Chapter 203: Chapter 181: Returning to Beijing
Qiao Yuxian was in the west wing, constantly watching the direction of the main house, waiting for Gu Yanjing to come out.
She almost fell asleep waiting, when Gu Yanjing finally emerged.
She was leaning on the windowsill, her eyes about to close. As soon as she saw Gu Yanjing, she immediately ran out.
Gu Yanjing watched her run in her pajamas in the courtyard, and as she reached him, he wrapped an arm around her waist and first carried her into the room.
As soon as Qiao Yuxian was brought into the room, she said, "You took so long. I was almost asleep."
Gu Yanjing: "......"
After saying that, Qiao Yuxian slowly raised her eyes, looked at his somewhat stiff expression, then giggled twice, patted his shoulder, and said, "Longer is better, longer is good. Longer means good health."
Standing to the side, Meng Yan and Su Qi exchanged a glance.
The storm of emotions in their eyes briefly crashed, and then they quickly looked down, trying to minimize their presence, fearing Gu Yanjing might think they knew too much and silence them.
But even with their heads lowered, they were thinking: Our Mr. Gu, who lived like a monk!!!!!!!
Gu Yanjing’s expression grew even stiffer, and his eyes gradually took on a colder look.
Qiao Yuxian patted his shoulder again, with a little expression that seemed to acknowledge something sacred and solemn. Afterward, under Gu Yanjing’s stiff and cold gaze, she turned and ran back to the room.
Gu Yanjing’s eyes were cold and heavy. Watching her back, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
He really had no way to deal with her.
...
In the room, Qiao Yuxian kept changing clothes repeatedly, trying to match the diamond ring on her hand.
Eventually, she got a bit anxious, fearing everyone was waiting for her to eat, so she randomly picked one from the three outfits she had laid out and put it on.
Once dressed, everyone was already waiting for her in the living room.
Qiao Yuxian came out holding a stack of red envelopes.
First, she walked up to Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao and handed them three large red envelopes: "Uncle Quan, Aunt Zhao. Happy New Year."
They accepted them from her hand without refusing: "Thank you, Yu Xian."
Qiao Yuxian smiled and said, "As usual, one is for Feng Xuan."
"Okay," they replied.
When the elder Qiao family members were alive, they gave them red envelopes every year. Now that they’re gone, Qiao Yuxian gives them on their behalf each year.
The first year, Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao tried to refuse until Qiao Yuxian said it was from her grandparents. Only then did they accept.
They consider it a remembrance, so they no longer refuse.
After giving red envelopes to Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao,
Qiao Yuxian looked at Yuan Wei.
Yuan Wei promptly said, "Sis! Happy New Year. May you become prettier every year, achieve all your desires, and be happy with your romantically inclined partner."
Gu Yanjing, quietly standing by and getting caught in the crossfire: "......"
Qiao Yuxian smiled, handed him a red envelope, and said, "Happy New Year. I hope you stay happy and safe."
Yuan Wei nodded as he took it: "Thank you, sis."
Then, Qiao Yuxian also gave red envelopes to Su Qi and Meng Yan.
Su Qi and Meng Yan accepted them with smiles. Su Qi said, "We also got one."
"Of course," Qiao Yuxian said, "everyone in the family gets one."
Having gotten used to receiving money, Su Qi and Meng Yan felt a sudden warmth in their hearts.
Although Mr. Gu considers them family as well, it’s different when it’s said out loud.
"Each red envelope contains an amulet," Qiao Yuxian said, "I wish everyone safety."
"Thank you, Madam."
"Thank you, Boss Lady."
"You’re welcome, you’re welcome," Qiao Yuxian said, "Let’s go eat."
The group headed towards the east wing, with Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing at the back.
Qiao Yuxian nudged Gu Yanjing’s shoulder.
Gu Yanjing looked at her.
Qiao Yuxian handed him a box and said, "Here, a New Year gift."
Gu Yanjing slightly raised an eyebrow, took the box, and opened it. Inside was a Mountain Ghost Coin and an amulet.
The two were strung on a red wrist string.
"I made it in the temple yesterday," Qiao Yuxian said quietly, "I specially asked for the amulet from the Bodhisattva. I even told my grandparents and other ancestors to bless you."
Gu Yanjing looked at her.
Last night, when he saw her, he could smell the strong incense on her.
"You can put it in your suit pocket," Qiao Yuxian added.
"Can’t I wear it on my wrist?" Gu Yanjing asked.
"Of course, you can," Qiao Yuxian said, "but I thought you might not want to."
"Which hand should I wear it on?" Gu Yanjing asked.
Qiao Yuxian thought for a moment and said, "Wear it on your left hand. It’s more convenient."
Gu Yanjing handed the red string to her.
Qiao Yuxian took it and put it on his left wrist.
Then she stood on her tiptoes and kissed the corner of his lips: "Stay safe and healthy."
"Hmm," Gu Yanjing replied, lowering his head to kiss her back.
...
They reached the dining room in the east wing, and Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing sat down.
Everybody started eating.
After mostly finishing the meal, Qiao Yuxian propped her face on her left hand and suddenly cleared her throat.
It was a sudden and deliberate sound.
Everyone looked at her, confused.
While Qiao Yuxian, with her left hand propped under her face, kept her head down, looking at her bowl and chopsticks, avoiding their gaze.
Everyone was a bit bewildered, not knowing what she intended, remaining silent while watching her.
Qiao Yuxian waited for a while, and when she didn’t hear them speak, she moved her left hand fingers. It still didn’t seem obvious, so she ostentatiously touched her forehead with her left hand.
Sitting next to her, Gu Yanjing noticed her little ploy, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.
After another moment of silence, it was Su Qi who first caught on and said, "The Boss Lady’s wedding ring is gorgeous. So chic and elegant."
A rather exaggerated and blatantly uninspired compliment.
But Qiao Yuxian immediately looked at him with a satisfied expression that seemed to say, ’Only Special Assistant Su gets it.’
She had been waiting all morning, yet no one praised her ring.
She had already given them red envelopes, yet they didn’t compliment her.
She had to take matters into her own hands.
She stretched out her hand and said, "I think so too, super beautiful. Perfectly suits me. And look, this ring size, it’s just right. It was handcrafted day and night over three months, one of a kind in the world. Most importantly, it’s about meaning and thought."
"It’s so beautiful and so large, it must be very valuable," Aunt Zhao said with a smile.
Actually, everyone had noticed the ring early on. But Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao felt that, given their age, it wasn’t appropriate to tease Qiao Yuxian into embarrassment, so they kept quiet.
And Su Qi and Meng Yan, being accustomed to silently doing their jobs, seldom discussed their master’s affairs.
As for Yuan Wei... Yuan Wei simply hadn’t noticed it.
"It is valuable," Qiao Yuxian glanced at Gu Yanjing and said, "But compared to me, it still falls short."
Gu Yanjing nodded in agreement, smiling softly.
The others kept quiet until Qiao Yuxian seemed satisfied before they finally stopped.
It wasn’t until then that everyone finished.
...
They spent the first of the year in Yue City.
They were at Qiao Mansion in the morning and then in the afternoon, Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing headed out for a bit.
On the second day of the new year, Qiao Yuxian, Gu Yanjing, and the others returned to Capital City. Yuan Wei stayed behind.
As soon as she got off the plane, Qiao Yuxian reached into her bag and handed a red envelope to Shang Chen.
"Here you go, a red envelope to celebrate the New Year. Happy New Year," Qiao Yuxian said as she handed it to him.
Shang Chen received the red envelope for the first time, a little stiff as he looked at it, then awkwardly at Gu Yanjing, and said, "Thank you. Happy New Year."
"Isn’t it super pretty? Doesn’t it suit my style perfectly?" Qiao Yuxian asked, showing off.
Shang Chen: "......"
Qiao Yuxian, seeing he wasn’t responding, frowned and looked at Gu Yanjing.
Gu Yanjing patted her hand and led her forward into the car.
Su Qi and Meng Yan stood in the back, laughing silently.
Shang Chen accepted the red envelope, glanced at it, and then rigidly at Gu Yanjing, before awkwardly accepting it and saying, "Thank you. Happy New Year."