Help?
Qiao Tan Yuan lost her faith in Gu Jiao Wu.
‘You’re wearing clothes,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘But it doesn’t mean you’re a good person. You’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and…’
Gu Jiao Wu kissed Qiao Tan Yuan’s lips. He didn’t want to hear another insult from her.
Qiao Tan Yuan was surprised Gu Jiao Wu kissed her. But the image of him hugging Chu Da before replayed in her mind. She bit his tongue hard, and pushed him away from her. It didn’t calm her anger, she raised her hand to slap him again but he was prepared and held her hand.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu wondered if Qiao Tan Yuan had a slapping addiction.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, you’re the most despicable person I’ve met!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You’re back together with Chu Da. What are you doing kissing me? You don’t mind contaminating yourself, but I mind!’
Qiao Tan Yuan only needed to think of Gu Jiao Wu kissing Chu Da before kissing her, and she would have the urge to splash sulfuric acid on his lips.
Gu Jiao Wu was confused, he wasn’t back together with Chu Da. He remembered what Qiao Tan Yuan witnessed when she arrived in his office.
‘I didn’t kiss her,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘It’s none of my business,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Who knows what else you two would be doing besides kissing if I didn’t interrupt.’
Qiao Tan Yuan believed if Gu Jiao Wu could comfortably ravish her in his car, he would be even more comfortable sleeping with Chu Da in his office.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know if he could defend himself. He admitted he confused Li Lam for Chu Da when he hugged Li Lam. He wasn’t certain if Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t enter his office if he wouldn’t have kissed Li Lam while in his confused state. How could he predict what he would do if circ.u.mstances were different? So he couldn’t confidently say to Qiao Tan Yuan he wouldn’t have kissed Li Lam.
Qiao Tan Yuan waited for Gu Jiao Wu to answer her. His silence made her angrier. She didn’t want to be in the same room as him for another second. She stomped on his foot, turned around and walked to her car.
Qiao Tan Yuan was wearing heels when she stomped Gu Jiao Wu’s foot. By the time he registered the pain, she disappeared from his office. For the first time seeing her run away from, he felt like he lost something important. He was frustrated and confused. The way she left him in an angry haze, he knew she wouldn’t come see him to ask for help without a push. He traced his lips, her sweet taste lingered on his lips.
Gu Jiao Wu sat behind his desk, and called his a.s.sistant. He was going to wait as many days it would take for Qiao Tan Yuan to come beg him for help.
In Qiao Tan Yuan’s car, she couldn’t shake off the pain and anxiety in her heart. She wouldn’t let herself beg an AH like Gu Jiao Wu. Five hundred thousand dollars… she didn’t expect there was a day she was desperate to find money within a day. She called Miss Chen and asked if any of the banks reconsidered. Miss Chen informed her none of the banks called her office phone number after she left her office. She looked at the time, and thought about Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao must be hungry so she sped home.
Qiao Tan Yuan arrived home, Xiao Bao was crying for her because she was at work most of the day. Xiao Bao stopped crying after she breast fed Xiao Bao. A satisfied Xiao Bao fell asleep in her arms. She carried Xiao Bao back to the nursery, and asked Mrs Chu to watch over Xiao Bao while she worked in her study room.
In the study room, Qiao Tan Yuan called Qiao Jie.
‘Qiao Jie, let Zheng Quan’s company know there will a few days delay before receiving the outstanding amount,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Why?’ Qiao Jie asked. ‘Didn’t the bank approve the loan?’
‘Um, but there’s a minor hiccup,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She wasn’t in the mood to patiently explain to Qiao Jie. ‘Qiao Jie, I’ll explain later. Zheng Quan’s company receiving five hundred thousand dollars is enough to pay for their research and development costs. If Zheng Quan’s company refuses to wait a few days for the outstanding amount, tell them Qiao’s company is happy to terminate the contract and pay the cancellation penalty fee.’
‘Big sister…’ Qiao Jie said.
Qiao Jie wanted to ask Qiao Tan Yuan what happened, but she hung up the phone.
Qiao Tan Yuan called another four banks, but they gave her the same answer and wouldn’t approve the loan.
A few days past, Qiao Tan Yuan still couldn’t find a way to fund the outstanding amount. She was physically exhausted from working overtime for consecutive days. At night when she walked into her study room, her stomach ached, and she felt dizzy. It was like her body had no energy left, she staggered and would have fell on the floor if an arm didn’t support her back.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t need to look at Gu Jiao Wu’s face to know it was him. She took a step away from him, and suppressed her dizziness.
‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Um,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan would rather fall on the floor than let Gu Jiao Wu touch her again.
Gu Jiao Wu was worried to see Qiao Tan Yuan’s pale complexion.
‘Are you in pain?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I’m OK, stay away,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t have energy to stand, Gu Jiao Wu caught her before she fell on the floor.
‘You’re sick,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Stay away,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I don’t need you to act like a good person.’
Gu Jiao Wu held onto Qiao Tan Yuan, he wasn’t going to let her fall. He glanced at the doc.u.ments scattered on the desk and frowned.
‘Are you still looking for someone to loan you the money?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t know why Qiao Tan Yuan hated him enough not to ask him to help her.
‘It has nothing to do with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She didn’t want Gu Jiao Wu to know she couldn’t find someone to loan her the outstanding amount, because she didn’t want to give him ammunition to use against her. ‘Gu Jiao Wu, why are you so free to come to my home?’
Qiao Tan Yuan looked like a sick kitten who wanted to scratch Gu Jiao Wu’s eyes out, but he was more worried she would faint. He lifted her into his arms, and carried her outside.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, what are you doing?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want Gu Jiao Wu to carry her outside.
‘Put me down!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Mrs Qiao and Mrs Chu heard the commotion. They walked out of the nursery, and they were confused why Gu Jiao Wu was carrying Qiao Tan Yuan downstairs.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t notice Mrs Qiao and Mrs Chu, he quickly carried Qiao Tan Yuan to his car.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, where are you taking me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan couldn’t open the pa.s.senger door or break the window.
Gu Jiao Wu ignored Qiao Tan Yuan, and sped to Ling Hu’s home.
‘Let me out!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
After Gu Jiao Wu parked, Qiao Tan Yuan recognised it was Ling Hu’s home. Gu Jiao Wu carried her to the front door, and the same man greeted them.
‘You two are lucky he’s home,’ the man said.
Gu Jiao Wu nodded his head, and carried Qiao Tan Yuan to Ling Hu’s inner courtyard.
‘Little fellow, you’re lucky I’m here,’ Ling Hu said and smiled. ‘I was about to head out. If you arrived later then you wouldn’t get to see me.’
Gu Jiao Wu put Qiao Tan Yuan down.
‘Can you examine her?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked Ling Hu. ‘She fainted before.’
‘You’re the one who fainted before,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan was adamant she was only dizzy, and didn’t faint.
Ling Hu gestured for Qiao Tan Yuan to sit in front of the round table next to him. She remembered the bracelet he gave her, and thought it would be rude of her to reject his kindness. She sat next to him, and he checked her pulse.
Gu Jiao Wu sat on the other side of Qiao Tan Yuan. He waited anxiously while Ling Hu examined Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘It’s nothing to be worried about,’ Ling Hu said. ‘She’s over exerted her body. She shouldn’t put so much pressure on her body so soon after giving birth. After eating nutritious meals, and getting a proper rest, she’ll regain her health.’
‘Are you sure?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked Ling Hu. He remembered Qiao Tan Yuan’s pale complexion, and was scared Ling Hu was holding back. ‘There’s nothing else?’
‘Nothing else,’ Ling Hu said and looked at Qiao Tan Yuan. ‘How many days have you been lacking sleep?’
‘I’ve been busy working overtime for a few days,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘Um, it explains why you’re feeling dizzy,’ Ling Hu said. ‘If you give your body a proper rest then the dizziness will go away.’
‘Thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan wanted to rest too. But how could she rest while Qiao’s company was in trouble, and taking care of Xiao Bao at the same time?
‘Even if you’re busy, you should still eat,’ Ling Hu said. ‘Have you eaten dinner?’
Qiao Tan Yuan’s stomach ached again. She was too busy working, and neglected her stomach.
Gu Jiao Wu saw Qiao Tan Yuan holding her stomach.
‘Why didn’t you eat dinner?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘Who needs you to care?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan was embarra.s.sed, tired and hungry. She stood, and walked outside.
‘Are you sure she’s OK?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked Ling Hu.
‘She’s overworked, not sleeping and not eating enough,’ Ling Hu said. ‘Your daughter is consuming most of the nutrients from her body. Take this herbal prescription, and get someone to prepare the herbal medicine for her. Don’t worry, the herbs won’t affect your daughter. You should take better care of her, and she’ll be healthy again.’
‘I understand,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and accepted the prescription. ‘Thank you.’
‘You don’t need to be courteous with me,’ Ling Hu said. ‘You better catch her before she escapes.’
‘Don’t worry, she can’t escape,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and chased after Qiao Tan Yuan.
Gu Jiao Wu caught Qiao Tan Yuan before she ran all the way home. He carried her to the car, and drove her somewhere to eat dinner.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, haven’t you played enough?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘What else do you want?’
‘Dinner,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Even if you’re angry, you still need to eat dinner.’
‘A pity, I don’t want to eat dinner with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Seeing your face is enough to make me nauseous.’
Fifteen minutes later, Gu Jiao Wu parked the car. If he wanted to go east, Qiao Tan Yuan wanted to go west. She didn’t want to eat dinner with him, and refused to get out of the car.
Gu Jiao Wu opened the front pa.s.senger door.
‘Come out,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘No,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘If you take me home, I’ll come out.’
‘You’re not coming out?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
End of Chapter Sixty-Three