Li Hui tossed and turned, unable to sleep, his mind constantly worrying about Li Zhenzhen.
"What’s wrong?" Meng Yujuan asked Li Hui. His restless movements were keeping her awake too.
"I’m worried about my sister, I don’t know how she’s doing right now," Li Hui said. He truly regretted not insisting on taking his sister home earlier.
"Don’t worry, the Cheng Family probably won’t do anything to her," Meng Yujuan reassured Li Hui. She had met the Chengs for the first time that day and the mother-in-law came across as a formidable character. She had dared to hit her sister-in-law in public, which suggested that life in the Cheng Family wasn’t easy for her.
But those were her sister-in-law’s domestic affairs. They could help her once, but they couldn’t help her for a lifetime. Everything still depended on her sister-in-law herself.
"If that old hag dared to slap my sister in public, I’m really worried she’ll be even worse back at home," Li Hui’s brows were tightly knit, wishing he could rush to the Chengs’ right then to check on his sister.
"She’s hardly able to protect herself right now, how could she have the time to bother your sister? From the attitude of the Chengs, the child in her belly probably isn’t from the Cheng bloodline," Meng Yujuan said.
Li Hui thought about it and nodded in agreement. He wrapped his arm around Meng Yujuan, "Let’s sleep!" He would call the Cheng Family first thing in the morning to inquire about the situation.
Li Zhenzhen had sat on the floor all night. Only when sunlight began to stream in through the window did she slowly get up.
Lack of sleep, combined with a night of crying, made Li Zhenzhen dizzy as soon as she stood up. She quickly grabbed the chair nearby to steady herself, narrowly avoiding a fall. She had thought a lot that night and had made her decision.
Dragging her leaden legs, she trudged towards the bathroom.
Even though she was mentally prepared, the sight of herself in the mirror still shocked Li Zhenzhen. Swollen cheeks, eyes puffing like peaches, red streaks filling her eyes, and dark circles prominent beneath them. Now, she looked like a ghost, unbearable to gaze at.
The telephone on the bedside table rang. Li Zhenzhen withdrew her gaze and walked out of the bathroom towards the phone.
Before she reached the phone, it stopped ringing abruptly. Someone must have answered it.
Just as she was about to brush her teeth and wash her face, the phone rang again.
Li Zhenzhen thought for a moment then picked up the phone, "Hello!" As she spoke, she realized how hoarse her voice was, as if scratching out from her throat.
Li Hui was startled by the voice, "Who is this?" Could it be the old hag from the Cheng Family? Then who was the person who answered his call earlier? The person he had called before had hung up on him after finding out who he was.
"Xiao Hui," Li Zhenzhen immediately recognized the person on the other end.
"Sis!" Li Hui’s eyes widened in surprise, then he asked anxiously, "Sis, what happened to you? Why is your voice so hoarse?"
"I’m fine, just didn’t sleep well. Don’t worry about me. I’ve got something to do today, so I won’t be coming over. Please tell mom and dad," Li Zhenzhen said. She didn’t want her brother and parents to worry about her. If they saw her current state, they would definitely confront the Cheng Family.
The Li Family was doing much better now, thanks to Lu Hanmo, but they still weren’t as powerful as the Cheng Family. No matter how good Luo Shu and Yujuan’s relationship was, they wouldn’t get involved in her domestic affairs.
"Is that really true?" Li Hui was skeptical. He felt that something must have happened to his sister, and she was hiding it from him. No, he had to see her in person to be reassured.
"Why would I lie to you? Okay, I’m going to have breakfast now. I won’t talk to you anymore," Li Zhenzhen put down the phone with a bitter shake of her head. How was she going to break this news to her parents and brother?
After hanging up, Li Hui turned to Meng Yujuan, "Yujuan, I’m going to check on my sister. Something doesn’t seem right with her."
"I’ll come with you," Meng Yujuan stood up and said.
"It’s better if I go alone. You’re pregnant, you need more rest," Li Hui said. He didn’t know what he would find on this visit and what if something happened to her?
"I have to go, I won’t be at ease if you go alone," Meng Yujuan insisted, her face determined.
Li Hui hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Alright then!"
Li Zhenzhen composed herself and went downstairs, wondering if Cheng Junheng had returned after her request for a divorce the day before.
Everyone was seated at the dining table for breakfast and they all showed their disdain upon seeing Li Zhenzhen approach.
"Don’t come over! Looking at your face ruins my appetite," Gao Meiyun said with disgust as she saw Li Zhenzhen coming over.
Li Zhenzhen didn’t mind Gao Meiyun. She had already decided to leave this family. What was there to care about?
Seeing Li Zhenzhen ignore her words, Gao Meiyun angrily put down her chopsticks, stood up, and walked towards Li Zhenzhen.
She raised her hand as she reached Li Zhenzhen, "Are you deaf or just plain stupid? Didn’t you hear what I said?"
Li Zhenzhen looked at Gao Meiyun emotionlessly, "This is the last time," and tossed the wooden box Gao Meiyun had given her the day before back at her.
Gao Meiyun clumsily caught it and yelled furiously at Li Zhenzhen, "Are you insane?! Do you know how expensive this is? What if you broke it, could you afford to pay?" As she spoke, she raised her hand again.
"So this is how you usually bully my sister," an angry voice belonging to Li Hui came from behind.
Li Zhenzhen and Gao Meiyun were both stunned!
Li Zhenzhen quickly turned to Li Hui, but recalling her current state, she turned back swiftly, covering her face with her hands.
But it was too late. Li Hui had already seen her face, and his heart ached while rage surged like a tide, "How dare you do this to my sister, you’re despicable!"