The Reluctant Bride Book II Chapter 9

Gu Jiao didn’t care about having an heir.

But w.a.n.g Tu Ya always nagged him to remarry and have a child. A legitimate first born? He scrunched his cold face and watched Qiao Tan Yuan and Shen Cheng walk together for a while.

Qiao Tan Yuan looked for a shady spot to rest. Since she was pregnant, she easily felt hot. There was a shady bench in front of a water fountain.

‘Are you tired?’ Shen Cheng asked. ‘We can sit over there and rest.’

‘Um,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan’s body weight was heavy past the eighth month of pregnancy. Shen Cheng supported her back and he helped her walk to the bench.

Qian Tan Yuan sat next to Shen Cheng, she s.h.i.+elded her eyes with her hands and looked up at the bright sky.

‘Today is a beautiful day,’ Qian Tan Yuan said.

‘Not a bad day,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘But it’s not as beautiful as you.’

Qiao Tan Yuan’s cheeks turned pink and she looked away from Shen Cheng’s gaze.

‘Shen Cheng…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Shen Cheng was by Qiao Tan Yuan’s side during the hardest period of her life, his love for her surpa.s.sed that of a friend. She was grateful toward him and deeply moved by his sincerity. She tried hard to return his love. But in her head and heart were still shadows of Gu Jiao Wu. Especially the past several days since she saw Gu Jiao Wu at the cafe. She told herself to forget Gu Jiao Wu, but always dreamt of Gu Jiao Wu at night.

Qiao Tan Yuan could feel how deeply Shen Cheng loved her, but she couldn’t find a way to accept his love. She remembered last New Year’s Day, he reserved a table at a restaurant, knelt in front of her with everyone watching and proposed to her. She was deeply moved by his proposal, but she didn’t accept his ring and her heart felt sorry toward him. She was selfish for wanting to keep him by her side as a friend during hard times.

‘Shen Cheng, do you think I’m a selfish person?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

Qiao Tan Yuan loved Gu Jiao Wu selfishly and didn’t think of the consequences. It was her fault her baby wouldn’t receive a father’s love, and she selfishly kept Shen Cheng by her side.

‘I’m really selfish,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

‘Tan Yuan, don’t say that,’ Shen Cheng said. He held Qiao Tan Yuan’s hand. ‘I’m choosing to be with you.’

‘I’ve caused you pain,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. She bit her lips and her teary eyes looked at Shen Cheng. ‘Shen Cheng, you don’t have to treat me this good. I’m scared I’ll…’

‘Don’t say anymore,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘Even now, don’t you understand my heart?’

‘I understand but I’m pregnant and my baby isn’t…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said.

Qiao Tan Yuan was too stunned to say anything else, Gu Jiao Wu was walking toward her. She didn’t know when Gu Jiao Wu arrived in the garden, he looked like a king walking toward his subjects. He wore a simple white s.h.i.+rt and black pants. The sunlight behind him made him appear taller, and his shadow longer.

Shen Cheng followed Qiao Tan Yuan’s gaze. He was surprised to see Gu Jiao Wu, and immediately put his guard up to protect Qiao Tan Yuan.

‘Big brother,’ Shen Cheng said.

Shen Cheng grew up together with Gu Jiao Wu and their friends.h.i.+p was unaffected. He didn’t think it was Gu Jiao Wu’s fault that Gu Jiao Wu didn’t love Qiao Tan Yuan.

‘Um,’ Gu Jiao Wu said while only looking at Qiao Tan Yuan’s stomach. ‘Shen Cheng, I want to speak privately with Qiao Tan Yuan.’

‘I’ll give you two privacy,’ Shen Cheng said and stood.

Qiao Tan Yuan held onto Shen Cheng’s hand, she didn’t want him to leave her alone with Gu Jiao Wu.

Qiao Tan Yuan had to tilt her head back to look at Gu Jiao Wu, and she couldn’t control her heart from beating fast. She held Shen Cheng’s hand tighter.

‘Gu Jiao Wu, if you want to say something to me, you can say it in front of Shen Cheng too,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘He and I don’t keep secrets from each other. He doesn’t need to leave.’

Gu Jiao Wu noticed the brief anxiety in Shen Cheng’s eyes before Shen Cheng avoided eye contact with him.

Shen Cheng knew the city was big. But if Gu Jiao Wu came to the Qiao Mansion to find Qiao Tan Yuan then Gu Jiao Wu must have suspected Gu Jiao Wu was the father of Qiao Tan Yuan’s baby. He didn’t know what Gu Jiao Wu would do.

‘Qiao Tan Yuan,’ Gu Jiao Wu said in a low cold tone of voice.

Qiao Tan Yuan held Shen Cheng’s hand, and forced herself to look bravely at Gu Jiao Wu’s intimidating eyes.

‘What is it?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked.

‘You’re eight months pregnant,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

‘I…’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘So what if I’m eight months pregnant?’

‘The baby is mine,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

‘The baby isn’t yours,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘The baby belongs to Shen Cheng.’

‘If the baby isn’t mine then why did you lie to me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.

‘I wanted you to feel uncomfortable,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said calmly. ‘I admit after I filed to divorce you, I was depressed. That night I asked Shen Cheng to take me out drinking. We were drunk, you’re an adult, you understand what can happen in that kind of situation.’

‘Really?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.

Gu Jiao Wu didn’t believe Qiao Tan Yuan. He noticed the brief surprise in Shen Cheng’s eyes, and knew the baby was his.

‘Qiao Tan Yuan, you dare deceive me?’ Gu Jiao Wu asked.

‘When did I deceive you?’ Qiao Tan Yuan asked. ‘Don’t think so highly of yourself. If my baby is yours then why did I divorce you?’

Gu Jiao Wu was lost for words. He didn’t know why Qiao Tan Yuan would divorce him if the baby was his.

‘I lied to you because Shen Cheng and I were together before the divorce was finalised,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said. ‘I didn’t want the divorce delayed, and I didn’t tell you I was pregnant because my baby isn’t yours.’

Gu Jiao Wu narrowed his eyes. He looked at Shen Cheng who looked guilty.

‘Big brother, I’m sorry,’ Shen Cheng said. ‘I truly loved Tan Yuan since long ago. I didn’t expect she would marry you. That day, she looked heartbroken and I couldn’t control myself. Big brother, I’m sorry.’

Gu Jiao Wu fisted his hands after hearing Shen Cheng’s guilty tone of voice. Was he angry? He didn’t love Qiao Tan Yuan, who she slept with had nothing to do with him so he didn’t need to be angry.

‘If you truly loved her then four years ago you should have stopped her,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

If Shen Cheng stopped Qiao Tan Yuan from marrying Gu Jiao Wu then Gu Jiao Wu wouldn’t be troubled by Qiao Tan Yuan.

‘Big brother…’ Shen Cheng said.

Shen Cheng did think about stopping Qiao Tan Yuan marrying Gu Jiao Wu, but Qiao Tan Yuan’s heart and eyes were blindly in love four years ago and didn’t see anyone else except Gu Jiao Wu.

Since Qiao Tan Yuan was a young student, many males pursued her but she didn’t pay them any attention. If she didn’t stubbornly love Gu Jiao Wu then she wouldn’t have suffered.

Gu Jiao Wu didn’t understand if Shen Cheng was the father then why didn’t Shen Cheng marry Qiao Tan Yuan months ago? It occurred to him that Shen Cheng’s family must have opposed Shen Cheng marrying Qiao Tan Yuan.

Gu Jiao Wu patted Shen Cheng’s shoulder. ‘If uncle and aunty Shen won’t give their blessing, I’ll go speak to them in person.’

‘Big brother…’ Shen Cheng said.

Shen Cheng couldn’t believe Gu Jiao Wu would think that far. ‘Big brother, it’s OK. My parents have given their blessing. Tan Yuan are waiting to get married after our baby is born.’

‘Um,’ Gu Jiao Wu said.

Gu Jiao Wu didn’t want to interfere in Qiao Tan Yuan and Shen Cheng’s private business. But he thought it was a pity such a decent man like Shen Cheng was marrying someone like Qiao Tan Yuan. It was Shen Cheng’s life to ruin, he wasn’t going to dissuade Shen Cheng’s decision.

‘Take care of yourself,’ Gu Jiao Wu said coldly to Qiao Tan Yuan.

Gu Jiao Wu didn’t wait for Qiao Tan Yuan’s reply, he turned around and walked to the car.

Qiao Tan Yuan slumped her shoulders after Gu Jiao Wu was out of sight. Her back and hands were sweaty. She couldn’t believe Gu Jiao Wu believed her lies.

‘Shen Cheng, thank you,’ Qiao Tan Yuan said and let go of Shen Cheng’s hand.

If Qiao Tan Yuan didn’t have Shen Cheng’s support then Gu Jiao Wu would have seen through her lies. Gu Jiao Wu hated her, if Gu Jiao Wu knew the truth… she didn’t want to think about what would happen.

End of Chapter Nine