Chapter 781: Excuse Me, He Is Already My Man

The atmosphere froze for another moment.

Cai Xiaotang looked at the disappointment on Father Mu's face, yet not a single ripple stirred in her heart.

The fact that she could come today was already giving him enough face.

Just as Cai Xiaotang was thinking this, she suddenly felt her finger being gently pinched.

She turned her head subconsciously, just in time to meet Li Xiao's gaze, which was looking over with a hint of helplessness.

Cai Xiaotang was stunned for a moment, then immediately looked away, feeling subconsciously guilty.

Tsk...

She had long been used to speaking to the old man like that, forgetting that Li Xiao had said to leave it to him to handle...

Cai Xiaotang subconsciously moved her finger, but her fingertip was pinched again.

This time, Li Xiao used some force, pinching it twice heavily as if to warn her for not being obedient.

It didn't hurt; it was a bit ticklish.

Cai Xiaotang suddenly felt as if the two of them were doing something incredible in secret under the eyes of everyone, and her face couldn't help but flush hot instantly.

Immediately after, she heard Mu Liusu say: "Dad, you and Mom go entertain the other guests first; you can leave Xiao Tang to me."

Upon hearing this, Cai Xiaotang breathed a sigh of relief, but she didn't expect that the next second, Madam Mu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"I thought that after getting married, Xiao Tang would learn to be a bit more steady, but looking at her now, why is she still this unruly? Shouldn't she have made some progress by now?"

Madam Mu held the posture of an elder to the fullest, yet she could not hide the disdain and sarcasm in her tone toward Cai Xiaotang.

Cai Xiaotang's expression stiffened, and she almost retorted subconsciously.

However, her fingers were suddenly gripped tightly by someone again.

The words at the tip of her tongue stopped, and she looked at Li Xiao subconsciously.

Immediately after, she heard him say with a calm smile: "Madam Mu, rules are dead, but people are alive. Besides, we in the Li Family don't have any rules she needs to follow; being a bit spontaneous is nothing to be criticized for."

Madam Mu paused upon hearing this. Since it was hard to say anything to Li Xiao, she could only smile reluctantly and didn't say anything more.

Mu Liusu took the opportunity to lead Li Xiao and Cai Xiaotang to the side.

Once they had walked a bit further away, Cai Xiaotang complained unhappily: "Brother, I told you I wouldn't come, but you insisted. See? I knew it would be like this..."

She had long been used to being picked on by Madam Mu since she was a child, and she wouldn't speak ill of his mother in front of Mu Liusu, but she felt uncomfortable in her heart regardless.

Not to mention that at this moment, she didn't know how many gazes from all directions were sizing her up, making her feel miserable all over.

"After the cake is cut in a while, you can leave. Today is just to go through the motions and make Dad happy."

Mu Liusu frowned slightly, his eyes glancing toward Li Xiao.

Li Xiao understood instantly and hurriedly coaxed her as well: "It won't be long. Once most of the people arrive, it should be time to cut the cake. Then, whether you want to go home or go somewhere else, I will accompany you, okay?"

"Mm..."

Cai Xiaotang answered sullenly; she already wanted to leave right now.

Seeing her agree, Mu Liusu felt a bit more at ease and said to Li Xiao: "I have something to tell you."

Hearing this, Li Xiao looked at Cai Xiaotang subconsciously.

Cai Xiaotang also realized that the two of them probably needed to discuss the "confidentiality" of the Dark Gate, so she immediately and tactfully took the initiative to slip away: "Don't worry about me. You two go ahead and talk if you have something to discuss; I'll just find a place to sit for a while."

As she said this, she voluntarily let go of the hand Li Xiao was holding and turned to walk toward a sofa on the edge not far away.

Li Xiao's palm suddenly felt empty, but his figure did not move.

Only after watching her sit down on the sofa did he turn and leave with Mu Liusu.

The two found a deserted corner.

Mu Liusu leaned against the wall and didn't talk about the Dark Gate first, but instead asked: "You and Xiao Tang... are your feelings very good recently?"

"Why do you ask?" Hearing this, the corners of Li Xiao's lips curled up immediately, and he raised an eyebrow noncommittally.

Mu Liusu gave a light hum: "The two of you haven't let go of each other's hands since you walked through the door."

"Is that so?"

Li Xiao narrowed his eyes and recalled carefully for two seconds, discovering that it seemed... that was indeed the case.

"Cough..."

He coughed lightly and deliberately straightened his face: "When did you become so gossipy? You even stare at other people holding hands?"

Mu Liusu countered calmly: "If you weren't holding my sister's hand, I wouldn't bother looking."

Both fell into silence at the same time.

After a long while—"Let's talk business."

Li Xiao broke the calm first, pretending to change the subject as if nothing had happened.

It was just that the fingers hanging at his side couldn't help but twitch.

His hand... really did feel a bit empty...

On the other side—Cai Xiaotang was sitting on the sofa alone, bored to death.

Too lazy to find where the drinks were, she casually picked up a glass of fruit juice and watched the groups of people chatting in twos and threes not far ahead. Then, her eyes inadvertently swept over Madam Mu and Father Mu, and a faint trace of mockery welled up in her eyes.

That old man really knows how to put on a show for himself... even holding a birthday party at a manor.

If it were at the Mu Family Villa, she might have been a little more interested.

Because that way, she could hide in her mother's room.

As it happened, she hadn't been back for a long time either...

Should she find a time to go back and take a look?

If she went... should she bring Li Xiao along?

Cai Xiaotang's thoughts stirred, her expression suddenly became somewhat subtle, and her eyes couldn't help but wander around...

She looked around but did not see any sign of Li Xiao or Mu Liusu, yet out of the corner of her eye, she noticed someone seemingly walking in her direction.

"Third Madam Li."

A woman's voice approached from afar.

Cai Xiaotang then raised her eyes to look over, discovering that it was actually the Lady He who had bid against her yesterday, accompanied by another woman dressed in a proper manner.

Cai Xiaotang stood up and gave a faint nod to the other party, subconsciously becoming guarded in her heart.

This woman surnamed He had taken the initiative to come over; it certainly couldn't be for anything good!

Could it be that because she didn't win the necklace yesterday, she wanted to come and find fault on purpose?

But Li Xiao... she wasn't lacking in money or jewelry, so there was no need to be so petty, right...

Just as Cai Xiaotang was thinking this, she indeed heard the other party say languidly: "Third Madam Li, you've already put on the jewelry you just acquired yesterday?"

Although the other party deliberately controlled her tone, Cai Xiaotang still detected a hint of displeasure in it.

She couldn't be bothered to pay her any mind and replied directly with a smile: "Lady He is joking; isn't jewelry bought to be worn?"

As soon as she finished speaking—the woman beside Lady He suddenly chimed in with a smile.

"That is true, but the style of this diamond set is better suited for an elegant and mature style and temperament. Third Madam Li is so young, you should wear more delicate pink colors to look good. I saw a set of pink diamonds before that was quite nice; although not expensive, the design was good. I heard many young girls like them. After all... the most expensive isn't always the best, and this thing, sometimes it also picks the person."

The woman was smiling, but the words she spoke were not as friendly as her expression.

Cai Xiaotang raised an eyebrow, and a cold snort echoed in her heart.

Heh.

She hadn't guessed wrong.

These two really were here to find fault!