Chapter 38: Men Hold Grudges

e reflect here. In two hours' time, the servant will come again to remind you. After leaving the ancestral hall, return to your courtyard. For half a month, you are not allowed to leave your courtyard...Song Xining's voice wasn't loud, but it wasn't quiet either. Not only did Meng Jinyao hear it, but even Gu Jingxi and Qi Yunu, who were not far away, heard it clearly.

At this moment, it felt as if the air had solidified. An awkward atmosphere hung heavy over the entire corridor.

Meng Jinyo's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively took a step forward to the right. Sure enough, she saw her husband, Gu Jingxi. The moment their eyes met, the man looked at her with a smile that wasn't quite a smile. Her face stiffened, her heart fluttered, and she suddenly felt an urge to disappear.

What's going on here

Just a while ago, people were still talking about him, even saying he was an old geezer just moments before. Now, here he is, and they caught him right in the act. That "old geezer" got heard loud and clear.

She estimated Gu Jingxi's location. He was in the cubicle next to their neighbor's, separated from them by one more cubicle. Since they were separated by a cubicle, even if their conversation inside occasionally got louder, Gu Jingxi definitely wouldn't have heard it.

Thinking about this, Meng Jiny Yao secretly let out a sigh of relief, the corners of her mouth curled up, and she casually greeted him: "Husband, what a coincidence, how did you end up here too"

A sweet smile bloomed on the little girl's pretty face, her expression radiant with joy. The smile reached her eyes, making her beautiful eyes sparkle even brighter. She tilted her head up slightly to look at him, radiating an undeniable charm and sweetness, yet also remaining so innocent and well-behaved.

But there was a hint of ingratiating deference in his eyes, as if he were trying to get by without being noticed, hoping that he wouldn't be pressed about Miss Song’s words just now and pretend he hadn't heard anything.

Gu Jingxi's eyebrows raised slightly, not intending to let her off the hook. The girl had only recently told her close friend that he was a lecher, and now he was being called an old man. He replied with a smile that wasn't quite a smile: "It is rather coincidental, but have I interrupted Lady Madam and Miss Song's conversation"

Meng Jin Yao's smile froze: "...n-no, no, I didn't..."

Song Xining also knew she had spoken the wrong words, wishing time could rewind. But since she had already said it, there was no taking it back. She could only pretend she hadn't said anything and change the subject with a joke. She turned to look at her uncle, took a few steps forward, and smiled ingratiatingly: "Uncle, you're here too"

Qi Yunwen now found his usually adorable niece increasingly grating. Every time he saw her, he thought of his friend's words, "You are a year older than me, I am an old geezer, so what are you A soon-to-be corpse"

He felt insulted that his niece called Yao Ling an old man, as if he were a doddering geezer. He was only thirty years old, not some ancient fossil!

He glared at his niece with a stern face and said in a gruff voice, “What are you talking about What old man Your uncle is just in his prime, still young. Unlike your father, an old geezer nearing middle age.”

Song Xining was taken aback by the remark, her smile freezing instantly. She exchanged an awkward glance with Meng Jiny Yao, who also wore a strained smile. Their eyes seemed to convey: Do men also care so much about what others say about their age

"Anning, your uncle is taking you to see a doctor. The doctor will treat your eyes," Qi Yunwen said as he stepped forward and grabbed his niece's arm, preparing to walk towards the stairs on the right. Before leaving, he nodded slightly to Meng Jin Yao, "Sister-in-law, Anning's illness cannot be delayed. I'll take Anning first."

Song Xining looked bewildered: "Uncle, my eyes are fine. Why would I see a doctor"

“Who would think they had a problem” Qi Yunwen unceremoniously pulled his niece away, thinking to himself that this silly child was clueless. If she were even a little bit clever, she'd know he was helping her, taking her, the culprit, out of this embarrassing situation.

After the aunt and nephew left, Song Xining's maid followed closely behind them.

In a moment, only Meng Jin Yao and her husband remained in the corridor, along with Qing Qiu and Ning Dong, the two maids. They lowered their heads, eyes fixed on their feet, pretending to be oblivious.

The hallway was eerily quiet, the atmosphere a bit awkward.

Meng Jin Yao and Gu Jing Xi exchanged glances, wanting to explain. But meeting Gu Jing Xi's enigmatic smile, she hesitated, feeling so embarrassed she could dig up a whole acre of land with her toes. An Ning's words were crystal clear!

Last, it was Gu Jingxi who broke the silence: "Madam, is there anything else"

Meng Jinyao subconsciously shook her head. "No, is there anything else, my husband"

Gu Jingxi said: "Since there's nothing wrong, let's go back home."

Upon hearing this, Meng Jinyao uttered an "Ah" and saw Gu Jingxi already turning towards the staircase. She hesitated for a moment before taking steps to follow him. An'ning had already left with Lord Qi, and she had nothing else to do either. It was better to return home first.

The couple left Chatei Residence and immediately headed home.

Meng Jinyáo originally thought she was returning home alone, but unexpectedly Gu Jingxi also went back with her, and they even rode in the same carriage, leaving her two maidservants to go in his.

The carriage was eerily silent.

Meng Jin Yao sat for a while, then became restless. She couldn't help but raise her eyes to look at the man sitting opposite her. Gu Jing Xi had said something about returning home and hasn't spoken since. Now, his expression was indifferent, and it was impossible to tell if he was angry because of An Ning's words.

Noticing her gaze, Gu Jingxi glanced at her lightly and said, "What is Madam looking at me for"

Meng Jin Yao immediately squeezed out a smile and replied, "My husband is handsome."

Hearing this, Gu Jingxi let out a nonchalant "tsk" and said dryly, "What's there to see about an old man"

Hearing this self-deprecating tone, Meng Jinyao twitched the corner of her mouth and thought: Are men all so vengeful They're about to go home, and they still want to bring up old grudges.

But, who's to say she wasn't in the wrong first

She smiled and replied, "My husband is in his prime, handsome and dashing. He looks to be around twenty-three or four, not like he's almost thirty! Where's the old"

"Is that so" Gu Jingxi raised an eyebrow, her voice soft and teasing. "I thought Lady might dislike me, regret marrying this old geezer. An old geezer like me is not only old but also... licentious.

"

This sentence struck Meng Jin Yao like a bolt from the blue, leaving her both flustered and shocked. Her eyes widened as she stared at Gu Jing Xi in disbelief. The gentle and refined gentleman before her seemed completely incapable of eavesdropping, yet how else would he have known about her conversation with An Ning praising his lasciviousness

She exclaimed incredulously, "My husband eavesdropped on our conversation"

Gu Jingxi, of course, wouldn't admit to deliberately eavesdropping. He had originally intended to listen in on someone else's conversation, but the information was wrong, and he unintentionally overheard her conversation with her friend. He then calmly replied, "Looking at madam's expression, it seems madam has indeed spoken to others about me being a lecher"

Meng Jinyao's face froze: ""

So she's shooting herself in the foot Gu Jingxi hadn't eavesdropped at all, he was just saying it casually. And she confessed without being asked

Gu Jingxi saw her face changing colors, her lips moving slightly as if brewing a retort. He smiled faintly and said, "Madam, don't you intend to explain"d.Two maidservants turned their heads and saw several men dressed as constables behind them, staring intently at the man. In that case, wasn't the man who had taken their mistress hostage a criminalT...