Chapter 20 – 020

The staff, hurriedly arriving to replace the food, caused quite a commotion. Gu Leyu, with the air of a host, scolded angrily, “What nonsense are you pulling? The banquet isn’t over yet, and you’re already clearing the items? Is this how you do your job? Where’s your supervisor?”

“It… it’s the eldest young master who instructed us to replace them…”

“Gu Xian!?” Gu Leyu immediately glared, “Gu Xian, are you out of your mind? Why are you making them replace things for no reason!”

“I didn’t like it, so I told them to replace it,” Gu Xian said with a face that practically screamed, Yes, it was me. He waved his hand and instructed the staff, “Go ahead and keep replacing it. Ignore him. I’ll take responsibility for everything.”

The people working in such settings were adept at reading people and situations. They knew that the Gu family was their employer tonight, but they also saw clearly that Xie Yunjing was the one being treated like royalty. At this moment, this royalty was draped over the Gu family’s eldest young master in an intimate display. Naturally, they chose to follow Gu Xian’s orders.

The whispers around them were filled with either discontent or mockery, all concluding that the Gu family’s banquet lacked proper decorum.

Gu Leyu felt humiliated and couldn’t stand Gu Xian’s smugness at this moment. “Gu Xian! Are you a three-year-old? What do you mean by ‘you didn’t like it, so you had it replaced’? Who do you think you are? Look at the trouble you’ve caused for the guests! Can’t you show a bit of manners?”

Gu Xian glanced at him with indifference and then casually placed a hand on Xie Yunjing’s shoulder. “Third Young Master Xie, have I caused you any trouble?”

The first thing the staff removed was the mango cocktail, identical to the one in Gu Xian’s hand.

Xie Yunjing deliberately spoke loud enough for Gu Leyu to hear, “I didn’t quite like the original items on the table.”

What had seemed like a capricious act was now framed as being considerate of Xie Yunjing. Even Gu Rongcai couldn’t find grounds to reprimand Gu Xian.

Xie Yunjing ignored Gu Leyu’s dark expression, raising a hand to lightly rest it on Gu Xian’s waist. In a low voice, he said, “So concerned about me?”

Gu Xian uncomfortably shifted his waist, only to find there was nowhere to retreat. He responded bluntly, “Stop dreaming! This is my family’s banquet, after all. I’d rather not have a death on my hands.”

“Don’t you always wish I’d just drop dead?”

Gu Xian snorted coldly. “If you’re going to die, it’ll be by my hands. Dying from an accidental allergy? I’d be embarrassed for you.”

Gu Xian, unable to tolerate Xie Yunjing’s suggestive posture, snapped, “What did Gu Leyu do to disgust you so much that you’re taking it out on me?”

Xie Yunjing sighed theatrically. “Your dear little brother tried to set me up with someone.”

Gu Xian immediately looked amused, clearly relishing the situation. “I think he’s interested in you himself. Watch out, or one day he might crawl into your bed.”

In retaliation, Xie Yunjing tightened the arm around Gu Xian’s waist. “We’re already sharing the same bed.”

Gu Xian clicked his tongue and pushed against Xie Yunjing’s chest. “Enough already. You keep pulling the same tricks. If you get any closer, I’m going to throw up on you.”

“Same tricks?” Xie Yunjing glanced at the hand pushing against his chest. “Then why do you care so much? Or are you suggesting you have a better idea?”

Gu Xian tugged at his tie and raised his eyebrow. “Who said I cared? With your drawn-out, annoying tactics, who wouldn’t be fed up? If you really want to disgust Gu Leyu, why not have the guts to kiss me?”

“…” Xie Yunjing remained silent for a moment, meeting Gu Xian’s smug gaze.

“You don’t actually think I wouldn’t dare, do you?”

Gu Xian: “…”

It was only then that Gu Xian remembered how he and Xie Yunjing had ended up married in the first place. It all stemmed from this bastard suddenly planting a kiss on his lips, leaving behind undeniable “proof” of their supposed romance that they couldn’t shake off.

But the words had already left his mouth. Backing down now would be far too embarrassing.

“Heh.” Gu Xian lifted his chin defiantly. “Go ahead, then.”

Of course, Xie Yunjing had no intention of actually going through with it, but he wasn’t about to lose face either.

When Gu Xian saw that Xie Yunjing was just staring at him in silence, he regained his confidence. “Tch, all talk. I knew you wouldn’t—”

Xie Yunjing’s gaze lingering on his lips sent a sudden chill down Gu Xian’s spine.

This bastard wouldn’t actually kiss him, would he?!

Gu Xian’s scalp tingled as his grip on Xie Yunjing’s tie faltered slightly.

The pounding rhythm of his heartbeat, growing stronger with each beat, transmitted through the tie into his hand, drowning out every other sound around him.

Xie Yunjing’s gaze lingered on his lips for an increasingly unbearable amount of time. After yet another long stare, Xie Yunjing suddenly lowered his head, and Gu Xian felt his scalp tingle as if it were about to explode.

“You!…”

But Xie Yunjing only leaned down by the smallest margin. Raising a hand, he casually reached for Gu Xian’s open collar. With deliberate slowness, he buttoned it up with one hand, his voice calm and unreadable as he said, “So unruly.”

“You’re insane!” Gu Xian wasted no time escaping the terrifying atmosphere from moments ago. He flung off Xie Yunjing’s tie and tried to stop him from using it to strangle him again. “I was about to choke to death while eating!”

“Who actually treats this kind of event as a meal-“

“Have you no shame!”

A sudden angry shout interrupted the words Xie Yunjing had yet to finish.

Everyone snapped back to their senses and looked over in delight at the elderly man striding toward Gu Xian and Xie Yunjing.

“Grandpa Xie!” Gu Leyu, conveniently positioned in Old Master Xie’s path, eagerly stepped forward to greet him.

Old Master Xie didn’t even spare Gu Leyu a glance. He walked straight past him and stopped in front of Gu Xian and Xie Yunjing.

“In public, hugging and clinging to each other! What kind of decorum is this?”

The old man was at least considerate enough not to strike the two of them with his cane.

Seeing the two of them standing there, somewhat dazed, Old Master Xie’s anger flared even more. “What are you staring at? Is this the place for your flirting?”

Xie Yunjing finally broke off his suggestive posture, while Gu Xian awkwardly tried to explain, “Grandpa Xie, we weren’t—”

“What’s with your clothes?” 

“Huh?” Gu Xian was still clueless when Xie Yunjing, quick to react, stepped in front of him. With practiced ease, he buttoned the collar that had just been left undone and tightened the tie that hadn’t been properly adjusted.

The look on Xie Yunjing’s face practically screamed, See? I told you this would happen. Gu Xian could only awkwardly suppress his rebellious impulses.

“Grandpa Xie, why are you only arriving now?” 

“Why am I only arriving now?” Old Master Xie looked like he was about to laugh from sheer anger. “Which two little brats snuck in here without a word and didn’t even think to let me know?”

Gu Xian’s voice weakened. “Grandpa Xie, you didn’t say you wanted to come with us…”

If Old Master Xie had actually planned to come with them, Uncle Kang would’ve surely notified them, wouldn’t he?

“Hmph! I shouldn’t have come at all!” Old Master Xie huffed, throwing out this angry remark. With a dramatic wave of his hand, he actually turned around and started walking out.

“Uncle Xie! Uncle Xie!” Gu Rongcai quickly rushed after him, trying to persuade him to stay. “You’re already here, so at least have a drink! I’ve got a bottle of ’92 red wine, it wasn’t easy to get my hands on it…”

Old Master Xie, however, showed no interest and cut him off bluntly. “Don’t bother me with such trivial nonsense!”

Gu Rongcai chased Old Master Xie all the way to his car door but still couldn’t persuade him to stay. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he returned, clearly wanting to vent his frustration on Gu Xian but forcibly held it in.

“Don’t bother me with such trivial nonsense.” If Old Master Xie found the banquet so dull, why had he bothered coming in the first place?

Although the old man had harshly scolded both Gu Xian and Xie Yunjing, his aloof attitude toward everyone else made it obvious. Anyone with half a brain could tell he had come specifically for the two of them, or more precisely, for Gu Xian.

Author’s Note:

Who’s the one feeling their heart flutter~