Qiao Hua had no idea that a single phone call from her had made Gu Wenze suspicious of Jiang Nan. She was still preoccupied with the abortion she hadn't managed to get.
Since she had missed her trip to the hospital this time, she would have to wait another week for the procedure.
Qiao Hua was thankful that the original owner of her body had discovered the pregnancy early. She was only two months along and wasn't showing yet.
Otherwise, she couldn't possibly have put it off this long.
Ever since Gu Junxing had broken up with Tan Ruiyu that day, he had been visiting the Gu family home frequently. Every day when Qiao Hua got back from work, she found him sitting in the living room, apparently waiting for Gu Wenze to come home.
Fortunately, the two of them didn't get along, so Qiao Hua didn't have to entertain him, which made things easy for her.
Still, she wasn't sure whether she was imagining it, but Gu Junxing had rarely made sarcastic remarks at her since breaking up with Tan Ruiyu. Before, he would always take a few jabs at her whenever they met. Now, at most, he simply ignored her.
Qiao Hua assumed Gu Junxing hadn't gotten over the heartbreak of being dumped and gave it no further thought.
What she didn't know was that Gu Junxing's hostility toward her had eased considerably because of the thoughts he had heard from her earlier.
That day, Qiao Hua returned to the Gu family home as usual. As expected, Gu Junxing was there too, but he seemed to be in a good mood. For once, he didn't make any snide remarks when he saw her and even greeted her first.
"You're back?"
Qiao Hua gave Gu Junxing a puzzled look, wondering what had gotten into him. "Yeah."
Noticing her work uniform, Gu Junxing couldn't help saying, "I heard from my brother that you got a job. Is he not giving you money to spend? Why is he making you go out and expose yourself to the public like this?"
He couldn't understand why Qiao Hua would go looking for hardship when she had nothing better to do. The Gu family had more money than she could spend in two lifetimes. Even if she never went out, she would never have to worry about food or clothing.
Qiao Hua changed into a pair of house slippers. "Young Master Gu, are you still living in the old days? Since when does going to work count as exposing yourself to the public?"
"What else would you call it?" Gu Junxing saw nothing wrong with what he had said. "You represent the Gu family's reputation. If people find out you've taken some disreputable job, who knows how they'll laugh at us behind our backs?"
"Don't worry," Qiao Hua said casually. "They definitely won't laugh as hard as they did when a certain someone left the Gu family for a woman."
"You!"
Gu Junxing was so angry that he nearly shot up from the sofa.
"I only got deceived because I misjudged someone." Gu Junxing settled back down with a snort. "Everyone stumbles sometimes."
"Yes, yes. You stumbled so hard you almost couldn't get back up."
In the past, Gu Junxing would have flown into a rage. Today, however, he remained calm for once, pulling a document out of his pocket and tossing it in front of Qiao Hua.
"What's this?"
Gu Junxing lifted his chin arrogantly. "Read it and you'll know."
Puzzled, Qiao Hua picked it up and discovered that it was a hospital test report, with Gu Junxing written in the name field.
There was a hint of smugness in Gu Junxing's voice. "I had a medical examination. I'm not sick."
Qiao Hua had wondered what it could be, but it turned out to be just a test report. "Oh," she said without much emotion.
Unhappy with her dismissive attitude, Gu Junxing said, "What's with that reaction? Are you disappointed to hear I'm not sick?"
When he had heard Qiao Hua's thoughts before, she had seemed rather eager for him to contract AIDS. This vicious woman really was no good.
Qiao Hua touched her face and asked in surprise, "Is it that obvious?"
Gu Junxing gave a low snort. "It means heaven doesn't dare take me. I'm destined to live to a hundred."
"Yes, yes. You'll live to a hundred. You could even live to ten thousand."
"Are you fucking complimenting me or cursing me?"
"Complimenting you, of course," Qiao Hua said offhandedly. "Have you ever heard anyone curse someone like that?"
Gu Junxing might have believed it if someone else had said it, but Qiao Hua was definitely mocking him.
Still, he couldn't be bothered to argue with a woman. "I'm in a good mood today, so I'll let it slide."
"Then thank you for your generosity, Young Master Gu," Qiao Hua said perfunctorily.
Something suddenly seemed to occur to Gu Junxing. His expression grew awkward, and his eyes flickered. "Listen, the fact that I didn't catch some nasty disease was just good luck. It had nothing to do with you."
Qiao Hua looked baffled. "Did I say it had anything to do with me?"
Gu Junxing choked on his words. Realizing that Qiao Hua still didn't know he could hear her thoughts, he snorted and shut his mouth.
Qiao Hua was bewildered, but she didn't dwell on it and handed the test report back to him.
Gu Junxing put it away again, then said out of nowhere, "I suggest you get a medical examination too."
"Why should I get a medical examination? I'm not sick," Qiao Hua replied casually.
She was perfectly healthy. She ate well and slept well. Living to a hundred and eight wouldn't be a problem.
Seeing that Qiao Hua hadn't caught his meaning, Gu Junxing grew embarrassed and annoyed. "I don't mean that. I mean the other thing."
"What thing are you talking about...?"
As she spoke, Qiao Hua noticed Gu Junxing's gaze resting on her lower abdomen. She instinctively covered her stomach. "Where are you looking?"
Gu Junxing rubbed the tip of his nose and looked away. "I mean, you've been married to my brother for three years and still haven't had a child. There might be something wrong with you. Getting checked and treated early would be good for you."
Qiao Hua thought that they hadn't had a child in three years because Gu Wenze hadn't wanted the original owner to get pregnant, so he had used protection every time.
Qiao Hua lowered the hand covering her stomach and said evenly, "Why don't you tell your brother to get checked? Maybe he's the one with a problem."
Gu Junxing immediately grew agitated. "How could there possibly be anything wrong with my brother down there?"
Qiao Hua raised an eyebrow. "How do you know there's nothing wrong with him down there? Have you ever gotten pregnant by him?"
Gu Junxing gritted his teeth, wishing he could stuff something into Qiao Hua's sharp mouth.
"I'm doing this for your own good. If you have a child with my brother, won't your position in the Gu family be secure?"
Qiao Hua very much wanted to tell him that she already had a child in her belly, but that it would soon be aborted.
However, she had no intention of telling Gu Junxing about it. She shrugged indifferently. "Your dear Jiang Nan will have his children someday. I won't get involved."
Exasperated by her attitude, Gu Junxing said, "Do you really not care, or are you just pretending? Now that Jiang Nan is back, she could take your place at any moment. Aren't you afraid you won't get to be Mrs. Gu anymore?"
He didn't notice that Qiao Hua was looking at him more and more strangely and kept talking.
Qiao Hua suddenly asked, "Why are you so concerned about me today?"
Gu Junxing, who had still been rambling, abruptly faltered. He turned his head aside and said awkwardly, "Who's concerned about you? Don't flatter yourself."
Qiao Hua wasn't so full of herself that she would think Gu Junxing was on her side. Perhaps she was overthinking it.
"All right, this is between your brother and me. A little brat like you should stay out of it. If you have nothing better to do, go to the hospital for a few more tests. Be careful-this disease has a long incubation period."
To Gu Junxing, those words sounded like Qiao Hua was concerned about his health.
Gu Junxing put on a haughty expression. "Who asked you to worry about me? I know what I'm doing."
Qiao Hua pursed her lips. "As if anyone wants to worry about you."
With that, she went upstairs, failing to notice how Gu Junxing's lips slowly flattened into a line as he stared after her for a long time.
Gu Wenze came home for dinner that evening, and Gu Junxing told his brother the good news at the table.
Gu Wenze didn't seem particularly surprised by the result. "That's good. Be more careful from now on and use protection."
Gu Junxing nodded.
"By the way, I've already spoken to Mom for you," Gu Wenze said evenly. "Go back to the family residence tomorrow and make it up to her. You're her son, after all. She won't really hold it against you."
At the mention of this, Gu Junxing lowered his head and said glumly, "I know. Thanks, bro."
No one at the table spoke again. Only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks could be heard.
The atmosphere at the table was rather quiet, with only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks breaking the silence.
Gu Junxing's gaze secretly darted between Qiao Hua and Gu Wenze. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was strange between them.
They seemed less like husband and wife and more like strangers.
Gu Junxing hesitated, wanting to speak, but just as he was about to say something, the sudden ringing of the doorbell interrupted him.
The nanny went to answer the door. Before long, her voice came from the living room. "Mr. Gu, the guest is here to see you."
As her words fell, Jiang Nan walked in wearing a pale blue dress, her makeup soft and lovely. Seeing the three of them eating, she gave a gentle smile. "I've come at a bad time. Sorry for interrupting your dinner."
Before you continue