Capítulo 11: Chapter 11 Caring
Gu Qiaoqiao gave a self-mocking smile. Qin Yize had long been accustomed to such gazes and naturally didn't care.
She didn't have to worry too much either, for in the memories of her past life, though they weren't together much during those three years, Qin Yize truly never laid a hand on her.
Only indifference could make a man ignore the woman lying beside him.
Qiaoqiao walked confidently toward the large bed.
The bed was spacious, and she pulled back the covers and lay down.
Then, she turned her back to Qin Yize and gently closed her eyes.
Tomorrow, she would have to face the scrutinizing gaze of the old patriarch and the sneering ridicule of the aunties. How could she do that without energy?
In this life, she would settle all her debts and reclaim everything she was owed.
Moreover, the most important thing was that she couldn't let down her grandfather and father.
Ever since waking up at noon, Gu Qiaoqiao had been in a dream-like state, and coupled with physical and mental exhaustion, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.
On the other side, Qin Yize methodically closed his book, placing it on the nightstand. As he reached to turn off the bedside lamp, he hesitated.
He turned his head, his gaze slightly narrowed. The girl beside him was buried in the thick duvet, distancing herself from him and curling up slightly.
Her breathing was light and shallow.
If not for the small mound on the duvet, Qin Yize would have thought he was alone in the bed.
The day before, she was tossing and turning with eagerness towards him.
Fortunately, over the years, he had developed a sense of calm that allowed him to sleep soundly unless there was a catastrophe.
But today's Gu Qiaoqiao seemed much more docile.
Qin Yize's gaze was cool and detached as he switched off the light without agreement or opposition.
Gu Qiaoqiao thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but to her surprise, she slept dreamlessly until daylight.
The bed next to her was empty.
Qin Yize must have gone for his morning run.
Gu Qiaoqiao washed up at the fastest speed and started to get busy with Shen Manru.
Today was an important day, and Shen Manru had no time to pick on Qiaoqiao's faults. Moreover, she noticed that Qiaoqiao was indeed very skillful.
Her chopping and food preparation were extremely proficient.
Her heart couldn't help but seethe with resentment.
It seemed she had been slacking off before.
She knew how to do everything but deliberately did a sloppy job to disgust others.
Now that her son had returned, she rushed to show off, never expecting a village girl to have such cunning to deceive even a college professor like her.
If it weren't for the old patriarch's visit today, she would have definitely thrown this despicable woman out.
Thus, under Mother Qin's stony-faced presence, the atmospheric pressure in the kitchen was particularly oppressive.
Gu Qiaoqiao had already anticipated this, but she didn't mind.
As this woman would soon become a stranger to her.
There was no need to get angry over someone who didn't matter.
Gu Qiaoqiao, unconcerned, skillfully carved tomatoes into roses and carrots into plum blossoms.
These would be used for the garnishes later.
No matter how dissatisfied Shen Manru was, she could only bear it.
Because such craftsmanship from Qiaoqiao could certainly hold its own in front of her two younger siblings.
Just then, the usually quiet living room suddenly became noisy.
Shen Manru's hand paused, and she spoke her second sentence of the day to Gu Qiaoqiao, her tone clearly impatient, "The Old Master has arrived, as well as your Second Uncle and Third Uncle's families, remember to come out to meet them, don't shrink back, and be careful when you light a cigarette for the Old Master..."
Gu Qiaoqiao didn't say anything, she just nodded faintly.
There wasn't even a hint of nervousness in her heart.
In her previous life, she cared about everyone in the Qin Family, hoped for Great Grandfather's help and approval—her hands shook with nerves to the point where she almost burnt his clothes. Not this time, because she didn't care about them at all anymore.
Maybe the saying "The less you desire, the stronger you are" was true for this reason.
Shen Manru walked out of the kitchen.
Gu Qiaoqiao was still busy.
After a while, Qin Xiaoyu came over, first glaring fiercely at Gu Qiaoqiao, then saying, "My Great Grandfather wants you to come over."
Gu Qiaoqiao wiped her hands and brought the prepared cigarette-lighting items to the living room.
An elderly man with white hair and beard sat on the sofa in the main seat, holding a Red Sandalwood cane, his face gaunt and his eyes sharp.
The Old Master was the eldest young master of the Qin Family, a prestigious family from the southern Haicheng City, who later moved to the Imperial Capital for some reasons. The Old Master turned exactly eighty this year and lived alone in another old residence of the Qin Family.
He had only one son and one daughter in his lifetime.
His eldest son was Qin Yize's grandfather, who had died five years earlier.
And Qin Yize's grandfather had three sons; the eldest son was Qin Xuan, the second son Qin Lang was a businessman, and the youngest son Qin Song held an important position in the Imperial Capital. The Old Master's daughter had married abroad, and Gu Qiaoqiao had only seen her once.
That was during her wedding to Qin Yize.
In fact, everyone felt sorry for Qin Yize, including Mr. Qin's aunt.
Since Qin Yize was the eldest grandson of the main branch, and with the only son having passed away, Great Grandfather had mourned the death of a younger generation firsthand, he naturally favored Qin Yize immensely.
He designated him as the heir to the Qin Family.
But he also demanded strictness.
At this moment, his gaze, filled with scrutiny, rested on his great-granddaughter-in-law holding a tray in front of him.
Today, Gu Qiaoqiao wore a light red high-neck sweater, black trousers, and semi-high-heeled black leather shoes.
Her hair was pulled up high on her head.
A few strands of hair dangled by her ears. Gu Qiaoqiao may not possess a stunning beauty, but she had fair skin and eyes like two clear springs.
With her eighteen-year-old youthfulness, paired with her long, straight legs, she appeared gracefully elegant, gentle as an orchid.
The room wasn't crowded, and though everyone appeared joyous, a subtle disdain lingered in the spacious living room.
Grandma Qin sat in a wheelchair, smilingly beckoning, "Qiaoqiao, come over here, light a cigarette for your Great Grandfather."
This was a ritual that every new bride in the Qin Family had to undergo.
Even though society had changed and so many years had passed, nobody knew why the Great Grandfather insisted on this tradition.
Fortunately, it was just lighting a cigarette.
People from the sixties and seventies, in fact, greatly enjoyed smoking from tobacco pipes.
They crushed the tobacco leaves, took a small pinch to press into the bowl of the pipe, then compacted it carefully, as the degree of compression was crucial—too light, and it would burn out after a few puffs; too heavy, and it would not draw well, leaving one's cheeks aching.
When pressed just right, smoking it was quite delightful.
Gu Qiaoqiao often packed and lit cigarettes for her late grandfather, so there was nothing she couldn't handle now.
She approached the Old Master with the tray, and unsurprisingly, he had never been stingy in showing his affection for his eldest great-grandson.
Naturally, Qin Yize sat beside the Old Master.
She felt Qin Yize's gaze upon her.
She chose to ignore it, first greeting the Great Grandfather for the New Year, and then with a smile, said, "Great Grandfather, I've learned a tobacco blending method from my grandfather, would you like to try it?"
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