Free Web NovelChapter 1075: Chapter 299: I Know Everything
Chapter 299: I Know Everything
(Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone! P.S.: Thanks to all the friends who voted and gave rewards.)
Li Yan drove her home, and she didn’t say much along the way, which made it inconvenient for him to speak more. He wanted to give her some time to buffer.
When they arrived at her apartment complex, Huang Ying said there was no need for him to see her inside, and she could go up on her own. It was already close to midnight, and if people saw her coming home so late in a man’s car, it might lead to gossip.
"When you get home, give my phone a quick call. The babysitter might have already left, and your mom might not have gone to bed yet. You need to take care of her. Just call and hang up without saying anything, so I know you’ve safely gone upstairs, and I can leave with peace of mind," Li Yan said with a smile.
Although they were already here, and there was basically nothing to worry about, Huang Ying typically didn’t come home this late. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Hearing his concern warmed Huang Ying’s heart. She looked into his eyes and gently said, "Li Yan... thank you."
"Thank you for what?" Li Yan reached out and took her hand, smiling, "You aren’t trying to tell me you actually don’t have feelings for me, and you’re only with me out of gratitude, and now you’re finally relieved, are you?"
Huang Ying quickly shook her head, "No... what I mean is..."
"Hmm?" Li Yan looked at her, seeing her hesitant, and asked with some confusion.
Huang Ying thought for a moment and then decided to speak up: "I know everything."
"You know everything? What do you know?" Li Yan was a bit flustered. If she’s talking about Yu Xiaodi, Shinohara Mirai, and Matsushima Kui, then she should be saying things like ’pity,’ ’regret,’ or ’disappointment,’ not thankfulness. Surely she isn’t grateful that he arranged for a bunch of sisters?
Huang Ying flashed a tiny smile: "That’s just how you are... preferring to secretly help me rather than want my thanks."
Li Yan found it even more strange: "How am I secretly helping you again? If I’m helping you, wouldn’t it be directly?"
"I’m talking about the past... My mom told me something." Huang Ying spoke softly, "Once, she inadvertently overheard the staff from the Mortal Fund discussing why they put so much effort into caring for her. It wasn’t just an ordinary aid case, but also because she was the future mother-in-law of a friend of the fund’s director, Mr. He Zhengyuan."
"Uh..." Li Yan was speechless, never expecting that they would eventually uncover this! He Zhengyuan surely didn’t have the time to oversee everything personally, so to ensure others took care, he mentioned she was a friend’s future mother-in-law.
When he asked his fifth brother, He Zhengyuan, to help, he initially used photos taken on the beach of her collecting scrap, paired with the story of her mother being seriously ill without money for treatment, pushing it online via viral marketing. Then He Zhengyuan, under this guise, claimed to learn of their situation online, checked with the hospital, and provided aid.
The intention was twofold. Firstly, he had no ulterior motives for Huang Ying, not wanting her gratitude, only to assist her as she was the only person in the business department who had helped him and didn’t look down on him, counting her as a friend. But if she knew the truth and showed the face of gratitude all the time, it would be awkward.
Secondly, he didn’t want his identity exposed. Being merely seen as unremarkable, relying on relationships to muddle through the company for pay, suddenly knowing acquaintances like that found among overseas charity fund directors who could act swiftly, would definitely surprise Huang Ying. She worked at Paradise Group, and an unintentional slip might reach Zhang Yurong.
No thought half a year later, the truth was unwittingly discovered.
"Previously, we thought that was simply how the Mortal Fund’s process went. When my mom found out, she was shocked. Reviewing the whole procedure, it seemed unusually fast and enthusiastic. Even if willing to aid, meticulous investigation of the recipient family’s condition is normally requisite, yet they treated it as their own affair. Because I don’t have a boyfriend, she met you, the one who’s been to the hospital, but didn’t believe you could know such an influential person.
Hence, she never mentioned this to me, thinking I might have another boyfriend, you being just a colleague. After I returned, she finally learned about us... that’s why she eventually told me about it."
Saying this, Huang Ying gazed at Li Yan intently and said seriously, "Though there’s no direct evidence, I strongly believe it must be you! Mr. He should be a friend of yours, and at that time the online stunt dealt with by you; fundraising was merely secondary. You knew kind-hearted aid would be insubstantial for my mother’s medical bills. That was merely a reason to discreetly assist us."
What is their relationship now? Although Li Yan hasn’t and can’t disclose all details, there are facts to moderately share and admit. He spread his hands, smiling, "You’re right; I admit it. But don’t get me so high-minded. The intent of such indirect help isn’t solely obscuring from you for gratitude but also wanting privacy without exposure knowing He Zhengyuan. Hence, knowing him isn’t considered grand."
"I understand... but for me, it’s about you not wanting to burden me. Including... later occurrences, if I hadn’t felt overwhelmed by pressure and lost confidence to the point of randomly choosing to marry, you probably wouldn’t have shown up, just silently aiding when possible."
Li Yan neither affirmed nor denied; to her, he didn’t harbor that sort of intentions, knowing her kind too, having a wife himself, obviously avoiding unwarranted flirting. If merely assisting without expecting repayment, gratitude from her wasn’t necessary.
"Thereby... thank you for the generosity extended to me and my family." Huang Ying smiled faintly, "Now, in our relationship, you’d surely assist me. But at that time, we weren’t close like that, so offering thanks retrospectively isn’t incorrect, right?"
"Alright then, if you insist, I’ll accept your thanks."
Huang Ying nodded, satisfied, waved goodbye, and got out of the car.
Li Yan, acknowledging and receiving her retroactive thanks, was not only for her relief; it was also an expression of gratitude from her mother. Back then, both of them were merely ordinary colleagues and friends. Getting the Mortal Fund to exert painstaking efforts and attention clearly wasn’t a trivial favor.
As for the friendship between Li Yan and He Zhengyuan—or how he connected with those circles—Huang Ying neither asked nor wanted to. She perceived Li Yan beyond a mere presentation of simplicity, recognizing a man’s mystery; if unbidden by him, she wouldn’t inquire, content merely to accept all he offers! freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Thus, when the client representative coveting her was eunuchized, accomplice Ye Jiahong facing misery, hospitalized long, even leading to the business director’s removal. Very aware it was Li Yan behind those, yet never questioning him how executed. How he acquainted as friend Li Jie, boss of security company Jie Rui, enlisting her in accounting despite intern-level skills was atypical, yet equally unexplored.
Tonight, no queries pertinent to He Zhengyuan.
Carrying steadiness and cheer, Huang Ying returned home, momentarily setting aside concern and anxiety for her mom.
Onto the doorstep, found lights on inside, Huang Ying felt guilt, let herself loose tonight completely, indulged in a date, leaving her mom home alone, uncertain of the caregiver’s departure. Now wishes fulfilled, feelings jubilant; it seemed at last celebrated Valentine’s. Yet stepping toward home evoked thoughts, fretting solely for mom inside.
Inhaling deeply at the door, anticipated on entering to care for mom, questions about the evening would ensue. No time for phoning Li Yan, thus preemptively dialed his number. Let it ring briefly, then hung, inserting the key for entry.
...
Li Yan remained outside waiting, calculating time. Having visited Huang Ying’s countless times, estimating duration needed, phone rang by estimation confirming she called, disconnecting before answering.
Code sign confirmed; assured she safely reached home, he started his car, heading back.
To be precise, home. Not towards the hotel joining them.
Though, all three desired so. Yet now contrasting past, he must attend his wife. Their relationship blossomed lovingly; trivial foreign fling can’t jeopardize that.
Before he drove far, phone rang again!
Neither Shinohara Mirai urging hotel meet nor Zhang Yurong questioning tardy homecoming. But... her call! (To be continued; to know more, log in to www.qidian.com, with more Chapters, support the author, support authentic reads!)
