Chapter 8: The Scum Sister is Playing the Victim Again

She had been in poor health since she was a child. Fu Ge didn't think much of it; he glanced up at the adults chatting ahead of them and said, "Do you want to go to the hospital and get it checked out?"

Qiao Chen was just lying off the cuff and wasn't actually feeling unwell, so she immediately stopped him. She grabbed his arm and said vaguely, "No need, Ge-ge. It’s just my old ailment. I might have just felt a bit of chest tightness from staying inside for too long. I just came out to breathe some fresh air; I'll be fine in a moment."

Fu Ge looked concerned. He gently rubbed her back to help her breathe, his voice softening, "You should have told me sooner if you weren't feeling well. Aunt Tang and the others aren't the type to mind."

Looking at his handsome face, Qiao Chen’s mood, which had been stifled because of Qiao Nian, finally eased. She clung to his arm, sweet and shy, and replied, "Mm."

After that "mm," she seemed to remember something and spoke hypocritically, "I saw Sister earlier. How did she end up at Shui Xie Xuan? I remember Dad saying her biological parents are from Luohe County. There’s only one train from Raocheng to Luohe County every day. Did she fail to buy a ticket?"

Fu Ge frowned slightly at the mention of this. He looked back at Shui Xie Xuan but didn't take it to heart, "Maybe."

Qiao Chen bit her pink lips and said hesitantly, "Actually, Sister was a bit at odds with Grandma before she left today, and she didn't take the money Dad offered her. She seems to think we’re trying to drive her away! And about you and me… I… Ge-ge, am I being too greedy? I shouldn't have taken you from Sister."

"It has nothing to do with you!" Seeing the mist gathering in her watery eyes, Fu Ge felt a pang in his heart and immediately said, "I was the one who fell for you first. Qiao Nian… she will bless us."

Qiao Chen had been frail since she was a child, soft and weak; the only brave thing she had ever done was to be with him. As a man, he couldn't just walk away from that responsibility.

Qiao Chen was so fragile that he couldn't bear the thought of her without his care. As for Qiao Nian, he could only say he was sorry.

"Mm."

Seeing that his expression was cold and devoid of any lingering affection when he spoke of Qiao Nian, Qiao Chen felt much better, and she responded softly.

Deep down, however, she was still wondering about the reason for Qiao Nian’s presence at Shui Xie Xuan.

Perhaps, just as Grandma and the others said, Qiao Nian coming here was just a coincidence.

……

She composed herself and wore a smile. Suddenly, the corner of her eye caught a figure walking out from another direction.

Qiao Nian?!

Qiao Nian was wearing the same clothes she had on when she went out at noon: a T-shirt under a striped shirt, paired with light blue denim shorts that revealed two straight, blindingly white legs.

That face was equally outstanding, devoid of any makeup, her eyes as dark as ink, her lashes lowered. She seemed to possess a mysterious hook that drew everyone's gaze.

Fu Ge clearly saw Qiao Nian as well and exclaimed in surprise, "Qiao Nian?"

Besides Qiao Nian, he saw other people too.

Qiao Weimin and the others walking in front heard the exclamation and stopped to look over.

Tang Wei, who was being supported by her daughter, had been walking in front, but she suddenly stopped talking to He Yujuan upon seeing someone.

She had her daughter help her walk over. When she reached Elder Jiang, she greeted him with a beaming smile, "Elder Jiang, what brings you to Raocheng?"

Elder Jiang?

The Qiao family froze in unison!

Mrs. Fu’s expression shifted slightly as she thought of something, her eyes sweeping across the Jiang family’s group in an instant.

Jiang?

She had heard of this surname. Could it be the Jiang she was thinking of?

The social circles in Raocheng were divided into various tiers. The Qiao family had just barely stepped into this circle, at best in the ninth tier. The Fu family was much better off than the Qiao family, with people in their family holding government positions.