Chapter 83: At One’s Wits’ End

"You've climbed up here again?" Li Qingying was trembling with anger. "Do you realize? Just now you climbed up empty-handed, and now you’re carrying a quilt and bedding. What if you fell and died?"

"What else could happen?" He Haoxuan put on a pitiful expression, tears almost in his eyes. "Then you'd be a widow, and could marry a rich man all over again."

Li Qingying wanted to scold him further, but he tossed the bedding onto the floor, grabbed some clothes, and slipped into the bathroom.

"You—" Li Qingying was at a loss for words.

Faced with such a shameless husband, she couldn't muster any anger at all.

Ever since the first day he had come to her family’s home, his skin had been that thick, and none of them could do a thing about him.

Before long, He Haoxuan emerged in a pair of beach shorts. "Honey, do you want to shower? Should I help you?"

"Nonsense. Go to sleep, it’s almost dawn." Li Qingying blushed, spat a words at him, then climbed onto the big bed and switched off all the lights.

That way, he wouldn’t see her red face.

For some reason, she didn’t drive He Haoxuan away. In fact, with him in the room, she felt more at ease.

Li Qingying, who used to have trouble falling asleep, drifted off quickly that night.

He Haoxuan quietly got up from his makeshift bed and carefully inspected the room.

Someone had tried to kill him for the second time now. He didn’t mind if they wanted him dead—but if they tried to harm Li Qingying, he would never allow it.

After making sure nothing was amiss, he finally lay down and slept at ease.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, there was a knock at the door. "Qingying, are you awake?"

Li Qingying had slept soundly and only woke up at the sound of knocking. "Mom, what is it?" She was still a little groggy.

"I just went outside and didn’t see that useless He Haoxuan anywhere. Who knows where he’s gone?" said Song Li.

"I’m here," He Haoxuan immediately sat up and answered when he heard Song Li was looking for him.

"Ah! He Haoxuan’s inside!" Song Li shrieked. "Qingying, open this door."

Li Qingying glared angrily at He Haoxuan. "If you kept quiet, no one would think you were mute. Why did you have to speak up again?"

"I was worried your mom would be anxious." He Haoxuan grinned. "Don’t worry, nothing happened between us. She won’t do anything to me."

Song Li grew even more anxious and pounded on the door.

After a long moment, Li Qingying finally opened the door slowly. "Mom, we were sleeping, you know?"

"Where’s He Haoxuan?" Song Li tried to push past her, but He Haoxuan’s voice came from behind.

"I’m right here! Mom, were you looking for me?"

Song Li turned around in surprise. "He Haoxuan, how are you outside?"

"Sigh, I spent the whole night out in the cold. Luckily, you just opened the door so I could come in," He Haoxuan said with a smile.

Song Li shook her head forcefully and even slapped her own cheek. "Looks like I didn’t sleep well last night—my mind’s playing tricks on me."

"Mom, if there’s nothing else, I’d like to sleep a bit more." It was Sunday, and Li Qingying didn’t want to get up so early.

"Alright, you go on sleeping. I’m going to take the BMW X7 to the dealership for repairs. These days, as soon as I show up, the manager doesn’t dare charge me a cent. If you need a car, use mine." After giving a few instructions, Song Li turned and left.

He Haoxuan was about to head back inside when Song Li grabbed his arm.

"Mom, I haven’t slept all night. I need to sleep. Let go," He Haoxuan protested, shaking her off.

"If you want to sleep, go back to your own room. What are you doing here?" Song Li wasn’t about to let him stay in Li Qingying’s room and dragged him out.

He Haoxuan wore a mournful face. "Mom, let me go. I just want to sleep!"

Li Qingying couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Though this He Haoxuan was a bit ridiculous, he wasn’t all that bad.

After breakfast, He Haoxuan’s phone rang. It was Yi Xiaoyan. "Are you free right now?"

"What’s up?" He Haoxuan asked.

"I need to see you for something. Could you come out for a bit?" Yi Xiaoyan’s voice was gentle, comfortable to the ear.

Seeing this, He Haoxuan had no choice but to take his electric scooter to meet her.

By the river, the wind was strong and the leaves on the nearby trees whipped about.

Yi Xiaoyan was wearing a long woolen dress, her hair caught up in the breeze.

"Xiaoyan, what’s the matter?" He Haoxuan pulled up next to her on his scooter.

She looked up and saw he was still dressed in beach shorts and slippers, just like before. She felt a pang of sympathy. "Haoxuan, didn’t I give you some money last time? You should buy yourself some decent clothes."

"My clothes are quite decent," He Haoxuan glanced at his shorts and grinned.

Yi Xiaoyan shook her head, but didn’t argue further. She took out a wad of cash from her bag. "I’ve had good luck lately, keep winning prizes. I sold the air conditioners and such, and got a few thousand. Here, take it."

"What? You sold your prizes?" He Haoxuan broke into a cold sweat.

He’d wanted to repay her in other ways, but hadn’t expected she’d sell the prizes for cash and give it back to him.

"Yes, take the money. Otherwise, I’ll be angry." Without giving him a chance to refuse, Yi Xiaoyan stuffed the money into his hands.

Seeing her looking a bit thinner, He Haoxuan’s heart ached. "Let me treat you to a meal today."

"Not today. I have to tutor some students. How about this—come have dinner with me in a few days, will you?" She looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes.

"Alright. Call me first, and I’ll arrange things," He Haoxuan nodded.

Yi Xiaoyan felt even more sorry for him. Clearly, life at the Li family wasn’t easy for him—he had to arrange everything just to spare time for a meal.

"Haoxuan, don’t worry. I’ll work hard and pay you back soon." She waved her small fist, determination radiating from her.

In the general manager’s office at Baili Group, Li Dasong was pounding the desk in frustration. "Damn it, what’s wrong with you people? I told you to talk to the people at Quange, and even if you had to get on your knees and beg, you must settle this!"

A group of employees stood before him, heads bowed. "Director Li, it’s not that we don’t want to beg. The moment they hear we’re from Baili Group, their security guards throw us out."

"How much have we lost now?" Li Dasong asked.

"It’s unimaginable. Other companies, hearing we have issues with Qualified Trading, won’t cooperate with us at all. If this keeps up, Baili Group is finished," a female secretary said, her voice trembling with fear.