CHAPTER 78: CHAPTER 78: WHY DON’T YOU TRUST ME?

Immediately, Tang Xiaowan’s heartbeat sped up inexplicably—thump, thump, thump—and couldn’t keep up with the rhythm, like a little rabbit bouncing around everywhere.

What should I do, go or not go?

But, since the message was sent to me, wouldn’t it hurt his feelings if I didn’t go? Wouldn’t it upset him?

Ah, this is so frustrating, forget it, whatever!

Little did she know, when she turned around, she saw Chen Yu and Chen Nan.

All three of them were startled, the two-against-one stare down petrified Tang Xiaowan.

Chen Yu furrowed his brows and was the first to speak.

"Xiao Wan, what are you doing here?"

"Why are you sneaking around?" Chen Nan couldn’t help but laugh as he said this.

Faced with their intense questioning, Tang Xiaowan awkwardly smiled: "Nothing much, just looking around, I’ll head over first."

With that, she turned and climbed the final flight of stairs.

At that moment, Chen Siyao and Li Ying were ogling Zishen like love-struck fools.

The man, however, remained calm and focused on the propaganda poster on the wall, his chiseled features still cold, giving nothing away about his thoughts.

"What’s she up to, trying to catch a bigger fish?" Li Ying said disdainfully.

"She’s not even in his league!"

Chen Siyao pouted and then shook her head.

Zishen, who had excellent hearing, slightly tilted his head. Just a glance from him was enough to take one’s breath away.

The two girls immediately shut up.

While they were still feeling tense, Zishen suddenly smiled, quickening his steps toward the slow-moving, shy girl, Tang Xiaowan.

He handed her a bundle of fiery red roses.

"Do you like them?"

Tang Xiaowan nodded and smiled slightly.

"Let’s go, what do you want to eat tonight? You decide, I’ll cook—you must be worn out from class all day?"

"It’s alright, not too tired."

Zishen’s voice was gentle as water, seemingly nonchalant, but it instantly captivated the onlooking girls.

A dozen pairs of eyes followed the tall figure.

When they went downstairs, the discussions began.

—My goodness, he’s so considerate!

—Exactly, he seemed so cold before, I was too scared to even speak, turns out he’s a warm man.

—They seem like a couple, they’re so lucky. No, no, I need to give my dumb friend a talking-to, the gap is just too big.

—So Tang Xiaowan isn’t being kept!

—Someone must be green with envy, jealousy, and hate. Since she’s dating Li Zishen, naturally Li Zihan is just her brother-in-law, it’s perfectly normal for them to share a ride.

"That’s right, those who spread rumors are really despicable!"

The last line was loudly declared by Chen Nan, loud enough to hit Chen Siyao and Li Ying right in the ears.

Especially Li Ying, who had long admired Chen Nan.

At that moment, she felt unbearable shame and quickly hugged her textbook, running downstairs with the crowd.

The corridor grew much quieter.

Chen Nan smirked mischievously, glancing at Chen Yu beside him: "Let’s go to the cafeteria. I heard they have a special on chicken legs, buy one get the second half off. We can pair up."

Chen Yu was initially startled, then whispered back: "Oh, alright."

This was the first time she had been invited to the cafeteria by a boy, and even though it was just joining forces for a deal, to her, who was usually isolated by classmates, it felt as warm as a spring breeze.

Moreover, Chen Nan was the top student of their grade.

Thus, the proud boy led the way in front, with the timid girl trailing far behind.

The distance between them was a full five meters.

Although Chen Nan occasionally slowed down, wanting to wait for Chen Yu, he thought better of it, perhaps the shy girl needed some time.

On University Road, two black cars proceeded one after the other toward the East Suburb.

Cheng Shi drove his black SUV alone, while Chen Xin was behind the wheel of a limited edition luxury car, carrying the intense-eyed Li Zishen and Tang Xiaowan, who held a bouquet of red roses.

[Please consider today’s matter closed.]

Cheng Shi glanced at his phone and saw that Tang Xiaowan had used her old number to text him; he immediately replied, [Understood.]

Without asking, he knew that the "matter" referred to the purchase of the three-story detached house and that "closed" meant they were to keep the matter secret from everyone after returning to Li Garden, not mentioning a word about it.

After receiving the reply, Tang Xiaowan bit her lip and turned her phone face down on her thigh.

When she looked up, she saw Li Zishen staring at her. Feeling guilt, she instantly gave a silly smile, "These roses are pretty beautiful, thank you. They smell really nice too."

With that, she let out a few more silly chuckles.

"You can start gardening now."

Tang Xiaowan: "?"

"The sunroom is set up. You can start gardening now," Li Zishen added.

"It’s ready already, that was quick!"

"Yes, was it quick?"

"Isn’t it? It hasn’t been that long - less than a week, right? Just five days; it started last Friday, I remember. Today’s only Tuesday. For such a big project, I thought it would take half a month. That’s really fast."

While talking, her words were halting, and she spoke very quickly.

Li Zishen withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly with a small smile, "Whatever you do, it’s all in human capability."

"Yes, yes, exactly."

Half an hour earlier, the black-clothed bodyguard had reported for duty.

Beyond discussing movements at Wuyou Pavilion, the talk also touched upon Tang Xiaowan’s main activities for the day.

Although Bai Long was on a mission and wasn’t in Jin City, his black-clothed bodyguards still fulfilled their roles, protecting those who needed protection and tailing those who needed to be watched.

For example, Li Wanshan had again secretly met with Leng Lingxiao.

For example, after Tang Xiaowan left her small apartment, she didn’t return to school, but went to the property transaction center.

Li Zishen’s reason for saying nothing and asking nothing, in truth, was that he was waiting, waiting for Tang Xiaowan to give up the idea of buying a house, to give up the idea of leaving Li Garden on her own.

Yet, the outcome disappointed him.

At the time Li Zishen personally picked fresh flowers, Tang Xiaowan had already completed the property transfer. When Li Zishen headed to Jin City University, Tang Xiaowan was admiring her little rooftop flower house.

Throughout the journey, Li Zishen kept waiting for a call, waiting for his Little Fairy to tell him herself that she’d bought a house.

"Xiao Wan."

"Hmm, what’s up?"

"You still haven’t mentioned what you want for dinner."

"Oh, that. I actually thought you were just saying it casually, you know, because today you weren’t... Oh, I thought you were joking, haha."

"I’ve never deceived you, not ever. Whatever I say, I mean."

"Then let’s have Tomato Beef and Steamed Sea Bass."

Despite lacking spicy dishes, which usually dampened Tang Xiaowan’s appetite, these two dishes were Li Zishen’s favorites.

A flicker of relief crossed the man’s heart.

You remember what I love to eat, but why don’t you trust me, why won’t you share your little secrets with me?

It hasn’t even been three days since Cheng Shi returned!

He can, why can’t I?

Li Zishen harbored too many questions internally, yet didn’t want to confront Tang Xiaowan outright.

"Just these two?"

"Yes, these two. Is that okay?"

"Of course." Li Zishen spoke, then smiled faintly before looking at Chen Xin, who was driving, "Stop at a fresh market."

"Yes, Brother Shen."

As the car veered in one direction, it slowly cruised toward a nearby street.