‘Chu Da isn’t a gold digger,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu held Qiao Tan Yuan’s shoulders. He remembered Li Lam’s words, he believed Chu Da had a reason why Chu Da left.
Qiao Tan Yuan laughed at herself for hurting to hear Gu Jiao Wu defend Chu Da.
‘I saw Chu Da take my cheque and leave,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘If you don’t want to hear me speak, the door is behind you.’
Leave? Gu Jiao Wu couldn’t believe Qiao Tan Yuan expected him to leave after provoking him.
Gu Jiao Wu pulled Qiao Tan Yuan against his body, and cornered her on the sofa. He kissed her lips. She raised her hand to slap him, but he held her hand. His body pressure on her body made it hard for her to breathe. She remembered how she dealt with his unannounced kiss last time. She raised her knee to kick him. But he was prepared, he wrapped her legs around his waist.
The sofa doily fell onto the floor.
Qiao Tan Yuan couldn’t believe Gu Jiao Wu thought he had the right to do as he pleased with her body. Who did he think she was? Someone who would let him hug her, and kiss her anytime he wanted to? She opened her mouth to bite his tongue, but he deepened the kiss.
The door slammed, Gu Jiao Wu and Qiao Tan Yuan immediately untangled themselves from each other and sat upright on the sofa.
‘Big sister, I bought you… Gu Jiao Wu?’ Qiao Jie said.
Qiao Jie didn’t know what Gu Jiao Wu was doing in Qiao Tan Yuan’s bedroom late at night? Did Gu Jiao Wu come to bed Qiao Tan Yuan? Gu Jiao Wu, what a b.a.s.t.a.r.d!
Qiao Tan Yuan picked up the fallen doily, and covered her crumpled night gown.
‘Qiao Jie, don’t you know how to knock?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Big sister, you told our family you’ll keep your door unlocked for Mrs Chu to bring Xiao Bao to you,’ Qiao Jie. ‘I didn’t expect you to have an unwanted guest in your bedroom late at night.’
Qiao Tan Yuan was mortified Qiao Jie witnessed Gu Jiao Wu kissing her in her bedroom.
‘Qiao Jie, did you have something you wanted to discuss with me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Um, did you forget about my birthday party coming up?’ Qiao Jie asked. He gave Qiao Tan Yuan the large box he was holding. ‘I bought a dress for big sister to wear to my birthday party.’
‘Thanks Qiao Jie,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You can leave it on the coffee table. I’ll try it on tomorrow.’
Qiao Jie glared at Gu Jiao Wu, and put the box on the coffee table.
‘Big sister, there are some despicable men in this world,’ Qiao Jie said. ‘Big sister can recognise a despicable man when you pay attention to him, he doesn’t even take one look at you. But when you stop paying attention to him, he’ll sniff you and pursue you. A despicable man is an untrustworthy man. Big sister, think carefully before you let this kind of man back into your life.’
‘Qiao Jie!’ Qiao Tan Yuan called. ‘I understand. You can go outside first.’
‘Big sister, I’m only worried about you,’ Qiao Jie said. ‘Don’t forget how he mistreated you while you were married to him. Just because he says sweet words to you, don’t take him back.’
‘Qiao Jie…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Jie was right. Qiao Tan Yuan berated herself for letting herself be used by Gu Jiao Wu before. She shouldn’t let herself forget how Gu Jiao Wu mistreated her, because he hugged her and kissed her a couple of times.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, I used to look up to you,’ Qiao Jie said. ‘But don’t mistake the Qiao’s residence for the Gu’s residence. I won’t let you disrespect my big sister under this roof. If you do, I’ll give you a beating enough for your mother not to recognise your face.’
Qiao Jie turned around, left the room and closed the door.
Qiao Tan Yuan sat further away from Gu Jiao Wu on the sofa. She noticed his clothes were crumpled too.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, I want you to go,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Don’t come back again. I don’t want to see you.’
‘Of course I’ll come back again,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
As long as Qiao Tan Yuan was living at the Qiao Mansion, Xiao Bao would be living with her and he would visit them.
‘Gu Jiao Wu!’ Qiao Tan Yuan called. ‘I told you before, if you’re hungry, go find yourself a chicken. If you use me again, Qiao Jie doesn’t need to give you a beating. I’ll beat you to death myself.’
‘I remember I’m not the only hungry one,’ Gu Jiao Wu provoked. ‘Before you were feeling pleasured too.’
Qiao Tan Yuan raised her hand to slap Gu Jiao Wu. He captured her hand, and his face hovered in front of her face.
‘Can you honestly say you won’t aroused before?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Um, I admit I’ve been starved since I was pregnant with Xiao Bao,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘It’s normal for me to crave a man’s touch. After being starved for a long time, I would be aroused by other men, not just you. Stop deluding yourself, Mr Untrustworthy. Women can sense what a despicable man you are from a mile away.’
Gu Jiao Wu wanted to show Qiao Tan Yuan was wrong when his stomach ached again, and reminded him he skipped dinner.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, I want to sleep,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I can’t sleep if you’re here.’
Qiao Tan Yuan noticed Gu Jiao Wu’s pained face, and his hand pressed against his stomach. But she didn’t believe someone made of steel like Gu Jiao Wu could be sick.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, you can stop acting,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I won’t fall for your trick.’
End of Chapter Forty-Seven