Chapter 102: There Is No Regret Cure in This World

After waking up, Liu Xiaoli’s face returned to its usual expression, though she sat on the bed for a while in a daze before finally looking at Liu Xiaoqin, whose face was brimming with happiness, and said, “Xiaoqin, can I stay with you all?”

Liu Xiaoqin was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, “Of course! You’re my sister. My home is your home.”

Liu Xiaoli forced a wry smile. “Your home, my home… yes, my home…”

The two sisters went to the living room together, where their parents were chatting happily with the Zhang siblings, Zhang Hua and Zhang Can. Upon seeing Liu Xiaoli and Liu Xiaoqin, Chen Huiyu immediately returned the bag of cash—sixty thousand yuan—that Liu Xiaoli had given her.

“Xiaoli, I see you’re unhappy with Li Yong. Your money—we’ve discussed it—your father and I decided we can’t use it. Your brother-in-law Zhang Can’s support is more than enough. As long as you and your sister are happy, that’s all that matters,” Chen Huiyu said warmly.

She then looked at Zhang Can. “People say sons are a security in old age, but I think sons-in-law can be even better. Zhang Can, your parents and I are truly grateful. Maybe it’s because of you that our family’s luck has turned around. Your father’s recent check-up confirmed he’s healthy—this is truly wonderful news!”

“That’s great!” Zhang Can nodded in agreement. “Tomorrow, I’ll take your parents and Xiaoqin and Xiaoli to look at some houses. This place is too small.”

Chen Huiyu and Liu Dongsheng hurriedly waved their hands. “No, no need!”

Especially Chen Huiyu, who added quickly, “No need, we can just squeeze in. After all, we’re family. I heard the rent here is five or six thousand yuan—that’s too expensive.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ve already decided to buy a house,” Zhang Can replied with a relaxed smile. “It’s not because you’re coming that I’m thinking about it. I planned to stabilize things first, then buy a house to bring my parents over. I’ve been busy lately, but now is a good opportunity.”

He chuckled softly. “I’m the second son, my sister is the third. So my parents should live with me. Xiaoqin and Xiaoli are girls, and Xiaoqin is the younger one, so your parents should stay with her. My parents are easy to get along with. From now on, I’ll take care of you four elders!”

Chen Huiyu hesitated. She and her husband didn’t disagree, but they worried about putting Zhang Can in a difficult position. He had already done so much for them. Thankfully, the medical check-up revealed that her husband was healthy—a huge relief. As for Zhang Can, they truly had no complaints. He was even better than their own son: from start to finish, he never let them worry about money and took care of everything single-handedly.

Zhang Can smiled again. “Mom, don’t worry. From now on, I’ll call you ‘Mom’ and your husband ‘Dad.’ Although Xiaoqin and I aren’t officially married yet, I already regard her as my wife. So please don’t feel uncomfortable—this is your home. Live happily. Take this 500,000 yuan as pocket money. If it runs out, I’ll put more in.”

Liu Xiaoqin nodded brightly in agreement. “Yes, Dad, Mom, just focus on taking care of yourselves. When we bring Zhang Can’s parents here, you’ll have company.”

Chen Huiyu and Liu Dongsheng finally felt at ease. Zhang Can was sincere and genuine. With such a son-in-law, what was there to worry about?

Chen Huiyu glanced at her eldest daughter, whose expression was still a bit sorrowful, and sighed. “Xiaoli, Mom knows life’s been hard for you, and she knows your filial heart. Just live well. Don’t do what you don’t like. Mom won’t blame you.”

Liu Xiaoqin quickly added, “Mom, don’t worry. Zhang Can has arranged for sister to work at our store. Xiaohua and I are there too. Half the store belongs to us, so she’ll just be helping out and watching the shop. It’s not tiring.”

Chen Huiyu nodded. With Zhang Can’s arrangements, there was nothing to worry about. But then she hesitated and asked again, “Xiaoli, what about Li Yong? What about his money?”

Liu Xiaoli seemed ready to bite the bullet and tell the truth, but Zhang Can beat her to it. “Mom, don’t worry about Li Yong. That 60,000 yuan was all saved by Xiaoli herself. Li Yong always spent her money. He’s a scoundrel. So you don’t have to return a single cent to him. If anyone’s owed money, it’s Xiaoli. Li Yong would be thrilled if he got any of it.”

Chen Huiyu and Liu Dongsheng were stunned, then asked urgently, “Really?”

Seeing Zhang Can defend her again, Liu Xiaoli’s heart warmed and tears uncontrollably spilled down her cheeks. Choking on her sobs, she said, “I… Mom, Dad, I’m sorry for disappointing you. I… I will earn money and be a good daughter to you.”

“Mom knows, Mom knows. Both you and Xiaoqin are good daughters. Everyone faces hardships in life. Living outside is tough. We will never blame you,” Chen Huiyu comforted her daughter.

Zhang Hua handed her a tissue and also offered words of comfort. “Sister Xiaoli, don’t be sad. Everything takes time. Our family had it tough before too. It’s only because of my second brother that things got better. So don’t worry. Life will be what it’s meant to be. Just be happy.”

Zhang Hua was a simple, cheerful person. Even in her poor hometown, she found happiness because of their strong family bonds. Now that their situation had improved, she was even happier. Few are unhappy due to good conditions.

The family chatted, watched TV, and only went to bed at midnight. Zhang Hua and Liu Xiaoqin had to open the store early, so they couldn’t stay up too late.

There were only three rooms. Liu Xiaoqin planned for her father and Zhang Can to share one, while she and Zhang Hua, along with her sister Liu Xiaoli and her mother Chen Huiyu, would occupy the other two rooms. Zhang Can waved his hand and told Liu Dongsheng and Chen Huiyu to sleep in their own room, while the three girls shared two rooms. He would sleep on the sofa in the living room. The weather was warm, so it made little difference.

Zhang Hua initially wanted to share a room with Liu Xiaoqin to chat before sleeping, but with Liu Xiaoli there, she felt it might be awkward, so she didn’t insist. Liu Xiaoqin agreed to share with her sister.

All three beds in the rooms were large—two meters wide—enough for two people each.

Liu Xiaoli watched her sister bustling about, feeling uneasy. Sitting on the bed for a long moment, she finally whispered, “Xiaoqin, thank you.”

“Why thank me? Aren’t you my sister and I your sister? We’re siblings from the same parents. There’s nothing to thank for. You take care of me, I take care of you—that’s just how it should be,” Liu Xiaoqin replied, slightly surprised.

How could Liu Xiaoli not cry? Seeing her sister so happy, nourished by love, she felt a surge of emotions. That love—if only she hadn’t been so blind back then, she would be the one holding that love now!

For her sister, Liu Xiaoli felt a mix of envy, relief, and genuine blessing. Zhang Can was far better than Li Yong in every way—not just money or status, but in responsibility. Zhang Can behaved like a real man should.

It was only at this moment Liu Xiaoli realized she had deeply fallen for the man she once despised and rejected. But it was too late. How could she ever compete with her sister?

Her sister was more beautiful, purer, kinder—truly a complete woman. Unlike herself, a withered flower past its prime. The only comfort was that Zhang Can once loved her so madly.

“Go to sleep, Xiaoqin. You have to open the store tomorrow, right?” Liu Xiaoli sighed, pulling her sister into bed and turning off the light. But in the darkness, her eyes remained wide open, unable to sleep, memories of their school days together and Zhang Can swirling through her mind. If only she could turn back time, travel through space, return to that era she would regret forever, she vowed to seize life with both hands.

The next morning, Zhang Can woke to find a thin blanket covering him. Looking around, no one was there. He checked the time—it was already 10:30. He must have been exhausted from the recent busy days.

Getting up, he saw Chen Huiyu and Liu Dongsheng sitting quietly on the balcony, admiring the view, speaking so softly as not to wake him.

Only Liu Xiaoli remained in the room. Seeing Zhang Can peek in, she smiled and stood. “You’re awake? I made breakfast and am warming it in the kitchen. Let’s eat together.”

She led her parents to the living room before heading to the kitchen.

Zhang Hua and Liu Xiaoqin had already left early for the store. Chen Huiyu explained, “Xiaohua and Xiaoqin went early to open the shop. Xiaoli was supposed to go too, but Xiaoqin insisted she stay home and prepare breakfast. After eating, she can go to the store. There’s no rush.”

Zhang Can nodded. “No need to rush. I haven’t hired a head chef yet, so the store is pretty quiet. Looks like I need to advertise to recruit staff soon.”

After breakfast, Zhang Can drove the three of them to the Lao Shizhai store. Zhu Senlin was already there, waiting as agreed to take Zhang Can to look at houses. Seeing Zhang Can hadn’t come out yet, Zhu Senlin leisurely sipped tea and chatted with Liu Xiaoqin and Zhang Hua, teasing out childhood stories about Zhang Can.

When Zhang Can arrived, he stood and said, “Brother, no time to waste. Let’s go. Two cars should be enough.”

He looked around the store and pondered, “What about the shop here…”

“Leave it to Aqiang and the others. Even if it’s our biggest business, can we skip a day? Can we really make that much money? Come on, let Xiaohua come along for fun,” Zhu Senlin said bluntly. He understood Zhang Can’s intent—someone had to stay behind to mind the store.

Zhang Can hesitated whether to take his sister and Liu Xiaoqin with him, but Zhang Hua smiled. “Second brother, you take your wife along. I’ll stay and mind the shop. I don’t know much about buying houses, so I won’t go. I want to learn more about running the store.”

“All right then!” Zhang Can accepted, feeling reassured that his sister would be there.

This time, Liu Dongsheng and Chen Huiyu rode with Zhu Senlin, while Liu Xiaoqin and Liu Xiaoli rode with Zhang Can. One car followed the other as they headed toward the southern district.