Qiao Rulong sat down on the sofa: "Did the guests just leave?"
Ye Qingya’s long black eyelashes fluttered: "Vice President Yue and the others just left not long ago."
Qiao Rulong chuckled: "You know I’m not talking about them. I just ran into soone at the door, and I felt like I’ve seen them sowhere before."
Ye Qingya said: "Did you et an acquaintance?" She handed Qiao Rulong a cup of black tea.
Qiao Rulong took two sips of tea and said: "Xu Chunliang, right!"
Ye Qingya knew she couldn’t hide this from Qiao Rulong anymore, so she sat down across from him: "You’ve seen him?"
Qiao Rulong shook his head: "I’ve seen photos, that’s why I recognized him at a glance. Why is he looking for you?"
"The art gallery is so big, and I’m not the only one holding exhibitions. How are you so sure he was looking for ?"
Qiao Rulong laughed: "Let guess, he probably found out about our relationship and wants to use you to connect with Xiaoxue, right?"
Ye Qingya said: "He didn’t say anything, just left two calligraphy pieces. Do you want to see them?"
Qiao Rulong shook his head: "I’m not really interested in calligraphy."
Ye Qingya looked at Qiao Rulong, wondering if his assertiveness was innate. Did he consider her feelings when he said those words? Perhaps he never thought about it. Their marriage was not one of free love but a match arranged by elders, more out of political motives than family compatibility.
On the surface, Qiao Rulong was quite respectful to her. She could continue with the work she loved, and she didn’t have to worry about organizing art exhibitions, as Qiao Rulong would have everything arranged. Every major holiday, he wouldn’t forget to send gifts. Maybe he didn’t rember, but his assistant wouldn’t forget.
He was also a responsible husband. For example, now, he ca to see her imdiately after returning from abroad.
Looking back on these five years of marriage, Ye Qingya thought it should be considered happy, but this happiness seed deliberately crafted, following a script step by step. She already knew the storyline, with no surprises or excitent.
If there was any regret in the marriage, it was that they still had no children. Qiao Rulong was the only heir of the Qiao Family in his generation, bearing the responsibility of continuing the family’s lineage. Yet, in this regard, he never pressured her.
Ye Qingya said: "Actually, the feelings between two people shouldn’t be interfered with by outsiders."
Qiao Rulong looked at Ye Qingya: "What did you say to him?"
Ye Qingya said: "You don’t trust ?"
Qiao Rulong laughed: "Of course I trust you, I just don’t trust him." He took a sip of tea, pondering Xu Chunliang’s purpose in seeking out Ye Qingya.
Ye Qingya had so understanding of his character and softly said: "I didn’t say anything. He probably won’t co looking for again."
Qiao Rulong said: "A man you would go out of your way to defend must have so admirable qualities."
Ye Qingya frowned. Qiao Rulong’s words again made her uncomfortable.
Qiao Rulong said: "No one is interfering with Xiaoxue’s feelings. Everyone in the Qiao Family loves her dearly. It’s her own choice not to see Xu Chunliang."
Ye Qingya felt a bit repulsed by how he was acting now: "Maybe Xiaoxue is worried soone might harm him."
Qiao Rulong said: "Do you think I would deal with soone like him?" He shook his head: "You still don’t understand . I wouldn’t waste my energy on such a small character. By the way, leave that piece ’Slow Sound’ for ; Sister Liu from Huadian really likes your writing."
"Unfortunately, it’s already sold."
"Then write another one. I have to go now; there’s another engagent tonight." Qiao Rulong patted Ye Qingya’s hand and got up to leave.
On the way back, Xu Chunliang received a call from Gao Xiaobai. Gao Xiaobai called him because of his grandfather.
Gao Hong Hall was very touched to receive dicinal herbs from an old friend. Upon hearing that Xu Chunliang had co, he insisted on hosting him.
Xu Chunliang initially wanted to decline, but Gao Xiaobai insisted that he must agree. Grandpa took this matter very seriously and had to invite him for a al. Overwheld by their kindness, Xu Chunliang could only agree.
Gao Xiaobai arranged to et him at five in the afternoon at the Shuimu Second School Gate; her aunt’s house was nearby.
Hearing that he was going to her aunt’s house for the first ti, Xu Chunliang thought it wouldn’t be appropriate to show up empty-handed. So he stopped by a mall and bought a set of children’s toys, as Gao Hong Hall stayed in the Capital City to pick up and drop off his grandson from school.
At 4:50 in the afternoon, Xu Chunliang arrived at the Second School Gate. He didn’t wait long before seeing Gao Xiaobai coming out. Before he could greet her, he saw a middle-aged man coming up behind her, patting her shoulder. Gao Xiaobai turned and smiled at the man, and after chatting for a while, they said goodbye to each other.
As Gao Xiaobai reached the gate, she imdiately spotted Xu Chunliang waiting. Because of the earlier incident, she was five minutes late: "Sorry, I just ran into one of my professors and chatted a bit longer, which delayed ."
Xu Chunliang said: "Be careful, that guy doesn’t seem like a good person."
Gao Xiaobai giggled, "You can’t judge people by appearance."
"You haven’t entered society yet, so you don’t know how dangerous it can be. When I ca over this ti, Uncle Gao specifically instructed to pay attention to any dubious characters around you. That guy just now, whatever he was called Beast, you can tell right away he’s no good." Xu Chunliang, experienced as he was, saw the sleaze in that guy’s eyes imdiately—definitely not a decent person.
Gao Xiaobai said, "You can tell my dad to rest easy; I can completely take care of myself now." She pointed to an electric scooter by the roadside, "Can you ride it?"
Xu Chunliang replied, "Who do you think you’re underestimating?"
Gao Hong Hall lived with his daughter and son-in-law. Although it was a three-bedroom apartnt, the total area was only ninety square ters, incomparable to his living conditions in Dongzhou. Not to ntion Gao Xinhua’s two-hundred-square-ter luxury flat, even Gao Hong Hall himself lived in a hundred-and-twenty-square-ter three-bedroom back ho.
If it weren’t for the fact that his daughter and son-in-law worked so hard and needed help with picking up their child, he would have long returned to Dongzhou, chatting and playing chess with his old friends every day—that would be quite a leisurely life.
Gao Hong Hall was an excellent cook, and to entertain Xu Chunliang, he chose to cook himself today.
His daughter Gao Xinyue suggested eating out, saying it wasn’t necessary to tire himself out, but Gao Hong Hall insisted on cooking. The older generation always felt that the closer the relationship, the more you should entertain at ho to show your respect.
Both Gao Xinyue and her husband were wage earners, having struggled in the Capital City for ten years, finally taking root. The family warmly welcod Xu Chunliang’s arrival.
Xu Chunliang gave a toy to their chubby child Wang Huiteng, who was delighted and imdiately opened the box to play.
Gao Xinyue went to the kitchen to help, while her husband Wang Fangtian invited Xu Chunliang to sit down and offered him a cigarette, but Xu Chunliang declined.
Wang Fangtian said, "Not many young people don’t smoke these days."
Xu Chunliang smiled and said, "I’ve never been interested in smoking since I was a kid."
Wang Fangtian nodded and said, "That’s a good habit."
Gao Xiaobai brought them two cups of jasmine tea from Chunlun.
Xu Chunliang thanked her, and Gao Xiaobai let them chat while she went to play with her little cousin, who was quite a handful.
Wang Fangtian worked in landscape design, so Xu Chunliang started the conversation from there. He was now the head of the preparatory office for the Huannian Health and Elderly Care Hospital, facing its construction at the beginning of spring. eting a professional like Wang Fangtian was an excellent opportunity to seek advice.
Wang Fangtian asked him to show the design plans for the Healthy Elderly Care Hospital, which Xu Chunliang had on his phone.
After taking a brief look, Wang Fangtian pointed out a few shortcomings. The overall design was okay, but it leaned too much towards dical aspects, while elents of care were underrepresented. Simply put, it didn’t consider what elderly people truly need. As people age, their requirents for the natural environnt grow, and they increasingly desire to return to nature.
Xu Chunliang found Wang Fangtian’s advice very fair and invited him to visit the site when he had ti.
Since Wang Fangtian planned to return to Dongzhou for the Spring Festival, he happily accepted Xu Chunliang’s invitation.
Gao Xinyue said, "Fang Tian, co help out, what are you chatting about with Chunliang?"
Wang Fangtian smiled, "Just so design matters."
Gao Xinyue said, "Your design firm is almost bankrupt; what’s there left to design?"
Wang Fangtian’s expression was a bit awkward; his current professional situation wasn’t optimistic. Gao Hong Hall said, "If it goes bankrupt, let it be. At worst, start your own business. If all else fails, go back to Dongzhou and open a renovation company." He was worried about his son-in-law’s pride; his daughter’s personality was too straightforward, though it also ant she didn’t regard Xu Chunliang as an outsider.
Gao Xinyue told them to go ahead and drink while she’d handle the rest.
Gao Xiaobai ca over to help her, as she couldn’t take much more of her mischievous little cousin.
Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, Xu Chunliang praised, "Grandpa Gao, your cooking skills are comparable to a chef in a starred hotel!"
Gao Hong Hall laughed, "Not bad; I honed these skills over the years being their nanny."
Wang Fangtian was quick with words, "That’s true, it’s thanks to my father-in-law over these years. We are so busy with work that we barely have ti to take care of the child." He opened a bottle of Maotai, and Xu Chunliang quickly poured it for them—here, he was the junior.
Gao Xinyue knew her brother liked Xu Chunliang. Although the families were close, she hadn’t seen Xu Chunliang since he was a child and barely rembered him. Now, Xu Chunliang stood tall, handso, articulate, truly an outstanding young man.
Gao Hong Hall raised a glass to welco Xu Chunliang as their guest, and everyone drank together. Gao Xinyue called her son over for dinner, but the chubby boy was still engrossed in his play.
Gao Xinyue had to serve the food to him, and Gao Hong Hall sighed, "This kid is so playful; he forgets to eat when he sees a toy."
Xu Chunliang laughed, "I brought this on myself." Everyone chuckled, and Wang Fangtian said, "It’s not your fault; this kid has a bit of hyperactivity."
Gao Xinyue returned and, upon hearing this, said unhappily, "What do you an, hyperactivity? Don’t believe those doctors’ nonsense. My son is healthy, eats well, and sleeps well. How can he have hyperactivity?"
Here’s the third update, asking for monthly votes; during the double event, one monthly ticket counts as two!
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