Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 272: Hit on in a Small Tavern

Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Hit on in a Small Tavern

"Xiao Wan, I am across the street, in the black car. Can you come out for a moment?"

"These past few days, I don’t know how you’ve been doing. I went to the hospital but didn’t run into you, why didn’t you tell me the news that grandma is still alive?"

"Will you be going to the Jiang Family charity event tomorrow night?"

"The bedroom light is on, you must be awake, right? Why aren’t you replying to my messages? I don’t know what I did wrong to make you so distant. Are you still suspecting that I was the one who attacked Mei Garden at night?"

"It really wasn’t me, but it may be related to me, I’m sorry, it’s because of me that you were involved."

Tang Xiaowan read all five messages.

She hadn’t expected that just by going up to the roof for a while, her phone would be so lively, filled with texts and calls, all from Li Zishen.

Going to the hospital? How come I didn’t know you went to the hospital? Grandma didn’t mention it either, ah?

Oh, I get it, because Huahua is there.

It’s impossible to say she was not moved at all. After the night attack, Li Zishen did a lot for her, both in manpower and financially. Any of these things would be enough to move any girl.

But these things shouldn’t be confused with love. If there’s no love, there’s no love.

Her heart was full to the brim with Leng Lingxiao, and there was simply no room for anyone else, not even a tiny bit.

"Zishen, I’m sorry, forgive my cold-heartedness, I have ultimately let you down in this lifetime."

After saying that, Tang Xiaowan was about to call grandma, but then she remembered that grandma doesn’t use a cellphone, and these past few days she had been contacting her through Wang Jinhui’s phone.

No, I can’t call. That would expose me.

It’s safer to wait until daylight and talk to her in person at the hospital.

But then, what about Zishen?

"I’m doing fine, thank you for visiting grandma. I didn’t say anything because grandma wanted a few quiet days. Even Cheng Shi and the rest don’t know. I will attend the charity event. It’s late, no need to reply once you receive this."

In the end, Tang Xiaowan still replied to the message.

After all, she still remembered the life-saving grace of Mei Garden and the little bit of care in Li Garden.

She had already let go of the forced kiss.

It was Leng Lingxiao who gave her enough breathing space to face it calmly and take the initiative to speak out about being kissed forcefully by Li Zishen.

This kind of trust could not be replaced by anyone.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Zishen was spacing out while staring at the phone screen, chain-smoking one cigarette after another.

He didn’t want to return to the hotel, but he also didn’t know where else to go, so he parked his car at the end of Chunlei Street, outside a small tavern.

He missed Tang Xiaowan so much, he wished he could go back to number 66 immediately and forcibly take her away from Huang City.

"If you have less power, keep a low profile, if you are equals, discussion and negotiation are possible, but if one side overwhelms the other, destruction is swift and sure. Leng Lingxiao, which of us is more formidable?"

With those words, Li Zishen entered the small tavern.

Inside, the lighting was dim and old posters adorned the walls, while the music system played songs from the 80s, hard not to send one into deep contemplation.

He found a vacant spot and sat down, ordering two glasses of whiskey.

While waiting, his expression was one of dejection, silent, the cigarette between his fingers long since burnt out, but he did not notice.

At this moment, a beautiful woman wearing a black off-shoulder mini-dress with provocative makeup approached.

"Hi, handsome, are you alone?" The beauty pulled up a chair and sat down, then leaned closer to Li Zishen, smilingly starting a conversation.

Li Zishen’s eyes were downcast, not paying any attention.

The beauty watched him intently, her heart pleased, finding the man melancholic yet very handsome. He exuded a natural aristocratic aura that was intimidating, yet irresistibly compelling.

So, she continued to make conversation, "Sir, I just came here, feeling quite lost and scared, could you keep me company and chat for a while?"

After her words fell, Li Zishen tossed the cigarette butt into the trash can and remained silent for a moment.

He was preoccupied with thoughts of Tang Xiaowan and couldn’t be bothered to waste words on a stranger, especially one so frivolous; he found such people particularly distasteful.

But out of politeness, he still responded, "Sorry, I just want to be alone."

His tone was indifferent, and the icy coldness that shot from his eyes was chilling to the bone, even a brief glance made one feel a shiver down their spine.

Seeing this, the beautiful woman sensibly left.

Soon after, Li Zishen lit another cigarette, continuing to ponder over his issues with Tang Xiaowan.

The atmosphere in the small bar gradually warmed up, with other patrons beginning to chat in groups. A young bartender came over and brought Li Zishen his ordered whiskey.

"Sir, here is your whiskey, please enjoy," the bartender said with a smile.

Li Zishen nodded, then took a small sip. His mood sank even lower as he remembered all the little moments with Tang Xiaowan, and he grew more miserable.

Just then, the door of the bar was pushed open. A girl dressed in casual clothes walked in—it was Tang Xiaowan. She looked around, searching for Li Zishen and soon spotted a tall and solitary figure in a corner.

She took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, and then walked toward Li Zishen.

"Zishen."

Li Zishen looked at the Tang Xiaowan who was now close at hand, and his heart skipped a beat.

He hadn’t expected Tang Xiaowan to come looking for him, and he was momentarily at a loss for what to do. His glass suddenly fell from his hand, prompting him to hastily extinguish the cigarette.

"I only ordered two drinks, just started," Li Zishen said hurriedly, anxious to explain.

"Come on, let’s get out of here."

"How did you come here? How did you know I was here, no, I mean, I’m glad."

"It was Bai Long; he called me. He said you never drink or smoke, but today... must be because you’re feeling down. He was afraid something might happen to you, so he asked me to come check on you."

After listening to Tang Xiaowan’s gentle words, Li Zishen felt a turmoil inside him, a mix of excitement, panic, and a tinge of melancholy—very complicated.

"Xiao Wan, I’m so glad you came, really glad. I’ve missed you so much, incredibly much."

As he spoke, Li Zishen reached out to pull Tang Xiaowan closer but stopped mid-air. He was a little timid, afraid of rejection.

However, Tang Xiaowan still felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze, especially given the bar’s charged and intimate atmosphere, with many men and women reveling and the music stirring the heart.

So she quickly stepped back and frowned, "It smells too much of smoke in here; it’s giving me a headache. Let’s go, get some fresh air outside. It’s getting late."

"Xiao Wan, wait! Tell me, why, why is it Leng Lingxiao? Do you even understand everything about him abroad, do you really love him?"

"I don’t care who he is, or what he has done. Love is love, no matter if he’s beyond redemption."

With that, Tang Xiaowan raised her right hand, and the dazzling ruby ring came into full view before Li Zishen’s eyes, although he had seen it just before, he had deliberately ignored it.

He didn’t want to accept this harsh reality.

But Tang Xiaowan’s reply was undoubtedly a blow to the head for him.

"Shall we go, Zishen?"

"Okay, let’s go."

Li Zishen smiled and nodded, but his reddened eyes were filled with loss and reluctance.

After leaving the small bar, the two of them had a brief conversation.

Tang Xiaowan declined Li Zishen’s offer to see her off, running back to Number 66, then tiptoed up to the second floor and into the master bedroom.

"Whew, that was close, scared me to death!"

"Good thing Huahua is sleeping soundly, or there would’ve been a huge misunderstanding."

"This isn’t going to happen again, just this once."

Tang Xiaowan lay in bed talking to herself for a while before she drifted off to sleep.

Meanwhile, directly below her on the first floor, Leng Lingxiao was sitting on a single sofa, furrowing his brows as he stared at his phone.

On the screen were the photos and videos he had just received about the small bar—the images were crystal clear.