Gu Family's Old Mansion
After dinner, they chatted for a while in the front hall, and Old Sir Gu suggested going for a walk outside.
Gu Yanjing and Qiao Yuxian stood up and followed him outside.
The Gu Family's Old Mansion was vast.
The front residence was a large courtyard with thirteen entrances and exits, and there was a garden at the back.
The three of them went for a walk but didn't go far, just strolling along the stone path from the front hall.
"Yu Xian, has Yanjing been bullying you these days?" the old man asked.
Qiao Yuxian held his arm, walking slowly beside him, and said, "No. He's very nice to me."
Gu Yanjing walked on the other side of the old man, silent like an iceberg, yet his presence was undeniable, emanating a cold aura.
"Really?" the old man asked again.
"Really." Qiao Yuxian naturally chose words to put the old man's mind at ease.
Besides, Gu Yanjing was indeed quite good to her.
"As long as he's good to you," Old Sir Gu's voice was old yet very gentle, "This person, you see, is like that. Intimidating at first glance, but actually just a paper tiger, you don't need to be afraid."
Gu Yanjing: "......"
Qiao Yuxian glanced at Gu Yanjing with a smile. The outside lights were dim and slightly dark. Hidden in the shadows, his exquisite features carried a hint of mystery and danger.
"Grandpa, I'm not afraid," Qiao Yuxian said.
"Sometimes he has a bad temper, but you don't need to be afraid," the old man said, "If he ever dares to lose his temper with you, come tell Grandpa, and I'll teach him a lesson."
"Okay," Qiao Yuxian said, "If he's not good to me, I'll come complain to Grandpa."
After speaking, she turned to Gu Yanjing and said, "Did you hear that, I have Grandpa backing me up."
Gu Yanjing glanced at her lightly and said nothing.
The three wandered outside, also admiring the old mansion's night view.
The summer breeze was gentle, the low chirping of insects accompanied the beautiful night, relaxing and pleasant.
Old Sir Gu chatted with Qiao Yuxian, while Gu Yanjing rarely spoke, just quietly accompanying them.
Qiao Yuxian grew up with her grandparents, endearing herself to the elderly, knowing well how to win their hearts.
The entire residence was filled with the old man's laughter.
Walking back after a stroll, the old man suddenly sighed and said, "Ah—when you two leave, it'll be quiet here again."
Gu Yanjing glanced at him, just about to speak, when the old man secretly poked his calf with his cane.
The old man's cane was just on Gu Yanjing's side, and with the dim evening light, it seemed like an accidental jab at Gu Yanjing, which Qiao Yuxian didn't notice.
And just at that moment when the old man poked him, Qiao Yuxian spoke up: "We'll come often in the future."
"That would be great. Then I won't be alone, this old man of mine," the old man said with a hint of sadness.
Gu Yanjing remained silent, his expression steady.
"But tonight was so lively, and when you leave, it'll be quiet again," Old Sir Gu added.
Qiao Yuxian thought of her own grandparents, feeling uneasy, "Grandpa..."
"Even when we're here and all asleep, it's quiet here," Gu Yanjing interrupted Qiao Yuxian.
The emotion Qiao Yuxian was just building was doused with cold water.
"You!" The old man quieted his voice, "You shut up!"
"If you feel it's quiet at night, tomorrow I'll hire an opera troupe," Gu Yanjing said coldly, "After you've gone to bed, have them perform. That'll be lively."
Qiao Yuxian: "......"
The old man stopped to look at him.
Gu Yanjing also stopped and stared back.
In the dim night, the grandfather and grandson confronted each other.
Qiao Yuxian looked at the two and was just about to say something to lighten the atmosphere.
The old man suddenly snorted coldly and pulled Qiao Yuxian away: "Let's stay away from him. This brat knows just how to irritate people, let's not stoop to his level."
Qiao Yuxian raised an eyebrow.
Brat...
"I'm his elder, two generations above him, yet he shows no respect," the old man complained.
"Grandpa, he's just joking with you," Qiao Yuxian said.
"Don't speak for him. He did it on purpose," Old Sir Gu said, and after a moment, he finally got to the main point, "Yu Xian, it's getting late, you should stay the night."
Qiao Yuxian said, "Sure."
Gu Yanjing said, "No way."
Their words came out simultaneously, and then all three stopped walking.
The old man looked at him, somewhat angry, "Yu Xian already agreed. Whether you like it or not, you're staying tonight."
Gu Yanjing looked at him, his gaze directly seeing through the old man's intentions.
Old Sir Gu couldn't stand his look, so he turned away with Qiao Yuxian: "Let's go, we don't need him."
...
Back in the front hall, Old Sir Gu asked someone to prepare the guest room.
But as he had them prepare his, Gu Yanjing glanced at Qiao Yuxian, intending to just take her away.
"It will upset Grandpa." Qiao Yuxian pulled him at the front hall door.
"It won't." Gu Yanjing replied.
Qiao Yuxian clasped Gu Yanjing's arm with both hands, squeezing a bit: "But Grandpa will be sad."
Gu Yanjing lowered his eyes to look at her hand, then looked at her again.
They gazed at each other for two seconds. Qiao Yuxian said: "I'll apologize first. Just now I felt that Grandpa was too lonely here at the old mansion, and since it's close to the Gu Group, it would be convenient for you to go to work, so I agreed to stay here without asking your opinion first. Sorry."
Gu Yanjing looked at her without speaking.
Qiao Yuxian continued: "But Grandpa already asked us to stay, and has already sent someone to prepare the room. If we just leave, he'll feel uncomfortable. Can we stay just for one night?"
Gu Yanjing looked at her for a while longer, then held her wrist and led her towards the east side.
The eastern courtyard belonged to Gu Yanjing, he grew up in the old mansion since childhood, and lived in the East Courtyard for over a decade.
He didn't move out until he reached adulthood.
When they reached the East Courtyard, Gu Yanjing took her to the room.
The servants were still cleaning.
Qiao Yuxian was puzzled, confused as to why Gu Yanjing suddenly brought her to watch the cleaning of the room.
She looked at him.
Gu Yanjing said: "This is my room."
A question mark popped above Qiao Yuxian's head: "?"
"It's also your room for tonight." Gu Yanjing added.
The confusion in Qiao Yuxian's eyes gradually faded, and her pupils gradually widened: "!!!"
She froze in place, not moving.
Seeing Qiao Yuxian frozen, Gu Yanjing's long eyebrows twitched slightly, then he said: "No need to apologize to me. Grandpa said so much to play on your emotions."
Since Old Sir Gu said it would be quiet once they left, Gu Yanjing knew what he was planning.
Most likely old sir guessed they were sleeping separately, and intentionally arranged for them tonight...
He grew up beside Old Sir Gu, knew him too well.
Qiao Yuxian rolled her eyes to look at him, after a moment, her mouth twitched twice.
"Do we still have to stay?" Gu Yanjing asked.
Qiao Yuxian came back to her senses, pulled Gu Yanjing's hand to leave: "I suddenly remembered the almanac said it's not suitable to stay outside today. Let's leave quickly."
Gu Yanjing was pulled along by her, looking at their hands clasped together.
Qiao Yuxian's hand looked petite against his.
As they held hands, he could clearly feel the warmth of her fingers, very warm, and soft.
Qiao Yuxian pulled him along, focused solely on leaving right away.
She got the marriage certificate to keep him by her side to develop their feelings, not to casually sleep with him.
When they were just out the door, they almost bumped into Old Sir Gu who was about to enter.
Qiao Yuxian stumbled a bit, and Gu Yanjing caught her in time.
"In such a rush, where are you going?" Old Sir Gu asked.
"Grandpa." Qiao Yuxian steadied herself, still holding Gu Yanjing's hand, "We..."
"I can't sleep, how about keeping me company for a game of chess?" Old Sir Gu didn't give them a chance to speak and directly interrupted her, "No one has kept me company for a game of chess at night for many years."
Gu Yanjing squinted his eyes.
The old man was too cunning, here to block them.
"I..." Qiao Yuxian looked at Gu Yanjing.
Gu Yanjing gave her a 'feel free to refuse him' look.
Qiao Yuxian looked back at the old man, his face full of expectation: "Grandpa... I..."
Gu Yanjing noticed she was about to soften.
"Come on." The old man interrupted her again, "It's rare for you to come, Grandpa is happy today, let's play several rounds."
Qiao Yuxian unconsciously let go of Gu Yanjing's hand and agreed to the old man: "Okay."
Gu Yanjing: "......"
Old Sir Gu immediately brightened up: "Let's go, to the main courtyard. It's been so many years, and no one's kept me company."
After saying this, he turned his head to Gu Yanjing, changing to a disdainful tone: "You stay here, don't follow us, seeing you annoys me!"
Gu Yanjing stood in place watching them leave, after a moment, clenched his palm...