Chapter 128: Chapter 128 — The Heartless Ones
Wu Caiyu could not be described as a slim beauty, but she was pretty close. Nonetheless, age and poverty had worn away at her skin and figure, making her look ten years older than her fifty eight years of age.
Paired with the colorful jumpers and faded red blouse she was wearing, she looked like a grandmother. A thin cotton scarf on her head completed her outfit.
With her hands on hips stance, she looked just like a rampaging bandit.
Seeing that her words made him stop moving, she smiled in satisfaction, baring her slightly yellowed teeth. "Are you planning to stand there all day? Won't you welcome your Aunt? Or the Li family did not teach you how to respect your elders?"
Pei Yueran didn't know this woman, but judging from her words and the effect she was having on Li Chuanmo, she could hazard a guess. She quietly signaled to the protocol team who were just rushing out of the elevator.
The head, Ting Haoyu understood and proceeded to clear the area, asking people politely to delete the recordings they made and ushering the visitors out. Order was soon restored, but Li Chuanmo had hardly moved.
Since she was standing close to him already, she gently slid her hands into his and squeezed.
That simple gesture seemed to give him the orientation he needed.
"What are you doing here?" It was said in a calm tone, even though he was feeling anything but.
Wu Caiyu let out a shrill scream, "Ha! I come all the way from City S, and this is what my nephew says to me? Everyone come and hear this. Oh pity the mothers of the world. My poor sister, raising an emotionless child like this."
She sat down on the floor, blinking back fake tears.
Now more in control of his emotions, Li Chuanmo looked at the security guards. "Why haven't you thrown her out yet?"
Wu Caiyu paused crying long enough to shout, "Pang Chuanmo!"
Li Chuanmo felt like smashing something to vent, but the angrier he was, the calmer and colder his voice became. "I don't go by that surname anymore. You all gave up on me a long time ago, remember?"
Wu Caiyu shamelessly replied, "But blood is thicker than water. Even if you changed your name, you cannot change your blood. The Pang family's blood flows in your veins!"
Li Chuanmo smiled sardonically, "So you now want to recognize relatives? Don't you think you're twenty three years late?"
For once, Wu Caiyu fell silent. At least for a moment. Then she said weakly.
"Well, shouldn't you be thanking me? If I didn't leave you at the orphanage back then, would you have had the opportunity to get into the Li family?"
"Ha!" That one syllable from Li Chuanmo's mouth was full of raw emotion.
"Now I should be thanking you? Really? Indeed. Thank you Ms. Wu!" He spat out before turning to leave, pulling Pei Yueran along.
"Pang Chuanmo!" She shouted again.
Li Chuanmo stopped and said without turning, "If you dare call me that one more time, I won't be civil any more. Be warned!"
In desperation, she blurted out, "Your mother is in the hospital. She's terribly sick!"
Li Chuanmo stopped. Wu Caiyu smiled secretly. At least this mother card was still useful, she thought.
But Li Chuanmo turned and smirked. "Mother? Which mother? I only have one mother, and that is Madam Li."
"You—"
"I'm still speaking, don't interrupt me! If you need help, apply through one of our many foundations, and someone will reach out to you. Don't come here and ignorantly claim relatives, it makes you look foolish!"
Wu Caiyu went slack-jawed. Was this still Chuanmo, that quiet and calm boy who would never utter an unnecessary word? When did his words become so sharp?
She opened her mouth to say something, but Li Chuanmo beat her to it. Turning to a security by the side, he said, "Call the police. There's a scammer here."
Hearing this, Wu Caiyu scrambled to her feet. She still wanted to shout, but unconsciously, she lowered her voice with one look from Li Chuanmo. "Don't call the police, I'm leaving already. You must have fed your heart to the dogs, not even recognizing your own mother."
Li Chuanmo didn't let the insult get to him. "At least I had a heart. I suspect you and that sister of yours were born heartless." He said mockingly.
He was really happy Pei Yueran was with him, else he didn't know how he would have coped.
They stayed silent on the trip back to the office, but Li Chuanmo was gripping Pei Yueran's hand so hard that she winced. She patted his hand in a bid to comfort him.
When they got to his office, he locked the door, fell into her arms.
And cried.
Huge, loud sobs burst out of his throat even as his body shook with the force. He wept like a baby.
Sad, Pei Yueran didn't say anything and just held him. Before long, tears ran down her cheeks as well.
They were really cruel. His family were full of wolves and tigers.
At least on her part, she had never known her biological parents, so she didn't feel hate or love for them—she was quite neutral. She grew up knowing only her adopted parents, so her so called biological parents were mere strangers.
But she could not imagine the effects the actions of a group of adults had on a twelve year old boy.
Neglect, abandonment and abuse.
Just one was enough to destabilize an adult, much less all three, and that to a mere boy.
Her heart broke all over again.
Evening came and the employees of the Li Conglomerate clocked out, but both of them stayed in Li Chuanmo's office, locked in each other's embrace.
Pei Yueran, who was facing the window, looked out. Autumn was in full swing already, slowing heading into winter, and red and brown leaves falling from trees in every direction. It was very dry and desolate, perfectly mirroring their present feelings.
When will their spring come?
*****
"Did you do as I said? What happened?"
"I did, but that brat has grown wings. He even threatened to call the police on me."
"So? You were not able to make him react? He didn't hit you or anything?"
"He dares? No he didn't. How could he be so heartless? Despite —"
Gao Tinghua cut in impatiently, "Spare me the details. So you have nothing on him? Did you rile him up the way I told you to?"
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