Chapter 183: Unpleasant Meetings

“Why do I have a feeling that Hua Jingya is a bit unpleasant to look at?” Wu Hongwen said suddenly, his eyes still on the door that had just closed.

Yao Jiamu glanced at him, nodding slightly. “Just a little.”

“I feel that Hua Jingya doesn’t like Er Qiao,” Xiao Yun said thoughtfully, narrowing her eyes. “Er Qiao, do you know her?”

Hearing Xiao Yun’s words, Gu Xiqiao spared another glance at Yao Jiamu’s wounds before chuckling slightly. “There have been several chance meetings with her. Why didn’t you let her treat your injuries?”

The front part of her reply was to Xiao Yun, the latter part was directed at Yao Jiamu.

“I think her appearance at that time was just too coincidental.” Yao Jiamu furrowed his eyebrows. This Hua Jingya, when she had first come to the Bai gang, she had saved somebody. Later on, she proposed a medicated bath that could strengthen bodies, and she already had a place in the gang, and was sought after by many people.

Yao Jiamu finds something about the entire situation weird, but he couldn’t pinpoint the reason why.

“Don’t think too much about it,” Gu Xiqiao said, reaching into her pockets to dig around for a while, before taking out a small bottle and throwing it at him.

He caught it with one hand, finding the bottle to contain the same kind of medicine that Luo Wenlang had once given him before. Knowing that the effects of this medicine were extraordinary, he put it away silently. He was thinking that he should bring Gu Xiqiao to walk around in the gang one day, see if those guys would change their goddess or not!

Adding on those martial art techniques that Gu Xiqiao had thrown at him to strengthen his own body, how could it not be better than those medicated baths that Hua Jingya had suggested?

Thinking of it suddenly, he asked, “Is there any shortcut that can make someone strong in a short span of time?”

“Going against the natural laws like that, everything you do will have a hefty price to pay.” Gu Xiqiao wasn’t the one that replied, but Jiang Shuxuan.

His voice was deep and solemn, echoing heavily within Yao Jiamu’s mind. The latter raised his head to look at the former, and was stunned for a long time before being able to come back to his senses.

Although the few in the ward were no longer as apprehensive toward Jiang Shuxuan as before, they were still more reserved when he was around. Gu Xiqiao had come over initially to see how badly Yao Jiamu was injured, and seeing how he still had the energy to laugh and jump around, she threw the medicine at him and went home with a relieved heart.

“Then, I’ll be leaving too. There’s still a lot of things to be done in the student council.” Wu Hongwen got up, stuffing the remaining apples into Yao Jiamu’s hands.

Xiao Yun picked up her bag and stood too. “I’ll be filming tomorrow, and after that I have to rush back for class. Hope you recover soon.”

Everyone left at the same time, leaving Yao Jiamu alone and he felt some sadness welling up in him.

“Was I just abandoned?” He asked faintly, looking toward Ah Gen.

“Yes you were, Young Master Yao.” Ah Gen said without trying to disguise the truth.

Yao Jiamu: What do I do when my heart hurts? Straightforward boy! Let me tell you what good you are!

***

Xiao Yun and Wu Hongwen followed after Gu Xiqiao, going down the steps together. When they reached the entrance, the rain was still beating down heavily. They stood in front of the hospital, thinking that they probably had to run in the rain, but a black car came to a stop in front of them unexpectedly.

The window of the car rolled down, revealing a familiar face. Gu Xiqiao threw a black umbrella out from the car at them, and Wu Hongwen reacted quickly, grabbing the item.

“Xiao Yunzi, have you noticed…” Wu Hongwen started as he watched the car drive away. Opening the umbrella, the two friends walked into the night. “It feels like the distance between us and them is becoming wider once again.”

He was completely lost in the short conversation between Yao Jiamu and Jiang Shuxuan previously, as though they were worlds apart.

He hadn’t felt like this in a very long time.

Disregarding Gu Xiqiao, he felt that it would be difficult to even surpass Yao Jiamu now, and it made him feel helpless. He always thought that he had been giving his all, thinking that he had been improving, but compared to Gu Xiqiao, his progress was just too slow.

Wu Hongwen couldn’t help but touch the pocket that held his phone, deep in thought.

Xiao Yun was also silent for a while, before finally opening her mouth, “Work harder.”

She didn’t have anything else, only her patience and persistence that others couldn’t match up to. She knew the gap between herself and them, but she never had the idea to give up. Even in terms of ancient martial arts, all she did was keep on practicing to catch up.

After thinking a while more, she added, “And play less games.”

Wu Hongwen: His gaming time had already been cut down to an hour a day. If he had to shorten it more, what was the meaning in life then?

After a beat, he sighed long and loud. ‘Fine, let’s reduce it by another five minutes then, but why does my heart hurt so much at the thought?’

***

Gu Xiqiao sat in the passenger seat, playing games on her phone, until Jiang Shuxuan’s phone started ringing. His phone was in his coat pocket, and she pulled it out, seeing the words ‘Baili’ on the screen.

She swiped down to accept the call, and placed it beside Jiang Shuxuan’s ear.

“Shuxuan.” Baili Bin’s voice on the other side was a bit dry, but there was also a slight tremble in it. “The hole in the trial tower has been closed.”

Screech!

The car stopped suddenly, and there was a fire in Jiang Shuxuan’s eyes. The hand clutching the steering wheel tightened as he asked in a deep voice, “What happened?”

No one had more understanding of the hole at the trial tower than himself, and the things that had been left behind by their ancestors were just too high-end, and even for him, he had resorted to using brute force to plug it temporarily. And now, Baili Bin was saying that there was a solution?

Baili Bin said a few words, but then he scratched his head. “Forget it, I can’t explain it in a few words over the phone. Come over and you’ll understand. The ancient martial arts world is in chaos right now, and these young people are just too hot-blooded. The only person that can control them is you.”

Gu Xiqiao’s hearing was good, and she heard the entire conversation clearly. She seemed to have heard a mention of herself in the conversation, but it was vague, not understanding what it meant.

Trial tower? Was it a very powerful thing?

Jiang Shuxuan took the phone from her and placed it back, his eyes staring at Gu Xiqiao. His eyes were unwavering, and it was a little too bright for her, or maybe too smoldering. She called out cautiously, “Brother Jiang?”

“It’s nothing.” Jiang Shuxuan took a deep breath, restarting the car.

The car came to a stop in the parking lot, and Jiang Shuxuan reached out to help her undo the seatbelt, but he didn’t let go after. “I need to go out for a bit, wait for me to come back.”

They just reached home and he had to leave again? Gu Xiqiao was slightly stunned, looking at Jiang Shuxuan in a daze.

“It won’t be too long this time, I’ll be back tomorrow.” Jiang Shuxuan rubbed the top of her head, saying in a soft and gentle voice.

Gu Xiqiao got down the car, biting her lip. “Then, I’ll see you later, Brother Jiang.”

“Go on up.” Jiang Shuxuan came down from the car too, watching her walk toward the elevator. The elevator door closed, and started going up before stopping on a floor. A few seconds after, his phone rang.

“I’ve reached.”

Jiang Shuxuan took a deep breath again, getting in the car and leaving the parking lot, his eyes darkening.

He couldn’t… hide it much longer, could he?

***

The next day, Gu Xiqiao received a message from Yao Jiamu that he had been discharged from the hospital. She read it twice to be sure, and then raised her head. “Little Hua, clean up, we’re going out.”

Hua Youlin, who had been doing his homework, put down his pen as he looked up. “Can we bring Xixi and Haha?”

“Nope,” Gu Xiao replied after thinking a while.

“Oh.” Hua Youlin got up, looking at the two pets, giving them an expression that said, ‘I tried my best, there was nothing I could do.’

Xixi: Rubbish! Useless! Hua Youlin, Xixi had high hopes for you!

Gu Xiqiao ignored Xixi’s pitiful eyes, grabbing her keys and taking Hua Youlin out.

Because Jiang Shuxuan wasn’t around, Gu Xiqiao was once again in her little pink car. It’s not like she disliked her little pink car, after knowing that it was Jiang Shuxuan that had chosen the color, she had come to slowly accept this car.

It was just Hua Youlin who was sitting in the passenger seat with a stiff face.

“What are you thinking about, such a look on your face?” Gu Xiqiao asked, glancing at his face.

Hua Youlin glanced back at her with a pensive expression. “Sister Gu, I’m thinking about a very serious life problem.”

Gu Xiqiao raised an eyebrow at him, motioning for him to continue.

“Will riding in a car of this color affect my tall and mighty image?” Hua Youlin’s face was completely straight and serious when he said it.

“… Child, first of all, you need to actually have a tall and mighty image.”

The system spirit floated in the air. “Beauty Qiao, you’re too poisonous. So poisonous toward such a cute and naive Little Hua. Have you ever thought about his young and innocent mind?”

‘Would you like to try it instead?’ Gu Xiqiao asked.

“…” Thanks but no thanks.

Gu Xiqiao was a bit short-tempered these days, it was better not to provoke her too much.

Gu Xiqiao drove the car to the east side of the city, where Boss Bai’s nest was. There was a narrow road ahead, and since she had come here once before, she knew that there was no place to stop the car. So she turned to Hua Youlin. “I’ll be heading to the parking lot now, do you want to go together, or do you want to get down and wait, o great mighty and tall one?”

Hua Youlin gazed at her for a while, before silently getting out from the car, using action to demonstrate his own lofty and formidable image.

That was fine, she’d head over to the parking lot herself then.

He waited for a while, and seeing that Gu Xiqiao wasn’t going to be coming anytime soon, he took out his phone to play a game. Gu Xiqiao had downloaded it for him yesterday night, and just as he pressed the ‘Start’ button, a gentle voice from behind him suddenly. “Hua Youlin?”

The voice was very gentle, but to Hua Youlin’s ears, he felt numb the moment he heard it, a monstrous hatred flashing in his eyes. He would never forget this voice even if he died!

“It really is you, I thought I was wrong.” Hua Jingya walked toward him slowly, a graceful smile on her face. She looked at Hua Youlin’s dressing thoughtfully. “Looks like you’re doing well.”

Hua Youlin bit his lip harshly, tasting the blood in his mouth, but the pain was ignored as he continued to look at Hua Jingya with eyes full of contempt.

Hua Jingya ignored his hateful gaze, and touched his head affectionately, saying in a soft voice, “Hua Youlin, trash must know their own place. You have to be obedient, otherwise, who knows what I will do to your ‘Sister Gu’?

Although the touch was soft, he could only feel like it was a slimy poisonous snake that was caressing his head. He was trembling, but it was not due to fear. He raised his head and stared back at Hua Jingya with a pair of bright, black eyes.

Hua Jingya had always thought that he had died in a ditch somewhere, until she saw the pink convertible just now, recognizing Hua Youlin and Gu Xiqiao immediately. She didn’t expect to see Hua Youlin alive and well after so many years, and he even seemed to have some boldness in him now.

They were the two people that she hated most in her life, especially that Gu Xiqiao. Hua Jingya didn’t know that her hatred for a person could reach this extent, and she didn’t have the chance last time, but this time, she would bide her time slowly. She wanted to see Gu Xiqiao knocked down little by little, getting hated and disgusted by everyone in the world. When she thought about it, a feeling of elation would rise in her heart.

Oh, how she really looked forward to the day when it happens!

“You wouldn’t dare!” Hearing Hua Jingya’s worlds, Hua Youlin’s eyes were filled with fear. He knew just what this b*tch in front of him was capable of! She really had the capability to do what she said!

He reached out and gave her a hard push.

However, he never had the chance to.

Hua Jingya grabbed his hand, gripping it harshly. It was like watching a clown dancing. Ever since Wang Jun had held her by the throat, she had paid attention to her own limitations, drinking medicinal concoctions every day, and she was unlike the weak chicken she was back then. “You know full well whether or not I dare to.”

“I didn’t know that Miss Hua is familiar with our Little Hua.” A lazy voice suddenly came from behind her.

Hua Jingya stiffened, lowering her eyes to conceal the disdain in them and loosening her hold. There was another person in front of her in the next moment, and she raised her head to meet that stunning face once again!

“Miss Gu,” Hua Jingya greeted, letting go as she chuckled. She looked around, but didn’t see a peep of Jiang Shuxuan. Rolling her eyes, she said, “Is Mr. Jiang not accompanying you today?”

Gu Xiqiao didn’t like the fact that she brought up Jiang Shuxuan, and only gave her a cold grunt, before taking Hua Youlin’s hand and walking away, ignoring her.

She looked extremely majestic and noble as she walked away.

Hua Jingya had grown used to being sought after by the people in the Bai gang nowadays, and Gu Xiqiao’s ignorance was something that she couldn’t tolerate. She curled her lips coldly, dialing a number. “Uncle, Divine Doctor Rong called me yesterday. Prepare the Hua family to enter the ancient martial arts world.”

Those useless members of the Hua family only knew how to guard and keep their skills to themselves, and not make better use of their talents. This time, she would make the Hua family shine, let Gu Xiqiao see her capabilities, and those people who never looked in her direction, to look at her with looks full of admiration and awe!