The Reluctant Bride Book II Chapter 120

Cohabit.

‘Gu Jiao Wu, what do you want to do in here?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

‘You didn’t lock the door,’ Gu Jiao Wu said innocently.

‘You…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Gu Jiao Wu hugged Qiao Tan Yuan.

‘After my st.i.tches are cut I can go home,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Tan Yuan, you promised you’ll come home with me.’

‘Jiao Wu, I am coming home with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘There’s my good girl,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. He patted Qiao Tan Yuan’s cheek, and held her hand. ‘Let’s go.’

Qiao Tan Yuan nodded. The last six days she helped Gu Jiao Wu brush, wash, dress and go to the toilet. She wasn’t used to nursing someone back to heath, but by the time she got used to it, Gu Jiao Wu had recovered.

When Gu Jiao Wu and Qiao Tan Yuan walked out of the bathroom, the doctor and nurse knocked on the door. She opened the door for them, the doctor cut Gu Jiao Wu’s st.i.tches and advised Gu Jiao Wu to take it easy for a period to ensure the wound didn’t reopen.

Gu Jiao Wen, Du Lei Xin and Xiao Lam walked into the room after the doctor discharged Gu Jiao Wu and left. Gu Jiao Wen wanted to drive Gu Jiao Wu back to the Gu Mansion, but Qiao Tan Yuan wanted to drive Gu Jiao Wu back to the Qiao Mansion.

‘Tan Yuan, you promised to come home with me,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

‘I know,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘The doctor advised you to get rest, and not to do anything strenuous. At the Gu Mansion, Jiao Wen’s boys are noisy and aunty w.a.n.g doesn’t know about your injury. I want you to come home with me so I can take care of you, and it’s more peaceful at the Qiao Mansion.’

‘Big sister, do you know how to take care of big brother?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked. ‘You don’t even know how to cook.’

‘In the last seven days who else took care of Jiao Wu but me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

Gu Jiao Wu saw the way Qiao Tan Yuan gave Gu Jiao Wen a dagger, and he smiled. He sided with her, she didn’t need to know how to cook to take care of him. Besides, as long as they were together it didn’t matter what roof they were under.

‘Everyone can go home,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Thank you for your good intentions. But Tan Yuan’s right, it’s better if I stay at the Qiao Mansion with her to recover.’

Gu Jiao Wu missed Xiao Bao. He wanted to bond with Xiao Bao, and to inform Qiao Tan Yuan’s parents about their wedding plans. So he didn’t mind staying at the Qiao Mansion.

‘Big brother, what am I going to tell your mum?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked.

Gu Jiao Wen didn’t want to lie to w.a.n.g Tu Ya anymore.

‘Tell my mum, I miss my wife and daughter,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘If she doesn’t want to see her granddaughter again then I’ll come home.’

Gu Jiao Wu understood w.a.n.g Tu Ya was itching to have Xiao Bao return to the Gu Household.

Gu Jiao Wen and Du Lei Xin glanced at each other, they thought using Xiao Bao to blackmail w.a.n.g Tu Ya was the best way to let Gu Jiao Wu recover in peace at the Qiao Mansion.

Later at the Qiao Mansion, Mrs Qiao was happy to see Qiao Tan Yuan and Gu Jiao Wu.

‘Tan Yuan, you and Jiao Wu are back,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘I asked aunty to make pig trotters and vegetable soup for Jiao Wu. Jiao Wu, in the future I hope everything will go smoothly for you.’

Gu Jiao Wu nodded. He followed Mrs Qiao to the dining room, and Qiao Tan Yuan walked to the nursery to see Xiao Bao first.

In the dining room, Gu Jiao Wu ate a bowl of soup quickly because he wanted to go see Xiao Bao.

‘Jiao Wu, eat another bowl of soup,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘I want to discuss some things with you.’

Gu Jiao Wu reluctantly picked up the second bowl of soup.

‘Jiao Wu, I heard you were injured and stayed at the hospital,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘If Tan Yuan didn’t ask me to stay home and take care of Xiao Bao, I would have visited you at the hospital.’

‘Mum, I’m OK,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

Mrs Qiao was startled Gu Jiao Wu called her mum again.

‘I see you and Tan Yuan have patched things up,’ Mrs Qiao said.

‘Yes mum,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Tan Yuan and I have decided to get married soon. I wanted to finish our apartment renovations, and prepare a wedding straight away. But Tan Yuan wanted me to rest a little longer.’

‘It’s good news,’ Mrs Qiao said. ‘You can go see Xiao Bao. She’s grown a lot since the last time you saw her.’

‘Mum, I promise this time I’ll take good care of Tan Yuan and make her happy,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

‘I believe you,’ Mrs Qiao said.

Gu Jiao Wu walked upstairs. He hadn’t seen Xiao Bao for more than half a month. When he walked into the nursery, Qiao Tan Yuan was holding Xiao Bao upright and Xiao Bao’s small head was rubbing against Qiao Tan Yuan’s shoulder.

‘Xiao Bao, mummy missed you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She lifted Xiao Bao up a little, and she smiled. ‘Wow, Xiao Bao’s grown a little bigger. Come here, and let mummy give you a kiss.’

Qiao Tan Yuan kissed Xiao Bao’s cheeks. Xiao Bao laughed, and spoked baby talk.

‘Miss Qiao, Xiao Bao is saying mummy,’ Mrs Chu said. ‘When you won’t not home, I showed Xiao Bao a photo of you, and Xiao Bao would say mummy.’

Qiao Tan Yuan smiled. Xiao Bao was only a little older than seven months. She didn’t know any babies who knew how to talk that young.

‘Xiao Bao, my little treasure,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan kissed Xiao Bao’s stomach. Xiao Bao laughed, and Xiao Bao’s small hands played with her shirt.

Qiao Tan Yuan turned around, and saw Gu Jiao Wu standing at the door smiling at her and Xiao Bao. She carried Xiao Bao to Gu Jiao Wu and she smiled at Xiao Bao.

‘Xiao Bao, this is your daddy,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Since Qiao Tan Yuan reconciled with Gu Jiao Wu, she wanted Xiao Bao and Gu Jiao Wu’s father and daughter relationship to improve.

Gu Jiao Wu stared at Xiao Bao’s small face. He couldn’t believe how much Xiao Bao grew in the short period he didn’t see Xiao Bao. Qiao Tan Yuan pa.s.sed Xiao Bao to him, and Xiao Bao immediately cried in his arms.

‘Xiao Bao, don’t cry,’ Gu Jiao Wu said and gently patted Xiao Bao’s back.

Qiao Tan Yuan was worried Xiao Bao would accidently hit Gu Jiao Wu’s chest so she had no choice but to take Xiao Bao back in her arms. Xiao Bao stopped crying the moment she held Xiao Bao.

‘Xiao Bao, why did you cry?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked and patted Xiao Bao’s back.

Gu Jiao Wu stretched out his arms toward Xiao Bao.

‘Xiao Bao, let daddy hold you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

Xiao Bao pouted her lips, and turned her head away from Gu Jiao Wu.

End of Chapter 120