‘Qiao Jie drove Tan Yuan and Xiao Bao to a friend’s house,’ Mrs Qiao said.
Mrs Qiao smiled politely. She didn’t approve of her son-in-law’s behavior. Qiao Tan Yuan told her how Gu Jiao Wu was using the excuse of pursuing her to get Xiao Bao. If Gu Jiao Wu didn’t truly want to get back together with Qiao Tan Yuan then she wouldn’t stop Qiao Tan Yuan going to Denmark with Xiao Bao.
‘Xiao Bao is two months old,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Isn’t she too young to go out? Did aunty go with them?’
‘Yes,’ Mrs Qiao said. She believed Qiao Tan Yuan told her the truth. Gu Jiao Wu only cared about Xiao Bao, and didn’t care about Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘Anything else?’
‘No,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu farewell Mrs Qiao, and walked to his car. In his car he realised he forgot to ask Mrs Qiao who Qiao Tan Yuan was visiting. He didn’t know who Qiao Tan Yuan’s friends were. He called his a.s.sistant to find Qiao Tan Yuan’s location. Then he thought about how Xiao Bao liked to play with a bell so he drove to the shopping mall to buy toys for Xiao Bao. At a children’s toy shop, he bought some shiny musical toys for Xiao Bao.
After Gu Xiao Wu put Xiao Bao’s toys in his car, his a.s.sistant called him. Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t at a friend’s house. She was at the same shopping mall as him. Why did Mrs Qiao lie to him?
Outside a children’s clothing shop, Qiao Tan Yuan persuaded Qiao Jie to go home and rest. For two months she was cooped at home eating nutritious food. It was the first time she was out shopping on her own. She wanted to buy warm clothes for Xiao Bao.
‘Big sister, what if Xiao Bao is hungry?’ Qiao Jie asked. ‘I don’t have breast milk to feed her.’
‘Aunty will give Xiao Bao formula milk if she’s hungry before I come back home,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘OK, make sure you call me to drive you home,’ Qiao Jie said.
‘Yes, yes,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Stop worrying about me. I’ve recovered after two months.’
Qiao Jie reluctantly walked to the carpark, and Qiao Tan Yuan walked into the children’s clothing shop. Qiao Tan Yuan selected cute warm blue and pink outfits for Xiao Bao.
Qiao Tan Yuan walked out of the shop, and someone grabbed the shopping bags she was holding.
‘What are you doing here?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Why can’t I be here?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘It’s a public place.’
Gu Jiao Wu watched Qiao Tan Yuan choose clothes for Xiao Bao, but he didn’t see Qiao Jie, Mrs Chu or Xiao Bao. He realised Qiao Tan Yuan was shopping on her own, and Xiao Bao was at home.
‘Yes, yes, it’s a public place,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu held Qiao Tan Yuan’s shopping bags behind his back.
‘You’re here on your own?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu was mad at Qiao Jie. Didn’t Qiao Jie know Qiao Tan Yuan was still recovering? Why didn’t Qiao Jie go shopping with Qiao Tan Yuan, and help her hold heavy bags?
‘What’s wrong with me shopping on my own?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘The days are getting colder. I didn’t want Xiao Bao to be sick so I let her stay home with my mum and aunty. Why can’t I shop for warm clothes for Xiao Bao?’
‘Of course you can go shopping,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu’s eyes swept over Qiao Tan Yuan’s body. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, she wore a red V-neck blouse, white pants and white sandals. Strangers wouldn’t believe she was a mother, because she looked too young and beautiful.
‘Follow me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I don’t want to follow you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan thought Gu Jiao Wu mistook her for a loyal puppy who wanted to follow him around.
Gu Jiao Wu carried Qiao Tan Yuan’s shopping bags, and walked to the escalators.
Qiao Tan Yuan wanted Xiao Bao to try on the cute outfits she bought, and reluctantly followed Gu Jiao Wu.
Gu Jiao Wu led Qiao Tan Yuan into a crowded cafe. He chose a table next to a window. He sat on the U-shaped lounge between Qiao Tan Yuan and the shopping bags.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, get to the point,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘What do you want to say? I’m not free all day to talk with you.’
Gu Jiao Wu pretended he didn’t hear Qiao Tan Yuan. He ordered a mug of warm milk for her and a cup of coffee for himself.
Qiao Tan Yuan frowned. She was averse to drinking milk, because her family forced her to drink milk for Xiao Bao’s sake.
‘I don’t want to sit here and drink with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Say what you want so I can go.’
A waiter quickly brought the coffee and milk to Gu Jiao Wu and Qiao Tan Yuan’s table.
‘Why are you still going to Denmark?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Why not?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘You promised me you wouldn’t take Xiao Bao to Denmark,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I didn’t promise you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You chose to a.s.sume I wasn’t going to Denmark anymore.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, if you’re going to be like this then I’ll see you in court,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Court?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘OK, I don’t mind seeing you in court. Who do you think the judge will grant custody to? I’ll tell the judge how my ex-husband mistreated me, and is an unfit parent.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, do you want to publicized you drugged your ex-husband to get him to sleep with you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Go ahead,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I don’t mind letting the judge know how you wanted me to abort Xiao Bao.’
Gu Jiao Wu wanted to resolve their differences with Qiao Tan Yuan amicably outside of court. He would be satisfied if Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t prevent him seeing Xiao Bao.
‘If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t scared of Gu Jiao Wu’s intimidation tactics. She stood, he grabbed her hand and pulled her back onto the lounge.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan…’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He was frustrated with the unreasonable shrew next to him. ‘If you still want to take Xiao Bao to Denmark, I’ll do everything to stop you.’
‘We’ll see if you can stop me,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. Gu Jiao Wu wouldn’t let go of her hand. ‘I’m not scared of you.’
Qiao Tan Yuan pulled her hand free and stood again. She didn’t expect Gu Jiao Wu to yank her arm, she lost her balance and fell on his lap and he held onto her waist. His chest was warm, and she felt his erection. She tried to stand, but her head hit his chin. She rubbed her sore head, turned around and glared at Gu Jiao Wu.
‘What do you want?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Gu Jiao Wu put the mug of warm milk in Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand.
‘Drink,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘I don’t want to,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Drink,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu read it was recommended women drink milk while breast feeding their child.
‘I don’t want to,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t going to fall for Gu Jiao Wu’s act a second time. She knew he was only pretending he cared about her.
‘Are you sure?’ Gu Jiao Wu threatened.
‘Why do I have to drink milk if you tell me to?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Do I look like I don’t have free will?’
Why was Qiao Tan Yuan averse to drinking a mug of milk? Gu Jiao Wu smiled at her, drank a sip of milk, held her chin and transferred the milk into her mouth.
Qiao Tan Yuan was forced to swallow the milk if she wanted to breathe. She was shocked Gu Jiao Wu would kiss her in public.
Gu Jiao Wu loosened his hold around Qiao Tan Yuan’s waist after he transferred half the mug of milk into her mouth.
‘Tastes delicious,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Delicious? Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know what Gu Jiao Wu thought tasted delicious.
Gu Jiao Wu saw Qiao Tan Yuan’s dazed look, and he smiled.
‘Both tastes delicious,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu realised he liked kissing Qiao Tan Yuan’s sweet lips.
Qiao Tan Yuan stared at Gu Jiao Wu’s smiling face, and she was certain he was possessed.
‘Gu Jiao Wu…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She noticed the customers were looking at her and Gu Jiao Wu, and she blushed. ‘We’re in a public cafe. But you…’
‘I what?’ Gu Jiao Wu teased. ‘It’s sinful to waste food.’
‘Waste food?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan was confused why Gu Jiao Wu kissed her because he didn’t want to waste food.
‘Milk is food too,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘You can’t leave and waste food.’
Qiao Tan Yuan rubbed her angry and embarra.s.sed chest. She didn’t know Gu Jiao Wu was nonchalant about PDA.
‘Gu Jiao Wu…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She rubbed her lips to get rid of Gu Jiao Wu’s taste off her lips. ‘I didn’t order milk. You ordered the milk so you should drink it yourself.’
Gu Jiao Wu put the half full mug of milk in Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand.
‘Drink,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘If you don’t drink, I don’t mind helping you drink again,’ Gu Jiao Wu threatened.
Qiao Tan Yuan thought Gu Jiao Wu must have hit his head after waking up in the morning.
Qiao Tan Yuan gulped the rest of the milk, slammed the empty mug on the table and glared at Gu Jiao Wu’s smug face.
‘I drank it all, can you let me go now?’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu let go of Qiao Tan Yuan. She stood, he grabbed the cup of coffee and she lost her balance again to avoid the coffee splashing on her white pants.
‘Ah…’ Qiao Tan Yuan cried out softly.
Qiao Tan Yuan fell on Gu Jiao Wu’s lap again, and the coffee narrowly missed her white pants. But Gu Jiao Wu’s erection disturbed her more.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, you did that on purpose,’ Qiao Tan Yuan accused.
‘Of course not,’ Gu Jiao Wu denied. ‘I don’t want to waste food.’
Gu Jiao Wu drank the cup of coffee. He thought the coffee tasted sweeter than usual.
Qiao Tan Yuan waited for Gu Jiao Wu to finish drinking the coffee, because she didn’t want to stain her white pants.
‘Done?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
‘Why are you in a rush?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. He was free the rest of the day to play with Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘If you want to go, I won’t stop you.’
‘Let go of me,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Gu Jiao Wu let go of Qiao Tan Yan. She stood too quickly, b.u.mped his arm and coffee stained her white pants.
‘You did that on purpose!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Oh… I’m sorry,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘It was an accident.’
Gu Jiao Wu put the cup of coffee on the table, picked up a napkin and wiped the coffee beads off Qiao Tan Yuan’s stained white pants.
Qiao Tan Yuan s.n.a.t.c.hed the napkin out of Gu Jiao Wu’s hand. She failed to wipe the coffee stain off her white pants, threw the napkin on the table and glared at Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Enough,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Stay away from me. I’m going home.’
‘I’ll drive you home,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He stood and looked at Qiao Tan Yuan’s white pants. ‘It’s my fault your pants is stained. Let me buy you a new outfit as an apology.’
‘I can go home myself,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Are you sure you want to walk on the streets dressed like this?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu knew Qiao Tan Yuan cared about her image so he was certain she wouldn’t leave the shopping mall wearing coffee stained white pants.
‘I’ll go buy new clothes myself,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan took back her shopping bags, and walked upstairs to buy new pants.
Gu Jiao Wu followed Qiao Tan Yuan upstairs. He thought she was walking fast like she was stomping his face on the floor. He had fun teasing her, and pictured her puffing out angry steam.
Qiao Tan Yuan tried out two white pants in the women’s department of a shop. Then she walked to the counter to pay for the pants, but the shop a.s.sistant informed her Gu Jiao Wu paid for her pants.
Qiao Tan Yuan carried the shopping bags outside the shop, and saw Gu Jiao Wu waiting for her.
‘I can afford to pay for my own pants,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan thought Gu Jiao Wu was dreaming if he thought he could pay her to hand over Xiao Bao.
‘I only want to compensate you for your stained pants,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Don’t you have something you need to do?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
It wasn’t the weekend, Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know why Gu Jiao Wu was so free to follow her around.
‘Um, I need to drive you home,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and pointed at the direction of the carpark.
‘I don’t want you to drive me home,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘It’ll take you a long time to hail a cab at this late hour,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Are you sure you want to wait?’
End of Chapter Fifty-One