The Reluctant Bride Book II Chapter 28.1

Side Story

Fei Yan Niao received medical reports about Cheng Yi.

Cheng Yi’s in a coma since the end of TRB I. Cheng Yi used Zheng Jia Ju to gain Tan Pan Ting’s trust. Zheng Jia Ju’s close to Tan Pan Ting. Cheng Yi’s the father of Zheng Jia Ju’s baby.

Fei Yan Niao personally trained Li Dan Qi how to fight. Fei Yan Niao fight his attraction to Li Dan Qi but kissed her during a training session. Li Dan Qi’s the first woman Fei Yan Niao was attracted to since he met Tan Pan Ting.

‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan had no room to move back on the bed. Gu Jiao Wu was too close to her, she could clearly see his eyelashes.

‘Qiao Tan Yuan,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

Gu Jiao Wu saw discomfort in Qiao Tan Yuan’s eyes and thought she hated him. He frowned and felt a little unhappy.

‘I’m not going to give Xiao Bao to you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Let go of me.’

Qiao Tan Yuan did want to forget Gu Jiao Wu. But she loved him for many years, it wasn’t easy to forget him especially if he’s holding her close to him. Her traitorous heart was racing fast.

‘Qiao Tan Yuan,’ Gu Jiao Wu warned.

Gu Jiao Wu inched his face closer to Qiao Tan Yuan’s face. There was less than ten centimetres separating their faces. She was uncomfortable to have their bodies that close.

‘Gu Jiao Wu, leave,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan told herself not to forget if Xiao Bao wasn’t born, Gu Jiao Wu would never look in her direction without looking at her contemptuously.

‘Qiao Tan Yuan, I want Xiao Bao,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

Gu Jiao Wu didn’t notice Qiao Tan Yuan was behaving strangely. What he noticed was strange was why he spent half a day alone with Qiao Tan Yuan.

‘Gu Jiao Wu, I won’t let you have Xiao Bao,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan understood Gu Jiao Wu tolerated spending half a day with her because of Xiao Bao.

Gu Jiao Wu stared at Qiao Tan Yuan’s angry face. She wore the angry mother hen protecting a chick look again.

‘I understand,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He let go of Qiao Tan Yuan and stood. ‘You should rest. I’ll come back another time.’

‘Gu Jiao Wu,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan knew Gu Jiao Wu wouldn’t give up Xiao Bao that easily. What was he scheming?

‘What will it take for you to let go of me and Xiao Bao?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. If Gu Jiao Wu promised to let her and Xiao Bao live a peaceful life, she would concede. ‘Gu Jiao Wu, I’m willing to compromise with you. You can visit Xiao Bao once a week on the weekend.’

Gu Jiao Wu looked at Qiao Tan Yuan’s hands that were slender and smooth like a model’s hands. But her model hands were trembling. He thought about how she held his hand tightly in the delivery room… and his heart asked him to let her go.

‘I won’t let go of Xiao Bao,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I hope you’ll think carefully before you give me an answer.’

Gu Jiao Wu wasn’t inhumane enough to blackmail a woman who gave birth less than a week ago. He would wait for Qiao Tan Yuan to recover before making arrangements.

‘Gu Jiao Wu…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan suspected Gu Jiao Wu wanted full custody of Xiao Bao.

‘You should rest,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

Gu Jiao Wu was walking toward the door, but it didn’t ease Qiao Tan Yuan’s heart.

‘Tell me you won’t steal Xiao Bao,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘I won’t steal Xiao Bao,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He wasn’t going to steal Xiao Bao while Qiao Tan Yuan was recovering. ‘I’ll come back another time to visit Xiao Bao.’

Qiao Tan Yuan heard the door closed, but her heart was still racing. Gu Jiao Wu, did he know how much she hated seeing him? Whenever she saw him, it reminded her what a fool she was.

‘Miss Qiao, Xiao Bao’s hungry,’ Mrs Chu said.

Mrs Chu carried the crying Xiao Bao to Qiao Tan Yuan. Qiao Tan Yuan held Xiao Bao and looked at Xiao Bao’s crying face. Xiao Bao’s cheeks were rosy pink, her eyelashes were damp. Qiao Tan Yuan thought Xiao Bao looked adorable.

Qiao Tan Yuan pulled down her night gown and breast fed Xiao Bao. Xiao Bao grew bigger each day. How could she be separated from Xiao Bao? She felt something wet on her bare arms and realised she was crying.

The following afternoon Li Lam walked into Gu Jiao Wu’s office unannounced.

‘What do you want?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked coldly.

‘You’re not going to welcome me?’ Li Lam asked. ‘I’m here to see you.’

Gu Jiao Wu politely pointed at the sofa and Li Lam sat on the sofa.

Li Lam thought Gu Jiao Wu’s office was clinically spotless like his cold personality.

Gu Jiao Wu looked at Li Lam’s face that resembled Chu Da, but Li Lam and Chu Da were two different people.

‘Gu Jiao Wu, it looks like you don’t want to see me,’ Li Lam said. ‘Why? Do you hate that much?’

Gu Jiao Wu didn’t love or hate Li Lam. He was indifferent to Li Lam.

‘Even if I’m Chu Da, would you still hate?’ Li Lam asked.

‘You’re not Chu Da,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

‘If you don’t believe I’m Chu Da then I’ll leave,’ Li Lam said.

Suddenly Li Lam walked to Gu Jiao Wu’s table and put a box on his desk.

‘I can’t keep your gift if you don’t believe I’m Chu Da,’ Li Lam said.

Li Lam smiled, turned around and walked out of the office.

Gu Jiao Wu opened the box and was shocked. Who was Li Lam? Why did Li Lam possess the necklace he gave to Chu Da as a birthday gift?

End of Chapter Twenty-Eight (Part 1)