"No, not at all!" Lin Feng looked at Li Liping’s pretty face and said solemnly, "I’m genuinely happy your dad can forgive you. And if you want to keep staying here, both Aoxue and I would love to have you."

"Then it’s a deal!" Li Liping finally showed a rare, brilliant smile.

Lin Feng was very clear about the conflict between Li Liping and her family. The main reason was that she refused to marry into the Ling Family in Jiangnan, going against her father Li Hong’s wishes, which made Li Hong so angry he almost disowned her.

In fact, the reason things had gotten so stiff between Li Liping and her family was, for the most part, because of Lin Feng. Without Lin Feng stepping in, how would Li Liping have dared to offend the Ling Family under that kind of immense pressure and completely fall out with Li Hong?

Of course, when she followed Lin Feng and left back then, she thought he was cutting in to steal the bride and would take her away to the ends of the earth. At first, Li Liping had even felt secretly delighted.

Later, she realized that Lin Feng only wanted to help her, and never had any intention of being with her. Gradually, Li Liping started to feel neglected. She had gained her freedom, but lost her parents’ care. This past half month, she hadn’t actually been that happy...

So over time, Li Liping really wanted to go back to her parents, but she didn’t have the courage to pick up the phone. Until today, when she received a call from her father Li Hong. And on the phone, there wasn’t a trace of blame in his voice. Instead, there was a lot of rare concern and longing. This made Li Liping very happy.

Under Li Liping’s eager anticipation, before nine o’clock, the sound of a car came from outside. A Mercedes S600 stopped in front of Villa No. 3 in the Jincheng residential area. A young man got down from the driver’s seat, went straight to the back, opened the door, and Li Hong’s figure stepped out of the car.

"Liping!" Suddenly seeing the daughter he hadn’t seen for more than twenty days, even Li Hong’s stern face couldn’t help but show a flash of excitement.

"Dad!" Li Liping cried out in surprise and joy. Her whole person pounced on Li Hong like a butterfly, hugging him. Her big eyes were already shimmering with starlight.

As for what had happened before, Li Hong and Li Liping tacitly kept silent, neither of them bringing it up. They just quietly savored the feeling of blood ties, that warmth rippling between their hearts.

They hugged for more than a minute before Li Hong finally let go first. He raised his head and glanced at Lin Feng, who was standing by the gate smoking, and greeted him a bit awkwardly, "Brother Lin, hello!"

Lin Feng looked at Li Hong with a half-smile and shook his head. "You’re too polite, Mr. Li. How would I be qualified to call you brother?"

Li Hong’s face stiffened with embarrassment. He no longer dared to underestimate Lin Feng at all. Back when Lin Feng slapped Ling Aiguo in the face at the Four Seasons Hotel, Li Hong thought Lin Feng was dead for sure this time. But who could have imagined that not only did nothing happen to Lin Feng, the Ling Family instead went completely quiet, not even letting out a fart! Li Hong had even been worried that the Li Family’s business would be affected, but as it turned out, no one from the Ling Family had come knocking at all, and business had actually gotten better recently!

At a time like this, if Li Hong still couldn’t read the room, he’d probably lose this dutiful daughter of his for good!

To get his daughter back, Li Hong had no choice but to swallow his pride and come here himself!

He still felt a bit awkward facing Lin Feng, but Li Hong found that once he said the words out loud, it wasn’t that big a deal.

"Brother Lin, you’re joking... I was the blind one before, failing to recognize a great person when I saw him and misunderstanding you. I really need to apologize properly." Li Hong smoothly apologized, using that familiar business‑social tone. "How about this, I’ll find a place next time and invite Brother Lin out for some fun. Within Jiangzhou, I know a lot of great spots that young people like. And if you prefer, you can come down to Jiangnan Province too."

Listening from the side, Li Liping was a bit dumbfounded. Her dad actually started calling Lin Feng "brother." In terms of seniority, didn’t that mean she’d have to call Lin Feng "uncle"?

No way I’m doing that! Li Liping glared resentfully at her father, feeling very displeased.

Lin Feng just politely shook his head. No matter what his relationship with Li Liping was, he didn’t want to get too tangled up with a pure businessman like Li Hong.

A man who could use his own daughter as a stepping stone—no matter how powerful he was—was someone Lin Feng wanted as little to do with as possible.

"You’re too kind, Mr. Li. I appreciate the thought, but I’m not really into lively places... Maybe some other time." Lin Feng casually brushed him off, flicked away his cigarette butt, and without waiting for Li Hong to say anything else, turned and went back into the villa.

Li Hong watched Lin Feng’s back somewhat awkwardly, his mouth slightly open. He only felt his old face burn with heat, not quite knowing what to do.

Standing to the side, Ning Aoxue and Xue Qingyi didn’t feel any sympathy for Li Hong, because they both knew full well what he had done to Li Liping. Faced with this kind of father, they didn’t bother hiding the contempt in their eyes.

"If it weren’t for Liping’s sake, I would never let you walk away so easily today..." Xue Qingyi also turned and went back to her room, leaving these cold words for Li Hong.

Li Hong’s face grew even uglier, and even Li Liping felt immensely awkward.

"Liping, if you ever feel wronged in the future, just come back to me. I, Ning Aoxue, may not be some big shot, but Ning Corporation can definitely afford to take in one little girl like you." On the surface, Ning Aoxue was talking to Li Liping, but in reality, she was saying it for Li Hong to hear.

Ning Aoxue wasn’t as blunt as Lin Feng and Xue Qingyi, but she didn’t intend to spare Li Hong’s pride either. Outwardly she was comforting Li Liping; in truth, she was directly wielding her status as the Ning Corporation heiress to pressure Li Hong.

Don’t think you can do whatever you want. Ning Corporation is Liping’s backing. This was the message in Ning Aoxue’s sidelong glance at Li Hong.

Only now did Li Hong realize that he didn’t even need to push Li Liping out to build connections; her friends by her side were each powerful enough on their own!

It seemed he really was in the wrong on this matter. Li Hong thought with some shame. After all, he was getting old and no longer had an eye for people.

"Dad, actually Lin Feng, Sister Qingyi, and Miss Ning are all good people. They only talked to you like that because they care about me. They weren’t trying to target you on purpose, so don’t take it to heart..." Li Liping softly comforted Li Hong. No matter what others thought of him, to her, Li Hong was still her biological father, and that was a bond she couldn’t cut.

"Liping, you don’t need to say more, I understand." Li Hong reached out and held her small hand, sighed, and said somewhat gloomily, "Before I came, I had already thought it through. Sooner or later, when I’m old, the Li Family’s business will be passed down to you anyway. I might as well hand it over early and let you manage it. Once you’re back, you can go straight to the company to work. As for school, I’ll just have a word with the principal."