Ch 322: if Line （4）

Gu Qingyin’s smile remained unchanged, but her eyes turned cold.

Here we go again, Huo Yunjing’s Plum Green Tea.

She followed Huo Yunjing’s gaze and turned her head to see Qi Anhui holding her brother Qi Anxu’s arm, standing in front of them with a bright smile.

Qi Anxu nodded with a smile, “Brother Jing.”

Huo Yunjing nodded in acknowledgement and brought up business, “I’ve looked at the Europe project. Although the return rate isn’t very high, the risk is relatively small, so we can get involved.”

Qi Anxu’s eyes lit up slightly, “Tomorrow, I’ll bring the project team to your company to discuss it in detail.”

Huo Yunjing hummed in agreement and said softly, “I’ll take your sister-in-law to get something to eat first. Enjoy yourselves.”

He didn’t even glance at Qi Anhui the entire time.

Qi Anhui’s eyes immediately welled up with grievance, but she didn’t speak to Huo Yunjing again. Instead, she looked at Gu Qingyin, “Sister-in-law, there’s really nothing between Yunjing and me. We’re just childhood friends who grew up together. Can’t you even tolerate his sister?”

In the past, Gu Qingyin might have exploded, but now she just smiled calmly, “How could that be? Who doesn’t have a childhood friend or two? My bamboo horse on the mountain is very good to me too.” She smiled at Huo Yunjing, “I understand.”

Qi Anhui was stunned. How was this reaction different from what she had expected? Did Gu Qingyin take the wrong medicine?

Huo Yunjing frowned, “What bamboo horse? I’ve never heard you mention it before?”

Gu Qingyin blinked, “He’s cultivating on the mountain. He can’t come down until he finishes his training.” Although she only saw Liu Ergou once a year, they had known each other since childhood, so how could that not count as childhood sweethearts?

“Heh.” Huo Yunjing laughed mockingly, “His talent isn’t very good.”

Gu Qingyin glared at him, “What’s it to you? You don’t have any talent at all.”

Huo Yunjing choked, and after two seconds, he said, “If I had started learning from a young age, I would definitely be better than him!”

Gu Qingyin sized him up and didn’t speak, but it was clear that she didn’t believe him.

The Qi siblings were both stunned. When had they ever seen Huo Yunjing so childish and down-to-earth? It was unbelievable! Especially Qi Anhui, after her shock, a strong sense of unwillingness rose in her heart. Why? She was the one who grew up with Huo Yunjing!

“Brother Yunjing.” Qi Anhui tried again, “Since sister-in-law doesn’t mind, then there’s no need for you to keep your distance from me. Can’t we get along like we used to?”

Huo Yunjing finally shifted his gaze and landed on her, asking with interest, “Like we used to? Then tell me, how did we used to get along?”

Qi Anhui looked shy, “When we were in school, you would bring me breakfast, help me ward off unwanted attention, and prepare gifts for me during festivals. You would even throw birthday parties for me on my birthday, and you would often send me gifts after I started working. You would even go to great lengths to bring me things from abroad… Brother Yunjing, you were really good to me.”

Qi Anxu’s brow twitched. Was Brother Jing so attentive to his sister? He felt like something wasn’t quite right.

Gu Qingyin looked at Huo Yunjing with a blank expression, and the other presidents also looked over.

Huo Yunjing unconsciously stood up straight and sneered, “The breakfast was sent by someone else. It was thrown on my desk and I couldn’t find anyone to return it to. I originally wanted to throw it away, but I had no reason to stop you if you wanted to eat it. Your brother dragged me to throw the birthday party, as for the gifts… Giving gifts during festivals is basic etiquette. You weren’t the only one who received gifts. My assistant brought you things from abroad, and I only didn’t refuse because of your brother’s face.”

After a pause, he said, “If there’s anything else that made you misunderstand or overthink, please clarify it all at once. I don’t want my wife to have any unnecessary misunderstandings about me.”

Gu Qingyin was thrilled, and the corners of her lips couldn’t be pressed down.

Qi Anxu sighed inwardly. He knew that after so many years, he could tell whether Brother Jing had any feelings for Anhui or not. It was just that Brother Jing had never been interested in women before, so he hadn’t stopped Anhui from pursuing her love. Now that Brother Jing was clearly serious about Gu Qingyin, it was time for Anhui to let go.

Qi Anhui’s face turned pale, and she shook her head with tears in her eyes, “That’s impossible, you can’t not like me at all… You even tutored me in physics before! Every day! For a whole semester!”

Huo Yunjing clicked his tongue, “That was to return your brother’s favor. I was too embarrassed to say it at the time, but your brain really isn’t suited for science. Switching to liberal arts would be much easier. Of course, that’s your own choice. Maybe you wanted to challenge your limits?”

Qi Anxu rubbed his forehead. At the time, he wanted to create opportunities for Anhui, but he didn’t expect that they wouldn’t spark any flames after being together for so long.

“I studied science for you!” Qi Anhui was about to break down, and tears streamed down her face.

Huo Yunjing had no expression of sympathy and coldly commented, “That choice was stupid. No one is worth you changing your life for.” He looked serious, “To say one last thing, before I met my wife, I had never been moved by anyone, nor had I dated anyone.”

“Huo Yunjing!” Qi Anhui shouted, “You’re too much!” After shouting, she ran away crying.

Qi Anxu was worried about his sister and said with a wry smile, “Brother Jing, I’ll go check on her… Sorry for causing you trouble.”

“Mm.” Huo Yunjing was very satisfied with his performance and nodded, “Remember to remind her not to be so clever and to put away those little thoughts.”

Qi Anxu nodded, turned around, and left.

Huo Yunjing turned his head to look at the presidents, his expression cold, “Are you all enjoying the show?”

Those words made the presidents break out in cold sweats. Was Huo Yunjing’s show that good to watch? The men quickly said that they wouldn’t spread the word, hurriedly apologized, and turned around to leave.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, our President Huo is so fierce.” Gu Qingyin teased with a smile.

Huo Yunjing snorted softly, “That’s only for other people. These people are all very snobbish, and they’re used to taking an inch and wanting a mile and love to fill in the blanks.” After a pause, he said, “I really didn’t know Qi Anhui had filled in so many blanks. I don’t know how her brain is wired; she’s inexplicably confident.”

Gu Qingyin proudly raised her chin, “I’ll believe you for now. If there’s a next time, I’ll go back to the mountain to find my bamboo horse.”

Huo Yunjing clicked his tongue unhappily, “Unless he finishes his training and comes down the mountain, I will never let you have the chance to go back to the mountain again.”

Gu Qingyin raised her eyebrows, “If I want to leave, can you stop me?”

Huo Yunjing’s face darkened.

Gu Qingyin was triumphant and smiled with raised eyebrows, “It depends on your performance.”

That night, Huo Yunjing kept circling around Gu Qingyin. Even when he was talking to people, he seemed absent-minded, and his eyes would often fall on Gu Qingyin. Before the banquet was over, the news of Huo Yunjing’s love for his wife had spread throughout the circle.

Gu Qingyin felt uncomfortable being stared at and would occasionally turn her head to glare at him.

Huo Yunjing didn’t mind and even smiled at her.

Those who saw it only felt like they had been force-fed a basin of dog food, and it tasted sickeningly sweet.

（End of Chapter）