Chapter 1791: Chapter 1790: The Comical Xiao Bai and White Wolf
Sima Xiaowen looked over to the other side. Right now, Little Uncle was savoring his tea in great contentment, chatting with the Old Patriarch and Gu Tianfeng, and lying at his feet were Xiao Bai and the White Wolf.
The two little rascals had just come back from the Qin Family’s Courtyard yesterday.
Then Xiaowen got a call from Gu Qiaoqiao. After listening to her, she laughed so hard she almost passed out.
So that’s what had happened.
It’s almost New Year, after all. Of course Xiao Bai and the White Wolf had to come back to spend it with Gu Junbai.
But those two just couldn’t bear to part with Xiao Bao and Xiao Bei, so Xiao Bai came up with a naughty idea.
Taking advantage of the adults being distracted, it used its nimble little cat paws to help Xiao Bao and Xiao Bei put on their clothes and hats. Then the White Wolf lay down on the ground like it usually did, Xiao Bao and Xiao Bei climbed onto its back as usual. The White Wolf was huge now, its back broad and covered in soft white fur. The two kids loved playing on it on normal days, so the adults didn’t think much of it, just assumed they’d gone out to play again.
Who’d have thought the White Wolf would bolt straight for the Qin Family’s front gate with Xiao Bao and Xiao Bei on its back.
Meanwhile Xiao Bai covered the rear, sneaking around and secretly keeping an eye on Gu Qiaoqiao and Qin Yize.
At that time, Gu Qiaoqiao and Qin Yize, the young couple, were chatting all lovey-dovey, and really didn’t notice a thing.
On top of that, the White Wolf and Xiao Bai were fast, and Xiao Bai even used its powers to cast a few layers of Blinding Technique.
But just when the escape plan was about to succeed, they were discovered by Qin Yishan’s son, Dongdong.
None of the adults saw it, but the kid did. That’s actually normal enough—two-year-olds’ eyes are very pure, they really can see a lot of things that disappear from sight once you grow up.
So Xiao Bai’s plan to smuggle the kids out collapsed smoothly. Gu Qiaoqiao chased it down and gave it a good beating, then drove the wolf and the cat both back to Gu Garden.
When Sima Xiaowen told the Members of the Gu Family about it, everyone was laughing themselves silly.
Gu Qianqian even hugged Xiao Bai and praised it for being brave and clever, but she still reminded it that next time, before doing something like that, it had to at least inform the kids’ parents, otherwise just imagine how anxious they’d be.
Even so, the wolf and the cat still got scolded by Gu Junbai.
After all, those two kids aren’t kittens or wolf pups, but these two creatures just never give up their scheming little hearts.
It’s obvious that once the kids are a bit older, they’re going to be hard to manage, but a scolding is still necessary, so today the wolf and the cat were being extra well-behaved, lying at Gu Junbai’s feet pretending to be little angels.
And Sima Xiaowen was actually still curious whether there was some sort of secret on Xiao Bao and Xiao Bei that made the wolf and the cat like them so much.
But that wasn’t important. What mattered was the gossip she and Gu Qiaoqiao had been whispering about in private.
About Yun Luo and Gu Junbai.
In their minds, Yun Luo and Gu Junbai definitely couldn’t be just old friends. Otherwise, how could they still be in touch after such a long time?
And they even knew where the other person was now.
Isn’t that exactly what people call "a telepathic connection"?
Although in the eyes of these two gossiping women, the Gu Family Ancestor was this lofty figure sitting up in the clouds, somewhat detached from the Mortal World’s dust and smoke, if a girl like that really appeared at his side, they’d be more than happy to see it happen.
But now it looked like both she and Gu Qiaoqiao had overthought it. Clearly, there was nothing between him and Yun Luo beyond friendship, not even a hint of ambiguity.
Looks like their Gu Family Ancestor is fated to be single forever.
What surprised Sima Xiaowen, though, was that the Yun Family’s Miss Yun Luo, who had just arrived this morning, seemed to have taken an interest in Chang Qing, who had also just come back.
Sima Xiaowen didn’t really have much confidence in that pairing.
Because in terms of personality, family background, and practically every other aspect, the two of them were worlds apart.
The most important point was that Yun Luo was destined to go home.
Chang Qing is a good kid, someone who deserves to walk through life hand in hand with an even better girl—but that person absolutely cannot be someone like Yun Luo, a Mystic Sect noble with such a complicated background.
As if sensing the stormy thoughts brewing in Sima Xiaowen’s mind, Yun Luo suddenly lifted her head and gave Sima Xiaowen a small smile. "...Sister Xiao Wen, what are you thinking about?"
Well now, this girl really did suit her taste—she spoke straight to the point.
"...I’m thinking about why you always like to block Chang Qing’s way. I’ve never seen anyone play like you do."
"Everyone says Chang Qing is smart. I’m just running an experiment."
Yun Luo blinked innocently as she spoke.
Sima Xiaowen curled her lip but didn’t say anything more. Yun Luo wasn’t serious, but the other two kids were seriously clashing over the board.
In the end, Chang Qing won.
Yun Luo messed around and made trouble, but she still reached the end point a step before Gu Zishu.
In the end, it was Gu Zishu who ended up getting the short end of the stick.
Gu Zishu was extremely unconvinced and kept clamoring for another round, but at that moment, Gu Qianqian came running in, calling crisply, "Zishu, come set off firecrackers, dinner’s about to start."
At the words "set off firecrackers," both Gu Zishu and Chang Qing got fired up.
No matter how steady they usually were, they were still boys at heart, naturally drawn to that kind of thing. Every year in Gu Garden, it was always Gu Zishu and Chang Qing who set off the firecrackers.
And this year they’d bought more firecrackers than ever, because there was news that this might be the last year they were allowed to set them off outdoors. Starting next year, their whole area would be part of the no-fireworks zone.
After all, the population was growing, and every year there were plenty of fires caused by firecrackers. Everyone supported the new rule—water and fire show no mercy, after all.
Still, it was a bit of a pity. But there was no helping it—this was the Imperial Capital, and safety came first.
So as soon as they heard they could go set off firecrackers, Gu Zishu and Chang Qing dashed out like arrows from a bow. In no time, the crackle and pop of firecrackers sounded outside, signaling that the New Year’s Eve dinner was beginning.
Meanwhile, over at the Chu Family.
Chu Chengfeng had also brought Liu Ling home. Technically, he should be spending New Year with the elders, but he was going to be living in the Imperial Capital for a while, so he had to do as the locals do. Besides, it had been long enough—he really should bring Liu Ling home to let Father Chu and Mother Chu take a look at her. Otherwise, he felt it would be too unfair to Liu Ling.
Father Chu might have had his complaints, but he couldn’t say anything.
Things had already come to this; no amount of talking would change anything, and it would only end up upsetting people.
Mother Chu, on the other hand, truly didn’t mind much, so the atmosphere in the Chu Family was actually quite warm and cheerful.
Especially since Chu Chengfeng’s income had gone up even more this year.
The red envelopes he handed out to his younger siblings were much fatter too.
No one ever complains about having too much money, so naturally everyone was very happy.
As for Liu Ling, the gloom and unhappiness she’d been mired in these past couple of days had finally lifted a little.
Almost everyone’s smiles were genuine.
But Chu Chengfeng knew that he was using every ounce of strength he had just to keep the smile on his own face.
