Deliberately Approaching-Chapter 560 - 522: Didn’t Sleep Until Dawn
As the helicopter flew past Jinyuan Bridge, Li Zishen was troubled by a message.
"Do not lock yourself in your room with only smoking and drinking for company, doing so cannot solve any problems, it only makes everyone worried about you."
He lay in a bathtub filled with cold water, repeatedly pondering this message from "Little Angel."
The tie he had yanked off was carelessly thrown onto the floor, allowing the bath water to soak it, while his unbuttoned collar revealed his Adam’s apple slightly moving.
Worry, it only makes everyone worry.
What about you?
Did you ever feel a bit of concern for me?
He didn’t need to ask to know that this sudden comfort must have been solicited by his younger brother, Li Zihan, for help. Bai Long and Chen Xin wouldn’t dare do so.
And his brother’s bedroom in Li Garden was right next to this master bedroom, carrying a high suspicion of espionage.
All the past memories surfaced before his eyes.
Li Zishen would wipe away tears one moment and burst out laughing the next, talking to himself in the water, releasing all the emotions pent up inside.
"Xiao Wan, do you know? I feel so suffocated... I don’t know what to do next?"
"Those days without mother, you must have felt helpless, must have been very sad, otherwise you wouldn’t have followed me after just a little clue..."
"I’m sorry, I took advantage of your vulnerability, I shouldn’t have used finding your mother as an excuse..."
"Leng Lingxiao is right, he’s not wrong, I truly don’t deserve to love you, how could I exploit your weaknesses, leading you out of Mei Garden time after time."
"I’m sorry, Xiao Wan, I’m sorry!"
She was the one who charmed him at first sight.
Knowing she was just entrusted by others, he still put out his cigarette the moment he saw the message.
He was soaking in cold water just to sober up quickly. There was even a moment when he felt relieved that it was Li Wanshan who had acted, and not Tang Xiaowan.
If it had been her, the extent of Li Zishen’s agony might have multiplied by hundreds.
Tonight, he secluded himself in the bedroom where Tang Xiaowan had once stayed, drinking a lot and smoking one cigarette after another.
Without Li Zishen’s permission, no one in Li Garden dared to barge in, not even Li Zihan.
That was why the backup plan was initiated.
Thinking he was sober enough, Li Zishen got out of the bathtub, took off his drenched clothes, and put on a dark gray robe.
"Where is my phone?"
He hurried to the bedroom, picked up the phone next to a statue, and looked at the message again.
"Do not lock yourself in your room with only smoking and drinking for company, doing so cannot solve any problems, it only makes everyone worried about you."
"Yes, indeed it doesn’t solve anything."
"Worried about what? Worried..."
Only then did Li Zishen remember to call Bai Long to inquire about Li Wanshan’s situation.
After the call connected, Bai Long took a deep breath.
He had thought that Li Zishen was so drunk he was unconscious and wished not to be disturbed.
"When did he run?"
"11:10 PM from Wuyou Pavilion, arrived at..." Bai Long paused, frowning as he replied, "the newly built helipad on Jinyuan Mountain."
Bai Long mentioned Jinyuan Mountain with extra caution, fearing that Li Zishen might think of his mother, Yuan Min.
"Took a helicopter?"
"Yes, just as Brother Shen predicted, it didn’t take long after Li Wanshan returned for him to have his butler secretly book a helicopter. Only four people went with him."
Li Wanshan was already like a startled bird—what did paying double the price matter if it meant he could leave Jin City smoothly? Even if renting cost more than buying a new helicopter outright, he was unequivocal.
If a person is gone, any leftover money is a waste; better to make a smooth escape to save one’s life.
"Send out the word, no rash actions." Li Zishen instructed without a second thought.
"Brother Shen, do you really intend to... they’ll refuel midway, and if we make our move then, there won’t be any traces left, everywhere around is..."
"No rush at this moment, let’s wait a bit longer."
He believed that Bai Long had already made thorough preparations and was just waiting for his command.
"Do you still think there’s a problem here?" Bai Long lowered his voice and asked, "Then, about madam’s matter... should we keep hiding it?"
"In a few days, just say... my mother has gone abroad for medical treatment. No one will suspect anything."
Li Zishen, with his eyes red, hung up the phone.
If he continued, he feared he would lose control of his emotions and couldn’t help but issue the order to cut down Li Wanshan or throw Second Aunt Lai into the sea to feed the fishes.
He never had the courage to call Tang Xiaowan, fearing she was still blocking him.
...
Meanwhile, in Huang City.
The Nanfeng Mansion was peaceful in the dead of night.
Tang Xiaowan had only just fallen asleep a few minutes ago. Next to her were a laptop that was yet to be closed and several documents she had signed.
The comforting message she had sent to Li Zishen was sent two minutes before midnight.
She had softened a bit after all.
Actually, even just to clear her own suspicions, Tang Xiaowan should symbolically offer some comfort, especially since Li Zihan had already informed her about the situation at home. With such a big incident, it would have been strange if she showed no reaction at all.
"Mom, I’ve avenged you."
"No need to thank me, it’s what I should have done."
"From now on, I can rightfully call you mom, haha, I have a mom now."
"Mr. Wang, you’re not up to it, you still need to..."
Time subtly passed in her murmured dreams.
When she woke up, she saw Ye Wanhua sitting on the sofa, watching her with loving eyes.
Had she not been mentally strong, the sudden appearance of someone in her bedroom might have made her scream and jump out of bed.
"What time is it?" Tang Xiaowan rubbed her sleepy eyes, then yawned.
Without asking, she knew that the warm blanket must have been covered by the beautiful lady in front of her. No wonder she had slept so sweetly.
"You can sleep some more if you didn’t sleep well, it’s early."
"There’s a video meeting at ten o’clock."
"It’s only nine."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiaowan quickly sat up.
But in Ye Wanhua’s eyes, as long as her precious daughter wanted to sleep, even nine o’clock was too early.
For the first twenty years, she couldn’t watch her daughter grow up and her daughter lacked motherly love; for Ye Wanhua, that was a lifelong regret.
Last night, that single word "Mom" excited Ye Wanhua so much that she didn’t sleep all night and just kept her eyes open till daylight.
Had she not been worried about waking Tang Xiaowan, she would have come over earlier, instead of waiting until six in the morning to sneak in quietly.
Seeing that her daughter hadn’t even covered herself with the blanket, Ye Wanhua felt extreme regret but even more guilt.
"I, um... I’m going to take a shower."
"I’ll bring you something to eat later. After you shower, don’t go downstairs. Just wait in your room obediently. Huang City isn’t like Chicheng; don’t catch a cold again."
Tang Xiaowan obediently nodded her head.
After Ye Wanhua left, she dashed into the bathroom and happily closed the door.
"It feels so great to be doted on by mom!"
"La la la, la la la, la la la la la..."
Tang Xiaowan sang joyfully.
