DouDou

Chapter 13: DouDou.

BOW..

DouDou's bark finally broke the silence, capturing everyone's attention. Ling Yue turned to look at Uncle Li and Madam Li, who had been standing out of her line of sight. Mother Li had a starry-eyed expression as she gazed at Ling Yue, making her feel slightly uneasy under the intense scrutiny.

"Hello, Madam Li. It's an honor to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you from Uncle Li," Ling Yue greeted Mother Li with a polite bow. She was genuinely curious to meet the woman who Uncle Li would talk about incessantly without getting tired.

"Oh, dear, you don't have to be so formal. Call me Aunty, okay?" Mother Li said, accepting anyone her son liked. She had always wanted to meet this girl who was like an embodiment of art and beauty, and since everyone else in the room seemed to know Ling Yue already, she didn't want to be the odd one out and insisted on skipping the formalities. Ling Yue smiled and nodded in response to Mother Li's request.

"Uncle, Aunty, happy wedding anniversary," Ling Yue extended her greetings to the couple, not forgetting the occasion.

"Thank you, little girl. I'm glad you came," Father Li expressed his gratitude. He remembered the time when he had to put in a lot of effort for two whole months just to get a reply from her. She didn't even care about the fact that he was the richest and most powerful man in the country.

Ling Yue: -_- How can she not come when he had been spamming her inbox for last two weeks.

BOW..BOW..

Finally, everyone's attention shifted to DouDou. Mother Li looked at the adorable, clean, and well-behaved pup in Ling Yue's arms. Father Li knew Ling Yue had pets, but he hadn't expected to meet one today.

"Ahem... I'm sorry I didn't inform you beforehand. DouDou had a vaccination appointment today, and it couldn't be rescheduled, so I brought him with me. I hope you won't mind," Ling Yue explained truthfully. The appointment was originally scheduled for tomorrow, but it had been moved up to today since the doctor wouldn't be available tomorrow. Ling Yue had no choice but to bring DouDou along.

"Ahh... It's not a problem at all, Eliny. The more, the merrier," Mother Li replied warmly, charmed by the little pup and wanting to cuddle it.

"You can call me Ling Yue, Aunty Li. That is my name. Eliny is only for my work," Ling Yue clarified. Although Father Li acted like he knew Ling Yue inside out, this was his first time hearing her real name. Ling Yue wouldn't have disclosed her real name, but since the siblings already knew it, she decided to share it with the couple. She had known Uncle Li for two years now and knew he posed no threat. Giving some information about herself shouldn't be a problem.

BOW..BOWW..

Ling Yue chuckled as she looked at DouDou. "Uncle Li, Aunty Li, DouDou is wishing you both a happy anniversary," she said playfully. She understood DouDou's sly nature—he knew how to manipulate others while appearing innocent. This was why Xiao Bai often ended up being the villain.

"Awww... Such a cute thing. Thank you, little DouDou. Yue'er, let me hold him for a while," Mother Li couldn't resist DouDou's charm and immediately requested to cuddle him. Ling Yue handed DouDou to Mother Li and finally turned to face the siblings. It seemed she couldn't avoid them any longer.

"Hello, Young Master Li. Hello, Young Miss Li," Ling Yue greeted Li Wei and Li Mei respectfully. She had composed herself over the past two days and felt more at ease coming here, but now that she faced the siblings again, the suppressed chaos resurfaced. She sighed inwardly.

"Big sis, why are you being so formal again? Didn't I tell you to call me MeiMei last time?" Li Mei planned to make the most of this lunch. Now that their parents had no problem with her brother dating Eliny, she had to tread carefully and make things easier for her brother.

"How did you people meet each other?" Mother Li was curious. It hadn't been easy for her husband to contact Eliny, so how did her children meet her? And it seemed her kids weren't aware of Eliny's before.

"We met last Saturday when Mei and I went for a mountain ride. She was there too," Li Wei provided a concise answer. Mother Li and Father Li nodded, satisfied with the response, and asked everyone to take their seats at the table.

Throughout the meal, DouDou remained the center of attention. Mother Li was amused to see the little pup displaying impeccable table manners. She couldn't resist pampering DouDou, and if possible, she would have taken him home with her. However, she could see that DouDou was deeply attached to Ling Yue.

During the meal, Li Wei got to witness a completely different side of Ling Yue. The last time they met, she had been reserved, only interacting with them when necessary. Although she didn't engage with the siblings much during this meal, she spoke freely with their parents. Ling Yue's interaction with Father Li resembled that of best friends. Li Wei made a mental note to ask his father for some tips on how to get through Ling Yue's walls. Perhaps his father had found a way to establish a deeper connection with her.

Mother Li was equally engaging. Just five minutes into the meal, she and Ling Yue were already engrossed in conversation. Ling Yue showed Mother Li photos of BaoBao and XiaoBai, and they discussed a few of Mother Li's movies. With each passing minute, Mother Li found herself liking Ling Yue even more. While Ling Yue praised some of her movies, she also offered constructive criticism and gave her honest reviews. Mother Li was impressed. It had been a long time since anyone had genuinely critiqued her work. Since becoming Madam Li, everyone had tried to win her favor and refrained from making negative comments. But Ling Yue was different. She spoke her mind without fear of Madam Li's position. Mother Li could understand why her husband liked Ling Yue so much.

"Yue'er, what do your parents do? Where do they live? I would love to meet them someday," Mother Li expressed her desire to meet Ling Yue's parents. As her husband had mentioned, Ling Yue was truly exceptional, and her parents must be very proud of her. Mother Li regretted not inviting Ling Yue's parents to the lunch. Everyone at the table looked at Ling Yue, awaiting her reply. Li Mei and Li Wei were also curious to hear her answer.

Ling Yue glanced at everyone, sensing their eager anticipation. Ahhh... she despised this question the most. She knew it would never leave her, no matter what. Though it didn't affect her in any way, she loathed being reminded of it. She was glad that Uncle Li never asked this question while they were working together.

Father Li looked at Ling Yue who still didn't answer but everyone at the table could sense that something was wrong with her. Seems like they touched a sensitive topic. DouDou immediately left mother Li and went into Ling Yue's embrace. He might be just a dog, but he understood his mommy better than anyone else. His mommy seemed upset.

Ling Yue simply chuckled when DouDou jumped onto her lap. She looked at everyone before speaking. "I am an abandoned child aunty." Noticing her silence before, everyone thought that she might be an orphan, but didn't expect her to be an abandoned child. Everyone were still processing what they just heard. Father Li too didn't expect this. Did she say that she needed enough reason to leave her family and go to Barcelona. What happened then? But his questions were soon answered.

BOW...BOW...BOW.....

"Hahaha...Alright alright. I know. Now calm down. I have a beautiful little family. So stop now and eat." Ling Yue gently stroked DouDou's fur and it soon stopped barking and squirming in Ling Yue's lap after seeing that she was okay and went back to his food.

Father Li looked at Ling Yue. So this was the family she was talking about before. Her only pets. He always thought that she was brought up in a happy family looking at the way she thought of familial relationships before. Seems like it was not because she had experienced all those familial bonds, but rather the void left by those familial bonds was too deep that she knew their essence even without experiencing them.

Mother Li felt a surge of guilt for asking that question. She was also a bit upset with her husband for not knowing such an important detail about her Yue'er. How could someone abandon such a sensible and intelligent girl? Ling Yue was still a child at heart. Mother Li couldn't fathom the thought of a young girl navigating the harsh world alone, burdened by the emotional scars of abandonment. Yet, as she looked at Ling Yue, she saw no traces of sadness or hatred. Instead, there was a calmness and stillness that seemed to emanate from having experienced the cruelty and loneliness of the world firsthand. Ling Yue had already made peace with the fact that she was unwanted by her parents long ago.

Mother Li now had newfound respect for Ling Yue. Children at her age could easily get distracted and choose wrong paths even under the guidance and support of their families. But Ling Yue didn't let herself get lost in this world. She recognized her talent and put it to use. She made a name for herself. She didn't give in to the hatred that could have consumed her after facing the brutality of the world. One needed a strong will to live alone and do better. Not everyone could do that.

Despite the multitude of questions swirling in their minds, the Li family displayed remarkable compassion and refrained from prying into Ling Yue's painful past. They understood that individuals who had experienced abandonment often preferred to keep their emotions and memories locked away, shielded from further harm. Ling Yue's willingness to engage with them openly during this gathering indicated that she had undergone significant personal growth and healing.

Li Wei's gaze lingered on Ling Yue, a mix of emotions swirling within him. As the revelation of her abandonment sank in, a surge of unfamiliar sensations coursed through his veins. It wasn't anger that gripped his heart, nor was it mere pity; it was a profound sense of pain, guilt, remorse, and regret. Sigh. He still didn't know the reason why?

The meeting with Ling Yue and his family had brought a newfound clarity to Li Wei's mind. There was an undeniable connection between them, a thread woven through their lives that he couldn't ignore any longer. Try as he might to suppress these feelings, they persisted, haunting him with their intensity and emotional toll. In that moment, Li Wei made a decision—he would no longer resist or deny these sentiments. Instead, he would embrace them, explore their significance, and allow them to guide him on a path yet unknown.