White.
Qiao Tan Yuan saw Gu Jiao Wu holding a white fabric that matched Chu Da’s mini dress, and she forced herself to smile. She made the right decision. Since she told Gu Jiao Wu she would give Xiao Bao to him, he didn’t look for her.
Qiao Jie glared at Gu Jiao Wu when he realised what Gu Jiao Wu was holding.
‘Big sister, let’s go,’ Qiao Jie said.
‘Um,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
Qiao Tan Yuan walked away from Gu Jiao Wu without looking back so she didn’t see him frown.
‘I’ll walk you to the dance floor,’ Gu Jiao Wu said coldly to Li Lam.
‘Thank you,’ Li Lam said.
Li Lam didn’t know what relationship Gu Jiao Wu had with the beautiful woman. But she was happy she wore a white dress, which complemented Gu Jiao Wu’s black suit.
On the way to the dance floor, Qiao Tan Yuan took off her coat and an usher hung her coat with the other guests’ coats and jackets.
Tong Shang Wen and his girlfriend were chatting with clients when they saw Qiao Tan Yuan and Qiao Jie walked toward them.
‘Welcome,’ Tong Shang Wen said. His eyes swept over Qiao Tan Yuan’s dress, and he was impressed. ‘Tan Yuan, tonight you look beautiful.’
‘Thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She gave Tong Shang Wen a birthday gift. ‘White suits you. Happy birthday. I hope you don’t throw away my small gift.’
‘Who would dare?’ Tong Shang Wen asked. ‘Even if you give me grass, I’ll still be happy.’
‘How can I give you grass on your thirtieth?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. She smiled at Tong Shang Wen’s girlfriend. ‘Uncle and aunty must be happy their son is ready to settle down.’
Tong Shang Wen looked around, and was relieved Mr and Mrs Tong weren’t within hearing distance.
‘Don’t say nonsense,’ Tong Shang Wen said. ‘People may misunderstand.’
‘Big sister, I’ll go greet some guests,’ Qiao Jie said.
Qiao Tan Yuan nodded and Qiao Jie ran off.
‘Shang Wen, I’m going to find a seat to take a rest,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I was serving my little princess until she fell asleep before coming here.’
‘Um, I’ll come find you when the entertainment starts,’ Tong Shang Wen said.
Qiao Tan Yuan picked up a glass of juice from a waiter’s tray, and sat on seat. She saw Gu Jiao Wu escort Chu Da toward the dance floor, and her mood dampened. She was grateful she didn’t believe Gu Jiao Wu’s lies. Seeing Gu Jiao Wu with Chu Da confirmed he acted like he cared about her to get Xiao Bao. Even if she was going to die, she wouldn’t give him Xiao Bao.
‘Why don’t you go up to him and slap him?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan looked up. Quan Zheng Hao wore a white suit with a black bow tie. He looked at her dress and smiled at her.
‘Mind you own business,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.
‘I am minding my business,’ Quan Zheng Hao said. ‘I was invited here.’
Qiao Tan Yuan hadn’t seen Quan Zheng Hao for several days. He recovered his handsome face.
‘Miss Beautiful, will you dance to this song with me?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan wasn’t in the mood to dance, and she didn’t want to dance with Quan Zheng Hao either.
‘She’s not going to dance with you,’ Gu Jiao Wu interrupted.
Quan Zheng Hao looked at Li Lam standing next to Gu Jiao Wu, and thought it would provoke Qiao Tan Yuan to dance with him.
‘I didn’t ask you to dance,’ Quan Zheng Hao said to Gu Jiao Wu. ‘Besides, how do you know she doesn’t want to dance with me?’
‘I believe she’s not interested in dancing with you,’ Gu Jiao Wu said while looking at Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘Really?’ Quan Zheng Hao asked. ‘You know her that well?’
‘Who said I don’t want to?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Of course I want to dance with him.’
Qiao Tan Yuan stood, and linked arms with Quan Zheng Hao.
Qiao Tan Yuan walked past Gu Jiao Wu. Who did he think he was? He brought Chu Da to the party, and wanted to interfere in her business too.
‘Let’s dance,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said and smiled at Quan Zheng Hao.
‘My pleasure,’ Quan Zheng Hao said.
Quan Zheng Hao smiled smugly at Gu Jiao Wu, and went to dance with Qiao Tan Yuan.
‘If you don’t mind, will you be my dance partner for this song?’ Li Lam asked.
Gu Jiao Wu wanted to decline, but he saw the way Quan Zheng Hao was dancing closely with Qiao Tan Yuan and he accepted.
Although Gu Jiao Wu danced with Li Lam, his eyes focused on Qiao Tan Yuan. He admitted the white dress did suit Li Lam, but in his eyes Qiao Tan Yuan looked beautiful in the tight fitting red dress. If Li Lam was a white lily then Qiao Tan Yuan was a beautiful red rose.
Gu Jiao Wu watched Quan Zheng Hao danced in rhythm with Qiao Tan Yuan, and he didn’t know why the discomfort in his heart bubbled again. He purposely led Li Lam closer to Qiao Tan Yuan, and waited for Quan Zheng Hao to twirl Qiao Tan Yuan. When Quan Zheng Hao twirled Qiao Tan Yuan, he twirled Li Lam, and switched dancing partners. The discomfort in his heart eased when he held Qiao Tan Yuan in his arms.
‘Did you give our daughter to me because you want to be with the little white rabbit?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
‘It has nothing to do with you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said coldly. ‘You have the right to bring Chu Da here. Why wouldn’t I have the right to dance with who I want to?’
‘Chu Da?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked. He glanced at Li Lam. ‘Qiao Tan Yuan, she’s not Chu Da.’
‘Gu Jiao Wu!’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She wasn’t blind, she saw Chu Da’s face clearly. ‘Don’t you think you’re being selfish and egotistical? I don’t interfere in your relationship with another woman. You should return the favor, and not interfere in my relationship with another man.’
‘Qiao Tan Yuan!’ Gu Jiao Wu said.
The discomfort in Gu Jiao Wu’s heart returned, and he tightened his hold on Qiao Tan Yuan’s back.
‘Do you think I would let you be with another man?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Gu Jiao Wu didn’t want Qiao Tan Yuan to dream of another man either.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want to waste her breath with Gu Jiao Wu. She pushed his chest away from her.
‘Are you in a rush to go back to the little white rabbit?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.
Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t want to explain anything to the unreasonable Gu Jiao Wu.
‘Whether I want to go back to the little white rabbit or not is my business,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘Gu Jiao Wu, have you forgotten? I’m not your dance partner for this song. Your dance partner is over there.’
End of Chapter Eighty