Chapter 1049: Chapter 1049

Li Changlin didn’t know that he had already become the focus of the family.

To settle his placement, the family even held a special high-level meeting. However, Li Chengde wouldn’t disclose these matters to him, and as for Li Xiaoya, although she also attended the meeting that day, since she had never truly been involved in family affairs, she was unaware of how unfair her grandfather’s decision was to her brother.

But even if Li Xiaoya knew, she wouldn’t speak carelessly.

After all, the elder ancestor had made his stance clear; he did not want to give Li Changlin a chance to take over as the family head, so if Li Xiaoya were to spill the beans, it might mislead her brother and drag him into a whirlpool of power struggles, which naturally, she didn’t want to see happen.

The elder ancestor was too powerful, a real master of peak virtual energy!

Especially since, Li Xiaoya knew there were elder ancestors in the family far more formidable than Elder Ancestor Li Haoge—these were the true foundation of the Li Family.

These ancestors rarely showed themselves and would not appear unless the family’s survival was at stake.

They didn’t have to wait long before a series of waiters arrived, bringing various delicacies; Li Changlin then called everyone to start the meal. He first instructed the waiter to open a bottle of red wine and then personally opened the juice for Li Xiaoya.

After the waiter had filled four glasses with red wine, Li Changlin stood up with his glass, respectfully clinking glasses with Li Chengde and Fu Mandie, making Fu Mandie very happy and greatly relieved.

Then, Li Changlin clinked glasses with Li Ming, thanking him for his years of protecting his sister. Li Ming repeatedly expressed his unworthiness, and Li Changlin drank his glass in one gulp.

Afterward, everyone picked up their chopsticks and started eating. The meal lasted almost an hour and a half, and finally, every dish was finished.

"Let’s settle the bill." After the meal, everyone sat idly for a while and enjoyed some fruit provided by Huarui. Fu Mandie then took out a bank card to pay.

Although Li Changlin had previously joked about the meal being free, Fu Mandie always took it as just that—a joke. Moreover, since it was Li Changlin’s first meal with them, how could Fu Mandie let her son pay?

"Thank you, Mr. Li enjoys complimentary dining at our Huarui," the waiter recognized Li Changlin and naturally refused to take Fu Mandie’s bank card, smiling as he explained.

"Is there really no need to pay?" Fu Mandie was taken aback. Li Changlin smilingly said, "Mom, you didn’t think I was joking earlier, did you? I am friends with the owner of Huarui, and we get along well—there’s no need to pay for meals."

"Alright, you win," Fu Mandie resignedly put away her bank card but cautiously reminded, "Changlin, we’re not short of money, but we shouldn’t take advantage of friends . Remember; if a friend needs help, you should lend a hand generously."

"I know, Mom, don’t worry. Huarui won’t lose out," Li Changlin grinned, choosing not to reveal anything about Ye Xiyao.

Of course, Huarui wasn’t losing out. They had issued five complimentary gold cards just to have Ye Xiyao endorse them, honestly, these efforts were only facilitated by Li Changlin’s participation in the ’Xuanyuan Good Voice’. Otherwise, after leaving Shanghai City, how often could he return?

Five complimentary gold cards, perhaps only Xia Wan’an’s would be somewhat useful in the future. Neither Li Changlin nor Ye Xiyao, nor even Bai Ziyu and Liao Momo, would frequently visit Shanghai City.

Thus, this investment by Huarui was truly worthwhile, but damn, Li Changlin felt he got the short end of the stick—Ye Xiyao’s endorsement fees were usually calculated in tens of millions, and Huarui had invested so little!

"Brother, do you still have training this afternoon?" After leaving Huarui and reaching downstairs, Li Xiaoya suddenly remembered to ask.

Li Changlin thought for a moment, then shook his head, "Forget it, I’m not going this afternoon. My friend should be arriving soon, I’ll arrange for her to meet you first."

Afterward, Li Changlin made a call to Xie Yixin. Given Ye Xiyao’s reputation, and Li Changlin’s own proven strength, Xie Yixin naturally wouldn’t have much to say.

"Changlin, you have a room at the hotel, right? Let’s go there and sit for a while," Fu Mandie said with a smile when she saw Li Changlin put away his phone.

"This, this isn’t good, it’s a bit inconvenient," Li Changlin said with an embarrassed smile, actually preferring not to let Ye Xiyao interact with the Li Family for the time being.

"What’s the inconvenience? Did you bring a girlfriend to Shanghai City? It’s perfect, Mom can help you keep an eye on things," Fu Mandie guessed the truth instantly.

Li Changlin helplessly nodded, unable to lie about the matter.

"Brother, isn’t your girlfriend Lin Ruonan? How come you have another one in Shanghai City..." Li Xiaoya was momentarily stunned before she exclaimed.

"Cough cough cough, another one, this is another one." How awkward, Li Changlin felt his face turning red.

Damn, where’s a hole when you need one to crawl into!

"Changlin, don’t be indecisive with girlfriends," Fu Mandie said with a slightly embarrassed expression, mainly because her daughter was beside her; otherwise, she wouldn’t have really minded.

It was Li Chengde, however, who looked much more serious, "Lin Ruonan, isn’t that Little Chili from the Jingcheng Lin Family?"

While speaking, Li Chengde looked over with a puzzled expression.

Li Changlin gave an embarrassed smile and couldn’t resist touching his nose awkwardly, "If we’re talking about the same person, then she probably is."

Lin Ruonan was fiery in spirit, truly fitting the Little Chili nickname. Perhaps legends never had the wrong names, only apt nicknames.

Good one, ’Little Chili’. I might use this nickname to tease her in the future.

"Changlin, what am I supposed to say about you? How did you even get involved with someone from the Lin Family?" Once Fu Mandie realized who Lin Ruonan was, she couldn’t help but sigh softly.

The Bai Family, which the Lin Family relied upon, had a rough relationship with the Li Family. If Li Changlin liked Lin Ruonan, it would be very difficult for them to be together.

"It was during college," Li Changlin scratched his head quickly, adding: "Let me make a call first. I still don’t know if Xi Yao is willing to meet you."

Li Changlin was a clever man and detected from the tone of Li Chengde and Fu Mandie that there seemed to be some issues between the Li and Lin Families.

To avoid further discussion on Lin Ruonan, he immediately decided to bring his parents to the hotel, but of course, he had to inform Ye Xiyao first. If Xi Yao opposed, Li Changlin would definitely respect her opinion.

"You, I really don’t know what to say about you," seeing her son’s indecisive behavior, Fu Mandie felt very frustrated. Who had she helped to raise? His personality was far too timid!