Old Madam Li didn't answer; she simply instructed her personal servant to make tea. After the servant left, Old Madam Li spoke up, "My illness is extremely complicated. If I went to the hospital now, the entire Li family is in trouble."
"What do you mean?" Old Mrs. Su asked, confused.
Old Madam Li sighed heavily and then pulled back her blanket, saying, "See for yourself."
Old Mrs. Su looked down, bewildered, and then her eyes widened in shock. "Ruìlán! Your... your stomach!" Old Madam Li's stomach was round and swollen, like that of a pregnant woman about to give birth. Old Mrs. Su was stunned, realizing that Old Madam Li wasn't sick, but pregnant. An eighty-year-old omega, pregnant?!
At that moment, Old Mrs. Su understood everything: why there were bodyguards at the door and why Old Madam Li said that her condition couldn't be treated at the hospital. If the truth came out, the entire Li family would be in trouble.
Wǎnyíng," Old Madam Li said, "I'm like this, and I have no idea how this happened. But if this gets out, it will indeed bring shame to the entire Li family."
Old Mrs. Su was shocked for a while before she regained her composure. She held Old Madam Li's hand and asked, "Ruìlán, tell me, what exactly happened? Who..."
"No one," Old Madam Li shook her head, her eyes red with embarrassment. "As someone who is half in the grave, who would dare to do such a thing to me?" Besides, with her status, even if someone had the intention, they would never have the audacity.
"What exactly happened then? Have you seen a doctor? Could it be some other illness?"
Old Madam Li wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye and shook her head. "I haven't seen a doctor. My condition is similar to being pregnant, with occasional nausea and the feeling of something kicking inside my stomach. In short, it is almost certain. If I see a doctor and this gets out, I would ruin the entire Li family."
"I used to like taking baths. Maybe it happened accidentally then..." Old Madam Li didn't continue, obviously not wanting to talk about this topic anymore. If the person sitting next to her wasn't Old Mrs. Su, her close confidant, she would never have
revealed this embarrassing secret so easily.
"But...we still need to see a doctor," Old Mrs. Su insisted, feeling that things weren't as simple as they seemed and urging Old Madam Li to find a doctor.
"Wǎnyíng," Old Madam Li took Old Mrs. Su's hand and shook her head. "After telling you, I've already felt much better. You don't need to persuade me anymore. It's not for me; it's for the whole family."
Old Mrs. Su understood her concerns and stopped persuading her. Even the most reliable doctor could leak the news; after all, this was explosive information, and even with threats and bribes, it might not be possible to keep it completely confidential.
"So, if you really are pregnant, what will you do with the child in your belly?"
"I...I don't know..." Old Madam Li's voice trembled as she slumped in despair, her complexion fading to a pale gray. She gazed at her childhood friend, whose laughter and unyielding positivity had always been a source of light in her darkest moments. The thought of her friend now ensnared in such sorrow tore at Old Mrs. Su's heart.
But then, her eyes lit up. "I do have a solution, if you're willing to listen," Old Mrs. Su prompted.
"What is it?" Old Madam Li asked, a glimmer of hope appearing in her eyes.
"We can say the child is my grandson's," Old Mrs. Su suggested. "He's an omega, and we can arrange for him to marry into your family and adjust the age of the child. This way, the child in your belly won't be wronged for a lifetime, and he can proudly take on the Li family name."
Old Mrs. Su was certainly concerned for her friend, but people are selfish, and she also wanted to help the unborn child of Old Madam Li and find a way out for her own poor grandson.
"Your grandson..." Old Madam Li pondered for a moment before slapping her forehead and saying excitedly, "I remember this now! How old is your grandson?"
"Just turned twenty," Old Mrs. Su replied.
Old Madam Li's lips twitched as she said, "Good, very good. Let us do it this way! After the banquet, bring him to see me."
Old Mrs. Su's heart stirred slightly, and she quickly agreed. Just then, Old Madam Li's personal servant, Auntie Liang, came in to report, "Madam, the First Young Master has returned and wishes to see you. He's at the door. Would you like to see him?"
Old Madam Li's face changed slightly, and she spoke with a complex expression: "I'm tired and want to sleep."
Mrs. Liang immediately understood the old lady's meaning and went out to relay her order to Li Mùchén, who was standing at the door. "First Young Master, the old lady is tired. Would you mind coming back later?"
The light in Li Mùchén's eyes dimmed. He knew that the old lady didn't want to see him. "I understand," he said. "Please tell grandma that it wasn't me who did that thing. Whenever she feels better and wants to hear my explanation, I'll come over."
"Okay. It should be lively downstairs now. You can go down and take a look. After all, it's the old lady's birthday, and the Madam may be too busy to handle everything."
"Okay." Li Mùchén nodded slightly and turned to leave. His tall, robust figure looked a bit lonely at the moment. Mrs. Liang watched Li Mùchén's figure disappear around the corner before sighing and turning back to the room.
She repeated Li Mùchén's words to Old Madam Li and then asked with a reluctant tone, "Are you really not willing to see the First Young Master even once? Ever since that incident, you haven't been willing to see him. Every time First Young Master returns home, he always comes to visit you first, but you always turn him away without listening to his explanation?"
"No." The old lady's attitude was resolute.
Old Mrs. Su next to her couldn't help but ask, "Was he talking about your second grandson's disability? Is he really responsible?"
Old Madam Li didn't hide anything from Old Mrs. Su and nodded. "Yes, that incident did make me feel strange. That child has always had a kind heart; others may not know it, but I do. However, the evidence is conclusive, and I can't favor him. Due to my current condition, I can't investigate it carefully for him. The only thing I can do for him is to ask him not to worry about my affairs anymore."
Old Mrs. Su was slightly surprised. She had thought that the rumors outside were true, that Li Mùchén was a ruthless person who would cripple his own brother. Now it seemed that the rumors about this incident may not necessarily be true.
"Well, I am a little tired. You can go downstairs to attend the birthday banquet. After it's over, remember to bring your grandson over." Old Madam Li's eyes showed signs of fatigue.
Old Mrs. Su had achieved her purpose for this trip and didn't want to disturb Old Madam Li any longer. After watching her lie back down, she left. She had to quickly tell her grandson the good news.
...
On the other side, Li Mùchén didn't plan to attend the birthday banquet. He was about to return to his room when he met Li Wei Zhi, who was coming towards him in a wheelchair. Li Wei Zhi looked gentle and smiled as he greeted Li Mùchén.
"Big brother, you're finally back," Li Wei Zhi said with a look of hesitance, appearing scared but trying to sound affectionate, like a little brother who had been hurt by his brother.
Li Mùchén ignored him and tried to walk past the wheelchair. But as he passed by, Li Wei Zhi's expression suddenly morphed into that of a victorious person mocking the one who had been defeated. He smirked and chuckled, then said, "It seems that grandma doesn't want to see you. Well, who would want to see someone who cruelly crippled his own brother's legs?"