After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 364: Ah Li or Ah Lie

Chapter 364: Chapter 364: Ah Li or Ah Lie

It’s still a sender full of gibberish.

The subject contains only two words: Guess.

Do you know why your villa district is called Lishan Mansion?

Have you been to the backyard of the Fu Mansion?

Guess why he chose you?

Qin Chu blankly read through the email contents in just one glance. "Could it be because of..." that Li Li?

Ye Li shook her head.

Was it because she didn’t know?

Or because she didn’t dare to admit it?

Ye Li herself couldn’t tell.

Lishan Mansion’s villa district began construction on the land approved five years ago. The developer was Rongguang Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Fu Family.

As for why it’s called Lishan Mansion, Ye Li casually searched online and found a video of the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the day of completion.

When reporters asked about the choice of name, Fu Yanci said, "Personal preference."

Ye Li had only ever taken Xiao Bao to the nursery in the backyard garden of the Fu Mansion.

Beyond that, she hadn’t gone further.

But since the other party asked that question, if Ye Li didn’t guess wrong, there was only one possibility.

Pear Forest.

As for why Fu Yanci chose her back then, Ye Li had questioned it long ago.

After all, with Fu Yanci’s status, in the Imperial City, among the unmarried elite ladies of wealthy households, he wouldn’t even need to lift a finger—just a glance, and they’d fall over themselves to flock to him.

But he insisted on choosing someone as complicated as her.

Was it because her name had "Li" in it?

Fu Yanci’s soulful calls of "Ah Li," were they truly for Ah Li, or for Ah Lie?

"Lizi!"

Seeing Ye Li’s mood drop further with every word, Qin Chu reached out, snatched her wine glass, and interrupted her spiral of unnecessary thoughts. "Did you... never ask Uncle Fu?"

Ye Li shook her head. "I don’t know how to ask. I’m afraid I misunderstood, and even worse... afraid he’d admit it."

"Chu Chu!"

Ye Li turned back to look at Qin Chu. "If Li Li were still alive, the day I received those photos, I probably would’ve rushed to ask him already. If it’s not about her, great. If it is, no matter whether it’s because Li Li captured his heart or any other reason, I’d find a way. I’m only 20 years old, aren’t I? The future is long—I’d have all the time I need to make Fu Yanci see me, to make him fall in love with me."

But now, she couldn’t bring herself to ask.

Li Li was already gone.

If Fu Yanci admitted it.

Then how could she fight?

Fight with a dead person?

Empress Chun Yuan perished young, leaving behind an entire harem filled with stunning concubines.

Battle-hardened Yixiu.

The breathtakingly beautiful Concubine Hua.

The long-lasting, gentle and harmonious Concubine Duan.

The kind and tender Concubine Jing, along with countless other ladies of various ranks.

Oh, and not to forget the ultimate victor of life—Zhen Huan, the one who resembled Chun Yuan so much, she became her substitute.

Yet, the combined might of the three palaces and six courtyards couldn’t compare to one image of Wanwan’s beauty.

And despite all the misery Zhen Huan endured—her highs and lows in life—she still couldn’t replace Chun Yuan.

What qualifications did she, Ye Li, have to even remotely compare with Zhen Huan?

Her eyes were brimming with tears, seemingly ready to spill at any moment. Yet Ye Li smiled at Qin Chu and said, "Chu Chu, look at me. I’m just a coward!"

"Lizi..."

Qin Chu stared at her, frozen. "Have you... fallen in love with him?"

"Yes..."

Ye Li nodded, and the tears finally fell, sliding down her cheeks. "See? Aren’t I so foolish? I keep reminding myself every day—don’t fall in love with him, don’t give in so easily. And yet, I still succumbed. But thankfully, thankfully..."

As if comforting herself, Ye Li wiped her tears and softly murmured, "Thankfully, I haven’t told him I love you yet. Thankfully, I haven’t lost completely."

She thought of how Fu Yanci’s gaze melted in affection every time he called her "Ah Li."

She thought of him confessing tenderly, "Ah Li, I love you."

She thought of the passion in his voice—his deeply intimate "Ah Li" during moments of closeness.

Ye Li suddenly lowered her head and buried it against her knees.

She tried to convince herself: she was the one by his side; Fu Yanci falling for her would simply be a natural progression.

It had to be her—Ah Li.

But that confident thought was abruptly squashed by herself.

From the moment he said that striking "Let’s get married," they’d only been together for seven months.

Seven months.

Two hundred days.

Whose love could possibly run that shallow?

If it were one of those deceitful men who loved throwing empty phrases around as easily as saying good morning, maybe it was possible.

But this was Fu Yanci.

The Fu Yanci she knew—clear-cut in love and hate, cold and distant.

If two hundred days were enough for him to fall for a woman, he would’ve gotten married ages ago. Probably even had kids who, like Xiao Bao, could already write, draw, and plan their own adventures out the door.

Why would he wait until now?

"Chu Chu, Chu Chu... tell me, what should I do?"

Her whispers carried to the floor as she stared down at the dense fibers of the carpet. Somehow, she saw her heart’s endless loops of conflicted emotions mirrored in those intertwining threads.

She couldn’t win, no matter how hard she tried.

And yet, she couldn’t bear to let go.

It was just... too cruel!

"Come here, let me give you a hug..."

Without any advice worth offering, Qin Chu ultimately opted for no advice at all. She stretched out her arms and gave Ye Li a tight hug.

"Darling, haven’t you noticed? You’ve changed."

Ye Li lifted her damp face to look at Qin Chu. "Changed how?"

"Back then, didn’t we agree that as long as you could latch onto Uncle Fu, you’d do whatever it took?"

Qin Chu locked her gaze onto Ye Li and continued, "The heavens have granted your wish. The Ye Family’s troubles have been resolved, your mother’s illness has been treated, and your life is getting better and better, isn’t it? What was it you said back then?"

Ye Li froze as the memory resurfaced. "I said, from then on, I’d see him as my boss and myself as his menial worker. I’d diligently do a good job as Mrs. Fu and never give Fu Yanci any reason to fire me."

She really had lived by that motto for the first few months.

But somewhere along the way, things changed.

Was it when Zhou Hecchen plotted against her, and Fu Yanci rushed to her side, saying, "Ah Li, I’m here"?

Was it when he quietly replaced her bedroom furnishings and moved her into the Fanxing Apartment?

Or was it when he prepared ahead of time by designing Xiao Bao’s AI father, easing her mom’s heart?

There were too many such moments.

So many she couldn’t even pinpoint them all herself.

"Lizi, I understand. We’ve been too greedy. But... that’s Fu Yanci we’re talking about..."

Qin Chu handed the wine glass back to Ye Li and spoke softly, "You’ve already fallen for him. So why not... give him a chance? And give yourself a chance too. Just try. You never know, right?"

A moment ago, she thought, even Zhen Huan couldn’t compete with a first love’s lingering memory, so what could she possibly do?

But at this moment, with just one phrase—"That’s Fu Yanci, after all"—Ye Li surrendered.

Yes, that was Fu Yanci.

Just the thought of her steadfastly walking away, only to see another beautiful woman—no matter her size or figure—on Fu Yanci’s arm.

And imagining him being as tender and loving towards her as he once was towards Ye Li—she realized that she couldn’t stomach it.

"Alright! Let’s try!"

With newfound determination, Ye Li raised her glass high. "If nothing else, I’d lose nothing in the process. Remember that agreement I signed back then?"

She began reminiscing about how much wealth she’d get in the event of a divorce.

Before she could make much sense of it all, the sheer volume of numbers in those clauses began to overwhelm her.

"Darling, let me... nap for a bit..."

Ye Li cuddled up to the throw pillow, mumbling bits and pieces. "When I wake up... we won’t stop until we’re drunk!"

"Alright..."

Drawing out her response, Qin Chu picked Ye Li’s phone off the carpet and unlocked it to make a call.