The matter of Gu Yanjing's marriage, apart from the two people whose names are written on the marriage certificate, is known to no more than five people at the moment.
Moreover, around Gu Yanjing, with his reputation, it's very rare to see a woman appear by his side.
Let alone, entering Gu Yanjing's villa so familiarly and having Gu Yanjing introduce his acquaintances to her.
Shang Chen stared at Qiao Yuxian with a stern face, as if trying to stare out a result.
He wanted to know who she was, why she appeared here, and why she seemed so familiar with this place as well as Mr. Gu.
Being stared at like this, Qiao Yuxian smiled after a moment and greeted, "Hello."
Shang Chen didn't respond at all, still staring at her.
"Shang Chen." Gu Yanjing called out to him.
Shang Chen turned his head to meet Gu Yanjing's gaze and, seeing his warning expression, immediately lowered his head and dropped his gaze.
"Aunt Mei should be in the kitchen, I'll go help her." Qiao Yuxian, noticing they had something to discuss, casually found an excuse to leave.
"Wait a moment." Gu Yanjing stopped her, "Come and sit, I have something to tell you."
Qiao Yuxian pointed at herself with a finger: "Me?"
Gu Yanjing looked at her without speaking.
Qiao Yuxian smiled obediently at him, walked to the single sofa beside him, kept her legs together, and sat honestly.
Once she sat down, Shang Chen did not speak again.
"Continue." Gu Yanjing said.
"Mr. Gu..." Shang Chen had been with him for many years and was very familiar with the people around him. Not knowing the origin of this woman made him a bit uneasy.
Gu Yanjing looked at him.
Shang Chen lowered his head even more, quickly continuing, "Gu Shuluo has shipped another batch of goods, entering the capital tonight. This is already the seventh time in five months."
Qiao Yuxian picked a grape from the fruit plate on the coffee table and ate it, quietly listening to their conversation.
Gu Shuluo is Gu Yanjing's half-brother, only a year younger than him.
Rumors say that Gu Yanjing harmed his siblings, referring specifically to Gu Shuluo.
It is said that when Gu Shuluo was younger, he was almost killed by Gu Yanjing.
"Mr. Gu, after this shipment, Gu Shuluo will probably make a move against some of our territories." Shang Chen glanced at Qiao Yuxian, paused, and said, "His people have also gathered in the capital."
"Then act tonight." Gu Yanjing watched Qiao Yuxian's fair hand take two more grapes from the coffee table, and said in a deep voice, "Tonight's shipment, along with his base, will all be destroyed."
"Yes." Shang Chen paused, then asked, "And Gu Shuluo..."
"Leave him alive." Gu Yanjing replied.
"Yes."
After the business talk finished, Gu Yanjing looked toward Qiao Yuxian.
Qiao Yuxian's left cheek was puffed up by a grape, and seeing Gu Yanjing look over, she smiled at him with curved eyes and quickly swallowed the grape, asking, "Do you have anything to tell me?"
Gu Yanjing's gaze swept over her red lips, saying, "From now on, have Shang Chen pick you up and drop you off."
Qiao Yuxian's eyes widened suddenly.
Shang Chen frowned.
Meng Yan, who was standing at the door: "......" He really just said a few more words to Miss Qiao.
Qiao Yuxian looked at Shang Chen's even darker expression, then turned to Gu Yanjing: "I protest."
"It's decided." Gu Yanjing finished speaking and got up, walking toward the dining room.
Qiao Yuxian: "......"
Leaving Qiao Yuxian and Shang Chen looking at each other.
Shang Chen was extremely unwilling, his eyes full of disgust and disdain, his face pulled into a scowl.
Seeing him like this, Qiao Yuxian crossed her arms and leaned back into the sofa, her expression colder, more disdainful, and more disgusted than his.
But Shang Chen clearly did not regard her, turning and leaving right away.
As if seeing her even one more time was annoying to him.
Watching his back, Qiao Yuxian grabbed a grape, intending to throw it at him. But just as her hand raised, Gu Yanjing suddenly looked over.
Feeling his gaze, Qiao Yuxian's hand diverted mid-air, throwing the grape into her own mouth instead.
She chewed with annoyance.
Gu Yanjing watched her series of actions, his eyes flashing lightly: "Dinner time."
Qiao Yuxian looked at Gu Yanjing with resentment.
Gu Yanjing met her gaze without expression.
After two seconds, Qiao Yuxian said, "Oh."
She got up and walked to the dining room.
Throughout the meal, Qiao Yuxian didn't speak, and the table was quiet.
After eating, Qiao Yuxian went straight back to the guest room.
Gu Yanjing, Shang Chen, and Meng Yan went to the study.
Many of the things Qiao Yuxian bought had not been unwrapped yet, she found a pair of scissors, sat on the carpet, unwrapping each item one by one.
She tried on clothes as she unwrapped them, smelled perfumes, and swatched lipsticks on her lips to test the color.
Ten minutes later, a phone rang.
Qiao Yuxian rummaged through a pile of boxes to find her phone, checking the caller ID, it was a friend working in acting.
As soon as she pressed answer, the woman's crying voice came through: "Xian! I broke up!"
Qiao Yuxian was stunned for a moment: "When were you even dating?"
"Two days ago!"
Qiao Yuxian: "......Congratulations on regaining your single freedom once more."
"Jerk! He's my co-star from the last drama. We just officially started dating two days ago, and today he wanted to take me to a hotel. I just wanted to beat up his stupid head." The woman lamented.
Qiao Yuxian paused and said: "If he's a jerk, why are you so upset? Shouldn't you be happy to be rid of him?"
"Who said I'm upset about him? I'm mourning my twelfth failed relationship."
Qiao Yuxian didn't want to deal with her.
"Let's meet up, I need comfort. I need someone who's inexperienced in love to comfort me."
Qiao Yuxian granted her one big word: "Scram."
The woman sighed, stifling her cries: "Let's meet up. I've bought the Longxiang Yumo you wanted, I'll bring it with me."
"Alright, I'll come find you."
...
When Qiao Yuxian went out, she didn't run into anyone, so she didn't speak to anyone either.
By the time she returned, it was almost midnight, and only the lights in the yard were still on.
The night was quiet all around, as dark as dyed ink, and the night breeze gently blew, spreading thin wisps of mist.
Qiao Yuxian walked to the villa's gate, and couldn't help but open the door gently, unwilling to break the peaceful environment.
She slowly pushed the door open, then quietly closed it, tiptoeing inside. After taking a few steps, a gust of wind suddenly arose behind her.
The loose strands of hair by her ear slightly fluttered, and her expression sharpened. She swiftly turned around, dodging while counterattacking.
Her punch landed squarely on the forearm of the person behind her, who quickly parried it.
The person behind reacted swiftly too, launching another attack during the parry.
Qiao Yuxian counterattacked.
Both held onto each other's hands, and under the yard lights, they clearly saw each other's faces.
It was Shang Chen.
And Shang Chen clearly saw the fierce sharpness in Qiao Yuxian's eyes, but it quickly disappeared.
At this moment, Gu Yanjing walked over from the direction of the garage, standing in the shadows, asking, "What's going on?"
Hearing Gu Yanjing's voice.
Shang Chen immediately eased his grip.
After Qiao Yuxian released her hold, she glanced at Shang Chen, then... abruptly sat down on the ground, starting to complain: "He hit me. I'm hurt! It hurts so much——"
Watching her sit down at his feet, Shang Chen stared with wide eyes, his stern face flitting with a moment of helplessness.