ALL NOVEL Chapter 116: Chilling Realization, The Malevolent Heroine
“But dude, let me ask you for a second. What was going through your mind when you raised your fist? Can you share with me? Was it because seeing those two interact touched a nerve, reminding you of the past, or did those two just conveniently give you an excuse to set an example, so you took the opportunity?”
Li Zichuan, making a microphone gesture with his fist, held it up to Lu Li’s mouth. You Meng couldn’t help but sweat a little, thinking Li Zichuan was being too bold. Zhang Ziqin’s matter was a taboo topic for Big Brother, even at home where they dared not speak much about it unless Lu Li brought it up himself. Although Zhang Ziqin was now gone, who knew what Lu Li was feeling right now!
Lu Li gave Li Zichuan, who was playing around, an annoyed look. How childish for someone his age!
Fixing his hair, Lu Li sat up straight: “First off, reminiscing about the past is just nonsense; the past is the past, it’s gone with a ‘Poof Poof,’ and there’s really nothing to dwell on. I, Lu Li, walk an upright path and sit straight. I’m definitely not the type to lash out at the world because of personal misfortune.”
“Big Brother isn’t angry?” You Meng was shocked and couldn’t help but reassess the relationship between the two men. “Oh my, Chen Xiaoyi, Cao Yingying, and now me, can’t lose to a man!” She thought, feeling a bit uneasy.
“Secondly, it’s not because those two gave me an excuse to take down their families. The reason I did it is because I can put myself in others’ shoes. This… ‘reporter friend,’ think about it. If that woman had chosen someone ordinary instead of me, what would have happened?”
Li Zichuan was momentarily caught off guard by Lu Li’s serious demeanor and asked, “What would have happened?”
“That man just said he’d make me regret it. If it were an ordinary person chosen by that… ‘princess,’ and targeted by that ‘prince,’ geez, that would be tragic!” Lu Li smiled warmly: “Of course, if the woman had chosen someone not so ordinary, maybe the situation would be different. The man could have been attracted by her beauty and then engaged in a jealous rivalry with the ‘prince,’ leading to a clichéd love triangle with the ‘princess.'”
“Either scenario is disgusting!”
“And that woman actually wanted me to be the male lead in such a clichéd drama. Of course, I wouldn’t comply with her wish.”
Lu Li concluded.
This scenario was prevalent in many novels from the previous era, where the poor male lead gets brought home by an aloof female CEO to fend off an unwelcome fiancé. It seems thrilling at first—showing off and turning the tables.
But think about it: what if the male lead wasn’t really the lead? The horror!
Yet, the “lead” doesn’t realize this issue, perhaps feeling honored to be used by the goddess, eagerly acting as a lapdog.
It’s baffling! Clearly a tiger, yet willingly stooping to play the dog.
He, too, had been that lapdog in his previous life, a fact Lu Li wouldn’t deny.
But he did it to defy fate, whereas others? For the heart of a beauty? Or her body?
Heh! Utterly speechless.
Li Zichuan fell into contemplation, seemingly grasping Lu Li’s point of view. Returning to the Li family, his perspective allowed him to see problems from a higher standpoint.
Hearing those two clash, even pulling Lu Li into it, Li Zichuan found it amusing—just two clowns.
But as Lu Li said, what if it hadn’t been Lu Li today? What would have happened?
A flash of fierceness crossed his eyes. He knew hardship too well; if not for Lu Li’s aid, he and his mother might not have survived. Realizing the implications of today’s incident, something amusing for an ordinary person might spell disaster.
A third party paying for the quarrels of two lovers!
“When shall we act? Shall I clean them up first?” Li Zichuan looked at Lu Li eagerly!
“Very soon. Most of the preparations are ready; just need to buy a company, assign some people, and bring a few over from Hangzhou. We’ll act shortly,” Lu Li said with a smile.
“Alright, just let me know when!” Li Zichuan nodded.
You Meng gazed adoringly at Lu Li. Perhaps this was why Big Brother had always been so gentle—thinking from others’ perspectives. A simple concept, yet rarely achieved.
Wasn’t she, an orphan, captivated by his gentleness from the start, unable to shake off his image?
If not for that woman’s excessive desire to use her Big Brother as a shield, You Meng would have treated it as a trivial matter. Strong and fearless, she was confident she could escape any threat.
Listening to Lu Li dissect the details revealed the horror and cruelty beneath the ‘trivial’ matter, hidden by the woman’s ruthlessness.
Li Zichuan’s expression softened, smiling slightly: “But dude, you’ve had a pretty good life to think about problems from others’ perspectives.”
Surprised, he eyed Lu Li. In his mind, Lu Li was supposed to be exceptionally lucky. How could he have such a pessimistic viewpoint?
“Cut it out. That’s how Lu Ya, the non-biological daughter, was treated, not me, the biological son. I was practically invisible to those two, humiliated by Lu Ya without anyone stepping in,” Lu Li scoffed, dismissing Li Zichuan with a glance.
Thinking about it left him speechless. Even if he had been somewhat pathetic, he was still their flesh and blood. He couldn’t understand their mindset.
Li Zichuan gaped, incredulous at Lu Li’s revelation.
He didn’t think Lu Li would lie, meaning what Lu Li said was true. He hadn’t realized Lu Li’s past was like that.
No wonder Lu Li remained silent about his family. Li Zichuan had thought Lu Li didn’t want to reopen old wounds, but now…
You Meng’s eyes also brimmed with sympathy. What did her Big Brother endure in his past?
“The closest people, the ones he loved, his parents—each one like that!”
“Ah, ah, ah, don’t give me any comforting words. I don’t need them. I’m doing great now, wielding power. Forget about Lu Ya; let those who dare touch me try. I’ll overturn their tables,” Lu Li waved dismissively, uncomfortable with their pitying looks.
Li Zichuan’s expression darkened: “You should have told me earlier. Even if I couldn’t do much then, as a brother, how could you keep it from me!”
He was angry and guilty. Lu Li had always been there for him during his family’s hardships, but when Lu Li needed him most, he wasn’t there.
“Enough, enough, stop with the mushy talk. It’s disgusting!”