Chapter 105 - 101: Jerk Stuff

Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian hadn’t yet arrived at the front hall, but Old Sir Gu already knew he had brought Qiao Yuxian along. He looked at Gu Zhengyu. Gu Zhengyu happened to not want to see Gu Yanjing either, so he got up and left. After he left, Old Sir Gu looked toward the door. Everyone else, even elder people like Mr. Gu and his wife, stood up. Ji Xiaoxiao stood behind Meng Qian, somewhat nervous. There were too many rumors about Gu Yanjing out there, none of them good. It’s said that he was capricious and didn’t value anyone. Even with elders, if he wasn’t satisfied, he wouldn’t show the slightest respect. This scene of everyone standing to greet him probably meant those rumors were ninety-five percent true. Before leaving home, her father specifically instructed her to be quiet, speak less. He’d rather Gu Yanjing not see her than have her make a mistake and anger him. Not only her, but the entire Ji Family would feel the tremor. She had Meng Qian partially shield her, carefully watching the door. Nearly a minute passed, and Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian stepped into the front hall. Upon their entry, it felt like a powerful aura swept through the hall, causing everyone’s hearts to skip a beat. Gu Yanjing was as usual, dressed in a suit, handsome, noble, yet exuding a chilling presence. Qiao Yuxian wore a simple long dress, with a small jacket over it, her hair tied at the back with a claw clip, slightly loose, gentle and graceful with a touch of nonchalance. Qiao Yuxian’s necklace and Gu Yanjing’s suit pin belonged to the same series, a couple’s set. As they entered, everyone paused as if frozen. Especially Ji Xiaoxiao, stared at Qiao Yuxian’s face, unable to snap out of it for a long time. Her carefully managed expression collapsed in that instant. Gu Yanjing didn’t care about others’ expressions or what they thought internally. Holding Qiao Yuxian’s hand, he walked directly to Old Sir Gu. Since they entered, Old Sir Gu’s gaze had been fixed on their clasped hands, unable to suppress his smile. He could see his plump, great-grandson waving at him. "Grandpa," Gu Yanjing said, "Happy birthday." Old Sir Gu kept his eyes on Qiao Yuxian, completely ignoring him. Qiao Yuxian smiled gently, saying, "Grandpa, happy birthday. Wishing you great prosperity, longevity like the pine and crane, good health and happiness every day." "Good, good," Old Sir Gu responded, beaming. Qiao Yuxian received the gift box from Shang Chen, and handed it to Old Sir Gu with both hands: "I hope grandpa likes it." Old Sir Gu took it, caressed the carved pattern on the long box and said, "I like it, I like it, anything Yu Xian gives, I like." Gu Yanjing, who wasn’t being acknowledged: "......" Everyone around gazed at Qiao Yuxian. Ji Xiaoxiao slightly recovered after hearing Old Sir Gu call "Yu Xian." She stared at her, still feeling this was surreal. Earlier she thought she met someone resembling Qiao Yuxian. Now she felt she encountered someone who not only resembled her but had the same name. Or she suspected she’d fallen into a parallel universe. After Qiao Yuxian finished chatting with Old Sir Gu, Gu Yanjing looked to the side: "Second uncle, second aunt." Looking at the others nearby, he slightly nodded his head. Gu Linhai and Meng Qian responded with smiles. Gu Yanjing introduced them: "Qiao Yuxian, my wife." Qiao Yuxian glanced at the people opposite. Gu Linhai, Old Sir Gu’s second son, rarely appeared in the Capital City. Before Gu Yanjing took over, he had already gone to Jin City, built his own industry there, flourishing. He only held shares of the Gu Family, not involved in any Gu Group business. Qiao Yuxian greeted them with a smile: "Second uncle, second aunt." Gu Linhai responded gently. Meng Qian looked at her warmly: "You seem like a good child. So beautiful, Yanjing is lucky." Qiao Yuxian smiled at Gu Yanjing. Gu Yanjing lowered his eyes to look at her. As their gazes met, Qiao Yuxian said: "Mr. Gu is truly lucky." Gu Yanjing gazed at her smiling eyes and softly replied: "Hmm." Gu Linhai and Meng Qian were slightly stunned. Not only them, the whole front hall was taken aback. Though Gu Yanjing remained the same, voice cold, eyes cold, aura cold, speaking little. But everyone could feel his tenderness toward this girl. When had they ever seen such a Gu Yanjing? Every year, whenever they saw him, he was like a solemn Buddha, nearing him required careful consideration. Qiao Yuxian smiled again and looked at Ji Xiaoxiao. Ji Xiaoxiao met her gaze, her soul shuddered slightly. Gu Linhai and Meng Qian followed her gaze, seeing them look at each other. Meng Qian nudged Ji Xiaoxiao forward saying: "This is Yicheng’s fiancée, Ji Xiaoxiao. Xiao Xiao, call cousin and cousin’s wife." Gu Yanjing’s aura was too strong, Ji Xiaoxiao met him for the first time, completely unaccustomed, somewhat overwhelmed. She glanced at him, quickly looked away, and blurted: "Cousin." Gu Yanjing responded softly. His response made Ji Xiaoxiao’s heart relax momentarily. It meant the Gu Family truly recognized her. Relieving her tension, she looked up to meet Qiao Yuxian’s gaze. Qiao Yuxian smiled with her eyes, watching her, the expression clearly waiting for her call, "cousin’s wife." Ji Xiaoxiao knew well, in this setting, under these circumstances, she should definitely say it. If she didn’t, it would be an insult to Gu Yanjing. Thus everything she currently possessed might vanish. Yet looking at Qiao Yuxian’s face, she somehow couldn’t say it. Her mind and mouth seemed disjointed. Despite trying to say it mentally, her mouth wouldn’t open. Meng Qian secretly nudged her. Ji Xiaoxiao’s lips twitched, voice still unspoken, when Qiao Yuxian suddenly said: "Second aunt, we were classmates. Same class classmates. We might need a bit to adapt to this relationship." Ji Xiaoxiao stared at Qiao Yuxian, tension vanishing, her back felt suddenly cold, but her palms were sweaty. "You were classmates?" Meng Qian exclaimed in surprise. Qiao Yuxian nodded. Ji Xiaoxiao gathered herself and confirmed: "Yes. Same class." "Such fate indeed," Meng Qian observed. Everyone in the front hall at that moment returned to themselves, all echoing: "Yes, yes, truly fated." Qiao Yuxian said: "I’m getting married this summer, she’s getting engaged this summer. Never thought today we’d meet as family." She not only gave Ji Xiaoxiao face but indirectly supported her, making everyone think their relationship was quite good. Ji Xiaoxiao simply smiled without speaking. Old Sir Gu said: "You’ve been chatting, forgetting this old man, haven’t you?" Qiao Yuxian promptly looked at him: "Impossible! Forgetting anyone but grandpa is unthinkable." "You sure know how to talk," Old Sir Gu laughed, "Come, sit beside grandpa. Why stand? Everyone sit, sit." "Alright," Qiao Yuxian released Gu Yanjing’s hand and walked toward Old Sir Gu. She had barely taken two steps when suddenly she was pulled back. She halted, turned to look at Gu Yanjing. Gu Yanjing said nothing. He sat down, then pulled her to sit beside him. Sitting there, somewhat dazed, Qiao Yuxian blinked. Stunned, everyone watched Gu Yanjing’s maneuver, their eyes wide open. Old Sir Gu looked at the empty spot beside him, then at Gu Yanjing. Grandfather and grandson exchanged a gaze, sparks flying. Finally, Old Sir Gu tossed him a look: Wait until everyone’s gone. Gu Yanjing coolly averted his gaze, pretending not to receive it. Old Sir Gu: "......" This little rascal, why is his possessiveness so strong?