Chapter 105: Everything Comes to Light
When the two arrived at Zhao Hu’s restaurant, he was smoking at the entrance. Seeing them approach, he immediately stubbed out his cigarette.
Straightening his clothes, he hurried over to meet them. “What would you two brothers like to eat?”
Chen Jiamu looked at Zhao Hu, a smile playing on his lips. He walked up to him and patted his shoulder. “Good man!”
Toward Zhao Hu, Chen Jiamu had long since lost the arrogance of his youth. Perhaps it was because he had experienced the struggle of the bottom rungs himself, realizing how hard life was for someone like Zhao Hu who lacked a background.
“Let’s go inside first. It’s cold out here.”
As soon as Li Xi finished speaking, a gust of frigid wind swept across the sky, making everyone shiver. Zhao Hu’s eyes met Li Xi’s, and he immediately shrank back in fright.
“Right! Right! Inside first!”
Gulp…
Zhao Hu swallowed hard, not daring to have even the slightest physical contact with Chen Jiamu.
The three walked into the restaurant. Li Xi remained silent behind the other two. Once they entered the private box, Zhao Hu didn’t dare linger. He steeled himself to listen as they finished ordering and then fled the room at top speed.
Eat together?
You have to be alive to eat!
“Why did he run off so fast?”
Chen Jiamu had just finished ordering and hadn’t even had the chance to invite Zhao Hu to join them before the man bolted.
“Maybe… nature called.”
“After all, man has his three urgencies.”
Li Xi glanced at the door, lying through his teeth with a perfectly calm expression.
“Give me a break!”
Chen Jiamu glared at him. He didn’t need to guess to know it was Li Xi’s doing. Although he didn’t know what Li Xi had done to make Zhao Hu so terrified of him, it was definitely his fault.
“What did I do now?”
“I didn’t do anything at all.”
Li Xi spread his hands, looking utterly innocent. Chen Jiamu rolled his eyes at him.
That damn possessiveness…
Chen Jiamu felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Later, Zhao Hu simply didn’t dare to show his face at all. He had the server bring the dishes, even instructing the server to explain that since the end of the year was approaching, business was too hectic for him to pull away. He asked them not to be angry and said the meal was on the house.
Chen Jiamu didn’t want to eat for free, so with a wave of his hand, he dismissed the server.
“I’m telling you, the guy did spend time with us back then.”
“We’re technically friends. Don’t be so stingy. Besides, Zhao Hu probably has a wife by now. You’re guarding against him as if I could actually be interested in him.”
It was lucky Zhao Hu wasn’t there, or he would have coughed up blood from anger upon hearing Chen Jiamu’s words.
The truth was a bit hurtful, but at least it was honest. Chen Jiamu only saw Zhao Hu as a friend; he hadn’t reached the point of being so desperate as to have a “crush” on a rough fellow like him.
Besides, with Li Xi’s handsome face right there, would he be crazy or brain-damaged to like a rustic man instead?
Clearly, his words were music to Li Xi’s ears. Li Xi knew he was being a bit overly protective; he just felt uncomfortable seeing Jiamu chatting and laughing with other men.
“Should I call him back then?”
Li Xi asked tentatively, but his gaze remained calm as ever.
“Forget it. He’s already out, let it be.”
“Hurry up and eat. After we finish, we’ll head to Song Ayi’s place to see how their preparations are going.”
“I wonder if she knows that Li Ru is the biological son of the Song parents.”
“If…”
“She knows.” Li Xi interrupted before Chen Jiamu could finish.
Chen Jiamu froze for a moment. Then, his eyes widened, and he grabbed Li Xi’s hand in disbelief. “How do you know?”
“You only found out recently, didn’t you? How did she find out?”
“Ouyang Qing told me.” Li Xi calmly took out his phone and pulled up his chat history with Ouyang Qing.
Looking at the chat logs, the corners of Chen Jiamu’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.
“So he was the one who told you.”
“No, this was the only thing he told me. I investigated the rest myself.”
Li Xi corrected Chen Jiamu’s statement. After hearing this, Chen Jiamu was silent for a long time before finally letting out a helpless sigh.
“Tell me, how are there so many twists and turns?”
“I really don’t understand why they did it.”
“Since Li Ru is their son, why didn’t they just recognize each other and let Song Ayi be free?”
Chen Jiamu didn’t understand, but Li Xi quickly provided the answer. He calmly took a sip of tea and then slowly revealed a startling secret.
“Because Li Ru’s adoptive parents were driven to jump off a building by them. That double suicide incident ten years ago was their doing. It was only later they discovered Li Ru was their long-lost son. To make amends, they tied Song Jin to his side.”
“Ah? Is that how it is?” Chen Jiamu was thoroughly shocked now. He had heard of that couple’s suicide, but he never expected the inside story to be like this.
“Yes.”
Li Xi placed some food in Jiamu’s bowl, reminding him to eat. Despite his shock, Chen Jiamu didn’t forget to take a bite. This world was truly hard to judge.
After finishing their meal, the two rushed to Song Jin’s residence. Just as they were about to knock, Ouyang Qing pushed the door open.
He was stunned for a moment to see them. “The two of you…”
Realizing who it was, he stepped back and called into the house, “A-Jin, Xiao Xi and Jiamu are here.”
As soon as Ouyang Qing spoke, Song Jin poked her head out. Seeing them, her face immediately lit up with a smile.
“How did you two come here together?”
“Come, come in and sit.”
Song Jin warmly invited them inside, while Ouyang Qing brought in the packages from the door. Only he and Song Jin lived in this house, so they did many things themselves. He actually quite enjoyed this lifestyle.
Entering the house, the two noticed a coffee table full of red invitations, with two calligraphy brushes lying beside them.
“Song Ayi, are you planning to hand-write these yourself?”
Chen Jiamu leaned in curiously, inspecting the ink that hadn’t yet dried.
“Yes, after all, there are only a few people.”
A smile graced Song Jin’s face, and the happiness in her eyes made anyone who saw her feel glad for her from the bottom of their hearts.
“Sit down, let me tidy up.”
Song Jin organized the tabletop in an orderly fashion while Ouyang Qing helped from the side. Chen Jiamu and Li Xi locked eyes and shared a knowing, synchronized smile.
In the end, the two had a meal at Song Jin’s and then left. They also learned that after holding the wedding in China, the couple planned to move abroad permanently.
Regarding the matter of Li Ru, Song Jin was very calm. It was as if she had been liberated; she was much more vibrant than before.
She even teased Li Xi, asking when he would get married so she could experience the joy of being a grandmother.
Li Xi remained silent for a long time and did not answer her question. Song Jin tactfully stopped pressing. On the way back, Li Xi suddenly stopped the car and looked at Chen Jiamu with a serious expression.
“What’s wrong?”
Chen Jiamu felt puzzled, not understanding why Li Xi had stopped so abruptly. Li Xi swallowed nervously, and then his voice trembled as he said, “Wait… after Song Ayi’s wedding is over, let’s go to Holland and get our license.”
“I…”
“Are you afraid that more delays will lead to more trouble?” Chen Jiamu finished the sentence for him, a doting smile on his face. He reached out and pinched Li Xi’s cheek, leaning in close with a tender gaze. “If you’re so afraid of delays, why not go tomorrow?”
“Okay!” Li Xi’s eyes widened, the joy within them lighting up the warmth inside the car.
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