Warm sunlight bathed the entire private beach, and the sea breeze, carrying a faint scent of sea salt, brushed gently across the water. Li Meng, dressed in light summer clothes, reclined lazily on a beach chair. She kept her eyes closed, resting and savoring this rare moment of leisure.
The tension that had gripped her nerves for so long gradually began to ease to the rhythm of the crashing waves.
Just as she was about to drift into a light sleep, her phone suddenly vibrated, the ringtone shattering the beach’s tranquility.
She frowned slightly and answered the call, her voice still carrying a lingering laziness.
“Hello.”
“Mengmeng,” came Bai Qing’s slightly hesitant voice from the other end of the line. “About our Lili’s marriage contract… can we discuss it again?”
The caller was Bai Qing, and the person on the other end was Bai Lili’s mother, Li Meng.
Regarding the matter Bai Qing wanted to discuss, Li Meng gave her answer almost immediately. Her tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.
“There’s no room for discussion, Qing. You know as well as I do that with Lili’s innocent personality and one-track mind, if we let her inherit the family fortune on her own, she’ll probably be swindled out of everything before we know it.”
She paused, her voice gaining a sense of certainty after careful consideration.
“On the other hand, Su Ruo from the Su family is quite good. I’ve observed her in secret before; her feelings for Lili are anything but ordinary. She’s stable and reliable. With her around, Lili won’t suffer.”
Bai Qing was silent for a moment on the other end, as if weighing his options or perhaps conceding in resignation. Finally, he let out a soft sigh.
“…Fine, we’ll do as you say. It’s for Lili’s own good anyway.” He paused, remembering something else, and added softly, “By the way, Lili told me she wants to go to Florin Academy.”
Li Meng reached for a glass of chilled juice on the side table and took a slow sip. The cool liquid slid down her throat, but her expression didn’t soften.
“That’s also not up for debate. I don’t know anyone at Florin Academy, and it wouldn’t be easy to look after her there. I’m not comfortable with it.”
“Besides, I’ve heard that there are ability users with the Evil attribute hiding out at Florin Academy.”
Her tone softened slightly, carrying a hint of playful mischief. “Also, I’m coming back tomorrow. Remember to pick me up at the airport 🫰.”
The two chatted casually about household matters for a few more minutes before hanging up.
Li Meng leaned back into her beach chair and looked at the rolling waves in the distance, letting out a soft sigh.
‘Sigh—’
Actually, she had also considered letting Lili choose her own partner and decide her own life. However, her daughter’s mind was too simple and her nature too innocent. Forget about holding her ground in the complex circles of noble families and ability users; she would struggle even to distinguish good intentions from bad.
She had heard that people grew at an incredible pace after experiencing extreme pain, becoming mature and sensible overnight. But deep down, Li Meng did not want Lili to grow up that way.
Memorable pain was agonizing; it would leave a scar on the heart that could never be fully erased. As a mother, she didn’t want her daughter to carry a burden like that for the rest of her life.
At that thought, she sat up slightly and tapped her fingers on the screen, dialing another number.
The call was answered quickly.
“Hello, Ruo-ruo. I heard you awakened an S-Rank ability.”
A respectful and gentle voice came through immediately.
“Mrs. Li, yes. I’ve awakened the Nine-Tailed Fox ability.”
Li Meng stared into the distance and spoke slowly, her tone heavy with trust.
“You must take good care of Lili at school. She’s been too protected since she was a child and hasn’t had much contact with society. She still can’t tell who is truly good to her and who has ulterior motives.”
Su Ruo’s voice was firm and serious, carrying a reassuring strength.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Li. I will definitely protect Lili.”
They continued to chat casually for a while, but beneath the surface, both were testing each other. Su Ruo subtly managed to pry information out of Li Meng about Lili’s hobbies, habits, and everything she liked.
After Li Meng hung up, her fingertips lightly rubbed the phone’s casing as a strange feeling rose in her heart.
Su Ruo was… far too invested in their Lili. So much so that it felt almost obsessive.
She stared at the calm yet unfathomable sea and murmured to herself, a hint of unease in her voice that even she hadn’t noticed.
‘I wonder if entrusting Lili to her was really the right choice.’
So, Li Meng decided to add one more layer of insurance.
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