Chapter 385: Chapter 385: Being Followed
The Mu Family’s driver saw that their car was almost out of the compound gate, so he wasn’t afraid of the Bao Family giving chase.
He said with an honest expression, "You’re right to correct me, Miss. I just assumed you were in a hurry."
"Thank you for being so considerate. It’s only just about dinnertime now, so it’s okay even if we’re a little late."
Gu Jiaojiao would have never guessed, not even in her wildest dreams, that this seemingly simple driver could be so calculating.
As the Mu Family’s car passed by Second Uncle Gu’s front door, Auntie Gu and her daughter happened to be walking home.
They were panting at their doorstep from exhaustion when they saw Gu Jiaojiao sitting in the car. Gu Hehua’s eyes turned red with anger.
"Mom, look! We have to walk and it’s so tiring, but that country bumpkin Gu Jiaojiao actually gets to ride in a car."
Auntie Gu was still too out of breath to speak, but Gu Jiaojiao rolled down her window.
A charming smile bloomed on her face as she said with confident elegance, "This isn’t something you can get just by being jealous."
Her smile outshone the sunset clouds in the sky, and her voice was as warm as a spring breeze.
Gu Hehua was driven mad with jealousy. "Cousin, there are no men around. Who are you putting on that flirty smile for?"
But the Mu Family’s car had already sped past Gu Hehua and her mother, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust mixed with dust.
Gu Hehua stomped her foot in a rage. "My dad and my brother are so useless! They’re grown men, and they can’t even afford a single car."
Second Uncle Gu, who had just ridden his bicycle to the gate, overheard his daughter’s complaint. "Hehua, isn’t this bike a vehicle? I even bought you your own last year."
"MMH... MMH..." Before Gu Hehua could speak, her mother clamped a hand over her mouth, leaving her to make only muffled sounds.
In reality, she desperately wanted to shout at her father that she was talking about a four-wheeled car, not a two-wheeled, man-powered bicycle.
But Auntie Gu knew her husband’s temper. He was obsessed with his dignity and hated it when people made him lose face, even if it was his own daughter.
"Old Gu, Hehua takes after you—she gets a little cranky when she’s hungry. Hurry up and open the door so we can go home and eat."
"Haha, our daughter takes after me, and our son takes after you." Second Uncle Gu’s mood was instantly lifted by his wife’s coaxing, and he laughed heartily.
When Gu Jiaojiao entered the Gu Family courtyard, Su Shuochi was already there. "You must be tired, honey. We were just waiting for you to eat."
"Mhm. Would you two like to stay for dinner?" Gu Jiaojiao asked politely.
"Please, go on in, Miss. We’ll eat at home. The Mu Family made a lot of food today."
"Alright then, drive safely." Gu Jiaojiao knew the Mu Family had indeed made a lot of dishes, as they had originally invited her and Xia Qiuming to eat with them.
So she didn’t insist. As the car drove out of the courtyard gate, Su Shuochi walked over to close it.
Second Brother Gu rushed back on his bicycle, squeezing through the gate just in time to see a man dressed in a white shirt and black pants.
The clothes highlighted his perfect physique. The man stepped back as he entered, one arm wrapped around Jiaojiao and the other hand tucked into his pants pocket.
He looked both languid and casual, but there was an undeniable kingly aura about him that couldn’t be concealed.
Second Brother Gu pointed a finger at the man, wanting to demand why he had his arm around his sister.
But when he got a clear look and saw it was Su Shuochi, he stammered, "You... you... your leg is healed?"
"Mhm, Shu Ci is all better now. Didn’t Grandpa Gu and Dad tell you?" Gu Jiaojiao said, blinking as she spun a little lie.
"What? Grandpa doesn’t love me anymore! He didn’t even tell me something this important!" Second Brother Gu wailed dramatically.
Grandpa Gu, who had just come out to welcome Gu Jiaojiao: ... ’This old man only found out this afternoon myself, you know.’
He recalled that when he had invited Jiaojiao over for dinner that afternoon, she had mentioned Su Shuochi would be driving himself to their house.
He had asked offhandedly if Su Shuochi’s leg was well enough for him to drive.
And Jiaojiao had told him that Su Shuochi’s leg had been fine for walking for two days, and if he could walk, then of course he could drive.
"You little rascal, when did Grandpa ever love you?" Grandpa Gu teased cheerfully.
"Haha..." Su Shuochi and Gu Jiaojiao laughed, flanking Grandpa Gu on his left and right as they guided him into the living room.
Second Brother Gu followed behind them, grinning from ear to ear. It was only then that he realized that even with his Eldest Brother gone, their spirits weren’t dampened at all.
At the dinner table, the Gu Family members piled food onto each other’s plates, eating in cheerful harmony. No one mentioned Eldest Brother Gu again.
Whatever frustration Mrs. Gu had felt earlier over her disobedient elder son had vanished into thin air after seeing her daughter.
When she thought of her eldest son now, she just felt he was a hopeless case.
Eldest Brother Gu, deemed a hopeless case by his own mother, was at that very moment on a train, gnawing on a dry steamed bun.
He had money on him, but he just couldn’t bring himself to pay for a meal on the train, thinking the prices were ridiculously expensive.
Back at the Gu Family home, however, no one knew he was gnawing on dry buns. After all, Mrs. Gu and Second Brother Gu had given him a considerable amount of money.
Gu Jiaojiao was already full, but Mrs. Gu kept piling food onto her plate. "Mom, I’m already full! If I eat any more, my stomach will burst."
"Jiaojiao, don’t eat it then. Give it to Dad."
"Jiaojiao, give it to Grandpa."
"Jiaojiao, give it to your second brother! You definitely don’t want to burst your stomach." The three generations of Gu men spoke in unison.
Without a word, Su Shuochi picked up Gu Jiaojiao’s bowl and poured her leftovers into his own.
His protective gesture amused Mrs. Gu so much she was doubled over with laughter. "Shuo Ci, don’t you force yourself to finish it, either."
"Don’t worry, Mom. I have a big appetite, not like Jiaojiao, who’s so delicate she complains she’s full after one extra bite."
Su Shuochi’s voice was deep and mellow, as pleasing to the ear as a mountain spring. His smile was so radiant that it left the Gu Family momentarily stunned.
’Such an outstanding son-in-law (and brother-in-law)! It’s a good thing our Jiaojiao snatched him up so quickly.’ Mr. Gu then placed another helping of food into Su Shuochi’s bowl.
After dinner, they chatted for another hour before Su Shuochi announced it was time to head home. Mrs. Gu’s repeated attempts to make them stay were unsuccessful.
Because Su Shuochi had been drinking with Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu, Gu Jiaojiao drove on the way back.
Whenever Gu Jiaojiao was the one driving, Su Shuochi would always take the passenger seat. Since he had been drinking today, Gu Jiaojiao told him to recline his seatback and get some rest.
After they had driven for some distance, Gu Jiaojiao noticed two Jeeps following their car.
She was puzzled. ’I thought they’d stopped following me. Could it be someone I know?’
Gu Jiaojiao deliberately slowed down, but the cars behind her simply slowed down as well, showing no intention of pulling up alongside to greet them.
Gu Jiaojiao accelerated, and the cars behind accelerated too. "Su Shuochi, recline your seat all the way and lie down for a bit."
"Those cars are following us. Jiaojiao, let me drive."
"You’ve been drinking, so don’t even think about it. Just do as I say and recline your seat. We’ll be fine."
With that, Gu Jiaojiao steered the car toward a winding mountain road on the outskirts of the city. About twenty minutes later, they reached the entrance to the mountain pass.
The road there was wide enough for three cars to drive abreast. As they reached the halfway point of the mountain, the two Jeeps behind them suddenly accelerated to overtake.
They squeezed in to drive parallel with Gu Jiaojiao’s car, attempting to force her to a stop. The skill of those two drivers might have been even greater than Su Shuochi’s.
However, they were up against Gu Jiaojiao, who had experience with street racing. Even after driving side-by-side for a full minute, they couldn’t manage to force her car to a stop.
Suddenly, the dark, round muzzle of a gun appeared in Gu Jiaojiao’s line of sight, pointed right at her. "Go to hell!"
