Free Web NovelChapter 162: Chapter 162: Approval
"Awake?" Hearing Su Li’s voice, Tang Yuanxiao instantly went rigid.
Then... he made a run for it like a coward.
Oh, and before he left, he tossed out one last sentence: "I’m heading back first."
Tang Yuanxiao just couldn’t face Su Li.
Thinking about the fool he’d made of himself earlier, how could he possibly say anything? The only natural response was to turn tail and run.
’What was I supposed to do, hit myself over the head with a brick?’
Too bad Tang Yuanxiao’s escape was for nothing. No sooner had he left than Su Li followed him.
Because the Director was back.
Aunt Chang had delivered the message.
The awkwardness in Tang Yuanxiao’s heart instantly became insignificant.
While they were waiting for Su Li, Tang Yuanxiao was called in first.
Unlike the Supervisor, the Director was blunt. The first thing he said upon seeing Tang Yuanxiao was:
"This whole ’keeping the divorce a secret’ thing is a load of crap. The people in charge of your evaluation will all know about it. I’ll be honest with you—getting a divorce right now will seriously impact your promotion. You probably won’t get it at all."
Tang Yuanxiao nodded silently. "I know."
"If you know, then think it over carefully."
The Director said his piece and went back to the files on his desk. When he was done, he looked up. "Finished thinking?"
Tang Yuanxiao nodded. "I have. We’re still getting the divorce."
The Director gave Tang Yuanxiao a heavy look but said nothing.
Tang Yuanxiao stood ramrod straight. "I can’t use my own career prospects to force Su Li to compromise. What right do I have? She wants this so badly."
"Does Su Li know this?" the Director asked without looking up.
"She doesn’t know," Tang Yuanxiao said, shaking his head.
"And you’re sure you won’t tell her?"
Hearing Tang Yuanxiao confirm it, the Director shook his head and snorted. "You’re a real man, aren’t you."
Tang Yuanxiao remained silent.
The Director lifted his gaze to look at him. "Don’t think that’s a compliment. You’re a fool, throwing away your future for a woman."
Tang Yuanxiao disagreed. "Director."
"Is that your final decision?" the Director asked one last time.
"Yes." Tang Yuanxiao nodded again.
"I hope you don’t regret this later." This time, that was all the Director said.
When Tang Yuanxiao came out, he saw the Supervisor waiting by the door.
The Supervisor looked at Tang Yuanxiao’s expression and sighed. "A man nearly thirty, and still pulling stunts of youthful recklessness." freeweɓnøvel.com
Tang Yuanxiao looked at the Supervisor, his expression resigned. "Supervisor, I’m a man."
"Yes, you’re a man. A ’real man.’ We all see that," the Supervisor said, shaking his head.
He led Tang Yuanxiao back to his office.
"What I meant was, you should talk to Su Li again," the Supervisor began.
"You’ve been in this position for two years without a change. It’s time for you to move up. This is a critical moment. Just talk to Su Li. I’m sure she’ll be understanding."
Tang Yuanxiao shook his head without a word.
The Supervisor shook his head as well. "Don’t be so stubborn. If it’s hard for you to bring this up, I can talk to her with you. It’s not like you’re intentionally refusing the divorce, or that you’ll never do it. You’d just be postponing it for a little while. Two or three months at most, and it’ll be over."
"Two or three months pass in the blink of an eye, but it’s different for you. If you miss this window, it could take you two or three years, maybe even longer, to make up for it."
The Supervisor pleaded earnestly. The divorce would have a terrible impact on Tang Yuanxiao, directly affecting his career path.
"Supervisor, I know you’re all looking out for me. I also know this promotion isn’t just about me—you’ve all put in a lot of effort too. But..."
Tang Yuanxiao couldn’t bring himself to continue.
’Who knows what life will throw at you? This time it’s a promotion, but what about next time? Who can guarantee something else won’t come up?’
’Delaying it again and again would only make Su Li despise him more.’
’He couldn’t use this promotion, use his future, to go back on his word again.’
Seeing Tang Yuanxiao’s resolve, the Supervisor thought for a moment and didn’t press him further.
"Alright, we’ll respect your decision. It’s good that Su Li is willing to help keep this quiet. Otherwise, the gossip would be endless and the impact would be negative. We’ll wait until this critical period passes before letting the news out slowly."
As he left the office, Tang Yuanxiao saw Su Li hurrying over, slightly out of breath. He simply nodded at her, saying nothing.
The Director didn’t meet with Su Li. In the end, it was the Supervisor who saw them and informed them directly of the outcome.
"You can go straight and file for divorce. The matter has been officially recorded."
"You can keep living in the house that was assigned to you."
The Supervisor patted Tang Yuanxiao on the shoulder and left.
When Tang Yuanxiao and Su Li walked out of the office, Su Li’s face was relaxed, while Tang Yuanxiao was filled with nothing but melancholy.
"I won’t be going back to the Imperial City for the next couple of days, so I’ll have to impose on you for a bit..."
Su Li was being polite, but Tang Yuanxiao cut her off.
"Stop with the pleasantries."
It made him uncomfortable.
"Okay, I’ll stop," Su Li agreed with a nod.
"Let’s go." Tang Yuanxiao led the way out.
Once outside, Su Li took a few quick steps to catch up to Tang Yuanxiao. "Tang Yuanxiao," she said, "don’t worry. I’m a woman of my word."
Su Li lowered her voice. "About keeping it a secret for now—for the next couple of days, I’ll play the part of a good wife. I won’t tell anyone, and I’ll do my best to make sure no one suspects anything. I’ll handle all the necessary social obligations."
That included getting along with the other wives.
"Afterward, too. During this critical period for you, I’ll keep it a secret. If there’s anything you need my help with, I’ll do my best to cooperate."
As he listened, a complex emotion flickered in Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes, but he didn’t say much, only nodding.
Seeing more people on the path, Su Li stopped talking.
All the way back to the family courtyard, people were saluting and greeting Tang Yuanxiao, and Su Li was no exception.
She was called "sister-in-law" the entire way.
Everyone was very respectful toward a colleague’s wife; as long as the age difference wasn’t too great, "sister-in-law" was the customary form of address.
Su Li smiled and returned the greetings the whole way, putting on a show for everyone.
Yes, a show.
Tang Yuanxiao had thrown a banquet with great fanfare, so the news that Su Li had gotten into a good university was something basically everyone knew.
Aside from a select few, no one knew about their divorce, so they were met with a constant stream of envy and congratulations.
It got even more intense once they entered the family courtyard.
The moment they were inside, the two of them were pulled in separate directions.
Su Li was pulled aside by a group of wives eager to gossip, while Tang Yuanxiao was whisked away by his colleagues.
The comrades who had dragged Yu Le away at the banquet saw Tang Yuanxiao’s pale face and gave him a knowing look.
"Looks like you made up for the wedding night pretty well."
"You can say that again. Enough to make our Captain Tang look like that."
Tang Yuanxiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only shake his head without saying a word.
Yu Le, who had woken up with a hangover and a headache that still hadn’t faded, watched Tang Yuanxiao from the edge of the crowd with an expression of utter sympathy.
After making a round of pleasantries, Tang Yuanxiao finally made it home.
Su Li, however, hadn’t managed to get away yet.
"Sister Su, you’re so capable! A real college student!"
"That’s right! You’re the only college student among all of us."
"So pretty, and a college student on top of that."
"And you have such great style! Su Li, where did you buy this outfit? How much was it?"
At first, only two women had cornered Su Li, but more and more gathered around. They chattered away, one after another, until Su Li’s mouth was dry from answering. For some of the more awkward questions, all she could do was maintain a smile.
After that wave of gossipers finished, they were replaced by a group of older wives.
They weren’t asking for themselves, but for their children.
