Home.
‘What’s wrong?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Do you even need to ask?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘If you’re tired, take a nap,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I’ll wake you up when you’re home.’
Qiao Tan Yuan closed her eyes, and napped.
Gu Jiao Wu thought Qiao Tan Yuan looked angelic when she was sleeping unlike when she was awake.
Later Gu Jiao Wu stopped the car at the Qiao Mansion. He didn’t want to disturb Qiao Tan Yuan’s sleep so he carried her to her bedroom.
Mrs Qiao heard Qiao Tan Yuan’s bedroom door opened from the nursery. She walked out of the nursery, and was surprised to see Gu Jiao Wu carrying Qiao Tan Yuan to bed. She quietly walked into Qiao Tan Yuan’s bedroom, and watched Gu Jiao Wu tuck Qiao Tan Yuan in bed.
‘Jiao Wu… you and Tan Yuan…’ Mrs Qiao said.
‘Aunty, Tan Yuan and I are getting married,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Tan Yuan…’ Mrs Qiao said.
‘Tan Yuan agreed,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Mrs Qiao didn’t know what to say, and let Gu Jiao Wu walk to the nursery.
Mrs Chu had fed baby food puree to Xiao Bao who was more than four months old. Gu Jiao Wu watched Xiao Bao smile at the toys Mrs Chu was holding above Xiao Bao.
Gu Jiao Wu played with Xiao Bao for a while but she ignored him. He wasn’t upset, because there would be more opportunities for him to bond with Xiao Bao after Qiao Tan Yuan live together with him again.
In the afternoon, Qiao Tan Yuan heard Xiao Bao cry. She woke up and walked into the nursery. Xiao Bao stopped crying when she held Xiao Bao in her arms. She looked at Xiao Bao’s small face that looked like Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Xiao Bao what should I believe?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know if Gu Jiao Wu loved her or if he lied to her. Lately he had changed, and treated her better. She thought what Du Lei Xin said was true, she didn’t understand Gu Jiao Wu as deeply as she thought she did in the past.
Qiao Tan Yuan could see Gu Jiao Wu wouldn’t lose anything by marrying her again. What if Gu Jiao Wu cast her aside after Xiao Bao was added to the Gu Household family register? She didn’t know if she could forgive Gu Jiao Wu. It was hard for her to forget how much he hated her, and he didn’t give them a chance during their first marriage. She didn’t know if he lied to her about loving her to convince her to marry him again, because he truly wanted to give Xiao Bao a family.
Mrs Chu finished eating lunch. Qiao Tan Yuan was still tired, she let Mrs Chu play with Xiao Bao while she laid in bed to think about hers and Xiao Bao’s future. She was older and wiser. She couldn’t let Gu Jiao Wu use her love to take Xiao Bao from her. She remembered how Gu Jiao Wu held Chu Da closely last night. How could she believe he loved her when he had Chu Da? It made sense why he would lie to her about loving her. Chu Da was a teacher who loved children, but Chu Da couldn’t have children. He wanted to marry her again so they would have more children together then he would divorce her again to give Chu Da children. She wasn’t going to fall for his scheme. Soon she would raise Xiao Bao in Denmark.
In the evening, Gu Jiao Wu drove to the Qiao Mansion. He visited Xiao Bao in the nursery first. Xiao Bao cried in his arms again, and he reluctantly let Mrs Chu hold Xiao Bao.
When Gu Jiao Wu walked into Qiao Tan Yuan’s bedroom, she was sitting on the sofa reading a book about Denmark. He grabbed the book from her, and frowned.
‘Are you still planning to go to Denmark?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked and sat on the sofa next to Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘It doesn’t involve you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said and retrieved her book.
‘Last night I confessed clearly to you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘My decision is clear too,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I told you I don’t want to get back together with you. I don’t want to live with you.’
‘What’s wrong?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t understand why Qiao Tan Yuan had her guard up.
‘Nothing’s wrong,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘It’s you who has a problem.’
‘What do you mean?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I mean I don’t want to marry someone despicable like you again,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu froze on the sofa.
‘What do you mean?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘You understand what I mean,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘The door is that way.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Last night you said you love me.’
‘What love?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘You forced me to say I love you. Do you actually believe I love you?’
Gu Jiao Wu pulled Qiao Tan Yuan into his chest, and held her tightly.
‘What happened?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘Why are you upset with me?’
‘Do you think I’m an idiot?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Do you think I’ll believe you went from hating me to loving me?’
Gu Jiao Wu bit Qiao Tan Yuan’s lips.
‘I didn’t lie to you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I don’t believe you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘All these years you’ve loved, and pined for Chu Da. How can you love Chu Da, and sleep with me? Can’t you see how despicable you are?’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Gu Jiao Wu said and held Qiao Tan Yuan’s hands. ‘It’s not what you’re thinking. I’m not with Chu Da. You’re the only woman I’m sleeping with since our first marriage.’
‘Do you actually think I’ll believe your lies?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
End of Chapter Eighty-Three