Side Story
Zheng Jia Ju and Cheng Yi’s son were discharged from the hospital.
Cheng Yi dropped by Zheng Jia Ju’s parent’s home. Zheng Jia Ju was happy to see Cheng Yi because she thought he came to see her and their son. But Cheng Yi came to pack his belongings.
Cheng Yi gave Zheng Jia Ju a cheque, and thanked her for giving him a temporary place to stay. Zheng Jia Ju returned his cheque, and begged him to stay. Cheng Yi didn’t force her to accept his cheque, carried his packed bag and left.
‘Can you give me a gla.s.s of water?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘No, this isn’t a restaurant,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Go outside and look for a restaurant.’
Gu Jiao Wu was in too much pain to drive.
‘Gu Jiao Wu… are you OK?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Are you worrying about me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Who’s worrying about you?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘I don’t want you to die in my bedroom. Go find another place to die.’
‘Don’t worry, I’m not going to die here,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan hesitated for a while before standing and pouring Gu Jiao Wu a gla.s.s of water.
‘You can drink water and go,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu accepted the gla.s.s of water, and took out a packet of Omeprazole tablets from his wallet.
Qiao Tan Yuan grabbed the packet from Gu Jiao Wu’s hand while he drank water and swallowed a tablet.
‘You have a stomach ulcer?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Um,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t give back the packet of tablets to Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Stay here and rest,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu watched Qiao Tan Yuan leave the room. His stomach still hurt, and he was too drowsy too drive.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know how long he napped on the sofa. When he opened his eyes, Qiao Jiao Wu was standing in front of him holding a bowl of congee.
‘What are you staring at?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Haven’t you seen a beautiful woman before?’
‘Did you make the congee?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘You know I don’t know how to cook,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I asked Mrs Chu to make it for you. Stop talking, and eat.’
Gu Jiao Wu ate the congee.
‘I hate cooking and the smell of kitchens,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t like burning her hands cooking either. There was no reason for her to cook if she could afford to hire a chef.
‘What happens when there’s no one around you to cook for you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Would you rather die of hunger or cook?’
Qiao Tan Yuan laughed. ‘That day won’t happen. I can always hire a chef.’
‘Um, good idea,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He put the empty bowl of congee on the coffee table. ‘Do you plan to hire a chef in Denmark to cook for you and Xiao Bao too?’
‘Of course,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Do you think it’s best for Xiao Bao to take her overseas away from her relatives?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘How will she cope being in a strange place, and surrounded by unfamiliar faces?’
‘Xiao Bao will love Denmark,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Are you sure?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Yes,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan began to doubt her decision. Xiao Bao would be away from her parents and brother.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, have you said enough?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘You’re done eating so you can go.’
Gu Jiao Wu stood, and Qiao Tan Yuan was surprised to see how serious he looked.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, if I say I’m not going to fight you for Xiao Bao, will you stay here with Xiao Bao?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I don’t believe you’re that generous,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Of course of not that generous,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I have one condition.’
‘Gu Jiao Wu, I don’t care about your conditions,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Xiao Bao is my daughter. Hurry up and go.’
‘You can’t change the truth Xiao Bao is my daughter too,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘My condition is I get unlimited access to see Xiao Bao.’
‘No,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She didn’t want Gu Jiao Wu to be a part of hers and Xiao Bao’s life. ‘Xiao Bao doesn’t need you. Besides you didn’t want Xiao Bao. I hate how you changed your mind, and want to claim Xiao Bao to suit your agenda.’
‘It doesn’t matter if you hate me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I’ll come here again to see Xiao Bao.’
‘Shameless thick face,’ Qiao Tan Yuan mumbled after Gu Jiao Wu walked to the door.
At the door Gu Jiao Wu heard Qiao Tan Yuan’s insult. He turned around, and saw her pouting lips and mumbling curses.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, if you insult me again, I’ll show you what a shameless thick face I can be,’ Gu Jiao Wu threatened.
‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan remembered how Gu Jiao Wu kissed her on the sofa before, and she blushed red head to neck.
‘AH,’ Qiao Tan Yuan cursed after Gu Jiao Wu left and closed the door.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know why lately Gu Jiao Wu was behaving unlike his usual self. If he wanted Xiao Bao, he didn’t need to kiss her breathlessly like in a romance novel. She didn’t know why he kissed her.
Qiao Tan Yuan told her heart to stop racing, and she rubbed her confused head. But she couldn’t stop remembering Gu Jiao Wu’s lips kissing her lips. She reminded herself they were divorced, and she wanted to start a new life without Gu Jiao Wu. Suddenly she remembered the strange questions he asked her before. He asked her if she loved him then he kissed her. Did he want to use her love to get her to agree to give Xiao Bao to him?
Qiao Tan Yuan tried to shake Gu Jiao Wu’s words out of her head… ‘Qiao Tan Yuan, let’s get back together… Xiao Bao is my daughter too… Qiao Tan Yuan, you love me…’
Qiao Tan Yuan gripped the sofa doily. She was disgusted Gu Jiao Wu tried to use her love to get what he wanted.
How could Gu Jiao Wu be that cruel? Qiao Tan Yuan hated him for using her love so he could get Xiao Bao. Did he think she would let him step all over her again? His lies woke her up. She finally understood, and saw the real despicable Gu Jiao Wu. She almost believed him when he said if she stayed, he wouldn’t fight her for Xiao Bao. Next time she saw him, she would keep at least a three step distance from him. Better yet, she had to find a way to stop him seeing her and Xiao Bao.
End of Chapter Forty-Eight