Chapter 46

As they neared Grandma’s place, the person in the neighboring house called out with enthusiasm, “Xiao Xi!” 

“Ji Ge-ge?”

Gu Jing Yuan furrowed his eyes in annoyance, causing the air around him to turn menacing.

Xiao Ji summoned his courage and told her, “My mom fried an extra fish, I’ll send it over later.”

“Please help me thank Aunt Zhou. I’ll drop by later to get it.” 

“I’ll go get it,” Gu Jing Yuan stopped her. “Aren’t you tired, go in and rest first.” 

Tao Yi Xi took a glance at him before agreeing, “Alright.”

Gu Jing Yuan strode towards Xiao Ji with a murderous look on his face. Xiao Ji gulped.

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“I’ve already eaten. Go wash your hands, I’ll heat up the dishes for you two.” Grandma slowly got up from bed as she informed her.

“No need, I’ll do it. Grandma, you don’t have to get up.” 

The faint street light that shone in through the window illuminated Grandma’s pale complexion. Tao Yi Xi asked worriedly, “Grandma, are you feeling unwell?” 

“Feeling a little giddy, but it’s an old ailment. I’ll feel better after a nap.”

Tao Yi Xi’s brows remained scrunched together, “Have you gone for your body check-up last year?”

“Didn’t I already go for it the year before?” 

“Grandma, body checkups need to be done annually.” It seemed that Grandma tried to secretly save money again while she was not around.  

“Every round of check-up costs thousands of dollars only for the doctors to tell me about the same old problems. If I’m feeling unwell, I’ll just go to the clinic to have them prescribe some medication, it’s all the same thing.” 

“Clinics are not able to check your internal condition and prescriptions can only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. If you caught a cold, it’s okay to go to the clinic to get medication, but if you often suffer from headaches, you definitely need to go to the hospital to get it checked out.” Tao Yi Xi nagged helplessly, these words had been repeated many times before.

Grandma hurriedly reassured, “Okay, okay… You should go eat first, and when I have time, I’ll go get it checked.”

“You must go after the New Year.” Tao Yi Xi stated firmly. If it was not for the fact that the health screening department was closed for Chinese New Year, she would have immediately dragged Grandma to have it checked out right this instant.

“Yes, yes, I know. You should hurry up and go have your meal. Having stayed out all afternoon, you must’ve been hungry.” 

“I’m not that hungry. You don’t have to worry about us and rest more.”    

Tao Yi Xi closed the door gently as she exited. She went to the kitchen to see that most of the dishes were practically left untouched.

Grandma did not eat much, she must have wanted to save it for them.

Soon, Gu Jing Yuan came in with a long plate in his hand. The fish was fried until it was golden and crisp.

Tao Yi Xi nodded in appreciation, “Aunt Zhou’s deep-fried fish always looks so good. I’ll make sweet and sour fish for you.”

“You also know how to cook that?” He asked in surprise.

“Occasionally, I’ll look through some cookbooks and pick a few recipes to try. Do you want to eat that?”

“Yes.” He agreed immediately. He would eat whatever she made.

Tao Yi Xi went to the kitchen to look for the ingredients needed and Gu Jing Yuan followed closely behind, acting as her little tail.

She suddenly thought of something as she turned to ask him, “Did you thank them?”

“Yes,” He pursed his lips, sounding a little aggrieved, “Am I such an ill-mannered person?”

Tao Yi Xi fell silent, it seemed that she had unknowingly misunderstood him.

The young master that everyone lifted to the skies never had the opportunity to express gratitude towards others, let alone apologize.

Just now when he acted aggressively, she had been worried that he would let his emotions affect his action. Yet, she forgot that he was pure and kind by nature.

“I’m sorry, I was narrow-minded.” She bit her lips and glanced up at him, looking earnestly ashamed. His heart immediately softened into mash, and no matter how angry he was originally, it all faded.

“Give me a hug and I’ll forgive you.” He deliberately teased her, knowing in his heart that it was impossible. But he enjoyed seeing her animated expressions when she was irked.

Tao Yi Xi blinked. Just when Gu Jing Yuan thought she would tell him to keep dreaming, she put her arms around his waist, leaned her head lightly on his chest, and stayed there for all but two seconds before letting go.

To him, it was fleeting.

“Is this good enough?”

Not enough, of course, that’s not even the slightest bit enough.

The moment she hugged him, the plate in his hand trembled and his whole body stiffened. He was overwhelmed by the sudden favor.

“Why are you being so nice all of a sudden?”

“Punishment for offending you.” She replied seriously.

Upon hearing that, he was once again dissatisfied, “What? Why is hugging me a punishment?”

Tao Yi Xi tilted her head to look at him. Was that not his suggestion?  

Gu Jing Yuan paused momentarily, “I guess that works too.”

Facing her, he felt that he was losing his mind.

He then righteously said, “Please keep on making mistakes.” 

Tao Yi Xi turned around to hide her smile. She turned on the kitchen stove smoothly.  

Gu Jing Yuan blurted out, “Are your two families very close?”

Since he was a child, he had always stayed in upscale luxurious residential areas. Staying at such places, the houses were all located far apart. Whenever the neighbors encounter each other, everyone maintained a polite front. He found it hard to imagine that neighbors could be so bonded. 

“We have been neighbors for more than ten years, and they often looked after me and Grandma.”

Her expression softened, “Because it’s just the two of us, we never really saw the need to make a fuss by putting up decorations and preparing more dishes during the festive periods. There was once they happened to learn about it and since then, they would always make additional dishes for us as well. Grandma also dislikes going on walks, and their family’s Grandma Wang would pull Grandma along whenever she go for her walks.”

In this suburban city, other than the nightmarish memories of campus bullying, she had also experienced neighborly care. It was one of the few fond memories she held dearly of this place. 

It was rare to see her in such a relaxed and joyful state. The words that Gu Jing Yuan originally wanted to ask dissipated the moment the corner of her mouth arched upwards. 

“They are good people.” To be able to make her smile so sincerely, it made his jealousy look so unsightly. 

“They are.”

When the oil was heated, Tao Yi Xi turned to her side wanting to reach the ingredients and condiments but found her path blocked. 

He was a big guy in their narrow kitchen, she found it hard to move around with him standing inside.

“Go out and wait.”

“I can help you, what do you need?” He just wanted to stick to her constantly.

“Pass me the minced garlic.”

Facing several small saucers of ingredients, he hesitated before choosing the one with the yellow thing and passed it to her.

Tao Yi Xi took it and almost fell over. She turned to him and stated, “This is minced ginger.”

He handed over another one holding greenish shoots. 

“This is spring onions.”

“…”

By then, the oil in the pot was already smoking. Tao Yi Xi sincerely suggested, “Why not, you go out and wait?”

Gu Jing Yuan rubbed his nose sheepishly, “Okay.” 

The kitchen and the dining area were close by. He chose a seat facing the kitchen and sat down obediently as he watched her go about the kitchen effortlessly.

She moved swiftly and soon a delicious sweet and sour fish was served to the table. Quickly followed with a steamer that was used to warm up the dishes.

“Let’s eat.”

“I’ll call Grandma.” Gu Jing Yuan’s ‘Grandma’ flowed out more fluently with each call.

“She’s resting, let’s eat first.”

She placed the bowl and chopsticks in front of him. Gu Jing Yuan did not hesitate to pick up a piece of fish and deliver it to his mouth. 

His eyes immediately lit up, “It’s delicious.”

Tao Yi Xi could not help grinning when her cooking skills gained others’ approval.

“Then have some more.”

Gu Jing Yuan could not hold himself back as he brought one spoonful after another into his mouth. Practically all of the fish went into his stomach.

After eating to his heart’s content, he looked at the leftover sauces that remained on the plate, and said, “I’m dead.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t leave any for Grandma.” Gu Jing Yuan frowned regretfully.

“It’s okay, I can make this again in the future.” Her future together with Grandma was still long. 

She had been sitting there waiting for him to finish. When he looked like he was done, she got up, ready to keep the plates when it was snatched away.

“Let me do it.”

“You know how to wash them?”

He did not. 

This Young Master never needed to raise his finger in his entire life, let alone wash dirty dishes.

He wholeheartedly declared, “I can learn.”

Even on vacation, she was busy bustling about like a spinning top and did not have a chance to rest. He wanted to do whatever he could to help her, even if it was just a little bit.

Rolling up his sleeves, he took the worn-out but clean sponge from her hand.

“Go and rest, leave it to me.”

“Do you know what to use to wash the dishes?” She questioned skeptically.

“Dishwashing liquid, I do know how to read the labels.”

The sound of water gushing out sounded from the kitchen. She stood at the doorway unassured.

He looked like he knew what he was doing. Just that he used too much soap as there were too many suds and the faucet had been left open, wasting water.

Just as she was about to step forward to turn down the water, the phone resting on the small dining table rang.

Gu Jing Yuan was fully concentrated on his battle with the bowls and chopsticks and was unaware of the movement outside.

“You have a call,” Tao Yi Xi informed him.

“Ah? But my hands are full of suds. I’ll answer it later.”

But as the ringing continued, Tao Yi Xi glanced over before bringing it to him.

“It’s Uncle Gu.”

Gu Jing Yuan frowned, “Ignore him.”

Tao Yi Xi could guess what the call was about. After all, Gu Jing Yuan went out on Chinese New Year and did not even come home for the night.

Waiting for the last ring to stop, Gu Mu Yang did not call back the second time.

Gu Jing Yuan did not take it seriously, but she felt vaguely uneasy.

After a while, her cell phone rang.

It was Xia Yan. She hesitated before connecting the call.

“Hi, Mom.”

“Xiao Xi, do you know where Jing Yuan has gone? It’s Chinese New Year but he left without a word. This is worrying.”

She glanced at his back and pursed her lips tightly before deciding on telling the truth. 

“He’s at Grandma’s place.”

The person on the other line suddenly went silent. After a long pause, Xia Yan asked in a hushed whisper, “What are you trying to do?!” 

“I -”

Xia Yan did not want to listen to any of her explanations and immediately ordered, “Bring him back instantly!”

In a fit of rage, the other party hung up the call without giving her a chance to utter a single word. 

After a while, Xia Yan called again. This time around, the background noise from her side of the line was much quieter.

It seemed that she managed to calm herself down. Xia Yan did not wait for Tao Yi Xi to speak as she went on her rant, “Go to the station immediately and book the earliest train back, do you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“Are you trying to get me in trouble!?” Xia Yan shouted in anger. “Tao Yi Xi, you can try to get closer to him but you need to know your boundaries. What were you thinking about asking him to go over there during Chinese New Year? Do you think your Uncle Gu has a good temper?”

Tao Yi Xi had nothing to say. It was not like she could say that he rushed over due to his jealousy and who knows where he got their address from.  

“Yi Xi, to get the opportunity to study in the capital did not come easy. You need to cherish it, do you understand?” 

“Yes.” Tao Yi Xi replied mechanically.

“In the future, Mom will introduce other good men to you. So just let go of Jing Yuan, okay?” Xia Yan spoke lightly. 

Xia Yan had met all kinds of men. When she brought over her slender and delicate daughter, she knew that no man could resist this beautiful face.

Since Gu Mu Yang’s forceful interventions did not work, she thought of using the beauty’s honey trap.

As it seemed from the current situation, it had worked.

Gu Jing Yuan’s academics improved by leaps and bounds. Gu Mu Yan was delighted and when he was happy, she was happy. Tao Yi Xi had accomplished what she was brought over to do. 

Following that, the two of them naturally could not end up together. In name, she was still Gu Jing Yuan’s stepmother.

Children’s feelings would naturally fade when they are separated.

Tao Yi Xi could not stand Xia Yan’s self-righteousness.

“Mom, I’m still a student. Can you stop thinking about setting me up on blind dates all the time?”

“I’m doing it for your own good. By the time you think about it, those men with good attributes would’ve already been snatched away.”

This kind of conversation had occurred many times before. She was never able to see eye to eye with Xia Yan.

“Mom, I don’t want to talk to you about this. Do you know that Gran-”

“Fine, then we’ll not talk about it. Just return quickly. I still have things to settle on my end. That’s it for now.”  

“Du… du… du…” The beeping of the cut call resounded heartlessly in her ears.

Tao Yi Xi took a deep breath to suppress her irritation. Xia Yan did not even ask if Grandma was doing fine.

She was also annoyed that she was still a minor. In order to bring Grandma to the capital for a comprehensive body screening she still required Xia Yan to do so.

A shadow loomed over her.

Gu Jing Yuan came to her side. The light-colored sweater had oil stains and there were also dark patches caused by the water that splashed out of the bowls. 

Lowering his eyes, his deep gaze locked on her.

“Xia Yan is asking you to go on blind dates?”

“She’s just mentioning it.” Tao Yi Xi got up. “Do you have anything to pack? We’re going back right now.”

He stood still, expression unreadable.

“If you don’t have anything to pack then just wait here for me. I’ll be quick.” Tao Yi Xi informed him faintly, not wanting to explain too much to him.

Her hastily departing figure left him standing there all alone. The warmth between them that he took much difficulty to foster just disappeared like it never existed.