Finally, They Met Again (continued)

She actually admired Fang Tingxiu to some extent.

After all, not everyone can refuse the Chief Grand Secretary's daughter.

Who could bear to part with such immense wealth?

With his father and elder brothers paving the way, even becoming a third-rank official would be a disservice to him.

Er Ya pouted, looking unhappy.

Xu Qiaoqiao noticed the mistress and servant whispering to each other, so she wisely moved away and silently lowered her head to cook the noodles.

"Crack--" Suddenly, the sound of porcelain breaking on the ground came from outside.

The sound was crisp and clear, even audible in the kitchen.

Xu Qiaoqiao usually manages this store, so upon hearing the commotion outside, she immediately rushed out, asking, "What's wrong?"

When you open a business, you'll always encounter scoundrels and troublemakers who cause trouble for no reason.

Turn big problems into small ones, and small problems into nothing.

After a period of practice, Xu Qiaoqiao has become accustomed to dealing with these things.

Moreover, because of his Gu family nature, he is actually rarely the type to cause trouble.

Xu Qiaoqiao lifted the curtain, looked up in the direction of the sound, and then her eyes widened in disbelief. She stood there, stunned, staring fixedly at Fang Tingxiu, who had "caused the trouble."

"It's not the waiter's fault, it was my carelessness, I..." Fang Tingxiu stood there, his robes stained with tea, slightly bending down to wipe it with a handkerchief, but he froze the moment he saw Xu Qiaoqiao.

Ultimately, he reacted faster than Xu Qiaoqiao.

He threw down the handkerchief, rushed forward, and grasped Xu Qiaoqiao's hand. Looking at her coarse kitchen clothes, his voice trembled, and his eyes were already red. "Qiaoqiao, what are you doing here? Did something happen at home? Qiaoqiao, Qiaoqiao, say something! Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Gu Wanning, who came out upon hearing the news, asked, "???"

She looked at Gu Anqi, who shook his head slightly, indicating that he didn't know what was going on either.

"Why are you here?" Xu Qiaoqiao calmed down, pushed Fang Tingxiu away without making a sound, took two steps back, lowered her eyelids, clenched her fists at her sides, and her eyes were moist.

Her gaze fell on Fang Tingxiu's faded royal blue sleeves, and she bit her lip.

Those were clothes she had made for him, for him to wear when he went to the capital.

"Qiaoqiao, let's talk in private."

Sensing the curiosity and inquiry in the surrounding gazes, Fang Tingxiu used his tall stature to block Xu Qiaoqiao.

Xu Qiaoqiao didn't want to be a monkey being watched, so she nodded silently.

Gu Wanning had begun to understand things.

These two people seem to be from the same place.

One traveled thousands of miles to find a man, while the other, in her twenties, rejected no fewer than a dozen suitors from prestigious families. Tsk tsk.

If there's nothing between these two, Gu Wanning will write their names backwards.

"Yes, yes, let's talk later," Gu Wanning quickly replied.

Quick, let me have some watermelon.

Xu Qiaoqiao led Fang Tingxiu to the backyard.

Gu Wanning felt too embarrassed to follow them any further.

Xu Qiaoqiao's maid Xi'er, silently followed the two of them.

The two people were talking in hushed tones in the courtyard, with Xi'er standing not far away.

Looking through the window, Gu Wanning noticed that Xu Qiaoqiao's expression had returned to normal, but her tightly clenched hands betrayed her inner turmoil.

Fang Tingxiu, who was praised by his elder brother for his composure, was now acting like a young boy, completely losing his sense of propriety.

"Qiaoqiao, did something happen at home? Why did you bring Xi'er to the capital alone?"

Xu Qiaoqiao lowered her head. "Nothing happened. I was just bored, so I came out to have some fun."

Fang Tingxiu didn't believe a single word of this.

Xu Qiaoqiao is the apple of her father and brothers' eye; there's absolutely no way they'd let her out on her own.

"How have you been lately? What a question I'm asking," Xu Qiaoqiao tried to compose herself, adopting a nonchalant demeanor. "Since you're with Master Gu now, you must have passed the imperial examination. That's great; your years of hard work haven't been in vain."

He was fine; she had seen him, and now she had no reason to stay in the Capital.

I had originally told my family that I would just come to check on him to see if he was alright, and then I would go back...

I finally met him.

He's fine.

She can rest assured now.

It turns out he wasn't in any trouble; he just didn't want to contact her anymore.

That's true. When I gave him the money, I told him that no matter whether he passed the imperial examination or not, he should never come back.

He's just listening to me, so why am I being so dramatic now?

But the tears were uncontrollable and wouldn't stop.

Xu Qiaoqiao tried hard to suppress her tears, but they streamed down her face like beads from a broken string.

"Qiaoqiao, don't cry." Fang Tingxiu panicked.

He had just tossed the handkerchief onto the table, and now he could only raise his sleeve, clumsily trying to wipe away her tears.

"So what exactly happened? Is your family pressuring you to get married? Or is it something else? Qiaoqiao, don't cry, I'm here, I'll help you. No matter what happened, whatever you want to do, I'll help you."

Although the young girl's heart changed, she gave herself a new life.

If it weren't for her, I would probably have died with my father when I was ten years old.

Even if she changed her mind, it couldn't change the fact that she was his savior.

"Why didn't you send anyone a message after you got to high school?" Xu Qiaoqiao asked with difficulty, her voice choked with emotion.

If she had known he was in high school, she wouldn't have worried about him, wouldn't have come looking for him, and there wouldn't be this awkwardness when they meet now.

She wasn't there to cling to him.

She didn't come to find him after she knew he was in high school.

She was just worried that something might happen to him on his way to Beijing, that he wouldn't pass the exam—someone as proud as him wouldn't be able to accept that, she was worried about him...

Seeing that he was alright, she felt relieved and genuinely happy for him, but she also felt incredibly ashamed.

Because it was she who made those harsh remarks back then.

She's definitely not here to go back to an ex.