CHAPTER 285: CHAPTER 285: MEET MY DAD

Under the same night sky, Li Sihe stood in front of the meandering floor-to-ceiling windows in the rain, and after a long while, lit the photograph in his hand.

In the photograph was the 18-year-old Bian Yue, her features fresh and beautiful, smiling prettily in her school uniform, with a pair of apricot eyes clear and clean, head resting on his shoulder, smiling.

Li Sihe understood how easily the human heart could change; it seemed she had completely forgotten the past, and in her eyes and heart now, there truly was only Shen Jinci.

She was actually carrying Shen Jinci’s child; in such a short time, she had completely turned her back on him.

Li Sihe’s eyes were cold as he received another call on his phone; he tossed the photo, which was nearly burnt up, onto the floor and picked up the call with an expressionless face, "What is it?"

"Mr. Li, I’ve prepared all the information and details of the cooperation you asked for," Bai Xu’s voice was calm, "When do you plan to move forward?"

The night was dark, and uncertain light fell across Li Sihe’s face as he spoke again with more resolve, "As soon as possible."

Wen Jiao was driven home by Shen Zhaoli, and on the way, neither of them spoke.

The car stopped in front of the Wen Family’s main gate, and Wen Jiao, who had kept her head down the whole trip, finally lifted it up and lightly coughed, saying, "I’m home now, you... drive safely on your way back."

After these words, she hurriedly tried to get out of the car.

But in the next moment, Wen Jiao’s actions stalled, her disbelief apparent as she tried to pull the car door handle repeatedly, finally giving up with a sigh and looking towards Shen Zhaoli’s gorgeous profile, frowning, "Shen Zhaoli, I want to get out of the car."

"What’s the rush?" Shen Zhaoli’s thin lips curved into a faint smile as he said, "It’s so late, has your dad gone to bed?"

"Whether my dad’s asleep or not is none of your business!" Wen Jiao took a deep breath and said, "What? You still want to go in and see my dad?"

Wen Jiao didn’t think that, after their intense argument at the hotel, Shen Zhaoli would still want to see her father.

She wasn’t the type who couldn’t read the room and genuinely wanted to heed Shen Zhaoli’s words to stay away from him as much as possible.

But now, it was he who was relentlessly pursuing her.

Wen Jiao felt a tingling in her scalp and her eyes carried a hint of anger as she looked at Shen Zhaoli, "Why don’t you say something? If you want to see my dad, I’ll make arrangements for you!"

Shen Zhaoli observed Wen Jiao’s defiant yet vulnerable face, his eyes twinkling with mischievous amusement for a moment, then slowly said, "Sure, I’ll wait for you to arrange it. Call your dad right now."

The feeling of tingling on Wen Jiao’s scalp was more pronounced as she said, "Are you sick? What do you want to see my dad for! Shen Zhaoli, have you forgotten what you said last time? You told me not to cling to you."

"I asked you not to cling to me—I didn’t say I couldn’t approach you," Shen Zhaoli looked at Wen Jiao, feeling as if he must be insane to find even her annoyed expression exceptionally lively.

"You’re really sick! Open the door, or I’m calling the police right now and let Shen Jinci bail you out from the police station tomorrow!"

"Bian Yue is pregnant right now, would you really disturb them? Wen Jiao, I didn’t realize you were just a paper tiger."

His eyes brimmed with laughter; he paused for a moment, then slowly continued, "My favorite thing to do is to tear down your paper facade."

If not for the fear of the physical disparity, knowing she couldn’t win, Wen Jiao would have loved to slap Shen Zhaoli right then, as punishment for his damaging words.

But in the next moment, the annoyance on Wen Jiao’s face was replaced by astonishment—there, not far away, stood her father Wen Yongwei with a gloomy expression, his gaze fixed intently on the two of them.

"Dad..." Wen Jiao blurted out subconsciously.

Shen Zhaoli paused for a moment, then opened the car door without a word.

Wen Jiao, not caring about other matters, hastily got out of the car.

Wen Yongwei recognized Shen Zhaoli. The young master of the Shen Family was currently rising to prominence, acting exceptionally high-profile, completely unlike Shen Jinci’s reserved and subdued manner, carrying an air of spirited arrogance about him.

At the moment, he stood behind his own beloved daughter, yet his expression was constrained, like a senior student caught in the act.

Wen Yongwei remembered that this young master of the Shen Family was actually two years younger than his daughter.

"Dad..." Wen Jiao saw that Wen Yongwei kept looking at Shen Zhaoli behind her and tried to smooth things over, saying, "Don’t look at him, look at me. What’s there to see in him?"

"Hmph, look at you? How often do I get to see you in a month? Ever since you called off the engagement with Wei Shuqian, wanting to see you has been harder than reaching the heavens!" Wen Yongwei said with a stern face, "If it weren’t for me finding out from the butler that you were going to meet Bian Yue today, I wouldn’t even be able to catch you!"

"Dad, it’s really cold, would you let your darling daughter stay out in the cold?" Wen Jiao took hold of Wen Yongwei’s hand, saying, "Let’s go, we should head inside."

Just as Wen Jiao was eager to leave with Wen Yongwei, Shen Zhaoli stepped forward and spoke calmly, "Uncle, I’m Wen Jiao’s boyfriend, Shen Zhaoli."

"Boyfriend my ass!" Wen Jiao lost her patience and cursed, "You wretched brat, you’re really overstepping your bounds! Do you really think I wouldn’t dare to take care of you!"

Shen Zhaoli remained impassive, looking at Wen Yongwei with a casual smile, "I don’t know if Uncle is free to join me for tea."

"Not convenient!"

"Convenient."

"Dad!" Wen Jiao looked at Wen Yongwei indignantly, visibly upset, "This brat is just picking a fight with me! I’m not with him, and I don’t like him!"

Wen Yongwei acted as if he hadn’t heard her; he looked at Shen Zhaoli and said indifferently, "Come in with us."

In the Wen Family’s living room, Wen Jiao diligently poured water for Wen Yongwei, smilingly saying, "Dad, drink more. He doesn’t need any; he’s already had his share."

"Go upstairs."

"Why should I go upstairs?" Wen Jiao could see that Wen Yongwei was quite interested in Shen Zhaoli, and she nervously said, "Dad, you can’t just ignore your own daughter, right? I really have no feelings for him, you can’t just be looking at the Shen Family’s money!"

"If I were only looking at money, you wouldn’t still be here!" Wen Yongwei frowned at Wen Jiao, impatiently saying, "Hurry up and go, looking at you only annoys me!"

Wen Jiao’s expression was one of innocence. Before she left, she glared at Shen Zhaoli, who sat unfazed across from Wen Yongwei.

Only when he made sure Wen Jiao had gone far did Wen Yongwei finally speak, his face cold, "Do you truly like my daughter?"

"I do."

"Like what about her?"

"I can’t quite explain it. If I knew, I surely wouldn’t have chosen Wen Jiao." Shen Zhaoli’s smile was tranquil, his overly refined features and the fox-like eyes exuding a cool temperament, he smiled and said, "You must know, your daughter is indeed quick-tempered."

Hearing what Shen Zhaoli said, Wen Yongwei unexpectedly smiled a little. He looked meaningfully at Shen Zhaoli and slowly said, "The mess that the Wen Family is in is not easy to handle. I remember you’re only 21 years old, have you thought it through?"