Chapter 873: Will He Ask Her to Stay?

Unexpectedly encountering someone she hadn't been in contact with for almost an entire day at a time like this, the expression on Cai Xiaotang's face instantly became somewhat unnatural.

Her gaze followed Li Xiao almost subconsciously.

Immediately after, she saw that he hadn't noticed her, but was instead sitting at the water bar downstairs with Li Beijue.

Cai Xiaotang withdrew her gaze, her mood somewhat complicated.

How could there be such a coincidence?

Could it be that...

She looked hesitantly at Jiang Baobao, who was sitting opposite her, her expression questioning.

Seeing that she had discovered it, Jiang Baobao couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.

Yet she still covered it up by saying, "I just told Li Beijue we were at the hot springs; I didn't expect him to come over with Li Xiao..."

As Jiang Baobao spoke, without waiting for Cai Xiaotang to respond, she suddenly changed the subject: "Xiao Tang, since we've bumped into each other so coincidentally, do you want to... with Li Xiao..."

"No."

Cai Xiaotang knew what Jiang Baobao was going to say just from hearing the first half of the sentence, and she refused instantly without a second thought.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Baobao looked at her with a sense of helplessness.

Cai Xiaotang's mind, however, was incredibly clear at this moment.

"Baobao, you said let's talk, but what else is there for us to talk about? My only requirement was for Luo Wanwan to leave, and Li Xiao has already refused and given his reasons. Then... if we keep talking, other than arguing, there probably won't be anything else. I don't want to make things that ugly, so let's just leave it at that. We have nothing left to say."

"Are you sure?"

Jiang Baobao knew that there was a fair amount of stubbornness in what she said.

Cai Xiaotang nodded with incomparable firmness.

"I'm sure, because... if Li Xiao wanted to make peace with me, he should know that Luo Wanwan must leave, but he hasn't looked for me until now, which means he has his own decision. And... I said those things yesterday..."

Cai Xiaotang calmly analyzed the situation between the two of them, as if she were talking about people who had nothing to do with her.

Anyway, isn't the worst-case scenario just the two of them separating?

She had already thought it through.

There was nothing unacceptable about this.

It's just that she didn't know how long it would take to walk out of this relationship...

Fortunately.

She hadn't yet had the chance to put on his ring.

Otherwise, she feared she would have been left with a brand in her heart for a lifetime.

Cai Xiaotang took a deep breath, unwilling to think about it anymore, and suddenly grabbed her chopsticks and ate a large piece of sushi.

"Let's eat. After we're done, we'll go back and rest. I'm suddenly so sleepy."

She deliberately changed the subject, not wanting to talk about this matter anymore.

Jiang Baobao had no choice but to stop bringing it up.

The two chatted for a while longer and finished off most of the things on the table before planning to leave.

But when they reached the top of the stairs, Cai Xiaotang suddenly stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing her suddenly standing still, Jiang Baobao was somewhat puzzled.

Cai Xiaotang pursed her lips slightly and didn't speak.

The restaurant here was connected to the water bar downstairs.

There was only one shared staircase for going up and down.

When she got up just now, she had glanced downstairs.

Li Beijue and Li Xiao hadn't left yet.

That meant if she went down now, she would definitely be seen by Li Xiao.

Should she speak?

Or should she still say nothing and pretend she hadn't seen them?

Cai Xiaotang felt a bit conflicted inside.

Jiang Baobao also suddenly realized something, and thinking of Cai Xiaotang's words just now, she suggested in a low voice: "Xiao Tang, if you really don't want to see Li Xiao, should I send a message to Li Beijue now and ask him to leave with Li Xiao first?"

"No need."

Cai Xiaotang refused instantly, feeling a bit bitter inside.

This was the Li Family's territory.

She didn't have the audacity to "chase away" two members of the Li Family at once.

If they bumped into each other, then so be it.

Anyway, even if the two of them were separated, as long as she and Baobao were still friends, there would always be occasions where she would see Li Xiao.

At worst, she could just treat this as practice in advance.

She didn't need to hide from him.

"Baobao, let's go."

Cai Xiaotang steeled herself mentally and pulled Jiang Baobao to continue walking downstairs.

Arriving at the first floor, the two continued walking toward the exit of the water bar.

The place wasn't big or small, but it was very quiet.

The sound of the two walking caused all the guests inside to look over subconsciously.

Li Beijue and Li Xiao were naturally no exception.

"Baobao."

As soon as Li Beijue saw Jiang Baobao, he stood up and walked toward the two of them.

Li Xiao, however, remained seated in his original spot, his gaze fixed intently on Cai Xiaotang.

She looked as if she were very tired...

There were also faint dark circles under her eyes.

Did she not sleep well last night?

Li Xiao could not help but clench his fingers slightly, his heart aching in waves.

He opened his mouth, subconsciously wanting to express his concern.

But before the words could leave his lips, he thought of Cai Xiaotang's questioning gaze and the things she had said.

Those words were like a thorn, piercing his heart.

He didn't mind how she usually joked with him without restraint.

But...

At the thought that she did not believe him, and had never believed him, he felt an unprecedented sadness spreading through his heart.

There was even a sense of unwillingness.

Cai Xiaotang felt his gaze upon her and deliberately did not look back, though she could not help but slow her breathing.

The emotions she had thought were long since calmed began to surge once again.

Li Xiao... is he not going to say a single word?

Or is he waiting for her to take the initiative to speak?

Or is he waiting for her to apologize?

Cai Xiaotang's eyes flickered for a moment, her mind in a mess.

Immediately after, she heard Li Beijue ask, "Are you two preparing to head back?"

As he asked, his gaze subconsciously shifted toward Jiang Baobao.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Baobao smiled helplessly at Li Beijue and quietly squeezed his hand.

"Yes, Xiao Tang is a bit tired and wants to go back to rest. You two go ahead and chat; I'll just keep her company."

Knowing that Cai Xiaotang truly did not want to speak with Li Xiao right now, Jiang Baobao took the initiative to suggest leaving.

She had originally thought that with her and Li Beijue here, the situation between Li Xiao and Cai Xiaotang might ease up a little.

But as it turned out, it didn't seem to be of any use.

Not only did Xiao Tang not want to talk, but even Li Xiao hadn't taken the initiative to offer a greeting.

As expected...

The matter between the two of them still had to be resolved by them alone.

Li Beijue understood what Jiang Baobao meant, so he did not insist and nodded gently.

"Then we'll be going now."

Cai Xiaotang said softly and began to walk forward.

It took every ounce of her self-control to keep herself from looking at Li Xiao.

Yet, her peripheral vision could not stop from sweeping over his figure.

The further she walked, the closer that figure became.

To get out, the two of them would inevitably brush past each other.

Cai Xiaotang simply lowered her head, though she could not help but calculate the distance in her heart.

Don't think about anything, just leave here...

She chanted silently in her heart while her feet could not help but walk faster and faster.

The familiar figure was also drawing closer and closer.

Her heart was beating inexplicably fast, thumping as if it were about to jump out of her chest.

Her mind was in chaos.

She seemed unable to hear anything around her.

Would Li Xiao call out to her?

Would he...

Cai Xiaotang did not know when this single thought had become the only thing left in her heart.

Just at this moment—"Sir, watch out!"

A strange man's voice suddenly exploded in her ears!

Cai Xiaotang snapped back to reality, startled, and saw a cup of steaming coffee being splashed directly toward Li Xiao!