That day, because Liu Yue's parents harassed them for too long, Su Jingyang simply didn't go open the Lin Ji pavilion. Rong Hua and Rong Ci stayed for dinner and only left when evening came.

When they left, Su Jingyang and Ling Li bathed Ah-Xuan and laid down on the bed together. Unexpectedly, Ah-Xuan became noisy and refused to fall asleep, neither Ling Li nor Su Jingyang could coax him, he slipped out of bed barefoot and ran next door. Su Jingyang hurriedly followed to catch him but Ah-Xuan struggled in his arms, crying and shouting for brother Yi, it took Su Jingyang a lot of effort to get him back to the room.

Ling Li held Ah-Xuan who was still crying in his arms, he rocked back and forth to calm him, but he couldn't be coaxed no matter what. Su Jingyang took a hot towel to wipe Ah-Xuan's crying face and said: "Big Brother Yi, Brother Yi, you know Brother Yi, didn't you just play with him for a long time today? Don't cry, I'll take you to find him. ."

Ah-Xuan seemed to have understood and immediately stopped crying, struggling to hold Su Jingyang to go to someone.

Su Jingyang wrapped Ah-Xuan in a blanket and braved the cold wind to go outside. Ling Li hurriedly chased him and put a piece of clothing on him, telling him to forget it if the person next door was already sleeping.

Su Jingyang nodded, he didn't really plan to take Ah-Xuan to his house in the middle of the night, but the kid refused to give up so he had to take him out to show he tried.

After going out, Ah-Xuan cried less, Su Jingyang held him and stopped at the gate of Rong Ci's house, reaching out his hand and knocking on the door very lightly.

Ah-Xuan was wrapped so tightly that only a pair of watery eyes were exposed, he choked and stared at the door, as if expecting someone to open the door.

Su Jingyang breathed in the icy breeze and coaxed him quietly, "Look, your brother Yi's asleep, should we come back tomorrow?"

Ah-Xuan pulled out his warm little hand from the blanket and grabbed Su Jingyang's wrist, motioned to the door to make him continue, saying, "Uncle, knock louder, knock louder."

Su Jingyang was immediately stunned, this little guy had learned how to not let others fool him.

Su Jingyang had no choice but to knock a little louder while saying: "Look, brother's asleep, he didn't hear..."

Before Su Jingyang's words could be finished, the door was opened from the inside with a creak and Rong Ci appeared neatly behind the door, his eyebrows and eyes illuminated by the lights in the courtyard and became more charming. He stretched out his hand at Su Jingyang, his voice sounded quite gentle, "Give me the child, let him sleep with me tonight."

Su Jingyang was stunned for a while, before he could move, Ah-Xuan had already rushed towards Rong Ci's arms. Su Jingyang handed the child to him and said hesitantly: "You... can really hear the movements on our side." Otherwise, how could he know that he would take the child to sleep with him.

"The child was crying so loudly, I'm not deaf, so I can naturally hear it." Rong Ci said, "Why are you looking at me with those eyes? You're afraid I'll overhear you saying bad things about me behind your back."

"What should I be afraid of? All the bad things I say about you are said upright in front of your face."

Rong Ci sneered, "Then I really have to thank you for your courage."

Ah-Xuan was leaning against Rong Ci's arms wrapped in a ball of blankets, his teardrop-stained eyelashes drooped, quiet and well-behaved. Su Jingyang asked disbelievingly, "Did you bribe him with sugar, when did he become so sticky with you? ?"

Rong Ci said, "That's because in Rongcheng, I accompanied him to bed every day, he just got used to it."

"But he wouldn't even want Ali over you." Su Jingyang looked at him suspiciously, "And, didn't Murong say that it was the City Lord who personally took care of and accompanied Ah-Xuan?"

Rong Ci stared at him with black eyes and said without changing his expression: "That's because I am the City Lord."

"..." Su Jingyang looked at him up and down and suddenly showed contempt: "I can forget it if you say bad things about others, but if you pretend to be someone else, then I only say that you're really amazing!"

Rong Ci hesitated, "Believe it or not."

Naturally, Su Jingyang didn't believe it, after returning, he told Ling Li. Ling Li was stunned for a while and didn't say anything. He didn't seem to believe it either.

Ling Li didn't sleep and went to the yard several times. Although he didn't hear the child crying, he still stood outside and refused to go in. Su Jingyang couldn't stand it anymore, he climbed up the ladder and called out to Rong Ci to ask, learning that the child had fallen asleep. Knowing that Ling Li had also heard it, Su Jingyang got off the ladder. Who knew that this ladder had been in service for too long and was already loose in a few places, Su Jingyang stepped down and only felt his body sway before an ouch was punched out of his mouth.

Ling Li had been frightened by him several times and hurriedly stretched out his hand to help him in fright. Su Jingyang landed and a deep voice came from the wall next door, "Su Jingyang, are you alright?"

"Me? I'm fine, what's the matter?"

Su Jingyang felt strange but there were no movements there, Su Jingyang went back inside the house with Ling Li and fell asleep.

Su Jingyang tightly wrapped himself in the quilt and was about to go to sleep, only to find Ling Li tilting his head to look at him. Su Jingyang smiled at him and only realized that the lights hadn't been turned off, he was about to get up but Ling Li held him down and said, "There aren't much of the candle left, let it burn out."

Su Jingyang went in and out several times that night, his face was a bit stiff with cold and he was only too happy to lie down again.

Su Jingyang found that Ling Li was still looking at him, his eyes seemed to be filled with endless thoughts, he couldn't help but ask him softly: "Ali, do you have something to tell me?"

Ling Li blinked slowly before sighing silently, "Yes."

Su Jingyang said: "Then what do want to say, I'll listen, I don't want to sleep anyway."

Ling Li was quiet for a while before saying: "Actually... I never dared to tell you what happened back then, for fear that you'll be disappointed in me. But now, my truest side had been shown to you, I feel like I've been relieved a lot, not as scared anymore."

It turned out that he was upset because of the appearance of Liu Yue's parents. Su Jingyang wrapped the quilt tighter and lay closer, he looked into his eyes and asked softly, "Why do you say I'll be disappointed in you? Ali, you always keep on scaring yourself."

Ling Li's breath trembled and the corners of his lips rose to form a bitter smile, "Jingyang, in fact, I did change the poisonous wine back then, which led to Liu Yue's death."

Su Jingyang was stunned.

"You don't want to believe it, do you? Jingyang, that's why I always say that you think of me too well." Ling Li looked away, as if he didn't dare to look at him anymore, his eyes were a little empty and he whispered: "Back when I was young, I actually didn't understand love, I just knew that he was good to me, so I would treat him well in return. He was a gambler, he was addicted to it and he always lost. After I got together with him, he took a risky gamble and lost six hundred taels of silver, six hundred taels... what a large sum, his family didn't have enough to pay, so he couldn't get out of the casino. The owner threatened to take him if he didn't pay back the money, he knelt and begged me crying, asking me to try my best to collect all the money for him within a month. But how could I get it? Later..." Ling Li's eyes turned sluggish and he was frozen. After choking for a while, he continued in a low voice: "Later, someone suddenly appeared and said to me that he wanted me to accompany a man, if I did, he would give me enough money to pay off my debt. I was wholeheartedly trying to save his life, I didn't hesitate and agreed. I got three thousand taels and stayed with that man for more than a month."

Su Jingyang was both distressed and shocked, but he didn't expect Ling Li to pay so much for a scumbag! ! !

Su Jingyang asked cautiously: "That man... is Ah-Xuan's other father?"

Ling Li was startled and then said softly: "Yes."

Su Jingyang was silent for a moment before asking, "Does he know Ah-Xuan's existence?"

Ling Li shook his head, "I don't know. He's not from here, and... he seems a bit wrong towards me. Yes, he left completely after being angered by me. "

Su Jingyang really didn't know how to comfort him, he put his hand on his shoulder and held him tightly. Ling Li's bright eyes shimmered slightly and he said, "The money Liu Yue owes was very large. It was nearly one thousand taels, I almost instantly took out the money to redeem him. But when he came back, he always asked me roundabouts where I got so much money and asked me if there was any money left."

Su Jingyang couldn't help but cursed: "Fuck!" His motive was too obvious!

Ling Li smiled sadly and said, "Jingyang, you might think I'm too stupid, but the money left at the time was a huge psychological burden for me. He asked me and I didn't hesitate to give him all the rest. In fact, he should have already guessed what I did. I later vaguely mentioned the marriage to him. maybe he didn't even know it, but he couldn't even cover up the disgust in his eyes. But he still told me that his parents at home still disagreed and let me wait. It didn't take long before I found out that I was pregnant... just when I was panicking, Liu Yue came to me in a rage and said that his family didn't agree to marry me and wanted to die with me. I thought he was acting very strange because I knew his character, he was someone who cherished life, and... I knew in my heart at the time, he didn't have any love for me. So in the agreed place, I made a plan to divert his attention and then... secretly swapped our goblets."

Ling Li paused for a long while, Su Jingyang held his breath, Ling Li chuckled softly again, "He took my hand and shed tears emotionally. When it was finally time to drink together, I proposed to change goblets with him, but he immediately drank the wine from his own glass till his head tipped, urging me to drink quickly; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to catch up with him when dies. I drank... he died, I live."

Su Jingyang was so angry that his teeth were trembling, he said fiercely: "He died too painlessly, he deserves it!!!"

Ling Li heard his angry cursing and stared back at him, pressing his lips tightly to suppress an uncomfortable gasp, the corners of his eyes moistened even more.

The blue veins on Su Jingyang's forehead jumped and jumped, "Damn, if he doesn't want to marry you, he should just say it straight, I think he's a bit sick in the head, otherwise why would he want to kill you¹??!"

Ling Li said, "Probably because he thinks I'm dirty and doesn't want me, but he may be afraid I'll be entangled with him because of feelings and money."

"Is he not afraid that the officials would be suspicious?!"

Ling Li shook his head. "The old officials back then only knew money, Liu Yue held the two thousand taels of silver I gave, a life was nothing in front of it. My heart was ashamed and I wanted to go to the government and plead guilty, but my father locked me at home and went to bear the guilt..."

When Ling Li told of his father, his face was obviously paler, "An official held a bit of kindness towards my father, he actually agreed to my father's request and let me go. Later, afterwards... the verdict hadn't yet been issued before he committed suicide in jail. After that, the Liu family took my father's ashes. Giving birth had been too painful for me, it was difficult for me to even support myself. The child in my stomach became my only support at this time, so I decided to... keep him."

Ling Li had always loved Ah-Xuan, Su Jingyang couldn't imagine that Ling Li hadn't planned to keep him in the first place.

"But in the end, they took my child and almost struck him to death! I hate them!" Ling Li's originally tearful hazel eyes suddenly became deep and unfathomable. When he inhaled, his lips would tremble, but his tone was calmer than before. "After that, I rushed around with the child looking for treatment. After the child's condition became stable, I sent news to a group of robbers that the Liu family possessed huge sums of money. I knew that the Liu family loved wealth and cherished money. They wouldn't put banknotes inside the bank, and in order not to arouse suspicion from others, they didn't dare to change their residence. As expected, a few days later the Liu family was ransacked. Liu Yue's parents lost a lot of money and fell ill, since then, they had been in poor health. They've borrowed money to buy medicine over the years and gradually lost the energy to come back here..."

Su Jingyang's lungs were close to exploding, "The two old mummies of the Liu family must've also known that the money was obtained from you. At that time, Liu Yue wanted to kill you, they might've been part of the plan too!" But they probably didn't expect that their precious son would be killed off instead, so they hated Ling Li!

"Perhaps..." Ling Li stopped talking, the lights in the room flickered and went out, and the room plunged into darkness immediately.

Su Jingyang maintained a face-to-face position with Ling Li, he suddenly reached out and hugged him tightly in his arms. At this time, it was difficult to express his distress for him even with a thousand words.

Ling Li buried his face in his arms and whispered, "Before my father died, he left a letter to me saying that he had mistakenly harmed my biological parents during a hunt, and only adopted me because of guilt. He wanted to let me live well to fulfil his apology. This incident had become a knot in my heart since then, and when I finally slowly figured it out, I realized that I had survived, and I had Ah-Xuan by my side. He lied to me to keep me alive."

Su Jingyang said quietly: "Your father loves you very much."

Ling Li grasped Su Jingyang's chest tightly and finally couldn't help but cry in pain and depression: "But I killed him! I noticed the strangeness at the time, I could've avoided it by myself and stopped provoking him... but because I was unwilling, because I was young and impulsive, I took a life! I also killed my only relative! Yet I still live in the world. Jingyang, I'm r-really not as beautiful as you think I am in your heart. What happened back then, I'm not innocent..."

Su Jingyang was extremely uncomfortable, and his voice was trembling, "Ali, do you treat me as a fool, do you think I don't understand laws and concepts of right and wrong, after hearing this I only feel even more uncomfortable for you in my heart. You said that you've committed great sins; have you forgotten how you've lived all these years? Those people deserve to die and get retribution! How could you blame yourself? You're innocent."

Ling Li lifted his face slightly from his arms, he raised his hand as hot flashes of his breath hit Su Jingyang's face, hugging him tightly, choking so much that he couldn't let out a word.

Su Jingyang whispered in Ling Li's ear: "Ali told me everything, let me digest everything in my mind. Ali will be happy in the future, so don't think about this anymore."

After a long time, Su Jingyang felt the clothes on his chest become all wet/sticky, listening to Ling Li softly murmuring while cry, and then hugging him tighter.

Ling Li finally said again: "Thank you, Jingyang, really thank you for appearing in my life."

The energy Su Jingyang received from Ling Li continuously melted into his body for nearly a quarter of an hour, Su Jingyang watched the progress bar move a little bit, move and then move even more, finally stopping at 2%!

Su Jingyang couldn't believe his eyes and almost sat up! ! ! This was a qualitative leap!

Su Jingyang immediately remembered what system no. 1 had said and remembered the situation tonight before reacting, while listening to Ling Li's renunciations, he unknowingly resolved his heart knot! That's why there was a burst of energy!

This had simply allowed him to get the best of both worlds.

Su Jingyang had been thinking since that day, if Liu Yue's parents dared to show up again to ask for money, he would definitely not treat them the same as before, he had to vent anger fro Ali!

He was full of resentment and geared up. He was indeed waiting for Liu's parents to come, but Su Jingyang was suddenly surprised by the unpredictable turn of events. They didn't come to beg, when Ling Li was carrying a tray to go to the second floor to meet with Rong Hua, they suddenly rushed over and ripped Ling Li's veil, revealing his face, and all the guests in the restaurant saw it!

The Liu couple had achieved their goals and fled in panic before Su Jingyang could slam them with the stool he had lifted. When Rong Hua and Rong Ci heard the movements, they disappeared into the crowd.

Afterwards, rumours arose in the town, and the number of customers of Lin Ji pavilion dropped sharply in just a few days. The spots that had been reserved in advance were now available, although there were occasional people who only cared about the taste and didn't care about gossips, compared to their previous popularity, it was indeed a far cry from before.

Liang Lu later investigated and found that someone had instigated Liu Yue's parents, the instigator was the owner of a nearby Yun Xiang restaurant. The opening of the Lin Ji pavilion seriously affected their business, they kept grudges in their hearts and sent people to investigate secretly, finally catching Ling Li's foxtail. They gave money to Liu Yue's parents and instructed them to find the right time to make trouble and then go to town to publicize the matter.

Ling Li, who hadn't talked much since that day, became quieter and quieter. Su Jingyang couldn't stop him from feeding the guilt rooted in his heart and was saddened to death. Fortunately, Rong Hua often came over and accompanied him in the kitchen, saying something funny and listening to him, helping Su Jingyang comfort him together.

Su Jingyang was holding the pen behind the counter that day, writing and scribbling contemplatively, and his brows were all twisted together.

There was originally a table of guests eating in the lobby. When Rong Ci came in, the table finished and the bill was settled. The Lin Ji pavilion was empty except for the two guests that were invited.

Su Jingyang looked up and saw him approaching. He hurriedly put a few sheets of paper in his arms and walked out of the counter to greet him, "Sit wherever you want, or do you want a private box?"

"No need." Rong Ci chose the table closest to the counter, and noticed a small patch of ink on his face, he asked: "What are you writing? The ghost symbols are painted all over your face."

Su Jingyang subconsciously touched his face and covered his chest where the manuscript was hidden, he hummed: "It's a secret, I won't tell you."

Rong Ci said, "You'll definitely come and tell me your secret after three days."