Chapter 20: You Liar!-A jovem herdeira se oferece em casamento, e a ex-noiva que cancelou o noivado enlouquece de arrependimento!(Esperar o vento levantar)

On the other side, Li Mu led his parents to their small courtyard. A gentle breeze blew, and a ray of sunlight spilled into the center of the yard, lending a touch of warmth and nostalgia to the otherwise cluttered space. As Yang Suying and Li Chengyang returned home and began to bustle about, the sight of the three of them in the sunlight was truly heartwarming.

Sitting beneath the tree, Li Mu felt a wave of longing wash over him. They had been separated for a long time. In order to raise him, his parents had endured countless hardships, never letting him go without food or clothing, even as they themselves barely scraped by. He stood up and looked around. While the place was still habitable, the conditions were abysmal. The walls were peeling from years of neglect, and the fence outside the yard was makeshift, offering no security at all. Li Mu frowned; he decided he would look for a new house tomorrow to buy a proper home for his parents.

"Oh, Xiao Mu, what are you still doing out there? Come inside and wash your hands. Your sister should be home any minute now," Yang Suying called out, setting the vegetables she was holding onto the table. The table was a simple wooden piece, scarred with pen marks. The meal was humble, yet it was filled with the warmth of home.

As Li Mu heard his mother’s words, his furrowed brow slowly relaxed. He remembered his sister was five years his junior. She had always been beautiful and was currently in her first semester of university. She had been sensible since she was young, often denying herself the best portions of food to give to him. He, in turn, had often tried to take her out to play and share his pocket money with her, but she had never accepted it. In her eyes, her brother was the pillar of the family who would one day support them all. As a girl, she felt she hadn't grown as quickly as he had, so she focused all her devotion on him.

Li Mu’s heart softened. After washing his hands, he sat at the table, waiting for Li Huihui to return.

"Xiao Mu, Huihui will be overjoyed to see you back. When you left, she was so worried; she traveled everywhere asking after you, just to find out if you were okay."

Hearing this, Li Mu smiled gently. "Huihui has been doing well these past few years, hasn't she? I heard she got into university, wasn't that her dream—" Li Mu stopped mid-sentence as he noticed the expressions on Yang Suying and Li Chengyang’s faces turn dark and heavy, as if burdened by a secret.

"Dad, Mom, what happened to Huihui?"

Li Mu’s voice trailed off, his gentle smile freezing on his face. Just as he spoke, the crisp sound of footsteps echoed outside the yard. Soon, the weathered gate creaked open, and a thin, frail figure appeared. Li Mu turned to look, and when he realized it was his sister, Li Huihui, he stood up, ready to rush toward her, but his feet froze instantly. His confusion turned to shock.

Li Huihui stared at Li Mu, her face a mask of disbelief and suspicion. "Brother... you... you're back?"

Li Mu stood frozen in utter disbelief. In his memory, his sister was always full of laughter and radiant joy. She was kind, sensible, and surrounded by friends, capable of warming everyone around her—himself included. Even during his lowest moments, it was the memory of her smile that had helped him pull through. Yet now... his sister had a limp. Her body was gaunt and withered, and the gentle smile he remembered had vanished, replaced by sorrow and agony.

"No, sister, what happened to you? Why... why is your leg like that?"

Li Huihui didn't answer his question. Instead, she asked in a trembling voice, "Brother, have you... finally come back?"

"I'm back, I'm finally back." Li Mu lunged forward and pulled his sister into a tight embrace, his voice choked with a mix of excitement and grief. Li Huihui began to sob uncontrollably, her body trembling as if she were pouring out all the bitterness and helplessness of the past few years. Li Mu, though slightly more composed, had eyes rimmed with red, his hands shaking. "Huihui, I'm back. Tell me, what happened to your leg?"

At these words, Li Huihui suddenly pushed him away. She stumbled back a few steps, but regained her footing, glaring at him with intense hatred. She shrieked, as if using every ounce of her strength: "I don't have a brother like you! There is no place for you in this family! You are not my brother! You are absolutely not!"

Without waiting for Li Mu to react, she leaned on her crutches and hobbled toward the house. Her words pierced deep into his heart. He never imagined that his once-adorable sister would hate him so much. It felt like a sharp blade being driven into his chest, twisting and tearing at his insides.

Li Mu stood in profound pain for a long time. A thought occurred to him, and his eyes filled with a murderous glint. Yes, his sister was so kind and lovely; why had she become disabled? Why did she hate him so much? There must be a reason. Otherwise, such deep-seated hatred could not exist.

He tried to chase after her to ask, but just as he reached the doorway, his sister turned back with a sullen face and slammed the door shut, cutting him off. Li Mu stood stunned. From behind the door came Li Huihui’s choked, agonizing cries: "You are not my brother! There is no brother in this house! My parents are not your parents either! I ask you, sir, return to wherever you came from!"

Yang Suying wept, "Child, your brother has finally come back. I know you're hurting, but your brother has had a difficult time outside all these years. It’s been so hard for us to be together again..."

"Mom, does he even see you as his mother?" Li Huihui demanded. "If he cared about you as parents, why did he leave without a word that year? You spent every day washing your faces with tears! The reason our family has fallen into such ruin is all because we were searching for him, spending every last cent of our savings. Even Father’s leg..."

"And him? After a few years, he just walks back as if nothing happened! His motives are obvious!"

After speaking, tears welled up in her eyes again. She took a deep breath, wiped them away with her hands, and opened the door with a cold, serious expression.

"Did you find out that our family heirloom can be sold for a high price?"