Chapter 131: Is the Qi Family a Scary Place?

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Qi Shenbai patiently explained to her, “Only members of the Qi family can’t enter.”

Xu Jiaojiao’s thin eyelashes fluttered a few times as she pursed her lips. In the end, she did not ask anything.

When they walked in, the butler was already waiting at the door to pass them slippers. He even reached out to take their coats.

Xu Jiaojiao changed her shoes and said goodbye to Qi Shenbai. “I’m going back to my room to rest. You should sleep early too.”

Qi Shenbai stared at her back without blinking. Although the gown was very long, it revealed a small part of the back of her neck. Her skin was delicate like cream, making his throat move unconsciously.

Although Xu Jiaojiao did not say anything just now, he knew very well that she still wanted to know.

She wanted to know about the Qi family and about himself. He just had not thought of a way to be honest with her yet.

Xu Jiaojiao took a shower and sat on the sofa. As she wiped her wet hair, she looked at the gown hanging on the hanger.

She thought back to the conversation between Qi Shenbai and his sister outside the car window. She could not hear what they said, but she did see the subtle change in Qi Shenbai’s face.

His gaze was dark and complicated as if shrouded in an undercurrent of sadness.

Was he unhappy about something?

Xu Jiaojiao was immersed in her own thoughts and stopped drying her hair. She did not even notice the knock on the door.

Qi Shenbai pushed open the door and saw the little girl sitting on the sofa with wet hair. She looked like she had been possessed.

“I’m coming in now,” he said softly, afraid he’d startle her.

Xu Jiaojiao came back to her senses and looked up at him with a smile on her face. “You haven’t slept yet?”

Qi Shenbai walked in and handed her the hot milk in his hand. “What are you thinking about? You didn’t even hear the knock on the door.”

Xu Jiaojiao shook her head and hid the thoughts in her eyes. “It’s nothing. 1 just spaced out for a bit.

Every time she lied, her eyes would wander around, not daring to meet his gaze.

Qi Shenbai picked up a towel and sat beside her to help her dry her hair. His thin lips parted slightly. “It’ll be New Year’s Eve in a few days.”

Xu Jiaojiao took a sip of milk and nodded gently.

“You can go back and spend the New Year with your family.” Qi Shenbai spoke again. “Take advantage of the New Year to spend more time with Grandma. She must miss you very much. There are many things for me to do back at the old residence, so I won’t accompany you.”

Xu Jiaojiao heaved a sigh of relief in her heart, but there was also an inexplicable sense of disappointment. “It’s alright, I can handle it myself.”

They were only in a contractual marriage. Although they were in a relationship now, there was no law that stipulated that lovers had to spend the New Year together. It was normal for them to go home separately.

If Grandma asked, she could just come up with a reason. However

“Jiaojiao…” Qi Shenbai put down the towel in his hand.

Xu Jiaojiao turned to look at him.

Qi Shenbai’s Adam’s apple bobbed imperceptibly. There seemed to be something flickering in his black eyes. His thin lips parted slightly. “My parents divorced a long time ago. Not long after, my mother remarried. My father also passed away a few years ago.”

Xu Jiaojiao was slightly stunned. A complicated emotion flashed across her eyes. She pursed her lips and wanted to say something to comfort him, but she could not say anything.

Qi Shenbai seemed to see through her dilemma. “I got over it a long time ago. It’s just that there are a lot of people in the Qi family. Every New Year’s Eve, everyone has to spend the New Year at the old residence. 1 don’t want you to get to know those people so early. You can’t handle them.”

The Qi family knew about his marriage, but he had always prevented the Qi family members from appearing in front of her.

He did not want them to bully or trouble her. At the same time, he wanted to protect her.

Xu Jiaojiao imagined the various rules of those big families and frowned. “Is the Qi family… a very scary place?”

Even if she could hide from them now, would she be able to hide from them forever? Not seeing them for the rest of her life was definitely not a solution. Would they force her to break up with Qi Shenbai?

When she thought about how she had just fallen in love and how she might be torn from him in a few days, she felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

“It’s not that serious.” Qi Shenbai paused for a moment and said with a smile, “It’s just that they’re too naggy. If you go, they won’t stop bothering you.”

Once those elderly uncles and aunties saw her, they would definitely urge them to have a child as soon as possible.

Xu Jiaojiao heaved a sigh of relief and said gently, “That’s fine, I’m not afraid of them nagging me. If they say something nice, I’ll just smile back. If it’s not nice, 1’11 nod and pretend I didn’t hear it.”

Qi Shenbai did not expect her to be so resilient. He reached out a finger and gently scratched the tip of her nose. “You’re so cute.. Who would have the heart to say nasty things to you?”