Chapter 372: Sorry, you are?
Beside Xu Tingsheng, Li Linlin who had constantly been paying attention to him apprehended this gaze.
Actually, she should be the one who most suspected this in the first place. In truth, she had indeed been feeling curious all along as to Xu Tingshengâs concern for and treatment of this âstudentâ of his which had already long surpassed ordinary bounds as well as common sense.
Earlier, she had also heard about Ning Garden, special-grade prize, half-price flatâŠ
Li Linlin knew of Xu Tingshengâs relationship with Zhicheng Real EstateâŠ
Now, coupled with this gaze which was clearly out of the realm of the ordinary, she vaguely sensed that an answer had finally come to what she ha.d always been guessing yet had thought to be impossible.
She feigned nonchalance as best she could, looking downwards and covering her mouth with a hand.
There were just too many things that she could not understand here, too many mysteries and too many inconceivable thingsâŠafter all, she was acquainted with Lu Zhixin and knew Apple.
âJust like that, theyâveâŠlost to this young girl?â
Having interacted with Little Xiang Ning for a very long time, Li Linlin really liked her a lot as they shared a very close relationship. Still, if one were to say that she who was just sixteen right now was comparable to the beautiful and competent Lu Zhixin whom one could not help but admire, or Apple who was currently at the peak of her popularity and looked set to become a legend in showbizâŠ
Li Linlin had no way of rationalising this through.
She secretly tilted her head and stole a glance at Xu Tingsheng. However much she was unable to comprehend this, however shocking the matter was, since Xu Tingsheng wanted to keep it a secret, she would not tell anyone about it, Old Wai included, although he too had been curious about it before.
He was someone who had saved her life before, next having wholly changed it for the better.
Xiang Ningâs cousin Liu Yingru, the daughter of her eldest aunt, had already deliberately walked past Xu Tingsheng a couple of times.
Now, secretly tugging at Little Xiang Ning, she whispered into her ear, âThat Xu Tingsheng clearly looks quite niceâŠâ
âHe does?â Little Xiang Ning asked with a solemn expression on her face, âI feel that he doesnât look very nice at all! Also, heâs really very fierce and very hateful too.â
The Xiang family had set up four tables for they and their guests for dinner that night. In truth, just like Liu Yingru, there were actually quite a few people who had heard of Xu Tingsheng before who had been secretly paying attention to him ever since learning of his presence.
This was mainly thanks to âComrade Cousinâ and that laughable gossip which had emerged from her mouth regarding her daughter Li Meng, the Xiang family and Xu Tingsheng, which she had spread around with a vengeance.
It would be difficult for the Xiang familyâs relatives to not know of Xu Tingsheng.
Now, the Xiang family that had constantly been avoiding this topic before had actually invited Xu Tingsheng to their home in such an upright and aboveboard manner to express their gratitude to him as one of those who had taught their daughterâŠ
In the end, just like Mr Xiang had predicted, most of these people were shut up by this as their opinions on the matter changed too.
On one hand, they became increasingly sceptical of this auntie of Xiang Ningâs who was a well-known gossip.
On the other, having learnt of Xu Tingshengâs background and witnessed him in person, a portion of them privately felt that it wouldnât be a loss even if this matter was real. Wouldnât it be a heavensent blessing whichever family it was that managed to âacquireâ him? Who would willingly see him fall into the hands of another?
âAs I see it, itâs okay if it isnât real, but if it is, even I feel that he should really pick the little girl of the Xiang family. All that means is maybe waiting another year or two at most.â
âRight, the Xiang familyâs little girl is much better looking than that Li Meng.â
âSetting appearances aside, just look at Li Mengâs mother and how that child has been learning from her, her mouth becoming more and more toxic by the day. With that, who would dare want her daughter?â
âWhat she said was that her daughter caught the eye of this Mr Xu right away. I guess weâll see about that, huhâŠâ
Discussions were rife as more and more gazes were directed over now. While Li Meng and her mother who were currently also present felt quite uncomfortable, it was more of excitement that they felt.
The mind of Li Mengâs mother was filled with what Li Meng had conveyed to her. She believed that Xu Tingsheng might indeed have been interested in her daughter initially, believed that this might just be another chance that had comeâŠâa golden gooseâ son-in-law! If she had previously known that this might happen, she would not have spread all the gossip that she had.
Li Meng thought that it might really just have been the little girl being wilful at the time. The so-called questionable relationship between the two had merely been a baseless claim on her part due to her anger and shame from back thenâŠ
Thus, Li Meng also believed that it seemed like she should try to strike up a conversation with Xu Tingsheng again.
Admitting that her previous words had been totally unwarranted and apologising to the Xiang family for themâŠthat would really be impossibleâŠ
Her mother pushed her forward, egging her on.
Li Meng spiritedly stood up and adjusted her clothes and hair before walking gracefully towards Xu Tingsheng.
Being in the midst of conversing with Xiang Ningâs Grandma, Xu Tingsheng did not notice her.
Everyone else, however, directed their gazes at him and Li Meng who was currently walking towards him. Having heard so many rumours before, now was finally the time to see if it was really like how her mother said it was, that they had had a matchmaking session before, thus having rather positive impressions of each other.
The atmosphere suddenly quietened greatly.
Arriving in front of Xu Tingsheng, Li Meng plastered a sweet smile on her face and called out, âXu TingshengâŠoh, youâre here too! I didnât see you just now. Itâs been a long time, huh.â
Xu Tingsheng smiled apologetically towards Xiang Ningâs Grandma before looking up rather blankly.
Seeing a young woman in front of him, he appeared momentarily confused before he asked with an apologetic smile on his face, âHelloâŠum, sorry, you are?â
Deathly silence descended.
A pair of chopsticks fell onto the ground. Even this little sound was obtrusive indeed, contrasted as it was against an utter silence.
In actual fact, when Li Meng had come to talk to Xu Tingsheng, whatever the two talked about, however Xu Tingsheng acted towards her, she and her big-mouthed mother would have been able to construe it to their benefit in some way nevertheless.
If Xu Tingsheng was very cordial and friendly towards Li Meng, that would naturally be best. âComrade cousinâ could say, âSee, I told you. The two of them hit it off well since way back.â
If Xu Tingsheng was very cold to Li Meng, she could similarly say, âSigh, look! Could it be any more obvious? The Xiang family said bad things behind her back, creating a misunderstanding.â
Who would have thought that Xu Tingsheng might actually start with aâŠit caused all their hopes to dissipate into nothingness. He, he doesnât even know who your daughter is in the first placeâŠ
âIt doesnât look like heâs faking it?â
âRight, it looks like he really canât remember her.â
âThen, doesnât this mean thatâŠâ
âThey hit it off wellâŠhaâŠwhat a joke. The Xiang family really suffered wrongfully then, having been at the brunt of so much terrible gossip.â
âHe doesnât even remember her face. How could they really have hit it off? The Xiang family is really too nice. If it were me and I made arrangements to get them to meet out of goodwill, and she dared to fabricate things like this and blame it all on me just because it failed, I would have ripped off her mouth long agoâŠâ
Low laughter, scornful, disparaging noises and sounds of discussion arose.
From Xu Tingshengâs expression, they judged that he really didnât seem to remember Li Meng.
Thatâs right, Xu Tingsheng wasnât faking it. His acting skills werenât that great; he had really been unable to recognise her at first glance. As people often came over to say hi to him too whether he was at school or outside, he had gotten used to politely enquiring who they were.
Xu Tingsheng bore no ill will towards Li Meng.
Mr and Mrs Xiang had dared not let Little Xiang Ning learn about the nasty gossip spread by that auntie of hers as even she was not aware of it. With that, there was naturally no way Xu Tingsheng could have known about this.
Thus, how could he possibly have felt hatred towards Li Meng as a result?
While Little Xiang Ning had said that she did not like that cousin of her motherâs, she had simply said that she had been very bothersome regarding the matter of the flats. The little girl had only complained about this, not having spoken more on the matter. Not being some little kid, there was no way Xu Tingsheng would feel anger towards Li Meng as a result, hence deliberately causing her to lose face.
He had really failed to recognise her.