeed unfit to take over the Li family. As for whether we can remain in Rongcheng, that remains uncertain. Since Xinrou sees value in my son, I will absolutely ensure she is treated well,” Mr. Li said sincerely.

He looked approvingly at the girl standing before his son, her beauty like flowers and the moon, her peach-like face adorned with a bright smile.

Even when her son was at the peak of his success, she was a worthy match for him, let alone now that he had lost his inheritance!

No sooner had Father Li finished speaking than Wen Xinyue’s sharp, accusing voice rang out, “Brother Kai, didn’t your family go bankrupt?”

“……”

Li Kai had been silently watching Wen Xinrou’s radiant smile. Even as Wen Xinyue stormed up to him with a twisted expression, he remained silent.