After Bankruptcy, the Billionaire Asked Me to Marry Him!
Chapter 495: Unable to Speak

Chapter 495: Chapter 495: Unable to Speak

"Ah Li..."

The phone barely rang once before it was answered, Fu Yanci’s voice on the other end carried a trace of sleepy huskiness, as if he had just fallen asleep, "Where are you? Have you reached the hospital?"

"Fu Yanci!"

Clutching the phone tightly, only then could she control her voice from trembling.

Ye Li asked in a low voice, "Last year, on the day my father passed away, did you visit his hospital room, right?"

The other end was silent for a moment, as if thinking, "Yes."

"Why?"

In the dark computer screen, Ye Li could see the redness in her eyes reflected, "Why were you at the hospital? What did you say to my father? Why did you never mention this to me?"

The girl asked several "whys" in a row.

Fu Yanci seemed to have fully woken up, sitting up in bed, "Ah Li, I was passing by that day, saw the red cross on the hospital roof, and thought of your father being in the hospital, so I went up to see him."

"When I entered the room, he motioned for me not to wake your mom. We exchanged a few words, and then I left."

It was later that day that he learned Ye Mushen had passed away.

Because of this, he had also gone to the Ye Mansion.

Everywhere was a sea of white, with flowers and wreaths as far as the eye could see.

Luxury cars came and went, but the people inside just left their items, said to Aunt Lan, "Please extend my deepest condolences to Mrs. Ye," and left without even entering the door.

He wanted to see if she had cried her eyes swollen.

He also wanted to tell her, Ah Li you still have me.

But thinking he didn’t have that kind of qualification, he turned and left.

By the next day, he heard Li Xueqing had fainted at the entrance to the emergency room.

His visit was a minor matter.

Meanwhile, Ye Li had to endure the agony of losing her father while caring for her ailing mother.

She only had Aunt Lan by her side to rely on, if only temporarily.

But soon, the company went bankrupt, creditors came knocking, and one crisis after another faced Ye Li.

Not just the Ye Mansion, she couldn’t even keep Aunt Lan, her only short-term support.

Recalling those times, Fu Yanci said in a low voice, "Ah Li, it was just a small matter, so I didn’t mention it to you."

"Then... what did you talk about with my father?"

The girl’s voice was sorrowful, Fu Yanci immediately got up, "Ah Li, where are you? I will come and find you."

"No need!"

Ye Li’s voice was cold, "Fu Yanci, I’m not at the hospital. I... I’ll talk to you later, but first, tell me, what did you discuss with my father?"

He had only put half of his suit on when he stopped.

In the year since their marriage, Fu Yanci had thought about it more than once.

If it were him, knowing he had little time left, every conscious moment he would want to hold Ah Li’s hand, telling her over and over, Ah Li I love you!

However, when he entered the room, Ye Mushen lay on the bed, gazing longingly at the sleeping Li Xueqing.

He even shook his head upon seeing Fu Yanci, indicating not to disturb her.

"Fu... Uncle Fu..."

"Uncle Ye, just call me Yanci!"

"Yanci..."

In just a week from collapsing to being hospitalized, the man who was always gentle and elegant had become devoid of all strength, weak and emaciated, skin and bones.

It was unclear whether it was due to his weakness.

Or because he didn’t want to wake Li Xueqing.

Ye Mushen spoke in a breathy voice, "Yanci, thank you for visiting me. If I may, could I ask you for a favor?"

"Uncle, please tell me!"

"I... don’t have much time left. Yanci, your uncle has watched you, Ah Li, and He Chen grow up together all these years. Although I’ve never particularly favored you, could you please, for the sake of the Zhou family and your sister, take care of Ah Li?"

At the mention of his beloved daughter, Ye Mushen’s eyes glistened.

He wasn’t worried about Li Xueqing.

His wife, the woman he loved all his life, he understood.

Even if he were gone, and she was overwhelmed and couldn’t bear it, for the sake of being a mother, for Ah Li, she would be fine.

Waiting for Ah Li to graduate, to marry Zhou Hecchen, to have children... By that time, Li Xueqing might slowly become weary and wither away.

But by then, Ah Li would have grown up.

His Ah Li, so understanding, like a sun flower in a nursery, bringing joy with just a glance.

When his wife, missing him, wanted to cross the Naihe Bridge to find him, Ah Li would surely take care of her, keeping her from any idle thoughts.

When that day comes, be it his dear Snow or his Ah Li, they’ll both be fine.

The two women he loved most in this world would take care of each other.

Even in death, he would be at ease.

So right now, his Ah Li was of utmost importance.

"Yanci, please, will you?"

Ye Mushen’s gaze was pleading.

"I promise you!"

Fu Yanci nodded, "Uncle, I assure you! In this lifetime, as long as I live, I will ensure Ah Li is safe and without worry, that she and Aunt Ye are well."

It’s said that when a person is nearing death, their soul departs a little early.

Fu Yanci didn’t know where he might have slipped up.

Or perhaps it was his words that hinted at his hidden emotions.

Ye Mushen’s eyes brightened.

The whole person seemed a bit more spirited, gripping his hand and asking, "Yanci, you, you feel something for Ah Li..."

"Uncle, I like Ah Li! I’ve liked her for a long time!"

Perhaps feeling it was his last chance, Fu Yanci grasped that hand which had grown so emaciated from illness, and promised solemnly, "In the future, if Ah Li marries He Chen, then I wish her well, and will guard her as her uncle, taking care of Aunt Ye too. If..."

He wanted to say if by any chance Ah Li didn’t marry Zhou Hecchen, then, this time, he would never retreat!

But realizing that the marriage to the Zhou family was what Ye Mushen and Li Xueqing had anticipated for so many years.

He couldn’t let Ye Mushen leave with such regret.

Fu Yanci ultimately didn’t say it, only gave a solemn promise, "Rest assured, Ah Li will be fine. So will Aunt Ye! I will take care of them!"

"Good! Good..."

As if suddenly freed from worry, Ye Mushen’s eyes held delight.

Even though his words were weak and feeble, the relief in his eyes was moving, "Yanci, if it ever came to that, and you became my son-in-law, I would be very happy!"

"Yanci, thank you!"

Ye Mushen thanked him earnestly.

To Ye Mushen, Fu Yanci’s relation as a member of the younger generation of the Zhou family was rather vague.

Not to mention him, even Zhou Jinrui, whom Fu Yanci was supposed to address as brother-in-law, was afraid of him.

Be it as a son-in-law or an uncle, having Uncle Fu’s promise ensured that his Ah Li, and his dear Snow, would live a safe and smooth life.

To Fu Yanci, if throughout his life he couldn’t say those words he had buried in his heart for years, "Ah Li I love you", at least, there was one person in this world who knew.

At that moment, both men got what they wanted.

And at this moment, faced with Ye Li, Fu Yanci didn’t know how to start.

To tell her that when she felt nothing for him, when she was still Zhou Hecchen’s fiancée, he had already desired her.

To tell her, he confessed this desire to her father, at his dying moment?

"Ah Li..."

Words were stuck in his throat, yet he couldn’t voice them, Fu Yanci said in a deep voice, "Where are you? I will come to you, and tell you in person!"