CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 104: CORRIDOR... HEART-TO-HEART TALK?

Qingyue Building

Qiao Yuxian sat at a table with Gu Yanjing and Old Sir Gu.

Ji Xiaoxiao sat with Gu Linhai’s family, naturally.

Because the two of them were classmates, they were seated next to each other.

And so, the two had to pretend they were on good terms.

Everyone took their seats and raised their glasses to toast Old Sir Gu’s birthday.

All the adults had alcohol in their glasses, just with varying degrees, but Qiao Yuxian’s glass was filled with juice like the kids.

Gu Yanjing had specifically exchanged her drink.

Qiao Yuxian clinked glasses with everyone, looking at the pink liquid in her own glass and feeling particularly out of place.

Especially when she clinked glasses with Ji Xiaoxiao, she felt Ji Xiaoxiao’s glass was mocking her.

Old Sir Gu said a few simple words, and after everyone sat down, just as Qiao Yuxian put her glass down, Ji Xiaoxiao murmured beside her, "If you can’t drink, go sit at the kids’ table."

"Don’t push me into a fight with you right now," Qiao Yuxian smiled through gritted teeth.

Ji Xiaoxiao chuckled and turned to talk to Gu Yicheng.

Gu Yicheng seemed absent-minded, barely responding to Ji Xiaoxiao’s words and sometimes not hearing her at all. He always felt Gu Yanjing’s gaze was fixed on him, and if he dared to look at Qiao Yuxian one more time...

His brother would dig out his eyes.

"What’s wrong with you?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked softly, displeased that her words weren’t met with a response.

Gu Yicheng glanced at her, blinked, and said, "Nothing. Maybe I caught a headache from the wind after taking a call."

"Are you okay? Are you feeling better?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked with concern, "Do you want to rest for a while?"

"It’s not a big deal, I can manage," Gu Yicheng’s gaze wandered slightly, "Let’s not make a fuss, to avoid displeasing Grandpa."

"Alright." Ji Xiaoxiao looked at him with concern and squeezed his hand under the table, "Just rest for a bit, don’t talk."

After speaking, she sat up straight, took a sip of wine with a happy mood and thought: Now I’m like your sister-in-law, you’re scared enough, see if you dare to keep thinking about it.

Qiao Yuxian sat in her seat, her left hand slightly placed on the table edge, her right hand occasionally picking up something to eat or clinking glasses with others.

Gu Yanjing kept an eye on her, noticing that today, the Peace Pendant on her wrist appeared quite frequently in his view, catching his attention from time to time.

"Gu Yanjing," Qiao Yuxian suddenly leaned close to him and called his name softly.

Gu Yanjing lowered his gaze to look at her.

Qiao Yuxian said softly, "I want to eat that Arctic clam. But it’s a bit far, I can’t reach it."

Gu Yanjing glanced at the table and then got up, directly bringing the plate of Arctic clam over.

His movement drew the attention of the others to him.

As the plate of Arctic clam was placed in front of Qiao Yuxian, everyone turned their gaze to her.

If looks could pierce through, Qiao Yuxian would have been riddled like a sieve by now.

She smiled politely at everyone.

Outwardly calm, but inwardly overwhelmed.

It was over.

The rumor that "Gu Yanjing has a wife who only eats at family banquets" would soon spread throughout the Gu Family.

And in the years to come, it would be repeatedly mentioned.

Gu Yanjing raised his gaze, casting a brief look at them, and everyone quickly looked away, except for Gu Zhengyu.

Their gazes met across the dining table, with an implicit hostility lingering.

Old Sir Gu felt apprehensive, just about to speak when he noticed Qiao Yuxian pulling Gu Yanjing aside and whispering in his ear.

Gu Yanjing averted his gaze.

Old Sir Gu breathed a sigh of relief, using his cane under the table to nudge Gu Zhengyu’s leg, who then lowered his gaze as well.

Qiao Yuxian quietly said to Gu Yanjing, "Just pick one for me, you don’t have to give me the whole thing. My image as a fairy who only drinks dew is lost."

"You can’t survive by drinking only dew," Gu Yanjing said as he picked an Arctic clam and placed it on her plate.

Qiao Yuxian: "... Alright, you’re right."

After dinner, there was a fireworks show outside.

Everyone went to the yard to watch the fireworks, and some children played with sparklers.

Qiao Yuxian and Ji Xiaoxiao stood under the corridor, watching the fireworks explode in the night sky. After some time, for some reason, the two suddenly glanced at each other.

Then they both saw disdain and speechlessness in each other’s eyes and turned their gazes away.

Qiao Yuxian nudged her and moved aside slightly, creating a bit of space between herself and Gu Yanjing, "Why are you always following me?"

Ji Xiaoxiao steadied herself and said, "Do you think I want to? It’s not like you claimed we’re close. With Gu Yicheng absent and his parents being lovey-dovey, I feel unnecessary. If I don’t stick with you, who should I be around?"

"I was just giving you an excuse," Qiao Yuxian said.

With the sound of fireworks loud, the two had to squeeze together to speak and be heard.

"Did I ask you to do that?" Ji Xiaoxiao replied.

"Okay, call me sister-in-law then," Qiao Yuxian smirked with a particularly cheeky look.

Ji Xiaoxiao gave her a look, then turned away, sulking.

Qiao Yuxian chuckled.

After a while, Ji Xiaoxiao asked again, "When did you get married?"

"This summer."

"So you’re just deliberately letting me make a fool of myself, looking like a clown in front of you," Ji Xiaoxiao said angrily.

"Big sister. You insisted on flaunting it to me, yet you blame me," Qiao Yuxian said.

"Who’s your big sister? I’m two years younger than you," Ji Xiaoxiao argued intensely.

"You look like you’re two years older," Qiao Yuxian responded calmly.

"You..." Ji Xiaoxiao stamped her foot in frustration.

Qiao Yuxian chuckled again. Making fun of her was so entertaining, like teasing a kitten.

"Speaking of, how come you ended up marrying Gu Yanjing?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked, pondering after a silence, "Are you really okay? Does he treat you well?"

Hearing her ask that, Qiao Yuxian turned her head towards her, her expression a bit peculiar.

"What’s that look for?" Ji Xiaoxiao asked, folding her arms arrogantly.

"A curious look. Why did it sound like concern to me?" Qiao Yuxian laughed.

"Hmph! Who worries about you! I’m just gossiping," Ji Xiaoxiao said, touching the ring on her middle finger, "He didn’t even buy you a ring. Does he really keep you in his heart?"

Standing at some distance under the corridor as well, Gu Yanjing’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and his hands clasped behind his back clenched slightly.

Qiao Yuxian touched her own ring finger: "......"

"What if he just wants you to have his child?" Ji Xiaoxiao’s voice dropped further to relay what Gu Yicheng had said to her, "Did he really not force you?"

Having a child? Forced?

Qiao Yuxian, listening to those words, suddenly imagined herself forcing Gu Yanjing to have a child.

She shivered violently, shaking her head to dispel the image.

"What’s the matter with you? Lost your mind?" Ji Xiaoxiao said with disdain.

Qiao Yuxian didn’t say anything, glanced at her, then after a while, reminded her, "Gu Yicheng... be more cautious."

"Are you saying he’s unfaithful?" Ji Xiaoxiao looked at her.

Qiao Yuxian said nothing, affirming it with silence.

Ji Xiaoxiao helplessly chuckled, "I like him too much to let go. So it’s up to fate if I manage to hold onto him."

Qiao Yuxian nodded, "Just make sure you’re aware."

"Of course," Ji Xiaoxiao said defiantly with her chin up, "I’m not like you: big-chested and empty-headed."

"???" Qiao Yuxian’s lips twitched, looking at her. After a few seconds, her gaze dropped, making it clear with a glance, "At least admit that I’m bigger than you."

"You..." Ji Xiaoxiao looked at herself, then at her, moving her lips several times but didn’t utter anything.

Qiao Yuxian gave her a provocative look and then turned her gaze to the fireworks in the night sky.

Fully capable of hearing them talk, Gu Yanjing clenched his right hand: "......"