Rebirth: CEO's Sweetheart Reaches the Life Pinnacle!-Chapter 75 - 72 Grandma Li’s Birthday Banquet

"Finally understood! From now on, don’t associate with her anymore. This person isn’t your friend at all! What if she’s trying to harm you this time? What will you do if something happens to you?"

Li Si slowly nodded, flashing a sly smile: "But, Brother Leng, I didn’t come alone. I brought a friend with me – the girl who was signaling earlier!"

"That’s more like it. Remember, kid, Zhou Rou has bad intentions toward you. You need to stay alert! If something like this happens again, just call me directly. I’ll arrange for someone to handle it! If she really plans to harm you, and you’re unprepared – I can’t even imagine the consequences!" Leng Mochen patted the soft hair on top of Li Si’s head, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes.

"Mm! I will!" Li Si’s eyes showed a trace of annoyance. How did Zhou Rou turn out like this? It didn’t seem like she had any deep-seated hatred toward her, did she?

A few days later, it was Grandma Li’s birthday. Her second uncle had reserved a private room at the Man Han Restaurant, and he’d called Li Si the day before. There was no question about attending, though she felt a bit strange. Why did they suddenly decide to celebrate at a hotel this year?

On the second floor in a private room, the entire Li Family was present by the time Li Si arrived, even Li Guozhi had taken leave from work to come.

"Ah, Li Si is here, quick, come sit. Come sit. Just now your grandma was still asking, ’Why hasn’t our Li Si arrived yet?’" Her second aunt Zhang Meihua stood up enthusiastically, taking the birthday cake from Li Si’s hands.

"Didn’t expect you’d be here so early. Didn’t Second Uncle say the party starts at 5 PM when he called yesterday? It’s not even 4:30 yet!" she said, having been delayed while picking up the cake.

"It’s no problem, Li Si. We just arrived a little while ago. Look at you, you don’t need to say that. Running around in this summer heat – it’s exhausting for the kid! Come on now, tell the waiter to serve the food!" Second Uncle was especially warm today, as if their uncle-niece relationship had always been this close.

Li Si glanced at the group seated at the table. No need to talk about the others – even Li Fei had a smile on her face. She quietly calculated in her heart: It seems this isn’t some ordinary meal. This is undoubtedly a Hongmen Banquet.

The dishes arrived quickly: chicken, duck, fish, seafood – an even balance of meat and vegetables. It seemed the dishes had been prepared earlier, waiting only to be served once Li Si arrived.

Second Uncle stood up, raising a wine glass filled with more than half a cup of red wine: "Come, the entire Li Family is here today. Let’s wish our Grandma Li a happy birthday! Good health! Cheers, everyone!"

Everyone at the table except Grandma Li stood up in unison, raising their glasses and offering their birthday wishes before downing their drinks and sitting back down.

Li Si quietly observed the every move of those seated, then put down her chopsticks after only a few bites.

"Li Si, today your second uncle is using your grandma’s birthday celebration to apologize to you on behalf of your second aunt and Li Fei. You know, we said some unpleasant things earlier, but don’t take it to heart! We’re all one family. Sometimes, the intention comes from wanting the best for you, isn’t that right? You have to understand where elders are coming from!" Second Uncle glanced around at the others and took the lead in speaking.

"Exactly, sis. You know, I’ve been so immature, always bickering with you. You’re the bigger person, don’t hold it against me, okay? Let me toast to you first – I’ll drink, and you can drink as much as you like!" Li Fei raised her half-full glass of wine and downed it in one go. She thought to herself: If I can coax her into giving us the money, enduring a bit of humiliation is nothing!

Li Si smiled faintly, saying nothing. She took a light sip of her wine. What could she say? It seemed Second Uncle’s family had decided to say something nice first before hitting her with the difficult stuff later. So she decided to wait and see how this drama played out.

Wu Dachuan glanced at Li Si, his expression sincere as he began to apologize: "Li Si, you know, when Wu Grandma and I went to your school the other day, that was really inappropriate – I’m terribly sorry. When your aunt came home from work and found out, she scolded us thoroughly. It was all a misunderstanding. Don’t take it to heart! Please explain it properly to your classmates too, so it doesn’t reflect poorly on you!"

Li Si was truly surprised this time. Her aunt actually dared to reprimand his mother and son? Was the sky about to rain blood?

Li Guozhi forced a stiff smile toward Li Si, but that smile was incredibly awkward: "Yeah, I said something to them afterward. It was just hearsay, not anything real. Who’d have thought these two would go directly to your school to cause such a commotion! Li Si, did it cause you any trouble or negative effects?"

The situation didn’t line up exactly. When Li Guozhi first learned of it, she had been very upset but didn’t dare voice her opinions.

However, after the brainwashing conversation just now with her second brother, sister-in-law, and husband, she started to feel that since the family was struggling financially, it was only natural for Li Si to help out, given her capability.

Li Si smirked mockingly; if something seemed off, there was definitely more at play.

Grandma Li, seeing that everyone had said their piece, decided to take the stage herself. Clearing her throat, she said, "Li Si, this year’s birthday is the happiest I’ve ever had, though the one regret I have is that your father isn’t here." As she spoke, she genuinely seemed saddened, tears streaming down her cheeks as she wiped them away with her sleeve.

"You see, our family has so many people, and life is hard for everyone. Grandma is hitting seventy soon – how many more good years can I have left? All I wish is to see my children and grandchildren living good lives." The group chimed in, reassuring her to stop saying such things and that she would live to be a hundred.

"Your second uncle and your aunt’s families are both struggling right now. If you can help, give them a hand. They’re close relatives. Someday, if you encounter problems, won’t you need your second uncle to stand up for you?"

"Exactly, Li Si. You’re not even married yet. You might not understand now, but when you marry someday, if you’re wronged by your in-laws, wouldn’t your mother’s family be the ones to stand up for you?" Wu Dachuan followed easily with a few more lines.

Li Si almost wanted to ask him outright if these words even passed through his mind before he spoke. If Second Uncle’s family could actually stand up for her, then why did he and his male-preference chauvinistic mother still dare to bully her aunt?

Zhang Meihua, realizing Wu Dachuan’s comments were problematic, coughed lightly. Only then did Wu Dachuan reluctantly pick up his chopsticks and start eating.

"How am I supposed to help? Same as Li Fei, I’m still studying. You all know that too!" Li Si started acting poor – who wouldn’t?

The old lady’s smile widened, her words flowing smoothly: "I don’t have any other wishes anymore – just want to live out my old age peacefully! Li Si, Grandma has loved you the most since you were little. Now that I’m old, it’s only natural that your father should’ve been the one to care for me! But unfortunately, he had such a hard life and left us so early. Isn’t there an old saying, ’A father’s debt must be repaid by his child’? So from now on, Grandma is counting on you."

Seeing Li Si open her mouth to speak, she waved her hand, cutting her off: "Li Si, don’t talk yet – let me finish. Grandma will make it clear today. You haven’t graduated college yet, and I understand that. But you have wealthy men spending money on you, don’t you? So today, while the family is here together, let’s finalize this – you’ll give me 300,000 yuan for retirement. After that, I won’t need you to take care of me!"