Luo Qingqing waited outside the academy for a while. Students gradually began to leave after class. She idly twisted her handkerchief between her fingers. It was truly boring.
“Hey, Brother Xiao, look over there. There’s a beautiful young lady standing there!” a wealthy playboy nudged Xiao Jingyan and pointed toward Luo Qingqing.
Xiao Jingyan curved his lips into a smile. “Leave it to me.” The four companions behind him followed as he walked over.
Someone tapped Luo Qingqing lightly on the shoulder. She thought Gu Jing’an had arrived, so she turned around, only to see an unfamiliar face. He looked somewhat handsome, but in a delicate, almost effeminate way.
Luo Qingqing took two steps back, keeping her distance. “May I ask what you need, sir?”
This woman was truly beautiful. Both alluring and innocent at the same time, two completely different qualities that somehow blended perfectly in her.
Her brows were graceful and curved, her eyes filled with emotion like autumn waters. Her waist was soft like a willow in the wind. A peerless beauty capable of toppling cities.
She was far superior to the vulgar women in his residence.
“Miss, who are you waiting for?” Xiao Jingyan took out a folding fan and waved it as if he were extremely refined.
Luo Qingqing retreated another two steps. Was this person out of his mind? It was freezing cold and he was still using a fan.
What a toad chasing a frog, ugly but playing fancy.
“Sir, you are overstepping. This is my private matter, I cannot disclose it,” she said. If he were not from the same academy as Gu Jing’an, she would not even bother responding.
The people behind him burst into laughter. “Hahaha, Young Master Xiao, you actually got rejected today?”
Xiao Jingyan’s smile was about to crack. He had never failed before. No, he would not admit defeat.
He steadied himself and was about to speak again.
“A’Jing!!”
The beautiful young woman suddenly ran off. She moved so fast he could not react at all. When he reached out to grab her, only a lingering trace of fragrance remained.
Gu Jing’an looked at Luo Qingqing as she threw herself into his arms like a little cat. He lifted his hand and brushed the messy strands of hair from her forehead. “Qingqing, why are you here? How long have you been waiting?”
“Not long at all. I just arrived. I wanted to give you a surprise!”
Her eyes were like black obsidian, captivating him completely. Right now, he really wanted to kiss her.
Xiao Jingyan’s gaze grew even more obsessed. If this woman were acting so sweetly toward him, he felt his bones would turn soft.
“Isn’t this Gu Juren? And this young lady is…”
Gu Jing’an disliked the way the man looked at her. He wanted to dig out those eyes, but then he remembered Master Wuhe’s words. He restrained himself. Qingqing was here, and he did not want to frighten her.
“She is Gu’s wife,” Gu Jing’an said, holding Luo Qingqing’s hand. Then he turned and left. People like this were not worth his time.
So she was already married. Even so, I am determined to win you.
Xiao Jingyan stared at Luo Qingqing’s retreating figure until she disappeared around the corner.
“A’Jing, you still haven’t asked what my surprise is,” she said, tugging at his sleeve and stopping him.
“Oh? Then what surprise did Qingqing prepare for me?” Gu Jing’an asked indulgently.
She took a document from her sleeve. “Here! Our new home! Manager Li really works fast. When you have time, we can move in. Alright?”
“Qingqing, are you happy?”
“Of course I am!”
That was enough. The courtyard was elegant. He knew she would like it.
“I have a day off the day after tomorrow. Let’s move then.”
“Alright.”
After picking up Gu Qiran and Gu Xuanning, they went to the market and bought three jin of fresh lamb loin and a chicken. By the time they returned to the Gu family courtyard, the sky was already dark.
“Sister-in-law, what are we having for dinner tonight?” Gu Xuanning asked. After eating Luo Qingqing’s cooking, she found it hard to tolerate anything else at the academy. It truly was easy to go from frugal to indulged, but hard to go back.
“Sister-in-law, Xuanning hasn’t been eating properly at school. I even heard her stomach growling,” Gu Qiran added, reporting on her.
Gu Xuanning lowered her head. She felt she was definitely going to be scolded and was already preparing to cry.
But Luo Qingqing only placed a gentle hand on her head. “Xuanning, go to the main room and get some pastries first. Dinner will take a little while. In a few days, when we move to town, we can come home for lunch, alright?”
Instead, Gu Xuanning felt even more guilty. “I won’t eat pastries. Sister-in-law, I was wrong. I shouldn’t be picky. Let this hunger be my lesson.”
After saying that, she ran off to wash vegetables, determined not to eat anything.
Gu Qiran caught the key point in her words. “Sister-in-law, are we moving to town? I heard houses there are very expensive.”
Their elder brother and sister-in-law were already working so hard. If they had to borrow money for a house, it would only make things harder.
“Yes, it will make it more convenient for you to attend school. Don’t worry about money. Your brother and I will handle it.”
Gu Qiran clenched his fists and said nothing more. Since he could not help now, he would study harder in the future and never let them suffer like this again.
For dinner, Luo Qingqing prepared spicy diced chicken, cumin lamb, and a three fresh soup.
The lamb was sliced thin and marinated with onion, salt, vinegar, and black pepper for a short while. In a hot wok with cool oil, she stir fried it over high heat until half cooked, then set it aside. She heated oil again, added a generous amount of cumin, chili powder, black pepper, and white sesame, stir fried it fragrant, then returned the lamb to the pan for a final quick fry.
The cumin lamb was unanimously praised at the table. In the end, all four of them took a two quarter walk in the courtyard afterward.
Tonight, the last orange was eaten. Tomorrow they would need to buy more.
Luo Qingqing tilted her head up at Gu Jing’an, seeking praise. “A’Jing, is food therapy useful or not?”
Gu Jing’an’s lips curved slightly. “If Qingqing fed me herself, the effect would be even better.”
He was teasing her again, that fox. She refused. Just like last night, she could see it but not have it.
She huffed and wrapped herself in the blanket, turning into a little cocoon.
“A’Jing, good night.”
“Qingqing, good night.”
Before sleeping, Luo Qingqing had already gone to the latrine, but now she needed to go again. However, it was so cold outside and the blanket was so warm.
After struggling for a long time, she finally got up anyway.
She saluted this overwhelming urgency, the cold night wind, and her own courage.
She had been in such a rush earlier that she had not noticed whether Gu Jing’an was still in the room. When she returned, the room was empty. She checked his bedding. He must have left earlier than her. What was he doing out so late at night?