The Sickly Beauty Gives Up Struggling [Rebirth] Chapter 194

Li Rong’s sprain was quite severe, and he probably wouldn’t be able to walk normally for about a week. Cen Xiao directly took him home from the school infirmary.

Li Rong sat on the bed, rolling his pants up to his knees. The swollen and reddened area of his ankle had already been treated with pain-relieving ointment. He couldn’t sit still, always wanting to move his ankle a little, only to gasp sharply in pain every time.

Cen Xiao returned from the bathroom with a warm towel, sat down carefully on the edge of the bed, and gently applied the towel to Li Rong’s injured ankle as per the doctor’s instructions.

Li Rong curled his toes slightly and looked up at Cen Xiao. “Are you really going to take me tomorrow?”

He still had work that had to continue. Fortunately, a twisted ankle didn’t interfere with his work progress, though it did make walking inconvenient.

Cen Xiao countered, “Can’t you take a week off?”

Li Rong shook his head resolutely and raised an eyebrow. “Could you take a week off in District Nine?”

Cen Xiao was silent for a moment before asking, “Then what about going to the bathroom?”

Li Rong froze. He hadn’t thought about such specific details.

It was, indeed, quite inconvenient. He couldn’t trouble others every single time.

Cen Xiao placed a hand on his calf and gave it a light squeeze. “Then I’ll just have to take a week off to serve Team Leader Li.”

Li Rong was stunned again. He rubbed his calf lightly against Cen Xiao’s knee. “Are you serious?”

Cen Xiao raised a hand to tilt Li Rong’s chin. “Or would you prefer someone else carrying you to the bathroom?”

Li Rong pressed his lips together, then smiled brightly. “If you do that, the whole world really will know.”

Cen Xiao shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s going to be public knowledge sooner or later.”

Li Rong couldn’t argue with that.

It was true—sooner or later, everyone would know.

They couldn’t hide forever. Besides, they had both established themselves firmly in their respective fields. Even if the news caused an uproar, it wouldn’t shake their positions.

However, neither of them expected that they wouldn’t even make it back to work before the news broke.

The next morning, both Cen Xiao and Li Rong received notifications to attend an emergency meeting in the conference hall of the Seven Stars Hotel.

Li Rong put down his phone and glanced at Cen Xiao.

Cen Xiao looked back at him.

Li Rong spun the phone in his palm, stuffed it into his pocket, and smirked. “Looks like we’re in for a collective reprimand.”

Judging by the notification, not only would Jiang Weide and the principal of A University be there, but several chairmen from Blue Pivot would also be present. Getting all these people together in one day suggested that their situation had indeed shaken the hearts of those old men.

Cen Xiao scoffed lightly, “So what?”

Li Rong smirked, “Exactly. Who cares?”

Li Rong hooked his arms around Cen Xiao’s neck, leaning onto Cen Xiao’s back while Cen Xiao supported him by the crook of his knees. “Let’s go. I haven’t clashed with them in over a year.”

Cen Xiao drove straight to the Seven Stars Hotel.

At the hotel entrance, with Cen Xiao’s help, Li Rong hobbled bit by bit to the conference hall.

Pushing the door open, sure enough, everyone was already there. Unlike the last signing event where the two factions were divided, this time everyone sat on one side, leaving the other side for the two of them.

Li Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, waited for Cen Xiao to pull out a chair, and then plopped himself onto it.

He lifted his chin, crossed his right leg over his left knee, and smiled at the stern-looking elders. “You called us here in such a hurry just because we’re dating?”

Cen Xiao sat beside him, looking exceptionally calm, even casually twisting open a bottle of water to take a sip.

Though everyone in the room were elders, Cen Xiao’s position was unique.

As the Team Leader of the Ninth District’s Ghost Eye Group, Cen Xiao technically had supervisory authority over the other districts of Blue Pivot and enterprises under Hongsuo Research Institute.

So, no matter how you looked at it, the ever-smiling Li Rong was the more approachable one.

Jiang Weide frowned deeply, his brows forming the shape of a “川.” Though he was stubborn and hardheaded, he always had a soft spot for Li Rong.

He sighed heavily and spoke earnestly, “Li Rong, what are you two messing around for? You’re the Team Leader of the High Tower Team, and Cen Xiao leads the Ghost Eye Group. You two… Ah!”

The principal of A University chimed in, “I’ll start by saying this has little to do with me since you’ve both already graduated, but you should still be mindful of the impact. Your positions are not ordinary.”

Cen Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly running out of patience at this point.

Li Rong, however, looked up and smiled calmly. “Let me ask a few questions first, and then you can cry and wail all you like.”

Li Rong: “Has my relationship with Cen Xiao ever hindered the work of Hongsuo Research Institute or the Ghost Eye Group?”

No one answered.

Whether it was Li Rong or Cen Xiao, they were both diligent and meticulous in their professional fields without a hint of negligence.

Li Rong: “Has there ever been any rule forbidding the Team Leader of the Ghost Eye Group from dating researchers at the Hongsuo Institute?”

The chairmen exchanged glances, but no one spoke up.

There truly were no such regulations. Over the years, many Blue Pivot employees had married staff from Hongsuo, though none at the very top of the hierarchy.

But who could have predicted that such a thing would happen one day?

Li Rong: “What exactly has my relationship with Cen Xiao disrupted? Please cite examples and provide facts and evidence. If all you have are phrases like ‘it could,’ ‘what if,’ or ‘in the future,’ save your breath. There are countless possibilities for what might happen in the future, but preparing for the worst doesn’t mean acting like this.”

Li Rong’s string of questions left everyone speechless.

When they first heard about the relationship, everyone’s immediate reaction was that it was “inappropriate,” “improper,” and “utterly absurd.” But when it came to pinpointing specific reasons, they couldn’t come up with any.

The atmosphere grew awkward and strange.

Hu Yuming nudged Cen Qing with his elbow. “Say something, will you?”

Cen Qing rolled his eyes impatiently and replied sarcastically, “Would it matter if I said anything? Look at the face of our Ghost Eye Group Leader. Does he look like he wants to hear me speak?”

Compared to the others, Cen Qing had known about it earlier and was thus more accepting.

However, he didn’t want to get involved, mainly because he couldn’t control Cen Xiao. He hadn’t managed to control him as a child, and there was no way he could start now.

Jian Changli chuckled, “Oh come on, why is the atmosphere so tense? No need to get worked up. Everyone’s just surprised that you two are together. After all, well… we all know the past, don’t we?”

Cen Xiao finally spoke up. Leaning back in his chair, he calmly took Li Rong’s hand and looked at the group with a serene gaze. “Do you really think you can break us up?”

Jian Changli replied awkwardly, “That’s not what I mean. We don’t have that confidence, which is why…”

Cen Xiao chuckled softly, “Then why waste everyone’s time? Blue Pivot’s districts and Hongsuo all have enough work to do. And Principal, since you’re just here for the show, there’s no need for you to get involved either. Let’s all disperse, shall we?”

Jian Changli: “…”

Principal of A University: “…”

Cen Qing’s face turned dark as he pressed his fingers firmly against his brow.

A few years ago, he might still have tried to assert some fatherly authority, but now, he was completely powerless—and numb to it.

Xu Feng had been right: Cen Xiao and Li Rong’s experiences were far too unique, so unique that no one else could replace them.

Cen Qing cleared his throat and said, “Your mother knows too, and she’s quite anxious. Find time to go home and explain things to her. I won’t be going back for the next few days.”

With that, Cen Qing had no intention of sticking around to exchange glares with everyone. He quickly waved Xu Feng over and was the first to make a hasty exit.

After all, the fact that Cen Xiao never listened to him was still a blow to his pride.

Once Cen Qing left, the others were even more at a loss.

When it came to Cen Xiao and Li Rong’s personal relationship, no one had more standing to comment than Cen Qing.

Li Rong turned his gaze to Jiang Weide, his expression shifting to look pitiful and vulnerable. “Teacher, after my family’s incident, it was Cen Xiao who never left my side, which is the only reason I could pull myself together. Surely you don’t want me to be an ungrateful person, do you?”

Jiang Weide: “…”

When it came to the matter of the Li family, Jiang Weide carried guilt.

Back then, he had believed Zhang Zhaohe’s words and failed to help Li Rong during his most difficult times. Now, he truly had no grounds to separate two people who relied so deeply on each other.

No matter how unwilling he was, he couldn’t argue with Li Rong’s resolve.

Jiang Weide let out a long sigh. “Fine… but you two are just too rebellious!”

Suddenly, Li Rong’s eyes squeezed shut, his face contorting in pain as he hissed and clutched his ankle.

Cen Xiao’s expression immediately turned to worry. “What’s wrong, baby?”

Jiang Weide froze in shock and swallowed the rest of his words, quickly asking, “Is everything okay?”

Li Rong looked up weakly, his voice faint. “It suddenly hurts a lot. It might be inflamed. I should probably go back to the hospital for a check-up.”

Cen Xiao frowned and immediately leaned over to support his waist. “Slow down. I’ll take you to the hospital right now.”

Jiang Weide panicked as well. “Yes, yes, hurry and go to the hospital!”

Li Rong, teeth clenched in pain, hooked his arm around Cen Xiao’s and let himself be supported out of the meeting room, hopping step by step as Cen Xiao held him around the waist.

He looked truly hurt and in a hurry.

Everyone: “…”

Thus, an overly serious and grand meeting ended hastily and anticlimactically.

Back in the car, Li Rong’s expression immediately relaxed. His whole body softened as he lazily leaned against Cen Xiao. “Team Leader Cen reacts pretty quickly.”

Cen Xiao chuckled lowly and said politely, “It was Team Leader Li’s good reminder.”

Li Rong laughed happily for a moment before his smile slowly faded. Resting his chin on Cen Xiao’s shoulder, he murmured, “But about Teacher Xiao…”

Cen Xiao responded breezily, “We’ll have to sooner or later.”

Xiao Muran was truly anxious—so anxious that she was on the verge of losing her mind.

When she heard that Li Rong and Cen Xiao were together, and had even bought rings, countless troubling thoughts flashed through her mind.

She knew her son too well. She also couldn’t deny that she had neglected Cen Xiao too much in the past, and that neglect had turned Cen Xiao into the person he was now—someone who ignored rules and boundaries.

Could Cen Xiao really like Li Rong? Two men?

What Xiao Muran worried about most was this: that having once wronged Li Qingli, she might now wrong Li Qingli’s son as well.

She finally recalled the details from over the years: the arguments she had with Cen Qing in front of Cen Xiao, her guilt, longing, and attachment toward Li Qingli, her resentment toward Cen Qing and her parents, and how she had projected her pain onto Cen Xiao. She remembered her rejection of Cen Xiao, who was born unexpectedly.

Wuwangwo with its blue eyes and long swishing tail, gracefully walked past Xiao Muran.

The cat could sense its owner’s agitation, though it didn’t know the reason behind it.

Lowering her gaze, Xiao Muran looked at Wuwangwo.

The cat’s eyes were very much like Li Qingli’s. What had Cen Xiao said at the time?

—You think it resembles someone, and I think it resembles someone too. But a cat is just a cat.

—I won’t do anything to the cat. After all, I don’t just want the cat.

What he wanted wasn’t just the cat. What he wanted was also Li Rong.

Xiao Muran’s headache grew unbearable.

That night, Cen Xiao brought Li Rong to the Cen household.

Xiao Muran never expected Cen Xiao to come see her voluntarily. She sat there holding the cat, stunned, as she watched Li Rong leaning naturally and intimately against Cen Xiao—one knee slightly bent, hands resting on Cen Xiao’s shoulders.

Cen Xiao said, “Cen Qing asked me to inform you. You should already know.”

Li Rong smiled politely. “Teacher Xiao.”

Xiao Muran’s lips trembled, and after a long pause, she managed to squeeze out a sentence. “What happened to your leg? Is it serious? Does it hurt?”

Li Rong shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt. Cen Xiao’s been taking care of me.”

Xiao Muran replied awkwardly, “Oh… oh.”

She didn’t know what to say. Nor could she deny Cen Xiao the chance to take care of Li Rong.

Cen Xiao spoke openly: “We’re in that kind of relationship. We’ve been like this for a long time. We kept it hidden before because we had serious matters to handle. Now we can tell you all.”

Xiao Muran furrowed her brow, her expression full of worry. “You… are you doing this because of me?”

Cen Xiao cut her off before she could spiral further. He said bluntly, “Mom, since you like Li Qingli’s looks, you should understand how much I like Li Rong’s appearance.”

Xiao Muran: “…”

She nervously glanced at Li Rong, a little embarrassed.

Li Rong, however, showed no reaction. After all, this was something from the previous generation. Feelings were complex, intertwined, and not entirely anyone’s fault.

Cen Xiao continued, “You liked Li Qingli for being intelligent, diligent, outstanding, and always in the spotlight. I also like these traits in Li Rong. Since childhood, I’ve had no interest in women—nor in men, for that matter. I’m just interested in Li Rong. As my mother, you should understand my feelings better than anyone.”

Xiao Muran: “…”

Xiao Muran had no room to argue.

Cen Xiao’s point was clear: his preference for the Li family’s traits and his consistent aesthetic sense were inborn, and this was her fault.

Before Xiao Muran could say anything, Cen Xiao had already anticipated her thoughts.

Cen Xiao said, “Now that you see it this way, I can finally be at ease. I didn’t understand your feelings for Li Qingli before, but now I do—you truly couldn’t let go.”

“What nonsense are you saying!” Xiao Muran’s face flushed crimson. Yet, she had always been soft-hearted, overly gentle, and once unable to stand up to her parents—now she couldn’t stand up to Cen Xiao either.

Li Rong smiled. “Teacher Xiao, though it may seem absurd to you, you should know that neither Cen Xiao nor I are people who can be forced into anything. The reason I choose to be with him is simple: I love him.”

Xiao Muran was stunned. She hesitated, repeating uncertainly, “You… love him?”

Li Rong’s eyes curved into a smile. “Yes. That’s the only premise. Nothing else matters.”

Cen Xiao’s gaze deepened as he looked at Xiao Muran. “Mom, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from you, it’s this: To stand here today, openly telling everyone we’re together, means that no one can stand in our way.”

Xiao Muran’s fingers trembled slightly. She felt furious, yet she couldn’t bring herself to lash out.

Her face paled after flushing red, her lips pressed tightly together, and her chest heaved with emotion.

She understood exactly what Cen Xiao meant. The past serves as a lesson for the future.

Only by being strong enough can one protect what they truly desire.

Back then, she couldn’t hold on and had suffered a lifetime of regret. But Cen Xiao could.

What right did she have to stand in his way now?

Xiao Muran clenched her teeth stubbornly for a long moment, but when she looked into Li Rong’s eyes—those peach-blossom eyes so strikingly similar to Li Qingli’s—her heart softened once again.

In a gentle voice, she said, “Your foot is injured. Take good care of it. Don’t move around unnecessarily. Apply heat compresses often, and even when it’s healed, be careful—it’s easy to leave lasting problems. When you sleep, don’t put pressure on it. Avoid spicy and greasy foods for now, and… cherish him.”

Facing those familiar eyes, all she could offer in the end was her blessing—

Cherish him better than I did.

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