Stand-In Boyfriend Fu Zheng Ji

Chapter 496 One Increase and One Decrease

Li Xiang even considered fighting Qi Diaozhe like a man right there.

Then Qi Diaozhe probably wouldn't have a chance to speak.

However, he also knew that Zhang Ling disliked men who acted roughly.

Not to mention witnessing him fighting with another man in public.

In Zhang Ling's view, men who resort to fighting are acting without thinking.

So it's possible that before Qi Diaozhe could even utter any provocative words...

He was the first to hear Zhang Ling announce their breakup because of his own rash behavior.

If that's the case.

He might as well have just openly let Qi Diaozhe say what he wanted to say from the beginning.

Li Xiang is more willing to gamble that Zhang Ling will ultimately choose to believe him.

Clearly, his strategy was correct.

When Zhang Ling heard Qi Diaozhe say, with a mix of truth and falsehood, that he had known the old lady for a long time, she was deeply moved.

He even went so far as to mislead Zhang Ling by saying that Li Xiang's pursuit of her from the very beginning was also a conspiracy.

They claimed that Li Xiang really did have the surgery as rumored.

He was attracted to her kind and gentle nature.

I want to be her a true friend.

The purpose was after Li Xiang revealed that he had become a man.

When they are ostracized and suppressed by the vast majority of the world.

He only hoped that Zhang Ling would be willing to stay by his side steadfastly, like a true friend.

……

Zhang Ling finally understood.

Qi Diaozhe talked so much in a deliberately mysterious way.

It turned out to be just a simple summary of the rumors about Li Xiang from that morning, presented to Zhang Ling again.

In reality, there doesn't seem to be any solid evidence to support their point of view.

So even if what Qi Diaozhe said is true.

She finally showed her disappointment, snorted coldly, and left on her own.

Strange!

The storm that Li Xiang had anticipated from Zhang Ling did not materialize.

It seems that women's emotions are truly unpredictable, just like weather forecasts.

So he suppressed his secret joy, bypassed Qi Diaozhe who was momentarily stunned, and chased after him.

Little did Li Xiang know that he was celebrating too soon.

That's Zhang Ling!

It's not like those brainless, pretty but useless women in society.

Zhang Ling considered that the main purpose of going out today was to pick up Xiaodouzi.

Li Xiang is the father that Xiaodouzi subconsciously acknowledges.

Now they've turned against each other because of an outsider, Qi Diaozhe.

This is really not a wise choice.

So even though she believed Qi Diaozhe's slander against Li Xiang in her heart.

They would also temporarily suppress their anger as if nothing had happened.

Wait!
After receiving the little beans.

Give Xiaodouzi a happy and joyful weekend.

She was dealing with the issues between her and Li Xiang.

Because she knew that Xiaodouzi was a shrewd person.

She could tell that she and Li Xiang had fallen out during the days without Xiaodouzi.

They will inevitably complain that they don't want to stay abroad to study properly.

This coincided with a turbulent period in Wuchuan.

She really didn't want to see Xiaodouzi get involved innocently.

So I could only pretend nothing was wrong and spend the weekend with Xiaodouzi.

So that Xiaodouzi can study well at the school abroad without worry.

Qi Diaozhe watched as Zhang Ling and her group disappeared from sight in their car.

He was basically convinced by the strategist beside Li Xi.

Because the strategist had said that his actions just now were simply not enough to force Zhang Ling to publicly break with Li Xiang.

Not to mention, he took the opportunity to get Zhang Ling to choose him again.

However, Zhang Ling will definitely develop a deep rift with Li Xiang because of his words.

Then it won't be long before Qi Diaozhe successfully pursues Zhang Ling again.

Clearly, things are going as predicted.

He couldn't help but start imagining a bright future in his mind.

The old lady's status is indeed extraordinary.

Even though I didn't see her give any specific instructions to anyone.

Her schedule is always well arranged.

So the group waited for a taxi, but the car that was supposed to pick up the old lady arrived first.

On the car picking up the old lady.

Zhang Ling opened the car window and kept looking at the scenery passing by.

The cool breeze passing through the car had already made everyone feel noticeably chilly.

However, the atmosphere inside the car was still oppressive and somewhat suffocating.

No one has spoken up yet.

It was as if everyone tacitly knew that what was needed most at this moment was quiet.

As is customary, Xiaodouzi was picked up by the teacher in charge.

Children are undoubtedly the harmonizer of a family's happiness and harmony.

The originally somber atmosphere turned cheerful when the child's voice rang out.

The old lady deserves special mention.

She didn't seem to care at all about Xiaodouzi's initial resistance to her.

They patiently gave out candy, dolls, and other gifts one after another.

Try to build a closer relationship with Xiaodouzi as quickly as possible.

Do not misunderstand!
The old lady didn't truly consider Xiaodouzi her own granddaughter.

It just shows that Xiaodouzi is very important to Zhang Ling.

I fantasize that I can use the little bean as a link.

So that Zhang Ling would accept her as her biological mother.

However, she underestimated some children who are not as silly as they appear on the surface.

Xiaodouzi lives alone at a school abroad.

It seems that he has honed his ability to read people's expressions to the extreme.

Upon seeing Zhang Ling and her group, he immediately discerned the old lady's intentions.

The old lady's appearance also created a rift between her parents.

Therefore, the strong sense of crisis made Xiaodouzi subconsciously develop a strong resistance to the old lady.

Little Bean still acts like a little adult.

Throughout his interactions with the old lady, he maintained a seemingly friendly smile.

fortunately!

The old lady had never seen a child with such a deep and calculating mind.

So even though she sensed a hint of distance in Xiaodouzi's friendly smile.

They didn't take it to heart, thinking it was just a normal reaction when facing children.

That is, being shy.

At first, Xiaodouzi didn't understand the specific reasons for the estrangement between her parents.

That's why I decided to swallow my pride and put on a smile to ask the old lady for the general reason.

Perhaps the old lady was too confident that Xiaodouzi didn't understand the predicament he was in.

Unconsciously, I followed the rhythm of Little Bean.

She believed that she had developed a close relationship with Xiaodouzi.

So, feeling the time was right, he coaxed Little Bean, saying:

"My lovely grandson, you're so young and you're studying abroad all by yourself. It's so pitiful!"

Xiao Douzi glanced at Zhang Ling and shook her head protectively, saying:

"Little Bean has been very happy since he had his mother! Unlike his mother, who took more than 30 years to find a loving mother. His mother is much more pitiful than Little Bean."

The old lady was so taken aback by Xiaodouzi's words that she opened her mouth wide and exclaimed "Ah!"

Seeing the old lady's embarrassed and awkward reaction, Little Bean immediately looked puzzled and said again:

"That shouldn't be! Grandma, are you testing Xiaodouzi? To see if Xiaodouzi is sensible enough to know that his mother is pitiful, right?"

The old lady immediately realized what was happening, and nodded repeatedly with a wry smile, saying "yes" several times.

Then, the old lady looked at Xiaodou with surprise in her eyes and thought:

Is the cute little girl in front of me really just a child?
She could clearly hear the disdain and dissatisfaction in Xiaodouzi's words.

In other words, she was looked down upon by a little girl.

Even a child like Xiaodouzi could see how pitiful Zhang Ling's mother was.

And she, an old woman nearing the end of her life, couldn't see how pitiful her daughter was.

This really shouldn't happen!

The thought only flashed through my mind.

The old lady's personality and ideas, formed over many years, have not changed in the slightest.

Li Xiang coughed lightly twice, catching Xiao Douzi's attention.

Xiao Douzi turned to look at Li Xiang and asked:
"Dad, I heard you coughing. Did you catch a cold because you didn't cover yourself with a blanket when you took a nap on the plane?"

Li Xiang did not directly answer whether he was sick.

Instead, she put on a pitiful look, shook her head at Xiaodouzi, and replied with a slightly affected sob:
"I've been hurting Xiaodouzi for so long. Xiaodouzi hasn't even realized how hard her father has worked. It seems that her father is just an insignificant figure in Xiaodouzi's eyes. I'm really heartbroken right now."

Little Bean stared at Li Xiang with a face full of black lines.

I think that nowadays adults are even putting on an act to win their children's attention.

I wonder if Dad did it on purpose?

The father's acting was far too exaggerated.

Even a small child like her could tell that it was very watery.

So she pouted dismissively, like a little adult, and said:

"Come on, Dad, I don't believe you. If you want to be sad, then keep being sad."

"why?"

"Do you forget it?"

"Forgot what?"

"Little Bean is no longer a three-year-old child. How can you still treat him like a three-year-old?"

"No, Little Bean, where did you get that idea?"

"Naturally, it starts with Dad's words and actions. Little Bean didn't sense the slightest bit of sadness from you, Dad."

Li Xiang shook his head in confusion and shouted, "Impossible!"

Little Bean continued:
“Our teacher always says that force is reciprocal. So Xiaodouzi secretly thinks that human emotions are also reciprocal, just like force.”

"what for?"

"Does Dad want to hear the truth or a lie?"

"At such a young age, that's naturally the truth. Or are you trying to lie?"

"Tell the truth?"

After receiving a definitive nod from Li Xiang, Xiaodouzi said:

"To be honest, Xiaodouzi never wanted to study abroad willingly. If it weren't for her mother's happiness, Xiaodouzi wouldn't have felt so wronged to study alone abroad."

Xiaodouzi didn't really want to study abroad.

But in order to maintain the relationship between the family of three.

That's why I was forced to make that decision.

She had originally thought her parents would appreciate her forbearance.

If only she stopped going to school.

Her parents would come to pick her up and reunite with her.

But the reality was not what she thought.

Every day Xiaodou spent abroad, her resentment towards Li Xiang increased.

After all, she clearly believed that her ability to study abroad was due to the Li family.

Coincidentally, Li Xiang and the Li family appear to be one entity on the surface.

Therefore, the more Xiaodouzi hates the historical family, the more she also hates Li Xiang.

Li Xiang and Zhang Ling were both very surprised to hear this, and exclaimed "What?" in unison.

Little Bean then said:
"Also, Xiaodouzi can't bear to see his mother suffer any injustice without his father's support. It's only for his mother's sake that he reluctantly accepted you as his father."

Zhang Ling looked at Li Xiang quietly with a happy expression on her face.

Not a word was said.

I want to see what Li Xiang will do next.
Li Xiang, with an expression of disbelief, continued:
"No, no, this isn't true. Little Bean, please tell me the truth, everything you just said is false. And please believe that your father is..."

Li Xiang's words were not fully expressed.

Little Bean spoke again:

"Alright, Dad, we all agreed that the family would get together every week during the school term. But what about this time? Not only did we not come home for a family gathering, but I also didn't see Grandpa come along."

Speaking of which, Xiaodouzi spent the most time with Zhang Pengtian.

Therefore, the grandfather and grandson have a very close relationship.

Xiao Douzi was naturally in a bad mood because she didn't get to see Zhang Pengtian.

Li Xiang broke his promise to Xiaodouzi by making all these commitments.

Therefore, Xiaodouzi harbored deep resentment towards Li Xiang.

Li Xiang forced an explanation:
"No, Little Bean, look at what I brought you from Grandma this time. Adding one and subtracting the other equals..."

Before Li Xiang could finish speaking, Xiao Douzi loudly interrupted him, saying:
No, it cannot be equal to.

Li Xiang pretended to be confused and asked:
"Uh...why?"

They were trying to discourage Xiaodouzi from trying.

But Little Bean answered without hesitation:
"Dad, do you think you're buying vegetables at a market? Even if vegetables of the same value can be substituted at will, different vegetables will still taste and feel different."

Xiao Douzi highlights the uniqueness and irreplaceability of her maternal grandfather, Zhang Pengtian.

Li Xiang was out of ideas.

He looked at Zhang Ling with a bitter smile, pleading for help.

Hopefully, Zhang Ling will stand up for him and say a few good words at this time.

Zhang Ling glanced at Li Xiang with some disdain before looking at Xiao Douzi and saying:

"My little Douzi is right. Unlike some people..."

He paused slightly, glared at Li Xiang, snorted coldly, and continued:

"His level of awareness is worse than a child's. I wonder if someone that age even knows what shame is?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiang revealed an even more bitter smile.

He realized that Zhang Ling's misunderstanding of him had deepened.

How to do?
What if I come to spend the holiday with Xiaodouzi and then...

He not only lost the identity of a father.

What's worse, he'll lose the identity of Zhang Ling's husband, which he's always dreamed of.

Then all his previous efforts would be in vain.

No, he absolutely cannot stand by and watch that happen.

Then the image of Li Xiang's mysteriously confident smile appeared in his mind.

This led him to unconditionally believe that Li Xiang was capable of helping him resolve his current predicament.

He desperately wanted to find a quiet place where no one would disturb him and call Zhen Lixiang.

Zhang Ling's eyes are like highly sensitive radar.

They monitored his every move with absolute certainty.

Even if he blinks, he'll be asked, "Are you flirting with that wildflower again?"

Injustice!
He cried out his grievances more than once.

They also considered having the old lady, as an elder, offer some words of comfort to Zhang Ling.

But the old lady did not comfort Zhang Ling.

Instead, it was as if they had discovered something really fun and interesting.

They watched with great interest as the couple bickered.

wrong!

Li Xiang was really wrong.

On the one hand, Li Xiang's mistake was that the old lady did not have a legitimate identity in front of Zhang Ling.

They might even use the excuse that they're not from the same family.

They directly ordered them to leave.

Why would I risk my life to help Li Xiang?
On the other hand, Li Xiang's mistake was not understanding that the cause of his current predicament was Xiaodouzi.

Not Zhang Ling.

Xiaodouzi simply thought that Li Xiang had overstepped his bounds.

The person who should introduce the old lady to her is Zhang Ling.