Chapter 108: The Choice (4)

She answered.

“Qiao Xi, have you gotten home yet?”

“Yes.”

“When are you coming out? I’m at Ning Yi’s place right now. What a coincidence—her family is celebrating a festival. Her father asked her to... well, let Ning Yi tell you herself. I gave her the phone.”

Soon, a different female voice came through.

“Qiao Xi, this is Ning Yi.”

“Go ahead.”

“My family’s celebrating today, and some relatives have come over. My dad wants me to stay home, so why don’t you come to my place tonight? If you agree, I think Young Master Gu and the others won’t mind.”

“That’s fine,” Qiao Xi said.

“Then just come over when it’s time.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Qiao Xi drank some water and lay down.

She hadn’t slept well last night and had been on the road for so long; she truly felt exhausted. Yet, she couldn’t feel a trace of sleepiness.

Tonight, she would see Gu Heng…

She had said she would talk to him, but what to say and how to say it—she had no plan in her heart at all.

Right, she also needed to call her father.

Suddenly remembering this, she took out her phone, opened her contacts, and dialed.

After a long while, no one answered. It seemed he was really busy.

She was about to hang up when someone finally picked up.

“Xiao Xi, why are you calling me at this hour? What’s up?”

“I just got home and wanted to let you know.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? Look at me—I have an engagement tonight and won’t be home until late.”

“It’s nothing,” Qiao Xi said.

“I’ll call Huai Wei later and have her cook some of your favorite dishes.”

“No need. My classmate invited me to her family’s festival today.”

“Oh, alright then. Just don’t come back too late. Okay, Dad’s busy now. We’ll talk tonight.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Qiao Xi lowered her hand and stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Before she realized it, she had fallen asleep—until her phone rang, waking her.

It was Qiu Qiu calling again.

She answered, and Qiu Qiu’s voice came through, “Qiao Xi, where are you? It’s past six, and everyone here is already getting ready to start the banquet. Why aren’t you here yet?”

Only then did Qiao Xi notice the room had grown dark.

“I overslept. I’m on my way now.”

“Young Master Gu isn’t here either. No one knows what he’s doing, and his phone can’t be reached,” Qiu Qiu mumbled.

Qiao Xi was silent for a moment.

After hanging up, she hesitated, then pulled out Gu Heng’s number and dialed.

It went straight to voicemail.

She tried again, but still no answer.

What was going on? Why couldn’t she reach him?

Maybe he was already on his way to Ning Yi’s house.

Thinking this, she went to wash her face, put on her coat, and headed downstairs.

The living room light was on, the television was playing softly, and Zhou Huai Wei was on the phone.

Qiao Xi walked over and politely said, “Auntie, I’m going out.”

Zhou Huai Wei nodded and turned back to her call.

Qiao Xi then turned and left.

After closing the door behind her, she was about to take a car—Ning Yi’s home was quite far.

A few steps later, she stopped.

Not far ahead, a motorcycle was parked, and the streetlight cast a long shadow of the person sitting sideways on it.

Even though the face was shrouded in shadow, she recognized it as Gu Heng.

After hesitating, she walked over.

Stopping in front of him, she asked, “Why are you here?”

Gu Heng didn’t move, only looked at her. His voice was low, emotionless.

“Er Nan said you were back.”

“How long have you been here?” she asked again.