Side Story
Zheng Jia Ju rejected a cheque from Fei Yan Niao. Zheng Jia Ju warned Cheng Yi to stay far away from Fei Yan Niao, because Fei Yan Niao was a bad person. Zheng Jia Ju didn’t want to tell Cheng Yi, Fei Yan Niao was the person who shot Cheng Yi and caused Cheng Yi to lose his memories.
When Cheng Yi found out he’s rich, Zheng Jia Ju begged Cheng Yi not to leave and be her bodyguard for another month. Cheng Yi agreed to wait a month before leaving, because she was eight months pregnant.
Fei Yan Niao waited outside Tan Pan Ting’s work building. Fei Yan Niao asked Tan Pan Ting to eat a meal with him for old times’ sake. Tan Pan Ting agreed and texted Gu Jiao Wen the restaurant location.
End of Chapter Thirty-Five
A week later, Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t marry Shen Cheng as planned. But Shen Cheng didn’t want to give up on her and asked her to keep the ring until she was absolute about her decision.
Qiao Tan Yuan put the ring in the drawer with Xiao Bao’s gifts in her bedroom. Gu Jiao Wu didn’t see her for a week, but she wasn’t certain he had let go of Xiao Bao.
Qiao Tan Yuan heard footsteps and turned around to face the door.
‘What are you doing here?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan was going to show Gu Jiao Wu she wouldn’t accept him sacrificing himself for Xiao Bao.
Gu Jiao Wu stood in front of Qiao Tan Yuan and looked at her face. He hadn’t seen her for a week. She had a healthy rosy complexion. Her eyes were like two shiny gems and her lips were like forbidden fruits tempting him. He admitted she was a beautiful woman and he kept thinking about their kiss a week ago.
‘Did you make a decision?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Decision? Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know what decision Gu Jiao Wu wanted her to make.
‘About us getting back together,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I gave you a week to make a decision.’
Qiao Tan Yuan couldn’t believe Gu Jiao Wu regarded her that poorly. Did he think she was a bad catch and unwanted by other men? Did he think she was so undesirable that she would be desperate enough to marry him again? How did he expect her to react… be grateful and happy he offered to sacrifice himself to marry her again? She clenched her hands and her broken heart wanted to chase him away. But she wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction to know how much his words hurt her.
‘Get back together?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Gu Jiao Wu nodded. He thought Qiao Tan Yuan was smiling strangely.
‘For Xiao Bao I should get back together with you… but…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qian Tan Yuan pulled a drawer and took out a box. She opened the box in front of Gu Jiao Wu’s face and smiled smugly.
‘I accepted Shen Cheng’s marriage proposal,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I’m going to marry Shen Cheng. He promised he’ll give me and Xiao Bao a happy family. You know he’s a loyal and honorable man. I believe he will treat me and Xiao Bao well. So you can leave.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, what do you mean?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan wore the ring and waved it in front of Gu Jiao Wu’s face. ‘Now do you see? Look at how big my diamond ring is. It shows Shen Cheng’s sincerity.’
Gu Jiao Wu was annoyed at the sparkling diamond ring.
Qiao Tan Yuan was happy to see Gu Jiao Wu looked upset. ‘It’s a beautiful sparkling ring. Blindingly sparkling.’
Qiao Tan Yuan stepped to the opened drawer, put the box down, took out one of Xiao Bao’s gifts, unlocked it and showed it to Gu Jiao Wu.
‘But how can my ring compare to Xiao Bao’s gift?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. She waved Xiao Bao’s diamond earrings in front of Gu Jiao Wu’s face. ‘Take a close look.’
Gu Jiao Wu wasn’t impressed to see the sparkling diamond earrings.
‘Shen Cheng gave this to Xiao Bao for her one month milestone,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Compared to you, Shen Cheng treats Xiao Bao miles better than you treat Xiao Bao.’
Qiao Tan Yuan looked at Gu Jiao Wu in disdain. ‘You say you want to be Xiao Bao’s father. But what did you give Xiao Bao for her one month milestone? You gave her nothing.’
‘Giving Xiao Bao expensive baubles doesn’t prove someone is a good parent,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Xiao Bao is a baby. What would she know about diamonds? Qiao Tan Yuan, I didn’t know you were this money hungry and materialistic.’
Money… materialistic? Qiao Tan Yuan smiled wider. If Gu Jiao Wu wanted to add another two bad traits to the long list of bad traits he falsely accused her of having, it was his business.
‘So what if I’m money hungry and materialistic?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Did you just find out? Gu Jiao Wu, like you said, I’m the Qiao Household’s spoiled princess. Since I was a little girl, I was given everything I wanted. I’m not scared to admit I’m money hungry and materialistic. If you’re disgusted by me, you can leave. I didn’t beg you to come here and sacrifice yourself.’
Qiao Tan Yuan wanted to pick up a broomstick and sweep Gu Jiao Wu outside.
‘There’s nothing left to say,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You can go.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan, if you’re like this I’ll won’t let you have Xiao Bao and be a bad influence on her,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Qiao Tan Yuan forced herself to laugh.
‘I don’t need your permission,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘What matters is my consent. Do you know how much Shen Cheng loves me? He loves everything about me. He loves that I’m money hungry and materialistic. He even bought a house and renovated the house to add a nursery for Xiao Bao. He visits Xiao Bao every day, and Xiao Bao smiles when she sees him. They have a good father and daughter relationship.’
Qiao Tan Yuan put the box on the bedside table and looked directly at Gu Jiao Wu’s eyes.
‘I’m wasting my breath talking to you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘You don’t understand my perspective. It doesn’t matter. Shen Cheng and I are getting married next month. I’ll send you a wedding invitation.’
Qiao Tan Yuan pointed at the door. Gu Jiao Wu didn’t move. He looked at her a small smug face and smiled. What was there for her to be smug about? His gaze travelled down her body and back to her hand pointing at the door. Her forefinger was trembling and exposed her real feelings. He actioned the thought dominating his head. He held her trembling hand and pulled her into his chest. He wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her lips.
Qiao Tan Yuan was stunned Gu Jiao Wu was kissing her. Why was he kissing her? Her heart raced but she told herself to push him away. He pulled her closer to him and their breaths harmonised with their moving lips. He sucked everything out of her, her breath and her waiting heart.
Qiao Tan Yuan cursed Gu Jiao Wu. What right did the AH have to kiss her? She opened her mouth to bite his tongue, but his tongue delved deeper into her mouth. His soft restless tongue aroused her and she didn’t know what she should do. Her kissing inexperience was no match against Gu Jiao Wu’s seductive kisses. His lips refused to part with her lips, and his tongue wrapped around her tongue like a snake coiling and suffocating its prey. Her will power to push him away weakened, and she leaned her subdued body into his chest for support so she wouldn’t fall on the floor.
Gu Jiao Wu let go of Qiao Tan Yuan’s limp hand. His hold around her waist tightened and his other hand held her neck. He deepened the kiss and heard their ragged breathing. Her innocent compliance made him happy. He wanted to taste the rest of her body.
A thump sound coming from the door made Qiao Tan Yuan snap out of Gu Jiao Wu’s seductive haze. She pushed him away from her and looked at the door. She didn’t know how long Shen Cheng was standing at the door, and there was a large long and wide box on the floor next to his feet. The pained look in Shen Cheng’s eyes froze her heart, he witnessed Gu Jiao Wu holding her and kissing her. She turned to Gu Jiao Wu and resented him for making her hurt Shen Cheng even deeper. She didn’t hesitate to slap Gu Jiao Wu’s cheek.
The sound of a slap shocked Shen Cheng out of his pain. What was Qiao Tan Yuan doing? Why did she slap Gu Jiao Wu?
Qiao Tan Yuan ran to Shen Cheng before Gu Jiao Wu could react.
‘Shen Cheng, don’t misunderstand,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘It’s not what you think. I can explain…’
‘Tan Yuan, I trust you,’ Shen Cheng said.
Qiao Tan Yuan was sad to see Shen Cheng force himself to smile and act calm.
‘Shen Cheng?’ Qiao Tan Yuan called.
Shen Cheng smiled, held Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand and looked at the ring on her finger.
‘We’re getting married,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘Of course I trust you.’
‘Shen Cheng… it’s his fault… I…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Shen Cheng rubbed Qiao Tan Yuan’s head like he was comforting a child.
‘I believe it wasn’t your fault,’ Shen Cheng said.
Shen Cheng wrapped an arm around Qiao Tan Yuan’s shoulder, and looked at Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Big brother, I’m marrying Tan Yuan,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘I believe you know what it means not to hara.s.s a friend’s wife.’
Gu Jiao Wu disliked seeing Shen Cheng standing close to Qiao Tan Yuan. He slowly stepped to Qiao Tan Yuan and looked at her face.
‘Tan Yuan, are you certain this is what you want?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I’m certain,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want Gu Jiao Wu to know the truth, she wasn’t marrying anyone.
Qiao Tan Yuan kissed Shen Cheng’s cheek. ‘Shen Cheng, I believe you will love Xiao Bao like your own daughter.’
‘Tan Yuan, what are you saying?’ Shen Cheng asked. ‘Xiao Bao is my daughter.’
Shen Cheng acted like Gu Jiao Wu wasn’t in the room. He crouched, picked up the fallen box on the floor and gave it to Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘Tan Yuan, the designer wedding dress I ordered for you arrived from Milan today,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘You can try it on and see if it fits.’
End of Chapter Thirty-Six