Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 74: Your Dad’s Ex-girlfriend?

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Your Dad’s Ex-girlfriend?

The next day, Tang Xiaowan got up very early.

Not sure if it was because of the pills, she hadn’t dreamed all night, and she slept soundly until daylight.

The spacious dining room was occupied only by her and Li Zihan.

Usually, by this time, Li Zishen would have already come down, but now, even though the food was all served, he was nowhere to be seen.

Nanny Chen’s complexion wasn’t great, and she seemed preoccupied with something, but that didn’t affect her work. She did what she needed to and arranged everything perfectly.

"Young Master Zihan, Lady Tang, everything is ready."

Having said that, Nanny Chen bowed and left, leaving just two young lads to attend to them.

Normally they would stay until the meal was over!

What’s going on today, they’re not taking care of us?

Strange, this isn’t normal!

Tang Xiaowan frowned, bit her spoon, and after pausing for a few seconds, she looked steadily at Li Zihan, who was eating shrimp dumplings: "Hey, where’s your brother, where did he go?"

Although the two were sitting face to face, the table was so wide and Tang Xiaowan’s voice so soft that Li Zihan, busy enjoying his food, didn’t catch what she said and had to put down his chopsticks, looking completely perplexed.

For a split second, he even thought that Tang Xiaowan had an epiphany overnight, figured things out, and was willing to persuade Cheng Shi and take him in as a disciple.

"Xiao Wan, what did you just say?"

"Your brother, where is he?"

This time her voice was loud enough that even the servants heard.

"Oh, my brother, he’s not eating today, don’t worry about him, I guess he won’t eat tonight either."

"What, he’s not eating tonight either?"

"Yeah, go ahead and eat, these shrimp dumplings are not bad."

Tang Xiaowan frowned and stuffed a shrimp dumpling into her mouth: "Mmm, they are indeed very good, delicious."

She suspected that Li Zishen was annoyed by her paying back the money last night, so he was using a hunger strike today to scare her into feeling guilty and compromising obediently.

"By the way, I’m going to carpool with you starting today. Little Black Dragon went abroad, and I guess it will take several days to get back."

That remark nearly made Tang Xiaowan choke.

"Aren’t you able to drive?"

"Why, you don’t wanna give me a lift?"

"No no no, that’s not what I meant, Cheng Shikai drives too fast, I was afraid you’re not used to it."

"It’s fine, the faster, the better."

"Oh, then okay, let’s go together."

"And for lunch, let’s invite Cheng Shi to eat with us as well, it’s more lively with him around."

Tang Xiaowan smirked and nodded.

She thought to herself, what a fake thing to say, Cheng Shi is just like a block of wood, how is that more lively, more like you want to be taken as his disciple.

You little trickster, trying that on me, then I wish you all the best of luck!

On the way to school, whether Cheng Shikai did it on purpose or he noticed Tang Xiaowan’s off complexion, the SUV drove as if it were a race car, nearly running a red light.

Li Zihan was thrilled, not only did he not complain but after getting out of the car, he lavished praise on Cheng Shi, saying his driving was excellent, fast and steady, and even suspected he was a professional racer.

When they parted ways at the comprehensive building, Li Zihan, in order to gain Tang Xiaowan’s trust and improve their friendship, made a point to reveal a secret to her.

"Actually, my brother isn’t skipping meals because he lacks appetite, but because he’s reminiscing about someone."

"Who, an ex-girlfriend?"

Li Zihan was amused by Tang Xiaowan’s words, "No, where does he have any ex-girlfriends? He’s only ever dated you."

Tang Xiaowan: "..."

Seeing that Tang Xiaowan seemed a bit upset, Li Zihan quickly added, "It’s an old habit of his, every year on September 12th, my brother fasts for a day to commemorate a person in remembrance of our dad."

"It’s not your dad’s ex-girlfriend, is it?"

Li Zihan: "..."

"Have you been reading too many novels? Why is it all about ex-girlfriends in your head?"

Although he said that, it was actually the correct guess.

Tang Xiaowan suddenly realized she probably shouldn’t have brought this up in front of Li Zihan, after all, it was about a departed elder, and his dad. So she quickly explained, "Sorry, it’s just that I heard your brother mention that your dad once had a crush on a girl in college, who was extremely beautiful and kind. But then, that girl was no more, so..."

"Don’t mention this at Bie Yuan when we have dinner on Saturday, especially not in front of my mom, or else the consequences will be severe."

"Oh, I know, I’ll get jealous."

After a pause of a few seconds, Li Zihan’s brows furrowed and he stared intently at Tang Xiaowan, "Extremely beautiful and kind? Tell me the truth, has my brother shown you her photo? Was she very beautiful? What did she look like?"

"No, I just guessed based on what your brother described. I think she must have been very beautiful, right?"

"Oh, I see, got it."

Li Zihan’s voice was very low, even a bit hoarse.

The person who was so lively just a moment ago, had suddenly grown much quieter, making Tang Xiaowan feel guilty and regret her previous compliment.

In reality, it had nothing to do with her, Li Zihan was just feeling sorrow for his mom.

In his childhood memories, when his dad was alive, he was completely preoccupied with a female classmate surnamed Yi and neglected Madam Lai, even leaving her to live alone in Bie Yuan for many years, subjected to others’ gossip.

Li Garden was said to be a haven for thought, too noisy with crowds.

But why could his brother Li Zishen move there, while he and his mom had to stay in Bie Yuan? If he wanted to see his dad, he had to run to the Li Garden study or office building.

For a while, Li Zihan even suspected he was a wild child found in a trash can because his dad didn’t love him, didn’t want to hug him to sleep, nor wanted to play games with him.

It wasn’t until one day, during a high fever, he overheard a quarrel and learned that his dad really did love him, just not his mom.

After that, Li Zihan often caught colds.

Whenever he got sick, Madam Lai would be happy, his dad Li Zhenshan would worry, and his brother Li Zishen would also visit Bie Yuan to keep him company and tell him stories.

But the days of harmonious joy were short-lived, it wasn’t long before Li Zhenshan died in a car accident.

That year, Li Zihan was only five years old.

"Zihan, Zihan."

Tang Xiaowan called out several times, Li Zihan finally broke free from his memories, his smile forced.

He looked awkward, like a child who had done something wrong.

"Zihan, are you okay?"

"What are you looking at me like that for? What could be wrong with me? I’m good, really good. Let’s go, see you at noon."

"Okay, same place."

Li Zihan nodded and ran off with a smile, but the moment he turned around, his bright phoenix eyes shimmered with tears.

Even the most optimistic person has a fragile heart.

"Little rascal, you sure run fast!"

Tang Xiaowan touched her nose, then lifted her head to gaze at the sky, blinking as she continued, "Hey, what’s there to be sad about? At least you have a dad to think of, a mom to call for. Me? I don’t even know who my parents are. Shouldn’t I be sobbing an ocean?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a hearty laugh rang out.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.