"Xiaoyi, you are here," Su Suyin was the first one to break the ice, and based on her affronted tone, Li Caiyi could already guess what she was dissatisfied about, so she silently braced herself for it.
"Where have you been all this time? Your brother had been calling you for ages."
Sure enough, Su Suyin never missed her chance to reprimand her whenever something happened to Li Chunhua. She even suspected that her mother probably thought of this as some kind of stress-reliever or something.
However, before Li Caiyi had a chance to reply, Li Jirong had beaten her to it. With a stern voice, he reprimanded his wife, "Don't be noisy in the hospital. What if you disturbed Xiaohua?"
Su Suyin shrunk in her place when she noticed her mistake and laughed drily. "You're right. I'm sorry, dear."
Li Caiyi didn't miss a slight pull in the corner of Gu Xue's lips when she witnessed that scene, as though she was enjoying the disharmony between the married couple. This shameless woman knew no fear and confidently walked in front of her mother like she did nothing wrong. Li Caiyi really had no idea what kind of material her skin was made of.
As far as she knew, Su Suyin never actually met with Gu Xue directly in her previous life. Li Jirong kept his affair shut behind the door, and Su Suyin was just too blind to see through her husband's affair. This kind of 'fated' meeting was the first time between the three.
Li Caiyi didn't know if she should feel relieved or worried about this unforeseeable development.
Li Jirong's face took a hundred eighty-degree turn when he talked to Meng Renshu. "Renshu, you are still here? Uncle is happy you care so much about Xiaohua, but it's already so late, and Xiaoyi is already here. Just leave everything to her from here."
Li Caiyi scoffed inwardly. He hadn't said a word to her since he entered, so she thought she was invisible in his eyes, yet he had the gall to say that as if that was the matter of course? What nerves. She felt so disgusted seeing his fawning face at Meng Renshu.
"It's okay. I can stay here longer, Uncle. At least until the visit hours are over." Meng Renshu replied politely.
"Are you eating right now? Why are you only eating porridge? Let Uncle buy something delicious for you."
"There's no need, Uncle."
"How can a bowl of porridge be enough for a growing boy like you? Don't be embarrassed and let Uncle do this for you, okay? We are practically a family already."
Meng Renshu had a helpless expression on his face. Li Caiyi knew he would have a hard time refusing her father's request, so she thought she should help a bit.
"Father, Brother Renshu's stomach is not feeling well right now. He can't eat anything but porridge. He will feel troubled if you keep forcing him."
"Is that right? Then why didn't you say so? I almost made a sick person eat a roast duck. Hahaha!"
It elated Meng Renshu to see Li Caiyi voluntarily speak up for him. This should mean she wasn't that hostile towards him anymore, right?
"She's right, Uncle. I'll just eat porridge for now," He mildly said, agreeing with Li Caiyi.
Unfortunately, the girl didn't notice the boy's grateful gaze towards her, as her eyes focused solely on Gu Xue.
In Li Caiyi's opinion, Gu Xue was indeed a beauty with a small face and a pair of charming, innocent eyes. When she blinked, her long eyelashes would flutter like leaves being swayed by the wind, creating a sense of serenity for whoever saw it. She tied her black hair into a neat bun behind her head, revealing her white, pure face.
Despite having such a face, she had a seductive figure with curves many women would die for. Her boobs were especially huge.
Li Caiyi had to admit that Gu Xue really aced that nurse outfit with how it wrapped her curve in every right place, giving her an alluring vibe.
A beauty in a nurse outfit must be a dream girl for many men, and her father was one of those men. There was a reason why he kept Gu Xue with him even after years passed.
Gu Xue seemed to notice Li Caiyi's stare because she suddenly looked back at her and smiled politely, causing shivers all over Li Caiyi's body.
She had seen Gu Xue's true colors and how unscrupulous she was in her previous life, so seeing her suddenly being polite to her was utterly discomforting.
Their first meeting made Gu Xue think she got the upper hand over Li Caiyi, hence why she didn't bother to hide her high and mighty attitude toward her. She was confident Li Jirong wouldn't defend her daughter over her, so she became even more shameless.
However, things were different in this timeline. Unlike her stupid self then, Li Caiyi didn't barge in the room that day, so Gu Xue still needed to put a front in front of her.
Not willing to give her any face, Li Caiyi said innocently, "Father, isn't she the female nurse you talked with so happily before? Why is she here?"
Gu Xue's smile faltered, while Li Jirong's corner of mouth twitched ever so slightly. "Xiaoyi, what are you talking about? When did you even come to the hospital? Why didn't you tell me?" He smiled while saying that, but she knew he only restrained himself because Meng Renshu was here.
If that was the case, it would be a waste if she didn't make use of this opportunity, right?
"I came here to visit my friend in the hospital one day, then I saw Father talking to the female nurse over there. It looked like a lot of fun since you didn't even notice me standing there for minutes, so I didn't call out to you." Li Caiyi smiled brightly as if reminiscing about happy memories. "But I understand Father's feeling since she was indeed too pretty to look away from."
It satisfied her to see Gu Xue's uncomfortable look and a flash of fury in Li Jirong's eyes. It was almost like she got back at them for ignoring her that day.
Little did she know that her satisfaction was short-lived.
Su Suyin glanced at Li Jirong, waiting for her husband to introduce the female nurse to them. There was no suspicion at all on her face, only curiosity.
Li Caiyi didn't hope for her simple-minded mother to take the hint and immediately suspect her father's affair. Still, Su Suyin's blind trust in Li Jirong awed her once again when she heard her mother's following sentence.
"She is a pretty and dependable-looking nurse, indeed. If she could check on Xiaohua every day, I would feel more at ease. This way, I don't need to be here 24/7, just like you said.. You are so thoughtful, dear."