Back Then, I Adored You

“Old Master Gu owes the Liang family two lives. Xiaokou likes Brother Sheng, and Grandpa Liang had visited the Gu family personally to propose for their union. How could the Old Master dare to reject…

“Do you know what Old Master Liang said when he approached Old Master Gu? He said, ‘Old mate Gu, I’ve never asked you for anything in my life. I never even accepted the Gu Company shares that you wanted to give me back then. I only ask for one thing from you. I only have one precious granddaughter and she likes Yusheng…’

“Now that he’s said this, what else can Old Master Gu say? Obviously he had to agree…”

Lu Bancheng took a deep breath. “Say, why did I mention this to you all of a sudden?”

“Xiao’ai, just forget I ever said anything about this. Brother Sheng does not appreciate others gossiping about him. It’s just that I feel terrible after seeing how Brother Sheng looked when I went to the hospital today…”

“Xiao’ai?” Sensing that Qin Zhi’ai had drifted off, Lu Bancheng called out to her.

Sliding back into the present, Qin Zhi’ai shot him a smile. “I feel like what you’re telling me is more like a story in an opera than a real life.”

Lu Bancheng laughed slightly and then quickly drank two large glasses of cold tea to soothe his dry throat and mouth from talking so much.

Changing the subject, Qin Zhi’ai and Lu Bancheng continued to chat while they ate their food. Lu Bancheng even asked her if Xu Wennuan had contacted her.

Qin Zhi’ai let him know that Nuannuan was currently at XC and that her mood seemed to have improved significantly when she’d talked to her earlier in the afternoon.

“Ooh,” Lu Bancheng replied with a hint of delight in his eyes. He shared with her a recent scandal at XC about an athlete’s extramarital affair and how the athlete’s wife had chosen to forgive him. Reflecting on the story now that he’d retold it, he asked Qin Zhi’ai, “Do all women choose forgiveness when their man is unfaithful?”

Qin Zhi’ai tried to be objective. “It’s hard to say. Most women may choose to forgive for the sake of a child. But… some people draw the line at infidelity and might not be able to accept and forgive. However… you do know that when a couple has gone through thick and thin for such a long time, some habits may already be ingrained in them, making it hard for them to break up…”

The trace of a smile in Lu Bancheng’s eyes after he had heard about Xu Wennuan’s improved spirits slowly disappeared upon hearing Qin Zhi’ai’s words.

After a long time, he finally replied, “Oh.” And with her own set of worries, Qin Zhi’ai didn’t speak any further. Their table was silent for a long time.

When Lu Bancheng beckoned for the waiter to settle the bill, Qin Zhi’ai looked up. Staring at him, she asked, “Brother Bancheng, between love and kinship, which would you choose?”

“Why would you ask this all of a sudden?”

“No reason. It’s just a random thought that I have after hearing about Master Gu’s story just now.”

After pondering for a long time, Lu Bancheng eventually said, “I’m not sure how to choose since the incident did not happen to me. But I suppose I would choose kinship.”

“Yes, kinship…” Qin Zhi’ai nodded her head in agreement. After a moment, she spoke again in a faint voice, “I will also let him choose kinship.”

“Huh? What’d you say?” Lu Bancheng asked quizzically.

“It’s nothing.” Looking up, she smiled at him as she shook her head. “Brother Bancheng, thanks for treating me to dinner tonight.”