335: Pleading for him

Pleading for him

Mr. Mu's request stumped Li Caiyi. The older man looked at her pleadingly, as though she was the last resort he had. Her heart softened because the middle-aged man had always treated her well since childhood.  2

"These days, the Young Master's health has deteriorated, and it's because he had trouble sleeping. However, I heard from the Young Master before that he could be peaceful when Miss Caiyi was beside him."

Li Caiyi shifted her glance to Meng Renshu. He appeared as if he could collapse at any time. She bit her lips again before hesitatingly saying, "I think it will be better if you take Brother Renshu home as soon as possible. As for your request, I'm sorry, but I can't do it."

"I'm sorry if this is presumptuous of me to ask, but did Miss Caiyi and Young Master have a dispute before this?"

"No, it's not like that." Li Caiyi replied while averting her eyes. Technically, they weren't fighting per se, but they weren't getting along well, either. 

"Then, is it because Miss Caiyi has other urgent matters to do?"

Li Caiyi scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Well, not exactly urgent, but I have prior appointments with others before this."

Mr. Mu was dejected hearing that. However, he stubbornly asked again, "I'm sorry for asking for such a selfish thing, but Young Master barely slept a wink every night, and he worked very hard these past few days. If it's not too much to ask, can you postpone your appointment for today? After all, for Miss Caiyi, Young Master has…."

"Mr. Mu," Meng Renshu, who kept his mouth silent until a moment ago, slowly raised his head. 

Li Caiyi vaguely saw his face color had become even paler than before, despite standing under the sun. There was a kind of sickly charm exuded from his feeble smile as he spoke to his caretaker.

"Please say no more. Xiaoyi has another matter to settle, and we shouldn't force her."

"But Young Master, you have been working so hard to help—"

"I said no more, Mr. Mu." Meng Renshu interrupted his sentence abruptly, this time with more pressure. 

The older man understood this was the tone where his young master wouldn't accept 'No' as an answer, so he reluctantly shut his mouth.

Then, Meng Renshu shifted his gaze to Li Caiyi. His eyes and tone were gentle and accommodating. "Don't mind what he just said. I must have been holding you back for a long time; you should go now."

Li Caiyi looked at Meng Renshu and Mr. Mu alternately, feeling uncomfortable and conflicted simultaneously. She had an inner turmoil for a few seconds, which felt like forever before her conscience finally won over her desire. 

"Uhm, is he like this because he was arranging a spot for my father? To help my family?" She asked carefully, with remorse written all over her face.

Mr. Mu opened his mouth and was about to answer, but Meng Renshu beat him to it.

"No, that's not it. There are many things to do these days because I sometimes have to accompany my father. Don't mind it." Meng Renshu smiled, but the look of disagreement on Mr. Mu's face was all the confirmation she needed. 

Li Caiyi felt terrible. She knew arranging such things wouldn't be easy, even for the Young Master Meng himself, but she didn't expect him to go so far. He even broke down like this now. 

It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Meng Renshu was her family's savior. 

From Mr. Mu's aggrieved expression, she knew that Meng Renshu probably had done more than he claimed to be. He only downplayed it as a trivial matter because he didn't want to burden her or Li Junjie. 

After knowing this, her conscience was no longer prickled but felt like getting drilled instead.

"Let's stop this conversation here. My head is hurt, so I'll be leaving first." Meng Renshu's smile faded as he stared reprimandingly at Mr. Mu. "Help me get into the car. Let's go home now."

Mr. Mu cast the last pleading look at Li Caiyi before supporting Meng Renshu's weak body to enter the car. That was probably the last straw for Li Caiyi before she finally gave in to her remorse.

"Wait, can I come with you?!" 

Meng Renshu, who had sat inside the car, was surprised. He exchanged glances with Mr. Mu, who was still holding the car's door in confusion, and Li Caiyi almost took back her sentence right there and then. 

'No. I'm not doing this because of him, specifically. I was just repaying his favor. I'm not that much of an ungrateful person to let my family's savior suffer like this. Don't think too much of it. This is only gonna be a friendly visit to a friend's house.' Li Caiyi strengthened her resolve by repeating this line in her mind.

Meng Renshu chuckled, seeing the conflicted look on her face. It was funny seeing her trying hard to comply, even though it was clear she was unwilling and wanted to avoid him. 

"Xiaoyi, you don't need to force yourself. If you feel guilty because of what Mr. Mu said, I don't need it. I was sincere in helping you, so there is no need to feel burdened by it."

".... I'm not forcing myself. It's okay."

"Then what's with that long pause?" Meng Renshu laughed again. 

"Nothing. I just need to accompany you, right?"

She thought Meng Renshu would agree, but he shook his head instead, contrary to her expectation. 

"I appreciate your concern, but you can't cancel your appointment with your friends like that. They are your first friends in high school, so they must be very important to you, right?"

Li Caiyi remembered her three friends who must have been waiting for her. They were indeed very important to her, but she didn't think Meng Renshu would recognize that out of all people. So his words caught her off guard.

"Treasure them well. You don't have to worry about me. As you said, I have a lot of servants who can take care of me in my house."

'But you never like it when those people come too close to you. Because you can't trust anyone.' 

Li Caiyi wanted to say that so badly, but she knew it would be weird for her to know that. In the end, she was at a loss for words and could only look down in shame. 

Meng Renshu took her silence as confirmation. "Thank you for caring for me. See you tomorrow, Xiaoyi. Have fun with your friends."

After that, he nodded at Mr. Mu, signaling for him to close the door. Although he felt regretful, Mr. Mu had no choice but to follow his young master's order. He closed the door before bowing slightly to Li Caiyi.

"Thank you again for looking after the Young Master. We shall go first, Miss Caiyi."

Li Caiyi watched as Mr. Mu got into the driver's seat and started the engine. 

The window on Meng Renshu's side was tightly shut, meaning that he had nothing left to say. She could barely glimpse his silhouette because of the tinted glass window.

Just like that, the car left, leaving her feeling unsettled.

pqdm.com