Chapter 197: Chapter 175 The Fire
After dinner.
Qiao Yuxian pulled Gu Yanjing to set off fireworks.
Even Meng Yan and Su Qi went outside with them.
Initially, Gu Yanjing thought Qiao Yuxian wanted to set off something like sparklers.
It turned out, she did set off sparklers, and also other kinds of fireworks and firecrackers.
She insisted on lighting them herself.
After lighting them, she ran faster than anyone else and pulled Gu Yanjing along as well.
Back and forth.
Lighting, pulling people to run. After setting them off, Yuan Wei set up the fireworks again, and she would pull people over, light them, and continue running.
Gu Yanjing’s coat was pulled loose by her.
He realized she didn’t just like the fireworks, she enjoyed the process of setting them off.
She liked the thrill of lighting the fuse.
She was having an especially great time.
She was happy, and Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao were happy along with her.
Since the elder Qiao family members passed away, whenever Qiao Yuxian returned for New Year’s, she was always so quiet.
Like a carefree little girl who suddenly grew up.
They hadn’t seen her this happy in a very long time.
Meng Yan and Su Qi stood by, occasionally helping to move the fireworks.
Su Qi rubbed his protruding stomach and said, "See, I told you, this New Year would definitely be different. With the boss lady here, it would surely be lively."
Meng Yan nodded, "Following Mr. Gu here was indeed a wise choice."
"Of course." Su Qi continued, "You have no idea, when I heard the boss lady was coming to Yue City for the New Year, my heart sank. You can’t imagine how desperate I was."
As soon as he finished speaking, Gu Yanjing looked at him.
Su Qi’s words stopped instantly, and he straightened up. It seemed he’d said too much.
Meng Yan also quickly stood straight, bowing his head without speaking.
Qiao Yuxian was watching the fireworks in the sky and turned her head to see Gu Yanjing staring at the two of them.
She nudged him and shouted, "What are you looking at them for? Aren’t I good-looking enough?"
At the exact moment she shouted, the fireworks ended.
Everyone heard that sentence and looked at her.
It suddenly became quiet, and Qiao Yuxian slowly turned to look at them. Others were fine, but even Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao were looking at her.
She covered her face and buried it in Gu Yanjing’s arms.
Gu Yanjing held her with one arm, stroked her head, paused, and then said in a low, seemingly emotionless voice, "You’re beautiful."
Qiao Yuxian lightly kicked his calf and whispered, "Stop talking."
Gu Yanjing chuckled again.
...
After the fireworks, they watched the Spring Festival Gala, chatted, and stayed up late.
But before eleven o’clock, Qiao Yuxian had fallen asleep leaning on the sofa.
She had spent the day in the temple, and after a bit of commotion, she grew quiet and soon fell asleep.
Seeing she was asleep, Gu Yanjing informed Uncle Quan and Aunt Zhao and carried her back to her room.
Aunt Zhao led him to Qiao Yuxian’s room door, and once they entered, she left.
Gu Yanjing gently placed her on the bed, took off her shoes, covered her with a quilt, and gave a light kiss on her temple.
Qiao Yuxian, too sleepy, opened her eyes to glance at him, clasped his hand, and then turned over to continue sleeping.
Gu Yanjing sat at the bedside, letting her hold his fingers, lowered his gaze to watch her for a while, and then looked around her room.
The room had an ancient aura, with all the tables and furniture made of rosewood.
Most of the Qiao Mansion’s furniture was wooden—huanghuali and rosewood, for example.
But the ones outside were more ordinary; only the furniture in Qiao Yuxian’s room was top-quality, some even possessing a history.
The set of long chairs and short tables facing the bed were old items, that once appeared at an auction and were sold for nine figures.
Back then, he was young, and remembered his grandfather searching for who bought them. Then one day, he suddenly stopped looking.
Turns out they were here.
The bedroom had an attached study, with a jade bead curtain hanging at the study’s entrance.
Through the bead curtain,
Gu Yanjing looked again at the few framed calligraphy pieces on the wall.
Brush strokes, appearing to be Qiao Yuxian’s handwriting.
These characters... how to say this?
The style seemed unique, with a hint of thin gold script within that uniqueness.
Qiao Yuxian often did her homework beside him, and her handwriting couldn’t be called beautiful, but it wasn’t ugly either.
Yet this brush writing...
Gu Yanjing couldn’t bring himself to give these a judgment in his mind.
He only thought that such writing, still being framed and cherished at home, was extremely pampered.
His gaze then fell upon a Tang cross blade between two bookshelves.
There were two especially large bookshelves on either side of the desk, filled with books. Between the bookshelves, there was a rack with a Tang cross blade resting on it.
Judging by the position of the handle, it seemed frequently used.
As he watched, Qiao Yuxian suddenly turned over, opened her eyes, and looked at him.
Her pretty foxy eyes, too sleepy, only half-opened, she spoke indistinctly, "Are you joking about my handwriting?"
Gu Yanjing lowered his gaze towards her.
Qiao Yuxian pulled his hand under her head, "My grandpa and grandma said it’s great and must be framed."
"Mm. Very good," Gu Yanjing said softly.
Qiao Yuxian’s lips curved upwards slightly; she closed her eyes and said, "You all are too much, treating me like a child to humor."
After pausing for a moment, she added softly, "Luckily, it’s hung in the bedroom where no one can see it, or I’d be so embarrassed."
Gu Yanjing lowered his head, kissing the corner of her lips, "It’s really great."
Qiao Yuxian giggled again, even softer, "I’m too tired. I’ll sleep first. The house hasn’t prepared a room, so sleep here tonight. If you’re not sleepy yet, you can look around freely. Look at the place where I grew up, anywhere."
"Mm," Gu Yanjing responded.
Qiao Yuxian said, "Go ahead."
With that, she fell asleep against Gu Yanjing’s hand.
Gu Yanjing sat by the bed, letting her rest on his hand, without moving or looking elsewhere, just watching her.
At midnight.
The new year arrived, outside fireworks started again, becoming lively.
The light of the fireworks shone through the window as Gu Yanjing bent down to kiss Qiao Yuxian’s temple lightly, whispering, "Happy New Year."
Right after he spoke, Qiao Yuxian’s eyelashes quivered as she slowly opened her eyes.
The two of them met eyes at a close distance; the sleepiness was still heavy in Qiao Yuxian’s eyes, and seeing him so close as she woke left her a bit bewildered.
After a few seconds of looking at each other, Gu Yanjing took her hand, placed it beside the pillow, and lowered his head to kiss her.
"Hmm?!" Qiao Yuxian softly murmured.
Gu Yanjing pressed one of her hands, while his other hand slipped under her waist, touching her slender waist.
As he touched, Qiao Yuxian’s waist involuntarily leaned a little towards him, and her other arm wrapped around his neck.
Gu Yanjing’s hand exerted some force, and so did his kisses.
And as time went on, his breath grew heavier, the kisses more intense, as if wanting to consume her whole...
It wasn’t until Qiao Yuxian whimpered softly that Gu Yanjing lightened his actions, slowly letting her go, kissing her lip corners a few times, and wiping the gleam on her lips.
The watery glow in Qiao Yuxian’s eyes shimmered under the light. She slightly pressed her lips, breathing softly, her eyes evasive, softly murmuring, "Gu Yanjing, you’re being so fierce."
Gu Yanjing remained silent, gently wiping the dampness from her eye corner.
Qiao Yuxian’s eyes softly closed for a moment; she held his hand, just about to speak again, when Uncle Quan suddenly shouted from outside.
"Why is it so bright over there? Is our courtyard on fire? It’s the east cross courtyard, right?! The east cross courtyard is on fire!"
Gu Yanjing turned his head to look out the window, his desire-filled gaze suddenly turning cold.
Qiao Yuxian also looked towards the window, blankly stunned.