Chapter 79 - You are the strongest woman I've ever met

"Let's not eat till your brother arrives?" Jing Lihua coughed drily. The main purpose of today's dinner was to greet Li Xun. But somehow she felt like... it was turning to yet another date. "I remembered how much he loved to come to Uncle Wei's place."

"He'll be here soon." Li Zhiqiang smiled brightly.

Jing Lihua still remembered how cold he was when she first met him. Six years ago, he was also cold. But slowly, in her company, his personality would change.

"I have always wanted to ask you. Six years ago, what had prompted you to take care of me? Back then when... I..." Jing Lihua looked into his eyes. He could just have let his servants take care of her if he had saved her purely due to human compassion. But he had taken care of her himself, provided her with his company for the next whole month and had slowly healed her wounds. No matter what way one looked at that, it was not a normal treatment.

"I could see my past in you." Li Zhiqiang said, his eyes were soft.

"Did you ever have your heart broken before?" For some reason, Jing Lihua felt a tinge of dissatisfaction thinking about that. Did he ever love someone before her and she broke her heart?

Li Zhiqiang laughed, possibly noticing her jealousy. "It's not like that. I was just pushed to the end of despair once. Back then I didn't have anyone look after me. So when I saw you like that, I saw myself in you. I had an urge to look after you myself." Li Zhiqiang let his cold face loose. Only in front of this woman, he would show his deepest vulnerability visible. "Seven years ago, my father was diagnosed with liver failure."

"I was the eldest in the family so the responsibility of taking care of him fell on my shoulders. I had to console my mother and look after Li Xun. All the time, I couldn't act weak in front of anyone. I had to maintain a strong demeanor so that others would get their strength from me. While I provided others with a shoulder to lean on and cry, I didn't have anyone. They said I was cold... I didn't feel. But in reality, I felt it to an extent far greater than others. I feared that my family might break. People were waiting to see an opening in me so they could make a move. After my father fell if I hadn't changed to the person who I am they could have succeeded."

Jing Lihua felt the strings of her heart were pulled. She felt a strong feeling of admiration and respect for the man in front of him. Jing Lihua realized why did Li Xun respect his brother this much. He was truly someone to be looked up to; a perfect role model.

"How could you see yourself in me? Unlike you, I gave up entirely. I was not nearly as strong as you were." Jing Lihua said softly.

"You think so?" Li Zhiqiang smiled at her. "You are the strongest woman I've ever met. I had my mother and brother by my side. But what did you have? Nothing. Your mother had already left. Your family hated you. You had grown up in such adverse circ.u.mstances. Yet you persisted for so long. It didn't weaken your character. You turned all the misfortunes into your strength. In fact, it was your strength that made me fall for you."

Warmth surged through Jing Lihua's heart. She tried to hide her blush. "How's your father right now?" There was no news of his father's illness in the media. Jing Lihua concluded that the Li family must have kept it hidden to avoid the negative impact.

"Average age after liver transplant is five years." Suddenly Li Zhiqiang's eyes saddened. "His health is declining quickly since the last year. But at least we found enough time with him to cherish his remaining life."

"I wish I could do something for him." Li Zhiqiang had done a lot for her. In fact, she owed her life to him. She felt useless for not being able to do something for him.

"Actually, there is one thing you could do." Li Zhiqiang's eyes looked roguish. "Are you sure you will do it?"

"What is it. I'll try my best to do it." Jing Lihua was eager to help.

"Actually, my father is very eager to see his grandchildren. If we could..." Li Zhiqiang trailed off.

Jing Lihua stared at him looking incredulous. They were not even married yet, in fact, she was married to another man, yet he was talking about children with her? Jing Lihua didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. He was impossible. She puffed in resignation.

Li Zhiqiang laughed noticing her cute expressions. "Let me give a call to my brother. Uncle Wei dishes are best when eaten fresh and hot." Li Zhiqiang sent a text.

Li Xun felt like he was in seventh heaven when he received a text. "Sister-in-law is best!" He happily climbed out of the car ad ran for the restaurant entrance.

In the text, Li Zhiqiang had said that his sister-in-law missed him. Of course, if sister-in-law hadn't asked for him, his brother would have felt no moral scruple to have him stand outside the whole night. Even the thought of that happening caused a painful grumble in his stomach.

At the entrance, he was greeted by Uncle Wei. Li Xun was on his way but he was halted when he saw a familiar face climbing out of a car. A pompous man walked towards the restaurant. There was a small smile on his lips. And he looked quite approachable and friendly from his exterior. "Wu JunJie?" Anger bubbled up in Li Xun's chest. Why would that bastard come here? "If he intends to spoil my brother's happiness then he has made the gravest mistake of his life." Li Xun's eyes burned with a vengeance.

"I haven't made a move until now because brother wouldn't let me. But now that brother is dinning with sister-in-law, I think he wouldn't mind if I did something... overboard." Li Xun quickly made a call after an evil laugh.