Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qiao Nan jumped in shock. “Dad, what did you say? Who came?” As she said that, Qiao Nan wore her clothes and shoes.
“Chief… Chief Zhai, good day.” Coming into close contact with Zhai Yaohui, Qiao Dongliang was so emotionally affected that his face turned red. He actually gave Zhai Yaohui a ninety-degree bow.
“You’re Qiao Nan’s father?” Zhai Yaohui was quite satisfied with that perfect standing posture of Qiao Dongliang.
“Reporting to Chief Zhai, yes, I am!”
“Can I go into the house before we talk?”
“Yes, Chief Zhai!”
When Qiao Nan came out, she saw her father looking like an obedient soldier. He was standing up in a prim and proper manner, while Zhai Yaohui, with a serious look on his face, was like the chief that was reviewing the parade. “Dad, Chief Zhai… Chief Zhai, please come in and have a seat.”
“Thank you.” When he saw the main party concerned appear, Zhai Yaohui simply placed all his attention on Qiao Nan. “Qiao Dongliang, right? I wish to speak to your daughter alone. Can I?”
“Yes, Chief.”
“…”
“…”
At the sight of Qiao Dongliang behaving like a junior soldier falling into his position and standing outside with his back facing them, Qiao Nan was speechless for a moment. Zhai Yaohui was extraordinarily silent as well.
In actual fact, Zhai Yaohui had seen many people like Qiao Dongliang. All the soldiers in the army behaved this way. But because this was the house of the Qiao family, he felt that this was a fresh experience. “Do you know why I am here today?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t know?” Zhai Yaohui did not believe her. “You should know clearly what you have done. If not for the sake of Zhai Sheng, I wouldn’t come to the house of the Qiao family.”
Qiao Nan clenched her fists and changed from the nervous state she had been in. She lifted her head and looked at Zhai Yaohui. “I’m not sure about that as well. Chief Zhai, please feel free to speak your mind.”
“Zhai Sheng and you are not compatible. I hope you can take the initiative to break up with Zhai Sheng. Furthermore, I’ve found someone suitable for him. They’re going to be engaged very soon.”
“I reject.” Qiao Nan shook her head. “It’s pointless unless Brother Zhai tells me this himself.”
“Won’t it be too embarrassing for him to come and tell you directly?”
“I’m not afraid of embarrassment. I’m just afraid of not understanding what happened and being like a muddleheaded ghost.”
At the sight of Zhai Yaohui’s eyes that were increasingly sharp and piercing, Qiao Nan bit her teeth and endured.
She initially thought that Auntie Miao would be the one telling her all these. Never did she expect that it would actually be Brother Zhai’s father, Chief Zhai. Moreover, she did not expect that Chief Zhai, who was busy with a myriad of state affairs, discovered the relationship between Brother Zhai and her before Auntie Miao did.
Zhai Yaohui was surprised that Qiao Nan dared to be so firm in her replies to him despite her young age.
“Chief Zhai, is there any other matter?” If there was none, he could leave.
“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll do anything to the Qiao family?” She had the guts to chase him away.
“You’re Brother Zhai’s father. Given my understanding of Brother Zhai, unless he has grown up the ‘wrong way’, you would not do that. You would not bother to either.”
“…” The corners of Zhai Yaohui’s lips moved. He was both amused and speechless by the interesting way that Qiao Nan put her point across.
“Chief Zhai, do you have any other matter?”
“You’re not treating me to a cup of tea?” Zhai Yaohui let out a breath, feeling slightly more relaxed.
“…” Qiao Nan frowned. “Chief Zhai, you may not know. When Auntie Miao first came to my house, she shunned my lousy tea leaves, saying that she was not used to drinking it. Since then, I’ve only given her plain water. Do you want any?”
“Plain water, then.”
“Sure.”
Qiao Nan really poured a cup of plain water and placed it in front of Zhai Yaohui.
Zhai Yaohui asked for a drink. This clearly meant he did not wish to leave yet.
Although this was Qiao Nan’s territory, Zhai Yaohui was now taking an active role, and Qiao Nan the passive one.
Hence, after pouring the drink, Qiao Nan sat facing Zhai Yaohui and maintained her silence. She waited for Zhai Yaohui to speak first.
After drinking a mouthful of plain water that he had not drunk for many years, Zhai Yaohui felt a little odd. After some time, he continued and asked, “Does Miao Miao come to your house very often?”
“How could that be?” Qiao Nan shook her head. “Auntie Miao is more often with Chief Zhai. When she occasionally has the time, she will come to my house.” If Auntie Miao came to her house every day, she would not be able to take it.
“I see.” At the sight of the plain water in his hands, he thought about how many cups of plain water could Miao Miao possibly come over to the Qiao family to drink? It was clear enough. “Did Miao Miao sleepover at your house yesterday?”
“Yes. My dad went back to the small courtyard of the Qiao family. Auntie Miao squeezed with me on the same bed,” Qiao Nan replied.
“You’re really quite smart.” Before he could question further, Qiao Nan had explained everything clearly to him. It made him feel much more at ease.
Zhai Yaohui could not accept Miao Jing being under the same roof as another man. He further could not tolerate Miao Jing sleeping in a bed that belonged to another man.
Qiao Nan raised her eyebrows. She straightened her back and sat rigidly. “Yesterday, Auntie Miao slept with me. But during the day yesterday, who were you with and what did you do, Chief Zhai? Could you also let Auntie Miao feel as comfortable as you do now?”
One might steal a horse while another might not look over the hedge. Chief Zhai should not do that.
“Miao Miao even told you this? What else did she say?” Zhai Yaohui was both nervous and surprised. Nevertheless, the expression on his face seemingly did not change, still looking indifferent. Even his tone was nonchalant. It was so normal as if he was talking to Qiao Nan about the taste of the cup of water.
If not for that moment of flash beneath Zhai Yaohui’s eyes, it would have been hard for Qiao Nan to know that Zhai Yaohui was, in fact, very concerned about her reply.
Qiao Nan crossed her arms. “Chief Zhai, are you trying to beat around the bush with me? Why don’t we be more direct? What do you want to know? I’ll see if I want to reply to you.”
After fussing for such a long time, Chief Zhai’s main purpose was not really to request her to break up with Brother Zhai. It was about Auntie Miao’s matter.
It was not quite right. According to Brother Zhai and Auntie Miao, Qi Minlan was the one that Chief Zhai loved. He was forced to marry Auntie Miao by Old Master Zhai. But given the situation, no matter how she looked, she felt that Chief Zhai actually cared very much about Auntie Miao.
“See if you want to reply?” Zhai Yaohui snorted slightly. “You’re talking so boldly?”
“That’s right. It’s Brother Zhai and Auntie Miao who gave me the courage,” Qiao Nan replied courteously with a smile. One was the son that Chief Zhai valued most importantly, while the other was the woman that Chief Zhai cared about most. Qiao Nan suddenly discovered that she was quite lucky to be holding on to the two lifelines of Chief Zhai.
Although Chief Zhai found out about Brother Zhai and her before Auntie Miao did, given the current situation, Chief Zhai did not seem like he would become an obstacle between them.
Zhai Yaohui, whose face stiffened, felt that the smile on Qiao Nan’s face was extremely annoying. This was because he would occasionally see this smile on the face of his son, Zhai Sheng.
