To You, My Beloved

Chapter 35: Birthday Party Invitation VII

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Miss Gu has come over this morning.”

In the process of picking up some food with his chopsticks, Tang Shi paused briefly and asked, “Miss Gu?”

“Miss Gu Qingcheng.” The servant served Tang Shi a bowl of soup and added, “This morning, Miss Gu brought over a basket of freshly harvested vegetables. She is now with Miss Tang in her art studio upstairs.”

Tang Shi frowned slightly and said nothing.

Having finished setting the table, the servant said, “Young Master Shi, I’m going upstairs to let Miss Tang and Miss Gu know that lunch is ready to be served.”

Not responding, Tang Shi continued to sample the food. After chewing for a minute, he suddenly stopped the servant who was about to go upstairs, saying, “Hang on.”

The servant turned around and looked questioningly at him.

Putting his chopsticks down, Tang Shi stood up and said, “I’ll go and get them.”

Without waiting for the servant to respond, he stood up and headed for the stairs.

The door to the art studio had been left slightly ajar. Tang Shi walked toward the studio and was about to push open the door and enter when he heard Gu Qingcheng saying, “Elder Sister Tang Wan, feel free to call me if you need help.”

Frowning, Tang Shi stopped and then he heard Gu Qingcheng continuing, after a slight hesitation, “Elder Sister Tang Wan, isn’t it Tang Shi’s birthday in a few days?”

This was so predictable! She never ventured into anything without an ulterior motive. Where Gu Qingcheng was concerned, everything that she did had a motive.

Starting to get upset, Tang Shi heard his sister’s reply, “Yes, next Wednesday. If you are available…” At those words, Tang Shi suddenly pushed the door open and entered the studio.

…

Gu Qingcheng tried hard to suppress her excitement, knowing that Tang Wan was about to invite her to Tang Shi’s birthday party.

But before Tang Wan could issue the invitation, someone had opened the door behind Gu Qingcheng, saying, “Lunch is ready.”

When Gu Qingcheng heard those words, she clenched her fists so hard that she almost dropped the paintbrush that she’d been holding.

“Why was he home? Hadn’t he taken the car out?” Gu Qingcheng’s thoughts were in turmoil.

The rest of what Tang Wan had intended to say was thus caught in her throat and never uttered. Turning around, she said teasingly, “I thought that I’d heard wrong. I definitely wasn’t expecting that the person who’d come to inform me that lunch was served was really you.”

Tang Shi, seemingly unaffected by his sister’s teasing, appeared unfazed. However, the next second, he turned to look at Gu Qingcheng and asked, “What are you doing here?”

He sounded cold and distant, making Gu Qingcheng feel distinctly unwelcome.

Gu Qingcheng was so embarrassed that she didn’t know how to respond.

Tang Wan looked apologetically at Gu Qingcheng before turning to Tang Shi. “I asked Qingcheng to come help me touch up the paintings that I had done in the three years when she wasn’t here.”

Tang Shi remained expressionless.

Fully aware of Tang Shi’s annoyance, Gu Qingcheng looked at Tang Wan and said, “Elder Sister Tang Wan, I’ll be off then.”

“Stay for lunch.”

Shaking her head, Gu Qingcheng gave Tang Shi a slight nod by way of greeting and walked quickly to the door.

Just as Gu Qingcheng was walking out of the studio, Tang Shi remarked nastily, “How many more paintings have you got to be touched up? Pack them up now and let her take them away with her. Otherwise, she will keep using that as an excuse to come here every day. Very annoying!”