Chapter 464 - 445: That Day, That Boy-I

Li Lian came back late the next day, arriving back home. Yesterday her she huddle was tough, and she wasn't able to meet Li Jun Wei who had left early this morning. She heard that he came back late and went to their room, "He should have woken me, I wanted to meet him," whispered Li Lian to herself but she knew the reason for him not to wake her up was to not disturb her who was in a deep sleep.

On the way she spotted Bo Shiao who seemed to be making his way toward her, seeing the expression Bo Shiao had that tells he needed something from her, Li Lian come up with a rough guess, "Jun Wei has come back?"

Bo Shiao shook his head, "Unfortunately no, mistress. Elder and Madam Li has come to meet you. They are waiting for you in the sitting room."

Knowing her own way, Li Lian steadily took her steps forward. Curious, she asked, "Do you know what they came for?"

"I am not sure, but mistress if I may make an assumption," Bo Shiao hesitate and Li Lian stared at the man who then gave a wary expression, "I feel like they might be slightly angry? Or maybe disappointed."

Li Lian frowned at the news. She wondered which was the right one. Their last meeting wasn't great and Li Lian could understand if both Elder and Madam Li's favor of her decrease because she had indirectly cause Mrs. Jin to the lowest point where it also broke their family apart.

Li Lian knew it wasn't her fault and she won't owe into it but due to her experience in the past, where others would always one sidedly push the blame to her like a scapegoat, she cannot help but blame herself.

Entering the sitting room, Li Lian's eyes went to study the two older couple's expression. One look at Li Lian could attest Bo Shiao's guess was correct, they were both angry and disappointed.

"Grandfather, grandmother, good evening," Li Lian said, trying to understand the situation. The ever gentle Madam Li greeted her with a smile and extended her hand to the seat across her.

"Please take a seat Li Lian," and Li Lian went to take a seat, she had one grandfather and one grandmother whom she both hold dear in her heart. Li Jun Wei didn't have parents like her which why she hope she could mend and rectify whatever mistake she did that cause Elder and Madam Li to take it as an offense. "Don't be stiff," Madam Li smiled but the smile she had wasn't high up, "We only wish to question you about a few things."

Elder Li nodded in the side and he spoke with a less strict voice, "We don't doubt you Li Lian nor we will try to doubt you, you are such a gentle child and we have seen your kindness. I believe what I see rather than what I heard. I say so, but there are things that could waver people's perspective when others came to whisper evil things beside them. We decided it would be faster to ask you rather than doubting and believing in the doubt."

Li Lian was half confused. Things weren't going the way she expected where Elder and Madam Li would be angry and told her to stay away from their family. With the ways things happen with Mrs. Jin, Li Lian assumed today's conversation would be about it. But the context was different, it's as if they were speaking on a different page.

"I don't understand," Li Lian honestly replied, "Is this about Mrs. Jin?"

Madam Li was the one who shook her head as a reply, "No my dear, what Jin had done to you. I cannot express how sorry I was. She was a good child, at the least that was how she show herself to me. Considering what she had done and almost causing you great shame amongst the whole country, I cannot forgive her, much so I was also betrayed by her actions. That girl, knowing her true nature now, I can tell she won't give you the words you deserve to her, take my apology on her stead."

"No," Li Lian stopped Madam Li, "Please don't apologize, grandmother. It doesn't matter to me any longer, and if I have to be honest while I was fl.u.s.tered with the things I needed to take care for the aftermath, but I wasn't hurt."

Li Lian intended to calm the woman and help her from not being guilty over another person's action but instead Madam Li felt more guilty. She could tell Li Lian was used to being antagonized by others which why she never felt hurt if others hurt her. When a person is stabbed each day by a knife, gradually the pain would numb and getting another stab from others would feel no less than a small prick when it should have been something that could greatly affect them.

Li Lian then was curious if it wasn't about Mrs. Jin, then what had them to come here wearing the complex expression? 

"What was it that you wanted to ask me?" Li Lian asked. Elder Li and Madam Li shared glances with each other as if preparing themselves before questioning. The way they behaved made Li Lian to wonder how grave the question was.

"We won't judge you, Li Lian," Elder Li begin to speak to prepare her and in the stead of his wife who had a weaker and softer heart, "A day ago, an information came running toward us. That informations claim that you are the granddaughter of Ryouma Miyano, also the head of Ryouma Clan, a yakuza clan in Osaka."

A cold sensation appeared on the back of Li Lian's body over the question Elder Li asked her. How did they know this? When she looked down on her hands that settled on her laps, she watched how her hands begin to tremble on its own, reminding her of that day when she was extremely disappointed and hurt by her father and mother who learned she had been raised by Yakuza, and that day when He Changmin's parents were horrified by the fact she came from a cold-hearted Yakuza clan. 

Li Lian closed herself, pulling herself together and looked up apprehensively toward Elder and Madam Liwho asked her, "It is not true, isn't it?"

Li Lian shook her head, coming clear as she should, "I am their granddaughter but not by blood." and although she didn't look their face, she could hear the light gasp that involuntarily escape from Madam Li's mouth.