Chapter 204: Chapter 182: Gu Mansion
After returning to the capital, Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing returned directly to the Gu Mansion.
On the way, Qiao Yuxian asked, "Are there any guests at the Gu Mansion?"
Gu Yanjing looked at Shang Chen, who was driving in front.
Shang Chen sensed his gaze, glanced back through the rearview mirror, and said, "No. The old sir knew Mr. Gu was bringing his wife back today, so he called to have the New Year visitors come starting tomorrow."
"Hmm." Gu Yanjing responded.
Qiao Yuxian nodded and patted Gu Yanjing’s leg with her hand, saying, "Grandpa is always considerate."
Gu Yanjing looked at the small hand on his leg and held it gently.
They arrived at the Gu Mansion.
The car stopped at the entrance, and Qiao Yuxian and Gu Yanjing got out and entered the Gu Mansion together.
Passing the screen wall and seeing the front hall, Qiao Yuxian let go of Gu Yanjing’s hand and ran towards the front hall, shouting as she went, "Grandpa, Grandpa, I’m here, I’m here for New Year’s greetings."
Gu Yanjing watched her from behind, smiling involuntarily.
The old sir, who heard Qiao Yuxian’s voice in the front hall, remained calm, but his fingers nervously played with the object in his hand.
He looked outside. The woman sitting diagonally across from him also looked outside. The elderly gentleman sitting next to the woman glanced at Old Sir Gu, a fleeting smile crossing his face.
Soon, Qiao Yuxian ran in: "Grandpa, Happy New Year..."
Seeing others there, Qiao Yuxian swallowed the rest of her words.
She looked at the two people sitting opposite Old Sir Gu.
In a second, she switched from adorable to mature and composed.
Old Sir Gu quickly stood up and walked over to her, smiling, "Yu Xian, you’re here."
"Grandpa," Qiao Yuxian said as she walked towards him, holding his arm, "We have guests at home."
"Yes. They..." The old sir didn’t finish his sentence; he glanced at the ring on her hand. He looked down, then looked at Qiao Yuxian again.
Seeing the direction of his gaze, Qiao Yuxian smiled at him.
Old Sir Gu also smiled, looking as if Gu Yanjing finally did something right.
They exchanged a glance, and knowing they had guests, Old Sir Gu didn’t say much more and introduced the people to Qiao Yuxian.
"Yu Xian, this is Grandpa Lu," the old sir introduced the elderly man on the sofa, then introduced the woman who stood up, "This is his granddaughter, Lu Mengyi."
Lu Mengyi had stood up when Old Sir Gu got up.
"This is Yanjing’s wife," Old Sir Gu introduced Qiao Yuxian to both of them.
Qiao Yuxian and Lu Mengyi’s gazes met, subtly observing each other.
Lu Mengyi was very beautiful, a straightforward kind of beauty.
She was tall, in great shape, and had a cool, calm demeanor similar to Gu Yanjing’s, creating an unapproachable aura.
They seemed to be two very similar people raised under the same education system.
Qiao Yuxian politely said, "Grandpa Lu, Miss Lu."
Old Sir Lu looked at her and responded, Lu Mengyi smiled and replied, "Hello."
Qiao Yuxian also smiled back at her.
Just then, Gu Yanjing brought Su Qi and Shang Chen into the front hall.
Upon entering, Gu Yanjing saw Old Sir Lu and Lu Mengyi and instinctively glanced at Qiao Yuxian first.
Su Qi and Meng Yan saw Lu Mengyi but hid their reactions, slowing their steps as they entered.
Many people knew that this beloved member of the Lu Family had an affection for Mr. Gu, and naturally, his subordinates knew too.
Seeing Gu Yanjing looking over, Qiao Yuxian slightly raised her eyebrows.
Gu Yanjing: "......"
Old Sir Gu stood beside Qiao Yuxian, looking guilty, wishing Gu Yanjing would look at him to give him a chance to explain.
But... Gu Yanjing only glanced at Qiao Yuxian before looking at Old Sir Lu and saying, "Grandpa Lu, Happy New Year."
"Hmm," Old Sir Lu responded, "Happy New Year."
Lu Mengyi’s smile grew, "Yanjing, Happy New Year."
Meng Yan and Su Qi stood behind, worried for their Mr. Gu.
Qiao Yuxian looked at Gu Yanjing.
Gu Yanjing nodded under Qiao Yuxian’s gaze, not daring to say anything else.
Lu Mengyi looked at Gu Yanjing, then glanced at Qiao Yuxian.
Feeling something, Qiao Yuxian looked at her at just the right moment.
Their gazes met, and Qiao Yuxian smiled warmly at her.
Pure, innocent, seemingly without aggression.
Lu Mengyi looked at her, maintaining her expressionless face, and looked away.
...
Everyone sat down, and Meng Yan and Su Qi put down the gifts they brought.
Old Sir Lu kept looking at Qiao Yuxian.
Qiao Yuxian sat quietly next to Gu Yanjing, and noticing his gaze, she looked back at him.
After a while, Old Sir Lu asked, "This is Mr. Qiao’s granddaughter, right?"
Before Qiao Yuxian could speak, Old Sir Gu answered, "She’s Wanqing’s granddaughter."
Old Sir Lu looked at him speechlessly: "......"
Qiao Yuxian opened her mouth, smiled, and said, "Both, both. It’s the same."
Gu Yanjing looked at his family’s old sir.
Old Sir Gu lowered his gaze under his grandson’s stare and fiddled with the tassel in his hand.
Until Qiao Yuxian tugged slightly on Gu Yanjing’s clothes, prompting Gu Yanjing to look away and Old Sir Gu was finally released.
Lu Mengyi observed Qiao Yuxian’s subtle actions.
Even at over eighty, Old Sir Lu had good eyesight and noticed her small action. After a pause, he continued, "I was thinking it’s the New Year, so I came to see some old friends I rarely meet throughout the year. I didn’t know Yanjing was bringing his wife over today."
"Humph," Old Sir Gu snorted lightly.
Qiao Yuxian silently watched them.
Old Sir Lu glanced at him, his tone more sincere, as if he truly hadn’t come deliberately. While speaking, he stood up with his cane and said, "You all sit. I’ll head back first and come another day. Girl, visit our place another day."
"Alright," Qiao Yuxian replied.
Lu Mengyi supported him as he stood.
Old Sir Gu watched him get up, stiffly offering, "Would you like to have a meal before leaving?"
"Sure," Old Sir Lu didn’t hesitate even for a second, even before Old Sir Gu finished speaking, he immediately sat back on the sofa, nonchalantly saying, "Since you invited me, I won’t be polite."
Lu Mengyi, supporting him, paused slightly before retracting her hand.
Gu Yanjing glanced at his family’s old sir again.
Old Sir Gu looked at him, eyes wide.
He had only been polite, yet the old man stayed.
Qiao Yuxian felt that Old Sir Gu’s expression was just short of scolding the person opposite, calling them "shameless."
"You’re quite unreserved," Old Sir Gu finally mustered a sentence.
"Since you asked me to stay, I naturally can’t waste your goodwill," Old Sir Lu chuckled, then looked at Qiao Yuxian, "Girl, I hope I’m not disturbing you."
Qiao Yuxian shook her head, smiling, "Having a meal with you is my honor."
"See, see, this girl knows how to talk," Old Sir Lu laughed.
Old Sir Gu snorted again and said, "You know how to ask people, why don’t you ask me?"
"You’re the one who asked me to stay."
Old Sir Gu slumped into the sofa, regretfully falling silent.
This old man clearly felt slighted that Gu Yanjing didn’t choose his granddaughter as a wife, so he came to see the new wife.
He never visited during the New Year before!
It was always the younger ones in his family.
The younger ones had visited yesterday, yet today he came early with his granddaughter, clearly deliberate.
Making him appear disrespectful both inside and out.
Who knows how that little tyrant Gu Yanjing would sarcastically criticize him later.