Wen Lan, Xiao Li's mother, was born into a scholarly family and excelled from a young age, attending a prestigious university in B City.
Xiao Zhennan, on the other hand, was a businessman. When they first met, Xiao Zhennan was just a small shop owner in B City.
Their acquaintance and romance were opposed by the Wen Family, so Wen Lan resigned from her university position and followed Xiao Zhennan back to his hometown, C City.
Once back in C City, Xiao Zhennan's business grew rapidly, and Wen Lan continued her career as a university professor in a local university.
Shortly after their marriage, they had Xiao Li, and the years passed happily.
Until two years ago, when Wen Lan passed away due to illness, leaving Xiao Zhennan devastated. He, too, now suffers from a severe illness.
Upon hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Zhennan nodded silently, "Let's go visit your mother in a bit.
And tell her about your marriage."
Xiao Li nodded, "Okay."
At the cemetery on the outskirts of the city, Xiao Zhennan, Xiao Li, and Qin Xiao stood in black attire in front of a tombstone...
Xiao Zhennan crouched down, tenderly touching the photo on the tombstone, "Alan, we came to see you.
Our Nini got married, you used to say she would look beautiful in a wedding gown, and she truly is, but it's a pity you didn't see her...
She married the favorite student you once admired, and the two kids are doing well now..."
Hearing this, Xiao Li looked at Qin Xiao in surprise. Qin Xiao was Mom's student; how did she not know?
Qin Xiao, noticing her gaze, knowing she still didn't remember him, shook his head with a slight smile...
Previously, with Xiao Li calling off the wedding, he thought she had remembered him, but it turns out she still hadn't...
After saying a few more words, Xiao Zhennan gave way to Xiao Li and Qin Xiao. Xiao Li stepped forward and quietly placed flowers...
She didn't know what to say; it had been two years, yet Xiao Li still struggled to accept her mother's passing, especially now, with her father also seriously ill.
After placing the flowers, Qin Xiao stepped forward and laid his down, "Teacher... Mom... Nini is in my care; rest assured."
Hearing Qin Xiao say "Nini," Xiao Li was momentarily taken aback.
In this life or the previous one, aside from Xiao Zhennan and Wen Lan, it was the first time she heard someone else call her by her nickname.
After placing the flowers, Xiao Li and Qin Xiao stepped aside, and Xiao Zhennan spoke softly to Wen Lan again, "Alan, I'll come to join you in a while; just wait for me a bit longer, and be a little lonelier for a while!"
Hearing Xiao Zhennan's words, tears immediately welled up in Xiao Li's eyes, and she went up to hold Xiao Zhennan's arm, "Dad..."
Xiao Zhennan patted Xiao Li's hand, "Let's go back!"
Upon returning home, their private lawyer, Lawyer Fang, was already waiting at the Xiao Family residence.
Xiao Zhennan said to Xiao Li, "Nini, I called Lawyer Fang today because I want you to know what arrangements will be made for our company after I'm gone?"
"Lawyer Fang, give the will to Miss."
Lawyer Fang nodded, took a document from his briefcase, and handed it to Xiao Li.
Xiao Li glanced at it; the contents of the will were the same as before— all of the company's shares were left to her.
Xiao Zhengfang and the others retained only the right to hold positions in the company.
In the past, Xiao Zhennan had arranged it this way because he considered that Xiao Li had never taken over the company's affairs. If she were to manage it, she wouldn't know where to start.
So Xiao Zhennan gave all the shares to Xiao Li but kept positions for Xiao Zhengfang and others in the company.
Basically, it was to have Xiao Zhengfang and others manage the company for Xiao Li. Following this will, she wouldn't suffer losses.
It was only unfortunate that in her previous life she was so naive and trusted her dear uncle's family after a major upheaval.
Her aunt tearfully complained in front of her that her uncle couldn't gain respect in the company without shares, and the shareholders wouldn't listen to him...
The same with her cousin, who said that without people listening to him at the company, many projects couldn't move forward.
Her aunt went on about them being a family, saying it didn't matter who had the shares, and giving them to her uncle would facilitate his work without taking her profits.
And just like that, Xiao Li muddleheadedly handed over her shares...
When signing the transfer documents, her aunt mixed in several other papers, and Xiao Li didn't look closely and just signed them.
With that one signature, everything Xiao Zhennan left for her was gone, and she ended up on the streets.
Snapping back to the present, Xiao Li looked at Lawyer Fang and said, "Lawyer Fang, there are some aspects of the will we need to discuss further. Please come back tomorrow..."
Lawyer Fang looked at Xiao Zhennan, and after he nodded, he stood up and left.
After Lawyer Fang left, Xiao Li placed the will on the table and said, "Dad, there's something I want to talk to you about, but you must promise me not to get angry first."
Xiao Zhennan nodded...
Xiao Li looked at Qin Xiao, who spoke calmly, "Dad, I arranged what happened with Xiao Ting and Xiao Yan.
The reason? Because Xiao Yan once attempted to do the same to Nini.
The night before our wedding, Xiao Yan encouraged Nini to jump out the window to elope, saying she'd catch her downstairs.
But that night, there was a large iron plate covered with broken glass laid out beneath the window.
Nini didn't jump after learning about it, and she informed me on the day of the wedding. I sent someone to check our lawn; although the iron plate was moved, it was only discarded not far from our house.
The fragments of glass on the lawn were cleared away, but not thoroughly, with a few remaining pieces..."
As Qin Xiao spoke, Xiao Zhennan's expression grew colder with every word...
Seeing this, Xiao Li held onto Xiao Zhennan's hand, "Dad, we agreed not to get angry."
Xiao Zhennan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Is there more?"
Qin Xiao continued, "After investigating, I found that Xiao Yan wasn't alone that night; Xiao Ting helped her.
I also bribed the maid working at Xiao Zhengfang's house. She said Chang Fang knew about Xiao Yan's plan and supported it.
Upon learning this, I sent someone yesterday to investigate Xiao Zhengfang and Xiao Teng's activities in the company. This investigation uncovered quite a few things..."
As he spoke, Qin Xiao took out the files from his briefcase that he had brought in the morning and handed them to Xiao Zhennan.
Xiao Zhennan took the documents, his face growing darker with each page, eventually coughing uncontrollably in anger...
Xiao Li quickly helped him to catch his breath, while Qin Xiao ran to fetch him a glass of water.
After catching his breath and taking a sip of water, Xiao Zhennan finally said, "I didn't realize my good brother and nephew have done so much behind my back.
If this had gone unnoticed, after I'm gone, Nini, they would have eaten you alive!"
Hearing this, Xiao Li lowered her head, thinking how in her past life, she was indeed swallowed whole by them!