Chapter 379: Li Xian
Li Xian wasn’t in uniform. He wore a white shirt and gray trousers.
On his feet was a pair of common yellow rubber-soled shoes.
He was on the leaner side. Lost in a crowd, you would probably never guess who he was.
At first glance, he looked like an ordinary man.
At Li Xian’s age, compared to younger men like Wu Sheng whose auras were still palpable, he had long since learned to rein in his presence at will.
Usually, he just seemed like an ordinary old man, but anyone who dared to underestimate him would have to be blind.
Of course, most people wouldn’t dare to look down on him anyway.
"You must be Su Li?"
Li Xian opened the door. His eyes, not the least bit clouded but sharp and wise, as if they could see through anything, glanced at Su Li as he asked in a gentle voice.
Su Li stared blankly. "Yes."
Li Xian turned to close the door, then looked up and walked toward Su Li. "He’s not here?"
He was asking about Wu Sheng.
"He went to get food." Su Li was still a bit stunned.
Li Xian had appeared before her at a completely unexpected time.
His manner of speaking was just as unexpected—a casual, conversational tone that left her feeling dazed.
This Li Xian, who was completely different from Ye Xilan, made Su Li doubt his identity.
"I’m Li Xian." As if sensing her confusion, Li Xian introduced himself, placing the bag of fruit he was carrying on the bedside table.
"I bought some fruit. I didn’t know what you like, so I just got a little bit of everything."
"Thank you." Su Li snapped back to her senses and tried to throw off the covers to get out of bed, but Li Xian stopped her.
"Just stay in bed. Don’t get up."
Li Xian studied Su Li for a moment. "Your gaze is clear. You’re a good kid."
He smiled faintly. "From the look on your face, I imagine you know who I am."
Su Li hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes."
Li Xian sat down in the chair by the bed. "I’m sorry you had to witness such a farce."
Su Li shook her head. "You came here because...?"
’Is there something you need?’
Li Xian took a breath. "I came here today to apologize."
"What my wife did... I am truly sorry."
Li Xian had come to apologize alone, arriving at the hospital right after work.
Su Li never expected Li Xian to come and apologize, especially on Ye Xilan’s behalf. She was stunned for a moment.
Honestly, she was truly surprised.
Surprised that Li Xian would come to see her, surprised that he was this kind of person. After her experience with Ye Xilan, her impression of him hadn’t been very good.
And most surprising of all was that he had actually come to apologize.
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
Li Xian seemed to understand the complex mix of surprise in her heart.
"An apology is not enough, I know, but I still wanted to say it to you in person. From now on, I will keep an eye on my wife and do my best to stop her from acting so impulsively again."
Li Xian’s gaze as he looked at Su Li was very complex.
So complex that Su Li couldn’t decipher it.
Unsettled by his stare, Su Li thought for a moment before speaking.
"As you said, an apology is not enough. And I can’t just say ’it’s okay’ because you’ve apologized. To be honest, your wife has caused me a great deal of trouble."
Su Li looked up at Li Xian seriously. "It’s been trouble for me, and it’s been trouble for Wu Sheng and the others. Since you don’t approve of your wife’s actions either, I hope you can truly keep her in check from now on."
Su Li shook her head. "Honestly, I simply cannot condone what she did."
Li Xian nodded. "I know. She was in the wrong."
A shadow flickered in Li Xian’s eyes. Of course he knew Ye Xilan was in the wrong. He had tried to stop her many times.
But sometimes, lapses were inevitable. Besides, he couldn’t be too harsh with her.
Half the reason Ye Xilan had become like this was because of him. He...
Just as Li Xian looked up to say something, the hospital room door opened.
"You must have been waiting a while, Su Li—"
Wu Sheng’s words died in his throat when he saw who was in the room.
The smile on his face vanished, replaced by an icy defensiveness.
He shut the door and stood by the entrance, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
Li Xian stood up and looked back at him.
The father and son stared at each other from a distance.
Neither of them moved for a long moment.
Li Xian’s gaze was calm, while a complex mix of surprise, disbelief, and anger flashed in Wu Sheng’s eyes.
Li Xian was the first to recover. He turned back to Su Li.
"I’ll be going now. I’m sorry."
He gave Su Li a deep look, a flicker of affection in his eyes.
’This is the girl Wu Sheng loves. The woman he has chosen as his wife.’
’In the future, she might be his daughter-in-law...’
’The daughter-in-law whose ceremonial tea he could never accept.’
Li Xian nodded to Su Li, then looked up at Wu Sheng, who was now walking over.
"What are you doing here?" Wu Sheng’s eyes were guarded, his question a silent accusation.
Li Xian gave Wu Sheng a deep look, reined in his emotions, and lowered his gaze as he walked slowly past him.
’Why was he here?’
’He hadn’t just come to apologize; he had also wanted to see Su Li.’
’To see Su Li, his possible future daughter-in-law.’
’To see if the girl was okay, to see what kind of person she was, to see what she looked like...’
’Just one look, and he could be at ease.’
’Just one look, so he wouldn’t fail to recognize her if they passed on the street one day.’
As he brushed past Wu Sheng, a flash of warmth crossed Li Xian’s eyes.
’Being lucky enough to run into Wu Sheng, to get a good look at him—that was an unexpected bonus.’
’It wasn’t like before, catching a glimpse from afar in a crowd or stealing a secret glance. This time, it was open and up close—so close he could even see the mole on the side of his face. That was good.’
Li Xian walked slowly to the door, pushed it open, and before turning to close it, he took one last look inside the room.
Su Li and Wu Sheng were both watching him go.
Li Xian closed the door from the outside, a faint smile flashing across his lips.
’There... another look, wasn’t it?’
He looked up, let out a breath, and walked forward with his hands behind his back.
’He’s looking well, and his taste is good. The girl is nice. I can rest a little easier now.’
Inside the room, Wu Sheng stared quietly at the closed door.
After a few seconds, Wu Sheng snapped out of his daze. "Time to eat."
He put the food he’d bought on the bedside table, his gaze sweeping over the fruit.
"Where did this come from?" he asked, trying to make casual small talk. "Oh, there are grapes. I used to love these when I was a kid..."
As he spoke, the words suddenly caught in his throat.
Su Li didn’t have to say a word. Wu Sheng knew where the fruit had come from.
Li Xian had brought the fruit.
He had bought the grapes inside, too. The bag had a bit of everything, but the grapes were right on top.
The only fruit Li Xian had ever seen Wu Sheng eat and knew he liked was grapes.
He didn’t know that Wu Sheng was mostly indifferent to grapes now...
Li Xian had said he didn’t know what Su Li liked, so he bought a little of everything. That was the truth.
But the grapes—the fact that there were more of them than any other fruit—that wasn’t a random choice.
He knew Wu Sheng and Su Li were together, so he bought extra of the fruit Wu Sheng liked.
He was just hoping Wu Sheng would get to eat some.
Wu Sheng stared at the grapes for a moment, then abruptly stood up.
"I’ll be right back, Su Li."
He rushed out like a gust of wind.
Su Li watched him go, letting out a breath without saying anything.
Wu Sheng opened the door, bolted from the room, and flew down the stairs, his footsteps frantic.
Then, on the ground floor, he screeched to a halt.
Li Xian was walking toward the hospital exit, his pace unhurried.
After a few steps, as if sensing something, he suddenly turned around.
Wu Sheng’s hands clenched into fists. He wanted to look away, but it was too late.