223 I Just Fancy You 7 (1/2)
”Skin and bones? Is it really that bad? I only weigh 40-odd kilograms, it's not that light. I plan to go up to 60 kilograms though,” An Xiaoning said with a wry smile.
”You'll look good if you're chubbier. Tell me honestly, what commendable feat have you achieved recently other than completing the exercise boot camp?” Gu Beicheng asked, reaching out to hold her hand.
”Seems like you know I've done something commendable.”
She retracted her hand from his and mocked teasingly, ”Would it hurt to not take advantage of me?”
”I haven't seen you in so long. What's wrong with holding your paw for a little? Petty miser.” He refused to give up and held her hand once again.
Gazing at him, An Xiaoning burst into laughter and allowed him to continue holding her hand. ”Where did you come from? Don't tell me you especially came all the way here just to see me?”
”What do you think?”
”How would I know? By the way, I just saw on the news that Chi Rui'er had delivered prematurely.”
”Yeah, I heard she claimed to have tripped and fallen at home,” Gu Beicheng said nonchalantly. ”Why did Jin Qingyan move in beside you?” he added.
”You've found out about that too?”
”It's all over the news! Is he really that bored and free to be buying and moving into a new property so casually?” Gu Beicheng grumbled in disgruntlement.
”Just ignore him. You too can buy property if you wanted.”
With a squint, he asked, ”I forgot to ask you earlier, why have you gotten yourself involved with Xi Bolai?”
”I didn't wish to either. I'm innocent. He was the one who came looking for trouble. If it weren't for my quick-wittedness, I reckon you wouldn't be seeing me here today,” said An Xiaoning, feeling rather aggrieved.
”Wow wow wow, look at you being all poor and pitiful. Weren't you just having a great ton of fun at the holiday resort with Jin Qingyan?” he teased.
However, he sounded rather bitter and jealous.
”I didn't go out of my own accord, he forced me to,” An Xiaoning explained.
”Do you dare say that you weren't in the least bit willing?”
”I wasn't! Besides, why aren't you mentioning the time you forced me to go parachuting with you? The pot calling the kettle black,” An Xiaoning retorted.
Gu Beicheng chuckled, thinking that An Xiaoning must have borne a strong resentment against Jin Qingyan, judging from her tone.
”We haven't seen each other in so long. What do you say we go out for a meal?” he suggested.
”I haven't been feeling too well the past couple of days. Why don't we go have a meal on my birthday instead? It's on the 15th of July.”
Noticing that she indeed looked a little sickly, he answered, ”How can we spend your birthday by having just a simple meal? Why don't you let me plan your schedule on your birthday?”
”Sure,” she agreed with a nod.
——
At this very moment, a tall and slender figure standing by the roof of the house next door was staring at them intently with a pair of binoculars. It was none other than Jin Qingyan. Why hasn't Gu Beicheng left yet even though it had already been more than ten minutes? he wondered.
He continued to watch them for a few more minutes, only to find that Gu Beicheng had still yet to leave.
”Young Sir, Old Madam has called to ask you to return to the old mansion for dinner,” said Jin Qingyan's servant.
”Tell my Grandmother I'm busy.”
”This is the third time you've turned her down this week. Old Madam has already mentioned beforehand that she would keep waiting for you to come home if you refuse to show up again this evening.”
Placing his binoculars down, Jin Qingyan grumbled, ”Grandma is really becoming more and more obstinate with age.”
He headed downstairs to pick up his car keys on the table and proceeded to drive away.
Coincidentally, he bumped into Gu Beicheng, who had just exited from An Xiaoning's house, at that very moment.
Jin Qingyan did not stop his car, however, and instead just drove past Gu Beicheng.