Chapter 797   - When the Time Runs Out (1)

The scandal about Liu Ruoyan's cheating over the years at the Golden Thread Awards greatly affected Xing Yiyue's plan. Although she wasn't directly involved in what Liu Ruoyan did, it didn't stop people from giving her suspicious looks just because she was acquainted with that woman.

How did this happen and why only now? Ruoyan had been doing it for years and was never caught until now. If she had known that Liu Ruoyan's misdeeds would be revealed that night, she would not seek that woman at all but it was too late to regret now.

Meanwhile, Li Meili's name and the brand Black Nightingale suddenly became popular overnight when the video clip where Luo Qingqing took the stage wearing the "Dryad of the Trees' circulated over social media. Both the model and the dress received high approval from the netizens, while Liu Ruoyan's page was filled with hateful comments and how disgusting her attitude was.

When Zhang Jiren and Li Meili went back to the Li Estate, Li Meili's whole family was waiting for them.

"Congrats, darling. We heard you won tonight." Madam Li drew her daughter into a hug and kissed her cheek affectionately while Chairman Li remained silent while holding his granddaughter in his arm.

"Mom, Dad, it's already late. You shouldn't have waited for us," Zhang Jiren greeted his in-laws and saw how Chairman Li passed Leyan to Li Yuanyi before walking out, not saying anything in return.

Madam Li shook her head, seeing her husband's reaction.

"Don't misunderstand, Meili. He's proud of you but you know how your father could be difficult at times," she told her daughter.

Li Meili scoffed and followed her father's retreating figure with her eyes.

"Is it really that difficult for him to admit he was mistaken and congratulate me?" she asked in response.

"Give him time, Meili. But don't provoke Dad anymore." Li Yuanyi came forward before passing his niece to his sister. "Congratulations. Mom and Dad would throw a party tomorrow to celebrate your win. You and Jiren should take advantage of it to socialize with guests."

What he meant was for Li Meili to establish herself within the upper circle. Since everyone now knew that she was Black Nightingale, she could not ignore the fact that most of her patrons were part of the upper circle. This would also give Zhang Jiren the advantage to make more connections within the business community.

"Thanks for the warning, bro," Li Meili sighed dejectedly. Just as she thought she could finally relax and spend more time with Leyan and Zhang Jiren, her parents decided to have a celebration.

"Alright. That's all for now. You and Jiren should go to bed once Leyan settled. She's been a little cranky when you left earlier and Mom couldn't put her to bed," Li Yuanyi said before leaving the couple on their own.

Zhang Jiren looked down at the sleepy child in Li Meili's arms. Indeed, Little Leyan's eyes were a bit red and droopy from crying earlier. It was obvious that she was trying to stay awake, and only calmed down once she knew her parents were home.

"You little troublemaker— you couldn't sleep without us, huh," Li Meili murmured, allowing a small smile to cross her face as she looked down at the whimpering babe. Leyan's tiny fists wagged to the air as if she was trying to scold her parents for leaving her.

Zhang Jiren felt guilty seeing his stepdaughter acting like this. His took the whimpering child from Li Meili and made hushed sounds to make Little Leyan calm down which she immediately did.

Li Meili scowled at that. "How come whenever she's with you, she's being good?" she complained.

Zhang Jiren smiled at her as they went upstairs, back to Li Meili's old bedroom with Leyan still in his arms.

"You need to be patient and calm when you hold her, Meili," he told her. "Didn't you say babies could perceive people around them? That's why I try not to add on her frustration every time she is with me."

Li Meili hummed, took a seat in front of her vanity, and removed the pins that held her hair in style. Through the reflection on the mirror in front of her, she watched as Zhang Jiren put her young daughter to sleep easily before placing Leyan in a white cot that was brought inside her room that morning.

"Don't spoil her too much or she would get used to it," she reminded him. Li Meili could already imagine the headaches her daughter would cause later on once she got too attached to her stepfather.

Zhang Jiren had been good to her and Leyan so far. In over a year she'd been married to this man, Li Meili was surprised that he was willing to learn how to raise a child that wasn't his. Along with her, they learned how to care for Leyan, fed her, changed her, and set her down for sleep.

Thankfully, their Little Leyan's sleep had become longer as she became older. In spite of Zhang Jiren's busy work, he still made sure to help Li Meili care for her young daughter. There were even times he would rather choose to work at home to make sure Leyan would be taken care of, especially when she got sick for the first time.

It was obvious that Leyan loved him too as she would occasionally giggle and unconsciously stretch her arms whenever Zhang Jiren was around. The happiness in Zhang Jiren's eyes whenever he held the girl also made everyone see how much he adored her.

"It's alright, Meili. It's not like I would be able to spoil her for too long anyway. She wouldn't notice once I'm gone."

Li Meili's hold on her hairbrush tightened as she looked at her husband through the mirror. She didn't know why she was upset when Zhang Jiren was just telling the truth but she hated it whenever he spoke of their impending divorce. However, she didn't dare to voice this out as she knew she had no right to keep Zhang Jiren bound to her.