Chapter 75

"Tell me your conditions." In Li Xu's bedroom, Isabelle spoke in a steady tone.

"Oh?" Li Xu raised an eyebrow but didn't say much, appearing indifferent, though he was actually quite troubled.

He needed Isabelle to be agitated, to be driven by emotion, to be unable to maintain rationality for long. Only then could he predict her thoughts and wear down her sharpness based on those predictions until she had no choice but to compromise.

It was like continuously provoking a kitten in a cage, making it bristle until it was exhausted, and then petting it to make it obedient.

But her current state suggested that she had already skipped this phase, hiding her sharpness and waiting for the right moment. Clearly, the stimulation from her mother was too intense, especially the last few words.

Although her mother had boasted, Isabelle was unfamiliar with these things and didn't know how twisted Japanese society was. Without personal experience, she naturally wasn't impressed by these achievements.

But the last few words comparing her to Joan of Arc and subtly mocking her family had indeed touched her sensitive points.

In fact, although Isabelle's father was Algerian and his name included "Maimaiti," he was a genuine "Blackfoot" and not a follower of the Peaceful Religion.

As for her mother, she was at most of German descent, not a German, and Mizuko was just confusing the issue.

Isabelle, though fond of Algeria, was also proud of her French identity. Now, being questioned and compared to France's greatest female hero, it would be strange if she wasn't angry.

Once the anger was suppressed, the subsequent outburst would be immense, so—

Is there anyone who pits their son like this?

"Tell me your conditions." Isabelle repeated, her azure eyes fixed on Li Xu without blinking.

"Haven't I already laid out my conditions?" Li Xu spread his hands.

"If you mean that, then I won't accept it." Isabelle said in a calm tone.

"Do you have any other choice?" Li Xu raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Change the conditions, or I'll hand everything over to the media." Isabelle said, "You can't control everyone's mouths, Edward. There will always be newspapers willing to publish, even tabloids."

"If that's your last resort, it's not enough." Li Xu chuckled.

"I just want you to know my stance." Isabelle's tone turned cold again, but she quickly controlled her emotions, "I will fight to the bitter end in my own way. I swear, I will stake everything on this."

It still wasn't very convincing, but... this was a big trap. Li Xu could only sigh inwardly. The gossip from another timeline about her being autistic and mentally unstable was pure nonsense.

In the end, it was because Isabelle became famous in the 1970s and 1980s and was not well-known to people in the 21st century. Most of her famous works featured neurotic characters, and over time, fans conflated her character images with her real personality.

In fact, a woman who could maintain a stable life after being abandoned by a scumbag like Lewis just before her wedding and with a child, and who could start her speech at the César Awards by reading "The Satanic Verses," would hardly be neurotic, abnormal, or easily provoked.

"Fifteen years." Li Xu said.

Isabelle frowned. "That's too long."

"No, it's too short. I don't think Anna will have a mature worldview to make a choice at 15." Li Xu shook his head.

"I don't understand." Isabelle's frown deepened.

"You can ignore yourself, but you must consider Anna," Li Xu said in a serious tone, "Do you want her to grow up in a single-parent family? Do you think she can grow up healthily in a single-parent family?!"

"I can raise her alone!" Isabelle showed her stubborn side again.

"Don't talk nonsense!" Li Xu suddenly stepped closer, looking down at her, "You don't understand what a single-parent family means for a child, and you don't understand what a complete family means for a child!"

He leaned in again, exuding an indescribable but intense pressure, "It's clear you're not ready to be a mother, Isabelle Adjani!"

For a moment, Isabelle felt her breath catch. She had never thought that the man in front of her could exert such intense pressure.

He had always been either carefree or cynical, as if nothing mattered and everything was under control. When had he ever had this feeling of squeezing someone in his hand?

She then became angry. What right did he have to say these things? He was the one who caused all this. What right did he have to say she wasn't ready to be a mother?!

But thinking about what her mother had said earlier, her anger subsided. Getting angry now would only give him the upper hand.

But Li Xu didn't give Isabelle time to think. He straightened up and coldly said, "Fifteen years!"

"Use fifteen years to give Anna a complete family, with a famous actress mother and a globe-trotting businessman father. When she grows up and understands the world, let her decide whether our family should continue to exist." He continued in a tone that brooked no refusal.

"A family built on lies?" Isabelle couldn't help but sneer.

But Li Xu ignored her, "In exchange, I will support whatever you want to do, to the best of my ability. If you want to continue acting, I can get you the movies you want. If you want to be a producer, I can invest in the movies you prepare. If you want to be a director or a screenwriter, I can send you to the best schools. The same goes for your family. Whatever your parents or your brother want to do, I can support them, but there are two conditions: no involvement with other men, and no nudity on the big screen!"

Isabelle's azure eyes blazed with anger, and after a moment of heaving, she forced out, "The words 'tyrannical' and 'shameless' were made for you, Edward Li!"

"Say what you will," Li Xu didn't care, "You just need to know that I have the ability to fulfill my promises."

With that, he pushed the door open and left, "That's it!"

Outside, Li Xu took a deep breath, rubbed his face, and then scratched his head in frustration.

Now, he was becoming more and more like a big villain. The next step would probably be forcibly taking a woman, and then a protagonist would appear, getting his leg broken by a lackey and shouting, "Don't underestimate a young man!"... Cough, calm down!

Li Xu tapped his temples and regained his composure. His mother had really given him a tough problem, making him reveal his cards early and making his image in Isabelle's mind even worse. He didn't know how much effort it would take to truly win her over.

But... on the other hand, challenges were interesting. What he most wanted to do in this life was to find interesting and fun things. Besides, he already had a plan for how to win over Isabelle; he just needed to refine and implement it.

So, where should he go now? Li Xu scratched his head, suddenly realizing that the room he had just left was his bedroom. Even after issuing the ultimatum, it should have been Isabelle who left...

Damn, what should he do now? Go back? No way. Go somewhere else? Who knows if he'd run into his mother, who had already dug deep into his thoughts?

Got it! Li Xu thought hard for a while, then snapped his fingers and made his way to the nursery. Fortunately, the little one wasn't sleeping and was crawling around on the bed.

"Hey, let daddy hold you, Anna." He picked up his daughter and held her in his arms.

"Yah!" The little one called out energetically, waving her arms around.

"Do you know, daddy has become a big villain just to get you." He scratched her chubby chin while speaking with a sigh.

"Blah blah" Anna reached out to grab daddy's fingers, carefree and happy.

"But don't worry, daddy will definitely give you a complete family, a noisy but unbroken family." Li Xu continued, adding in his mind: at least it will look that way.

Despite his words, a gentle smile appeared on his face as he stroked the little one's head, tinged with a hint of complex regret.

He held Anna and played with her until a light cough came from the doorway.

"Ah, Mother, is there something you need?" Li Xu almost reflexively stood up when he saw who it was.

"Of course, to see my granddaughter." His mother blinked, seemingly puzzled, "Is there a problem? You look a bit nervous, Liangshi."

Nonsense, after pulling a "I won't tell you" just a few minutes ago, it was natural to be nervous. He had seen all her tricks since childhood.

Despite his inner grumbling, Li Xu calmly shrugged, "I thought you were still discussing things with Uncle Daokou. I didn't expect you to come over so soon."

"What could I have to discuss with your uncle? It's already good that he doesn't cause me trouble." His mother said with a hint of sadness.

Even if he caused trouble, it could be solved with a cesarean section. Li Xu inwardly complained, quickly handing the little one to his mother to avoid further discussion about Isabelle or Sony.

He had already been tricked in the study and then confronted by Isabelle. After issuing the ultimatum and playing with his daughter for a while, she came again. This constant rotation was exhausting.

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