Chapter 1040: Quietly Accompanying Him

The two of them stood at the doorway, neither speaking first.

Cai Xiaotang did not know what Li Xiao was thinking, but she could feel a vast and heavy sorrow emanating from him.

The immense silence in the room seemed ready to swallow the two people standing at the door.

After a long while—

Cai Xiaotang suddenly had an idea; she grabbed Li Xiao's hand and turned to lead him out the door.

"Xiao Tang?"

Li Xiao finally came back to his senses, his tone somewhat puzzled.

Cai Xiaotang said nothing, led him straight to the car, and started the engine without a word.

Li Xiao was even more confused and hurriedly asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"Home."

Cai Xiaotang threw out only those two words and offered no further explanation.

Li Xiao was also stunned; it was as if he suddenly understood something, and he did not continue to ask.

More than ten minutes later, the car stopped in front of a high-end apartment building.

Cai Xiaotang pulled Li Xiao out of the car, went straight to the convenience store downstairs, bought a pile of things, and then took him upstairs.

There was no conversation along the way until they reached the door of her home, opened it, and looked at the warm-toned furniture and decorations filling the room; only then did Li Xiao suddenly chuckle.

"What are you laughing at?"

Cai Xiaotang was particularly sensitive to his mood, and after speaking, she felt a bit embarrassed and added, "Although my place is a bit smaller than the villa, at least it has everything one needs. I'm sorry to have you settle for this."

She was truly not very good at comforting people, and she knew that saying anything now would be useless, so she could only come up with this method.

As long as he wasn't staying in that empty villa, Li Xiao would feel at least a little better, right?

Just as Cai Xiaotang was thinking this, she immediately heard—

"It's not settling."

Li Xiao softly uttered these three words, took the initiative to pull her inside, and after finishing, his gaze swept around the room before he continued, "Besides, isn't your home my home?"

His tone was no longer teasing as it had been before; instead, it was somewhat moved.

He had already felt her thoughtfulness.

As their eyes met, Cai Xiaotang suddenly felt a bit shy and hurriedly pushed his shoulder, urging him, "Um... you go take a shower first, tidy up a bit. You can use anything in the bathroom. I'll go make you something to eat..."

"Okay."

Li Xiao nodded without refusal, and watching Cai Xiaotang enter the kitchen, he walked toward the bathroom.

The size of this bathroom naturally could not compare to the one in the villa.

Yet, the small space was arranged in an orderly fashion.

The light blue towels and matching bath towels, paired with various colorful bottles and jars set together, along with the warm yellow light, made one feel exceptionally at ease.

Li Xiao tossed his clothes aside, turned on the showerhead, and let the hot water hit the wounds on his back. The dense, stinging pain pricked his sensitive nerves again and again, yet he had no reaction; his eyes, on the contrary, became increasingly clear.

Now, only the comatose Laoqi remained by his side.

It wasn't that he hadn't thought about this day.

Everyone around him, including himself, actually had this psychological preparation.

It was just... no one expected that death would arrive in such a way.

He hardly dared to think about what kind of mood Lao Wu was in when he discovered he had been deceived by Luo Wanwan.

Now, everything had settled.

And everything could never go back...

The only thing he could do was to handle their funeral arrangements well.

And... his own affairs.

Li Xiao closed his eyes and let the darkness submerge him.

Half an hour later—

He walked out of the bathroom, covered in damp heat.

The sound of the range hood came from the kitchen; Cai Xiaotang seemed to still be busy with something in there.

Li Xiao softened his footsteps and walked over cautiously.

Turning the corner of the wall, he saw Cai Xiaotang wearing an apron, focused on the pot on the stove.

She seemed to be cooking noodles, stirring around the edge of the pot with chopsticks; seemingly unsure if they were cooked, she picked one up to taste.

Then she immediately bent over and spat it into the trash can nearby, completely unaware that she had been watched by someone for a long time.

Li Xiao looked at her, and the corners of his lips couldn't help but curl into a small arc.

Hmm, it looked like they weren't cooked.

However, as long as it was cooked by her, he could accept it.

He didn't want to just stand there watching anymore, so he finally couldn't help but walk over and quietly wrap his arms from behind around the person still focused on the pot.

"Ah!"

Cai Xiaotang was startled by him, and once she realized it was him, she leaned into Li Xiao's embrace and looked up at him.

"You're done washing? Why didn't you blow-dry your hair?"

Water was still dripping from the tips of his hair; Cai Xiaotang said this and subconsciously reached out to catch it.

"Didn't want to."

Li Xiao took the opportunity to rest his chin on her shoulder, his tall frame appearing inexplicably fragile at this moment, as if all his weight and reliance were on the person in his arms.

He then asked softly, "What good food are you making?"

"Cooking noodles."

Cai Xiaotang said this, hurriedly picking up her chopsticks to stir the soup base again, and said thoughtfully, "You must have been these past two days..."

She stopped halfway through her sentence, suddenly stuck.

Not wanting to bring up the sad events of these past two days again, she hurriedly changed the subject, saying, "This is my own unique creation; I guarantee that after you eat it, you'll be able to have a wonderful sleep!"

"So magical? Then I shall wait and see..."

Li Xiao chuckled, following her lead, and the hand resting on her waist tightened its hold, and then he never let go.

Cai Xiaotang finished cooking the noodles and turned to get bowls and chopsticks, with Li Xiao remaining within a step of her the entire time.

Regarding this "clingy" behavior of his, Cai Xiaotang actually felt a sense of relief.

As long as he was still willing to cling to her, that was fine.

If he really stayed by himself all the time, not saying a word, she would instead not know what to do.

"Let's eat; once you're full, go to sleep."

Cai Xiaotang pushed the bowls and chopsticks in his direction.

"Mm."

Li Xiao responded, naturally picking up the chopsticks and starting to eat.

There was no hesitation, nor was he unable to swallow his food; it seemed no different from usual.

But Cai Xiaotang knew that he was just hiding all his sorrow, not wanting to make her worry.

The bowl of noodles was soon empty.

Cai Xiaotang quickly finished hers as well, then tossed the bowls and chopsticks into the sink and pulled Li Xiao off to rest.

Pressing him down onto her large bed, she "boldly" opened her arms and, just as Li Xiao usually held her, she circled Li Xiao into her embrace.

"Hm?"

Li Xiao looked up at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Cai Xiaotang reached out directly to cover his eyes, her tone somewhat commanding: "Close your eyes, sleep, and you are not allowed to think about anything!"

"Alright."

Li Xiao agreed submissively, truly obeying and closing his eyes obediently.

He was already exhausted.

Only by staying by Cai Xiaotang's side like this could his heart find some peace.

At the very least.

He still had her.

Although she had taken a risk, she was still safely by his side at this moment.

Soon, Li Xiao fell into a deep sleep.

Cai Xiaotang listened to his breathing gradually become steady, and only then did she breathe a slight sigh of relief.

Yet, deep in her heart, there was a faint worry.

Lao Wu and the others were all gone...

What would Li Xiao do next?