CHAPTER 442: CHAPTER 410: A CONSPIRACY?

Gu Mansion

In the evening, Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing stayed at the Gu Mansion.

They waited until the old man returned to his room.

Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian walked together towards the East Courtyard.

Now that the weather is warm, at this time in the evening, the cool breeze is just right, brushing against the body comfortably.

So the two of them took a detour through the back garden for a bit, taking a walk.

Gu Yanjing held Qiao Yuxian’s hand, walking slowly on the gravel path.

With one hand held by him, Qiao Yuxian used the other hand to occasionally touch the flowers by the road, sometimes pinch the grass nearby.

Occasionally, she’d even kick a pebble.

Shang Chen followed behind them, watching their backs.

His Mr. Gu walked steadily and gracefully, while the one beside him....

Shang Chen looked at Qiao Yuxian’s seemingly busy limbs, not sure what she was busy with, sighed after a while, and then... secretly mimicked Qiao Yuxian from behind.

Qiao Yuxian touched a flower; he also touched a flower and ended up knocking off a couple of petals.

Qiao Yuxian stopped to smell, so he did the same, but couldn’t smell anything or understand what Qiao Yuxian was smelling.

Qiao Yuxian patted a leaf, so he patted a leaf too.

Qiao Yuxian pointed at a flower bud with her index finger; he searched for a while to find a bud and mimicked her.

Qiao Yuxian picked a flower, intending to put it in a vase later.

Not knowing why she picked the flower, Shang Chen imitated her and picked one too.

While studying a large red flower, Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing turned around to look at him.

The two turned to see a muscle-bound man in the moonlit night wind holding an oversized red flower, staring at it darkly.

Moreover, those fierce eyes carried a hint of confusion.

For a moment, Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian couldn’t describe their feelings.

Shang Chen sensed their gazes, quickly hid the flower behind him, and looked up at them.

Qiao Yuxian saw for the first time a look of helplessness on Shang Chen’s face, and a look of wanting to find a hole to crawl into.

And under the dim and somewhat dark streetlight of the Gu Mansion, she vaguely felt that Shang Chen seemed to be blushing.

Qiao Yuxian saw it, and naturally, so did Gu Yanjing.

But the two of them had a tacit understanding, saying nothing, as if nothing had happened, as if they hadn’t seen anything.

Their faces showed no emotional fluctuation as they glanced at Shang Chen, then turned to look ahead, continuing to walk forward.

About ten meters out, Shang Chen suddenly came to his senses, hastily threw away the flower, and regretfully smacked his own forehead.

His forehead was red from the smacking, and he quickly caught up with them.

Just as he caught up, he heard Qiao Yuxian say, "Shang Chen isn’t getting any younger, he should settle down. Based on my observation just now, if he stays single for too long, he might become a bit abnormal over time."

"Mm." Gu Yanjing responded.

Shang Chen frowned, opened his mouth to say something, but ultimately stayed silent, brooding and quiet.

"I happen to be free lately. Looking for one for Su Qi is already something, finding two won’t be much different." Qiao Yuxian smiled, "Why don’t I just take care of this too?"

"Okay," Gu Yanjing agreed.

Shang Chen’s mouth moved slightly, but no sound came out.

Seeing Gu Yanjing agree, Qiao Yuxian continued, "Since this is the case, finding two or finding a group makes no difference. Why don’t I also scout for Wan Ying, Wind Flower Snow Moon, and the others?"

Gu Yanjing looked at her.

Qiao Yuxian smiled and said, "I’m quite interested in this kind of thing."

"No need for Wan Ying, others are fine," Gu Yanjing said.

Qiao Yuxian’s eyes immediately lit up, excitedly whispering, "What? What’s up with Wan Ying? What’s Wan Ying? Why not needed?"

Gu Yanjing gently pressed her curious little head, "Wan Ying is already married."

"What?!!!" Qiao Yuxian became even more inquisitive, continuing to excitedly whisper, "What’s with Wan Ying? What about Wan Ying?! Who got married?!"

Shang Chen: "......"

Gu Yanjing chuckled, pinched her cheek and said, "His wife is a doctor, traveling around to practice medicine. Mostly in impoverished or war-torn areas. They seldom meet."

Qiao Yuxian’s expression immediately turned serious, "That’s admirable."

"Mm," Gu Yanjing replied.

Qiao Yuxian followed Gu Yanjing, walking silently for a while, then turning to walk backward and called out, "Shang Chen, what type do you like?"

Gu Yanjing held her arm, guiding her steps as she walked backward confidently.

Shang Chen glanced at her but said nothing.

Qiao Yuxian asked again, "Don’t be shy. Just tell me, and I’ll try to find one for you."

"I’m not looking," Shang Chen replied dryly with three words.

"Why not?" Qiao Yuxian asked.

"No reason." Shang Chen replied coldly, "I don’t want to look, I’m not looking, I’m not dating, not getting married."

"Oh, really?" Qiao Yuxian said with a smile.

"Yes," Shang Chen affirmed.

"Okay," Qiao Yuxian said, "Remember what you said today. I’ll definitely find a big beauty for you, make sure you..."

Gu Yanjing, sensing what she was about to say, timely covered her mouth, turning her around, "Walk properly."

"Oh." Qiao Yuxian obediently walked by his side, then turned around to give Shang Chen a "you just wait and see" look.

Shang Chen gave her a glance, not taking it to heart.

As they neared the East Courtyard, Gu Yanjing asked, "Have you thought about how to celebrate your birthday?"

Qiao Yuxian looked at him and said, "No."

"Let’s go out to have fun," Gu Yanjing suggested.

"Where to?" Qiao Yuxian asked excitedly.

"M Continent, perhaps?" Gu Yanjing suggested.

"Sounds good," Qiao Yuxian said, "You make the arrangements."

"Mm," Gu Yanjing replied.

"Yay, we can go out and play." Qiao Yuxian happily crossed the threshold of the East Courtyard, "It’s been so long since I’ve gone out for fun. I have to quickly buy a few more outfits while there’s time."

Gu Yanjing watched her run into the living room with a shallow smile, following her in.

Meanwhile, Shang Chen stood outside, frowning as he stared at the brightly lit living room.

Why did he feel that faint smile from Mr. Gu just now seemed like... some plot about to succeed?

Shang Chen took a deep breath, scratched his head, totally confused, and also entered the living room.

...

Next day.

Qiao Yuxian slept until past nine before waking.

She was groggy when she woke up.

Couldn’t believe she slept that long.

And hadn’t heard a peep of Gu Yanjing leaving.

She dazed for a while on the bed, got up, and found a note from Gu Yanjing at the bedside.

[In the front yard, come eat when you wake up.]

Qiao Yuxian folded the note, placed it in her bag, and went to freshen up.

Briefly freshening up, she casually tied her hair into a bun, put on casual wear, and headed to the front yard looking for Gu Yanjing.

Her pale, unadorned, clear-clean little face, with her beautiful fox-like eyes slightly curved, her fringe lightly swaying with her steps.

The touch of red on her lips added a hint of allure to her lively and vivacious air.

She hummed a tune, treading happily towards the front yard in the sunlight and breeze.

Only when she stepped into the front yard did she see the people sitting in the living room.

Her easy, lively smile froze instantly.

The people sitting in the living room also gazed at her.

Qiao Yuxian met their gaze for two seconds, then masked her stiff expression with a polite smile, approached the sofa, and called out, "Second Uncle, Second Aunt."

...

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