Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 225 She Chooses to Slip Away

Chapter 225: Chapter 225 She Chooses to Slip Away

"Brother Shen, shall we go check it out?"

Bai Long referred to the women’s 400-meter dash when he mentioned ’checking it out.’

"No need to watch, she definitely came first."

"Yes, that makes sense!"

Thus, the sedan turned at the fork and headed straight for Jinda East Gate.

Li Zishen asked Bai Long for a cigarette. After lighting it, he just held it between his fingers without smoking and stared out the car window, lost in thought.

"Let’s head back."

As they were about to exit the east gate, Li Zishen suddenly extinguished the cigarette and adjusted his tie.

Bai Long immediately turned the car around.

...

The stadium.

Li Zishen walked with steady steps toward the women’s 400-meter race area.

At that moment, Tang Xiaowan was leisurely drinking water.

Her face, beaming with a smile, showed no sign of fatigue. If not for the beads of sweat on her nose and the white number bib on her back, it would be hard to believe she had just won first place in the women’s 400-meter dash.

Li Zishen looked on with admiration.

Some students who recognized him started to approach, but were suddenly stopped by bodyguards who appeared out of nowhere.

They had always been inconspicuously around Tang Xiaowan.

With today’s crowded and bustling opening ceremony coinciding with the centennial celebration, even robust campus security couldn’t ease Li Zishen’s worries.

Chen Yu was the first to alert Tang Xiaowan.

Though she had only seen Li Zishen once before — last time when he brought flowers to smooth over some slander against Tang Xiaowan, his tall and handsome figure was already etched into her memory.

"Xiao Wan, look, it’s Li Zishen!" Chen Yu tapped Tang Xiaowan, her eyes full of astonishment.

One Leng Lingxiao, one Li Zishen!

Xiao Wan’s suitors were indeed thriving; each one so handsome and wealthy, simply amazing!

"Why are you here?" Tang Xiaowan frowned, tightly grabbing the mineral water bottle, then inexplicably smiled and slowly walked towards Li Zishen.

"Just came to see you, congratulations!"

Freed from the constraint of a tie and bespoke suit, Li Zishen now looked every bit the senior about to graduate, especially youthful in his crisp white shirt.

Compared to usual, he looked much younger.

In fact, he wasn’t old to begin with, only 25, even five years younger than Leng Lingxiao, but he appeared more mature due to his precocious demeanor.

"Wow, you really have prompt news!"

"Are you free for lunch? Let’s eat together?"

As he spoke, Li Zishen had already approached, and only then did Tang Xiaowan notice a small black device on the man’s ear.

She was no stranger to this device — standard issue for Li Garden bodyguards for communication.

Usually, Li Zishen didn’t wear it, finding it a hassle unless a particular situation called for it, like anything involving Tang Xiaowan.

Afraid that I might be attacked or something goes wrong?

Ah, electronic surveillance has already set its sights on you, who knows what it will conjure up next, it’s frightening to think about,

You should worry more about yourself!

Tang Xiaowan shook her head, about to refuse, when Li Zishen suddenly pulled her, forcefully leading her away from the temporary resting area.

"What are you doing?"

"Going back to Li Garden, let’s eat together."

"Let go, I’m not going."

Tang Xiaowan struggled to break free, but the disparity in strength made it impossible.

"Stop wriggling, just come with me."

"I have something else at noon, I really can’t, let’s do another day, okay?"

"What is it? I’ll handle it for you."

Li Zishen paused for a moment, then looked at Tang Xiaowan with a slight curve of his lips.

Clearly, he saw through the lie!

"Let go, if you don’t, I’ll bite. I’m serious, let go now, my teeth are quite strong, it really hurts to be bitten."

"It’s fine, go ahead and bite."

At this moment, Tang Xiaowan regretted not bringing the custom-made gadget.

Biting down in full view of everyone would be too embarrassing; no matter how thick her skin, it wasn’t thick enough for that!

Besides, this man had shown her kindness, having saved her life in Mei Garden.

"Please, can you stop pulling me?"

Li Zishen’s eyes twinkled with a smile as he turned his head toward Tang Xiaowan once more, "How about I carry you instead?"

Tang Xiaowan was left speechless.

Good heavens, when did he become so shameless?

Could something have triggered him?

Indeed, Li Zishen was triggered—angered by Leng Lingxiao.

"Bingtang is not a nickname; it’s just that my girlfriend loves eating bingtang, and she studies here. The donation is simply to please her, and that’s all there is to it."

The words Leng Lingxiao said to the reporters were etched into Li Zishen’s heart like a knife.

It was clearly intended for him to hear.

As men, Li Zishen knew all too well and itched with rage.

Just because you say she’s your girlfriend, she is? Xiao Wan can only be my wife, Li Zishen’s wife, in this lifetime, the next, forever.

With this thought, the hand that Li Zishen was holding unconsciously tightened.

"Ouch, that hurts!"

"Sorry Xiao Wan, sorry!"

Suddenly, Cheng Shi’s rough hands blocked their way, and the shadows lurking nearby, who were Ting Xiaowan’s bodyguards, followed closely but dared not forcefully intervene.

This was something Bai Long had specifically instructed.

They could intercept, but not overdo it—just touch upon it because offending Tang Xiaowan would make life difficult for anyone afterwards.

In Bai Long’s eyes, Tang Xiaowan was to be the mistress of Li Garden, a position of high prestige.

"Mr. Li, the young lady doesn’t want to go."

Cheng Shi spoke firmly, without a trace of hesitation, as if there was no room for negotiation, which greatly irked Li Zishen.

It was always like this, appearing suddenly, spoiling his plans, as if intentionally opposing him.

"Move aside." Li Zishen said expressionlessly, his gaze fixed on Cheng Shi.

His commanding presence was intimidating.

Seeing trouble brewing, Tang Xiaowan quickly whimpered, clutching her stomach as a bottle of mineral water dropped to the ground with a clatter, rolling far away.

"What’s wrong, Xiao Wan?"

Li Zishen panicked, fearing she had been poisoned.

"My stomach hurts, I need to use the restroom. Do you have any paper on you?"

Li Zishen let out a breath of relief!

Paper? He wouldn’t carry that, but by reflex, he still released Tang Xiaowan’s hand and checked his pockets.

As expected, he didn’t have any, so he looked toward the bodyguards, who all shook their heads.

"Don’t worry, Xiao Wan, go ahead, I’ll have someone bring you... the necessary supplies."

"No need, no need, I’ll ask someone else."

"I have it, I have it." Chen Yu quickly chimed in, rummaging through her bag.

"Let’s go, let’s hurry."

Tang Xiaowan pulled Chen Yu and ran without looking back, leaving the bodyguards exchanging glances before quickly dispersing.

Li Zishen frowned: "Stomach ache?"

Every person’s love is visible in their eyes, love is obvious.

Tang Xiaowan’s look towards him was one of suspiciousness or fear, and her occasional moist eyes were merely out of gratitude, not reluctance or heartbeat.

Yet Li Zishen refused to admit it.

"Brother Shen, Leng Lingxiao has left," Bai Long’s voice came through the earpiece.

"Where’s Xiao Wan?"

"She is heading to Lotus Pond, the car’s there."

They say love can change a person, even the toughest men become tender.

This saying suited Li Zishen well.

He knew Tang Xiaowan had lied and fooled him, yet upon learning she had headed to Lotus Pond, he still looked up at the sky and smiled.

He even thought that such Tang Xiaowan was adorable, just as she should be.

At least, she hadn’t gone with Leng Lingxiao.

"Notify everyone to be extra careful along the way, there are too many people today, let’s avoid any mishaps until Xiao Wan returns to... Jinyuan Academy."

"Yes, Brother Shen."

Right after, Li Zishen left the field.

A top-class luxury car had been waiting by the roadside for a while, with Chen Xin holding the steering wheel.