Free Web NovelChapter 59: Chapter 59: Second Update
Qin Shanshan had come to deliver some lovingly-made pastries, but she left with a gut full of resentment.
She clearly hadn’t said anything funny, yet Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao had burst out laughing.
That private joke between Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao, that shared understanding only they possessed, made Qin Shanshan so jealous she nearly lost her composure.
In the end, of course, she didn’t. Instead, she left dejectedly with a forced smile. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
The pastries she had so carefully prepared all ended up being eaten by Mrs. Tang.
Although her first attempt had been a failure, Qin Shanshan wasn’t one to give up so easily.
The next day, Su Li woke up early to the sound of Qin Shanshan’s coquettish laughter.
Qin Shanshan was all dolled up first thing in the morning, standing beside Tang Yuanxiao during his morning exercises with a lovestruck expression, "Brother Tang Yuan" this and "Brother Tang Yuan" that.
Tang Yuanxiao and Little Tang Mo’s faces darkened. When they saw Su Li appear, they both breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief.
"You’re up." Tang Yuanxiao scooped Little Tang Mo up from the ground and strode quickly toward Su Li, speaking impatiently.
"Caihua came to see you. Little Mo and I are heading out for a bit."
He pointed at Qin Shanshan behind him, then turned and left the courtyard with Little Tang Mo in his arms.
"Hey..." Su Li called out, but the father and son had already vanished. freēwebnovel.com
They moved with such agility that if Su Li hadn’t already seen Qin Shanshan, she would have suspected a dog was chasing them.
Speechless, Su Li turned back to Qin Shanshan. "What are you doing here?"
Her tone was not pleasant.
Qin Shanshan’s expression was just as sour. "My mom and Aunt Tang made plans to make tofu today."
Outside the main gate, Tang Yuanxiao and Little Tang Mo looked at each other, their eyes meeting, and let out a mutual sigh of relief.
Tang Yuanxiao hadn’t actually considered that Qin Shanshan would be interested in a married man like him. He just wasn’t used to being around her. That morning, Qin Shanshan had cornered him as he was about to exercise and had then followed him, chattering nonstop.
He couldn’t fathom how she had so much to say. In just a few short minutes, the noise was already driving him crazy.
Qin Shanshan, unaware that Tang Yuanxiao found her annoying, grew anxious when she saw him leave and wanted only to follow him.
"Su Li, you go on with your business. I’m just going home for a second, I’ll be back later," Qin Shanshan said perfunctorily, then took off after them.
Su Li’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she watched her retreating back.
’She and Tang Yuanxiao were definitely getting a divorce, but Qin Shanshan could forget about her dream coming true!’
It was unclear if Qin Shanshan ever caught up to the father and son. In any case, they returned shortly after. Su Li, still preoccupied with the divorce, wanted to have another serious talk with Tang Yuanxiao, but her chance was lost.
No sooner had they stepped inside than Qin Shanshan arrived at the Tang Family home, dragging Aunt Li along to make tofu.
The Tang and Qin families made tofu together almost every year, so it was a familiar routine. Tang Yuanxiao actively helped out, and Qin Shanshan just buzzed around him with "Brother Tang Yuan" this and "Brother Tang Yuan" that.
With that lovestruck look on her face, you would think her own husband had come home.
Su Li watched with a cold gaze, keeping as far away from Tang Yuanxiao as she could. It was as if she were the outsider. Little Tang Mo stuck close to Su Li, growing more and more silent.
Before long, the only sound in the courtyard was Qin Shanshan’s coquettish laughter; all other noises had ceased.
Even Aunt Li and Mrs. Tang, as unobservant as they could be, started to feel the awkwardness. Aunt Li couldn’t help but call Qin Shanshan over to help her.
"Shanshan, stop bothering your Brother Tang Yuan all the time."
Mrs. Tang also spoke up, asking Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao to work together.
The atmosphere in the courtyard slowly eased. Little Tang Mo, following Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao, gradually broke into a smile and even offered to help.
A little boy his size, what help could he be? It was more like he was getting in the way than helping.
But he didn’t see it that way. His expression was a picture of seriousness, and he kept looking over at Su Li and Tang Yuanxiao, his face practically begging for praise.
"Little Mo is so capable," Su Li said, not stingy with her praise.
Tang Yuanxiao followed her lead. Whenever Little Tang Mo looked at him, he would praise him, "Momo is so capable."
Little Tang Mo’s face turned bright red from all the praise, and he worked with even more enthusiasm.
Watching Little Tang Mo’s blushing face and his little secret smiles, Su Li couldn’t help but think of the Tang Mo from her past life—the Tang Mo who had become a mute, his gaze cold and distant...
A flash of pain crossed Su Li’s eyes. Just as she was about to pat Little Tang Mo’s head, she inadvertently caught Qin Shanshan’s gaze from the side.
Qin Shanshan was staring at Little Tang Mo, her eyes incredibly cold and filled with disgust.
Su Li’s expression instantly turned icy.
She gave a cold laugh, then got up and moved to a new spot, blocking Qin Shanshan’s view of Tang Yuanxiao.
When Tang Yuanxiao saw Su Li suddenly move closer, he was stunned for a moment before a flicker of a smile flashed in his eyes. "Are you tired?"
He paused, then added, "If you’re tired, go rest on the side."
Su Li caught a glimpse of Qin Shanshan’s nervous expression out of the corner of her eye. She thought for a moment, then stood up.
"I am a little tired."
"If you’re tired, go rest over there. I can handle the rest."
Tang Yuanxiao wiped his hands and picked up Little Tang Mo. "Momo, go with your mother."
He carried Little Tang Mo into the main hall, set him down on a chair, and then moved another chair over for Su Li. "Sit."
Su Li glanced at Qin Shanshan’s ugly expression, then smiled and sat down.
Tang Yuanxiao’s entire face brightened.
Little Tang Mo leaned against Su Li’s legs, sipping water and whispering secrets to her.
"Mom, I’m a little scared of her. I don’t like it when she looks at me."
Without realizing it, Little Tang Mo had grown more and more dependent on Su Li and had started to share his innermost thoughts with her.
"I know." Su Li stroked Little Tang Mo’s head.
"I don’t like her either. From now on, Little Mo, don’t be alone with her, okay?"
Qin Shanshan had never liked Little Tang Mo, and Su Li had seen the cold, disgusted look she gave the boy with perfect clarity.
’It was precisely because I saw this so clearly that I suppressed my own discomfort and deliberately acted affectionately with Tang Yuanxiao in front of her. Not only that, from now on I won’t be a cold observer. Instead, I’ll actively sabotage her attempts to get close to Tang Yuanxiao, shut her down at every turn, and find a way to stop her from marrying him.’
’The reason I’m doing this, aside from not wanting to let her get her way, is, most importantly, that I cannot let this vicious woman become Little Tang Mo’s stepmother.’
’If events continue to follow the trajectory of my past life and Qin Shanshan marries Tang Yuanxiao, then my efforts to save Little Tang Mo will have been for nothing!’
’If the human traffickers’ den was a tiger’s mouth, then Qin Shanshan’s home is a wolf’s den. Either way, Little Tang Mo will end up suffering.’
’No matter how smart Little Tang Mo is, he’s still just a child. How could he possibly win against a wicked stepmother?’
’So, even if it’s just for Little Tang Mo’s sake, I have to get involved.’
Having made her decision, Su Li waited until she saw Qin Shanshan once again approach Tang Yuanxiao to make small talk, and then spoke in a cool voice.
"Tang Yuanxiao, come here for a second."
Hearing this, Tang Yuanxiao immediately turned and walked toward Su Li.
Su Li’s and Qin Shanshan’s gazes clashed in mid-air. Qin Shanshan’s eyes were filled with hatred, while Su Li’s were filled with scorn.
She silently mouthed two words at Qin Shanshan—"Bring it."
’Bring it on, if you’ve got the guts!’
