Chapter 2
Chapter 2
This definitely wasn’t the real 10086.
I quickly tapped into the details page for “10086.”
Sure enough, 10086 was only a contact nickname.
Hidden underneath was an actual phone number.
The number was local.
I hurriedly took a photo of it.
Just then, Li Jiahao rolled over.
His snoring stopped.
I froze where I stood, not even daring to breathe.
Thankfully, he only smacked his lips twice before falling back asleep.
I swiped that text message back to unread and put the phone back where it had been.
Early the next morning, Li Jiahao was already gone.
So was the car.
He did send me a message, though.
“I’ll go to the wedding by myself. You don’t need to come. Stay home and reflect on yourself.”
I stared at that line of text and almost laughed from anger.
I didn’t need to come?
What was he afraid of?
Afraid I’d show up and get in the way of whatever he had planned?
As if I would possibly stay away.
I changed my clothes, called a cab, and went straight to the hotel.
I was getting this divorce. No question.
But there was no way I was letting them off that easily.
They wanted to make a scene?
Fine.
Today, I would play along to the very end.
At the wedding venue, my younger brother-in-law Li Yonghao froze for a second when he saw me.
“Sister-in-law, didn’t my brother say you weren’t feeling well and couldn’t come?”
I smiled, pressing down the chill in my eyes.
“I’m fine. I rested for a bit, and I’m much better now. It’s your wedding. How could I not come?”
I patted him on the arm.
“Is there anything you need help with?”
Before I could finish speaking, my mother-in-law darted out from the side and said in a sharp, sarcastic tone, “Well, well. Her Highness has finally arrived.”
She looked me up and down from the corner of her eye, a handful of sunflower seeds still clutched in her hand, cracking them noisily between her teeth.
“You sure know how to pick your timing. You show up only after all the work is done. Anyone who didn’t know better would think you were the mother-in-law here.”
Several relatives nearby looked over, and someone covered their mouth to stifle a laugh.
I hadn’t even had a chance to speak.
My mother-in-law’s gaze had already landed on my empty hands, and her face immediately darkened.
“You came empty-handed? You’ve got some nerve.”
Calmly, I took the red envelope I’d prepared from my bag and handed it to Li Yonghao.
But my mother-in-law snatched it away.
In front of everyone, she tore it open, licked her finger, and counted the bills one by one.
“Only 3,888?”
She slammed the red envelope onto the table, her voice shrill.
“Are you trying to get rid of a beggar? Haven’t you heard the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother? At the very least, you should be giving 38,888! This little bit of money isn’t even enough for one round of mahjong!”
“Mom!”
Li Yonghao’s face flushed bright red. “What nonsense are you talking about?”
He turned to me, his face full of apology.
“Sister-in-law, please don’t be angry. Mom is just like that. She doesn’t know when to hold her tongue. Go sit inside first and have something to eat.”
My mother-in-law grabbed my wrist, her nails digging hard into my flesh.
“Rest? What rest? There are so many relatives here, and she thinks she can hide away and relax? Dream on!”
Enduring the pain, I asked coldly, “Where is Li Jiahao? Why isn’t he here receiving guests?”
My mother-in-law rolled her eyes.
“My son is a man! How can a man do that kind of work? That’s what you women are supposed to do!”
I was too tired to waste my breath on her. I pried her hand off and turned to leave.
Behind me, my mother-in-law’s furious voice rang out.
“Stop right there! What kind of attitude is that? When we get home, I’ll make Jiahao beat you properly! A woman starts itching all over if she doesn’t get hit!”
“Mom! Can you please stop talking? It’s my wedding today…”
“She’s an outsider with a different surname. You and I are the real mother and son! You’d help her instead of your own mother? Did you get your head slammed in a door?”
“Mom!”