“Yeah, Grandpa, I know.”
“Of course, it’s just about building goodwill. If it doesn’t work out, then so be it.” Old Master Li felt it would be good to foster relationships with decent people to expand their network, but he didn’t expect Li Tingxuan to lower himself or grovel. The Li family had no need for such sacrifices from him.
“Grandpa, I understand.”
Just then, Li Shuyao, who had overheard their conversation, walked in holding her cat.
After sitting down, she muttered discontentedly, “What’s so great about Gu Jianing anyway? Who knows if her so-called tuberculosis treatment results were stolen from someone else? Old Man Chen is her master, after all. Maybe it was his research, and he just gave it to Gu Jianing to let her take the credit.”
“Li Shuyao!” The moment her words left her mouth, a stern rebuke rang out beside her.
Li Shuyao was instantly frightened.
The cat in her arms was also startled.
Its claws dug into the back of her hand before it leaped away and fled.
“Ah!” Li Shuyao let out a sharp cry.
Li Tingxuan looked up and saw the bloody scratches on her hand, feeling a pang of guilt.
But when he recalled what she had just said, his brows furrowed again.
“My hand hurts so much!”
“Brother, why did you have to scare me?”
Li Tingxuan’s expression darkened. “Yaoyao, I know you said that because of Sheng Zexi, but a woman’s reputation is incredibly important—so is a doctor’s. How could you slander someone like that?”
“Dr. Gu is talented and officially recognized. By saying that, are you questioning the authorities? Or are you doubting Old Man Chen? Do you have any idea how much damage your words could do to the Li family if spoken outside?”
Hearing his grandson’s analysis, Old Master Li’s face also turned grim.
“Yaoyao, you’ve been acting more and more unreasonably lately.”
Truth be told, the old man knew his granddaughter wasn’t particularly capable—otherwise, she wouldn’t just be stuck in the cultural troupe.
But then again, he hadn’t had high expectations for her to begin with.
Since she lacked talent, she might as well be used for a marriage alliance to bring benefits to the Li family.
After all, as a member of the Li family, she had enjoyed the privileges it brought all these years. It was only fair she contributed in return.
Old Master Li was a man of both sentiment and ruthlessness. Toward Li Tingxuan, whom he had raised himself, he naturally felt affection.
But toward Li Shuyao, his granddaughter, he felt very little.
If anything, the interests of the Li family mattered most to him.
Previously, he had favored Sheng Zexi of the Sheng family, seeing him as a capable young man.
Despite being suppressed by Sheng Xinhao, Sheng Zexi had still managed to climb to the position of deputy regiment commander at a young age, earning the title of “Soldier King” for several consecutive years and racking up numerous military merits. That alone spoke volumes about his abilities.
Back then, Old Master Li had thought that if Li Shuyao married Sheng Zexi, her future would at least be secure.
This was the last trace of affection he held for his granddaughter—his only plan for her.
In truth, he had always felt Li Shuyao wasn’t worthy of someone as outstanding as Sheng Zexi.
Unexpectedly, Sheng Zexi had gone and married someone else. At first, Old Master Li had been displeased, thinking Sheng Zexi was being irrational and not considering his own future.
But now, realizing Sheng Zexi’s wife was none other than the renowned Dr. Gu, famous throughout the capital, he had to admit—Sheng Zexi was as shrewd as ever.
After all, anyone with eyes would choose Gu Jianing over Li Shuyao.
Sheng Xinhao (currently in the hospital): Good thing I’m hospitalized. Good thing I didn’t hear that—otherwise, I’d think you were calling me brainless and blind!
At this moment, hearing his granddaughter slander Gu Jianing, he became even more convinced that this granddaughter of his truly lacked brains.
Thankfully, thankfully, the Li family still had Li Tingxuan.
And the words Li Shuyao had just spoken were only within the Li household. If she had said them outside, as Li Tingxuan pointed out, wouldn’t it indeed be seen as questioning the authorities and Old Man Chen?
After all, Gu Jianing was someone officially recognized, and Old Man Chen held a prominent position in the capital with extensive influence.
If they were to hear such words, Li Shuyao would truly face dire consequences-and the Li family might even be implicated.
Old Master Li disliked anything or anyone that could harm the Li family.
So this time, he did not hold back in reprimanding his granddaughter.
As for Li Shuyao, she never expected that even after getting hurt, her grandfather and brother would still take Gu Jianing’s side.
Was that vixen Gu Jianing really that great?!
Furious, Li Shuyao burst into tears and stormed out of the house.
Li Tingxuan watched her retreating figure with mixed emotions.
He didn’t even know how to describe this sister of his. It seemed they had never been able to see eye to eye since childhood, sharing no common ground whatsoever.
Still, Li Shuyao was his sister, and he would continue to guide her.
But he could clearly sense that Yaoyao wasn’t particularly close to him, her own brother-in fact…
Li Tingxuan lowered his gaze, concealing the emotions in his eyes.
Hearing Yaoyao slander Gu Jianing had made him so angry that he had immediately lashed out.
When it came to matters involving Gu Jianing, he seemed to lose control of his emotions.
However…
He glanced at his grandfather. The old man didn’t seem to have noticed.
Indeed, Old Master Li hadn’t noticed.
Instead, he even comforted Li Tingxuan, advising him not to spoil Li Shuyao too much. She needed discipline when necessary-if the family didn’t correct her, and she went around causing trouble outside, it could bring disaster upon the Li family.
“Grandpa, I understand.”
But…
Li Tingxuan thought to himself-he would soon be leaving for the Northwest Military Region, so he wouldn’t be able to keep an eye on Li Shuyao for much longer.
Actually, he could have left for the Northwest Military Region much earlier.
The reason he hadn’t gone yet was because of that mission.
In his dreams, across two lifetimes, he had participated in that mission-only to meet a tragic end alongside his comrades.
And it was because of that mission that he had developed PTSD.
Now that he had applied for a transfer to the Northwest Military Region, the mission hadn’t been assigned to him.
But Li Tingxuan couldn’t just ignore it.
If he did nothing, wouldn’t his comrades suffer the same fate as in his dreams?
He couldn’t bear that.
Those were his closest brothers-in-arms, men with families, lovers, and children of their own.
So, if possible, Li Tingxuan wanted to do everything he could to save their lives.
Lately, he had been analyzing the reasons for the mission’s failure in his dreams.
The conclusion he reached was simple: there was a traitor.
A mole had infiltrated their ranks and leaked critical information.
Recently, Li Tingxuan had been investigating, but so far, he had no concrete leads on who it might be.
He knew he had to hurry. Before leaving for the Northwest Military Region, he had to root out this hidden rat.
Otherwise, even if he went to the Northwest, he wouldn’t be able to rest easy.
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