Partnership

In the blink of an eye, more than five years had passed. Zhao Danshi was no longer that boy who could only sit stubbornly in the courtyard and wait.

He came back to his senses and nodded at Li Suilun. "You have a point."

Li Suilun had not expected that answer and was briefly taken aback. A stunned expression appeared on his face. Li Ping was also startled and looked at Zhao Danshi nervously.

The four adults present wore different expressions. Only the sleeping Dou Dou knew nothing, still slumbering sweetly with his tiny fists clenched.

Li Suilun quickly recovered. "Since you also think the two of you are not well matched, then between you..."

"Sorry." Zhao Danshi cut him off expressionlessly. "The only reason I'm standing here listening to you is because of Senior Brother Li Ping. Other than that, we're strangers, and there's no need for us to talk. You shouldn't be saying those things to me, either. I haven't eaten a grain of your family's rice, so you don't get to tell me what to do."

The atmosphere in the room instantly became extremely awkward.

Zhao Danshi had Li Suilun so angry that his beard practically bristled. He opened his mouth but could not say anything, so he could only glare at Li Ping.

Zhao Danshi nodded at Li Ping. "Senior Brother, I'll take Dou Dou back first."

Ignoring his father's furious expression, Li Ping walked over to stand beside him and said quietly, "I'll come to the hotel to find you later."

Zhao Danshi pushed Dou Dou outside without looking back. No one in the room stopped him. Li Ping came over and opened the door for him.

Zhao Danshi glanced at Li Ping but did not answer, pushing Dou Dou into the elevator.

The elevator doors slowly closed, separating the two of them and completely cutting off their line of sight.

Inside the elevator, Zhao Danshi took a deep breath and tried hard to suppress the indignation in his heart.

After Zhao Danshi left, the Li father and sons stood or sat in silence in the room, the atmosphere frozen.

Li Ping turned to his father, his voice calm. "Dad, are you happy now?"

Li Suilun's anger flared again at his words. With his brows raised in fury, he snapped, "What kind of nonsense is that? Happy?! Would finding out that you're with a man make me happy, or would you paying lip service and deceiving me make me happy?"

He shot Li Ping a sidelong glance, then erupted first. "If I hadn't run into you today, were you still planning not to tell us?"

Li Ping said, "Didn't you investigate it even though I didn't tell you?"

"If you hadn't hemmed and hawed and hidden everything from us, would we have needed to worry about every little thing for you?" Li Suilun tapped the table impatiently. "I'll overlook you dating a man for now, but you're actually dating a man like that?!"

He gave a cold laugh and issued his ultimatum. "Don't contact that Zhao Danshi anymore. Take this opportunity to cut things off and rein yourself in. You're already twenty-six or twenty-seven, yet you don't know how to do anything proper."

"I can't rein it in."

"What?"

Li Ping said stiffly, "I said I can't rein it in. Why should I take back my feelings just because you demand it?"

Li Suilun shot to his feet, glaring at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"Exactly what it sounds like." Li Ping enunciated every word. "You've always been like this since I was young. No matter what it is, you have to keep it under your control. When I went to college, you chose X University for me. When I started working, you made me join the group. Even after I achieved results, you still weren't satisfied. Under the excuse of giving me experience, you kept stuffing projects I didn't like onto me."

Li Suilun sneered. "So I was wrong to plan things out for you?"

"Yes." Li Ping met his gaze without fear. "I am an independent person. Even if I'm your son, I'm not some game for you to control. You have no right to control my life or treat every one of my actions as your achievement."

Li Suilun looked at him coldly.

Father and son stared at each other, both breathing heavily.

Impatience filled Li Ping's features. "I'll submit my resignation later. I'm not doing this job anymore."

"Li Ping!" Li Sheng stopped him. Looking from one to the other, he secretly worried for both of them. "Dad, you should say less too."

"What backbone." Li Suilun sat back on the sofa and looked at Li Ping, still radiating an overbearing pressure from on high. His eyes were like cold pools. "I don't think you need to submit any resignation. I approve it. Since you're dissatisfied with everything we've done for you, don't keep leeching off us either. Li Sheng, follow up on this later. Take back the house, car, and everything else the family prepared for him."

"Dad!" Li Sheng turned back with a headache and tried to persuade him. "Didn't you teach us not to make decisions while we're angry?"

Li Ping agreed. "Fine. I'll make my own way in life."

With that, Li Ping stood and walked out, carrying an icy chill with him.

Li Sheng tried to persuade one, then the other, but neither listened. He glanced at Li Suilun's frighteningly dark expression and hurried after Li Ping.

Li Suilun sat silently on the sofa. His tall frame seemed to have hunched slightly.

The two brothers entered the elevator. Li Ping's facial lines were drawn tight, his face frosty.

Hearing his somewhat heavy breathing, Li Sheng patted his shoulder and advised helplessly, "You know what Dad is like. Why argue with him word for word?"

"It wasn't just an argument. I've been thinking these things for a long time." Li Ping's face was cold. "I don't want to keep living in Dad's shadow."

Li Sheng was stunned. He straightened and studied Li Ping's expression, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

"Why say that all of a sudden? Is it because of Zhao Danshi?" Li Sheng looked serious. "Are you going to break with your parents over a man?"

"No, this has nothing to do with Danshi. Brother, I've endured this for a long time."

"What do you mean, shadow?" Li Sheng simply could not get through to him. Standing in front of him, he practically wanted to grab his collar and shake him awake. "How many people envy your life as a rich second-generation heir?"

"Brother, what do you think of my abilities?"

"Why ask that?" Li Sheng eyed him suspiciously, his sharp brows furrowing as he stared at Li Ping. "Who said you weren't capable? We've always seen your ability clearly."

"Dad says I'm not capable enough." Li Ping's expression did not change. "I worked my way up from an ordinary employee to general manager, leading my team to create hundreds of millions in profit for the group every year. Yet Dad still thinks I'm not mature enough. He lectures me endlessly on every project, and I have to report every matter to him. From work to personal matters, he wants a hand in everything."

Li Sheng had no response.

"I've always lived in Dad's shadow. Yes, he's outstanding, but I'm not useless either. Brother, I'm tired. I don't want to keep seeking his approval. The world outside is vast. Do I need to hide beneath his wings?"

"You want to start a business?" Li Sheng disapproved. "Starting a business isn't that easy. Without connections, capital, or technology, what can you build from nothing? Dad doesn't think you're incapable, or he wouldn't have entrusted so many major projects to you. He's just worried about you and wants to check things for you."

Li Ping gave a derisive laugh.

Li Sheng sighed. "You're both angry today. It's not suitable to discuss things now. Calm down and talk again tomorrow. Dad went too far today, but he wasn't entirely wrong. You and Mr. Zhao really aren't that suitable. Leaving gender aside, if you truly want to be together, shouldn't you at least have the means to be together?"

"Every parent wants what is best for their child. When Mr. Zhao ran into trouble at work, he hid away in the countryside to idle his days away. He has no girlfriend but does have a child. How do you expect Dad to approve of him?" Li Sheng tried earnestly to persuade him. "Besides, how many parents can accept their child's orientation and their child's boyfriend on the first try? You have to give Dad time to react."

"The issue isn't whether Dad accepts it. It's whether Dad respects me, and whether he respects people who aren't as successful as he is." Li Ping said, "The slogan that all people are born equal has been around for three or four hundred years, but very few truly understand it and live by it. On this point, Dad and I have no basis for reconciliation."

Li Sheng rubbed his brow. "Dad has been domineering for half his life. You need to give him time to change."

"Fine, let's leave it to time. Before that, I need time to think things through as well. Forget about my position at the company." Li Ping's expression was calm. "I'll send my resignation letter to you and Dad this afternoon. You and Dad can find someone to take over my work. I'll be in the city these next few days."

Seeing his expression, Li Sheng knew he could not persuade him back for the moment, so he said no more.

The brothers went downstairs. Li Ping went to the underground garage, drove out, and headed straight back to the hotel.

The moment he swiped open the room door and saw Zhao Danshi still there, Li Ping let out a breath of relief. "I'm back. Have you eaten lunch?"

Zhao Danshi glanced at him without speaking.

Li Ping sidled over and sighed. "You're really angry?"

Zhao Danshi nodded seriously. "Mm."

"My dad was indeed very rude today. I apologize to you on his behalf." Li Ping stood at his side and said softly, "Also, I'm very sorry that I didn't handle things with my family properly and caused you trouble."

Zhao Danshi nodded. "A father's debts are repaid by his son. I accept your apology on your father's behalf."

"Nothing else?" Li Ping tilted his head to look at him, his gaze gentle. "What about my apology?"

Zhao Danshi had no choice but to say, "We aren't a couple now. You have no obligation to protect me. I was scolded by your family because I got close to you. I bear some responsibility myself, so you don't need to apologize."

"So you plan to draw a clear line between us?"

Zhao Danshi sighed. "There's no need to draw a clear line, but it does seem like we're not suited to keep associating."

Li Ping pressed, "Is it that I'm not suitable to associate with, or that my family isn't?"

Li Ping was very close, and they could clearly hear each other breathing.

Zhao Danshi instinctively stepped back. Looking at Li Ping's face, so compelling because of his seriousness, his heart clenched painfully.

He could not answer.

Li Ping also stepped back and stopped pressing him step by step. "What do you plan to do from now on?"

"Go back to my hometown and farm. Don't worry. Once Dou Dou reaches school age, I'll bring him back here for school. If you want to see him, you can come whenever you want, or video call him." Zhao Danshi had thought about it many times, yet the more he spoke, the sadder he felt. "My income from farming is decent. I won't let him suffer."

Li Ping asked, "The traditional small-scale farming model?"

"I want to try farming on my own for a year first. If it goes well, I'll consider hiring people and buying machinery next year."

Whether he hired workers or bought machinery, the costs would be too high. The profit margins on basic agricultural products were already thin. If he did not control costs, he might end up losing money.

Li Ping asked, "You'll have to farm and take care of Dou Dou alone. Can you manage?"

Zhao Danshi looked at Dou Dou, who was sleeping soundly in the basket beside him, and felt uncertain. Dou Dou was too young and needed careful care these next few years. The old man could lend a hand, but he could not fully meet Dou Dou's need for companionship.

For now, he could only take things one step at a time. If it truly became impossible, he could only consider hiring a nanny.

Li Ping looked at him with gentle eyes. "How about hiring a partner?"

"Hm?" Zhao Danshi looked up, not understanding.

Li Ping pointed at himself. "If we can't become lovers, I want to become your partner. I'll farm with you and take care of Dou Dou with you. If you want to shoot videos, I can also moonlight as your cameraman."

"Are you joking?" Zhao Danshi frowned. "Isn't your current job going well?"

"Not at all. My boss is always making things difficult for me, and the workload and pressure are especially high." With a faint smile on his face, Li Ping nodded and said softly, "So, how about taking me with you? I work out year-round and have great stamina. I'll definitely make a qualified farmer."

Zhao Danshi did not buy it. "What about your family?"

"I'll handle it properly. If you're willing, I'll go with you."

Zhao Danshi neither agreed nor refused.