Chapter Thirteen: Who Are You?

This time, it was none other than Li Chongguang, the patriarch of the Li family, who had summoned Li Chuxi back.

Following the butler, Fu Bo, into the old Li family mansion, Li Chuxi’s face betrayed no excess emotion. She remained composed and unfazed, her presence steady and inscrutable, with no fluctuation in her aura that might reveal her thoughts.

Although Fu Bo’s expression remained neutral, he was inwardly taken aback. It had only been a while since he last saw her, but he sensed that Li Chuxi had undergone a significant transformation.

Though it was the same person, he felt as if she had become completely different from before. Once, Li Chuxi appeared restless and superficial at first glance. Even with her striking beauty, she failed to hold anyone’s genuine interest.

But now, Li Chuxi exuded an ethereal grace. Standing there, what first caught one’s attention was not merely her beauty but the captivating aura she radiated.

Fu Bo found himself quietly pondering what could have happened to her to bring about such a profound change.

As a professional butler, despite his astonishment, Fu Bo maintained his composure and led Li Chuxi to the greenhouse.

There, Li Chongguang sat quietly before a chessboard. He was not playing but rather studying the arrangement of the pieces.

Fu Bo quickly took his leave.

Li Chuxi approached her grandfather calmly and greeted him softly, “Grandfather.”

Without lifting his head, the old man responded, “You’ve come.”

His words were few and indifferent, yet the coldness in his tone, combined with the subtle but imposing authority he emanated, was enough to make any younger family member standing there feel uneasy, as though pricked by invisible thorns.

If this were the old Li Chuxi, she would have been trembling with nervousness in front of her grandfather. But the woman before him now was no longer the same.

Having traversed countless worlds and faced numerous formidable figures—each more powerful than Li Chongguang—Li Chuxi no longer showed the timid meekness she once did.

“Grandfather,” Li Chuxi looked at him directly and asked, “May I know why you summoned me today?”

Her words were steady and straightforward, causing the old man, who had been focused on the chessboard, to pause. Finally, he lifted his eyes to look at his granddaughter standing before him.

At that glance, he was deeply shocked.

For the Li Chuxi before him had changed beyond recognition. The composed and steady aura she now bore was far beyond what the old man knew of her.

Even though several months had passed since their last meeting, no one could undergo such drastic change in such a short time.

“Who are you?” Li Chongguang’s eyes grew sharp and piercing, laced with scrutiny and chill.

Under such a gaze, any other younger family member would surely shrink back in fear, yet Li Chuxi remained utterly unfazed.

She even pulled out the chair opposite him and sat down leisurely, tilting her head with a languid smile at the corner of her lips.

“Who am I? Don’t you know? Weren’t you the one who called me back?”

“Impossible,” the old man retorted instinctively. “You’re not Li Chuxi. Li Chuxi wouldn’t have the courage to act like this.”

“Is that so?” Li Chuxi met his gaze without hesitation, calm and collected. “I didn’t realize you knew me so well, Grandfather.”

“Who exactly are you?” His sharp eyes seemed to pierce right through her. “What is your purpose?”

“And how do you know that I am not the real me?” Li Chuxi showed no sign of evasion, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Grandfather, do you know what I’ve come to understand recently?”

She suddenly shifted the subject, but the old man’s suspicious gaze remained fixed on her.

Not expecting a reply, she continued on her own accord.

“There’s a saying: a kind person is often bullied, and a gentle horse is often ridden. I once believed that if I were patient enough, my parents would remember that I am their own daughter. But I was wrong.”

“If endless patience cannot bring the result I want, then what is the point in continuing to endure? Rather than constantly yielding and being wronged, it’s better to be my true self and live more freely.”

Whether this explanation was entirely reasonable, Li Chuxi didn’t know. But since her transformation was so great, she no longer intended to hide her true nature, so she needed some justification.

Besides, she wasn’t lying. The current Li Chuxi was the true one. The previous version was merely a foreign soul inhabiting her body.

Li Chongguang didn’t know whether to believe her or not. He kept staring intently. “So you mean, the old you was always hiding your true self?”

“Whatever you think I am, that’s what I am,” Li Chuxi shrugged indifferently. “If you think I’m an impostor, feel free to investigate. I have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”

After a long silence, the old man finally withdrew his gaze and spoke quietly, “I already know what happened yesterday.”

“Go back and apologize to your parents! No matter what, as the younger generation, you should not talk back to them like this.”

“I won’t,” Li Chuxi refused without hesitation. “I don’t think I’m wrong, so I won’t apologize.”

Her tone was flat, as if simply stating a fact rather than defying her elders.

Li Chongguang clearly hadn’t expected such a refusal. His eyes narrowed slightly, shining with sharpness.

“Li Chuxi, so your change is just to defy your elders?”

“Defy?” Li Chuxi raised an eyebrow. “Grandfather, isn’t that a bit harsh? I’m merely rejecting an unreasonable demand. How can that be called defiance?”

“Li Chuxi, do you know what you’re saying?” The old man’s voice now carried a trace of anger. “Did you not understand me? I’m informing you, not discussing it with you.”