Chapter 480: Rumors
The social gathering Li Kai Xuan had organized was right next door.
A single screen was all that separated them from Su Li’s party.
Even without trying to listen, they could clearly hear everything said on the other side.
They chatted and laughed like colleagues at any other dinner, creating a lively atmosphere.
But Tang Yuanxiao’s voice was never heard.
It was as if Tang Yuanxiao wasn’t even at the dinner.
No matter who was speaking, no one tried to engage him in conversation; they all automatically ignored him.
Tang Yuanxiao was in no mood to speak. He was wrestling with a storm of emotions.
When Su Li first wanted a divorce, he had warned her how difficult life would be for a divorced woman with a ruined reputation.
He had even resorted to threats to force her to postpone the divorce by six months.
But they had divorced in the end. And to top it all off, Su Li had chosen Wu Sheng, of all people.
Tang Yuanxiao knew he would eventually have to face the situation—the nature of his relationship with Wu Sheng. He had thought about it before, but now that the moment was here, he still felt...
Tang Yuanxiao wanted to leave the dinner. More than that, he didn’t want to see Li Kai Xuan. But he had to remain in his seat.
If he left on the spot, he couldn’t even imagine what people would say.
For Tang Yuanxiao, every second felt like an eternity. On the other side of the screen, Wu Sheng, Su Li, and their friends were also in agony.
The meal had been going perfectly, and the atmosphere had just warmed up when it suddenly plummeted to an all-time low.
Though they were only halfway through the food, the dinner ended abruptly.
Although Zhao Haiyang and the others did their best to lighten the mood, it was completely useless.
Forget Wu Sheng and Su Li; even Zhao Haiyang and the others had lost their appetite for the gathering.
Knowing about the situation was one thing, but encountering it head-on like this was another matter entirely.
They remembered what Wu Sheng had told them and tried their best to act normal around Su Li. But no one was a fool; they couldn’t just will the awkwardness away.
In the end, the get-together came to a hasty conclusion.
After saying goodbye to Zhao Haiyang and their friends, Wu Sheng and Su Li returned to the car.
Once they were in the car, Wu Sheng didn’t start it right away. Instead, he took Su Li’s hand, gently stroking it for a moment before asking...
"Were you shaken?"
Su Li gave a wry smile. "A little. But more than shaken, I’d say..."
’I was disgusted. That smug look on Li Kai Xuan’s face was nauseating.’
’No matter how he tried to hide it, he couldn’t conceal his scheming intentions.’
"Is he always like this?"
Su Li couldn’t help but ask Wu Sheng.
Wu Sheng nodded. "It’s just his personality. You can’t pinpoint anything specific that’s wrong, but he’s just..."
’...frustrating and disgusting.’
’He’s too manipulative.’
What Wu Sheng didn’t say was that he had almost lost control and punched him earlier.
Ordinarily, he might not have cared, but seeing that smug look on Li Kai Xuan’s face and then the paleness of Su Li’s, he was pushed to his limit.
But no matter how unbearable it was, Wu Sheng had managed to hold himself back.
Because if he had really thrown a punch, the situation would have blown up, and the rumors would have become even more widespread and vicious.
Li Kai Xuan was hoping he would lose his composure. But at times like this, it was even more crucial for him to remain calm.
A dangerous glint flashed in Wu Sheng’s eyes before vanishing as he turned to Su Li.
"Su Li, don’t pay them any mind."
Su Li paused for a moment before slowly shaking her head. "I do mind. But it’s not because of me. I’m worried about you..."
"After all, I don’t interact with them much. I don’t care if they say a few things about me, but I’m worried it will make things difficult for you."
She wasn’t the one at the center of this storm—Wu Sheng was.
All her previous anxieties and worries hadn’t been entirely for herself. They had mostly been for Wu Sheng.
’To be the subject of everyone’s gossip, to be stared at with all sorts of judgmental eyes... It would affect Wu Sheng’s reputation, and if it got serious, it could even affect his career.’
’That was what she was most worried about.’
’It was one thing for her to be embarrassed, but she didn’t want Wu Sheng to face that.’
Wu Sheng heard everything Su Li said and understood everything she didn’t.
His expression flickered, and he suddenly reached out, pulling Su Li into his arms.
"You silly girl..."
Su Li closed her eyes. "You’re the silly one."
’She had told him all of this back when he first confessed his feelings, but he wouldn’t listen.’
Wu Sheng tilted his head and kissed her hair. "Su Li, I don’t care."
"I’ve never cared about what outsiders think. As long as my conscience is clear, that’s enough. I knew we’d have to face this sort of thing today."
"As long as you don’t care, then I don’t care. Let them say whatever they want."
Su Li let out a breath. "No matter how nasty their words get?"
"Of course," Wu Sheng replied instantly.
Su Li could tell that Wu Sheng genuinely didn’t care, but her heart still ached for him, and the pain lingered.
Seeing her like this made his own heart ache even more.
"Su Li, I didn’t handle things well enough today. I promise it won’t happen again."
A dangerous glint flashed in Wu Sheng’s eyes. Li Kai Xuan... he would remember what happened tonight.
Su Li couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. "What does this have to do with you? It’s not something you could control."
’What Wu Sheng *could* control was his friends. Well, not control exactly, but their attitudes were largely dependent on his.’
Thinking back on the meeting, Su Li couldn’t help but ask curiously.
"Wu Sheng, did you tell them about my situation? And they just... accepted it?"
’Before they came, Su Li had assumed Wu Sheng would do what he did when they met Wu Qihua: say nothing about her past and let them get to know her first. But that hadn’t been the case.’
"That curious, are you?" Wu Sheng asked, letting her go.
Su Li nodded. "Of course I am."
Wu Sheng patted Su Li’s head. "Su Li, listen. From now on, whether we’re meeting my friends or my relatives, you don’t need to worry about any of this."
"Barring any special circumstances, I promise you’ll never have to put up with anyone’s judgment or have your mood ruined. No matter what, all you have to do is be with me, happy and at ease. I’ll take care of the rest. You don’t have to worry about anything."
’He hoped an incident like today’s would be the last.’
Su Li looked at Wu Sheng seriously. "Did you... Did you threaten them?"
Wu Sheng chuckled at her question. Then, with a perfectly straight face, he nodded. "Mhm. I threatened them."
As Su Li watched him with curiosity, Wu Sheng maintained a solemn expression. "I told them I can’t live without you."
Su Li was speechless. "...Are you auditioning for a TV drama? Besides, isn’t that a line you’re supposed to use on your parents? Usually followed by a hunger strike or something."
Wu Sheng burst out laughing at her response, and Su Li couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
The heavy atmosphere finally lifted. Smiling, Wu Sheng started the car.
Just as Su Li had expected, after brewing overnight, the news that Wu Sheng was dating Tang Yuanxiao’s ex-wife had spread like wildfire by the next day.
Everyone was talking about how Wu Sheng had gotten together with his former subordinate’s wife, and all sorts of stories were flying around.
There was the outrageous theory that Wu Sheng had abused his power, setting his sights on his subordinate’s wife and forcing the man to divorce her so he could swoop in and steal her away.
There were also those who claimed Su Li was a gold-digging vixen who, upon seeing a better catch in Wu Sheng, kicked Tang Yuanxiao to the curb without a second thought.
In any case, there were all kinds of stories. But no matter the version, they all led to the same conclusions.
First, Wu Sheng’s reputation took a hit.
Second, that Su Li wasn’t good enough for Wu Sheng. A man with his status could have any woman he wanted, so why would he bother with a divorcée, and one with a child at that?
Even if Su Li was a college graduate, it couldn’t change the fact that she was a divorcée.
Meanwhile, Tang Yuanxiao had become the object of everyone’s pity.