Chapter 649 - 647: Unacceptable

Tang Mo’s words were cut off, a momentary look of bewilderment on his face.

When the realization dawned, disbelief also appeared in Tang Mo’s eyes.

"Dad, you... you don’t know?"

’He really doesn’t know Mom is getting married?’

’That’s impossible. The date was set so long ago, and all the preparations have been so hectic lately. It’s not like it was a secret, so how could Tang Yuanxiao not know?’

But Tang Yuanxiao... really didn’t know.

He truly didn’t know, and he hadn’t heard a thing.

Tang Yuanxiao’s expression shifted from bewilderment to disbelief, then to icy coldness. Tang Mo watched him, wanting to say something, but in the end, he said nothing at all.

After a long while, Tang Mo finally heard Tang Yuanxiao’s voice.

"Is it true?"

Tang Mo looked at Tang Yuanxiao and finally nodded. "Yes. The eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month."

’The eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month... The eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month. So not only is it true, but the date is already set.’

And it was just half a month away.

In half a month, Su Li would be marrying Wu Sheng.

From the sound of it, this date and this news must have been decided long ago. He was the only one who didn’t know.

He was probably the last to know, finally finding out just half a month before the wedding.

Tang Yuanxiao tugged at the corners of his mouth, forcing a smile that was uglier than a grimace of tears.

"If... if I hadn’t seen you today, if I hadn’t asked, would I have just never known?"

’Would he only have found out after Su Li and Wu Sheng were already married, after everything was over?’

’It was entirely possible.’

Tang Yuanxiao suddenly felt an urge to laugh, an overwhelming urge.

And so he did. He let out a low, quiet laugh.

Tang Mo watched Tang Yuanxiao, opening his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately said nothing, silently observing his father.

The memories of when he had tried to help his dad win his mom back still felt as clear as day.

But in reality, everything had vanished like a puff of smoke; the people were the same, but the circumstances were not.

Tang Mo sat with Tang Yuanxiao in silence.

Tang Yuanxiao laughed for a while before the sound slowly died down, leaving only silence.

He should have found the whole thing unbelievable. But in truth, after thinking it over, it didn’t seem so unbelievable after all. It was actually quite normal.

It happens all the time with cheating boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, or wives. The people around them often know, while the one who should know—the person involved—is the last to find out.

And why is that? Because the friends who know find it too awkward or can’t bear to tell them the truth.

He was probably... in the same situation.

No one could bear to tell him, or perhaps they just wouldn’t.

Everyone knew Su Li was his ex-wife—his remarkably successful ex-wife who had soared to new heights.

His ex-wife was getting married. If she were marrying someone worse off than him, people would have definitely told him. But that wasn’t the case.

His ex-wife was marrying someone better, more outstanding than him. How could they bring themselves to tell him? They wouldn’t know what to say.

They probably pitied him and gossiped behind his back. They probably all assumed he already knew, and in the end, no one said a word.

So, Su Li and Wu Sheng had set the date long ago and were busy with lively wedding preparations, while he was kept in the dark like a fool, completely clueless.

Tang Yuanxiao recalled how Lin Huanzhu had seemed to be holding something back a couple of days ago, and how Miao Zhi and the others in the family compound had looked like they wanted to say something but stopped.

’So that’s... what it was about.’

If he hadn’t found out, he never would have thought back on it, and he never would have realized how many people had been hesitant to speak.

But thinking back carefully, that hesitation, that strangeness, had actually been there for a long time.

Tang Yuanxiao had already finished his training and completed his professional studies, further enhancing his personal skills and abilities.

He had officially returned to his regular post, and his position had been elevated.

Barring any surprises, this was the path he was meant to walk, his bright future.

He was working hard, not paying any special attention to the looks or the quiet discussions happening behind his back.

He hadn’t paid any mind to the times when people were chatting happily, only to fall silent the moment he arrived. It never occurred to him that this might be what they were talking about.

Their strange behavior, their hesitation—thinking back on it now, it all clicked into place with a sense of sudden realization.

He found it laughable. His heart filled with an unnamable resentment, but in the end, there was no way to vent it.

Because even if they had told him sooner, even if he had known all along, so what?

What could he have changed?

Even though Tang Yuanxiao knew this was the reality, his heart was still flooded with resentment and bitterness.

He couldn’t accept it. He just couldn’t accept it.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Tang Mo asked tentatively, seeing that his father’s expression was off.

Tang Yuanxiao looked up at Tang Mo and stared for a long time before finally speaking, his voice terribly hoarse.

"The eighteenth of the twelfth lunar month—is that confirmed?"

He couldn’t help but confirm.

Tang Mo nodded. "Mhm, it’s confirmed. The restaurant is booked, the guest list is finalized, and the invitations are being sent out."

Tang Mo gave Tang Yuanxiao a definitive answer.

Tang Yuanxiao’s lips twitched. "Is she... is your mom happy?"

It was a pointless question. Tang Mo didn’t answer, just nodded silently.

Tang Yuanxiao knew he’d asked a stupid question. He shook his head, wanting to shut up, but he couldn’t stop himself from asking another.

"What about you? Momo, can you accept it?"

This time, Tang Mo nodded firmly. "I can. Mom asked me about it."

With that answer, all the strength seemed to drain from Tang Yuanxiao’s body.

Marriage is a major life event. Since they’d made the decision, they must have thought everything through. He was just the one who couldn’t accept it.

After that, Tang Yuanxiao didn’t speak again. He just sat there, and Tang Mo sat with him for a long time.

After a while, he glanced at the time, then at the darkening sky outside, and couldn’t help but remind his father.

"Dad, it’s getting late. We should head back."

Tang Yuanxiao was jolted back to the present and finally nodded. "Okay, let’s go back."

He went to pay the bill. Tang Mo, shouldering his backpack, was about to follow when he suddenly spotted a familiar figure outside.

"Huh? Aunt Lin?"

Tang Yuanxiao froze for a second. "What?"

"I saw Aunt Lin walk by. Lin Gong’an," Tang Mo replied.

Tang Yuanxiao’s steps faltered. He had been about to walk out, but he stopped dead.

"Why did you stop, Dad? Did you forget something?" Tang Mo asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, I think I forgot something. I’ll go check." Tang Yuanxiao immediately turned back to look for the nonexistent forgotten item, only returning a moment later.

Tang Mo didn’t realize Tang Yuanxiao was avoiding Lin Huanzhu and was even a little disappointed they had missed the chance to say hello.

Tang Yuanxiao’s expression was stiff. He didn’t respond to Tang Mo’s comment. When he dropped Tang Mo off at the residential complex, he didn’t leave straight away as he usually did.

"Momo, I want to see your mom. I need to see her."

In the end, Tang Yuanxiao couldn’t bear the news of Su Li’s marriage and needed to see her.

He knew that Su Li would probably marry Wu Sheng sooner or later, and he thought he had mentally prepared himself for it. But now that he’d actually heard the news, he still found it impossible to accept, impossible to bear.

Tang Mo looked into Tang Yuanxiao’s eyes. "Mom might be home late."

"I’ll wait for her," Tang Yuanxiao said without any hesitation.