Miss Qiao let the driver lead her into the villa, observing as she walked.
The layout of the courtyard was quite simple, the villa having three floors, and the interior was also styled in a minimalist way.
From top to bottom, inside and out, it all gave off an empty, cold feeling.
Aside from cleanliness, there was no sense of vitality.
"Does Mr. Gu... come here once a year?" Miss Qiao asked the driver, turning her head slightly.
The driver gave a standard smile, only smiling without saying anything.
Miss Qiao looked at him, "...What's your name?"
"Meng Yan," the driver replied.
Miss Qiao nodded, "Is it okay if I look around?"
"Sure," Meng Yan said, "Please go ahead."
Miss Qiao casually glanced around the first floor and courtyard, but aside from observing the layout, there wasn't much to see, so she left with Meng Yan.
Sitting in the car, Meng Yan asked, "Miss Qiao, where are we going?"
"Let's go to Jinxia Building," Miss Qiao said.
Meng Yan glanced at her through the rearview mirror.
Miss Qiao met his gaze, smiled warmly, and said, "I've decided not to move after all; I'll just buy it directly."
On this side, Meng Yan drove Miss Qiao to Jinxia Building, while Gu Yanjing drove himself to the Gu Family's Old Mansion to report.
"Where's the marriage certificate?" Old Sir Gu asked, seated on the sofa with a book. He saw him enter the living room, set the book aside, and asked this question first.
The old man wore a white traditional robe, his hair was gray, but at eighty years old, his back was still straight, and his eyes were sharp. Although he smiled, his authority remained undiminished.
Gu Yanjing sat on the single sofa beside him, speaking lightly, "It's all with her."
Old Sir Gu looked at him.
Gu Yanjing paused and said, "Since I promised you, I won't go back on it, nor will I deceive you."
Old Sir Gu nodded, fondling the jade bracelet in his hand, "Grandfather never forced you to do anything, this is the first time, and it will be the last."
Gu Yanjing didn't say anything.
Old Sir Gu laughed, "Are you upset?"
"No," Gu Yanjing's face remained expressionless, his tone devoid of warmth, "I just don't understand why you want me to marry her."
"Ah, Yanjing, your reputation..." Old Sir Gu suddenly displayed a deeply complex expression, "It's rare to find someone who wants to marry you, so of course Grandpa wants to quickly get it done while the girl's affection hasn't faded."
Gu Yanjing: "......"
Indeed, his reputation wasn't good.
Outside, people said that he killed his father and mother for the Gu Family, harmed his siblings, and even had a curse over him.
Even though the Gu Family was the leading family in Capital City, there were very few people trying to get close to Gu Yanjing.
The reason was simple.
Love your life, stay away from Gu Yanjing.
"Of course, it's not that no one wants to marry you, the girl from the Lu Family has always liked you," Old Sir Gu said, "But you cut off her expectations early on."
Gu Yanjing replied coldly, "I could have also cut off Qiao Yuxian's expectations."
"You wouldn't dare!" Old Sir Gu suddenly raised his voice but then lowered it, "Yu Xian is a good girl, you two have a destiny. You and the Lu Family girl, don't have this destiny."
Gu Yanjing: "......"
"Anyway, I am very satisfied with this girl, she's very thoughtful," Old Sir Gu said, "Even though the Qiao Family is not an aristocratic clan, they don't have much standing in Capital City right now. But to stand firm in the Beijing Circle, how could they be incompetent? They are much stronger than those who climb up only by developing connections."
Gu Yanjing coldly interjected on Old Sir Gu's satisfaction, "Her thoughtfulness towards you is to get close to me."
"She wants to get close to you because she likes you."
Gu Yanjing didn't reply further, raising his eyes to look at Old Sir Gu, his gaze calm yet penetrating.
Old Sir Gu was a bit flustered under his gaze, he fiddled with the bracelet and stood up to change the subject, "I'm going to take a nap, you should return to accompany Yu Xian. Why sit here and watch me? At my age, with a bad heart, I can't take being stared at."
"It was you who asked me to come over." Gu Yanjing stood up too, mercilessly leaving Old Sir Gu speechless.
"Now I'm telling you to go back to accompany Yu Xian," Old Sir Gu tried to uphold his elder's status, unable to argue with him.
Gu Yanjing pursed his thin lips, saying, "I'll go after work."
"Take good care of her," Old Sir Gu said, "I know you have doubts about her, but before you can confirm anything, she is simply your lawful wife."
"Grandfather, if you want the Gu Family to provide her with protection, she doesn't necessarily have to marry me," Gu Yanjing said.
"Hmph! She's already married to you, is there any point in saying this?"
Gu Yanjing: "......"
Old Sir Gu hummed as he saw him fall silent, heading upstairs for his nap.
...
Miss Qiao shopped all afternoon, buying everything she could think of and saw in the mall.
Meng Yan accompanied her all afternoon, carrying things for her, so much so that his legs felt like they had turned into noodles. By the time they returned to Fenglin Villa, he was visibly worn out.
Mr. Gu had a dinner engagement in the evening and didn't get home until nearly nine o'clock.
The moment he stepped into the living room, the first thing he saw was Miss Qiao, holding an undetermined month's financial magazine, reading intently.
She was sitting on the sofa, her head slightly bowed, with stray hairs falling with it. She looked very focused and a little well-behaved.
The second thing he noticed was the pile of items in the corner of the living room.
All bought stuff - clothes, shoes, skincare products...
Exactly as carried from the mall, they were left untouched in the living room.
The Fenglin Villa was too spacious, making the pile appear even more conspicuous.
Mr. Gu glanced at it and then averted his gaze, walking into the living room.
As Mr. Gu entered the living room, Meng Yan walked over to him.
When Miss Qiao heard the noise, she put the magazine back where it belonged and stood up.
"Mr. Gu." Meng Yan greeted respectfully, reaching out to take his coat.
He stood up straight, trying hard to keep his eyes open wide, wanting to appear more energetic.
Mr. Gu gave him an extra look.
Just one afternoon without meeting, and it seemed like he had driven continuously for ten days without rest.
"Have you had dinner?" Miss Qiao asked with a smile.
Her eyes sparkled vividly when she smiled, like a beautiful little fox.
Mr. Gu glanced at them, shifted his gaze, paused for two seconds, and responded, "Hmm."
"I've also eaten." Miss Qiao followed beside him, walking upstairs with him, "The aunt who cooked here did a really great job."
Mr. Gu didn't speak.
"I didn't move things, just went straight to the mall to buy some. For now, I only bought a few for myself..." Miss Qiao paused, then said, "Can I furnish the villa with some things?"
"As you wish." Mr. Gu replied indifferently with two words.
"Then I'll go buy more when I have time."
Mr. Gu didn't say anything and continued walking upstairs.
Before he reached the second floor, Miss Qiao took a few steps up, passing him, and stood on the second floor, turning to block his way.
Mr. Gu paused, stood two steps below her, and looked up at her.
Miss Qiao looked at his cold, handsome face, feeling inexplicably happy. Her brows lifted into a smile, leaning forward, getting closer to him, and said, "Mr. Gu, are you really this indifferent to your wife on our wedding night?"
Downstairs, Meng Yan, upon hearing this, gulped, feeling all his limbs tense with nervousness.
Having worked with Mr. Gu for nearly ten years, he had never seen anyone dare to tease him.
Mr. Gu's eyes flashed with a touch of sternness.
"......" Miss Qiao, seeing his expression, sheepishly moved aside and whispered, "Just joking, no need to be so scary."
Mr. Gu ignored her, passed by, and headed towards the bedroom.
Watching his back, Miss Qiao pursed her lips and caught up with him, "Mr. Gu, do you have anything else?"
"No." Mr. Gu threw out two words, pushing the bedroom door open.
As he entered the bedroom and turned to close the door, Miss Qiao stood at the entrance, seemingly inclined to follow him inside.
Mr. Gu frowned.
Miss Qiao blinked her eyes and chuckled, "Isn't it time to rest since there's nothing else? We're married, so I can come in, right?"
Mr. Gu's expression grew overcast.
"Mr. Gu, we are legally married," Miss Qiao kindly reminded, "Sleeping together is also legal."
Mr. Gu's lips tautened, and his eyes, cool and stormy, seemed to be brewing a tempest, but he quickly suppressed it and spoke in a low voice, "Miss Qiao, behave yourself."
An unmistakable warning.
For a moment, Miss Qiao felt that if she said anything more, Mr. Gu might strangle her.
She shut her mouth, standing obediently at the doorway, looking at him.
They stared at each other for a while, and Mr. Gu asked, "Anything else?"
"Just to inform you, I'll head home in a bit."
Mr. Gu looked at her.
Miss Qiao teased languidly, "Otherwise, I might stay here, making Mr. Gu worry about his chastity tonight."
Mr. Gu's face darkened again.
Watching his expression, Miss Qiao happily went downstairs, humming a tune as she headed home.