Rebirth: CEO's Sweetheart Reaches the Life Pinnacle!-Chapter 161 - 158 An Outsider

"There’s no need! As her daughter, it’s my responsibility and duty to take care of her. You’re just an outsider; you don’t have to do all this! However, I still want to thank you for taking care of them over the years when I wasn’t around." Finishing her words, she solemnly bowed to Long Wu.

Long Wu’s eyes grew hot. What did she say? She called him an outsider? Feeling indignation bubble up inside him, he almost lashed out, but Leng Mochen swiftly stopped him.

"Long Wu, I think this arrangement is beneficial to the elder’s recovery. If you’re sincere, you can visit often! I believe Su Meng won’t oppose this, right?" Leng Mochen quickly chimed in, having already guessed Su Meng’s thoughts and nudging things along.

Su Meng hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded, "Fine! You can come visit!" Seeing the pain on Long Wu’s face, she relented; she couldn’t bring herself to be completely heartless.

Li Si, standing aside, mediated with a smile, "This works, doesn’t it? Then let’s bring the elderly lady to my place. It’s convenient; my apartment has an elevator, so going up and down won’t be an issue!"

Su Meng didn’t want to owe such a big favor. "That’s unnecessary! President Li, if you can let me stay in the employee dormitory, that’s already enough! I don’t need to live in your place!"

"How could an elderly person stay in the employee dormitory?" Leng Mochen interjected. The dormitory above the beauty salon was on the fifth floor of an old neighborhood building, with cramped rooms housing four people each. Where would an elderly person stay?

Long Wu, unwilling to give up, suggested, "What if the elder falls ill? It’d be better if she stays with me! That way, you won’t have to exhaust yourself!"

Su Meng looked at Li Si helplessly. "President Li, thank you! Then I’ll trouble you for a while. When I’m able to get my own place, I’ll move out." She would rather owe Li Si a favor than have any further entanglements with Long Wu.

"You really can be stubborn! My home is spacious enough for a few more people. Let’s not worry about the future just yet!" Li Si, however, subtly tried to help Long Wu one last time.

The group came to an agreement and brought the elder to Li Si’s home. Long Wu, reluctant to leave, was practically dragged away by Leng Mochen. As he left, Long Wu looked deeply at Su Meng and said, "Get some rest early! Leng Er and I will come tomorrow!"

Li Si and Leng Mochen exchanged a subtle glance, both with a knowing expression about Long Wu’s behavior.

Finally, the men left, leaving only Su Meng and the somewhat bewildered elderly woman behind.

Li Si pulled a slightly embarrassed Su Meng aside. "You and Auntie, sit down! Don’t be so reserved—treat this like your own home!"

"Thank you, President Li! If I hadn’t met you, who knows how much longer I’d be stuck in my previous situation!"

Su Meng guided her mother to a seat, her face filled with gratitude. To her, meeting Li Si had put her life back on track—Li Si was undoubtedly her lucky star.

Li Si waved it off casually. "Please, no more of that! Just call me Sisi. It’s fate that brought us together. Out of the billions of people in the world, we managed to meet!

Alright, enough about that. Let me take you to choose a room with a bathroom for Auntie. She can freshen up and rest for now!"

Su Meng once again cast a grateful look at Li Si. She could see her mother’s weariness but hadn’t felt comfortable voicing it.

After finding clothes for her mother, helping her bathe, and getting her to sleep, Su Meng stepped out of the room and saw Li Si sitting on the living room sofa, watching TV.

She cautiously approached and asked, "You’re not sleeping yet?"

Li Si smiled, "Your mom’s asleep? I’m not sleepy yet. I usually sleep around 11 p.m. or so. Are you tired? If not, let’s chat for a bit?"

"Alright," she said as she sat next to Li Si. Though they’d known each other for a while now, often meeting while renovating the new store, they’d never had a moment like this.

She could sense Li Si’s goodwill yet remained hesitant to open up. It was because she still didn’t know who she really was.

Living in this world without knowing who you are—it’s a truly painful experience. She didn’t know her real name, her birth date, or who her parents were. It felt as if the world had no place for her.

Especially with everyone around her constantly lying, fabricating story after story, she always had this urge to run away.

"Wait here for a moment!" Li Si got up and headed to the kitchen. She opened the fridge and pulled out two bottles of peach juice.

"Here, let’s chat while we snack!" She handed one bottle to Su Meng, then pulled a large bag of snacks out from under the coffee table, filled with an assortment of treats.

Looking at the beef jerky, jelly, preserved plums, and chips in front of her, Su Meng finally cracked a small smile. Li Si truly had a knack for snacking.

Noticing Su Meng’s relaxation, Li Si commented, "See, we really are fated to meet. It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it?"

"Yes, it is," Su Meng agreed with a sigh. "You live here all by yourself?" She knew Li Si wasn’t a local and was curious about what kind of people her parents were.

Li Si chuckled self-deprecatingly. "My dad passed away, and my mom might as well not exist." As far as Tian Yaruo was concerned, there wasn’t much difference between having her and not having her around.

"I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have asked!" Su Meng regretted her question. She hadn’t expected such an answer. Since Li Si always seemed so optimistic—especially with a caring boyfriend—Su Meng had assumed her parents doted on her.

"It’s fine! It’s all in the past now. The living can only live well to give the dead some peace of mind." These were her heartfelt words, a philosophy shaped by everything she’d been through—and the same advice she wanted to give Su Meng.

Su Meng nodded in agreement, a look of admiration on her face. "You’re absolutely right!"

"What plans do you have for the future?" Li Si asked, taking a sip of her drink.

Su Meng glanced down and noticed a tiny patched hole near the big toe of her white socks sticking out of her slippers. Embarrassed, she quickly pulled her foot back.

"I want to keep working while taking good care of my mom. Even though Dad is gone, at least she’s still here. As long as she’s alive, it’s enough!"

Though she wasn’t particularly capable, now that she had found her identity and reunited with her mom, she wanted to give her mother a peaceful, happy later life.

Li Si nodded approvingly. "That’s a great plan. After the New Year, I’ll need to return to school, so I’m thinking of leaving the beauty salon under your management. How about it? Do you think you can handle it?"

Su Meng looked up in disbelief. Flustered, she stammered, "I-I can do it?" Her voice wavered uncertainly, fearing she might mess up and disappoint Li Si.

"Why not? You definitely know more about this than I do, someone who knows nothing about the industry. Don’t worry—there are people Leng Mochen arranged to help out in the shop. You just need to manage the beauty-related aspects." freēwēbnovel.com

Li Si truly didn’t think it was a big deal. If Su Meng didn’t know, she could learn. Nobody is born knowing everything.

Especially in the future, when academic degrees would matter less than practical management skills. Haven’t countless big business owners succeeded with only a grade-school education? They’ve built empires regardless.

The essential thing was not whether one lacked education—it was about refusing to learn, laziness, and staying stagnant. Even if a mountain of gold were in front of such a person, they wouldn’t know how to mine it.

"I... I’ll try!" Before being brainwashed, she wouldn’t have had the courage to agree. But now, with her mom unwell and an urgent need to make money, she couldn’t let this opportunity slip by, even if she knew there were ulterior motives in play.

"Great! By the way, Meng Meng, after you woke up, who told you your name was Xia Yu?" Li Si, having held her curiosity at bay, couldn’t help but ask now. (To be continued. If you like this novel, please visit Qidian.com to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read on m.qidian.com.)

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