Chapter 149: Gao Qingqing

Lu Qian’an remained silent, his gaze fixed intently on Qin Miaoyu. The deep affection in his eyes was unmistakable, yet Qin Miaoyu remained unmoved. At times, she was stubborn; once she made a decision, she would not waver. She did not know what the future held for them, but now, her answer was resolute.

Lu Qian’an was the first to look away. He wanted to smile, but found that the corner of his mouth wouldn’t lift, so he abandoned the attempt. The two sat together in silence.

The Qi family had also been invited to the elderly patriarch’s birthday celebration, and naturally, Jiang Ruxue accompanied her elders. Upon arriving at the Xiang family villa, she noticed Qin Miaoyu and Lu Qian’an, sensing the tense atmosphere between them and inwardly feeling some satisfaction. But when her gaze shifted to another spot, her smile faded.

A few steps ahead stood Mrs. Gao, and at once Jiang Ruxue thought of that madwoman, Gao Qingqing. She had witnessed Gao Qingqing’s madness firsthand, and now Mrs. Gao was staring intently at Lu Qian’an and Qin Miaoyu. This did not bode well in her mind. After all, according to the five-year arrangement, Gao Qingqing was due to return by the end of the year.

She withdrew her gaze slightly, carefully watching Mrs. Gao’s movements. Since witnessing Gao Qingqing’s madness, she seriously suspected that Mrs. Gao might also be unstable. Moreover, Gao Qingqing had been forced to stay abroad for five years, and Mrs. Gao, fiercely protective of her daughter, was notorious for being indiscriminate when defending her. Her fixated stare could only mean trouble.

Given her own family background, Jiang Ruxue was not afraid of Gao Qingqing. Although Gao Qingqing was mad, she still knew to pick on the weak; she would not dare use extreme methods against families of similar standing. But Qin Miaoyu, a name she had never heard before and undoubtedly outside their social circle, was a different matter. If Gao Qingqing returned and decided to act, she would have no qualms.

With this thought, Jiang Ruxue stepped toward Qin Miaoyu and Lu Qian’an.

“Qin Miaoyu, be careful!”

Jiang Ruxue’s words made the two, who had been locked in silence, look up simultaneously.

Lu Qian’an’s face darkened with displeasure as he leaned slightly toward Qin Miaoyu. “Jiang Ruxue, what do you mean by saying that?”

Qin Miaoyu said nothing, but Jiang Ruxue’s tone was peculiar. Although they had met only two or three times before, and Jiang Ruxue always acted spoiled and imperious, this time her manner was different—less polite, yet unlike before.

Feeling aggrieved by Lu Qian’an’s attitude, Jiang Ruxue threw out, “Qian’an, the five years are nearly up; the person’s supposed to come back soon!” Then, she stormed away angrily.

Qin Miaoyu’s curiosity was piqued by Jiang Ruxue’s words. “Lu Qian’an, who is this person Jiang Ruxue said is coming back?”

Lu Qian’an’s expression darkened, but his tone toward Qin Miaoyu remained gentle, though laced with disdain. “It’s someone from the Gao family—the daughter of the Mrs. Gao you asked about earlier. She’s a little unwell mentally. Something happened back then. The Gao family, hoping to leverage their slight connection with us, asked the Lu family not to pursue her responsibility, and in the end sent her abroad to stay for five years.”

“What happened?” Qin Miaoyu asked, sensing it must have been serious to still provoke such loathing in Lu Qian’an. “Jiang Ruxue warned me to be careful; if I know what happened back then, I can at least prepare myself.”

Lu Qian’an paused before recounting the events.

The Gao and Lu families had some acquaintance, so Lu Qian’an knew Gao Qingqing, though their interactions were few and their relationship ordinary. Until one day, Gao Qingqing offended someone and was chased down. Out of consideration for their families’ ties, Lu Qian’an intervened to save her.

However, this act of kindness caused Gao Qingqing to become obsessed with Lu Qian’an, making his life miserable. But this alone did not breed such deep hatred.

Gao Qingqing’s resentment grew because Lu Qian’an refused to be with her. She resorted to extreme measures, once nearly succeeding, which only deepened his disgust.

Five years ago, when the elder Lu began arranging Lu Qian’an’s marriage, the Gao family naturally proposed an alliance, but the Lu family declined.

In a fit of madness, Gao Qingqing, invoking Lu Qian’an’s name, almost ruined several girls’ reputations. Luckily, Lu Qian’an heard of this from others in time, arrived with help, and saved them.

But even then, it was nearly disastrous.

In the end, Gao Qingqing was sentenced to several months in prison. Upon her release, Lu Qian’an, no longer willing to consider the families’ ties, used certain means to have the Gao family agree to send her abroad.

Even now, recalling those events filled Lu Qian’an with anger.

“The agreement was for five years; she’s expected to return by the end of this year. Jiang Ruxue doesn’t know our situation, so she probably came to warn you.”

Qin Miaoyu said, “Then I was wrong to suspect her. No wonder she left so angrily. She’s not so bad after all.”

“Jiang Ruxue is mainly spoiled by her family and indulged, but she has a decent temperament—at least she wouldn’t...” Lu Qian’an’s sentence trailed off, but Qin Miaoyu understood: at least she wouldn’t be like Gao Qingqing—bullying the weak and disregarding others.

If Gao Qingqing had truly respected others, she wouldn’t have tried to destroy several girls who had nothing to do with Lu Qian’an.

A shiver ran down Qin Miaoyu’s spine at the thought. “Lu Qian’an, being with you is really risky!”

His face darkened, but he had no retort.

The Gao Qingqing incident was five years past. After the first two years, when he confirmed she could not live a lavish life abroad, he had ceased to pay attention. If not for seeing Mrs. Gao today and Jiang Ruxue’s mention of her, he might have forgotten her entirely.

Now, if Gao Qingqing really was coming back, perhaps it would be safer if Qin Miaoyu was not by his side.

Mrs. Gao kept her eyes on the scene where Qin Miaoyu and Lu Qian’an interacted cheerfully, then watched Jiang Ruxue storm off in anger. Something flickered in her eyes.

Her daughter had been abroad for five years, forced to fend for herself. It pained Mrs. Gao deeply—and it was all Lu Qian’an’s fault.

If only he had agreed to marry her daughter back then, none of these things would have happened.