Chapter 1011: Li Xiao's Past

"Later, other people found out about the relationship between the two of us and wanted to give him some benefits, entrusting him to find me and use the Li Corporation's connections to handle some matters."

"He didn't agree?"

Cai Xiaotang had already guessed the outcome.

Li Xiao nodded.

"With his personality, of course he wouldn't agree. If he had really agreed, the two of us couldn't possibly be friends. Actually, things like this..."

"At the time, it wasn't just once or twice. I had always known, but I also knew clearly that he couldn't possibly do it, and even less likely would he take those people's benefits, so I never asked about it. But... the last time, the people who came to him... because they were rejected by him, they were ashamed into anger and had people beat him severely, and then injected him with..."

Li Xiao stopped abruptly and did not continue speaking.

Cai Xiaotang also reacted instantly, her eyes widening slightly.

She had always known that Li Xiao was someone who walked on the edge of danger.

But hearing this with her own ears, she still couldn't help but feel shocked.

After a long pause, Li Xiao continued speaking.

"I didn't notice his abnormality at first. By the time I truly discovered it, he had already... become someone I didn't recognize. In the end, I could only forcibly send him to a drug rehabilitation center. He went through withdrawal very successfully inside, but during that time, I never contacted him again. After he came out of the rehab center, he didn't look for me either, but moved to another city to live."

"

"This..."

Cai Xiaotang never expected it to be such an outcome, and her mood was somewhat complicated for a moment.

At this moment, she also suddenly realized something.

She had been by Li Xiao's side for so long.

Except for Laoqi and a few confidants, she seemed to have never seen any real "friends" around him.

He seemed to always be a lone wolf, and even the entire Li Family didn't know what he was doing.

Even Li Beijue only found out recently.

Cai Xiaotang suddenly couldn't help but feel a bit heartbroken.

Immediately after, she heard Li Xiao continue.

"I had people follow him for a while, and after confirming that he was living well in another city, I stopped monitoring him. But this matter, I didn't want to just let it go. If he hadn't known me, his life wouldn't have suffered such a blow, so I kept having people investigate in secret. That was also when I met the people above."

Cai Xiaotang's gaze flickered for a moment, and she hurriedly focused her attention.

"At that time..."

Li Xiao recalled for two seconds before continuing.

"At that time, my abilities were limited, and I encountered some dangers, but in the end, I turned danger into safety. It just so happened that the manager of the Dark Gate at the time also... had some problems, so I logically accepted the other party's suggestion, pretending to go abroad to clear my head, but in reality, I went to receive secret special training, and then took over the Dark Gate. That's about it."

"It's that simple?"

Cai Xiaotang was still prepared to listen to him tell a thrilling story; she didn't expect it to be finished in just a few words.

"Yeah, it's that simple."

Li Xiao nodded as a matter of course, and then asked back with amusement: "What else did you think?"

"Hmm... it's a bit different from what I imagined. But this story sounds a bit like those wuxia novels where someone accidentally falls into a mountain cave, meets a peerless master, and is taught a lifetime of ultimate skills..."

Cai Xiaotang said thoughtfully.

As soon as she finished speaking, her forehead was gently tapped by someone.

"Peerless masters are all unpaid."

A trace of coldness flashed in Li Xiao's eyes as he spoke faintly: "He just took a fancy to the fact that I had the Li Family's background and resources, and that I happened to be investigating these things, which is why I became a suitable candidate."

Cai Xiaotang: "..."

Is it this complicated?

"But anyway, resources are mutual, and I wanted to find out the people behind those things at the time, so I just agreed directly."

"

Li Xiao said again.

"Then was it cleared up later?"

Cai Xiaotang hurriedly asked.

"Of course."

Li Xiao curled his lips: "I found out everything about the people who participated in that incident at the time, as well as their supply channels. But... the water behind such things is too deep; how could it be worry-free just by solving one or two people?"

"That's true..."

Cai Xiaotang nodded, and thinking of the large and small scars left on his body, she felt even more heartbroken.

With a stir of her heart, she suddenly wanted to hug Li Xiao.

But before she could act, Li Xiao suddenly changed the subject: "However, maybe it's because I'm too excellent! So I've sat in this position for so many years, and no one has been able to squeeze me out!"

His tone returned to the state that always made Cai Xiaotang want to beat him up the moment she heard it.

Cai Xiaotang: "..."

Fine.

No need to hug.

This guy doesn't need comfort at all!

However...

Such a dangerous thing, if only he could really quit one day...

Cai Xiaotang thought silently, but did not speak.

Anyway, she had already decided that no matter what, she would face everything with him.

Late at night—perhaps because the topic was a bit heavy, Cai Xiaotang also began to feel a bit preoccupied, and after eating dinner, she curled back into bed.

"Sleepy?"

Li Xiao saw that she had already closed her eyes as soon as he entered the room, and he subconsciously lightened his footsteps.

Cai Xiaotang did not speak.

Yet when she felt him lying down beside her, she took the initiative to turn over and wrap her arms around his waist.

"Hm? So proactive today?"

Li Xiao was slightly stunned.

"I just wanted to hug you, that's all! Don't think anything else! Go to sleep!"

Cai Xiaotang replied to him with her eyes closed, though she still felt somewhat uncomfortable inside.

Ever since she finished listening to those words from Li Xiao, she couldn't help but feel a bit heartbroken.

She still wanted to hold him.

The room was quiet for a moment.

Li Xiao seemed to understand her meaning from this action and let out a silent laugh.

Turning to pull the quilt up for her, he casually extinguished the light to the side and softly whispered goodnight to her.

Two hours later—Cai Xiaotang was sleeping soundly while hugging Li Xiao's arm.

Her leg was also draped directly over his body.

Li Xiao, however, had no sleepiness at all.

Yet in this quiet environment, with only the sound of Cai Xiaotang's shallow breathing surrounding his ears, he unexpectedly felt a strange sense of peace in his heart, and the chaotic thoughts from the day gradually became clear.

The unusual rest order...

And the inexplicable training of new recruits.

There must be a problem with this.

He had been in charge of the Dark Gate for so many years... his intuition usually didn't go wrong.

Li Xiao's eyes flickered for a moment; he felt a strange premonition in his heart, and the words of Bai Guo suddenly flashed violently through his mind!

There was one thing.

He hadn't told Cai Xiaotang the details.

That was that when he took over, the leader of the Dark Gate at the time hadn't had a problem, but had died in an accident.

That was why everything after that had gone so smoothly for him.

It was as if everything had been arranged.

But...

Regarding the cause of that person's death, no one knew.

And very few people mentioned it.

But what if... he hadn't died in an accident?