Chapter 124: The Heroine’s Emotions Explode! Reporting to Work at the Hotel! Calling Her Brother-in-Law:
Xu Hao held Li Yunshu gently and spoke with a tone of self-reproach.
"Yunshu, I'm sorry. I drank too much last night, and you happened to be there..."
And there it was again—those familiar, devilish words, classic lines of a scumbag.
‘It's not my fault; it was the alcohol.’
He conveniently ignored the facts. Wasn't he still wrong?
If she hadn't been near him at the time, would he have acted that way?
Li Yunshu, being overly sensible, couldn’t bring herself to blame Xu Hao. Hearing his tone of remorse, she remembered how she had unintentionally ended up by Uncle Xu’s side yesterday.
She hadn’t resisted.
For a moment, she even started blaming herself.
Recalling the events of the previous day, her face flushed with embarrassment. Hesitant, she murmured, "No... it's okay, Uncle Xu. Let’s just treat it as a misunderstanding."
"No."
Li Yunshu froze, confused by his firm response.
Xu Hao’s expression turned serious. "How can I let this pass as a misunderstanding? That would be so unfair to you. I must take responsibility. Today, I’ll take you home and announce our relationship..."
Li Yunshu’s mind went blank.
An image flashed before her eyes—Uncle Xu holding her hand and declaring their relationship to the world.
Her heart stirred with emotion.
But then, reality hit her like a cold splash of water.
As much as she longed for the fantasy, it was unrealistic.
If Uncle Xu truly announced that he was with her, just a lowly employee, it would ruin his reputation.
Not to mention, it would destroy his family.
She, too, would be vilified as someone who seduced her boss, despised by countless people.
The morning before, hadn’t she said the same to her best friend?
They were just an accident.
Uncle Xu had always been so kind to her.
How could she let him destroy himself for her sake?
Anxiously, she exclaimed, "No!"
Realizing she had spoken too harshly, she softened her tone.
"Uncle Xu, please don’t announce this. It would harm your reputation. Let’s just treat it as an accident, okay?"
Xu Hao held her hand tightly.
"I don’t care about appearances, Yunshu. What happened wasn’t meaningless..."
Before he could finish, Li Yunshu interrupted, "It doesn’t matter to me either. Just don’t push me away, Uncle Xu."
"You silly girl," Xu Hao said with a gentle smile, playfully tapping her nose.
His eyes grew soft and full of emotion.
"Yunshu, even if you don’t want me to take responsibility, I can’t ignore my feelings.
"After spending so many days with you, your kindness, simplicity, and sincerity have all captured my heart.
"I’ve fallen for you. I can’t just pretend nothing happened.
"If you don’t want me to announce it, I won’t. But please don’t refuse my love or the compensation you deserve.
"Remember, this isn’t about me owing you anything. It’s about me genuinely liking you..."
Xu Hao’s gaze was steady and sincere.
Li Yunshu was stunned.
She understood what Xu Hao was trying to say.
Uncle Xu wanted to compensate her, but he worried she wouldn’t accept it unless he framed it as love.
Looking at his affectionate expression, her heart raced.
She remembered her best friend’s words: If you can be with the one you love, why care about the opinions of others?
At this moment, Li Yunshu’s emotions surged.
Blushing, she admitted shyly, "Actually, Uncle Xu, I like you too..."
"Really, Yunshu?"
Xu Hao was ecstatic, gripping her shoulders with excitement.
Li Yunshu nodded, her cheeks red as if on fire.
"Yunshu..."
Hearing him call her name, she looked up in confusion.
Then froze, speechless.
[Ding! Li Yunshu feels uncertain, emotional value +789...]
[Ding! Li Yunshu feels scared, emotional value +987...]
"Yunshu, why are you crying?" Xu Hao asked, concerned as he noticed her tears.
Li Yunshu stammered, "I... I don’t know either..."
What a crybaby.
Xu Hao thought to himself.
Perhaps it wasn’t a good idea to stay alone with her next time.
He decided to call room service to deliver their meal.
After eating together, they left the hotel.
…
Meanwhile, in an alley nearby, Li Xiao had been lying there since the previous night.
He looked like a mess—disheveled hair, tattered clothes, and a haggard face smeared with blood. Passersby mistook him for a beggar who had been beaten for failing to beg successfully.
Feeling pity, many tossed coins at him.
By noon, the pile of change in front of him had grown into a small mountain.
The nearby beggars were astonished.
This man was incredible.
In a single morning, he had earned more than they usually did in a month.
"Brother, you’re amazing! Can you teach me your tricks? If we work together, we could make a fortune!"
"Don’t worry, I’ll protect you on this street in return," an elderly beggar said, patting Li Xiao’s shoulder with admiration.
The old man couldn’t help but envy Li Xiao’s ‘skills.’ He assumed this ‘expert’ could teach him a thing or two.
But Li Xiao sat there like a lifeless puppet, his eyes dull and fixated on the hotel door.
He looked like he hadn’t eaten in days, staring at the entrance as if longing for a warm meal.
To the people passing by, he seemed pitiful.
Who wouldn’t spare a few coins for such a sight?
This was true professionalism.
Although Li Xiao’s heart was filled with despair, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly at the old beggar’s words.
Teach him to beg?
Couldn’t they see he was heartbroken beyond repair?
Staring at the hotel, Li Xiao desperately wanted to see his sister. He had been waiting for a long time, but she still hadn’t come out. Any lingering hope he had in his heart vanished completely.
His sister, Li Yunshu, had been completely consumed by that scumbag Xu Hao.
She had told him she was just going to rest at the hotel. But what decent person would stay in a hotel room all morning?
He knew his sister had work, yet she hadn’t appeared.
It wasn’t hard to figure out—she must still be asleep, probably exhausted from being tormented by Xu Hao all night.
The thought of his pure, beautiful sister being treated this way made Li Xiao’s blood boil with anger.
Suddenly, he saw two figures emerging from the hotel door.
Li Xiao jumped to his feet so abruptly that the old beggar sitting beside him almost lost control of himself in fear.
A moment ago, Li Xiao had looked like he’d lost everything in life, yet now he seemed full of energy.
The beggar was astonished, “Holy cow! This guy is a master actor. I’ve got to become his apprentice!”
“Little brother—no, big brother—I haven’t eaten for three days and nights. Please, take pity on me and teach me a few tricks!”
But Li Xiao didn’t even hear him.
He dashed toward the two figures.
One of them was his sister.
The other, of course, was none other than Xu Hao.
Li Xiao’s heart broke when he saw Li Yunshu walking slowly beside Xu Hao, her brows slightly furrowed.
How could Xu Hao be so heartless?
Sure, his sister-in-law had been in the same situation before, but at least she was in her 30s and could handle it.
Li Yunshu had just graduated from college this year.
Li Xiao wished he could crush Xu Hao into dust.
But he couldn’t act on it.
As soon as he approached, Xu Hao’s bodyguard, Bai Ling, stepped forward, her imposing presence warning Li Xiao not to act recklessly.
Li Xiao cried out in anguish, “Sister!”
Li Yunshu, lost in thought as she walked, was startled by the voice.
She had always been a good girl, but ever since she became friends with Xia Qingge, her best friend, she had started thinking differently.
Her best friend often hinted at certain things, and those thoughts inevitably led to... the bedroom.
Now that she was with Xu Hao, her eyes had been opened to a whole new world.
As she pondered, a familiar figure rushed toward her, startling her. Instinctively, she clung to Xu Hao’s arm.
When she saw the disheveled man in front of her, she hesitated before recognizing him.
It was her useless brother, Li Xiao.
She frowned deeply, her expression growing colder.
“Do you need something?” she asked, her tone distant.
Li Xiao’s heart ached seeing his sister clinging to Xu Hao.
“Sister, I’ve warned you before. He has bad intentions for you. Why didn’t you listen?”
His voice was filled with frustration, but no matter how much he tried to continue, he couldn’t find the words.
He was furious.
He had told his sister countless times that Xu Hao was no good. Yet she had walked right into his arms.
And not just willingly—practically for free.
She didn’t even look like someone forced by threats.
It was as if she had given herself to Xu Hao of her own accord.
Li Xiao felt helpless and suffocated by the situation.
[Ding! Li Xiao is heartbroken, emotional points +741...]
[Ding! Li Xiao’s mental state collapses, emotional points +852...]
Hearing his accusations, two red streaks crept across Li Yunshu’s cheeks.
Had their relationship been exposed already?
Though her brother was a useless fool, he was still family.
What if he told their parents?
If their parents found out, her relationship with Xu Hao would be ruined.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remain calm.
“You’ve misunderstood. Uncle Xu and I were just discussing work at the hotel. It’s not what you think...”
Li Xiao stared at her, dumbfounded.
She was holding Xu Hao’s arm, her cheeks flushed, her eyes moist, and there was an unmistakable charm in her demeanor.
She wanted him to believe they were “discussing work”?
“Reporting to work at the hotel? Sure, it’s reporting work... on the bed,” he thought bitterly.
Li Xiao was so angry he felt like coughing up blood.
But as he calmed down, he realized there was no saving the situation. His sister had gone too far.
Still, he resolved to do something. He wouldn’t let his sister sink further into this pit.
He knew Xu Hao’s game.
Xu Hao was already eyeing her best friend, planning to fool both women and have them at his beck and call.
How could he let that happen?
“Sister,” Li Xiao said through gritted teeth, “before anything else, could you at least let go of his hand?”
Only then did Li Yunshu realize she was clinging to Xu Hao. Embarrassed, she quickly let go.
She knew her excuse wasn’t believable, but there was no escaping it now.
“Fine, it’s what you think,” she admitted boldly. “Uncle Xu and I are together.”
She glanced shyly at Xu Hao, then continued, “It wasn’t what you think at first. It was an accident, but I also like Uncle Xu. We’re truly together.”
As she spoke, her shyness faded, replaced by a sweet, happy smile.
She looked at Li Xiao and said, “So if you still see me as your sister, don’t tell our parents.”
Li Xiao’s heart sank.
It must have been another one of Xu Hao’s manipulative schemes.
Seeing his sister, unaware of the trap she had fallen into, even helping Xu Hao with his plans, made his blood boil.
Finally, he swallowed his anger and said, “Fine, I won’t tell our parents... but only if you agree to one condition: move back home.”
Li Xiao hoped this would at least distance her from Xu Hao and her best friend.
Li Yunshu frowned. She had moved out to avoid Li Xiao in the first place.
Besides, she got along well with her best friend.
“No,” she replied firmly. “I live with my best friend, and it’s safe there. Tell our parents not to worry.”
“Safe?” Li Xiao scoffed. “Do you even know that your best friend...”
Before he could finish saying “is Xu Hao’s woman,” Xu Hao interrupted with a few deliberate coughs.
Li Xiao stopped himself, glaring at Xu Hao with hatred.
If looks could kill, Xu Hao would have been dead on the spot.
Xu Hao smiled, his voice gentle yet laced with warning.
“Yunshu is right. We’re truly together, and I’m sure Xiao Xiao will understand us. Isn’t that right, Xiao Xiao?”
Li Xiao clenched his fists.
Understand? He understood perfectly.
Xu Hao had manipulated his sister, and now he wanted him to play along.
Before leaving, Xu Hao patted Li Xiao’s shoulder and said, “Remember, I’m your brother-in-law now. If you need anything, you can come to me.”
Li Xiao could only watch as Xu Hao and Li Yunshu walked away.
In the distance, he heard his sister’s shy voice, “What kind of brother-in-law? You’re so embarrassing...”
Li Xiao couldn’t take it anymore.
He coughed up blood, clutching his chest as his face twisted in pain.
It hurt. It hurt so much.