Chapter 874: Waiting for Him to Speak First

Li Xiao's reflexes should have been the sharpest of everyone present.

But for some reason, he uncharacteristically failed to dodge in the first instance, his entire focus fixed on Cai Xiaotang.

It was only after a shout that his peripheral vision caught what was happening.

Only then did he subconsciously try to move out of the way.

Yet Cai Xiaotang's movements were faster than his.

"Clang!"

The coffee cup was swiped away by a hand, rolling onto the floor and shattering into pieces.

The steaming hot coffee splashed everywhere, though fortunately, no one was scalded.

Except for...

The back of Cai Xiaotang's hand, which turned bright red in an instant.

"Xiao Tang!"

Jiang Baobao was the first to rush over, hurriedly grabbing her hand with a look of shock on her face.

How could Xiao Tang's reaction be so fast?

In that split second just now, she had used her hand to catch it directly!

"Are there any ice cubes? Please, get some ice cubes!"

Watching the back of Cai Xiaotang's hand turn redder by the second, Jiang Baobao looked anxious.

"Xiao Tang, your hand..."

Li Xiao finally stood up, the gloomy air he had worn before gone, replaced by a face full of annoyance.

What was he thinking?

To not have dodged in that situation, and to have let Xiao Tang...

Looking at her hand, Li Xiao wished that the entire cup of coffee had splashed onto him instead!

"I'm fine."

Cai Xiaotang spoke these three words indifferently.

Even though the back of her hand was burning and the pain made her fingertips tremble, she did not show the slightest bit of agony on her face.

"How could you be fine!"

Seeing her still putting on a brave front, Jiang Baobao felt even more distressed.

Just then—"The ice is here."

The waiter from earlier ran out from the back in a hurry, holding a full bowl of ice cubes, apologizing incessantly: "I am so sorry, I was too hasty when I turned around and lost my footing, I am truly sorry, you..."

"It's alright."

Cai Xiaotang was in no mood to dwell on it; she grabbed a few ice cubes and pressed them against the back of her hand.

The burning pain was masked by the icy sensation, and her expression relaxed significantly.

Li Xiao, however, frowned, looking at the waiter with some dissatisfaction: "You..."

"I said, it's alright."

Seeing that he seemed about to reprimand the person, Cai Xiaotang interrupted him.

Her eyes were not on Li Xiao, but lowered to stare at the back of her hand, her mind in a mess.

She wanted to go home...

Her hand hurt so much...

And she was in a bad mood...

What exactly happened just now?

She had reached out to block that cup of coffee for Li Xiao without even thinking.

The air was silent for a moment.

Li Xiao's gaze was deep, the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.

Under normal circumstances, he really wouldn't make things difficult for the waiter.

But for some reason, he had just wanted to speak up and tell the other person not to continue working here.

His chest felt blocked by some kind of emotion, clamoring to be vented, affecting his reason at every moment.

After a long while—"You go back to work first, be careful next time, don't let this happen again."

"

Li Xiao said to the waiter with a dark expression.

"Yes, I understand, I am truly sorry..."

The waiter apologized once more and hurried away.

Jiang Baobao also urged hurriedly: "Xiao Tang, let's go back first, your hand..."

"My hand is really fine, you don't need to be nervous, let's go."

Cai Xiaotang didn't want Jiang Baobao to worry, so she comforted her and turned to leave.

But the next second—her wrist was suddenly grabbed.

The familiar touch and temperature; it was Li Xiao.

Cai Xiaotang's figure froze abruptly, and her breathing subconsciously stopped for a moment.

Then, from her peripheral vision, she saw him take a handkerchief out of his pocket.

"Let's wrap the ice up first; it won't be convenient for you to go back like this."

As he spoke, he gently covered the ice with the handkerchief and tied a knot around Cai Xiaotang's palm.

Cai Xiaotang's eyes flickered for a moment, and her other uninjured hand gripped her hem tightly.

"Alright, I'm heading back now."

Seeing that Li Xiao had finished dealing with it, Cai Xiaotang hurriedly withdrew her hand, her mood even more complicated than before.

What was this supposed to be?

Her actions just now were merely an instinctive reaction.

She had no intention of using this incident to facilitate a "reconciliation" between the two of them.

Wasn't Li Xiao just acting like he didn't want to speak a moment ago?

Cai Xiaotang said nothing, turned around, and walked away.

"Xiao Tang!"

Seeing this, Jiang Baobao hurriedly followed.

Li Beijue and Li Xiao were also in no mood to continue staying there, so they had no choice but to follow and return as well.

Cai Xiaotang walked quickly the entire way, keeping a distance from Li Xiao the whole time.

It wasn't until they got into the elevator that the group was finally in the same space.

But even so, she still didn't say a single word.

When Jiang Baobao asked her if her wound hurt, she only shook her head.

Very quickly—"Ding!"

The elevator arrived at the floor where Cai Xiaotang was staying.

"Baobao, I'm heading back first, you go back and rest too."

Cai Xiaotang dropped this sentence and immediately walked outside without looking back.

"Xiao Tang, wait a moment!"

How could Jiang Baobao feel at ease letting her leave alone like this? She immediately chased after her.

Then, after taking only two steps, she saw Laoqi waiting outside the door of Cai Xiaotang's room.

As soon as he saw her, he immediately came up to greet her.

"Madam, you've been scalded? This is the burn ointment that Third Master just had me fetch..."

As Laoqi spoke, he handed over the item in his hand.

Cai Xiaotang's footsteps faltered, and her heart suddenly felt a sharp pang of bitterness.

Ointment?

Was it something Li Xiao had Laoqi prepare on the way back just now?

She pursed her lips, a flash of dejection quickly crossing her eyes, feeling inexplicably stubborn.

She didn't need it.

She didn't need these things.

Li Xiao clearly knew what she cared about most right now!

Did he think this kind of concern could soften her?

Absolutely impossible!

"I'm fine, I don't need to apply any medicine, take it back."

Cai Xiaotang dropped this sentence, and as she spoke, she pulled open the door and turned to walk inside.

"Click."

The door was locked from the inside.

Jiang Baobao didn't even have time to follow her in before she was also shut outside, and could only look at Li Beijue and Li Xiao behind her for help.

Laoqi also looked bewildered, not knowing what kind of situation this was.

"Give the medicine to me, you go back first."

Li Xiao felt helpless; he stepped forward and reached out to take the ointment.

"Yes."

Laoqi hurriedly agreed, sensibly not asking a single extra word, and turned to leave quickly.

Li Xiao lowered his eyes and stared at the ointment in his hand for a few seconds, then stepped forward twice and knocked on the door gently.

"Xiao Tang, open the door, your hand needs medicine."

His tone was low, clearly suppressing some kind of emotion.

The next second—"I said I'm fine, I don't need it!"

Cai Xiaotang's voice came from inside the door; one could tell she was leaning against the door and hadn't walked away.

She bit her lower lip tightly, her eyes full of stubbornness.

Being like this... would Li Xiao perhaps hate her?

But she was afraid; she was afraid that once he was gentle with her, she would lose her bottom line.

She also didn't want to inexplicably let the matter of Luo Wanwan slide.

She could handle the burn herself.

But if Li Xiao didn't take the initiative to let go of the matter regarding Luo Wanwan, then there was no need for them to say anything else.