Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 173: Why Burn Books?

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Why Burn Books?

Before Li Zishen could speak, Cheng Shi suddenly tossed aside the cigarette in his hand and came striding over, looking as if he was ready to fight someone to the death.

Wow, this guy is pretty macho!

Is he coming to rescue me?

Not bad, not bad, I’ll give you an extra chicken drumstick tomorrow, no, two pounds of beef.

Tang Xiaowan was overjoyed inside.

Chen Xin turned his head and asked, "Brother Shen?"

"Xiao Wan." Li Zishen looked toward Tang Xiaowan.

"Maybe I should head back to Jinyuan Academy first. There was a fire today, and I’m still pretty worried about it. I don’t know if..."

"Alright, go back."

As soon as he finished speaking, Tang Xiaowan quickly got out of the car. At the same time, Cheng Shi reached the sedan, timing it just right, with not a moment to spare.

A glance was exchanged, and the man immediately reined in his anger, his clenched fist also relaxing.

"Miss, are you alright?"

"I’m fine."

They asked and answered at the same time, and then both left.

It was not until she was in the black SUV that Tang Xiaowan finally breathed a sigh of relief and began to laugh uninhibitedly.

"Did you take a shortcut here?"

"Yes, Miss."

"Oh, I knew it, that was fast!"

"I’m sorry to have frightened you again, Miss."

Cheng Shi was still feeling guilty about the last time Li Zishen interrogated Leng Lingxiao.

So he thought he was late again.

Tang Xiaowan looked up at Li Zishen’s car, raised her eyebrows, and said, "No, no, you came just in time. Let’s go, hurry back to Jinyuan."

"Yes, Miss."

"Don’t take the shortcut this time; it’s not safe."

After saying this, Tang Xiaowan looked up again. She couldn’t hide her smug expression, as if she had just won a battle.

Without delay, Cheng Shi turned the steering wheel sharply, sending the SUV straight toward Li Zishen’s car. Just when it was about to collide, he turned the wheel again and then sped away.

His movements were as smooth as flowing water, done in one fluid motion.

"Damn, that’s really arrogant!"

"Brother Shen, look, he definitely did that on purpose. It’s so infuriating!"

"You shouldn’t have let Lady Tang go..."

Chen Xin was in the middle of complaining when he suddenly saw a gloomy face that looked as though it was ready to eat someone alive and quickly shut up, starting the car.

In reality, Li Zishen was not scared of Cheng Shi at all!

In the business world, he was decisive and bold, never fearing anyone. He simply did not want to make things difficult for Tang Xiaowan and, even more so, did not want to embarrass himself.

Regarding the engagement, his attitude had been clear.

Sitting next to Chen Xin, he had been refused by Tang Xiaowan, which was extremely embarrassing.

"Brother Shen, maybe tomorrow we should..."

"Just drive properly."

Chen Xin immediately sealed his lips, not daring to say another word.

The sedan slowly entered Li Garden, and under the night sky, it was so lonely.

Li Zishen felt utterly annoyed; he wished he could grab Cheng Shi and give him a thrashing. What he did not know was that at that moment, in the SUV, Tang Xiaowan was lying back lazily, humming Little Qu’er.

La la la, la la la, la la la la la, la la la, la la la, la la la la la...

The difference was, this time it was the complete version, not just the two or three lines from the dream.

She had remembered it when Leng Lingxiao hummed it.

...

At nine-thirty, Jinyuan Academy.

As soon as she got back to her place, Tang Xiaowan didn’t even stop to take a drink of water; she headed straight to the study.

She had already instructed Cheng Shi to not touch anything after extinguishing the fire, to just leave everything as it was, when she was still at Mei Garden.

"What is he looking for?"

"Couldn’t find something, got angry, and then set the fire?"

"Truly sick, despicable!"

Tang Xiaowan sized up the bookshelf, dirtied all over. Thankfully, the damage wasn’t severe, just a few reference books had their covers burned.

"Miss, the data wasn’t recovered."

"Is there really nothing left, not even a trace of a person?"

"How about asking Mr. Leng for help..."

"Why should we find him? No need, you definitely didn’t check the main gate of the neighborhood, nor the small paths leading here, right?"

Cheng Shi: "..."

"I’m afraid property management won’t agree."

"This small matter isn’t going to stump you, is it? Just now when you went to hijack a car... weren’t you quite impressive? Why is checking the surveillance such a hassle? Could it be... you don’t want to check?"

Cheng Shi suddenly stood up straight, looking ahead: "Miss, no problem, I can get it done."

Tang Xiaowan raised an eyebrow: "I believe you."

As the two were talking, Granny Yu came in with two bowls of rock sugar stewed pear, followed closely by Wang Meijuan, who was holding a broom.

"Stop what you’re doing everyone, have some sweet soup."

Tang Xiaowan smiled sweetly: "Wow, I was just getting thirsty, Granny Yu is the best."

"Cheng Shi, here’s yours."

"Thank you, Granny Yu, I..."

"Drink up, it’s okay."

Just as Cheng Shi caught the sweet soup, his phone rang inconveniently.

Holding the bowl in one hand and digging in his pocket with the other,

upon seeing the number on the phone, he frowned suddenly, his teeth clenched, and his whole demeanor became tense and uneasy.

Tang Xiaowan noticed all this but didn’t say a word.

"Wow, a few sips feel so good. I’m too tired today, I need to take a bath upstairs. Let’s... talk about it tomorrow."

"I’ll go draw a bath for Miss right now."

"No need, Meijuan, you and Cheng Shi clean up here and get some rest early too."

"What about these burned books..."

"Get a box to put them in, don’t throw them away."

After seeing off Tang Xiaowan upstairs, Wang Meijuan began tidying up the bookshelf.

Back in Mei Garden, Granny Yu would only take care of the kitchen, never bothering with anything else. Ever since coming to Jin City, she’d occasionally lend a hand, like mopping the floor or such.

So, as Wang Meijuan was organizing the books, Granny Yu brought over a bucket of water and started earnestly wiping off the dust left from extinguishing the fire.

"Hey, Cheng Shi, if you’re not working, clear off to the side; you’re in the way."

"I’ll go get a ladder."

"At least you’ve got some sense," said Wang Meijuan.

Then, Cheng Shi quickly finished his sweet soup and hurried toward the small courtyard.

Seeing this, Granny Yu tapped the table twice with her hand.

"Meijuan, that’s enough. Does this little job really need him to step in? Don’t you know he’s just a brute? He’s been driving around, exhausted!"

"Granny Yu, you always side with him."

"Quickly spit out that sweet soup, who just now in the kitchen... drank such a big bowl!"

Granny Yu said, gesticulating.

Her words made Wang Meijuan feel embarrassed. She quickly closed the door to the study.

"Alright, alright, I got it."

"Yo, afraid someone will hear, haha."

Granny Yu laughed even louder and deliberately opened the door again.

"Not at all. I’m just worried that when I sweep later, the dust will go everywhere and disturb Miss’s rest."

"Oh, so considerate, hahaha."

As the two joked around, Cheng Shi entered carrying a ladder, still with a furrowed brow.

Wang Meijuan, feeling a bit guilty, quickly went to help with the ladder, while Granny Yu, nodding continually, went on to wipe the small desk.

"Eh, it seems like there’s something!"

Cheng Shi turned to look, his face ashen: "What is it, where?"

"Under the desk," Granny Yu answered.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense; no one joked anymore as they all turned to look at the small desk.