Accident.
Qiao Tan Yuan woke up at ten in the morning. She was relieved Gu Jiao Wu went to work. He left a new black blouse, white pants, white boots and a white coat for her on the sofa. She quickly changed clothes to go see Xiao Bao.
‘Miss Qiao,’ Mrs Chu said.
Mrs Chu carried Xiao Bao into the bedroom. Qiao Tan Yuan was grateful for Mrs Chu. Without Mrs Chu, she would be worried Xiao Bao would cry in an unfamiliar place.
Mrs Chu put Xiao Bao in Qiao Tan Yuan’s arms.
‘Xiao Bao’s healthy,’ Mrs Chu. ‘She’s been good, ate and slept well. She ate two and a half bowls of baby food puree each day, and drank the youngest Mrs Gu’s breast milk too. She really likes the youngest Mrs Gu, she’ll smile if the youngest Mrs Gu carries her.’
Qiao Tan Yuan nodded her head, and looked at Xiao Bao’s small pink face. Xiao Bao had grown since seven days ago. She knew Xiao Bao was well looked after at the Gu Mansion. Xiao Bao recognised her body scent, and Xiao Bao’s head rubbed against her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.
Qiao Tan Yuan smiled at Xiao Bao, patted Xiao Bao’s back and breast fed Xiao Bao on the sofa.
Mrs Chu returned to the bedroom after packing Xiao Bao’s belongings.
‘Miss Qiao, I know it’s not my place to say,’ Mrs Chu said. ‘But during the last seven days, everyone in the Gu Household loves Xiao Bao, and they treated Xiao Bao well. Xiao Bao likes having the elders of the Gu Household hold her too. Miss Qiao since you and Mr Gu went on a honeymoon, does that mean…’
‘Aunty, don’t you have anything else to say?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Nothing,’ Mrs Chu said. She was unhappy Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want to consider staying at the Gu Mansion with Gu Jiao Wu and Xiao Bao. ‘Are we taking Xiao Bao to the Qiao Mansion?’
‘Um,’ Qiao Tan yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want to stay in a bedroom that reminded her how much Gu Jiao Wu hated her.
Qiao Tan Yuan let Mrs Chu carry Xiao Bao so she could call Qiao Jie to pick them up from the Qiao Mansion. But Tan Pan Ting knocked on the door, and walked into the bedroom.
‘Tan Yuan,’ Tan Pan Ting greeted happily.
‘Pan Ting, why are you home?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘I’m on maternity leave,’ Tan Pan Ting said.
‘I see,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Pan Ting, thank you for taking care of Xiao Bao.’
‘I didn’t do much,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘Xiao Bao’s grandma, and Mrs Chu deserve all the credit for taking good care of Xiao Bao. I’ve only breast fed Xiao Bao a little.’
‘I still want to thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I need to take Xiao Bao home. When I’m free I’ll bring Xiao Bao here to visit you.’
‘Tan Yuan… I heard big brother took you on a honeymoon,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘Aren’t you two back together?’
‘What honeymoon?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Who told you nonsense?’
‘What?’ Tan Pan Ting asked. ‘I thought we could live together as sisters.’
‘We’re not fated to live together but we can still be friends,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘My family would be anxious to see Xiao Bao. I should take Xiao Bao home before my family sends out a search squad.’
‘I’m going to miss Xiao Bao,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘Xiao Bao is loveable unlike my two little demons.’
‘Where are your boys?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘They’re sleeping,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘My older boy cried all night, and my younger boy was restless all night. Why did I have to give birth to boys?’
‘Mrs Gu, it’s normal for babies to cry,’ Mrs Chu said. ‘You can’t return them after you’ve given birth to them.’
‘True,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘Tan Yuan, I won’t force you to stay. But promise me you’ll visit me often. I want us to share our baby experiences together.’
‘OK,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I should go.’
‘Tan Yuan, don’t you want to say goodbye to Xiao Bao’s grandma before you leave?’ Tan Pan Ting asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan smiled and shook her head. She wasn’t w.a.n.g Tu Ya’s daughter-in-law, there was no reason for her to see w.a.n.g Tu Ya.
Tan Pan Ting waved bye to Qiao Tan Yuan, and Qiao Tan Yuan followed Mrs Chu and Xiao Bao to the front door. One of the Gu Household’s driver was waiting for them at the front door.
‘Miss Qiao, first young master asked me to drive you and the youngest mistress back to the Qiao Mansion,’ the driver said.
Mrs Chu was carrying Xiao Bao to the car so Qiao Tan Yuan couldn’t decline. Qiao Tan Yuan walked to the car, and looked around. Gu Jiao Wu didn’t appear, and she didn’t know why she was sad when he kept his promise to let her go.
In the car, Qiao Tan Yuan thought about how intimate she and Gu Jiao Wu were last night but became strangers the next day.
‘Miss Qiao?’ Mrs Chu called.
Qiao Tan Yuan looked out the window, and realised she was home. She picked up Xiao Bao, and kissed Xiao Bao’s cheek. She was blessed to have Xiao Bao. She wouldn’t be lonely as long as Xiao Bao was with her.
Mrs Qiao was waiting at the door when she saw Qiao Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao come out of the car. She carried Xiao Bao in her arms the moment Xiao Bao reached the door. She kissed Xiao Bao’s cheek, and checked if Xiao Bao lost weight or was injured anywhere.
‘It’s good Xiao Bao is healthy,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘They took good care of Xiao Bao.’
‘What?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Mum, did you know Xiao Bao was at the Gu Mansion?’
Mrs Qiao gave Xiao Bao to Mrs Chu, and signalled for Mrs Chu to take Xiao Bao to the nursery.
‘I only found out five days ago,’ Mrs Chu said. ‘We were waiting for your call to hear news you arrived in Denmark safely. But after the second day you and Xiao Bao left, we still didn’t get a call from you. Your dad wanted to call the police. It’s a good thing w.a.n.g Tu Ya called to say Gu Jiao Wu took you on a honeymoon, and Xiao Bao was at the Gu Mansion. Although Xiao Bao had w.a.n.g Tu Ya, Mrs Chu and Tan Pan Ting at the Gu Mansion, I wanted to take Xiao Bao home. Then I considered the good relations between our families, and agreed to let Xiao Bao stay at the Gu Mansion while you and Gu Jiao Wu were on a honeymoon.’
Mrs Qiao noticed Qiao Tan Yuan looked tired.
‘Tan Yuan, are you tired?’ Mrs Qiao asked. ‘Didn’t you have a relaxing honeymoon?’
A relaxing honeymoon? Qiao Tan Yuan thought going on a honeymoon with Gu Jiao Wu made her body more tired than going to work.
‘Mum, I’m OK,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Tan Yuan, are you and Gu Jiao Wu back together?’ Mrs Qiao asked.
‘No,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Mum, he and I aren’t fated to be together.’
‘But…’ Mrs Qiao said.
Mrs Qiao didn’t understand why Qiao Tan Yuan agreed to go on a honeymoon with Gu Jiao Wu if Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t back together with Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Mum, we didn’t go on a honeymoon,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘He used Xiao Bao to blackmail me to spend seven days with him. He promised after seven days if I didn’t change my mind, he’ll give Xiao Bao back to me and he won’t interfere in my life anymore.’
‘What did you…’ Mrs Qiao said.
‘I’ve made up my mind,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I don’t want to live with him. I only want to live a peaceful life with Xiao Bao.
Mrs Qiao was unsure if Qiao Tan Yuan made the right decision for Qiao Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao. But she supported Qiao Tan Yuan’s decision.
‘Tan Yuan, Shen Cheng’s back,’ Mrs Qiao said.
‘Really?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Last night Shen Cheng was admitted to the hospital,’ Mrs Qiao said.
‘What?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Why is Shen Cheng in the hospital?’
‘Last night Shen Cheng came to visit you and Xiao Bao,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘I told Shen Cheng, you and Gu Jiao Wu were on a honeymoon. Then I received a call, Shen Cheng was in a car accident on the way home.’
Mrs Qiao didn’t need to say why Shen Cheng drove inattentively, because Qiao Tan Yuan understood Shen Cheng would have been affected after receiving the honeymoon news.
‘Is Shen Cheng seriously injured?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘What hospital is he staying in? I’ll go visit him.’
No matter what happened, Shen Cheng was a friend in Qiao Tan Yuan’s eyes.
‘Tan Yuan… think about what you want carefully,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘Gu Jiao Wu…’
‘Mum!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Don’t mention him anymore.’
End of Chapter One Hundred