Xiao Yanzhi could, of course, understand the implication in Sheng Shuocheng's words.
He had already been well aware of this. His gaze first swept across Jiang Li's face, and his eyes signaled her not to worry. "You're right. I've truly been unqualified in taking care of Li Li."
"Before I came here, I was also extremely nervous. But it wasn't just because of you. More importantly, I felt that I hadn't been good enough to Li Li."
Jiang Li was stunned and looked at him.
He was such an aloof man, accustomed to having everything under control. Yet now, he calmly admitted, "I'm unqualified" and "I haven't been good enough to her."
Love often makes one feel indebted.
Her heart tightened, but she also knew that this wasn't the right moment for her to speak up for Xiao Yanzhi.
As Sheng Shuocheng's daughter, she couldn't be foolish at this critical juncture and show that she favored Xiao Yanzhi. Otherwise, her father would be very disappointed.
After a while, Sheng Shuocheng spoke, his voice deep and imposing. "If you're not good enough to her, then you really need to think carefully about your relationship."
Jiang Li's heart skipped a beat, but she still looked obedient and calm on the surface.
"However," he paused slightly, "if she wasn't satisfied, she wouldn't have brought you back today."
The underlying meaning was that he was giving Xiao Yanzhi a way out.
Facing Sheng Shuocheng's powerful aura, Xiao Yanzhi remained calm. He handed over the long gift box he had brought in. "This time, I've prepared a humble gift for you, sir."
Sheng Shuocheng reached out to take it. He opened the box, saw the sandalwood walking stick inside, slightly narrowed his eyes, and directly closed the box.
"I'm not old enough to need a walking stick all the time."
The atmosphere instantly became oppressive.
Jiang Li pouted, looking a bit unhappy.
Noticing the change in her mood, Sheng Shuocheng turned to look at her. "What's wrong?"
Jiang Li said dejectedly, "Actually, I picked this for you. If you don't like it, that's okay."
Sheng Shuocheng: "..."
He coughed twice, reopened the box, took out the walking stick, and held it in his hand. "It's quite heavy, and the patterns are nice. Did he pay for it?"
Jiang Li was taken aback. "Yes."
Sheng Shuocheng let out a sigh of relief and then added, "Next time, use your card. Dad will be happier when he receives the gift."
The three of them sat there drinking tea for a while and chatting about some unrelated topics.
In the evening, Jiang Li was about to invite Xiao Yanzhi to stay for dinner. Before she could speak, Sheng Shuocheng spoke first.
"Yanzhi must be busy with company affairs. I won't keep you tonight."
The intention to send him away was very obvious.
Jiang Li looked back at Sheng Shuocheng longingly and then at Xiao Yanzhi. Helpless, she had to stand up. "Dad, I'll go and see him off."
At the door, Xiao Yanzhi remained calm throughout. Before getting in the car, he even comforted her, saying it was okay and that he would figure out a way to handle it.
This didn't seem like everything was okay at all.
After watching him leave, Jiang Li silently returned home. Sheng Shuocheng was still sitting on the sofa, seemingly waiting for her.
"Li Li, come here."
He called her, and Jiang Li responded and sat down beside him.
Since they had recognized each other as father and daughter, they hadn't had a proper heart - to - heart conversation.
She was his daughter who had been missing for many years. Considering his previous understanding of her, Sheng Shuocheng doted on her even more.
"Twenty - odd years have passed. You've suffered a lot outside, my girl. It's Dad's fault that I didn't find you earlier."
Jiang Li smiled. "You don't need to feel guilty. I'm still healthy and safe now, aren't I?"
The nanny served new hot tea and then left, not disturbing the rare and warm conversation between the father and daughter.
Sheng Shuocheng looked at her. His narrow and deep eye - folds were filled with love. "Of course, Dad hopes you'll always be healthy, safe, and happy."
She was touched and said with a smile, "You want me to be happy, but you deliberately made things difficult for him just now."
She was, of course, referring to Xiao Yanzhi.
"He wasn't good to you before."
"I know." Jiang Li nodded without denying this. "But he's also been very good to me. Maybe no other man will be better to me than him."
"If we can't find a man who will treat you well, Dad can support you. You don't have to get married for the rest of your life." Sheng Shuocheng nodded. "If all else fails, there's still your brother."
Jiang Li looked up at him and smiled. "Brother will also get married. He'll have his own wife to love."
"Forget it. You young people won't listen to anything I say. You're just like your brother." Sheng Shuocheng sighed and waved his hand. "If I say too much, I'll seem like a villain."
At his age, Sheng Shuocheng could see through many things. Even though Jiang Li hadn't spoken up for Xiao Yanzhi just now, he could still sense her anxious and worried mood.
Sure enough, once a daughter grows up, she'll leave her father.
Sheng Shuocheng had so many feelings in his heart. "They say a daughter is a father's little cotton - padded jacket. My little cotton - padded jacket hasn't even accompanied me through one winter, and in the blink of an eye, she's talking about love and marriage."
His words were full of reluctance. Jiang Li also felt a bit sad. She sniffed and joked, "We're just dating. It's not time for marriage yet. Besides, even if I get married, I won't stop coming home."
Sheng Shuocheng laughed. "It's good that you remember home. Don't be like your brother, who doesn't know how to take care of the family all day long."
Jiang Li laughed along.
"Li Li, do you like him very much?" he asked softly.
Jiang Li was silent for a second and then softly replied, "Yes."
"I'm sorry, Dad investigated your experiences in the past twenty - odd years without informing you first."
Jiang Li wasn't surprised. She just shook her head. "It's okay."
He looked at Jiang Li, his eyes full of heartache. "You've had a really tough time in the past twenty - odd years, struggling and risking your life for money. It was him who helped you financially and saved your life."
"Li Li, you know Dad has no ill intentions when I ask you this question. Do you like him because he helped you back then, and you think he's the one who saved you, and he provided you with financial help in your career, so you're grateful?"
Sheng Shuocheng asked very tactfully, but this was indeed what he, as a father, was most worried about.
He didn't care whether his daughter fell in love with a poor or a rich man. What he was afraid of was that his daughter would mistake temporary money and kindness for love, which would only ruin her life.
"Why do you think so?" Jiang Li asked him.
"I hope you can think carefully about your feelings for him. Is it because of the help he gave you that you're touched, or do you really like him as a person?"
His expression was very calm, showing the steadiness of someone who had seen through the world. "Your experiences from childhood to adulthood may have made you lack a sense of security. I'm worried that you'll mistake the money and favors he gave you for a sense of security and blur your real emotional needs."
This analysis made sense. There were too many examples of girls who, because they hadn't received enough financial support in their childhood, made mistakes for the sake of money when they grew up.
He didn't want his daughter to be like that.