PB - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
The moment Gu Jianchu stepped inside, she pulled Qiao Qi, who had opened the door, into her arms and captured her lips. Qiao Qi’s hands rested on her shoulders, a prelude to a push that never came with any real force. Only after Gu Jianchu had vented all her longing did she finally relent. Qiao Qi then managed to push her back slightly, but Gu Jianchu kept her arms wrapped around her, a playful smile on her face.
“Why did you come back with Gu Fanchu? And you didn’t even tell me you were back.”
“It was fine.” Qiao Qi patted the arm Gu Jianchu had wrapped around her. “Weren’t we supposed to be getting dinner?”
Gu Jianchu raised an eyebrow, unable to resist kissing her again. Murmured words slipped past her lips, carried on her breath into Qiao Qi’s mouth. “Was the underwater restaurant fun?” she asked, kissing her repeatedly. “Why didn’t you turn down Gu Fanchu’s invitation?” She bit Qiao Qi’s lower lip. “I missed you so much.”
Worn down by Gu Jianchu’s persistence, Qiao Qi’s breath hitched and her heart raced. Her words came out in broken fragments. “It was fine… Your mother wouldn’t like me.”
Gu Jianchu knew what she meant. She kissed her all the way to the sofa. “But I do.” She paused her kisses for a moment, looking earnestly into Qiao Qi’s eyes, which shimmered like ripples on water. “I like you.” With that, she resumed her kisses. She liked Qiao Qi, and she didn’t want anyone else to.
She had come over to pick Qiao Qi up for dinner, but in the end, even Qiao Qi wasn’t sure how they ended up in bed. Gu Jianchu hadn’t seen her in a month; jealousy and longing were a volatile combination, ready to ignite at the slightest spark. Besides, Qiao Qi was so alluring that all thoughts of food were cast aside. As for Qiao Qi, her reason was drowned by Gu Jianchu’s scent, pulled along by her passion.
By the time Qiao Qi felt hungry, it was already eight-thirty. Gu Jianchu’s arm was draped over her waist, and as Qiao Qi moved to sit up, she shifted along with her. Qiao Qi sat on the edge of the bed while Gu Jianchu lay behind her, wrapping her arms around her. Qiao Qi’s spine instinctively straightened a little. “Stop it,” she said, her voice low and husky. “Let’s get up and find something to eat.”
Gu Jianchu sat up and hugged her from behind again, refusing to let her go. She tilted her head up, swept Qiao Qi’s long hair to one side, and kissed her neck. “What do you feel like eating?”
Qiao Qi tilted her head. “Are we going out this late?”
“We don’t have to,” Gu Jianchu said, her fingertips resting on Qiao Qi’s flat abdomen. “Are you starving?”
“Yes.”
Gu Jianchu stopped teasing her, slipped on a robe, and got out of bed. Downstairs in the kitchen, Ping An was lounging on his cat tree, lazily observing them. Qiao Qi went over and picked him up. He was perfectly docile, letting out a contented purr. Gu Jianchu followed and noticed a flotation tank in the corner, something she hadn’t seen on her previous visits.
Noticing her gaze, Qiao Qi explained, “Jiayin gave it to me.”
Gu Jianchu rolled her eyes. Su Jiayin was always finding excuses to flaunt how well Qiao Qi treated her. Even knowing it was just teasing, it still irked her. She pouted and stressed, “I have one at my place, too. It’s better than hers.”
With her back to Gu Jianchu, Qiao Qi stifled a laugh. Ping An, having had his fill of affection, wriggled out of her arms. Ignoring Gu Jianchu’s sour tone, Qiao Qi went into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and peered inside. “How about spaghetti?”
At Qiao Qi’s question, Gu Jianchu suddenly felt a pang of hunger. She entered the kitchen to lend the evening’s head chef a hand. Qiao Qi noticed that Gu Jianchu was meticulous when washing vegetables and skillful at dicing tomatoes. She figured it was a skill honed during her time studying abroad. Spaghetti didn’t take long to prepare, and soon the two of them were sitting down to dinner.
At the dinner table, Gu Jianchu asked, “Did your trip to Shenzhen go well?”
Qiao Qi didn’t answer directly. “Mr. Gu was a great help, which is why we had dinner together that day.”
She was explaining. Color returned to Gu Jianchu’s face, her expression blooming into a radiant smile. She didn’t press the issue and changed the subject. “When did you learn to make spaghetti?”
Qiao Qi thought for a moment. “A long time ago. I don’t remember.”
Gu Jianchu’s interest was piqued. “What else can you make?” she pressed.
Qiao Qi shot her a light glance. “You can leave after you finish eating.”
Having delivered herself to the door, the great Miss Gu was not about to be kicked out so soon. She certainly wouldn’t agree to that. Qiao Qi’s left hand was resting on the table, and Gu Jianchu hooked her pinky with her own to get her attention. Her smile was dazzling. “How about you cook for me from now on?” Then she hooked Qiao Qi’s ring and middle fingers as well. “And how about I stay here tonight?”
A tingling sensation spread through the fingers Gu Jianchu was holding. Qiao Qi tried to pull away and stand up, but Gu Jianchu caught her by the wrist. “I’ll clean up. You go upstairs and take a bath.” Qiao Qi saw the plea hidden in Gu Jianchu’s eyes and said nothing more, a silent acquiescence. She pulled her hand free and went straight up to the second-floor bedroom. Watching her go, a lovely smile graced Gu Jianchu’s lips.
By the time Gu Jianchu finished clearing the table, wiping the counters, and loading the dishwasher, it was already ten o’clock. She went upstairs to the bedroom. The bathroom door was closed; Qiao Qi must be taking a bath. Without a moment’s hesitation, Gu Jianchu turned the knob and walked right in. Accustomed to living alone, Qiao Qi never bothered to lock the door. Still, this was the first time anyone had ever burst in on her while she was in the tub. After the initial shock, she shot Gu Jianchu a cold glare.
The sight before her was tempting. Gu Jianchu smiled, ignoring Qiao Qi’s displeasure. She untied the sash at her waist, and her silk robe slid silently to the floor. With a long stride, she slipped into the tub, but her brow immediately furrowed. Qiao Qi preferred her bathwater on the hotter side, which for Gu Jianchu was not exactly enjoyable.
Qiao Qi noticed her expression and reached over to turn off the temperature control. The tub was large enough for two people to lie in without touching, but Gu Jianchu insisted on pressing close against her, even rolling over to lie on top of her.
Qiao Qi frowned. “Stop it.”
Gu Jianchu had poured all her initiative into pursuing Qiao Qi, so Qiao Qi’s hot-and-cold attitude made her all the more anxious. She held her close, whispering softly by her ear, “A Qi, I missed you so much.”
Qiao Qi let out a nearly inaudible sigh. She raised a hand to pat her soothingly. “We have work tomorrow. We should get some rest.”
Since they had reunited a year ago, Gu Jianchu had apologized and confessed her feelings, but Qiao Qi always avoided discussing such things. She was deliberately maintaining the dynamic they used to have—no commitments, allowing for an easy breakup.
But that was no longer what Gu Jianchu wanted. She could feel that Qiao Qi still liked her, still indulged her just as she had before. Her greatest fear now was losing her, which was why she craved a verbal commitment—something to legitimize her possessiveness.
But Qiao Qi didn't seem inclined to give her what she wanted. She started to sit up, putting distance between them. Gu Jianchu saw the suppressed emotion in those beautiful eyes. She moved closer again, sealing Qiao Qi’s lips with a kiss. When Qiao Qi responded, Gu Jianchu’s kisses grew wild and uncontrolled, becoming more and more intense until Qiao Qi’s breathing grew ragged.
Outside, a cold moon hung high in the sky, its reflection mingling with the shadows of trees on the lake’s surface, decorating the world below. Gu Jianchu was acting on her professed longing. She lifted Qiao Qi from the water. Qiao Qi felt simultaneously light and heavy, unable to control her own body, so she simply clung to Gu Jianchu, resting her head on her shoulder.
Qiao Qi usually only stayed up late due to insomnia, but tonight, she was kept up by Gu Jianchu until the wee hours before finally drifting off. Gu Jianchu woke once around four in the morning. In the faint light, she watched Qiao Qi sleeping soundly. She leaned in and kissed the tip of Qiao Qi’s nose, her heart swelling with contentment.
When Qiao Qi awoke the next morning, Ping An was curled up on her arm, which was lying outside the covers. A glance at the clock told her she had woken up an hour later than usual. Gu Jianchu was no longer beside her. After washing up, she carried Ping An downstairs. She heard faint sounds coming from the kitchen, and Gu Jianchu, who must have heard her footsteps, poked her head out.
“You’re awake.” Gu Jianchu saw Ping An in Qiao Qi’s arms and smiled. “He was scratching at the door for a long time this morning, probably looking for you, so I let him in.”
Despite sleeping soundly, Qiao Qi still felt exhausted. Cradling Ping An, she was too tired to speak and simply sat quietly at the dining table, waiting for breakfast. Gu Jianchu handed her a glass of warm milk. Seeing her listless state, she asked with concern, “Are you not feeling well?” Qiao Qi shook her head and started drinking the milk. Still worried, Gu Jianchu sat down beside her. “Headache?”
Seeing the concern on Gu Jianchu’s face, Qiao Qi leaned against her. After a long moment, she managed a single word: “Tired.”
Gu Jianchu understood immediately, a smile spreading across her face. “I made bacon and eggs. Do you want some?”
“Mhm.”
“Do you need me to feed you?”
Qiao Qi sat up straight, pulling away from her. She shot Gu Jianchu a look to hide her embarrassment. “Hurry up and eat. We’re going to be late for work.” Despite her words, she knew she was definitely going to be late today.
Qiao Qi arrived at Ruifeng forty-five minutes late, only the second time she had been tardy since transferring to headquarters. The last time had also been because of Gu Jianchu. In her office, the distracted President Qiao rested her forehead in her hand and sighed. It seemed she was utterly helpless when it came to Gu Jianchu. Outside her window, the sun glinted off the glass façade of the Rongfang building, impossible to miss.
Yao Qiu knocked and entered. “Mr. Gu Fanchu from Rongfang is on the line. He’s asking if you’re available to speak.”
“Put him through,” Qiao Qi said, picking up the receiver. “Mr. Gu, what can I do for you?”
Gu Fanchu seemed at a loss for words. After a moment of silence, he said, “I’m calling to ask… if I can pursue you.”
Qiao Qi replied, “Mr. Gu, you shouldn’t waste your time on me.”
Gu Fanchu gave a bitter laugh. “At first, I thought you and Jianchu were enemies. I see now I was mistaken. Jianchu used to be flighty, but I can tell she’s serious about you.” He paused, then added, “Qiao Qi, I hope that no matter what your relationship with Jianchu is, we can still be friends.”
“I’d be happy to have a friend like you, Mr. Gu.”
“Then I won’t disturb your work. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
After hanging up, Gu Fanchu went straight to Gu Jianchu’s office. Gu Jianchu looked up, and seeing his dejected expression, she knew exactly what had happened. “What is it?” she asked first.
“So that’s why you warned me over and over not to pursue Qiao Qi after the Su family banquet. When did you two get together? Was it that first time you took her to America?” Having just been thoroughly rejected by Qiao Qi, he was feeling miserable. He sat down across from her, indignant. “How could you steal your own sister-in-law?”
“Gu Fanchu.” Gu Jianchu’s expression turned cold. “Go back to your office.” Spurned in love, Gu Fanchu channeled his grief into defiance and refused to budge. Gu Jianchu suddenly laughed. “Mr. Gu, let me make this clear. Qiao Qi has been my girlfriend from the very beginning. Now, please return to your office. I need to work.”
Gu Fanchu felt childish himself. He pouted but had no choice but to leave her office. After he was gone, Gu Jianchu’s mood was like an August day—bright and sunny.
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