Chapter 197
Zhang Dezhi felt the unrealistic warmth on his body, he moved his fingers slightly, rubbed the blanket, slowly opened his eyes, stared at the bed curtain for a while before coming back to his senses.
He, was still alive.
"Are you awake?"
Zhang Dezhi turned his stiff neck and looked at the man walking towards him from the doorway.
He opened his mouth to say something, but found himself unable to speak. Li Yi had the steward help him sit up, gave him some warm water to drink, and moistened his throat.
"Feeling better?"
Zhang Dezhi wanted to answer, but his throat rolled and only made a half sound. He moved his numb body and gestured with his hand.
Li Yi couldn't understand the meaning, and met his anxious gaze, guessing, "Did you come alone or with your family?"
He hesitated, "I only saved you."
Just as he raised his hand to show a five, Zhang Dezhi froze for a moment, his hand fell weakly, and tears silently flowed down his cheeks.
Was he the only one left now?
Seeing Zhang Dezhi's grieving appearance, Li Yi sighed. After the snow had melted a bit, he sent people to search a few times, but to no avail.
Zhang Dezhi's sense of hope was worn away time and time again, until he finally accepted this fact.
A snow disaster had caused him, at a young age, to lose all his family. Li Yi took pity on him and brought the helpless boy back to the Capital City.
Upon arriving at the Li Family, Zhang Dezhi, standing behind Li Yi, couldn't help but look around. Suddenly, a bright and lively shade of green caught his eye, and he watched as she ran closer and threw herself into Li Yi's arms.
"Dad!"
"Langyue." Li Yi caught her, seeing her slightly unhappy expression, he asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
"I want to read, Aunt keeps bothering me." Li Langyue pouted, "She keeps asking me what kind of mother I like."
Comfortingly patting his daughter's head, Li Yi's displeased gaze fell on his sister Li Xi, who was approaching slowly.
Li Xi awkwardly said, "Big brother~"
Li Yi's face darkened, "I've already said it."
"I..."
"No need to say anymore." Li Yi waved his hand and had the servant send her back home directly.
Li Langyue smirked, raised her eyebrows at her aunt, and thought about finding a stepmother for her, but the nanny had warned her that a stepmother would bully her, so she didn't want one.
She stepped aside to clear the way, and when she turned her head, she met Zhang Dezhi's eyes. After a moment of recollection, she realized she hadn't seen this person before and asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Zhang Dezhi."
"And then?"
The steward stepped forward, blocking Zhang Dezhi behind him, and explained his background to Li Langyue in a low voice. Li Langyue glanced sympathetically at him and said nothing more.
Zhang Dezhi was assigned to work by Li Yi's side. When he entered the study, he was stunned by the rows of bookshelves in front of him, there were even more books than in a bookstore.
Li Langyue came over to discuss homework, and seeing him standing motionless at the door blocking the way, she pushed him, "What are you daydreaming about?"
Zhang Dezhi snapped out of it, quickly bowed, "Miss, I, I..."
"You you you, you're stuttering!"
"Langyue~" Li Yi glanced lightly at his daughter, handing the book in his hand to Zhang Dezhi: "Do you want to read?"
"Can, can I?"
"Of course."
Zhang Dezhi's heart couldn't help but beat faster, wiping the sweat from his palms on his clothes, he respectfully took the book from Li Yi's hand.
In fact, at first, Li Yi just wanted to teach him to recognize some characters, but gradually found that he had an excellent memory and good understanding. If he could be cultivated, it would be good, so he spent more effort on him.
Seeing his father paying more attention to the young man he picked up, Li Langyue, who had been deprived of love and attention, felt a slow rise of dissatisfaction in her heart. She found fault with him left and right, wanting to compete with him on everything.
She snatched the article that Zhang Dezhi had just been praised for by his father, compared it with her own, and found that his writing was not as good as hers!
"Dad, you're biased!"
Li Yi rubbed his forehead: "You've been studying for a few years, Dezhi has been studying for a few years, how do you want to compare."
Li Langyue was speechless.
After Li Yi left, she glared at Zhang Dezhi, picked up the ink block on the table, and threw it at him.
Zhang Dezhi skillfully caught it, tidied up his desk, walked up to her, put the ink block back on the table, and walked out directly.
"You!"
Zhang Dezhi turned around, bowed, and said calmly, "Miss, do you have any other orders."
Li Langyue hated his current appearance, not as cute as when he used to stutter. She gritted her teeth, pushed him aside, and rushed out ahead of him. Zhang Dezhi helplessly turned back to tidy up her desk.
Li Yi stepped into the front hall, looking at the table full of scrolls, frowned: "What is this?"
The steward immediately approached: "These are portraits of eligible young men from various families prepared by the old lady, for the young lady to choose from."
Li Yi casually unfolded one: "This one's family background is a bit low."
"They're all not high." The steward lowered his eyes: "The old master's intention is that the Li family's lineage must not be broken. If the young lady doesn't choose a son-in-law, you will have to remarry."
"Prepare the carriage, I..."
"Dad, don't go, just listen to grandpa." Li Langyue stepped in, looking at the steward: "Which one does grandpa like the most?"
The steward picked out three portraits, and Li Langyue chose the one that looked best to her: "Make arrangements."
Li Yi frowned: "Langyue~"
"Dad!" Li Langyue cut off her father's words: "Grandpa is not feeling well, don't upset him."
She turned around, met Zhang Dezhi's still calm face outside the hall, furrowed her brows briefly, ignored him, and went back to her room.
On the day of the meeting, Li Langyue dressed up carefully, passing by Zhang Dezhi's side, and went out straight until evening before returning.
She entered the study room, greeted Li Yi: "Dad."
Li Yi looked up at her: "How was it?"
"Pretty good, good-looking, good at writing, a bit lower family background but it's fine."
"Do you want to give them an answer?"
Li Langyue glanced at Zhang Dezhi sitting upright next to her, reading seriously, and said loudly, "Yes!"
Watching his daughter's annoyed figure and Zhang Dezhi's stiff sitting posture, Li Yi sighed and shook his head at the steward.
Late at night, Zhang Dezhi tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He turned over and heard faint footsteps outside the door. He got up, put on his clothes, lit a lamp, and opened the door, only to see Li Langyue squatting outside in thin clothing, looking pitiful.
"Miss!" He hurriedly took off his own clothes and draped them over her, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. "What are you doing?"
Li Langyue remained silent, just staring at him.
Zhang Dezhi dared not meet her gaze and turned away. "Miss, it's cold at night. Let me escort you back."
He cautiously reached out to help her up, but she pushed him away. He frowned. "Miss, you'll catch a cold."
With her head buried in her knees, Li Langyue asked softly, "Do you have to call me that way?"
Hearing the sadness in her voice, Zhang Dezhi was shocked. He lifted her head, and the flickering candlelight illuminated her slightly damp cheeks.
His heart ached, and after a moment of silence, he finally said, "I am not worthy of you, Miss."
Grabbing his arm, Li Langyue threw herself into his arms. "But I like you."
Caught off guard by her sudden action, Zhang Dezhi staggered but managed to steady himself. He looked helplessly at the person in his arms, while Li Langyue clutched his clothes, her eyes pleading.
The two of them stood there in a stalemate. After a moment, a long sigh broke the silence of the night. He embraced Li Langyue. "I... I like you too."
Li Langyue lifted her head triumphantly. "I knew it!"
Zhang Dezhi wiped away the tears on her face, shook his head with a smile, wondering why she was still crying.
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