Chapter 86 - 82: Truly a Family Heirloom

While waiting for Gu Yanjing to arrive, Qiao Yuxian and Yan An went to the mall above the subway. Shang Chen was closest to West Bridge, and after receiving Su Qi’s call, he came over right away. When he arrived, Qiao Yuxian and Yan An were sitting on a bench outside a drink shop. There were quite a few people coming and going in the mall, but as soon as Shang Chen got close, Qiao Yuxian immediately noticed him. She gestured for him to hold back. Shang Chen got the message and stood a bit farther away, perfectly hidden by a statue. Through the statue’s curved arm, he occasionally sneaked a peek at Qiao Yuxian and Yan An. Then... on the road, Gu Yanjing started receiving report after report from Shang Chen. Gu Yanjing toggled through Shang Chen’s voice messages while driving. One after another, they were robotic, cold, and emotionless reports. "Mr. Gu, I saw Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan. Miss Qiao gestured me to stay away, so I’m watching from a distance." "Mr. Gu. Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan are drinking milk tea." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan just finished a bucket of popcorn." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan are eating ice cream." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan have been laughing the whole time." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao went to buy fried skewers." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao bought Aunt Yan a cotton candy." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan are laughing together again." "Mr. Gu, two men have approached Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan. The younger one seems to be asking Miss Qiao for her contact information. The older one, looking almost sixty, gave Aunt Yan a rose." "Mr. Gu, Aunt Yan didn’t accept the rose. Miss Qiao scanned the man’s phone." "Mr. Gu, Miss Qiao and Aunt Yan laughed again." ... Gu Yanjing drove, staring ahead, his expression growing increasingly cold. When he arrived at West Bridge and hurriedly found the mall, Qiao Yuxian and Yan An were in front of a claw machine, trying to grab toys. Yan An held two rabbit plush toys, attentively watching as the new toy was clawed up within the machine. They watched it get lifted, only to fall back down. She promptly comforted Qiao Yuxian, "No worries, no worries. Just try again." Gu Yanjing picked up his pace but slowed down as he got closer. He walked step by step towards them and slowly said, "Mom." Qiao Yuxian and Yan An turned their heads at the sound. Upon seeing Gu Yanjing, smiles appeared on both of their faces. Yan An was pleasantly surprised, "Yanjing, why are you here?" Gu Yanjing’s expression was calm, as if nothing had happened not long ago, just like usual. Only his eyes, scanning Yan An like a scanner wishing to take in every strand of her hair, betrayed his tension. Seeing she was fine, his tone softened a little: "I came to pick you up." Yan An’s smile deepened, revealing the toys in her arms to him: "Look, Yu Xian got all these." Gu Yanjing glanced at the toys and then looked at Qiao Yuxian. Noticing his gaze, Qiao Yuxian lifted her chin, giving him a "See how awesome I am" look. Gu Yanjing focused on her face for a moment but said nothing. Yan An, holding a toy in one hand, adjusted Gu Yanjing’s collar with the other, and gently asked, "Why are you wearing a suit out? Is there another school event?" Qiao Yuxian’s eyelashes flickered lightly, standing quietly aside without saying a word. It wasn’t just Gu Yanjing’s reminders over the phone. In conversation with Qiao Yuxian, she realized her memory was disorganized. Not just disorganized. It seemed she could fabricate events that never happened. Gu Yanjing’s expression didn’t change as he routinely answered her question: "Mm. The event ended, and the school gave us some time off." "I was wondering why you left early," Yan An smiled, "I almost thought you skipped class." "No," Gu Yanjing said, "Mom, let’s go home." "Okay." Yan An agreed and then looked at Qiao Yuxian, "Yu Xian, come home with us. I’ll make something delicious for you back home." "Okay." Qiao Yuxian linked arms with her, obediently agreeing, "Thank you, Auntie." "Why thank me?" All expressed lovingly towards Qiao Yuxian, "Our Yanjing, he’s got a peculiar personality, not many friends. Let alone girlfriends. It’s hard for him to find a friend, so I’ve got to woo you a little, lest one day you don’t hang out with him anymore." Qiao Yuxian glanced at Gu Yanjing and said with a smile, "Auntie, don’t worry. I won’t abandon him." The latter sentence was drawn out, word by word, with an increase in volume, clearly meant for Gu Yanjing to hear. Gu Yanjing walked a little behind them, with his gaze directed at the top of Qiao Yuxian’s head, maintaining his silence. "Yu Xian, is Yanjing not popular at school?" Yan An asked. "No. He’s well-liked." Qiao Yuxian’s voice was gentle and amiable, "A lot of people admire him. Especially the little girls." Gu Yanjing: "......" Yan An glanced at Gu Yanjing: "Really? He doesn’t scare them?" "He’s handsome," Qiao Yuxian said. Yan An was amused, "True enough. Lu Family’s daughter liked him ever since they were kids. It’s been years." "Really?" Qiao Yuxian’s question was directed at Yan An, but her eyes were on Gu Yanjing. Gu Yanjing turned his head to meet her scrutinizing look. "Before meeting you, Lu Family’s daughter was the only girl around him," Yan An chatted idly, "Maybe since they’ve known each other from childhood. His treatment of her is different from others." "Mom." Gu Yanjing suddenly interjected, "Are you cold?" Qiao Yuxian just quietly observed him. Yan An looked at him strangely, "I’m wearing so much, why would I be cold?" Gu Yanjing said nothing, turning his gaze to Qiao Yuxian. Meeting his eyes, Qiao Yuxian’s beautiful fox-like eyes squinted slightly, revealing a chill. Then she turned decisively, leaving him with the resolute back of her head. Gu Yanjing: "......" They exited the mall and headed to the parking area. Qiao Yuxian and Yan An talked all the way there. Gu Yanjing hadn’t heard his mother talk so much in years, nor seen her this happy. In the car, Gu Yanjing drove. Yan An and Qiao Yuxian sat in the back. Yan An didn’t find anything unusual about Gu Yanjing driving. She believed Gu Yanjing was still in high school, yet seeing him drive didn’t seem odd to her. Her memory had always been chaotic, intermittent, occasionally with hallucinations, weaving occurred events based on subjective thoughts. "Yu Xian. When you grow up, how about marrying our Yanjing?" Yan An asked half-jokingly. Qiao Yuxian was momentarily stunned. "I feel a special connection with you. Liked you the moment I saw you," Yan An said, "Maybe it’s fate." Qiao Yuxian looked at Gu Yanjing. "Yanjing may appear difficult, but he’s gentle at heart," Yan An said. "He’s not expressive but takes good care of people. Don’t be afraid of him." Qiao Yuxian just watched her without saying a word. Her memory was erratic, but that hadn’t affected her intelligence. Everything she said was to probe her feelings about Gu Yanjing. "Of course. It depends on your will," Yan An added gently. "But I just feel I really like you. Loved you at first sight." "Auntie, I like you too," Qiao Yuxian said with a smile, "I loved you the moment I saw you." Yan An smiled happily, paused, and said, "Well, I have a family heirloom necklace that I intended for my future daughter-in-law. Someday, I’ll give it to you." Yan An used the necklace passed down from her mother to imply she wanted Qiao Yuxian as her daughter-in-law. It was not just a priceless treasure, but even more meaningful. And yet Gu Yanjing gave it to her. Gave it to her! Gave it to her!!! Qiao Yuxian glanced at Gu Yanjing, who was driving. Gu Yanjing met her gaze in the rearview mirror. Qiao Yuxian, stunned and shocked, watched him quietly. Gu Yanjing, appearing indifferent, glanced at her and then shifted his eyes away. Qiao Yuxian bit her lip, eyelashes fluttering a few times, her ears becoming redder and redder...