CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 257: ULTIMATELY COMPROMISED

"I am certain that no matter where I go, in the end, I’ll come back to you."

Bian Yue felt exceptionally at ease. She hugged Shen Jinci tightly, their fingers entwined, listening to his heartbeat. After a long while, she said somewhat childishly, "Of course, I know. There’s no risk of losing you."

Meanwhile, under the same night sky, Li Tingmo had been unable to sleep through the night.

Li Tingmo took the documents that Bai Xu handed to him, his hands trembling. He knew that now was the moment he had to make a decision.

First, Li Tingmo looked down at the documents in his hands for a long while then raised his eyes to Bai Xu, his voice quivering, "Can you give me a bit more time?"

"Mr. Li, any further delays are useless now. At this point, Feng Cheng has no other option but liquidation," Bai Xu’s voice was calm, exuding a sense of business-like indifference, "If you sign the documents now, I will ensure you’re provided with the best life."

"Feng Cheng is my life’s work. I’ve spent my whole life striving for this group. Bai Xu, you were someone I relied on, which gave you the opportunity to develop alongside Shiheng. Can’t you give me a little leeway now?"

"In business, we talk business. Our current situation is not suitable for this kind of conversation." Bai Xu looked down, hiding the emotion in his eyes. Li Tingmo in front of him had reached a dead end, and although Bai Xu did not wish to kick him while he was down, he was out of options.

When he spoke again, his voice was a touch gentler, "There’s some time left before dawn, and the government officials won’t come so soon. You can stay here alone for a while and sign the document before daylight."

Li Tingmo looked painfully at Bai Xu, his inner struggle inevitable invoking sympathy.

Bai Xu averted his gaze, turned, and left.

Li Tingmo then slumped into the sofa, gazing at the cold documents in front of him, his eyes full of confusion.

One wrong move, the entire game is lost.

Now, he had reached the extreme of confusion and pain.

Unfortunately, he no longer had any road to return on.

His gaze desolate, the door opened again, and it was Tang Yuwei who walked in.

She was without her usual meticulous makeup, all glamour faded away, and yet her presence appeared even more gentle and stunning.

She placed the divorce agreement in front of Li Tingmo and said calmly, "I’ve moved all my things out of the Li Family home. Rest assured, there will be no entanglement between us anymore. Li Tingmo, we were husband and wife once, take care."

Only then did Li Tingmo come back to his senses. He looked at the divorce agreement Tang Yuwei had signed, so glaring now. He scoffed, "You’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, haven’t you? Delivering this today, at this critical time, do you want to kick me when I’m down?"

"I waited for you at home for many days, but you refused to return even for Shiheng’s funeral, and afterward, you didn’t come home. I had no other choice but to find you here."

Tang Yuwei’s voice remained calm, even tender, "Tingmo, with things at this point, must you still be so stubborn? Let go of these obsessions, and there’s still a chance for your life to turn around."

"Tang Yuwei, do you remember why we got married?" Li Tingmo finally withdrew his gaze from the divorce agreement. He stared at Tang Yuwei unblinkingly, "We married because you were the Miss of the Tang Family, within the scope of my choices, you were who I preferred most."

Tang Yuwei frowned, her expression momentarily blank following Li Tingmo’s words, before she replied indifferently, "I know, over these years, haven’t I had feelings for you too?"

"I’m not trying to say I was sincere to you. I just want to let you know that many things have been beyond my choice. All I could ever do was make concessions in my life revolving around everything about the Li Family."

Li Tingmo gave a self-mocking laugh, seeing the emotion in Tang Yuwei’s eyes, he slowly said, "But no one told me, when I lose the Li Family, what would I have left."

Tang Yuwei clenched her purse tightly, looking down and not at Li Tingmo. Instead, she said softly, "Talking about these things now is meaningless. Tingmo, I know you’re in pain. But people must face their choices... take care of yourself."

This time, all the way until Tang Yuwei left, Li Tingmo didn’t speak.

He just watched Tang Yuwei’s retreating figure, a thought telling him, maybe this was the last time they would see each other in this life.

This woman, who had been tender and graceful before him all her life, had mustered the courage to leave him in their later years.

Such a resolute courage, even he didn’t know how to plead for her to stop.

Li Tingmo despondently picked up the divorce agreement on the table. He watched the clauses and it was clear—Tang Yuwei truly wanted nothing, she only wanted to leave.

"They all want to leave... they all want to leave! Then let them all go!" Li Tingmo laughed bleakly, picked up the pen beside him, and without any hesitation, signed his name.

Having done all this, he gathered his thoughts and walked to the window.

After a long while, he dialed the number that had troubled him so much.

The call connected after a moment, and Li Tingmo, with his back to the lamp light, looked bent and aged, he said, "Bian Yue... I’ll do as you say. I will... sell Feng Cheng to you."

Li Tingmo’s compromise came earlier than Bian Yue had expected.

She had thought Li Tingmo would hold out for a bit longer, but clearly, the pressure Bai Xu had put on him was immense, pushing Li Tingmo to his psychological limit.

Bian Yue sat on the bed, looking at the skies outside the window that had yet to brighten, and said indifferently, "I’ll come over now."

Shen Jinci didn’t know when he awoke, but as Bian Yue hung up the phone, he lazily pulled her into his embrace, softly asking, "Whose call was it?"

Bian Yue paused, looking down at him, "It was Li Tingmo. He agreed to sell Feng Cheng to me."

Shen Jinci sat up and poured a glass of water for Bian Yue.

He didn’t say much, only asking if Bian Yue would come back for lunch.

Bian Yue drank the water, pondering for a moment, her face colored with apology, "I... I’m not sure. If things go smoothly, I should be able to have lunch with you."

"If things don’t go well, call me," Shen Jinci said, "I’ll come to get you."

Bian Yue held the water glass, understanding the implications of Shen Jinci’s words, and couldn’t help but smile, "Are you worried they won’t let me leave? That won’t happen."

"Regardless, be careful," Shen Jinci paused, and then said, "Bian Yue, I want to ask you..."

"What is it?"

"If Li Sihe were still alive, would you be as resolute as you are now in acquiring the Li Family?"

Shen Jinci’s voice was languid and tired, and he intentionally spoke casually, making it sound like a question asked on a whim.

Bian Yue, however, considered it seriously for a while before responding, "Even if Li Sihe appeared in front of me now, I would still acquire Feng Cheng. It’s an important step in reviving the Bian Family."