Chapter 22: Lively, I met him and his white moonlight again

After Gu Quanzhe fell asleep, Lin Moran looked at the clock on the wall.

It was twelve o’clock. Gu Jingyao usually appeared at her door around eleven.

It was so late, and he hadn’t come, meaning he wasn’t coming.

His promises were unreliable. Last time, he said he’d spend time with Gu Quanzhe, but he went to see Xu Jingya instead.

This morning, he said he’d come back tonight, probably just saying it casually.

Xu Jingya might have called him away.

As she was about to fall asleep, a knock came at the door.

Lin Moran’s heart leaped.

What she thought would happen, happened.

She thought Gu Jingyao wouldn’t come back, but he returned so quickly.

But she definitely wouldn’t open the door for him.

This was her rented house; he could come and go as he pleased.

What did he think this place was?

A “click,” Lin Moran heard the lock being opened.

“Click,” the door opened.

Lin Moran sat up from the bed, “You…”

Gu Jingyao picked up the key, “I didn’t pick the lock.”

“Where did you get the key?”

Lin Moran asked warily. She hadn’t given him a key.

“The spare key from home.”

Gu Jingyao answered, putting down his backpack.

“How did you know where the spare key was kept? When did you get it?”

Gu Jingyao looked at Lin Moran, who was slightly agitated on the bed. Her hair was slightly disheveled, her fair face puffed up, like a cute little kitten.

“Shh… don’t wake the child.”

Gu Jingyao smiled slightly, putting his finger to his lips, reminding Lin Moran.

He wouldn’t tell her that he had found the spare key the first time he and Wu Kairui entered the house to search for treasures.

Lin Moran had the habit of putting the spare key on the window, and it hadn’t changed over the years.

Lin Moran frowned coldly, and his reminder made her wonder if she or he was disturbing the child.

“It’s late; get some rest.”

Gu Jingyao continued to remind her.

For a moment, Lin Moran felt like a guest in her own home.

Gu Jingyao spoke while quickly spreading out a blanket on the floor. His movements were very skilled; his arms were strong as he spread the blanket, smoothing it out. After putting his backpack aside, he calmly lay down.

His actions were smooth and efficient; from spreading the blanket to lying down, it took only a few seconds.

Lin Moran’s eyes were full of incomprehension. She stared at him, full of doubts.

He came to her house just to sleep on the floor?

Didn’t he have anywhere else to sleep?

Couldn’t he sleep at Xu Jingya’s?

That’s right, they weren’t married yet. If they lived together now, people would gossip about Xu Jingya.

Gu Jingyao loved Xu Jingya so much; how could he let her endure the criticism?

Truly loving someone meant considering everything for them.

Since he was so self-restrained and kept a distance from her, Lin Moran decided to let it be for now.

Whether or not he had feelings for her, as long as he returned home, she was safe.

When she first moved in, those lecherous men always tried to bully her, a “widow” and martyr’s family member. The courtyard was uneasy for a while. Now, she could finally sleep peacefully.

The next morning, when Lin Moran woke up, Gu Jingyao’s sleeping area was clean. Except for his backpack on the table, the house was tidy as if he hadn’t been there.

After several days, Lin Moran discovered something. Gu Jingyao probably didn’t have other intentions; he just wanted a place to sleep.

After Gu’s third and fourth sons married, she was driven out, and the room left for the second son had been given away by Zhao Sumei. The Gu family had no place for him to stay. He couldn’t stay at Xu Jingya’s, risking her reputation. The only place he could stay was here.

Old Wang’s jade carving was nearing completion. The cabbage was already formed, its white leaves lifelike. The green part of the jade was arranged at the root by Old Wang, adding vitality to the cabbage.

“Old Wang, your craftsmanship is superb.”

Lin Moran praised him without reservation.

“In all of Beijing, we’re not necessarily number one or two, but we’re definitely ranked.”

Old Wang smiled, lowering his head. “This jade just needs the two insects on top. Have you found a buyer for this cabbage?”

“No. But there are plenty of buyers. The international art exhibition is in a few days; many people will come to buy goods. It will find its destined owner.”

“What price are you planning to ask?”

“Two hundred to start. If someone likes it, we can negotiate down to one hundred and fifty. The lowest is one hundred and thirty. You decide.”

“This is easy for Old Wang.”

“Trust Old Wang; Old Wang is a good salesman.” Old Wang said confidently.

“Thank you, Old Wang. I’ll take the peace knots made from the leftover material.”

“Okay.”

As soon as Lin Moran left, Xu Jingya immediately entered Old Wang’s jade carving shop.

“Boss, how much is this jade cabbage?”

Xu Jingya’s eyes fell on the jade cabbage, her gaze appraising.

“Two hundred.” Old Wang continued carving, answering without looking up.

“Are these grasshoppers?” Xu Jingya looked for a while before recognizing the small insects on the jade cabbage.

Old Wang looked up, “Good eye, miss.”

Xu Jingya laughed. Lin Moran bought a cheap piece of Qinghai jade, carved a cabbage with a grasshopper eating it, and wanted two hundred. Was she crazy for money?

“I’ll look at others.”

After a brief look around, Xu Jingya left.

Leaving the jade carving shop, she went to check out the free stalls allocated by the government to individuals.  It was Kyoto’s first such exchange, and every aspect was experimental.

The organizers’ requirement for collectors was simply to come, so the free stalls weren’t assigned to individuals; whoever arrived early got one.

She had to scout the location in advance.

Wealth belongs to those who awaken early; she was the first to awaken.

“Jingyao, what a coincidence. I met you here.”

Before Xu Jingya reached the free stall area, she saw Gu Jingyao walking on Liuli Street.

Gu Jingyao nodded slightly in greeting.

“Jingyao, have you been busy lately? My foot injury makes it hard to walk, and you’re so heartless; you haven’t come to see me once.”

Mentioning this, Xu Jingya’s eyes immediately welled up.

Gu Jingyao was really heartless. After sending her home that night, he never visited her again, knowing she was injured and had difficulty walking and living, without offering any help.

“Jingya, I’ve been busy with work lately.”

Gu Jingyao replied.

“How busy? Is anything busier than seeing me?”

“These days, I’ve been looking forward to seeing you.”

Xu Jingya complained coquettishly, “But you’ve been so busy since you came back.”

Xu Jingya’s coquettish demeanor made Wu Kairui roll his eyes.

Who is this woman?

How shameless could she be?

His leader was a married man; what was she looking forward to?

And his leader seemed conflicted.

What made Wu Kairui’s scalp tingle even more was that when he turned his head, he saw Lin Moran walking out of a shop nearby.

Oh no!

His leader had been outside for almost a week before his sister-in-law let him in. If his sister-in-law heard this, wouldn’t he be kicked out again?

If he was kicked out again, that would be truly disastrous.

Autumn was approaching; sleeping outside would make him freeze.

“Miss, you should ask your partner to take care of you. Our leader is really busy, busy with work during the day, and he has to spend time with his wife and child at night.”

“Sister-in-law, where are you going?”

After responding to Xu Jingya expressionlessly, Wu Kairui immediately greeted the approaching Lin Moran with a smile.

Lin Moran frowned slightly. When she approached, she thought the person in the distance was Gu Jingyao, but there was Xu Jingya with him.

She should have checked the calendar before coming out.