Chapter 220: Medal and Bonus Issues

Li Yan, due to Yu Hong’s change in attitude, can see Xiao Di again nearly two months later. His mood is quite pleasant. Thinking back to how Yu Hong has always seemed open-minded, and how it’s only Chen Mingying who keeps Xiao Di under house arrest, Li Yan wonders if Yu Hong might have a different view of him, possibly even planning to entrust his daughter to him. That would make him a potential father-in-law!

This thought had barely surfaced when he received a call from Li Jie’s father, Li Chengfeng. Li Chengfeng knows about his relationship with Li Jie, and once accepted a cigarette from him, calling it a betrothal gift—a superior kind of father! In a sense, he’s another potential father-in-law!

While Li Yan felt a bit sweaty, he indeed heard Li Chengfeng’s warm greeting, calling him "son-in-law." Back when they were in H City, he didn’t care about being beaten up by Li Yan, and kept calling him son-in-law. After returning, Li Yan didn’t meet him often, but regarding the reform of Jie Rui, he had seen Li Chengfeng to persuade him on Li Jie’s behalf. However, he wasn’t expecting a proactive call from him now.

"Uncle Li, what’s keeping you busy? You seem to be in a good mood." Of course, Li Yan wouldn’t follow his lead calling him father-in-law, nor would he correct him, to avoid complicating the situation.

"Me? Not busy! Yes, I’m in a good mood. Your reform advice, though not groundbreaking, has given Jie Rui a new look, and in just a few months too. I believe in a year it’ll be well on track. I’m very pleased! Xiao Jie certainly has an eye for good people, like me!" Li Chengfeng started praising Li Yan, then shifted to praising himself.

"I didn’t do much, just gave some advice on paper. It’s mostly Xiao Jie who’s been working hard to implement it. By the way, I’m driving right now, so let’s chat leisurely next time. What’s the matter you wanted to discuss?" Li Yan asked directly. Li Chengfeng, unlike Yu Hong, is straightforward and can skip the formalities.

"Oh! It’s slightly related. With the New Year coming up, um—your company is also having a break, right?"

"Yes, just a few more days at work next week before the holiday." Seeing his hesitating behavior, Li Yan wondered if there was a challenging task he needed help with. "Is there a plan at Jie Rui that requires my participation? Around what time?"

"Actually, no. It’s just... normally you don’t live with your parents, but for the New Year, you should go back, right?" Li Chengfeng hesitated.

"I’m going back, going home for the New Year this year." Li Yan guessed a bit by now, secretly feeling conflicted and somewhat guilty.

"That’s great! Haha, you know, it’s just me and Xiao Jie in our family. Would you welcome us to spend the New Year at your place?"

"Huh?!"

Li Yan was sweating. He only guessed Li Chengfeng might want him to take Li Jie to meet his parents and settle things quickly, fitting his attitude of fearing his daughter won’t get married. He didn’t expect Li Chengfeng to plan on supervising personally!

"Well, Uncle, I haven’t been back for over ten years, and I’m not very clear about the situation at home. Wouldn’t be too rushed to do that, might not be appropriate." Although embarrassed, he directly refused.

Li Chengfeng seemed less happy, "Are you saying your home isn’t big enough, worried we won’t have a place to stay?"

"More or less. I haven’t been home, and it’s just my parents living there over the years. Their income is average, so the house is relatively small." Li Yan sighed with relief. Fortunately, housing is a problem for everyone in Yun Country, serving as a perfect excuse.

Unfortunately, Li Chengfeng, though an honest man, has run a security company for over a decade and isn’t easy to deceive. After Li Yan spoke, he asked again, "So, there’s at least two rooms where you live, right?"

"Yes, but I can’t let you stay at a hotel, right? That would be boring, it’s better to wait until I’ve bought a bigger house..."

Later? Li Chengfeng cut him off immediately, "No need for later! Since there’re two rooms at home, it’s settled. I won’t join the fun, you take Xiao Jie to see your parents and spend New Year at your place."

"..." Li Yan was a bit surprised, thinking this superior dad was pretending to be naive, perhaps proposing a more difficult demand initially to settle for an easier one.

"Don’t tell me you haven’t shared a room yet!"

Li Yan sweated again. When they were in H City, he shared a room with his daughter, which Li Chengfeng knew perfectly well, denying it now is impossible.

"Are you planning to shirk responsibility after taking everything, huh? Xiao Jie is devoted to you!" Li Chengfeng’s tone became firmer.

Li Yan could only grin bitterly, "I’ll discuss this issue with Xiao Jie, alright? You should hold off worrying, keep an eye on your security guards to prevent any incidents during New Year."

"You better not disappoint Xiao Jie, or I’ll break your legs!" Li Chengfeng threatened, then quickly added, realizing he couldn’t beat Li Yan, "Don’t forget I have a bunch of brothers!"

"Of course, of course, that won’t happen."

After finally ending the call, Li Yan exhaled deeply, knowing this matter needed discussing with Li Jie soon, as dragging it out any longer would risk Li Chengfeng revealing everything... 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

...

After dealing with one potential father-in-law, Li Yan still had another to face. He found that having many girlfriends indeed drew some complications.

However, he was still willing to face them, and having visited the Golden Coast Seafront Villa several times without entering, Li Yan had already devised strategies for dealing with Chen Mingying’s possible reactions.

The security guards opened the gate for him, and after parking his car, Li Yan encountered Zhou Yunfei, who looked stern. To someone like Li Yan, who indulged in multiple relationships, Zhou Yunfei held great disdain, especially since one’s the employer’s daughter and the other’s his boss’s daughter, further inciting his fury. If given a chance, Zhou Yunfei would love to teach him a lesson! Unfortunately, Li Yan currently holds the honorary consultant title at Jie Rui, making it difficult for Zhou Yunfei to find an excuse to do so.

"Old Zhou, long time no see." Li Yan greeted him with a smile.

Zhou Yunfei snorted coldly, "Who are you visiting?"

"What are you talking about!" Zhou Yunfei exclaimed angrily, despite having received favorable treatment at the Yu Family ever since Chen Mingying employed them. Going outside brings face, but he doesn’t intend to leave Jie Rui, even though they now have to share their commission with the company after reforms.

"Kid! Let me tell you, you don’t need to create discord, I owe Li Bro favors and won’t leave Jie Rui! Don’t expect me to stop being hostile just because I’m staying!"

"Well, since you aren’t leaving, that’s great. I am, at least, a consultant at Jie Rui now, a position technically higher than yours, right? Yet, you show hostility towards me, doesn’t that hinder unity!" Li Yan joked as he offered a cigarette.

Feeling furious, Zhou Yunfei grudgingly took the cigarette, then whispered angrily, "I despise your character; I’m being hostile on personal grounds, unrelated to work! Do you plan on reporting to Li Jie asking her to transfer me away, consultant?"

"Continue being hostile! I might see it as jealousy of my charm and won’t get upset. As long as... hehe!"

After saying that, Li Yan walked away.

Zhou Yunfei seethed with anger, understanding the unspoken implication behind Li Yan’s words only after he had gone inside, fueling his rage even more!

Indeed, Li Yan suspected Xiao Di’s mother might have dramatically changed attitudes due to something Zhou Yunfei said. Yu Hong had promised not to use power to investigate Li Yan; Chen Mingying likely wouldn’t either, —otherwise, they would have long discovered Li Yan’s marital records rather than having shifted attitudes just last month. Most likely, Zhou Yunfei, aware of Li Jie’s unusual relationship with Li Yan from Li Chengfeng, might have inadvertently leaked some information, prompting Chen Mingying to anger and separate them.

Li Yan lacked concrete evidence, unfamiliar with Zhou Yunfei, only had a hunch, so he merely hinted, observing his response without explicitly breaking ties.

Entering inside, Li Yan told the servant he was visiting Yu Hong, and was led to the upstairs study. During his walk, his gaze and attention couldn’t help but drift towards Xiao Di’s room direction, but it was more appropriate to meet Yu Hong first, understanding his perspective. Otherwise, seeing Xiao Di first might worsen the situation.

Li Yan had visited Yu Family numerous times, even when both Yu Hong and Chen Mingying weren’t at home, and was familiar with Yu Hong’s study. Arriving at the study, he naturally recalled the time he came here with Xiao Di, surprised at the results... Hopefully, Chen Mingying wasn’t present today, right?

After reporting, Li Yan entered the room, seeing Yu Hong behind the desk reading documents.

"Yu General."

"Little Li is here, sit down!" Yu Hong looked up briefly, smiling as he gestured for Li Yan to sit. Then he pointed at the corner water dispenser, "Pour yourself a drink, I’ll finish reading this first!"

"No need to be courteous, I won’t impose." Li Yan sat opposite him. It looked like Yu Hong was home alone, as Chen Mingying seemingly wasn’t present.

He felt less pressured and considered that men were easier to speak with. Chen Mingying’s pressure mainly stemmed from her being Xiao Di’s mother.

(Merry Christmas everyone! There are updates happening later, also lots being edited. Stay tuned for more!) (To be continued. For more Chapters, visit www.qidian.com, support the author and legitimate reading!)