Chapter 43

Hearing his testy words, Tao Yi Xi sighed helplessly, “Ge-ge, don’t cause trouble.”

“I’m causing trouble?” Gu Jing Yuan’s blood started to boil.

How could he stand this?    

This heartless woman!

She had only just been intimate with him during New Year’s Eve. How could she suddenly turn around and agree to go out with other boys?

Remembering the very first comment from Hot Commentor No. 1 about him ‘being played’ floated to the forefront of his mind. 

Before they managed to settle this matter, he heard her distracted voice, “Grandma, leave those things and let me move them! Ge-ge, I’m currently busy. Talk to you later when I’m free.”  

“Du, du, du–” She hung up the call without any hesitation.

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Located opposite, two girls were whispering among themselves, “So handsome! I wonder if he’s a new upcoming idol in training?”

“I doubt so. Otherwise, with a look like his, he would’ve already exploded in popularity.”

“Ah… what a pity.”

As a proud face dog, the young girl secretly snapped a quick photo of the guy. The more she studied the photo, the more she liked it. 

‘Ah ah ah!… Even a photo from a random angle looks so good!’

Having the mentality that all good-looking guys needed to be shared with the masses, she uploaded that photo onto Weibo.

Indeterminate Idol: Today’s my lucky day! I saw a super handsome guy! He has legs that go on for days. This figure, this face, even dressed in pink, he still looks so good! #Praying that handsome brother joins the entertainment industry!

The girl was a small-time blogger. She previously participated in a few entertainment programs and as she liked to take pictures of good-looking males, it allowed her to amass a small fan base. She also enjoyed digging through the web for photos of school grasses from various schools and posting them on her page. With so many handsome guys to view on her page, who did not like it? 

She did not expect such a simple post to capture so many people’s attention. Following the hashtag, #Praying that handsome brother joins the entertainment industry!, it quickly climbed the hot search list, greatly increasing her popularity and followers.

Other fans from all around, with their display pictures set with their own idols’ photos, dropped by her page to admire the photo.

As the saying goes, even with an official wife, people would still want three thousand beauties in their harem. 

Humans are superficial creatures.

On the other hand, the person in question was oblivious to all that was happening.  

If it was a normal day, he would have long sensed the abnormality on the opposite side.

However, he was currently fixated on his phone. With his thin lips tightly pressed into a line.

[Did you go out with that guy?]

After waiting for a while, there was still no reply. He scratched his head in agitation.

[Don’t go. I’ll get you whatever you need.]

[You hear me?] 

[Tao Yi Xi?]

In a flurry of irritation, he finally arrived at the station near her hometown.

When he reached, the sky was already darkening, signaling that evening had arrived. 

Gu Jing Yuan called for a DiDi. It took a while before a driver picked up his request and when he checked on the driver’s location, the driver was still three kilometers away. This place was really desolate.

After much waiting, he finally boarded the cab and the driver drove towards the destination shown on his navigation panel. The driver wanted to strike up a conversation with Gu Jing Yuan. But observing the gloomy countenance of his passenger through the rearview mirror, he silently swallowed back his words.

As the interior of the cab felt unsettlingly quiet, the driver decided to tune in to the local radio station to ease the atmosphere.

The foreign and yet familiar dialect floated into his ears. Although the DJ’s voice was pleasant, it did not sound as nice as hers.

He stared at his screen for a prolonged period of time, awaiting her reply that never came until his eyes felt swollen and sore.

He leaned back against the backrest, ill at ease as he slowly lowered his phone. Yet, he did not lock the screen. 

He turned to look at the passing scenery outside his window.  

Compared to his city which was full of high-rise buildings, most of the buildings in this small town were shorter and old-fashioned, giving it a sense of olden time settings. It could be seen that this sub-urban city’s economic development was not as advanced.

As they drove along the small road, he noticed the bright lights and festoons that decorated the street lamps and pathways. Large couplets were also beautifully arranged at the junctions. The feeling of New Year was more prominent in this small town than in the big cities.

Stopping at a traffic light, a pedestrian approached and exchanged greetings with the driver while they were stuck at the red light. 

The driver’s children had all left their small town and headed to the big city to find jobs. As it was also currently the festive season, it was harder to secure returning tickets and advanced booking was not allowed. So the driver’s children were only able to reach back home tomorrow. 

Listening to their chatter, Gu Jing Yuan did not find it annoying. Contrary, he was able to have a better understanding of the locals.

This was the place Tao Yi Xi grew up in. 

The sub-urban city was relatively small. Without much traffic flow, they soon arrived at their destination. 

With a glance, he spotted clusters of cottages, surrounded by uneven asphalt. From his point of view, this could be classified as being dilapidated.

Standing in a place that he was unfamiliar with, his tall and aloof demeanor was extremely incompatible with this place, making him stand out from the rest. 

Gu Jing Yuan felt the onset of a headache as he looked around the small houses. She did not write her complete address in the registry.

He tried calling her phone, but no one picked up. Who knew what she was busy with… Maybe she merrily went out with that guy and could not even bother to answer his calls.  

Since he already made his way over, he was not about to leave without seeing her first.

There were not many people strolling down the street. He bit the bullet and stopped an amicable looking elderly. 

“Excuse me, do you recognize a person named Tao Yi Xi?”

The elderly nodded, “I do. Why are you looking for my granddaughter?”  

Gu Jing Yuan was momentarily stunned. This town was truly small. 

“Grandma, why are you outside?”

A pleasant and familiar voice sounded from behind him. Gu Jing Yuan felt the corners of his lips lifting upwards.

He found her so quickly. They must be fated.

However, as he turned around, his smile stiffened and his eyes darkened. 

Tao Yi Xi was not the only one approaching. There was a guy beside her. The male was holding onto a plastic bag while Tao Yi Xi was carrying two.

Heh… Very good… They really went to the supermarket together.  

This male was really something else as well. How dare he be so lazy and let her carry so many things, and to think that she had called him ‘Ji Ge-ge’ so intimately.

“Xiao Xi, this boy said that he was here to find you,” her grandmother replied.

Surprise flashed through Tao Yi Xi’s eyes, “How did you find this place?”

“Didn’t I tell you to wait?” Gu Jing Yuan asked gloomily.

He nonchalantly walked towards the other guy. Using his height to his advantage, he stared down at the other male with a haughty gaze.

The youth felt a chill slide down his back. 

Can this person not glare at him so hatefully? 

“The bag in his hand, are they all yours?” Gu Jing Yuan asked in a flat tone. 

“En.”

Without any hesitation, Gu Jing Yuan wordlessly snatched the bag over. The male was caught off guard by his actions and did not have time to stop Gu Jing Yuan. 

Indifferently Gu Jing Yuan told the boy, “You can go now, I’ll send them back.”

The male glanced at Tao Yi Xi, only to see her smiling apologetically at him.  

“Ji Ge-ge, you should go back first. Thanks for your help today.” 

“No problem. We’ve been neighbors for so long, there’s no need to be so polite. I’ll be leaving first.”

With the plastic bag in one hand, Gu Jing Yuan promptly reached for the other two that were in Tao Yi Xi’s hands. She handed them over without hesitation.

She turned to him and said, “Follow up.”

“Okay.” 

Tao Yi Xi stepped forward and looped her arm with her grandmother’s while Gu Jing Yuan, with both hands full, easily kept up with them.

The guy who was addressed as ‘Ji Ge-ge’ turned and studied their departing backs. His eyes stopped a second longer on the laborer, Gu Jing Yuan.

He lowered his head in defeat.

Just now at the supermarket, it was under his persistence that she embarrassingly and awkwardly handed him a bag to share the load. 

Yet, staring at the back of this newly arrived lad, it became clear of the distinction between who was more intimate and who was more distant.   

After arriving home, Tao Yi Xi officially introduced him to her grandmother.

“Grandma, this is Gu Jing Yuan. He’s the son of Uncle Gu, Mum’s significant other.” 

Gu Jing Yuan straightened his back before obediently bowing to the elderly as he naturally called out, “Grandma, Happy Lunar New Year.”

“Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Young man, you look so dashing.” Grandma took his hands and affectionately patted them as she said, “Wait here for a moment.” 

The elderly went into her room, leaving the two of them alone in the living room. 

Tao Yi Xi furrowed her brows as she asked him, “Why have you come here?”    

“Was finding a place to play.”

“So you decided to come to this dilapidated backcountry to play?”

“It’s not as bad as you make it sound. At the very least, the air is fresher.”  

Tao Yi Xi stared intently at him. Recalling his agitated tone when he heard Ji Ge-ge’s voice when she answered the phone just now and how he had said ‘just you wait’. She felt like she suddenly received her explanation.

“It’s not because… you’re jealous, is it?” 

Gu Jing Yuan’s expression remained stern, but she caught his eyes twitching.

“You must be dreaming. Am I that kind of person?”

“…” You aren’t? 

“Besides, how can you run away the day after we did that…” Gu Jing Yuan looked away as he pouted. Looking aggrieved, like an abandoned wife.

Being impulsive was the root of all evil. Tao Yi Xi deeply understood the saying now.  

It was just a kiss. The simplest kind where their lips just lightly touched each other’s and yet, his possessiveness had already reached such a level.

Gu Jing Yuan had always been impulsive. Something like this that she was able to see through, others would also be able to guess.

If things continued on this trajectory, sooner or later, the situation would spiral out of her control.  

Amidst their stalemate, Grandma came out of her room holding a red packet. With a kind smile, she placed it in Gu Jing Yuan’s hands.

“This-”

The elderly knew what he wanted to say. She made sure that he held firmly onto the red packet as she added, “This is the first time you came to visit. This red packet is a must, from an elder to a junior.”  

Gu Jing Yuan felt slightly embarrassed. Studying the interior of their house, it was easy to deduce that they were not well-to-do, even the clothes that the elderly wore looked worn out. This red packet felt like a hot potato in his hands.  

“This is Grandma’s goodwill, so you should accept it.” Tao Yi Xi told him. 

“Then, I’ll keep it. Thank you, Grandma.” 

“Ai… such a good boy. You came here so late. Have you eaten dinner yet? Otherwise, let me make you a bowl of noodles.”

“Grandma, there’s no need. I’m not hungry.” 

Just as he finished his sentence, his body seemed to rebel against him as it gurgled loudly.

“…” Gu Jing Yuan had never felt so embarrassed in his life. 

It was also understandable. Since morning, he skipped breakfast. After the call with her that afternoon, he immediately rushed to the train station. He was so frustrated with Tao Yi Xi that he did not have any energy to spare on feeling hungry. Hence, he had not had anything to eat for the whole day.

Thinking up to this point, his stomach growled again. Gu Jing Yuan felt helpless and Tao Yi Xi could not help but giggle at his plight. 

He subtly gave her a glare. The culprit still dared to laugh. How irritating.

Grandma looked at him sympathetically, “You must’ve had a hard trip over. I’ll make you something.” 

“Grandma, there’s no need. I’ll just munch on some fruits.” 

“But that’s not going to be filling enough.” 

Tao Yi Xi stopped her grandmother, “Grandma, you spent the whole day outside already. Go wash up and have a good rest. Let me handle it.” 

After which, Grandma did not insist, “Okay.” 

Tao Yi Xi entered the small kitchen while he stood at the entrance watching her. Observing her skillful and familiar motions, he raised his brows, “You know how to cook?”

“I’m not a pampered daughter whose fingers never touched spring water. These kinds of small chores are still manageable.” 

“…” Felt like a personal attack on him again. 

Gu Jing Yuan did not reply, but he also did not leave. He stood there, watching her busy around the kitchen. Gradually, his expression also softened. 

Currently, she looked like an obedient wife and loving mother, who was washing and preparing a meal for her husband who just came home from work. 

She looked very enchanting.