Free Web NovelChapter 146: Chapter 146: Shock
Tang Yuanxiao sighed. "Don’t buy any more things for Momo in the future. We know you’re good to him, but you don’t have to spend money..."
Su Li sighed too. Head bowed, she poked at a dumpling in her bowl, squeezing out her explanation like toothpaste.
"I really do have money. Didn’t I tell you before that I started a clothing company? I’ve made a few thousand these past few months, so you don’t need to worry."
She hadn’t wanted to bring any of this up, not wanting to sound like she was showing off. But with Tang Yuanxiao so sincerely offering to help her... she had no choice but to say it.
’We’re about to get a divorce, so why does he still want to pay for my education... He knows it’s a lot of money. Even framing it as a loan would be too much...’
The look Su Li gave Tang Yuanxiao was complicated.
He really did keep surprising her, making her feel like she was getting to know him all over again...
Tang Yuanxiao’s expression was more than just complicated.
He looked at Su Li, then at the dumpling she had poked until its skin broke. He was silent for a long time.
’To so casually say she’s earned a few thousand... Is that really appropriate?’
’Su Li... How many sides of you are there that I don’t know?’
She’d clearly dropped out of middle school, yet three years later she took the college entrance exams and got into a university. Then she says she started a company, and as a young woman, earned a few thousand in half a year.
’A few thousand... That’s not just a few bucks. Is that even believable?’
And her tone was so casual, as if it really were just a few bucks.
Tang Yuanxiao truly didn’t know what to say, nor what words could describe how he was feeling.
When they had first married, the Su Li he saw was a fairly ordinary girl.
How had she suddenly...
With every meeting, Su Li showed him a new side of herself that was anything but ordinary, each one more shocking than the last.
Getting into a university, and then earning a few thousand yuan on her own...
She wasn’t one to lie, nor was she one to brag. So all of it had to be true.
True...
After the shock in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes faded, what remained was complexity.
An unparalleled complexity.
’Su Li is so outstanding and capable. It’s no wonder she’s so calm and determined to get a divorce.’
Though it was difficult, Tang Yuanxiao had to admit that he wasn’t good enough for Su Li.
He only had a middle school education, a world away from a university degree. His monthly subsidy was just a small amount. To an ordinary person, it might seem like a lot, but compared to someone earning a few thousand in half a year...
A university student and someone who earns thousands in six months—either one of those things on its own was out of his league.
Let alone a Su Li who was both a university student *and* earned thousands in half a year. Tang Yuanxiao had a feeling she wouldn’t stop there.
In the future, she would become even more exceptional. She would go further, and her light would shine even brighter.
And him...
For a second, the light in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes dimmed. But then, it began to glow with a quiet intensity—a light that could be called ambition, or perhaps an unwillingness to admit defeat.
’He had also gotten to where he was step by step. He could become more outstanding too!’
’Outstanding enough to be worthy of her!’
’As Su Li continued to advance, he had to do the same!’
The light in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes wasn’t extinguished by the word "divorce." On the contrary, that very word made it burn with a more startling intensity.
Tang Yuanxiao was like a wolf, his faint, green-tinged gaze falling upon Su Li.
Su Li’s own expression was complicated because of Tang Yuanxiao’s reaction, so she didn’t notice his wolf-like gaze.
Both lost in their own thoughts, they stopped eating.
Little Tang Mo finished a dumpling and finally couldn’t help but speak up.
"Mama, hurry and eat. Papa, you too."
Snapped back to reality, Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao quickly lowered their heads and started eating again, hiding the ambition and complexity in their eyes.
After they finished eating, Tang Yuanxiao discussed something with Su Li. "Tomorrow, I want to take Momo to see his maternal grandmother. Her legs aren’t what they used to be, so we can’t have the old lady running around."
He happened to have some free time right now.
Since they lived nearby, Tang Yuanxiao had always kept in close contact with Grandma Cui’s family. frёeωebɳovel.com
Tang Yuanxiao had always felt very guilty toward his former mother-in-law. Cui Yun had passed away so suddenly, forcing Grandma Cui to experience the grief of an elder burying someone younger. When Cui Yun had first passed, Grandma Cui almost didn’t make it.
Although she eventually pulled through, her health never fully recovered. Tang Yuanxiao had often taken care of them over the past few years.
"Okay, you two go ahead," Su Li replied immediately, pretending not to see the difficult expression on Tang Yuanxiao’s face.
"Could you... come with us?" Tang Yuanxiao finally asked.
"Momo’s grandmother just lives in the county town, it’s not far. She’s a kind person, she won’t be... She wants to meet you, too."
Su Li shook her head. "I know what you mean, but I’m not going."
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t press the issue. "I’ll check with my supervisor tomorrow. If we go, we’ll be back early."
"It’s fine, there’s no rush."
Su Li shook her head. ’Aunt Chang’s words made me realize my three-day plan might have to change.’
’From the looks of it, this divorce... they’ll probably "discuss" it for a few days, then try to talk us into reconciling a few times. I can’t just waste my time waiting around here.’
’Tomorrow, Tang Yuanxiao is taking Little Tang Mo to his grandmother’s house, which is the perfect opportunity for me to take a trip back to the Imperial City. I’ll come back when things here are about to be settled.’
’Whether it takes three days, or five, or seven, this divorce... is going to happen.’
Although Little Tang Mo had never met Grandma Cui, he knew who she was. When he heard Tang Yuanxiao was taking him to visit, he didn’t cry or throw a fuss.
The only thing was, with Su Li not going with them, he seemed a little listless.
There was nothing Su Li could do about that.
The next day, Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao met together in the supervisor’s office. Seeing that Su Li still hadn’t changed her mind, the supervisor said they needed to "’discuss it further before making a decision’."
Su Li was mentally prepared for this. After the talk, she left the workplace with Tang Yuanxiao and Little Tang Mo.
This time, Su Li didn’t take the bus; she hitched a ride in Tang Yuanxiao’s car.
And because Tang Yuanxiao insisted, he drove Su Li all the way into the Imperial City, right to the place she had temporarily rented.
"This is fine, really. You guys can go now."
Su Li had to say it twice before Tang Yuanxiao finally withdrew his sharp gaze from scanning the surroundings.
"Be careful on your own. Pay attention to the doors and windows."
Tang Yuanxiao wanted to go inside and help Su Li check the doors and windows, but he could tell from her expression that it wasn’t going to happen. He could only give her verbal reminders.
"I know." Su Li wasn’t some little girl who didn’t know anything.
Before renting a place, she considered every angle, and safety was the top priority, wasn’t it?
The apartment she rented was near the university. Although the rent was a bit expensive, its safety was guaranteed.
"Bye-bye, Mama." Little Tang Mo waved to Su Li reluctantly.
"Go on now," Su Li said, waving back.
Tang Yuanxiao and Little Tang Mo left, and Su Li turned to go back inside.
Su Li never skimped on necessary expenses. This time, she hadn’t just rented a single room, but an entire apartment.
It was in a newly built six-story residential complex that hadn’t been up for long. Compared to the houses of later generations, the apartments in this complex had a small living room, a small bathroom, and a small kitchen. The bathroom was just one square meter with an old-fashioned squat toilet, no water heater, and no shower.
But to people of this era, this was already the best kind of complex available. And after spending half a year in Xinghua Village, Su Li wasn’t comparing it to the standards of the future; she felt like she was in heaven.
Su Li tidied up a bit, took a simple bath, changed her clothes, and went out.
Even though it wasn’t time to register for the start of the semester yet, Su Li couldn’t contain her excitement and wanted to go see her future university.
After a simple lunch, Su Li arrived at her destination—the front gate of Huaguo Communication University.
That’s right, Huaguo Communication University.
