Zombie Bodyguard
Chapter 516 - 513: Giving a Gift in a Roundabout Way

Chapter 516: Chapter 513: Giving a Gift in a Roundabout Way

Li Wenrong found himself at a disadvantage in the previous stand-off, and of course, he wasn’t pleased. Furthermore, the moment he entered, he saw that young man standing with the Xiao sisters, almost as if he was being embraced from both sides, his face turning frighteningly gloomy.

That young man was, of course, Lin Tian, flanked by the Xiao sisters, and beside them were Mrs. Xiao, Elder Zhou and his family, while the others were Ou Mengmeng and her brother, Li Wenxuan.

Lin Tian whispered to Xiao Manxue, "Miss, I’m quite puzzled. This cheap cousin of yours is chasing after you like this, don’t you have any thoughts about it?"

The Second Miss just gave a cold smile, devoid of emotion, and said, "Chasing me? It’s not as simple as you think. A long time ago, the Li Family approached my mother, wanting her to merge the Xiao Group into the Li Family, but they didn’t succeed. Afterwards, this Li Wenrong suddenly changed his ways, giving up his flirtatious pursuits and started chasing after me instead. If it were not with the consent of the Li Family, do you think that would be possible? After all, we are cousins."

As she explained, Lin Tian’s mind clicked, and many questions suddenly cleared up.

He asked, "Does the Li Family also want the Xiao Family’s ancient Elixir Recipe? If persuasion doesn’t work, are they trying to achieve their goal through this Li Wenrong?"

"What do you think? Various clans and corporate groups maintain a balance domestically, resorting to underhanded tactics rather than the blunt approaches of foreign powers. The Xiao Family’s foundation isn’t weak, yet we’ve stalled in development over the years, and the Li Family has played no small part in that, hmph," said the Second Miss, with a cold laugh.

Xiao Manxue always referred to them as "the Li Family," her tone devoid of any acknowledgment of their kinship. It seemed that over the years, the Li Family had set many traps for the Xiao Family in secret. For such relatives, what kinship could be spoken of?

Lin Tian had been unaware of these issues before. The pressure borne by the Second Miss was greater than he had imagined, coming not only from the Bai Family’s encroachment but also from her maternal family’s maneuvers.

Lin Tian turned to look at the Second Miss, his admiration for her rising yet again. A young woman and a mother, this mother-daughter duo had withstood the pressure of these top families and had managed to prevent the Xiao Family from being annexed. The hardships they must have endured were unimaginable to outsiders.

"Miss, you’ve had a hard time," Lin Tian suddenly said gently.

All his understanding and admiration were encapsulated in that phrase. The Second Miss trembled, the pressure and grievances in her heart seemingly finding an outlet, rising to her eyes, as if they were about to turn into tears and spill out.

"You jerk, you always make someone want to cry when they shouldn’t," the Second Miss grumbled.

"You wrong me, I just want you to see things clearly. It would be not worth it to succumb to pressure and end up with someone like Li Wenrong. Ten Li Wenrongs wouldn’t be worthy of you, Miss," Lin Tian insisted in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Manxue’s heart fluttered with an inexplicable joy, but she still snorted lightly, "You’re putting me on such a high pedestal, do you want me to end up alone for the rest of my life?"

"You can’t say that, Miss. There are still good men in this world worthy of you," Lin Tian earnestly said.

"Then tell me, who would that be?" Xiao Manxue, for some reason, felt at ease, and began to engage in off-topic conversation with Lin Tian at this critical juncture of the ceremony.

"For instance, an outstanding young man named Lin Tian — you might consider him," Lin Tian shamelessly suggested.

"You... you really have the thickest skin," Xiao Manxue’s heart skipped a beat as she chided him.

Lin Tian just smiled, softly saying, "Miss, you’re feeling better now, right?"

Xiao Manxue paused, then understanding dawned on her. Lin Tian was helping her relieve her inner stress; she whispered, "Lin Tian, thank you."

"Don’t mention it. Just saying ’I do’ would suffice," Lin Tian said, deadpan.

Xiao Manxue merely rolled her eyes at him without answering, yet the corners of her lips revealed a faint smile.

"Lin Tian, what did you just say?" Xiao Manxuan looked over and suddenly asked.

"Oh, I said the Second Miss looks really beautiful today." Lin Tian’s reaction was exceptionally fast, stating without a second thought, and besides, it was a fact. His compliment came from the heart.

The little girl’s face turned red, and she couldn’t help but glance stealthily at her mother, as if afraid of something being discovered, before she spoke in a coy voice, "Lin Tian, you’re so naughty. Who compliments someone like that in front of everyone?"

Lin Tian found it amusing internally. They couldn’t say it in public, so did that mean it was okay to say it privately?

However, he didn’t expose the little girl’s lapse in logic because, by that time, the guests from outside had already started coming in.

Yun Xiaotian walked at the forefront, guided by the hostess to come up and deliver congratulatory remarks, when suddenly Li Wenrong, who was behind him, quickened his pace, stepping in front of him.

"Youngsters need to be obedient and let the adults go first," Li Wenrong said with a smug smile. His words implied that Yun Xiaotian was still a child who should step aside, that the honor of giving the first congratulation was not yet something a child could assume.

Yun Xiaotian just smiled without arguing further. Instead, he gracefully extended his hand with a slight smile, "Since Third Young Master Li insists so much, I’ll let you take the lead today."

As Lin Tian watched this scene, he held Yun Xiaotian in even higher regard. Although Yun Xiaotian was a bit young, he was able to read the situation clearly when it mattered, not arguing with the hosts and demonstrating broad-mindedness; at such a young age, he already possessed the traits of a successor.

"This successor of the Yun Family is not bad," Lin Tian deliberately said to the Miss.

"What’s the matter? Are you jealous? Or do you feel pressured?" the Miss responded with a calm glance, her voice teasing.

Lin Tian didn’t retort and calmly replied, "If you say I’m jealous, could it be that the Miss is giving me a chance to pursue her? Then I must make sure to grasp the opportunity well."

Xiao Manxue was embarrassed and felt a sense of powerlessness in front of Lin Tian, as if she couldn’t win whether it came to arguing or fighting. Could it be that this rascal was her nemesis?

At that moment, Li Wenrong, having secured his position as the first to congratulate, was elated and didn’t pay any attention to the underlying meaning of Yun Xiaotian’s words. He simply took them as jealousy toward himself.

Li Wenrong straightened his suit, stepped forward at an unhurried pace, and with a slight bow to Mrs. Xiao, he said very politely, "Auntie, long time no see. Today, as Xiao Group’s Tianxue Jewelry launches, my father was unable to come to offer his congratulations. I am here in his stead, wishing the Xiao Family a thriving business and ever-increasing prosperity, and also wishing auntie and my two cousins health and happiness."

"Third Young Master Li is thoughtful," Mrs. Xiao said with an unfazed tone.

By addressing Mrs. Xiao as Auntie, Li Wenrong indicated that Mrs. Xiao was his father’s sister.

However, Mrs. Xiao referring to Li Wenrong as Third Young Master Li instead of nephew demonstrated that she no longer considered the Li Family as her family of origin.

It seems that the past actions of the Li Family thoroughly chilled the hearts of her and her daughter, Lin Tian mused silently.

Li Wenrong felt a trace of embarrassment, but he quickly recovered, still smiling and then addressing the Miss, "Cousin, in honor of the Xiao Family’s great joy today, I have brought a special gift. Please accept it as an expression of my sincere congratulations."

Perhaps the Miss had always refused to accept gifts in the past, and now Li Wenrong was indirectly giving a gift, beautifying it as a congratulatory gesture, making it hard for the Miss to decline.

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