scheming
To make the lovey-dovey scene real, it had to start from the moment they stepped into the restaurant. Jiang Yufan and Gu Sidu walked ahead, with Dao Yun carrying a sword and protecting them from behind. They looked imposing, and no one dared to provoke them, watching them go to the private room.
As Jiang Yufan went upstairs, she noticed a dark figure flash past in the next private room. It had been waiting there for a while, but then fell silent. It must have realized someone was coming and deliberately held its breath, pretending no one was there.
At this moment, the servant waiting at the door interrupted Jiang Yufan's thoughts: "Master Gu, Madam, I am a servant of the Shen family. Our young lady is already waiting for you inside."
"Thank you for your trouble." Gu Sidu nodded slightly. He opened the door first to let his wife into the house before he came in himself. Daoyun was responsible for guarding the door so that he could distinguish and listen to the other locations and movements.
As soon as Jiang Yufan entered the room, she smelled a sweet fragrance. From behind the screen, melodious music was playing, as if it was waiting for the moment the door was opened so that people could hear the beautiful music and be impressed.
Sure enough, a young maidservant emerged from behind the screen. She was about to cheerfully call out to Lord Gu, but she froze when she saw Jiang Yufan.
Lord Gu changed his address to Madam Gu, and with some questions in mind, everything became clear when Gu Sidu arrived right after.
The fairy in front of me is Lord Gu's wife. Lord Gu actually has a wife. What should I do, Miss?
"Feixue, why haven't you called anyone yet?" Shen Qianqiu emerged from behind the screen, her voice melodious and pleasant. According to her plan, she should be making a dreamlike entrance, just like in the stories. She was a well-educated young lady from a prestigious family, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; Gu Sidu should have fallen in love with her at first sight.
We'll wait until she makes her appearance; that will last until the seas dry up and the rocks crumble.
Shen Qianqiu was full of anticipation, but when she turned around, she didn't see Gu Sidu's surprise, but rather Gu Sidu holding his wife and testing the temperature of her hand.
She had witnessed their intimacy from below, but Shen Qianqiu still clung to illusions, believing it to be Gu Sidu's tenderness. However, now that the rumored wife of Gu Sidu had truly materialized, Shen Qianqiu understood that she had lost her chance.
"Lord Gu, is this your wife?" Shen Qianqiu raised his eyes slightly.
“Miss Shen, this is my wife. It is my wife who wanted to make friends with a close friend like you, which is why we have this banquet today.” Gu Sidu’s first sentence made it clear that today’s event was not for a matchmaking meeting. If word got out in the future, they would both have face and would not be subject to gossip.
Jiang Yufan spoke up: "This must be Miss Shen. Meeting her today, I can see that she is indeed different from others. Her zither playing is also extremely exquisite."
"Really? Then can Madam Gu play the piano?" Hearing these compliments, Shen Qianqiu felt much relieved, but she wouldn't give in so quickly. She wanted to compete with Jiang Yufan.
Jiang Yufan shook her head: "I can't, I can't compare to Miss Shen."
This time, Shen Qianqiu won, and she became happy, taking her seat first. Jiang Yufan gently tugged at Gu Sidu's collar, inviting him to sit down as well.
"Does Madam really not know how to play the piano?" Gu Sidu asked in a low voice.
"Of course I will, but I can't steal the spotlight from others right now, or she'll get angry again." Jiang Yufan said in an attempt to quell Shen Qianqiu's anger.
"That's right. Since I have a wife, she will naturally be angry if this marriage doesn't go through."
Shen Qianqiu's anger wasn't because of that at all. Gu Sidu didn't understand. Jiang Yufan shook her head. She could only explain this to Gu Sidu on the way back.
Everyone sat upright. Gu Sidu could say whatever he wanted to say. Jiang Yufan looked at the delicacies in front of her, picked some out and put them in her own bowl. She thought for a moment, then looked at Gu Sidu's bowl. Since they were going to put something out, they should do it properly. So she also picked some out for Gu Sidu and put them in his bowl.
Just as Gu Sidu finished telling Shen Qianqiu about his devoted feelings and how he loved Jiang Yufan, he looked down and saw the extra food in his bowl.
This perfectly confirmed what he had just said, and Shen Qianqiu saw all of this.
The logic was sound, but seeing the loving couple, Shen Qianqiu had nothing to say. However, she was still unconvinced. If she had met Gu Sidu earlier, perhaps Gu Sidu wouldn't have chosen the person in front of her. She was just a little late and unlucky.
She didn't lose in other aspects, she just lost sooner or later.
She said, "Does Lord Gu truly intend to have only one wife in his life and refuse to accept other women?"
“Of course, I don’t think Miss Shen would be willing to be a concubine and live a subservient life.”
After saying this, Gu Sidu held Jiang Yufan's hand tightly and placed it on his heart. He said, "My wife and I will never be apart in this life."
Jiang Yufan hadn't even swallowed what was in her mouth when Gu Sidu grabbed her hand and pulled her forward. She couldn't push Gu Sidu away, so she could only lean on his shoulder and give Shen Qianqiu a few awkward smiles.
Gu Sidu's smile was so obvious that Jiang Yufan couldn't bear to look and couldn't expose him. Gu Sidu was really enjoying the hug. His hand was on Jiang Yufan's shoulder and rubbing against him. The two of them looked at Shen Qianqiu and watched Shen Qianqiu's increasingly unpleasant expression before Gu Sidu finally felt relieved.
This looks like it's over now.
“No, I still don’t believe it,” Shen Qianqiu shook her head and said, “Men and women in this world can get married as long as they are compatible, why does it have to be her?”
"Because my wife and I are sworn brothers."
A life-and-death friendship? Well, that's something to hear. Jiang Yufan saw Shen Qianqiu's eyes light up. She remembered that Gu Sidu had mentioned that Shen Qianqiu liked reading storybooks. To save herself and to make Shen Qianqiu give up, Jiang Yufan came up with a new idea.
She whispered a few words in Gu Sidu's ear, and Gu Sidu gently released her. Jiang Yufan told Gu Sidu to tell Shen Qianqiu the story of their experiences, and perhaps Shen Qianqiu would be so engrossed in listening that she would give up.
This method was feasible, so Gu Sidu put it into practice immediately. He raised his teacup and recounted to Shen Qianqiu in detail how he met Jiang Yufan, how they went through life and death together, and how they got to where they were today. Sure enough, Shen Qianqiu listened attentively, while Jiang Yufan, standing to the side, sipped his tea and watched Gu Sidu boast.
If Gu Sidu were to become a storyteller, he would be a good material. However, he exaggerates in some parts. In his storytelling, Jiang Yufan is portrayed as almost a god, yet also as too tragic. He adds a touch of charm to himself by revealing all the unrelated details between the two.
At this moment, Gu Sidu pointed to the gold hairpin in her hair: "Miss Shen, did you notice? Madam and I are a pair. This is our token of love."
“Look at this jade pendant of mine. It was given to me by my wife. I wear it every day because I’m afraid that others won’t know that I have a wife. I don’t blame you this time. It’s because others don’t believe me that you, Miss Shen, have suffered such an injustice.”
Looking at Shen Qianqiu again, her eyes were red-rimmed, and she sobbed as she stared at the jade pendant on Gu Sidu's body. Indeed, their love was deep; they almost never saw each other again. This was even more poignant and moving than anything written in those novels. After hearing this, Shen Qianqiu slammed her hand on the table and said to Gu Sidu:
"No, that would be too miserable for you two. You should be together."
"That's right, I haven't held a wedding ceremony for my wife yet, I still owe her something." Gu Sidu finished speaking and then pounded the table and sighed, looking very regretful.
"Then you must do it for her!" Shen Qianqiu stood up, came to Jiang Yufan, and took Jiang Yufan's arm. "Lord Gu, look at my sister. Her appearance matches yours. She looks kind and compassionate. You can't bully her or let her down."
Jiang Yufan carefully protected the teacup in her hand to prevent it from spilling. She blinked and looked at Shen Qianqiu, wondering if the power of this storybook was a bit too great.
Does this mean they've become characters from a storybook?
Jiang Yufan tried to distance herself slightly, but Shen Qianqiu persisted and tried to move forward. At this moment, Gu Sidu was no longer important; Jiang Yufan was.
"Miss Shen?" Jiang Yufan wanted to remind Shen Qianqiu, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she met Shen Qianqiu's pure gaze.
"Mrs. Gu, what's wrong?"
“Miss Shen loves listening to stories. Perhaps she also wants to know what her destined person is like?” This was a plan that Jiang Yufan had come up with.
What Gu Sidu said was merely a pretext to move Shen Qianqiu. To truly get Shen Qianqiu to return and give up on Gu Sidu, other methods were needed.
We still need some divine power.
Hearing this, Shen Qianqiu became even more excited. She stared at Jiang Yufan with wide eyes and said, "Does Madam know these things? Then you'd better calculate it for me. I also want a husband who is only good to me."
“I know a little bit, I can help you take a look.” Jiang Yufan smiled at Shen Qianqiu, then looked at Gu Sidu: “Husband.”
Gu Sidu was confused by the word "husband" and responded. Then she heard Jiang Yufan say, "Could you please go out first? It's not convenient for you to hear our private conversation. Just wait at the door for me to call you, okay?"
"Yes, yes, of course it is good. I will come immediately as soon as you call me, Madam."
Gu Sidu stood up, bowed slightly to the two of them, and left, closing the door behind him. Gu Sidu knew that he would now have to rely on the Bodhisattva to resolve this predicament for him.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Daoyun frowning, as if he wanted to ask about the situation inside. However, Gu Sidu also heard the commotion from the other private room. He gestured for Daoyun to be quiet, and then, on a sudden inspiration, he came up with a new idea.
While the Bodhisattva was working hard inside, Gu Sidu was also out there, building momentum for his wife.
So he smiled and deliberately raised his voice as he began to speak...
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