Mr. Bo, Madam Is Pregnant!
Chapter 304: Performance

Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Performance

"I didn’t want Xiao Le to know too much of the unhappiness and gloom, so I didn’t say anything. He still likes you very much. Even though he clearly suffered this time, he doesn’t blame you at all; he still thinks you are great,"

Su Lu said, lifting her eyes to look at Bo Jingshen, "He is a good kid."

"I know, he is a good kid," Bo Jingshen nodded without a moment’s hesitation.

Su Lu: "He even worries that you would be too sad. So..."

She suddenly stopped, not continuing further.

Bo Jingshen, thinking of that adorable child, felt an infinite tenderness in his heart. Seeing Su Lu suddenly stop speaking, he asked, "So...?"

"Not giving him a complete family is something we owe him, not just you, I owe him too. He envies others for having a father, he is proud that his dad is so handsome, he likes you," Su Lu looked at him, "So no matter what’s between us, Xiao Le hasn’t done anything wrong, and if possible, I hope you could meet him. He’s really looking forward to seeing you."

Bo Jingshen’s heart shook; he could hardly believe it.

For that reason, he opened his mouth, but it took him a long while to speak.

Su Lu couldn’t wait for him to speak, furrowed her brows, thinking he might have a new life already, a new family in the future, then she added, "Of course, if it interferes with your new life, affects your new family, then pretend I didn’t say anything."

She had managed her son’s longing for a father quite well these years and could handle it in the future too.

Bo Jingshen, hearing these words, suddenly snapped back to attention, "I don’t have one."

"What?" Su Lu asked, puzzled.

"I don’t have a new family, so there’s nothing to affect," Bo Jingshen said, "Xiao Le can see me whenever he wants."

As he spoke, he paused for a moment, then repeated it again, with more emphasis, "Anytime."

These words made Su Lu feel somewhat better, at least for Xiao Le’s sake it was a good thing.

Su Lu nodded, "Okay, then when he’s feeling better, I’ll have him contact you. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going."

She hadn’t touched her hot drink at all.

Su Lu took a banknote out of her pocket and placed it under the cup.

Bo Jingshen looked at the banknote, his eyes darkening, feeling uneasy about being placed on the opposing side, or perhaps, the side of strangers.

This woman had always been so clear about her boundaries.

It was only when he was really put on the other side by her that Bo Jingshen realized how happy he had been to be treated with her tenderness in the past.

Bo Jingshen stood up as well, "I’ll walk you out."

"No need. It’s just across the street," Su Lu said, "I can go back by myself."

After Su Lu finished speaking, she turned around and was ready to leave, but Bo Jingshen reached out and grasped her wrist, "It’s too late, I’ll escort you."

"I’ve said there’s no need!" Su Lu’s voice suddenly raised a few octaves, forcefully withdrawing her wrist, her gaze filled with wariness as she looked at him.

Bo Jingshen was somewhat stunned, staring blankly at her.

Su Lu took a deep breath, managing to calm her emotions somewhat.

Out of the blue, a gentle tapping sound came from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Turning her head, she saw a man with a tender gaze standing outside.

Who else could it be but Qiao Li?

Bo Jingshen’s gaze had grown somewhat lackluster, but upon seeing Qiao Li, it filled again with deep caution. Like a beast trapped in a corner, already feeling somewhat powerless, but still instinctively on guard when a rival appeared.

Qiao Li walked in, the smile on his face as gentle as ever, "It’s late, and I was worried, so I came to pick you up."

After finishing this sentence to Su Lu, he then looked at Bo Jingshen and nodded politely, his voice calm and courteous, "President Bo, it’s a pleasure to meet you."

Bo Jingshen gave a slight nod, remaining silent.

Su Lu gave Qiao Li a superficial smile. "What’s there to worry about? I’m all grown up now. Oh, right."

Su Lu beckoned the waiter and said, "Pack me a slice of tiramisu."

"Of course."

The waiter left to pack it up.

Qiao Li said with a smile, "I thought you’d forgotten."

In reality, he had been able to accurately find his way here because during their previous phone call, he had probed Su Lu. He’d deliberately told her to pack some tiramisu, knowing that of the spots near the hospital, it was likely that only this cafe would offer tiramisu to go.

So he was fairly certain she must have come here.

And so Qiao Li had come searching and, unexpectedly, found her here.

Unexpectedly, she was meeting with Bo Jingshen.

Though Qiao Li’s expression remained calm and gentle as ever, his heart was anything but steady.

Bo Jingshen was a formidable opponent indeed, so formidable that Qiao Li couldn’t help but feel wary.

After all, it was because of Bo that Lulu had closed her heart off for nearly six years.

Qiao Li accepted the cake and then turned to Bo Jingshen, saying, "President Bo, we’ll take our leave first."

Only then did he and Su Lu leave the cafe together.

Bo Jingshen watched their retreating figures. His hand clenched so tightly, his fingernails dug too forcefully into his palm, breaking the skin and letting blood seep out, leaving his palm slick.

His lips pressed tightly together, his teeth almost biting his inner lip until it bled.

Still, it hurt too much.

No matter how much he prepared himself, the pain was unbearable.

As he heard Qiao Li take leave of him with the posture of a man who belonged beside her, as he saw the two of them walk away shoulder to shoulder...

It felt as if he were being sliced by a blade over and over, the pain so relentless that it left him breathless.

It was only now that he took a few deep breaths.

"Sir, are you alright?" The waiter, noticing Bo’s pallid complexion and that he seemed somewhat unwell, asked with concern.

No wonder the waiter was worried; after all, this was right across from a hospital.

Who knew if those coming here for a drink might actually be patients from the hospital across the street?

After Su Lu and Qiao Li left the cafe, they fell into silence.

Back in the cafe, in front of Bo Jingshen, the two had seemed in sync... but now that harmony seemed to vanish suddenly, leaving both acutely aware of a certain truth.

They might both have been pretending earlier.

She was pretending, hoping to show Bo Jingshen that she and Qiao Li were doing well together.

Qiao Li was pretending, hoping to show Bo that they were doing well.

Su Lu felt a bit despicable because, in hindsight, she felt like she’d been using Qiao Li as a shield, to make herself less conspicuous in front of Bo.

And yet, Qiao Li couldn’t help but ask, "Lulu, why... did you agree to meet with him?"

As soon as he spoke, Qiao Li felt sorrowful, realizing just how pitiful he’d become at that moment.

Pitifully craving a reason, even a fabricated one, anything to dispel the unease in his heart.