‘I slept with you?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘Yes,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She knew she couldn’t turn back. ‘I’m your woman, you have to take responsibility.’
‘Responsibility?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. ‘You’re certain I slept with you?’
‘Yes,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She pointed at the dark red stain on the bed. ‘You were drunk last night.
‘Qiao Tan Yuan…’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
Gu Jiao Wu thought the situation was absurd. He had strong control over his urges. Why couldn’t he remember what happened? How much did he drink last night? Did he sleep with Qiao Tan Yuan and had no recollection?
‘OK, Qiao Tan Yuan, if you want to marry me, I’ll marry you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘Jiao Wu, you want to marry me?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t expect Gu Jiao Wu would agree to marry her so easily.
‘Yes, I’ll marry you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘Prepare yourself, in this lifetime I won’t sleep with you. If you can accept my decision then we’ll get married.’
‘Gu Jiao Wu…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t know what Gu Jiao Wu’s motives were.
During their three year marriage, Qiao Tan Yuan found out why Gu Jiao Wu married her. He used marriage to punish her. It was three years of hell, in the world, Gu Jiao Wu was the cruellest person. She lost herself during their marriage. No matter how she looked like, in front of Gu Jiao Wu, she didn’t exist.
At the start of their marriage, Qiao Tan Yuan put aside her career in the city and followed Gu Jian Wu to the small southern district. But after a month of living in a remote village, she returned to the city. She couldn’t stand being in a quiet place with no trendy places, makeup and clothes. After she returned to the city, they spent more time apart than together.
During their marriage, Gu Jiao Wu had many opportunities to stay in the city often, but he rarely returned to the city because he didn’t want to be in the same place as Qiao Tan Yuan. She realised no matter what she did or how much she loved him, he never loved her.
Four years later, Qiao Tan Yuan sat on the bed and looked out the window into the beautiful garden. She thought the heavens didn’t want her to be too arrogant. She was given a loving family and a comfortable lifestyle so the heavens didn’t want her to receive love from the man she loved.
Qiao Tan Yuan rubbed her stomach, and thought about the young woman who looked like Chu Da at the cafe. If Chu Da left four years ago, why did Chu Da return… to be with Gu Jiao Wu? If it was true then it proved she had no hope left, hers and Gu Jiao Wu’s life paths would never meet again. She berated herself, they were divorced. Who Gu Jiao Wu chose to spend his life with was none of her business.
At the cafe, Gu Jiao Wu sat coldly opposite Li Lam for twenty-five minutes.
‘Gu Jiao Wu, is sitting here with me hard to endure?’ Li Lam asked.
‘No,’ Gu Jiao Wu said politely.
If Wang Tu Ya and Mrs Li didn’t leave Gu Jiao Wu to wait at the cafe with Li Lam, he would have made an excuse to leave sooner.
‘Miss Li, I…’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
‘You have somewhere you need to be?’ Li Lam asked. ‘I don’t mind if you leave first.’
Gu Jiao Wu stood. The look in Li Lam’s eyes, showed him that she wasn’t a simple person.
Later, at the Gu Mansion, Tan Pan Ting and Gu Jiao Wen shared the good news with their family.
‘Really?’ Chen Ting Yu asked. She sat on the sofa in the living room, and looked at Tan Pan Ting’s stomach. ‘No wonder Pan Ting’s stomach is this big. She’s having twins.’
Tan Pan Ting felt awkward more than happy while sitting in front of everyone, including Gu Tian Chu.
‘Yes, Jiao Wen said it wasn’t good to have too many ultra sounds so I only made appointments for ultra sounds when necessary,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘We didn’t expect to have twins.’
‘This is good news,’ Chen Ting Yu said. She clapped her hands and looked at Gu Qi Jiang. ‘I wonder if Pan Ting will give birth to a boy and a girl like me that year.’
A boy and a girl? Tan Pan Ting didn’t think about the twins’ gender. She was happy to give birth to healthy twins, she didn’t care about the twins’ gender.
‘Mum, you shouldn’t have high expectations,’ Gu Jiao Wen said. ‘It’s rare to have twins, it’s rarer to have a boy and a girl. Don’t pressure Pan Ting.’
‘I said one thing and my son says I’m pressuring his wife,’ Chen Ting Yu said.
‘Jiao Wen,’ Tan Pan Ting said. ‘It’s OK, I hope it’s a boy and girl too.’
Tan Pan Ting didn’t want speculations about the twins’ gender to spoil the happy atmosphere.
‘Pan Ting, I didn’t say it to pressure you,’ Chen Ting Yu said. ‘I’m happy to hear you’re having twins.’
‘We should celebrate Pan Ting having twins,’ Gu Tian Chu said.
‘There’s no need for a celebration,’ Tan Pan Ting said.
Gu Jiao Wen patted Tan Pan Ting’s hand. ‘It’s OK, grandpa’s happy and wants to celebrate.’
Gu Jiao Wu entered the living room and Gu Qi Jiang called him to sit.
‘Jiao Wu, you’re home,’ Gu Qi Jiang said. ‘Won’t you taking your mum out? Why are you home by yourself?’
‘Mum is shopping with Mrs Li,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I’ve arranged a driver to drive mum home.’
Gu Qi Jiang nodded.
‘Jiao Wu, stay home tonight,’ Gu Tian Chu said. ‘Pan Ting is having twins. We’re having a celebratory dinner tonight. You should call Jiao Mai to come home too. It’s been a long time since our family had good news to celebrate.’
‘Twins?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. He looked at Tan Pan Ting’s stomach then he looked at Gu Jiao Wen. ‘Congratulations.’
‘Big brother, I’m going to be a father of twins,’ Gu Jiao Wen said. ‘It’s time for big brother to move faster.’
The atmosphere in the room turned awkward for a while.
‘Jiao Wu, you’ve been working in the southern district for a year,’ Gu Qi Jiang said. ‘Have you thought about moving back here?’
‘Is there an opportunity here?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Qi Jiang nodded. ‘Mr Chen recommended you to be the head of the Finance Department. Son, if you want to accept the position, I’ll approve the recommendation.’
‘Head of the Finance Department?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu was surprised to be offered the CFO position.
‘Yes, you’re ready to take on the position,’ Gu Qi Jiang said.
‘OK,’ Gu Jiao Wu accepted.
Gu Jiao Wu stood and left the living room. Gu Jiao Wen patted Tan Pan Ting’s hand and chased after Gu Jiao Wu.
Gu Jiao Wu stopped near his bedroom after he heard Gu Jiao Wen’s footsteps.
‘What is it?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘I have something I want to discuss with big brother,’ Gu Jiao Wen said.
Gu Jiao Wen didn’t want to discuss with Gu Jiao Wu Qiao about Tan Yuan’s pregnancy in front of the elders.
Gu Jiao Wu nodded and led Gu Jiao Wen to the study room.
‘Big brother, have you seen Qiao Tan Yuan since you returned?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked directly.
Gu Jiao Wu frowned at the mention of Qiao Tan Yuan’s name. ‘So what if I saw her?’
‘Big sister is pregnant,’ Gu Jiao Wen said.
‘I know,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘I saw her today.’
Gu Jiao Wen sighed in relief to see Gu Jiao Wu’s calmness.
‘Big brother, so you’re no the father of her baby?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked.
‘I’m not the father,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘How can I be the father of her baby?’
‘Really?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked. ‘That’s good. I thought she was pregnant with big brother’s baby before the divorce.’
‘We divorced a year ago,’ Gu Jiao Wu said. ‘What she does with her life is none of my business.’
‘Oh?’ Gu Jiao Wen asked. ‘Pan Ting is having twins. That’s why her stomach is this big at six months. Usually eight month pregnant women’s stomachs are this big.’
Gu Jiao Wu was stunned. He remembered how big Qiao Tan Yuan’s stomach was at the cafe. Qian Tan Yuan’s stomach was as big as Tan Pan Ting. Was Qiao Tan Yuan having twins like Tan Pan Ting too?’
End of Chapter Seven