Chapter 476: Meeting Wu Sheng’s Friends?
Wu Sheng looked at Little Tang Mo. "What’s wrong?"
Little Tang Mo was silent for a moment. He lowered his head and answered softly, "I just don’t want you to get hurt again."
Wu Sheng looked at the top of Little Tang Mo’s head and gave it a playful ruffle. "Worried about your uncle?"
This time, Little Tang Mo didn’t shake his head. He gave a soft "Mhm" and said, "I’m worried about Uncle, and... Mama too."
He looked up, his bright, clear eyes meeting Wu Sheng’s.
"Uncle, can you try not to get hurt anymore?"
Looking into Little Tang Mo’s eyes, Wu Sheng scooped him into his arms and ruffled his hair.
"Mhm, Uncle promises."
Little Tang Mo tensed up, not daring to move. "Uncle, be careful you don’t touch your wound."
"I won’t. Uncle’s being careful." Wu Sheng lay down, positioning Little Tang Mo on his chest so he wouldn’t press on the injury.
Lying on Wu Sheng’s chest, Little Tang Mo stared at his Adam’s apple and gave it a curious poke.
Wu Sheng deliberately bobbed his Adam’s apple. Little Tang Mo watched, mesmerized, then felt his own neck.
"You’ll be just like Uncle when you grow up."
Wu Sheng replied, holding back a laugh.
A flash of anticipation crossed Little Tang Mo’s eyes. The next second, his little hand was exploring Wu Sheng’s arm and chest.
The muscles were hard. He gave them a surreptitious squeeze, then squeezed his own soft little arm. He thought he was being subtle, but Wu Sheng saw everything clearly.
A smile flashed in Wu Sheng’s eyes, but he pretended not to notice, making small talk with Little Tang Mo.
Little Tang Mo had originally planned to secretly give Wu Sheng some candy and then go back to his room. But he got caught up in their conversation and, when his usual bedtime arrived, he drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
Wu Sheng chuckled as he looked at Little Tang Mo, who was sleeping soundly, half-sprawled across his chest.
"’Just like his mother. A true mother and son,’" he whispered, remembering how Su Li had also fallen asleep the night before.
Once Little Tang Mo was fast asleep, Wu Sheng gently laid him down properly and got up to turn off the light.
The next day, Su Li woke up early. She wanted to leave with Little Tang Mo for school without waking Wu Qihua and Wu Sheng.
It got light late in the winter, so the sky was still dark when she got up. Flashlight in hand, she went to Little Tang Mo’s room to look for him, but to her surprise, he wasn’t there.
Su Li jumped. Just as she was about to knock on Wu Sheng’s door, it opened.
"Little Point is with me."
Wu Sheng had heard Su Li leave her room and woken up. Knowing she would be worried, he quickly opened his door to tell her.
Su Li breathed a sigh of relief. She went inside and saw Little Tang Mo’s sleeping face. "How did he end up here?"
"He likes me, of course," Wu Sheng said softly. "Go wash up. I’ll make some dumplings for you two to eat before you go."
"No, don’t. You’ll wake your mother," Su Li whispered, stopping him. Then she went to wake Little Tang Mo.
"Little Mo, time to get up."
When Little Tang Mo woke up, he was a little dazed to see both Wu Sheng and Su Li. Then he realized which room he was in, and remembering the embarrassing way he’d fallen asleep, a hint of awkwardness crossed his face.
"I wasn’t scared last night. I just fell asleep by accident."
As he obediently followed Su Li out of the room, Little Tang Mo quietly explained this to Wu Sheng.
"Right, right," Wu Sheng agreed with a straight face, trying not to laugh.
"You should go back to sleep. Little Mo and I will head out," Su Li said to Wu Sheng.
Wu Sheng just nodded, unconcerned.
Unfortunately, by the time Su Li had Little Mo quietly wash his face, Wu Sheng had also washed up and was already fully dressed.
"I’m taking you to get a good breakfast."
Without giving Su Li or Little Tang Mo a chance to object, Wu Sheng put an arm around the boy and led the way outside.
Wu Sheng was talking about a wonton shop not far from the mouth of the alley.
"They’re only open for a few hours each day, but business is amazing. Eating their wontons in the winter warms you right up."
The wontons were indeed delicious, unbelievably fresh and savory.
By the time they finished eating, the sky had begun to lighten. Su Li took Little Tang Mo to school, and this time, Wu Sheng didn’t insist on walking them.
Unfortunately, when Su Li’s classes let out for lunch, Wu Sheng was there waiting for her.
"What are you doing here? Didn’t we agree I’d come find you after class?"
Seeing Wu Sheng at the school gate, Su Li’s brows knitted in a frown.
"I came to see you," he said. "Mom went to work, so I came to find you. We can just cook at your place. It’ll save you from running back and forth."
Wu Sheng took Su Li’s hand, tucking it into his pocket to warm it up, and adjusted her scarf for her.
"Relax, Su Li. Don’t be so tense. My wound is almost healed. I just can’t do any strenuous exercise."
"You lost a lot of blood and were bedridden for days. You’re still very weak."
Su Li frowned.
Wu Sheng said, "...Please don’t use the word ’weak’ to describe me. For me, resting is recovering. I can’t just stay cooped up at home."
Su Li was at a loss with him.
Wu Sheng was exasperated too. "I’m really almost better. Stop being so tense. Come on, let’s go back."
Back at her place, Su Li started making a nourishing soup to help him regain his strength. Wu Sheng helped out, his eyes frequently drifting over to her.
"Why do you keep staring at me?" Su Li said, exasperated.
"The day after tomorrow is the weekend, right? Su Li, how about we get a meal and you can meet my friends?"
Wu Sheng asked.
Su Li froze for a second. ’Meet Wu Sheng’s friends?’
She blinked, and it took her a moment to process what he’d said. Suddenly, she felt a little nervous.
’Meeting your partner’s friends is a big deal, second only to meeting their parents.’
"Do you have a lot of friends? How many will be there? Is there anything I should prepare?"
Su Li fired off a series of questions.
"Not many, just three or four," Wu Sheng said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry at her nervousness. "It’s just a casual meal. You don’t need to be nervous, and you don’t have to prepare anything."
Su Li shook her head. "You don’t get it. You say it’s casual, but it’s actually really important. I have to make a good impression. It’s bad if I don’t."
’It’s never a good thing when your partner’s friends don’t like you.’
Wu Sheng looked at Su Li, his eyes glinting. He was still peeling garlic, but he moved closer and rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Don’t be nervous," he said. "They’re just like me. They’ll like you."
Su Li gave a soft "mhm," but she still felt nervous inside.
’How could she not be?’
’She couldn’t help but think about her situation—divorced, with Little Mo in tow.’
’Wu Qihua had accepted her, but Wu Sheng’s friends might not. That’s what worried Su Li more.’
Su Li had worried about this even before she and Wu Sheng got together. She’d been pushing the thought away, but now she had to face it.
’Wu Sheng and Tang Yuanxiao don’t work together, but some of their acquaintances must overlap. If his friends find out about my past relationship with Tang Yuanxiao, it’ll definitely be awkward...’
As Su Li’s thoughts drifted, she grew distracted, and Wu Sheng noticed.
"Be careful you don’t cut your finger. Let me do it."
Wu Sheng took the kitchen knife from her and studied her for a moment. "What are you worried about?"
Su Li paused for a long moment before finally asking the question.
"Wu Sheng... do they know Tang Yuanxiao?"
Wu Sheng’s hand, which was chopping vegetables, paused for an instant. Then, as if nothing were wrong, he replied.
"Some of them probably do. Why?"
Su Li’s body went rigid.