“I can stay at a guesthouse…” Yu Li began.

Shao Guangrong smiled cryptically, “Little Yu, you’ve seen the world working with Miss Xia. Are you afraid of owing me too much, unable to repay the favor?”

Yu Li could only take the key: “Alright, thank you. I do need a place these days.”

She was already indebted to Shao Guangrong beyond repayment, so Yu Li stopped being overly polite. As he said, with Director Xia on honeymoon leave, she could stay in the capital for several days. Staying in the hospital room wasn’t appropriate; she needed a place to rest, shower, and wash her hair.

Despite her decent salary now, she remained frugal, always choosing the cheapest guesthouses. She had previously borrowed medical expenses from the company, which took over a year to repay. Yu Li had little sense of security about life, worried that if her mother’s condition changed, would she have to borrow money again? She needed savings.

Not only for her mother’s long-term treatment but also because she wanted to continue her education in a few years, just as Director Xia said, her education was truly a weakness. Having money meant peace of mind – Yu Li understood this deeply.

After teasing her a bit and seeing her finally agree, Shao Guangrong was pleased. He had kept the apartment spotlessly clean, wanting to provide convenience for Yu Li.

This was a rare emotion for Shao Guangrong. His feelings for Yu Li weren’t just casual; it wasn’t that he couldn’t let go because she was hard to get. He felt both sympathy and admiration for her.

He wanted to help Yu Li while being mindful of her self-respect. Yu Li had once lost her self-respect but had regained it through her efforts.

Over the past year, Yu Li has changed significantly. The current Yu Li probably wouldn’t need to stab her stepfather twice to escape that beast.

From being merely clever to becoming increasingly capable, Shao Guangrong was pleased with Yu Li’s transformation. After giving her the key and lingering at the hospital, he whistled his way home.

His mother, Madam Shao, was puzzled. “Why are you willing to come home today?”

Her son was usually impossible to pin down, previously hanging out with friends aimlessly, now claiming to be busy with work. It took multiple requests just to get him home for a meal. Today wasn’t even the weekend, yet he came home?

Shao Guangrong grinned playfully, “I missed you and Father. Mom, I’ll stay home for a few days.”

Though Madam Shao complained about his irresponsible behavior, as her only child, how could she not dote on him?

His return was timely; Madam Shao had been holding back many words: “Zhou Cheng is already married, aren’t you feeling any urgency? You’re a year older than Zhou Cheng, already twenty-six this year. You won’t meet the matchmaking candidates we introduce, and we never see you bringing girlfriends home. Shao Guangrong, are you planning to become a monk? Look at Tong Lili, she even has a child now. If things had worked out with her, I would have had a grandchild…”

Marriage?

Even if he won Yu Li over now, that girl wasn’t even 19 yet, not even old enough for marriage.

Faced with his family’s marriage pressure, Shao Guangrong could only deflect; his mother had no way to handle him!

Madam Shao grew suspicious. When her son stood close to her, she smelled antiseptic on him – how long had he been at the hospital? Yet he didn’t seem sick.

Moreover, Shao Guangrong usually couldn’t stand her nagging, but he stayed home for a night without running away.

Madam Shao sensed something was up.

Shao Guangrong left for work but asked his mother to cook delicious dishes, implying he’d stay home again tonight.

This son who was usually as untameable as a wild dog suddenly becoming a homebody wasn’t normal. After Shao Guangrong left for work, Madam Shao decided to investigate what he was up to.

Instead of going to his workplace, she went to his apartment.

She had secretly made a copy of the apartment key, unknown to Shao Guangrong.

Opening the door, she didn’t find Yu Li inside, who had already gone to the hospital.

But Yu Li’s red suitcase was there.

Her clothes from after showering were washed and dried on the radiator – Yu Li trusted Shao Guangrong, believing that since he lent her the apartment, he wouldn’t enter without permission. But Yu Li didn’t understand his mother.

Even Shao Guangrong didn’t understand his mother.

Having a child of marriageable age still single had turned the parent into something as keen as a police dog.

Though Madam Shao didn’t catch any woman in the apartment, she saw women’s clothes.

Last night, a woman had stayed here.

Madam Shao smiled knowingly, didn’t touch Yu Li’s belongings, and locked the door again.

She wanted to see what kind of woman her son Shao Guangrong would lend his apartment to – was she his girlfriend?

Or was she one of those questionable girls he used to date?

Madam Shao waited patiently to see who would appear.

No one came back by afternoon.

Madam Shao continued waiting patiently.

It wasn’t until after nine in the evening that Yu Li returned, with Shao Guangrong driving her back.

They didn’t do anything inappropriate, just exchanged a few words at the door before parting, but when Madam Shao saw Yu Li, she felt a headache coming on.

Why her of all people?

Wasn’t this that salesgirl?

Shao Guangrong had even been to the police station because of this girl.

Madam Shao wasn’t the type to immediately cause a scene. If she rushed up to argue, letting all the neighbors hear, how could her son Shao Guangrong continue living here?

But her previous excitement had turned to anger.

Casually staying in a man’s apartment – this girl was indeed improper.

When Shao Guangrong returned home, Madam Shao followed behind him, waiting until they were inside with the door closed before venting her anger:

“Now I understand why you’d suddenly become so filial and stay home. You gave your apartment to that salesgirl. It’s my fault, all my fault! I thought when she left Beijing, you two had lost contact!”

Shao Guangrong hadn’t expected his mother to find out so quickly.

“Just helping out a friend. She’s a proper young lady, that’s why I came home to stay. Otherwise, wouldn’t we be sleeping together? Why make things so complicated!”

“Shut up! What proper young lady? She’s just pretending to be pure to fool you, you fool! Just that salesgirl – finding someone of your conditions, how could she let go? Guangrong, anyone else would be fine, just not her. I absolutely won’t agree-“

As Madam Shao grew more agitated, Shao Guangrong also got angry:

“Fine, I’ll be honest then. I do like her!”

Madam Shao felt her head throbbing and her chest tightening. She sat down heavily on the sofa and sneered:

“Someone who dared to stab her stepfather twice isn’t a simple person. And she’s dragging along a vegetative mother. Even a daughter from an ordinary citizen’s family would be better than her.”

No advantages, just burdens.

Shao Guangrong suddenly understood, “So you’ve investigated her before.”

When did she investigate?

Probably when Yu Li stabbed that beast of a stepfather. His mother was indeed formidable. Shao Guangrong wasn’t the impulsive person he was years ago. He calmed down and patiently explained to his mother:

“Since you know everything, I won’t hide it from you. I do like Little Yu. Please stop arranging blind dates for me. I only want to be with Little Yu.”