Chapter 207: Chapter 185: The Snow Is Gone!!!
Qiao Yuxian obediently returned to the room with Gu Yanjing.
Once in the living room, she immediately took off her clothes, feeling uncomfortably hot.
If she weren’t afraid that everyone would leave during a break, she would have undressed earlier.
She took off her jacket and changed her shoes.
Snow had seeped into her shoes, making them slightly wet,
and her hands were frozen red.
The hair under her hat was soaked with sweat.
The clothes underneath were also a bit damp.
Gu Yanjing went to pour her a cup of hot water and, upon returning, saw she was down to a thin sweater. Worried she’d catch a chill, he took off his coat and wrapped it around her.
"I’m covered in sweat." Qiao Yuxian gathered her hair, her face flushed.
"Catch a cold."
"I won’t." Qiao Yuxian took the water and sipped slowly, speaking decisively.
Then... as dinner time approached, Qiao Yuxian started sneezing.
At first, it was every ten minutes, gradually becoming every few minutes.
Gu Yanjing regretted letting her play outside for so long.
Besides sneezing, Qiao Yuxian didn’t show any symptoms of discomfort, but to avoid being scolded, she pretended to be very pitiful.
While Gu Yanjing went to get medicine, she rubbed her eyes, making the rims red.
That sad little look made her appear even more pitiful.
The performance was somewhat clumsy, and Gu Yanjing saw through it immediately. But he didn’t expose her and stayed by her side.
He fulfilled her every request.
Yet, Qiao Yuxian wasn’t scolded.
Gu Yanjing was lectured by the old sir for almost an hour.
After dinner, Qiao Yuxian had taken medicine and was almost recovered.
But once the old sir found out, he kept nagging at Gu Yanjing.
Because Qiao Yuxian interceded for him, the old sir called Gu Yanjing to the study.
"She’s so young, and you’re much older now. You’re thirty." Old Sir Gu spoke while tapping the floor with his cane.
Gu Yanjing sat across from him, glanced at the floor, and calmly said, "Twenty-eight."
"What’s twenty-eight?" Old Sir Gu paused, then said, "Round it up, it’s thirty."
Gu Yanjing said nothing.
"She’s still young and playful. You should be there to remind her." Old Sir Gu attributed everything to him not knowing how to take care of others, "Now she’s caught a cold. During the festive season, a cold. Although it’s not a big issue, it’s still uncomfortable."
Gu Yanjing leaned back on the sofa, reluctant to talk.
He recalled being nine and having a fever close to forty degrees, barely coherent. The old sir said it was no problem, the fever purged germs.
"What do you do all day long? Can’t you spend more time thinking about Yu Xian?" Old Sir Gu said resentfully.
Gu Yanjing stayed silent.
"You can’t even take care of a person properly." Old Sir Gu said, "She’s a girl; you should pay more attention. Daughters should be raised more delicately. Don’t just spend money on her; she doesn’t lack money and can buy things herself. You need to care for her emotionally. You shouldn’t only act on my words; you must realize it yourself."
Gu Yanjing remained wordless.
"If you keep this up, even a girl will feel exhausted." Old Sir Gu added, "You should be careful with your attitude; she might leave you for someone younger and more handsome."
Gu Yanjing, who had been silently listening, suddenly had a stiff expression.
A storm seemed to sweep through his gaze, frighteningly cold.
Old Sir Gu touched his hand beads, shot a glance at Gu Yanjing’s reaction, and chuckled inwardly.
Test successful.
The kid is truly in love.
Old Sir Gu felt elated inside.
Gu Yanjing suddenly looked up at him.
Suddenly meeting his gaze, Old Sir Gu felt a sharp pang. Then angrily said, "What’s with the stare! You startled me."
"Why would you be startled if you weren’t feeling guilty?" Gu Yanjing replied coolly.
His penetrating gaze was chillingly intense.
"What am I guilty about?!" The old sir’s voice raised slightly due to guilt, "What could I be guilty about?"
"You tell me?" Gu Yanjing gazed at him.
Old Sir Gu looked into his eyes and suddenly recalled today’s deceitful matters.
Testing Gu Yanjing’s feelings here, casually inviting the Lu family grandfather and grandson for dinner, and... that phrase "It’s Wanqing’s granddaughter."
If not for Qiao Yuxian speaking up for him, Gu Yanjing would surely have cornered him now.
Whose grandson isn’t happy, and scares people like a deity.
These thoughts swiftly flashed through his mind, and with a flimsy sense of authority, Old Sir Gu said, "Is this how you speak to your grandpa?"
Gu Yanjing: "......"
"No wonder they say boys aren’t as endearing as girls. What luck do I have to have no daughters, no granddaughters." Old Sir Gu’s voice got louder, "Get moving, get moving, don’t linger in front of me; I’m annoyed."
Gu Yanjing stood up expressionlessly, "You should rest early."
"Understood." Old Sir Gu replied, "No need for your reminder."
Gu Yanjing: "......"
...
Qiao Yuxian’s cold came quickly and went quickly, and after taking medicine and sleeping, she was fine.
But... upon waking, eager to go outside and continue snowball fighting, she went out in the early morning only to find the snow in the courtyard...
Gone!!!
Such a heavy snowfall yesterday, such thick accumulation on the ground, and now it’s gone!
Apart from some snow by the flower bed, under the trees, and edges, everything else was gone!
Swept clean.
Last night, when she returned to the East Courtyard, she did see someone sweeping snow, but it was only on the road. She didn’t expect even the open areas to be swept so fast.
Though the Gu Mansion is large, there must be places that aren’t swept.
Yet the East Courtyard is Gu Yanjing’s courtyard, and playing elsewhere wouldn’t be as nice.
Qiao Yuxian stood at the door, looking at the empty courtyard outside.
Gu Yanjing came out and stood beside her. She immediately turned her head to him, pointed outside, frowned, and asked, "Where’s the snow!"
Gu Yanjing looked at her and then at the courtyard, calmly saying, "I forgot to tell them not to sweep the East Courtyard first."
These words made it seem like he was taking her side.
Qiao Yuxian looked at him, took a step forward to get closer, and questioned, "Really???
Gu Yanjing looked down, openly meeting her gaze, "Yes."
Qiao Yuxian still didn’t believe him and took another step closer, asking, "Really???"
The weather forecast indicated a sharp temperature drop today, even colder.
Gu Yanjing, worried that Qiao Yuxian playing outside would worsen her cold, had the courtyard swept overnight.
Gu Yanjing didn’t speak.
Qiao Yuxian put her hands on her waist, looking quite fierce.
But she pretended to be fierce only for a moment before Gu Yanjing pulled her into his embrace, lowered his head, and kissed her.
He knew full well that this young girl would mellow with a moment’s kiss.
However, just as he kissed her, Shang Chen suddenly came over.
Hearing footsteps, Qiao Yuxian quickly covered her face, hiding in Gu Yanjing’s arms.
Gu Yanjing held her, stroked her head, and kissed the top of her hair before looking up at Shang Chen.
Shang Chen was unaware they were kissing early in the morning at the door, which shocked him enough to take two steps back.
Especially when meeting Gu Yanjing’s murderous gaze.
Shang Chen pursed his lips, lowered his head, and stood in place, speechless.
Gu Yanjing took a deep breath and glanced at the human-shaped stump Shang Chen, asking, "What’s up?"
"The old sir asked me to call you for breakfast." Shang Chen said with his head down, "Also, Second Master and his family have arrived."
"Okay."