Chapter 961: Calculating Scholar 16

“Then… is there someone you like?” Ye Qingtong asked.

Tang Wan was momentarily stunned, then lowered her gaze with a blush and nodded. “Mm.”

At that, Ye Qingtong was instantly overjoyed. In his mind, this answer was clearly meant for him.

Just as he was about to ask further, Li Fuze stepped out from the neighboring courtyard.

The moment he saw Ye Qingtong standing at Tang Wan’s door, alarm bells rang in his mind. Over the past two years, as Tang Wan grew more and more beautiful, many people had come forward with marriage proposals. But because he had been subtly brainwashing her—making himself the only one in her heart—she had rejected them all.

But this time was different. Ye Qingtong had saved her on the mountain.

Women were always easily moved by a life-saving favor. If Tang Wan developed feelings for him because of that and decided to marry him, then what would happen to all of Li Fuze’s plans?

With that thought, he immediately walked over. “Wan Wan!” he called out, then turned to Ye Qingtong. “Brother Ye is here?”

Ye Qingtong nodded faintly. “Mm. I happened to be working in Tangjia Village today. I passed by, so I came to check on her.”

“In that case, there’s no need to trouble you further. I’ll take care of Wan Wan,” Li Fuze said almost reflexively.

Hearing this, Ye Qingtong felt a trace of displeasure.

What did he mean by he would take care of her? Was he her husband?

Still, he said nothing. After all, Li Fuze was her neighbor, while he himself was nothing more than someone she had met twice.

Because of Li Fuze’s presence, Ye Qingtong didn’t continue the conversation. He looked at Tang Wan and said, “Then, Miss Tang, I’ll be going. Take care of yourself.”

“Mm, thank you for your concern, Brother Ye,” Tang Wan replied, nodding.

After Ye Qingtong left, she turned her gaze to Li Fuze, her patience wearing thin.

Was this man doing it on purpose?

If he hadn’t shown up just now, Ye Qingtong might have continued asking. When that happened, she could have made things clear—and everything would have progressed naturally. But right at the critical moment, Li Fuze had come to interfere.

“Brother Afu, I’m going back to rest now. You should also turn in early,” Tang Wan said.

But Li Fuze immediately stepped forward. “Wait, Wan Wan. I have something to tell you.”

Tang Wan’s expression turned cautious. “What is it? It’s already late—can’t it wait until tomorrow?”

“It won’t take long. It’s fine to say it now,” Li Fuze insisted.

“Alright, then go ahead,” Tang Wan replied, nodding, but making no move to invite him inside.

She remembered clearly—in the original plot, this was exactly how he had tricked Tang Wan into letting him into her room, coaxing away her innocence before slipping in night after night to continue manipulating her.

Seeing that she didn’t invite him in, Li Fuze hesitated before saying, “Should we talk inside? It’s not convenient at the door.”

Tang Wan shook her head, looking slightly embarrassed. “It’s not that I don’t want to let you in, Brother Afu, but recently people have been spreading rumors about us. They say that even though I live next door, I’m practically no different from your wife. If I let you in now, wouldn’t that just confirm what they’re saying?”

Hearing this, Li Fuze was taken aback. “Why haven’t I heard anything about this?”