20: The more I watch, the more I like it

Chapter 20 The More I Look, The More I Like Him

Zhao Manman’s hands were slightly cold, just like her face always remained as cold as ice.

However, at this moment, she felt a sense of emotion in her heart.

Logically speaking…

After Li Zhiyan and Ji Mengting divorced, he should have nothing to do with her.

After all, the relationship between spouses and their relatives is maintained by the fact of their marriage.

Once two people divorce, they completely lose their connection to each other.

Yet, after Li Zhiyan divorced Ji Mengting,

He didn't treat her as a stranger; instead, he came to Zhejiang to help her solve her problems.

He didn't mind the heat at all, and everything he did was for her.

How could Zhao Manman not be touched by this?

Especially since she used to look down on Li Zhiyan’s career so much.

But in his heart, he still placed her in a very important position.

“Xiao Yan…”

“Even though you two are divorced, you will always be Mom’s child. You can still come and see Mom when you have time.”

Seeing the very sad Zhao Manman, Li Zhiyan continued to comfort her.

“I know, Mom. I came to Zhejiang precisely for your matter this time.”

After a long time, Zhao Manman finally calmed down.

Releasing Li Zhiyan’s hand, she leaned back against the sofa.

She reverted to her usual ice queen demeanor.

Yet, in her heart, Li Zhiyan’s standing had risen significantly.

“Xiao Yan, how did you two divorce?”

Li Zhiyan knew there was no need to hide it now.

“Meng Ting basically stopped coming home after she started that new concept beauty business.”

“You know what happened later; she kept pestering me for a divorce.”

“So, I divorced her.”

Zhao Manman asked, “Did she cheat?”

“If that’s the case, Mom will definitely deal with her properly.”

Zhao Manman had always strictly adhered to moral bottom lines.

Ji Yunhai had been having health issues for over eighteen years.

For so many years, she had upheld her bottom line as a woman.

And her education of Ji Zhiting and Ji Mengting had always been very strict.

Immoral acts were absolutely not allowed to happen with her daughters.

Li Zhiyan looked at the elegant and beautiful Zhao Manman before him.

“That certainly didn’t happen. Her personality is a bit proud, somewhat similar to yours. If such a thing happened, she would have directly said so. The main reason for our divorce is that she now feels my financial situation is too different from hers, and the gap will only grow larger in the future, which is why she chose to divorce.”

Zhao Manman breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.

She valued morality highly, and thankfully, her daughter hadn’t done such a thing.

“In that case, Mom will help you persuade her to remarry you.”

Li Zhiyan didn't speak; he didn't want to remarry in his heart.

Before, he wanted to live out his life peacefully with Ji Mengting.

But now, the wheels of fate had inexplicably begun to turn.

Would he still be content to live his life with just one person? Li Zhiyan felt he was a common man.

He desired all the things ordinary people desired.

And now, he had the ability to achieve these things.

How could he be content to live the unchanging life he had before?

“Alright, Xiao Yan, sit for a bit. Mom will go cook for you.”

“Oh, and about the beauty salon, if you can solve it, then solve it. If not, never mind. The investment in the beauty salon wasn’t much; it’s fine if we don’t open it.”

“Just make sure you don’t stir up any trouble.”

Li Zhiyan sat on the sofa, thinking about Zhao Manman's kindness to him in the past.

A warmth coursed through his heart.

“Why does this medicine smell so bad…”

Li Zhiyan had smelled many Chinese herbal medicines, but he had never smelled one so pungent.

Could Zhao Manman be ill…

Although she said the medicine was for Ji Yunhai, she might not have been telling the truth.

He glanced at the trash can, then at the kitchen.

Taking advantage of Zhao Manman’s inattention, he snapped a photo.

He would find an old Chinese doctor later to ask about the situation, to see if his mother-in-law’s health was indeed problematic.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Zhao Manman put on her Bluetooth earpiece and called Ji Mengting back.

“Da Ting, how could you divorce Li Zhiyan?”

“You need to come back to Zhejiang quickly and clarify things with Xiao Yan. You two can’t just divorce casually.”

“Tell Mom honestly, did you cheat?”

On the other end of the phone, Ji Mengting did not agree.

“Mom… I absolutely didn’t cheat. You taught me before.”

“Girls absolutely cannot cheat; I remember everything clearly.”

“But I will not remarry Li Zhiyan.”

“His monthly salary is less than ten thousand. If I live with him in the future, there will be many problems.”

“Whether it’s our consumption habits or our lives, they are completely different.”

“Even if we remarry, there’s no point.”

“We’ll separate sooner or later, so it’s better to just leave it at that.”

This made Zhao Manman quite angry.

Xiao Ting hadn't even married yet, and Ji Mengting was already divorced, and so stubborn, unwilling to remarry.

“You wretched girl, trying to anger your mother to death.”

Her voice was trembling again.

Hearing Zhao Manman’s angry voice,

Ji Mengting didn’t dare to continue arguing. The elder’s authority was always there.

“Mom, I won’t say anymore. I have something to do at the company, I need to go quickly.”

…

Soon after, Zhao Manman cooked a few dishes and brought them out.

There was steamed clams with scallion oil, farmer’s stir-fried pork, salted egg yolk chicken wings, garlic vermicelli prawns, and West Lake vinegar fish.

They were all simple home-cooked meals.

“Xiao Yan, come eat.”

Hearing Zhao Manman call him for dinner, Li Zhiyan walked over.

He truly loved eating Zhao Manman’s cooking.

He had eaten many home-cooked meals, but Zhao Manman’s were the best—perfect in color, aroma, and taste, with no flaws whatsoever.

“Mom, your cooking is still so delicious.”

Listening to Li Zhiyan call her “Mom” again and again, Zhao Manman inexplicably felt a little sad.

From the very beginning, she had looked down on Li Zhiyan.

After all, her family was worth hundreds of millions, while Li Zhiyan’s parents were just ordinary working-class people.

He himself hadn’t achieved much.

It was only natural for her to look down on him in terms of career.

But even so, he still cared for her deeply.

He truly valued her in his heart.

He even specifically came to Zhejiang to try and solve her troubles.

Regardless of whether Li Zhiyan was capable of solving the matter,

She had to remember this kindness in her heart.

She would treat him like her own son.

Holding her chopsticks, Zhao Manman served Li Zhiyan some food.

“Xiao Yan, eat more. It’s not often you come here.”

“You like these clams the most; eat more.”

“While you’re here in Zhejiang, tell Mom whatever you want to eat, and Mom will make it for you.”

Zhao Manman looked at Li Zhiyan before her, and the more she looked, the more she liked him.