Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter 320: Threatening to Die

Chapter 320: Threatening with Death

Seeing that Yan Zhi remained silent, Madam Li suppressed her anger and said coldly, "I'm warning you to stay away from my son, or I'll risk my life to prevent you from entering the Li family. I'll find a suitable girl for my Li Ming."

Hearing Li's words, Rouge's eyes darkened, and she lowered her head, her hand covering her face falling involuntarily. Her eyes seemed filled with something, bulging, and finally, the tears, hot and painful, streamed down her swollen face. Rouge didn't wipe them away, as if she had forgotten the pain.

She tried to stop her tears from falling. Having spent so long in such a filthy place, she had endured countless humiliations and beatings from the brothel madam, but she never cried. The madam said she was strong, that she had to be heartless and unable to cry.

“Auntie, my feelings for Li Ming are genuine, and he treats me the same way…” she said, raising her head with a firm gaze. She realized that her mother said she was strong because she didn't care, and because she didn't care, she had no heart.

"Shut up! Who do you think you are? Someone like you would never have a sincere heart!" Li Shi, who had been suppressing her anger, heard Rouge say.

Then he suddenly roared, like a tiger seeing an ant and wanting to crush it in its hand.

Seeing Li Shi's near-madness, Rouge could only lower her head and remain silent. Li Shi only wanted Rouge to stay away from Li Ming, and now that she was silent, the two remained in a stalemate.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Li Ming suddenly appeared behind Li Shi without her noticing. Li Shi turned around and glared at him angrily when she saw Li Ming. Li Ming didn't know what had happened either, and Li Shi, seemingly not wanting Li Ming to stay with Yan Zhi any longer, pulled him away.

Seeing Li Shi dragging him forcefully towards the house, Li Ming, unsure of what was happening, turned back to look at Yan Zhi, who stood there blankly with her head down. Noticing half her face was red and swollen, he released Li Shi's hand. Li Shi, however, angrily said, "Ming'er, come home with your mother!"

Li Ming ignored Li Shi completely, walked over to Yan Zhi, grabbed her hands, and looked down at her swollen face. There seemed to be tear stains on her face, which Li Ming found very irritating. He tried not to be angry and said, "Who did this?" As he spoke, he gently stroked her face.

Rouge avoided Li Ming's gaze, afraid that looking at him would turn all her pent-up grievances into tears. She didn't want Li Ming to see her cry. She shook her head and whispered, "No...nobody. It was me...I accidentally..." Her voice trailed off.

"Tell me, who did this?" Li Ming gently shook Rouge's shoulder and asked, but Rouge didn't say a word and didn't dare to look him in the eye. This annoyed Li Ming, and he felt a pang of pain in his heart as he looked at Rouge's injured face.

"I did it!" Li Shi said angrily, seeing Li Ming's doting treatment of Yan Zhi. Li Ming turned around, looking at Li Shi in disbelief. He thought to himself, his mother has always been gentle, virtuous, and kind.

He was never angry, always calm and collected, and any grievances he felt were met with tears. But now, the injuries on Rouge's face were caused by his mother, and he simply couldn't believe it. He didn't know what Rouge had done wrong to make her so angry.

"Mother, what did Rouge do to make you so angry? Even if she did something wrong, why did you slap her face?" Li Ming looked at Li Shi angrily, his tone unable to conceal his anger.

"I can't hit her anymore, this little bitch has you completely bewitched!" Li said angrily upon hearing Li Ming's angry tone.

Li Ming looked at Li Shi with unfamiliar eyes, wondering if this was still the gentle and kind mother he used to know. When did she become so foul-mouthed and ruthless? "Mother, Rouge isn't a slut," Li Ming said firmly, his voice neither too loud nor too soft. He then shielded Rouge behind him.

Rouge looked at Li Ming, feeling both worried and happy. She was worried that her concern would damage Li Ming's relationship with the Li family. She was happy that Li Ming would actually stand up to the Li family for her sake. This was something Rouge never expected.

"What, you're planning to protect this little bitch and abandon her mother!" Seeing Li Ming protecting Yan Zhi like this, Madam Li was furious. Her hand trembled as she pointed at Yan Zhi behind Li Ming.

Li Ming looked at Li Shi, unsure what to say. He couldn't blame her. Since his father's death, Li Shi had been his only family, enduring countless scornful treatments. She had raised him single-handedly, and this was probably the first time he had ever disobeyed her. Yet, Li Ming still couldn't bear to see his mother treat Yan Zhi this way.

"Li Ming, are you coming home with me or not? Believe me or not, I'll kill myself right here today!! Waaah... I raised a heartless wretch! I raised you with such difficulty, and now you're abandoning this old hag like me." Seeing that Li Ming was completely unyielding and wouldn't listen to any advice, Li Shi clutched her chest, crying and wiping away her tears as she spoke.

Seeing Li Shi like this, Li Ming felt a little soft-hearted. In the past, Li Shi would only cry because she was bullied, but now she was crying because of his disobedience, which made him feel ashamed.

"Mother...you...you should just accept Rouge," Li Ming said softly. He wanted to compromise, but since force didn't work, he had to try a softer approach.

“Accept her? Impossible! Rouge, I warn you, you’re dreaming. Unless I’m dead, don’t even think about entering the Li family!” Upon hearing Li Ming’s words, Madam Li pointed at Rouge with a ferocious expression.

“Mother, since you’ve said so, if you want me to go back with you, then please accept Rouge.” Seeing Li Shi’s attitude, Li Ming could only go against her, and the two remained at an impasse. Rouge, behind him, nudged Li Ming and whispered, “Brother Li Ming, go back with Aunt. Be good.”

Hearing Rouge's words behind him, Li Ming's momentum vanished. He turned back, looking at Rouge with concern. Rouge, ignoring her swollen face, forced a smile. Li Ming ruffled her hair, then pulled Li Shi away. Li Ming kept turning back to look at Rouge, who stood motionless, watching him leave, a bitter feeling welling up inside her. Her nose stung, her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face. Li Shi's words echoed in her ears.