Jiang Li sat with the old lady, chatting and sharing the interesting things that happened to her in the drama troupe. She also invited the old lady to watch her play sometime.
At dinner, she said that Cheng Yingchun's cooking was excellent and tasted just like home.
Her words made the old lady extremely happy. The more the old lady looked at her, the more she liked her.
When they finally left the villa, both of them let out a sigh of relief simultaneously.
Finally, they had accomplished this important task.
Sheng Shuocheng asked the driver to take Jiang Li home. She didn't decline and simply thanked him and agreed.
She could more or less guess that Sheng Shuocheng must want to talk to her about what had happened today.
Sure enough.
As soon as the car started moving, Sheng Shuocheng said in a deep voice, "You did a great job."
It was obvious that he was complimenting her.
Jiang Li didn't respond. She guessed there must be more to his words. "You and the old lady are really destined. I've been trying to persuade her for so many years, but I couldn't get her to move out of that shabby courtyard."
Jiang Li asked, "Why is she so attached to that courtyard?"
"It's an old - fashioned concept. People of the older generation are reluctant to leave their hometown. And the older they get, the more they long for their roots," Sheng Shuocheng took off his glasses and rubbed his temples and the space between his eyebrows tiredly. "Moreover, A Zhi grew up there when she was a child. The courtyard is full of her memories."
This was the key point.
No wonder the house leaked and was damp, and the drainage system was poor, but the old lady was reluctant to leave.
It held the memory of her daughter.
"Did you see A Zhi's photos?"
Jiang Li nodded and politely said, "I saw them. Mrs. Sheng is very beautiful. You two were well - matched."
Sheng Shuocheng was silent for a moment and then suddenly laughed.
"Matched?" He repeated the word and said mockingly, "If we were really well - matched, she wouldn't have had to suffer so much."
His tone became obviously cold. "If I had known earlier what those people were saying, I would have made them shut up forever and never utter another word."
There was an obvious killing intent around him, and the atmosphere grew cold.
"I gave her love, protection, and everything she wanted. We even had a child. Why did she still leave?" He even began to feel heart - broken. "She was so selfish."
Jiang Li was silent for a long time and then slowly said, "Mr. Sheng, maybe what she needed was not the silence of others, but your trust and respect."
"Are you saying that I didn't respect my wife?" Sheng Shuocheng's voice suddenly dropped. "Jiang Li, you'd better think carefully about what you're saying. I won't allow you to talk nonsense just because you persuaded the old lady today."
Facing his threat, Jiang Li ignored it.
"If you respected her, you should have put down your pride and made her feel equal to you, instead of making her throw herself at you like a moth to a flame and trap herself by your side!"
She took a deep breath and blurted out, "She gave her whole life to you for love, but all you gave her was your condescending charity and self - gratification for thinking you had given so much!"
At this moment, Jiang Li could empathize with Li Muzi so much that her tone was tinged with pity. "She could have survived if you had listened to what she really wanted."
Sheng Shuocheng was almost furious. "Then tell me, what did she want? You have nothing to do with her. How dare you think you know her better than me!"
"I understand her," Jiang Li slowly exhaled a breath and said softly, "You yourself think that it's her fortune to be loved by you, a rich man, so how can you expect others to respect her?"
Sheng Shuocheng was stunned.
It was like a sharp arrow that accurately hit his heart.
"Don't bother to take me home. Goodbye," Jiang Li tightened her collar and said coldly, "Please stop the car at the next intersection. Thank you."
The driver didn't dare to act rashly and waited for his boss's order.
Sheng Shuocheng closed his eyes. It was obvious that he was suppressing his anger and also a bit at a loss.
The car slowly stopped.
Jiang Li said softly, "Goodbye." Just as she was about to open the car door and get out, Sheng Shuocheng suddenly said in a deep voice, "Wait."
Jiang Li paused and turned to look at him.
He was silent for a while and finally said in a somewhat condescending tone, "Thank you for today. Name your price."
Jiang Li almost laughed at the same time.
"What are you laughing at?" Sheng Shuocheng was simply incredulous. He had never seen such a bold person who dared to openly mock him in front of him.
Jiang Li looked up at him and said word by word, "Not everything in this world requires a reward, and no one cares about those so - called 'prices'."
"I advised Grandma to move out just for her health and safety. It has nothing to do with you."
Jiang Li tightened her fists. She knew that she had completely offended Sheng Shuocheng today. "Maybe you treated Li Muzi the same way back then, always showing your favors and charity. No wonder she would rather die than be with you."
After she finished speaking, without waiting for Sheng Shuocheng to get angry, she simply opened the car door and got out.
She left Sheng Shuocheng alone in the car.
The driver was so scared that his hands holding the steering wheel were shaking. Who in the past dozen years would dare to defy his boss like this?
"Boss, where are we going now?" The driver stammered and didn't even dare to look at the rear - view mirror.
Sheng Shuocheng was silent for a long time and finally let out a long sigh. "Go to the cemetery."
He wanted to see A Zhi.
---
When she got home, Jiang Li still felt numb all over and her head was buzzing.
She must be crazy.
Who was Sheng Shuocheng?
To put it simply, he was the boss of her drama troupe; to put it seriously, he was a powerful man who could control everything. Offending him today, she might not only lose her chance to act in plays but even have trouble staying alive.
But the words she had said were like spilled water and there was no turning back.
She didn't even dare to think about what had happened today. She was in a daze. Sister Chen called her several times but she didn't respond.
"Li Li, Li Li?" When Jiang Li finally came to her senses, she found that Sister Chen had been waving her hand in front of her for a long time. "What were you thinking about?"
Xiaoye grinned. "Sister Jiang Li looked like she was in a trance just now. Did a ghost possess her?"
Jingyi analyzed calmly, "It doesn't seem like a ghost possession. It's more like she saw a ghost."
The two of them joked one after another. Gradually, Jiang Li came to her senses and replied with a smile, "I'm just a bit tired today."
"What did you do? You were so tired that you couldn't even hear me talking about something important."
Sister Chen gave her a strange look but didn't pursue the matter further. "Let me tell you something serious. It's related to your work."
Hearing this, Jiang Li sat up straight. "Please tell me."
Sister Chen took out her phone and showed it to her. Her tone was serious. "Just got the news that the screening permit for the movie Embroidery Lady you filmed before has been rejected. It may not be released as scheduled."