Gu Junxing froze for a moment and instinctively glanced at Qiao Hua.
Qiao Hua showed no reaction to Jiang Nan's arrival. She did not even look up and kept eating.
Gu Junxing immediately stood up. "Jiang Nan."
"Junxing!" A flash of delighted surprise crossed Jiang Nan's bright eyes when she saw Gu Junxing. She looked him up and down. "It's been so long. Look how much you've grown."
Gu Junxing managed a faint smile. "Yeah, I haven't seen you in ages either."
Jiang Nan sounded regretful as she brought it up. "I meant to visit you at the Gu Residence last time, but my timing was bad. You'd already left by the time I arrived."
She meant the day Gu Junxing had announced at the dinner table that he was cutting ties with the Gu Family for Tan Ruiyu. At the thought, his eyes dimmed, and he said quietly, "I had something to do that day, so I left early."
Jiang Nan did not know Gu Junxing had broken with the Gu Family over his girlfriend. She simply assumed he had been busy since returning to the country and thought nothing more of it. "That's all right. We're seeing each other now, aren't we?"
Gu Junxing forced a smile. "By the way, Jiang Nan, what brings you here?"
Jiang Nan smiled softly. "You've been back for so long, but I still hadn't seen you. I heard you were here, so I came to visit."
It was a cleverly worded answer. She did not say who had told her, but there was no one besides Gu Wenze who could have known Gu Junxing was at his house.
Why not just say Gu Wenze invited you?
And seriously, Gu Wenze, couldn't you book a restaurant if you wanted to have dinner with Jiang Nan? Aren't you afraid I'll bully your poor, delicate first love?
Gu Junxing could not help glancing at Gu Wenze, a hint of reproach in his eyes.
His older brother knew perfectly well that Qiao Hua and Jiang Nan did not get along, yet he had brought her into the house anyway.
Gu Wenze suddenly said, "I never told you Junxing was at my house. How did you know?"
Apparently not expecting Gu Wenze to question her to her face, Jiang Nan's smile froze.
All three pairs of eyes settled on Jiang Nan. She clenched the hem of her dress, and only with tremendous effort did she maintain her smile. "I know one of Junxing's classmates. He mentioned it while we were chatting."
Although she remained composed on the surface, Jiang Nan was panicking inside.
She had deliberately phrased it that way because she was certain Gu Wenze would not bother over such a minor detail.
She had never expected him to question her outright.
"Oh, I see..." Gu Junxing relaxed, though even he did not know what he had been so nervous about. At least Qiao Hua would not mistakenly think his brother had invited Jiang Nan over. He changed the subject. "Well, Jiang Nan, we haven't seen each other in so long. Why don't we go catch up? I've heard there's a really good restaurant nearby. Let me treat you."
Jiang Nan did not answer right away. She looked past Gu Junxing's shoulder at Gu Wenze behind him. Seeing no response from him, she smiled considerately. "Maybe next time. You finally have a chance to eat together. I shouldn't interrupt. Enjoy your dinner. I'll be going."
Hearing that, Gu Junxing silently breathed a sigh of relief. "Sure. I'll ask you out another time."
Just as Jiang Nan turned to leave, a woman's voice rang out behind her. "Miss Jiang, have you eaten?"
For once, the person who spoke was Qiao Hua.
Even Jiang Nan was taken aback. She answered instinctively, "Not yet."
Qiao Hua said generously, "Then stay and eat with us."
Gu Junxing immediately grew anxious at her words and frantically tried to signal Qiao Hua with his eyes.
Gu Wenze's gaze abruptly darkened, and he gave Qiao Hua a long look.
But Qiao Hua seemed oblivious to both their gazes. She beckoned to Jiang Nan. "Come on, Miss Jiang. You'll have to eat when you get home anyway, so why not make do with dinner here?"
If Gu Wenze had not been there, she would almost have gotten up to pull out a chair for Jiang Nan herself.
This was the female lead who would determine when she could escape this lousy book.
Even Jiang Nan could not figure out what Qiao Hua was up to. She looked hesitant. "Wouldn't that be inconvenient?"
Qiao Hua said cheerfully, "What's inconvenient about it? It's just one more place setting. Don't be shy."
With that, she asked the nanny to bring another bowl and pair of chopsticks.
Gu Junxing was not sure whether he was imagining it, but the air seemed to turn icy the moment Qiao Hua finished speaking. The chill coming from his brother's direction was particularly intense.
When no one at the table spoke, Jiang Nan pressed her lips together. "In that case, sorry for imposing."
As Jiang Nan sat in the only available seat, directly opposite Gu Wenze, Qiao Hua could not have been more pleased with her arrangement.
Ah, I'm so thoughtful. I'm even creating opportunities for Jiang Nan and Gu Wenze. Who could possibly be as kind as me?
Gu Wenze must be jumping for joy inside.
Hopefully, seeing how accommodating I am, Gu Wenze will give me a bigger share of the assets when we divorce. That would be all I could ask for.
Gu Wenze tightened his grip on his chopsticks, a storm gathering in his eyes as he looked at Qiao Hua.
Divorce again.
Had Qiao Hua deliberately asked Jiang Nan to stay to provoke him into asking for a divorce?
Hearing Qiao Hua's recklessly oblivious thoughts, Gu Junxing grew anxious. He had no idea what she was thinking, inviting Jiang Nan to stay for dinner.
Didn't she know Jiang Nan was her romantic rival?
Yet Gu Junxing could hardly say anything. He could only fret in silence, his gaze darting between the three of them.
Jiang Nan was no fool. The tense atmosphere at the table was far too obvious, so she turned to Gu Junxing, who seemed the easiest to talk to. "Junxing, how long have you been back?"
Gu Junxing was distracted. "A little over two weeks."
"I heard you brought your girlfriend back with you." Jiang Nan did not notice anything unusual about Gu Junxing and asked with a smile, "Why didn't you bring her today?"
The mention of that finally brought Gu Junxing back to the conversation. He stared at the white rice in his bowl, looking downcast, and said quietly, "We broke up."
Jiang Nan paused, and embarrassment immediately appeared on her face. "Sorry, I didn't know. I'm really sorry."
Gu Junxing shook his head. "It's fine. You didn't mean it."
Their exchange made the already subdued atmosphere even more stifling. For a while, the only sounds at the table were the clinks of bowls and chopsticks.
Perhaps because the atmosphere was too awkward, Jiang Nan had no choice but to search for something to say. This time, however, she spoke to Gu Wenze. "Wenze, why are you so quiet today?"
That's right, honey. Say something.
Hearing Qiao Hua's affectedly coquettish inner voice, Gu Junxing suddenly choked on his soup. He looked up and waved a hand. "It went down the wrong way. Carry on."
He could not help shooting Qiao Hua a glare. Couldn't this woman show a little restraint with everyone around?
Gu Wenze did not even look up. "There's nothing to say. Eat. The food's getting cold."
Jiang Nan unconsciously tightened her grip on her chopsticks.
For some reason, Gu Wenze seemed to have grown much colder toward her over the past few days. Yet she had no idea what she had done wrong or where she might have given herself away.
That was why she had deliberately come over today. Visiting Gu Junxing was merely an excuse; her real purpose was to see Gu Wenze.
"Wenze, are you unhappy because I interrupted your family dinner?" Jiang Nan's voice gradually softened. Biting her lip, she said, "If so, I can leave."
Afraid Jiang Nan would actually leave, Qiao Hua spoke up to stop her. "Don't. Why would Mr. Gu mind you being here? With you around, he'll be happy enough to eat several extra bowls of rice."
Then she looked at Gu Wenze, gleefully stirring the pot. "Right, Mr. Gu?"
Gu Wenze shot Qiao Hua an icy look without answering.
Jiang Nan watched Gu Wenze's face intently, hope rekindling in her heart. "Really?"
Qiao Hua readily answered for Gu Wenze. "Of course. Why else would Mr. Gu hire you as his personal secretary the moment you returned to the country? So don't feel awkward. Just make yourself at home."
Gu Wenze, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke coldly. "No talking while eating or in bed. Didn't your parents teach you that?"
Qiao Hua pursed her lips and quietly lowered her head to eat.
He was thrilled inside, yet he had to act as though he was reluctantly putting up with it. What a closet flirt.
To give the two of them some time alone, Qiao Hua quickly shoveled down a few mouthfuls of rice and set down her bowl and chopsticks. "I'm full. Enjoy your dinner."
Without caring about anyone else's expression, she headed upstairs without looking back.
Watching Qiao Hua leave, Gu Junxing immediately lost his appetite too. He set down his bowl and chopsticks as well and told the other two, "I'm full too. Enjoy your dinner."
With that, he put down his chopsticks and hurried after her, his retreating figure betraying a hint of urgency.
As Qiao Hua reached the corner, Gu Junxing called from behind her, "Hey, wait a second."
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