0034 Meddling

Zhao Shumin felt that she and Li Zhiyan were natural enemies. Therefore, she assumed he would be eager to see her make a fool of herself or watch her get beaten. However, she never expected that the very person she found most disagreeable would step in to block her path. Should he not have been hoping to see her get hit?

"Why are you sticking your nose into other people's business!" Shang Shunsheng roared, though he subconsciously took a few steps back. Last time he fought Li Zhiyan, even with his mother helping, he was no match for him. Now, seeing Li Zhiyan standing in his way, he was genuinely intimidated. Being a bully who feared the strong was his defining trait.

"Just you wait!" Seeing that Li Zhiyan looked ready to strike at any moment, Shang Shunsheng dragged his girlfriend back to their room. Casting a glance at the teary-eyed Zhao Shumin, Li Zhiyan returned to his own room. The neighbors, having missed out on a domestic violence spectacle, looked visibly disappointed. They had expected a show, and the lack of a fight was a real letdown.

...

Back in his room, Li Zhiyan continued his online studies for a while. At midnight, the intelligence refreshed right on time.

"Go to the lottery shop and scratch this scratch-off ticket to win a prize of one thousand yuan."

Another thousand yuan in pocket money secured. It gave Li Zhiyan a greater sense of confidence.

"Zhao Shumin is deeply moved that you stopped her from being subjected to domestic violence today. Consequently, she has decided to 'save' you from your misguided path, as she does not want to see you end up in prison."

Li Zhiyan: "..."

He knew that his image as a deviant in Zhao Shumin's mind was truly beyond repair. Then again, with Aunt Shen's stockings and Valentino heels sitting in his room, he supposed it did look a bit... suspicious. But he was a decent person, after all.

"Tomorrow afternoon, Lai Feifei's younger brother will come to her house to borrow money. He has already borrowed one million from her that remains unpaid. Lai Feifei wants to refuse, but her brother will harass her relentlessly."

This piece of information made Li Zhiyan feel for Aunt Lai; it seemed every family had its own hidden troubles. He would have to help her out. Although he hadn't known Lai Feifei for long, she had been very kind to him. Moreover, she had inadvertently provided him with a lot of assistance. If Aunt Lai was in trouble and he could help, he certainly would.

"Most of the colleagues in the sales department have become besties with Liu Jinxin. Because he is on particularly good terms with the student union president, Liu Yichen, the two of them have decided to engage in workplace bullying against you."

Li Zhiyan didn't find this surprising. He spent all day preaching that men should sit down to pee and spouting those "simp" theories; it was only natural that the women in the company would like Liu Jinxin as their "male bestie." As for workplace bullying, if he were still in his previous situation—having nothing and risking starvation in Shanghai—he might have swallowed his pride. But now that he had his "golden finger," why would he fear such petty workplace bullying? Having no worries for the future, he would snap back at anyone he disliked and resist anyone who bullied him. Thus, he didn't take the words of that "sissy" to heart.

"Xu Qianqian is taking out online loans; she has eighty thousand yuan of credit remaining on her commercial loan."

"Shen Hongmei will suffer from insomnia until 1:30 AM, pondering why she feels such a strong connection to you and considering whether to develop a romantic relationship with you."

Though this information had no practical use, it gave Li Zhiyan peace of mind. Even the most rational woman is ultimately emotional deep down. He would definitely be able to win Aunt Shen over eventually.

"Better get some sleep."

...

At 8:30 the next morning, Li Zhiyan's alarm clock rang, causing him to rub his eyes.

"Another day of being a corporate slave..."

After washing up in the bathroom and preparing to head downstairs for a quick breakfast, he saw Zhao Shumin standing by the bathroom door holding a rolling pin. The phrase "I'll beat you to death with a rolling pin" flashed through Li Zhiyan's mind. What had he done to offend this shrew now?

But recalling the intelligence he had received, he knew she wasn't planning to hit him; she wouldn't dare assault someone with a weapon so easily. The last time she used the rolling pin on him, it was because she mistakenly thought he was trying to molest her daughter-in-law.

Seeing Li Zhiyan emerge, Zhao Shumin returned to the kitchen and brought out the breakfast she had prepared for him.

"Xiao Yan, I made some breakfast for you. Go ahead and eat. The stuff they sell outside isn't hygienic; it's much better to eat at home."

Looking at Zhao Shumin’s enthusiastic demeanor, Li Zhiyan couldn't help but feel tempted; this woman's cooking was indeed much better than anything outside. Takeout joints relied on excessive seasonings and oily, unhealthy practices, but she was a genuinely good cook.

"Thank you, Auntie."

Li Zhiyan took the breakfast and decided to reconcile with her. After all, they lived under the same roof, and with only ten thousand yuan in savings, he couldn't afford to move out immediately. Reconciling would make things much less awkward.

After Li Zhiyan returned to his room, Zhao Shumin followed him in. Li Zhiyan sat at the table to eat, while Zhao Shumin sat on his bed.

"Xiao Yan, why did you help me yesterday? I had torn your clothes before, and I thought you must really hate me." Zhao Shumin still found it hard to believe.

"Aunt Zhao, to be honest, I don't really like you," Li Zhiyan said sincerely. He truly didn't like this shrew, yet he found himself craving her—a contradiction that was truly baffling. But if he could resolve the tension, life would be much easier. "However, I look down on people who hit their parents. I can tell how well you treat Shang Shunsheng, yet he hits you. Didn't you discipline him when he was young?"

Zhao Shumin gave a bitter smile. "A woman's status in the family has always been the lowest. When I wasn't divorced from his father, he wouldn't even let me sit at the table to eat."

Li Zhiyan was shocked. He didn't expect such people to exist in this day and age. Truly, the world was full of wonders.

"Xiao Yan, let's just get along from now on. I'm very grateful to you."

"Alright."

As Li Zhiyan ate, he felt that he had reached a truce with Zhao Shumin.

"Xiao Yan..." Looking at the actually quite kind-hearted Li Zhiyan, Zhao Shumin couldn't help but speak up. "Xiao Yan, I know young men have certain... urges every day, but you should try not to indulge in your own fantasies too much... it's bad for your health."

Li Zhiyan's eyes widened. This woman! "Aunt Zhao, I really don't!"

He turned his head, only to see Zhao Shumin looking at him with a gaze full of maternal kindness and tolerance. "I know, I know. You're embarrassed, but I'm older than you. Do you think I don't know what the stockings in your room are for?"