Chapter 47 - A Deal

Not only did Li Caiyi talk back to her father, but she also did not give him any face by implying that Li Jirong contributed nothing to her growth except for funding her, thus have no right to act like a good parent. Su Suyin dared not to imagine what her husband must have felt this time and what he would do to Li Caiyi.

As Su Suyin was fidgeting and panicking in her place, Li Jirong's complexion had turned ashen from shock. To think that his daughter—who he deemed worthless—would criticize him and look down on him. Just how low his standing was in this family? So that was how her daughter viewed him all this time?

"Y-you…" Li Jirong said with a huffed breath. He was so angry he had difficulty breathing.

"And you are wrong about one thing, Father. I remember clearly Grandfather told me you were also struggling and needed Grandfather's help to become what you are now. Just because you are successful now, don't forget that you used to be the same as me. By calling me a failure, isn't that akin to slapping yourself? Because I am your biological child, after all!"

Word by words came out of Li Caiyi's mouth smoothly, as if she had been waiting for a chance to vent out her stress. When she finished saying everything she hid deep inside her heart, both Li Jirong and her were panting, seemingly drained of energy.

On what basis did Li Jirong decide which one was a failure or not when he was not that successful himself? Of course, he might be a doctor with many achievements now, but that was his only redeeming point. As a husband, father, and human being, he was more of a failure than Li Caiyi ever was!

Honestly, that was the first time Su Suyin heard about all this. She was married to Li Jirong under her mother-in-law—which was Li Jirong's mother—recommendation after he became successful, and she never heard the story of how he became one. She just thought that her husband was naturally a talented man. So what Li Caiyi said baffled her.

"You ungrateful child! Shut your mouth!" Li Jirong roared, but his face also burnt in embarrassment. Even now, the fact that he begged his father to help him had always been a thorn in his flesh. He did not know that his father secretly told his daughter about this. How could he hold his head high in front of his family now? If this matter spread, his face would be completely lost!

However, he was angrier at Li Caiyi than anything. She was almost an adult, but she could not even differentiate which could be said or not. Did she intend to humiliate her father this way?

Li Jirong could not stand it, so he yelled at her even fiercely. "What does a girl like you know about men's hardship? You just need to sit and act pretty, and you can have a good life. It's already a blessing for you to be born in a family where you can be more than a mere stay-at-home parent, but you aren't grateful at all! Kneel and apologize to your ancestor right now!"

He always brought up family names whenever he was cornered, when his personal interest drove his every action. Li Caiyi was so revolted; she did not want to talk to him anymore.

"Father, how about we make a deal? If I lose that writing competition, I will kneel in the ancestral hall for however long you want me to. However, please reward me if I win later."

Li Jirong snorted. "You think someone like you has what it takes to win? Fine, then! If you win, then I will admit you are not that useless, after all."

Li Caiyi couldn't care less about what Li Jirong would think about her, but this might be a chance for her.

"Father, it will be boring if we don't put our beliefs at stake. What about this? If I lose, I will admit my mistake and never talk about not continuing our family's legacy anymore. You can also make me kneel or discipline me as you wish." Li Caiyi paused briefly before she added, "However, if I win, then you will not force me to do anything against my wish anymore."

Li Jirong hesitated for a bit, but looking at her daughter's provocative look, he felt he would lose face if he retreated now. Fine, then! Even if that competition was worthless in his eyes, he did not believe someone like her could win anything with her ability.

"Very good! Don't regret what you said today!"

Li Caiyi smiled mysteriously. "Of course."

***

Li Caiyi's face had become swollen by the time she entered the bedroom. She doubted the ice pack could do much with how swollen it was. Hopefully, the swelling will not appear too obvious when she goes to school tomorrow.

Li Chunhua was sitting on the bed, but she said nothing even when she saw Li Caiyi's swelling face. Li Caiyi also did not have the energy to deal with her sister now, so she quickly took out a change of clothes from the wardrobe before she went out to take a shower.

When she returned to the room, Li Chunhua was still sitting in the same spot, observing her movement closely. Li Caiyi ignored her and busily dried her hair with a towel instead.

In the end, Li Chunhua could not stand the silence and spoke first. "Why aren't you asking me anything?"

Li Caiyi could not see Li Chunhua's expression when she lowered her head like that.

Sure enough, it was Li Chunhua who told Li Jirong everything. Or she probably told Su Suyin, who told their father after that. Whichever it was, Li Chunhua was still the main culprit.

Li Chunhua must have heard it from Chen Ruolan, considering the timing. If it were the previous her, she would ask why Li Chunhua ratted her out to their father, but after several things that happened, Li Caiyi did not feel the need to ask anymore.

Li Caiyi honestly did not want to doubt her sister, but when the fact was served on top of a silver plate in front of her, she could not fool herself anymore. She even wondered, what else did Li Chunhua do behind her back in her previous life?

While Li Caiyi kept her silent, Li Chunhua clenched her hands into a fist anxiously. "Are you not saying anything because you don't think it's worth listening to my excuse anymore?"

Li Caiyi sighed helplessly. "No, it's not that. I was going to tell them eventually, so it doesn't matter if they knew it earlier or not. My manuscript has been sent, and there is nothing to be done except to wait for the result now."

"So you really aren't going to ask me anything? Don't you want to know the reason I'm doing this?"

"What do you want me to say? I already said it's fine, didn't I?"

Li Chunhua bit her lips and stood up abruptly. Her face flushed with anger and was full of frustration as she looked at Li Caiyi.. "Xiaoyi, you started it first. You have changed!"