After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 354: Don’t You Want Me Anymore?

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: Don’t You Want Me Anymore?

"Ah... Ahhhhhh..."

A sharp scream echoed from inside the room, like a fledgling bird whose neck was being squeezed.

Ye Li’s heart tightened, and she pushed the door open.

The spacious room was pitch-black, like a cellar that had been sealed off for years.

She gave Old Mrs. Fu and the old butler a reassuring glance, then shut the door behind her and moved forward cautiously. "Brother Mu, it’s me, Ye Li. Brother Mu?"

"Ahhhhhh..."

The sound grew sharper, as if roaring: Get out, get out!

Ye Li froze in her tracks. "Brother Mu, it’s me, Ye Xiaoli. Don’t you want me anymore?"

The screaming suddenly stopped.

"Ye Xiaoli, this shop is a scam. We need to complain about it!"

"Okay!"

"But Ye Xiaoli, this shop’s food is actually really good!"

"Then... let’s wait together. Maybe, someday in the future, it will become a century-old establishment!"

"Ye Xiaoli, are you serious? It’s got 96 years to go before it gets there. Are you sure you can live that long?"

"Fu Muzhi, you’re dead meat!!! Who says I can’t live that long? Even if I live another 96 years, I’ll only be 116. The Guinness record holder lived to 146; who are you underestimating here?"

"Alright then, we’ll witness it becoming a century-old shop together! ... Ye Xiaoli, will you always stay with me?"

"Of course I will! I’m absolutely, positively sure. What about you?"

"I will too!"

Bright points of light pierced through the darkness.

Suddenly, beams of sunlight sliced through the thick, heavy gray clouds like swords.

The dark clouds shattered, becoming specks of light, and were quickly engulfed by vast sunlight.

The room became bright.

In Xiao Bao’s memory, all he could think of was that Lantern Festival evening when he and Ye Xiaoli sat in the car watching the sunset.

The orange-red sunset streamed through the car window, lighting up Ye Xiaoli’s face and sparkling off his watch.

In that fleeting moment, he wanted to say to Ye Xiaoli: If only you were my mom!

Mom.

Xiao Bao snapped awake.

When he lifted his eyes again, he saw Ye Li standing by the bed.

Ye Li stared blankly at the small figure curled in the corner of the bed.

On usual days when they stood together, he already reached past her waist.

Even though he rarely talked, everyone in the Fu family knew he was incredibly smart. Otherwise, how would he have managed to plan and successfully leave the Fu Mansion — a place he had never ventured outside of alone — using just a tablet and a satellite map to get to an amusement park?

But at this moment, Ye Li realized how small he really was.

Cuddled in Da Bai’s arms, he looked smaller than Da Bai’s belly.

His already dark pupils appeared even more intensely black in the surrounding shadows.

The scratch marks on the back of his hand stood out harshly.

Ye Li blinked, keeping her tears from falling, and slowly sat at the edge of the bed. She extended her hand toward the little figure in the corner, "Come here, let’s hug..."

A prolonged silence.

Just as Ye Li was racking her brain for things to say or do, the tiny figure wailed loudly and flung himself into her arms.

"Waaa... wahhh..."

Tears rolled down his cheeks like beads, and Xiao Bao buried himself into Ye Li’s embrace, crying his heart out as if he had suffered the greatest grievance in the world.

Behind the tightly shut door, Old Mrs. Fu let out a long, slow sigh.

In the vast Fu family residence, no one could figure out what to do.

Only Yanci and Xiao Li Zi could make that little one cry.

Isn’t this what the elders always said? "If you’re not family, you won’t enter the same house."

"Xiao Ning..."

"Yes?"

"Send a few people to guard the alley; if that woman dares to come again, break her legs. I’ll take the blame!"

"...The young madam has already ordered it."

"Good! ... Have the kitchen prepare dishes that Xiao Li Zi and Xiao Bao like. I’m going back to my room to take a nap. Oh, and call Xiang Yang to see if he’s had time to tell Yanci. If not, tell him not to bother!"

"Got it!"

Voices from outside the door gradually faded away with the sound of retreating footsteps, leaving the hallway quiet.

Ye Li gently patted Xiao Bao’s back.

His cries softened to sobs, and soon, he fell asleep while hiccupping.

The sound of steady breathing rose at her ear. Ye Li lowered her gaze and saw tears cascading down her own face.

She continued holding and patting him until he was deep asleep, then carefully laid him on the bed.

After that, she went to the bathroom to wet a towel and returned to wipe his face and hands before lying quietly beside him.

From morning to evening, the child startled awake several times.

Every time he jerked awake in fear, he would calm down upon seeing Ye Li beside him and recognizing his room. His little body would then relax and sprawl back out, sinking once again into sleep.

Waking and sleeping, waking and sleeping, by the time he was fully awake, the room was bathed in orange-red light.

Raising his eyes, he saw the sunset illuminating the yard and brightening the tables and chairs, as well as the scattered Lego pieces in the room.

The scene looked exactly like that day.

"Awake?"

Ye Li’s voice sounded by his ear, and Xiao Bao lifted his head to see her smiling sweetly while her arm shielded a drawing board. "I’m not done drawing yet. Can you lie down a little longer?"

Xiao Bao’s eyes widened: You... You’re drawing me?

"Of course!"

Ye Li beamed, "I’m making you a self-portrait; just give me a few more moments!"

She ruffled his hair, signaling for him to lie still, then picked up her pen and resumed sketching rapidly.

A few minutes later, Ye Li tossed her pen aside with satisfaction. "Done!"

Xiao Bao sat up, and Ye Li handed him the drawing board.

A night sky drenched in black.

Stars twinkled brightly, and the moon seemed to sing.

On a fluffy white cloud bed, a plump, chubby pig slept soundly.

It was smiling in its dream, drooling a string of saliva.

Xiao Bao: ...!!!

His eyes sparkled, clearly loving the picture, but his annoyance flared as he turned to Ye Li with indignation: Ye Xiaoli!! You’re too much! How could you draw me as a pig??

Ye Li tilted her chin smugly, "I’m in the picture too, you know. And so are Fu Yanci, great-grandmother, and the old butler... Try to spot us!"

??? How could that be?

The simple, childlike drawing had only stars, the moon, and a pig. How could it possibly contain so many people?

Skeptical, Xiao Bao lowered his head to examine closely.

His eyes grew brighter and brighter.

The chubby pig’s vest bore a small pear design.

The cloud blanket had a pair of reading glasses drawn on it.

Among the glowing stars, some had wrinkled smiles, while others wore stern, serious expressions.

Even though they were just emoji-like symbols, a glance was enough to recognize one as his uncle and the other as the old butler.

One star even reminded him of a friend from kindergarten—Lan Qi, who always smiled with crescent-shaped eyes.

Wide-eyed, Xiao Bao stared at Ye Li: Ye Xiaoli, you’re amazing!

Ye Li grinned.

Just as she was about to toot her own horn, a rumbling sound filled the room.

Their eyes met, and both burst into laughter.

Ye Li got out of bed and slipped on her shoes, extending her hand to Xiao Bao. "Come on, let’s get something to eat!"

Xiao Bao nodded.

The two walked through the yard gate, met with a refreshing scent of grass.

In the distance, the soft snipping sounds of a gardener’s pruning shears could still be heard.

Though Xiao Bao had only stayed indoors for two days, he suddenly felt as though it had been far, far longer.

Seeing them from afar, the old butler broke into an elated smile and called out to the kitchen staff.

By the time Ye Li and Xiao Bao entered the dining room, they saw Old Mrs. Fu seated at the head of the table, her reading glasses perched on her nose as she read a book.

The expansive dining table was laden with steaming hot dishes, all of which were their favorites.

"Go wash your hands!"

As usual, Ye Li naturally let go of Xiao Bao’s hand.

She watched him walk toward the sink before turning back to the old butler. "Uncle Ning, have you found out yet?"