A Sand Sculpture in the Red Dust - Chapter 9
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- Chapter 9 - Li Xiangfu Changes His Sister's Mind
Chapter 9 – Li Xiangfu Changes His Sister’s Mind
Words of comfort were of little use, as Li Xiangfu was worried about his livelihood, and he could only express that he was with him in spirit.
At this time, Li Shasha could already foresee the future… standing shoulder to shoulder with a group of little kids, learning pinyin with nodding heads.
”I want to skip a grade,” he said calmly.
Li Xiangfu had no objection and reminded him, “Just don’t do it too much.”
After getting permission, Li Shasha turned around and was about to leave.
The next moment, a light voice arrived at the door before him: “With the aura of a genius child, in order to expand the family’s reputation, you will have a place in the company’s top management in the future.”
Li Shasha suddenly stopped and gave up his plan to go to college tomorrow.
It was pitch black, and after turning off the lights, the house inside and outside appeared inky black.
Li Xiangfu was lying on the bed, his sleeping posture was very proper.
He was not used to sleeping with the air conditioner on, and the summer nights were hot and stuffy. In his sleep, he walked laboriously in a desert and was eventually woken up by thirst.
His lips were very dry, and Li Xiangfu subconsciously pursed them when he opened his eyes. He reached out his long arms to the bedside table and found that there was no water in the cup.
The corridor was quiet. At the end was Li Xichun’s room, with warm light seeping through the crack of the door.
Li Xiangfu guessed that she was still worried about her boyfriend. It would take a long time to relieve the relationship after so many years.
As soon as the cool water entered one’s throat, one would feel refreshed instantly.
When he went to bed again, he felt much less sleepy. He tilted his head and it took him a long time to fall asleep again.
Li Xichun had hardly slept all night, and was relieved to see the daylight, as if sleeping was a difficult task for her. She tossed and turned in bed, feeling that something was wrong, and when she looked at the clock, it was already past 7:30.
She sat up suddenly with disheveled hair, feeling dizzy. After a moment of rest, Li Xichun ran barefoot into Li Xiangfu’s room.
Bang bang bang.
The knock on the door was particularly loud.
After the door opened, Li Xiangfu asked sleepily: “Good morning, what’s up?”
Li Xichun asked quietly, “Why didn’t you play the guqin today?”
She developed a biological clock for herself, but the culprit started to sleep in happily.
Li Xiangfu held up his phone and showed the text message he received a few minutes ago: “Someone asked me out this morning.”
”Liu Yu?” Seeing the sender, Li Xichun showed a hint of disgust between her eyebrows: “Why are you still friends with him?”
Liu Yu was also one of the people who instigated Li Xiangfu to fight for the family property. At that time, he was not very smart. Luo An at least knew to secretly find the media to ferment public opinion, but Liu Yu was jumping around like a leech. The old man warned Luo An, but ignored Liu Yu.
Li Xiangfu: “He took me out to buy the guqin not long ago. Liu Yu has changed a lot.”
After a while, he said, “I haven’t been out much since I returned, it would be nice if someone wants to treat me.”
The second half of the sentence is the key point.
Li Xichun stared at him for a few seconds, but finally stopped trying to stop him.
•=•=•
There aren’t many people on the street on weekdays.
The meeting place was scheduled to be a newly opened coffee shop, and Liu Yu praised the place highly in the text message.
Li Xiangfu didn’t take it seriously, thinking that it was an exaggeration. Later he admitted that it did have many good points. The decoration was light luxury style, and the colors were used cleverly. At first glance, there were only two words in his mind: Clean!
Liu Yu arrived before him and saw the person coming from a distance. He found that the other person even walked calmly and gracefully.
…It is a true portrayal of the fact that a father’s status is enhanced by his son.
Although he was thinking about it, as the person approached, Liu Yu quickly put on a polite smile and waved: “Here.”
When Li Xiangfu pulled out the chair, he looked around and saw that there were still many empty seats. His current seat was close to the bathroom, which was definitely not the best option.
Liu Yu seemed to see what he was thinking and smiled mysteriously: “It’s ideal because it is hidden enough.”
At first Li Xiangfu didn’t quite understand. After sitting down and talking for a while, Liu Yu suddenly looked elsewhere and raised his eyebrows suggestively.
Li Xiangfu looked over and his eyes changed slightly. Among the two guests who had just come in, one of them was very familiar to him.
Mr. Li was talking to a foreigner, who had gray hair on his temples, wore a pair of glasses, and had a gentle temperament that did not match his physique.
”That’s Dr. Norton.” Liu Yu: “You should have heard of him abroad.”
Li Xiangfu nodded.
Dr. Norton is a PhD holder in the field of psychology who has become relatively famous in recent years, especially because of a book he wrote the previous year which became a hit and earned him a large number of fans.
Meeting with a psychologist is a very private matter. Liu Yu guessed that Li Xiangfu was not aware of this in advance, and said, “I bought coffee these two days and saw them talking about things.”
Li Xiangfu retracted his gaze and said, “This meal is on me.”
The implication was simple, since Liu Yu was willing to do him such a favor, it was ok to treat him to a meal.
Liu Yu smiled. His last impression of Li Xiangfu was still stuck on the impression he had four years ago when he inevitably offended people by paying him a strong visit.
It’s better to maintain a plastic friendship now than to remain lukewarm and stiff.
Both sides have changed a lot in the past four years. Liu Yu is not as noisy as before. He said tactfully: “I have something else to do. Let’s meet next time.”
Li Xiangfu nodded but did not stand up. After he left, his eyes remained on the opposite side.
During the few days when Aunt Zhang was away, the old man told him that he was going to a resort, but now he was in the city to meet up with a psychologist. There must be something wrong.
The distance is too far, so it is unlikely to hear the communication between the two parties.
Li Xiangfu quietly finished a cup of coffee, stood up without warning and walked over there.
”Dad.”
Mr. Li was looking down at something and his brows twitched when he heard the voice.
At this time, he and Dr. Norton had almost finished their conversation. After a few final words, Dr. Norton left first.
Li Xiangfu naturally sat in the seat originally occupied by Dr. Norton.
They looked at each other in silence for about half a minute, then Mr. Li pushed the information in front of him over.
Li Xiangfu started reading from the first page, and his expression gradually became solemn.
This is a complete report, and the object of analysis is not the old man himself, but Li Xichun.
Based on Mr. Li’s narration, Dr. Norton analyzed Li Xichun’s personality as much as possible. The second half transitioned to feasibility analysis and developed detailed conversation skills between father and daughter.
Although the purpose of the paper was communication, Li Xiangfu could feel that the focus of the report was on how to persuade someone to break up.
After reading through them one by one, the noise made when closing the documents was a little loud. Li Xiangfu disagreed and said, “Humans are not machines.”
Mr. Li crossed his hands on the table, his image as a strong parent remained unchanged over the years: “Her mother and I have both met Gao Xun. The two are not suitable for each other. Sooner or later, they will become enemies instead of lovers.”
”That’s not the problem.” Li Xiangfu pointed at the report.
The plan given in the information is quite specific, such as deliberately speaking for the man and endorsing male chauvinism to make the woman feel disgusted, and at the same time taking advantage of the rebellious psychology, introducing a person with a different personality at the appropriate time, and then verbally belittling this person as worthless.
“It’s about respect.”
If anyone were to find out that they were being used as a sample for analysis and that their closest relatives were plotting on making them break up with their lover, the feeling of betrayal would be absolutely indescribable.
Unfortunately, Mr. Li has always been stubborn and only cares about the results.
”It’s just verbal persuasion,” he said unmoved. “The difference is that it’s a more efficient method.”
Li Xiangfu said seriously: “You are changing the concept.”
”I was wrong. I should have done this earlier.” Mr. Li’s eyes suddenly changed: “I wouldn’t have delayed your sister for so many years in vain.”
After a moment, he continued, “It just so happens that she is staying at home these days. You can go and test her attitude. If you can persuade her, then I’ll let this matter go.”
The conversation ended unpleasantly.
Li Xiangfu sat for a while, paid the bill and left, then fell into deep thought while sitting in the car.
Gao Xun was blocked, but it was just a way for Li Xichun to vent his frustration. He knew very well that they would be in contact again soon and enter a new wave of entanglement. As for whether the ending would be good or bad, no one could predict.
After returning home, Li Xichun did not go to the gallery. Instead, he lay on the sofa, rubbing his eyebrows.
”Are you worried about your relationship?”
Li Xichun forced a smile.
Li Xiangfu was silent for a while, then walked over and asked, “Do you like Gao Xun so much?”
Li Xichun looked a little confused: “After so many years of relationship, we know each other well. If I don’t marry him, I don’t know who to marry.”
”Why do you have to get married?”
Li Xichun joked, “Then, should I end up alone forever?”
Li Xiangfu couldn’t empathize, so he didn’t comment.
Li Xichun’s nails dug into the soft sofa cushions: “It’s one thing to know something in your heart, but it’s another to put it into practice.”
Noticing the momentary unnatural look on her face when she spoke, Li Xiangfu frowned.
”Actually, I’m just afraid. As I get older, I feel an indescribable panic…”
She didn’t know what she was panicking about.
”If you are just afraid of loneliness,” Li Shasha, who had been sitting on the carpet reading silently, suddenly raised his head and said, “I can visit you during the holidays, and I can also take care of you at your bedside.”
Li Xichun didn’t say anything.
Li Shasha: “The prerequisite for marriage is love, not marriage itself.”
Li Xichun said with a smile: “How can you, a little kid, know so much?”
Li Shasha lied without changing his expression: “My father said so.”
Li Xiangfu had gone to the kitchen and was cooking fish skillfully. The sliced fish meat is as thin as a cicada’s wing and is placed on ginger slices to remove the fishy smell.
Looking at his back, for a moment, Li Xichun even forgot how troublesome this brother of hers used to be. She couldn’t help but wonder what changed him? Did he find the lifestyle he wanted?
Until the eve of Mr. Li’s return, Li Xichun had been thinking about this question, biting her lips unconsciously until they almost bled.
•=•=•
After spending a lot of money to consult with Dr. Norton, Mr. Li already had a complete plan to persuade his daughter to break up. After entering the door, he sorted out his thoughts and was about to take the first step in the plan, but Li Xichun took the initiative to say: “Dad, I have thought it through.”
Mr. Li was stunned for a moment, then his expression softened: “What did you think through?”
Li Xichun looked back at her past self and suddenly found it somewhat funny: “I shouldn’t have regarded marriage as a task that must be completed. My younger brother is right. The premise of marriage is love, not marriage itself.”
At this moment, Mr. Li felt ominous.
Li Xichun’s smile regained some of its former brightness: “Dad, I won’t get married in this life, let everything go with the flow.”
“…”
After a brief silence, an extremely suppressed voice rang out in the villa, and Mr. Li roared in a deep voice:
”Li Xiangfu! Get out of my house!”
Upstairs.
Li Xiangfu was gently wiping the dust off the guqin. The shout startled the sparrows on the treetops outside the house and they flew away. His hands trembled and the strings almost cut his fingertips.
The author has something to say:
Li Xiangfu: Why is it so difficult to live a stable life?
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