Chapter 142: It Was Only an Act for the Occasion

Chapter 142: It Is Only an Act

After Xu Yun and Tang Jiu got dressed, they left the hotel and headed straight for the medicinal cuisine restaurant.

Tang Jiu knew perfectly well that once Tang Yifei discovered she was here, he would tell the entire Tang family. She also knew that he would describe, through tears and dramatic sobs, her depraved life with men in Hedong City. He would then berate himself before the family, saying that he had failed as her elder brother, that he had been useless and unable to stop her from continuing down that path...

Tang Jiu wanted very much to go back and explain everything, but she knew there was no longer enough time to return before her second brother did. In that case, she might as well let him say whatever he pleased. Black was black and white was white; the truth could never be reversed.

She would take Xu Yun back and prove to every member of the Tang family that he was nothing like the man Tang Yifei had described. If anyone refused to accept that, she was completely confident that Xu Yun would make them submit.

“What are you thinking about?” Xu Yun had seen right through her thoughts. He asked casually, “Are you worried that your so-called brother went back and started spreading rumors?”

Tang Jiu smiled, though rather awkwardly. “Let him say whatever he wants. The Tang family holds its great monthly gathering on the first of every month, and October First is only two days away. I want to make it back by then.”

Xu Yun raised an eyebrow. “So you mean to introduce me ceremoniously to everyone in the Tang family that day?”

Tang Jiu’s tone was mild, but her answer was utterly certain.

Xu Yun was not usually one for grand gestures, but he decided to respect Tang Jiu’s wishes. What did it matter if he made a show of things just once? “Aren’t you afraid your family will butcher me on the spot?”

“If you could be butchered by the Tang family that easily, I wouldn’t have asked you for help.” Tang Jiu spoke as lightly as if she were discussing the weather. “You seem more capable than any expert I’ve ever met. That is why I trust you and chose you. Being able to survive the Tang family is the bare minimum. If you can’t even manage that, then I really will have misjudged you.”

Xu Yun gave a hearty laugh. Just then, the car stopped in front of the medicinal cuisine restaurant.

By coincidence, Su Xiaoran had also come to pick up Guoguo. The moment she got out of her car, she came face-to-face with Xu Yun. She was about to greet him when a young woman of extraordinary bearing stepped out of his vehicle.

Su Xiaoran still wore a smile, but she knew that she felt at least somewhat awkward. The identity of this girl had also become a question in her mind.

“Teacher Su, I’m sorry to trouble you with Guoguo again.” Xu Yun saw nothing amiss. Having done nothing wrong, he had no reason to fear being confronted, so he walked straight over to greet her.

Su Xiaoran quickly adjusted her state of mind and kept smiling. “It’s no trouble at all. It was the least I could do.”

“Come on, let’s go inside and get something to eat.” Xu Yun knew that Ruan Qingshuang must have prepared breakfast.

Tang Jiu looked Su Xiaoran up and down, then asked Xu Yun quietly, “Is she Guoguo’s teacher?”

“Hello, my name is Su Xiaoran. I’m Guoguo’s homeroom teacher.” Hearing this, Su Xiaoran immediately extended her hand politely.

Tang Jiu shook it. “Hello, Teacher Su. My name is Tang Jiu. I’m Guoguo’s good friend. If Guoguo ever needs anything at school, please feel free to tell me. I’m sorry to have troubled you with her care, and thank you.”

Su Xiaoran hurriedly said, “It really was no trouble, so please don’t be so polite.”

Yet she still could not figure out when Guoguo had acquired such a close friend—and, judging by her clothes and manner, clearly a girl from no ordinary family.

After the exchange of courtesies, Tang Jiu pointed at Xu Yun. “He’s my boyfriend.”

Su Xiaoran froze slightly. The expression on her face changed almost imperceptibly, but she was clearly astonished. Xu Yun’s girlfriend had appeared far too suddenly.

Then again, when she thought about it, she realized there was nothing impossible about it. Xu Yun was so outstanding that it was only natural for him to have a girlfriend. Perhaps there were certain things couples preferred not to do in a medicinal cuisine restaurant at night. Going somewhere else was perfectly normal.

Su Xiaoran had originally thought Xu Yun and Sister Qingshuang would become a couple. She truly had not expected things to turn out this way.

Xu Yun sighed helplessly. “Tang Jiu, you could have waited until we reached Jibei City to say that. Do you really want everyone in Hedong City to know?”

Tang Jiu shrugged. “I don’t mind, as long as you don’t.”

Guoguo had just finished breakfast when she spotted the group outside. She put down her chopsticks and rushed out, throwing her arms around Tang Jiu.

“Sister Xiaojiu, my dad didn’t bully you last night, did he? If he did, tell me. I absolutely won’t forgive him. Hehe, I missed you so much after not seeing you for an entire night.”

“Is that so? Good little Guoguo, Sister Xiaojiu missed you too!” Tang Jiu replied. “Your father was very good to me, of course. If he hadn’t been good to me, how could I possibly let him become my future husband?”

Guoguo was shocked inside, but remained perfectly calm on the surface as she glanced at Xu Yun. Her dad was not the sort of person who would abandon love for profit. Surely he had not rejected Mother Ruan simply because Sister Xiaojiu was rich. He had probably incurred a debt of gratitude and repaid it with his body, earning the grand hotel for them in the process.

Apparently, it was not only mothers who were wonderful. Fathers could be pretty good too.

Fortunately, Tang Jiu was no longer an outsider to her. Guoguo could only sigh with relief that the bounty had not fallen into an outsider’s hands. That alone was something to celebrate.

Just then, Qiu Yan came out carrying Guoguo’s schoolbag.

“Sister Xiaojiu, we’re leaving now!” Guoguo said before running to Su Xiaoran’s side and taking her hand. “Teacher Su, you pick me up and take me home every day. I feel so bad about it. Why don’t we go to the mall at lunchtime today? If there are any clothes you like, I’ll buy them for you.”

Su Xiaoran smiled faintly. “Is that so? Then I’ll thank you in advance, Guoguo. But you don’t earn money yet. When you grow up and start making money, you can buy clothes for me, all right?”

Guoguo shook her head so hard it nearly rattled. “Teacher Su, I’ll be earning money in just a few days. Besides, if we wait until I grow up, you won’t be at this age of elegance anymore. Right now is when everything looks good on you!”

Su Xiaoran pressed her lips together to hide a smile. “You certainly know how to flatter people. Fine, I surrender. Hurry into the car, or we’ll be late.”

“Teacher Su, won’t you come in and eat something?” Xu Yun asked, feeling rather embarrassed. “You come here every day without even having breakfast. How can we not feel bad?”

“I prefer getting up early and making breakfast for myself.” Su Xiaoran smiled.

Xu Yun could not help sighing with admiration. “Teacher Su, you’re far too virtuous. Whoever marries you in the future will have accumulated blessings for eight lifetimes!”

“Darling, I can make breakfast too. I’ll make it for you in the future.” Tang Jiu smiled at Xu Yun.

Yet for some reason, Xu Yun felt that there was something strange about her smile. How should he describe it? Yes—there was a knife hidden behind it.

Qiu Yan glanced at Tang Jiu without saying a word, then stuffed Guoguo into Su Xiaoran’s car. “Teacher Su, sorry to trouble you again.”

As soon as Su Xiaoran drove away with Guoguo, Qin Wan’er came out of the building. She immediately cast a strange look at Xu Yun, whose face was glowing with satisfaction.

“Well, how much did you benefit last night to be grinning so brightly?”

“As much as you think I did.” Xu Yun refused to fall for her provocation. “What, are you jealous?”

“Jealous of you? In your dreams.” Qin Wan’er shot him a glare. “I don’t have time for you. Go play somewhere else.”

Tang Jiu smiled faintly and said amiably, “Wan’er, take care on your way. Be safe.”

“Thank you for your concern, Xiaojiu.” Qin Wan’er grinned. “See you this afternoon.”

“See you this afternoon.”

Xu Yun stood there for a long while, unable to understand how the two women had suddenly begun acting like old friends who had finally met after years apart. People called it mutual appreciation between kindred spirits. Could these two be appreciating one another’s chests instead? Guoguo had probably said no end of good things about Tang Jiu to Qin Wan’er.

Qin Wan’er soon left. Tang Jiu saw that Xu Yun still had not pushed open the door and directly exposed the thought he was trying to hide.

“Still haven’t figured out how to tell Sister Qingshuang about this?”

Xu Yun naturally refused to admit she had seen through him. He shook his head. “Nothing like that. Don’t go making accusations.”

“You’re denying it?” Tang Jiu smiled slightly. “Don’t think I can’t see through you. Forget Sister Qingshuang for the moment—what about Teacher Su? When she heard that I was your girlfriend, didn’t you notice the expression on her face? She didn’t change color or twitch, but women understand women. I could tell at a glance what she was thinking.”

“Are you finished?” Xu Yun was speechless. “Why are you so nosy? I agreed to help you, but you don’t have to take it this seriously. Don’t tell me you plan to investigate every woman I’ve ever had contact with?”

Tang Jiu stroked her chin and nodded thoughtfully. “That is an excellent suggestion. But I’m not so free that I can investigate them all. I only need to look into these few.”

Xu Yun stared at her. “Are you sick?”

“I was only joking. Why are you suddenly so serious?” Tang Jiu knitted her delicate brows and leaned toward him like a docile little bird. “Aren’t you afraid your girlfriend might get jealous?”

Xu Yun let out a long sigh. “Tang Jiu, why do I suddenly feel that you’re so deep I can’t see through you at all? I won’t end up being tricked into selling myself and then thanking you for the money, will I?”

Tang Jiu laughed. “If I were that capable, I wouldn’t have needed to ask for your help. All right, go say hello to Sister Qingshuang, then come with me to change the hotel’s legal ownership.”

Xu Yun shook his head. “I don’t have the time to manage a hotel. Let Sister Shuang remain its legal owner. Since you truly don’t intend to keep it, I won’t stand on ceremony. The hotel is best left in Sister Shuang’s hands. Your sworn younger sister Guoguo probably won’t object either.”

Tang Jiu pouted, then nodded. “Fine, we’ll do as you say. Hehe, you really don’t care about your girlfriend’s feelings.”

“Wasn’t it agreed that this was only an act? Ninth Miss of the Tang family, you haven’t gotten into character this quickly, have you?” Xu Yun laughed heartily. “Then I’ll be the one getting the bargain.”

“Of course not,” Tang Jiu replied with a faint smile.

Yet inwardly, she could not help asking herself:

Tang Jiu, do you truly believe this is nothing more than an act?

P.S. The Mid-Autumn Festival passed in the blink of an eye. Brothers who have to return to work or school, don’t sigh too much—Demon King of the Special Forces is still here to keep you company. After all, even it couldn’t take a break for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Ha ha!