Chapter 1012: His Coffee, I Drank It

Once certain thoughts take root, they can instantly open up directions one has never considered before.

Li Xiao was suddenly startled, his brow furrowing abruptly.

Under normal circumstances, regardless of the reason he sacrificed himself, whether for public or private matters, or whether the reasons were good or bad, someone should have talked about it, even if just as idle gossip after a meal.

Yet, after so many years, he seemed to have never heard anyone discuss or even mention it.

Laoqi and the others only came to be by his side for various reasons after he took over.

Over these many years, some have betrayed him, and some are no longer here; in the end, only these few remain.

As for the others under their command, some were professional personnel assigned uniformly by "the higher-ups," and others joined only after he took over.

It seems there is not a single person who had any connection to the previous leader.

It is as if he vanished into thin air, as if he never existed at all...

This in itself is already very abnormal.

Li Xiao's gaze flickered for a moment, struggling to grasp that tiny thread of thought in his mind, when he suddenly felt the person beside him move slightly.

"Mm..."

Cai Xiaotang seemed to sense the emotions of the person beside her; she muttered softly, hugged Li Xiao's arm tighter, and pressed her face against it.

Li Xiao's train of thought was instantly interrupted, but he felt no displeasure; instead, he smiled and pinched Cai Xiaotang's cheek, unable to resist lowering his head to kiss her, his mind suddenly recalling that scene on the Ferris wheel.

Cai Xiaotang had once asked him if he was willing to quit the Dark Gate.

Quit... he had indeed never thought about it.

He admitted that at the beginning, he hadn't taken the affairs of the Dark Gate to heart; he had only intended to borrow their hands to uncover the mastermind behind that incident.

But he hadn't expected that he would gradually get used to it, and that doing it would last for so many years.

Perhaps men always have some heroic complex regardless of the time; anyway, if he didn't do these things, someone else would have to...

However, it seems he really has thoughts of wavering now.

Because of the person beside him.

He does not want to see her get dragged into unknown dangers because of him at any moment.

But is it really that easy to quit?

The only thing he can do now is to protect her well...

Li Xiao lowered his eyes to look at Cai Xiaotang, who was sleeping soundly in his arms, curled his lips slightly, held her tighter, and closed his eyes.

No matter what, he will not let her get hurt again.

The next day—Cai Xiaotang woke up and found that the space beside her was empty.

Thinking of how that person usually wouldn't get up even after waking, but would stick to her like glue, Cai Xiaotang couldn't help but find it a bit strange.

It seems he has finally had enough of "sticking" to her?

Cai Xiaotang thought this, so she simply got up, tidied herself, and walked unhurriedly out of the bedroom, intending to find him in the study upstairs.

But she didn't expect that as soon as she got close, she would hear Luo Wanwan's voice coming from inside!

"Li Xiao, this is the coffee I just brewed; shall I just leave it here for you?"

She was still gentle and soft, her voice so mild it seemed like it could drip water.

Cai Xiaotang's footsteps paused, and she simply stood a few steps away from the study door, waiting to hear how Li Xiao would answer.

She had expected Li Xiao to say a cold "thank you" at most.

But she didn't expect to hear—"No need, I slept well last night and don't need coffee to stay alert. If I need any, I'd rather drink what Xiao Tang brews herself."

Li Xiao had actually refused her directly and bluntly!

In the end, he didn't forget to bring Cai Xiaotang out to show off their affection while emphasizing her position in his heart, as if reminding Luo Wanwan of something.

The room went silent instantly.

One could imagine that Luo Wanwan's expression at this moment must not have looked good.

"Pfft..."

Cai Xiaotang finally couldn't help but laugh softly, a nonexistent tail seemingly wagging high behind her.

Immediately after, she heard Luo Wanwan's voice continue from inside the room.

"Li Xiao... I know you and Xiao Tang have a good relationship, I don't mean anything else, I just know you are used to having a cup of coffee in the morning, and Xiao Tang is lazy and likes to sleep, so she surely hasn't gotten up yet, so..."

"It doesn't matter, I can wait for her to get up."

Li Xiao interrupted Luo Wanwan directly this time and added: "You are a guest staying here, and besides, you are moving out soon; actually, you don't need to do anything, just leave it to others."

His words were polite, but his tone was extremely distant, deliberately emphasizing "guest" and "moving out soon."

Luo Wanwan's fingers holding the tray tightened abruptly; Li Xiao's words made her chest feel so stifled she could almost vomit blood.

Does Li Xiao want to distance himself from her that much?

Clearly, he wasn't like this when she first returned!

It must be that gossip-monger Cai Xiaotang who whispered something in his ear!

Luo Wanwan stood there unwillingly, hesitating and wanting to say something more.

Outside the room—Cai Xiaotang was already too lazy to keep listening.

She curled her lips, deliberately took two steps forward, and made a loud noise.

Then she pushed open the door to the study directly.

"Didn't I just get up?"

She didn't shy away at all from the fact that she had just heard the two of them talking.

As she spoke, she walked straight to Li Xiao's side, sat down on the armrest of his chair, and picked up the cup of coffee in front of him.

Li Xiao was startled; realizing what she wanted to do, a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes, and his hand hurriedly wrapped around her waist to prevent her from falling.

Immediately after—"This coffee smells so fragrant, may I have a taste?"

Cai Xiaotang looked at Luo Wanwan with a beaming smile.

Luo Wanwan: "..."

This bitch is doing it on purpose!

"Of course you can, there's no need to be so polite."

Even though she had already ground her teeth in frustration, Luo Wanwan still replied with a smile.

Li Xiao did not stop her either; he simply rested his chin on one hand, his gaze fixed on Cai Xiaotang the entire time.

No.

It should be said that from the moment Cai Xiaotang entered, his eyes had not looked anywhere else.

Cai Xiaotang unhurriedly picked up the cup and took a sip of coffee.

The ring on her ring finger also happened to flash slightly at this moment, casting a crystalline glint.

Luo Wanwan's pupils shrank violently, and she looked at Li Xiao's finger almost subconsciously.

Immediately after, she saw the ring on his finger, which was of a similar style to the one on Cai Xiaotang's finger—clearly a pair of couple's rings—and her heart tightened fiercely.

It felt as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her brain in an instant, and she wished she could charge up right now and finish off Cai Xiaotang with her own hands.

Why...

Why is it that Cai Xiaotang can so easily obtain everything she wants!

Then what was the point of her going to such great lengths to return to Li Xiao's side?

A joke?

"Clink."

The sound of Cai Xiaotang placing the cup back in its original spot interrupted Luo Wanwan's train of thought.

The next second—she smiled at Luo Wanwan, a flash of cunning suddenly appearing in the depths of her eyes.

All this time, this Luo Wanwan has liked to pretend to be gentle, considerate, and understanding in front of Li Xiao.

How about...