Chapter 376: Angering the Third Madam of the Li Family

"It's early in the morning, what is there to do?"

Cai Xiaotang pulled the bedroom door open and, sure enough, saw Li Xiao standing outside, already dressed neatly.

"You call this early? It's already eleven-thirty in the morning."

As Li Xiao spoke, he shook something that looked like an invitation in his hand.

"What is that?" Cai Xiaotang was indeed subconsciously drawn to the object in his hand.

Immediately after, she saw him pass the invitation directly before her eyes.

"It was delivered this morning, for you. Take a look."

Li Xiao's tone carried a smile, along with a hint of an inexplicable, spectator-like quality.

Cai Xiaotang curled her lip, then quickly reached out and opened the invitation.

She then frowned abruptly: "Afternoon tea party? What is this? Does this kind of thing really require a special invitation?"

"I also think it's unnecessary." Li Xiao was amused by her reaction as expected, and then continued.

"This isn't an ordinary afternoon tea party; it's just... some young madams from families related to the Li Family by blood or marriage, who gather at a fixed time to drink tea and chat. It's considered... a type of social circle."

"Tsk... what a hassle. Places full of women are the most exhausting. What's the point of socializing? I'm not going."

Cai Xiaotang refused without a second thought and stuffed the invitation back into Li Xiao's arms.

Not expecting her to refuse so decisively, Li Xiao looked surprised for a moment, yet he also felt it was entirely within his expectations.

Just as he was about to try and persuade her again, he heard Cai Xiaotang continue: "Please help me make an excuse, just say... just say I really wanted to go to this tea party, but unfortunately, I'm feeling unwell..."

"They aren't fools." Li Xiao couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time upon hearing this.

He then suddenly changed the subject: "Aren't you bored? Just go and have some fun. You can save the sick excuse for next time; treat this as just handling the situation..."

"Not going." Cai Xiaotang still refused.

Li Xiao didn't want her to keep cooped up at home saying she was bored, so he changed his strategy: "If that's the case... I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle... What if someone says you have a bad temper and it reaches the old man's ears..."

Li Xiao deliberately left his sentence unfinished, waiting for Cai Xiaotang's reaction.

Cai Xiaotang's expression changed this time, and her demeanor softened slightly.

She pondered for two seconds, then finally waved her hand speechlessly and agreed: "Got it! Got it! I'll go, alright!"

As she spoke, she turned and quickly walked into the walk-in closet.

Li Xiao watched her back with amusement, the corners of his mouth unable to help but curl up.

Actually, whether or not she went to this afternoon tea party wasn't a big deal...

He just didn't want her to be too bored, but the way she clearly didn't want to go yet felt forced to was truly too interesting...

He wondered what kind of clothes she would choose?

Li Xiao raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling an inexplicable anticipation for Cai Xiaotang, who would soon walk out of the walk-in closet.

Twenty minutes later, a light sound came from the door of the walk-in closet.

Li Xiao had been somewhat distracted, and when he subconsciously looked up, he saw...

Cai Xiaotang had chosen a silver-gray, mid-length skirt with tassels.

The dress accentuated her figure, highlighting her slender waist and making her appear unexpectedly more mature and quiet.

Her hair, which had been casually tied up, now fell over her shoulders, making her entire aura completely different from before.

"Looking at it this way... it seems a bit like a young lady from a prominent family..." Li Xiao stroked his chin and gave his assessment.

"I am one!" Cai Xiaotang retorted sharply, sitting down in front of the vanity mirror to start styling herself.

It didn't take long before she was all set.

"That's it?"

Li Xiao, who had watched the whole process, asked at the right moment, his tone filled with undisguised surprise.

It was his first time seeing a woman put on makeup so quickly!

Shouldn't it normally take an hour or two?

Cai Xiaotang gave a light huff, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and stood up unhurriedly, her tone disdainful yet confident: "I have a good foundation, I don't need to wear such heavy makeup! Besides, it's just an ordinary tea party, not an awards ceremony..."

"Hmm... I can't deny that..." Li Xiao nodded in rare, full agreement.

Cai Xiaotang was stunned, however, and gave him a very wary look.

What is this guy doing, suddenly agreeing with her!

It's weird... he actually agreed with her self-praise just now!

He must be up to no good!

After this matter is over, she must get a divorce as soon as possible!

In the afternoon—

After finishing her lunch, Cai Xiaotang got directly into the car that Li Xiao had specially arranged.

She looked out the window with little interest, having no expectations for this so-called "tea party."

Not long after, she saw a Garden Villa appear before her eyes.

Cai Xiaotang stepped out of the car and calmly glanced at the other cars parked outside; one look told her they were all very expensive.

"You must be Third Madam, right? Please, come in quickly, our Madam has been waiting for you for a long time."

An elderly man dressed in an elegant manner appeared at the villa entrance; he seemed to be the butler here.

Cai Xiaotang nodded and followed the old man inside.

She remembered... this family was a distant relative of the Li Family, surnamed Ji, so... the person she was about to meet was Madam Ji...

Cai Xiaotang recited this in her heart, followed the butler through the corridor, and arrived at a garden.

Five or six women were already seated at the round table in the center.

Some of them looked to be about the same age as Cai Xiaotang, while others were a bit older than her.

Yet every single one of them looked high and mighty, their clothes and accessories practically having the four characters for "graceful and luxurious" carved onto their bodies.

"Oh my! Third Madam Li is here!"

One of the women sitting in the main seat stood up, seemingly enthusiastically pulling Cai Xiaotang's hand to sit down beside her.

The others just smiled, sized Cai Xiaotang up without a trace of emotion, and then quickly exchanged a glance.

"Third Madam Li, since you're here, there's no need to be polite; from now on, we are all friends..."

The one who spoke first was Madam Ji, who poured a cup of tea for Cai Xiaotang as she spoke.

"Thank you." Cai Xiaotang thanked her politely, smiled at the group, and then continued, "Everyone can just call me Xiao Tang."

No sooner had her voice fallen than someone nearby suddenly laughed out loud.

"Third Madam Li really has no airs; it's no wonder, having stayed outside for so long."

A woman of similar age to Cai Xiaotang covered her mouth and laughed, and after she finished, the others followed suit.

A dark glint flashed through Cai Xiaotang's eyes, and she felt inexplicably uncomfortable deep down.

Outside?

It seems they are very clear about the messy affairs of her family...

This tea party does not seem as simple as she had previously thought...