The CEO's Fiery Quest to Win Back Her Heart

Yin Luoxue maneuvered her wheelchair over, "Tingshen, you've finally come; I've been waiting for you for quite a while."

Gu Mian took a closer look and saw that Yin Luoxue's face was no longer swollen. She was dressed in a high-end, Chanel-style dress, with an exceptionally delicate makeup on her face.

"Weren't you hospitalized? How come you're back?" Li Tingshen asked casually.

"Today is the family banquet. How could I be absent? So, I was discharged early in the morning." Yin Luoxue ignored Gu Mian's presence, gazing at him affectionately, "Tingshen, thank you for taking up for me. I heard that Pei Jinchuan has been busy dealing with the trouble you caused."

She cast a glance at Gu Mian, a hint of triumph flickering in her eyes, "Actually, there was no need for you to make such a fuss for me. Granny will surely say I'm a calamity for men again when she finds out..."

Li Tingshen didn't say much, "Let's go inside."

Gu Mian watched their retreating figures entering the house, a bitter smile on her face.

Everyone in their social circle assumed that Yin Luoxue would marry Li Tingshen, and so did the Li Family.

That's why Yin Luoxue never missed a family banquet at the Li household.

And her, as Madam Li, although sitting beside Li Tingshen, felt out of place among them.

She never belonged here to begin with.

For a fleeting moment, Gu Mian just wanted to turn around and run away.

But that would undoubtedly infuriate Li Tingshen and then involve her uncle.

Gu Mian moved her legs, heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and followed them into the house.

She first followed Li Tingshen up to the second floor to see Old Madam Li.

In the room, Old Madam Li was dressed in white practice attire, meditating on a cushion with her eyes closed. Hearing the sound of the door knocking, she slowly opened her eyes.

Upon seeing Gu Mian, Old Madam Li's face lit up with joy, "Mian, you've finally come back!"

"Granny." Gu Mian's nose tingled with the onset of tears, barely holding back from crying.

"It's good you're back." Old Madam Li rose to her feet and held her hand, "It must have been hard on the inside, hasn't it?"

Gu Mian gently shook her head.

Tears welled in Old Madam Li's eyes, "You've always been the type to bear your burdens quietly. Even if you don't tell me, I know you've suffered a lot this past year."

"Granny, I'm back now, aren't I?"

Old Madam Li nodded, "I've always said you were very fortunate, destined to avoid any prison misfortune. Now that this disaster has forcefully come upon you, the person who harmed you will surely face repercussions."

Li Tingshen frowned, "Granny, it would be best to refrain from these superstitious remarks that openly accuse Luoxue."

"Am I being superstitious?" Old Madam Li laughed out loud, "You brat. If it wasn't for my superstition in marrying Mian into our family, you would still be lying in a bed like a vegetable, you ungrateful wretch!"

Knowing he couldn't win the argument, Li Tingshen said, "You two chat, I'll be leaving now."

"Hurry up and leave, don't interrupt my private conversation with Mian," Old Madam Li waved him off.

After Li Tingshen closed the door behind him and left, Old Madam Li took Gu Mian by the hand and led her to sit down on the couch, "Child, I already know about your grandmother's passing. Take heart."

Gu Mian's eyes reddened, and she choked up, "If it weren't for you insisting on having Grandma treated in the Li family hospital three years ago, she wouldn't have lasted until now. Granny, thank you for giving me three more years with her."

"Silly child, you're so sensible it breaks my heart," said Old Madam Li, clasping her hand tightly, "Now that your grandma is gone, remember that I am your support. This place is not only your marital home but also your maternal home. Don't worry, as long as I'm still breathing, no one will dare to bully you."

Gu Mian's tears fell.

She didn't know how to tell Old Madam Li that she was about to divorce Li Tingshen.

Old Madam Li, just like her grandmother, simply hoped that they, as a young couple, could live a good life together. She would be heartbroken to hear the news.

Gu Mian couldn't bear to cause her grief.

It was better to wait for the right moment to tell her.

"Thank you, Granny."

"Good child..."

The two talked for a long while until the maid knocked on the door, saying that Li Tingshen was looking for Gu Mian, and only then did she go downstairs.

Just as she entered the living room, she heard Yin Luoxue's voice, "You have no idea how arrogant the Pei Family is, even a mere assistant dared to lay hands on me, utterly ignorant of their own insignificance."

"Indeed quite bold, she's my brother's woman, daring to touch her is practically seeking death."

The speaker was Li Tingshen's younger brother, Li Xingze, young and flamboyant, not interested in inheriting the family business, so he entered the entertainment industry and became a popular idol.

Yin Luoxue saw Gu Mian and raised a gentle smile, "Gu Mian, you're here."

Gu Mian asked, "Tingshen was looking for me, where is he?"

"Sister-in-law, it wasn't my brother looking for you, it was me." Li Xingze turned his head, although he addressed her respectfully as sister-in-law, his eyes were full of disdain, "I feel like having the cake you make again, the servants have already prepared the ingredients, go make it."

Li Xingze had always looked down on Gu Mian, but out of respect for Old Madam Li's face, he had to keep up appearances, and it was precisely because he called her "sister-in-law" that he did not refrain from bossing Gu Mian around.

Gu Mian loved Li Tingshen and always strived to be a good Madam Li, she took the responsibility of taking care of Li Tingshen's family members as her own duty, naturally, she would not refuse the request of her younger brother-in-law.

But now, she had already decided to leave Li Tingshen and did not want to please those who truly looked down on her anymore.

Seeing Gu Mian stand still without moving, Li Xingze instantly became impatient, "Are you deaf? Didn't you hear what I said?"

Gu Mian wanted to refuse, but remembering that today was the family banquet Old Madam Li was most looking forward to, she did not want to dampen Old Madam Li's spirits, so she held back, "Alright, I'll go now."

Yin Luoxue watched Gu Mian's departing figure and spoke with feigned concern, "Xingze, you can't talk to Gu Mian like that, she's your sister-in-law."

Li Xingze spoke with disdain, "She doesn't deserve it, Luoxue, in my heart, you're the only sister-in-law I acknowledge."

"Don't say that, Tingshen and I still aren't divorced, there's no chance anything could happen between us."

"My brother's divorce from her is just a matter of time, anyway, I don't care, I want to stick to you and call you my sister-in-law..."

Their conversation clearly fell into Gu Mian's ears, she knew that Yin Luoxue had intentionally let her hear it.

Although she had become accustomed to it, and even though the hurt was not as deep as the pain Li Tingshen gave, Gu Mian's heart still ached.

She had already tried her best, but in Li Xingze's heart, she didn't even qualify to be compared with Yin Luoxue.

Gu Mian quickly left the living room and went to the kitchen, skillfully found her apron and put it on, and started making the cake.

In her childhood, her grandfather always said that her hands were made for healing, never allowing her to step foot in the kitchen.

But after marrying into the Li Family, she started cooking, making all kinds of dishes, medicinal meals, and desserts, just to be seen as a qualified Madam Li in the eyes of others.

This was the last time.

This was her last time entering the Li Family's kitchen.

...

At dinner time, all the Li Family members gathered at the table.

Old Madam Li sat in the host's seat, looking towards the empty space beside Li Tingshen, furrowing her brows and saying, "Where is Mian girl?"

Only then did everyone notice that Gu Mian was absent.

Li Xingze spoke indifferently, "She's making a cake for me, grandma, I'm hungry, let's start the meal, we don't need to wait for her."

"That's improper, she's your elder sister-in-law," Old Madam Li's face darkened, "You ask her to make food for you, that's one thing, but not even willing to call her for a meal, if it were me, I'd definitely throw the cake in your face."

Li Xingze curled his lip, "Grandma, why do you always take Gu Mian's side?"

"The elder sister-in-law is like a mother, you should respect your sister-in-law just as you respect your mother," Old Madam Li said sternly.

Li Xingze scoffed, muttering, "She doesn't deserve it..."

"What did you say?"

"Am I wrong?" Li Xingze suddenly became angry, "She pushed Luoxue down the stairs with her own hands, resulting in Luoxue being in a wheelchair now, such a malicious person doesn't deserve to step foot in the Li Family's house. It's ridiculous that you still expect me to respectfully call her sister-in-law!"

"You..." Old Madam Li's face went white with anger, "I said, no one is to bring up Mian girl's arrest today, did you take my words for mere wind?"

"Grandma, the truth is the truth, what's the point of turning a blind eye?"

"You still dare to speak!" Old Madam Li looked towards Li Tingshen, "Tingshen, go call your wife to come eat."