"Xiao Wan, you’re here, and looking so gorgeous today! I saw you the moment you walked in, it’s just that... So, I mean, that’s why I am coming to you now..."
Seeing Li Zishen stammering, Tang Xiaowan quickly interrupted: "Thank you, it’s really all because of this dress. It seems Huahua has a good eye for fashion. I won’t need to pick out my own clothes anymore."
"No, it’s not just that, you are naturally good in many ways, it doesn’t need any enhancement."
Before he could finish speaking, Tang Xiaowan bowed her head slightly and sipped her juice, feeling uncomfortable under the intense gaze of Li Zishen’s burning eyes.
Just then, music started playing, and people around began looking for dance partners, ready to revel to their heart’s content.
"Xiao Wan, may I invite you..."
"Oh, Zishen, I actually have something I wanted to ask you. How about... we go over there?"
Li Zishen nodded somewhat awkwardly.
He slowly withdrew his outstretched hand.
Thus, the two of them moved to a secluded spot.
Seeing that there was no one nearby, Tang Xiaowan immediately lowered her voice and asked, "Zishen, on the day you saved me at Mei Garden, I remember you found some footprints near the lawn. Do you still have the photos you took?"
"Yes, I’ve kept them. What’s up, Xiao Wan? Is something the matter?" Li Zishen asked instinctively, grasping her arm, his eyes filled with concern.
"No, nothing’s wrong, I’m quite all right. Just suddenly remembered and got curious. Wanted to have a look."
"Oh, then just give me a moment."
Li Zishen let go of her and called Bai Long, asking him to send all the photos related to the footprints in Mei Garden over.
At that moment, a waiter carrying a very exquisite jade decoration hurried past them from behind, nearly colliding with them.
That was an auction item of considerable value.
What shocked the waiter was that Tang Xiaowan effortlessly dodged to the side and even helped to steady his tray at the critical moment to prevent it from falling.
The jade decoration remained safe and sound, securely resting on the tray.
"I’m sorry for startling you!"
Tang Xiaowan hooked the corner of her mouth and raised an eyebrow, "Are you okay? No harm done?" Fınd the newest release on novel⟡fire.net
"No, no harm, thank you, miss."
"Oh... that’s good then. Go on with your work, others must be waiting."
The waiter, appeased by her simple reassurance, seemed somewhat embarrassed. He quickly bowed his head, his hands trembling with the tray.
He couldn’t even bring himself to meet Tang Xiaowan’s eyes.
Her eyes were clear and piercingly intelligent, as if she could see right through someone with just a glance.
"I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to."
Li Zishen watched from the side, his mouth twitching slightly as his bright, phoenix-like eyes scanned the waiter’s name tag.
"Everything is fine here, you can go."
After the waiter left, Li Zishen immediately changed his demeanor, looking at Tang Xiaowan tenderly and softly said, "Let’s go to my private room. There’s something I want to talk to you about, and we can wait for the photos there."
"It’s the same if we talk here."
"It’s about Leng Lingxiao. Let’s go, it’s too crowded here, not convenient."
With no choice, Tang Xiaowan followed Li Zishen to the private room but halfway there, she discreetly turned her couple’s ring a half circle.
Thus, the engraved side faced up.
"Did the photos come through?"
"Not yet, let’s add each other on WeChat first, and I’ll forward them to you when I get them," Li Zishen said with a smile.
Tang Xiaowan reluctantly nodded her head.
Since Li Zishen had initially refused to attend the charity party, no private room was reserved. However, deciding to come last-minute, Jiang Yongheng arranged a large VIP room for him.
After all, Li Zishen was a business magnate, and Jiang Yongheng was hoping for a potential collaboration.
The room was luxuriously furnished, with a crystal chandelier, leather sofas, and even the carpets and curtains had been air-freighted from Country Y.
"Speak up, what’s going on?" Tang Xiaowan sat straight down on the single sofa, curiously asking.
"You... first, take a look at this."
Li Zishen handed his phone to Tang Xiaowan, his face very somber.
Immediately after, the video started playing.
A barefoot woman could be seen incessantly pacing in a hospital room, her hair disheveled, her gaze vacant, and occasionally bursting into crazed laughter.
The scars on her face were particularly shocking.
"Su Luoyi? This person is... Su Luoyi?"
"Yes, that’s her, in Country Y."
Li Zishen handed a glass of juice to Tang Xiaowan, to calm her tense emotions. He didn’t want to frighten her, yet he had to let her know.
"What’s wrong with Su Luoyi? Is she sick, or has she gone mad?" Tang Xiaowan looked at Li Zishen, bewildered.
She was indeed a bit flustered.
Although she had previously disliked Su Luoyi quite a bit, it had never reached the point of hatred.
"She was by two thugs..."
Li Zishen’s hesitant answer was awkward, but he still conveyed the truth, and his eyes were filled with sorrow as he looked at Tang Xiaowan’s ring.
The word "Huahua" was engraved very prominently.
The large ruby ring wasn’t worn, replaced instead by an even bolder declaration of love.
At that moment, Li Zishen felt as if his heart were being ripped apart.
"My god, how could... why would she go there, travel abroad... Why to Country Y? I thought she would... go back to her hometown or somewhere."
Tang Xiaowan spoke disjointedly, the glass of juice in her hand trembling as well.
"Xiao Wan, do you know, Leng Lingxiao also has properties in Country Y, and the market there... he almost has total control, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he could cover the sky with one hand, so... to create trouble... would be as easy as flipping one’s hand."
Li Zishen clearly implied to Tang Xiaowan through his words that Su Luoyi’s misfortunes were related to Leng Lingxiao, that it was he who instigated it.
"There must be some misunderstanding, it’s impossible, absolutely impossible. He’s so gentle, considerate, he’s the kindest, best person in the world."
"Early this morning, I already received news that Leng Lingxiao’s people were indeed seen in the area where the incident happened."
Li Zishen suddenly grasped Tang Xiaowan’s hand.
But in just an instant, Tang Xiaowan forcefully pulled away, standing up with fury in her eyes.
"Su Luoyi once held me at knifepoint, she even burned my bookshelf at Jinyuan Academy, she did so many bad things, this is her own doing, it has nothing to do with anyone else."
"Xiao Wan, at those two thugs’ home... they each found a large sum of money, cash, which is enough evidence that they were bought off."
"Is there a recording, any eyewitnesses? Are there fingerprints on the money?"
"There aren’t, but Xiao Wan..."
"Then don’t jump to conclusions without evidence, lest you falsely accuse a good person."
"Is it that no matter what Leng Lingxiao..."
"That’s right, no matter what, I love him, and that won’t change in this lifetime. To protect me, he has given up so much, too much, and I won’t let you slander him, tarnish his name."
"Didn’t I protect you too? Why can’t you just..."
"It’s different, you’re you, he’s him."
"How is it different? Just because he’s known you 15 years longer than me? Xiao Wan, you don’t understand him at all, even Bai Long would fear him. Think about it, what kind of person is he?"
"Business is like a battlefield, is it strange? Can you say you’ve never done anything behind the scenes like poaching people or seizing other people’s markets?"
"Xiao Wan, you, I..."
Li Zishen faltered, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Speak, why the hesitation? Got nothing to say, conceded then, so instead don’t..."
As Tang Xiaowan pressed her case with reason, she suddenly heard a strange sound. It seemed as if someone from outside had bolted the private room door shut.
She clutched her handbag tightly and quickly turned around.