Chapter 479: Called Out
Su Li’s mind went blank for a moment.
She hadn’t expected to run into Tang Yuanxiao on an occasion like this. She certainly hadn’t expected him to be with a group of people.
Among them were a few familiar faces, people she seemed to have seen at the residential compound before.
It all happened so suddenly. Hearing the curious question, Su Li was utterly speechless for a moment.
She was also completely sure that Zhao Qian Sun Li and Wu Sheng, behind the screen, must have heard everything.
’Knowing it could happen is one thing, but running into them like this... I really didn’t expect this.’
’We’re all in the same circle, bumping into each other so unprepared... How is Wu Sheng going to face everyone’s strange looks after this...?’
Su Li’s mind was in turmoil, and just then, Wu Sheng actually came out.
’Wu Sheng... Of course he had to come out. There was no way he could stay hidden.’
"Huh? Wu Sheng, you’re here too?"
When the man with the monolids saw Wu Sheng, his attention immediately shifted, and he greeted him.
"What else would I be doing here? Eating, of course."
Wu Sheng’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked at Li Kai Xuan, his reply casual.
The moment he saw Li Kai Xuan, he knew what this was all about.
Wu Sheng wasn’t surprised at all.
But when Su Li heard the name "Li Kai Xuan," her pupils contracted. She instantly understood the situation.
Even someone as slow on the uptake as Tang Yuanxiao could sense the unusual atmosphere.
Seeing the clash of gazes between Li Kai Xuan and Wu Sheng, Tang Yuanxiao’s expression changed slightly. Just as he was about to speak, Li Kai Xuan cut in first.
"Running into each other like this must be fate. We’re all colleagues, why don’t we combine tables and eat together? We can all catch up."
Li Kai Xuan suggested, and the people with him immediately agreed, having basically no objections.
Li Kai Xuan’s identity wasn’t something that could be hidden, not that he intended to hide it.
With his kind of status, you couldn’t curry favor, but you also couldn’t afford to offend him. This was exactly why Tang Yuanxiao had reluctantly come along.
Li Xian was a high and unattainable figure. For his son, Li Kai Xuan, to invite him to dinner was a stroke of luck; he had no reason to refuse, nor could he.
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t know about the relationship between Wu Sheng and Li Xian. Even though Ye Xilan had made a scene about it in front of Su Li, it was still a secret that many people were unaware of.
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t know, but he could sharply sense the animosity between Wu Sheng and Li Kai Xuan.
Between Wu Sheng and Li Kai Xuan, Tang Yuanxiao naturally sided with Wu Sheng. He looked at Wu Sheng and Su Li, thought about what Li Kai Xuan had just said, and immediately uttered a single word.
"No."
Amidst a chorus of unanimous agreement, Tang Yuanxiao’s "no" was rather conspicuous.
And at the same time, Wu Sheng also said, "No."
The two of them spoke almost in unison.
The chorus of agreement died down, and everyone looked curiously at Tang Yuanxiao and Wu Sheng.
Li Kai Xuan looked utterly bewildered. "Yuanxiao, why’d you say no? What’s wrong? Ran into your wife... no, that’s not right. A slip of the tongue. Didn’t you get divorced?"
As he spoke, he looked from Su Li to Wu Sheng, who was standing right next to her, a puzzled expression on his face.
Some people knew about Tang Yuanxiao’s divorce, and some didn’t.
It wasn’t a huge deal in itself, but being the first of its kind, it naturally drew attention.
Everyone’s curious, burning gazes fell upon Su Li, Tang Yuanxiao, and Wu Sheng.
Tang Yuanxiao looked at Su Li’s pale face, then at Wu Sheng’s dangerous expression. He clenched his fists and was just about to speak when Li Kai Xuan once again cut him off.
He apologized.
"Sorry about that, Yuanxiao. I speak my mind, and it just slipped out... You’re Su Li, right? Want to eat with us?"
Li Kai Xuan looked at Su Li with an expression she couldn’t quite describe, but it repulsed her. She hated that kind of look.
Su Li wasn’t a fool. She could see that Li Kai Xuan’s appearance here was no coincidence, and she understood exactly why he was saying these things.
She let out a breath and was about to answer, but Wu Sheng suddenly wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
Wu Sheng held her shoulder, pulling her a little closer to his side.
"Let me introduce you. This is my fiancée. I’m here with my fiancée and my friends for a small get-together. It’s not a suitable time to eat together."
Su Li froze, staring blankly at Wu Sheng.
Wu Sheng’s expression was natural, but his sharp gaze was fixed directly on Li Kai Xuan.
Hearing the gasps from behind them, a vein throbbed twice on Tang Yuanxiao’s forehead.
Li Kai Xuan met Wu Sheng’s gaze, a flash of astonishment on his face.
"This is your fiancée? Isn’t... isn’t this Tang Yuanxiao’s ex-wife?"
He finished speaking with a look of utter confusion, then, as if realizing he’d said something he shouldn’t have, he slapped his forehead in frustration.
"Look at me, I must have gotten it wrong. Alright, since you’re having a get-together with friends, we won’t disturb you. We’ll head over here."
He said this, but didn’t move. He just kept staring curiously at Su Li and Wu Sheng, his face a mask of confusion.
Just then, Zhao Haiyang and his three companions silently moved to stand behind Wu Sheng. They said nothing, just stared intently at Li Kai Xuan.
Only then did Li Kai Xuan pat Tang Yuanxiao’s shoulder. "Let’s go, over there."
As the group passed in front of them, Su Li could feel their scorching, curious gazes.
"Is that Tang Yuanxiao’s former wife?" someone whispered to the person Su Li had found familiar—the one who lived in the same residential compound as Tang Yuanxiao and was now attending the same training course.
He wasn’t well-acquainted with Su Li, but there was no mistaking her; he definitely recognized her.
The news that Su Li had found someone better than Tang Yuanxiao—Wu Sheng—had already been spread by Miao Zhi. Many people in the residential compound knew, but it was mostly gossip among the families.
The men themselves didn’t pay much attention to such things, or if they heard, they didn’t take it seriously.
Thanks to the publicity from the previous rescue mission, if not a household name, Wu Sheng was still recognized by nine out of ten people.
’This is Wu Sheng we’re talking about. How could he be with Tang Yuanxiao’s ex-wife?’
’But... Wu Sheng admitted it himself.’
’So... it’s actually true.’
The colleague who had been asked didn’t reply, but his stunned expression said it all.
Nothing needed to be said; everyone understood perfectly.
The group Li Kai Xuan had brought to dinner was a delicate mix: some were from Tang Yuanxiao’s school, but the majority were from the same work unit.
So... all of them knew both Tang Yuanxiao and Wu Sheng.
Tang Yuanxiao’s divorce had been a matter of some interest. The fact that the perennially single Wu Sheng now had a fiancée was also something many people knew or had heard about. But no one had ever imagined that Tang Yuanxiao’s ex-wife and Wu Sheng’s fiancée were the same person.
Although no one spoke, everyone was simultaneously bewildered, unable to wrap their heads around it.
They couldn’t understand why Wu Sheng would choose Tang Yuanxiao’s ex-wife.
Su Li watched as Li Kai Xuan’s group entered the semi-private room next door. She knew with certainty that news of this incident would spread quickly.
And she was even more certain that the rumors would be anything but pleasant.
She wasn’t sure exactly how ugly it would get, but she could imagine.
In that moment, Su Li couldn’t tell if she was relieved or something else, but the feeling of ’it’s finally happened’ was crystal clear.