Odense.
Two months later, Du Lei Xin and Gu Jiao Mai reconciled. She could walk on her own for short distances, and he hired a nurse to take care of Gu Jiao Mai when he wasn’t at the Gu Mansion.
On the night of Gu Tian Chu’s birthday dinner at a restaurant, all of Gu Tian Chu’s acquaintances were invited, including Mr and Mrs Qiao.
Mrs Qiao showed photos of Xiao Bao to w.a.n.g Tu Ya.
‘Big sister, look how big Xiao Bao has grown,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘Her face is more adorable by the day.’
Gu Jiao Wu walked past Mrs Qiao and w.a.n.g Tu Ya’s table at that moment, and Mrs Qiao felt awkward. Qiao Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao were living a peaceful life in Denmark, and Qiao Tan Yuan refused to listen to any news about Gu Jiao Wu from Mr and Mrs Qiao.
Suddenly a spotlight was shone on Du Lei Xin and Gu Jiao Mai’s table.
Du Lei Xin knelt in front of Gu Jiao Mai, and he proposed.
‘Jiao Mai, will you marry me?’ Du Lei Xin asked.
‘What a cheap proposal,’ Gu Jiao Mai said. ‘You didn’t even get me ring.’
Everyone pitied the nervous Du Lei Xin, and they didn’t dare to laugh.
‘But as long as your love isn’t cheap then I’ll marry you,’ Gu Jiao Mai said.
Du Lei Xin lifted Gu Jiao Mai in his arms.
‘Jiao Mai, thank you,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘I promise I’ll make you happy. I love you. I’m sorry for hurting you. About that day, I…’
‘It’s OK,’ Gu Jiao Mai said. ‘Big brother Jiao Wu explained to me what happened. I believe you. Lei Xin, I’m sorry too for making you wait a long time to accept and return your love.’
‘You have nothing to be sorry about,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘I promise I won’t hurt you or make you cry again.’
‘I believe you,’ Gu Jiao Mai said. ‘You have to promise you’ll give me another child too.’
‘I promise,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘I’ll also listen to you too.’
‘Lei Xin, I love you,’ Gu Jiao Mai said.
Du Lei Xin didn’t give up two months ago, because he overheard Gu Jiao Mai and Gu Jiao Wu’s conversation. He was an idiot for doubting and hurting Gu Jiao Mai.
‘Jiao Mai, I love you,’ Du Lei Xin said. ‘I love you, I love you, I love you.’
For the next month, Gu Jiao Wu worked to keep busy and he didn’t drink at night. At home Chen Ting Yu and Mrs Du were busy planning Du Lei Xin and Gu Jiao Mai’s wedding. It was a familiar sight to Gu Jiao Wu, he remembered not long ago w.a.n.g Tu Ya and Mrs Qiao were planning his and Qiao Tan Yuan’s wedding.
Gu Jiao Wu knew everyone was worried he was living a lonely life. But he wasn’t worried, he boarded a plane to Denmark.
Odense, Denmark was Han Christian Andersen’s native city. Qiao Tan Yuan had taken Xiao Bao for a stroll around Odense before returning home for the day. She and Xiao Bao lived a peaceful life in Denmark the last three months. Xiao Bao could take baby steps, and speak simple phrases. When she put Xiao Bao down to unlock the front door, Xiao Bao would take baby steps on the front lawn.
After Qiao Tan Yuan opened the door, she turned around and Xiao Bao nearly fell on the lawn if someone she hadn’t seen for three months didn’t pick up Xiao Bao into their arm.
‘Mama,’ Xiao Bao called.
Qiao Tan Yuan couldn’t believe Gu Jiao Wu was holding Xiao Bao in one arm, and holding a suitcase in the other arm. She thought he looked a little gaunt since the last time she saw him.
‘Mama,’ Xiao Bao called again.
Xiao Bao didn’t like strangers holding her.
Qiao Tan Yuan wanted to carry Xiao Bao inside their house, and lock the doors. But Gu Jiao Wu carried Xiao Bao inside, and she followed behind them.
Gu Jiao Wu opened his suitcase, and took out a singing teddy bear for Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao’s attention was instantly drawn to the singing teddy bear.
The teddy bear was too heavy for Xiao Bao to lift on her own. Gu Jiao Wu put the teddy bear on the coffee table, and he showed Xiao Bao what b.u.t.tons to push.
‘Xiao Bao, if you press the teddy bear’s hand then it’ll talk to you and sing to you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Xiao Bao happily pressed the teddy bear’s hand.
‘h.e.l.lo there,’ the teddy bear said.
Xiao Bao laughed, and Gu Jiao Wu laughed too.
Gu Jiao Wu let Xiao Bao play with the teddy bear. He stood and walked to Qiao Tan Yuan. Before she could ask him to leave, he hugged her. She had missed being hugged by him, but in that moment it felt like the distance between them were miles apart.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t miss Gu Jiao Wu blindly. She didn’t forget to slap his cheek.
Gu Jiao Wu was taken by surprise. Xiao Bao heard a noise, she looked away from the teddy bear and she saw Qiao Tan Yuan looking upset. Xiao Bao ran baby steps to Qiao Tan Yuan, and tugged Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand.
‘Mama,’ Xiao Bao called.
‘Xiao Bai, go and play for mummy,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said and smiled to rea.s.sure Xiao Bao.
Xiao Bao nodded and she went back to playing with the teddy bear.
‘Why did you come here?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked softly.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want Xiao Bao to hear her fighting with Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Tomorrow is Xiao Bao’s first birthday,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Can’t I celebrate Xiao Bao’s birthday?’
Qiao Tan Yuan understood Gu Jiao Wu didn’t love her, but she didn’t have a right to stop Gu Jiao Wu celebrating Xiao Bao’s birthday. For three months, Gu Jiao Wu didn’t even pick up a phone to ask if she and Xiao Bao were happy living in Denmark. Gu Jiao Wu suddenly showing up to celebrate Xiao Bao’s birthday sent a clear message to her. She wasn’t important to Gu Jiao Wu, but it didn’t mean Xiao Bao wasn’t important to him.
‘You’re right,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Tomorrow is Xiao Bao’s birthday. You can carry your suitcase, and stay somewhere else tonight.’
‘Tan Yuan, I’m jet lagged,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Is it too much to ask you to let me stay here for one night?’
‘You’re not welcome to stay here because I don’t want to fight with you in front of Xiao Bao,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Xiao Bao played with the teddy bear, but she looked occasionally at Qiao Tan Yuan and Gu Jiao Wu. When she saw Qiao Tan Yuan waving at the door, she was worried Gu Jiao Wu made Qiao Tan Yuan angry.
‘Mama,’ Xiao Bao called. ‘Mama, angry, no, no.’
End of Chapter 137