Chapter 23: Jiang Heming Invites Her Out Again

Xia Huajiao felt a warmth in her heart, and her expression softened. "Thank you for the comfort!"

Gu Zhaojing’s brow also relaxed. He added, "Tao Ge won't start his livestream until at least nine tonight, so it won’t interfere with you watching the light show. You can even livestream from the show yourself."

"However, since you'll be moving out within a month, there's no need to tell Heming that you are my tenant."

Xia Huajiao paused, looking at him in surprise. Was he trying to comfort her with the light show, or was he trying to persuade her to meet Jiang Heming so that Jiang Heming could comfort her?

She quickly shook her head. "I didn't turn down Jiang Heming because you were coming over to discuss the rent. We did add each other as friends, but I wouldn't go out for a night with a man I just met. It’s too unsafe!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she froze. Uh, she had also met Gu Zhaojing for the first time today, and here she was, alone in this room with him. Wasn't that also unsafe?

She hurriedly and bashfully added, "Of course, this is your house. You're here to collect rent, and I'm your tenant, just chatting with you here. This has nothing to do with safety."

After a brief moment of surprise, a pleasant curve touched Gu Zhaojing's lips. "Thank you for trusting me so much!"

Xia Huajiao’s face heated up. "You're welcome. Besides, I've seen plenty of light shows before; I’m really not interested in this one!" Even if he were the one inviting her, even if she liked him more than Jiang Heming, she wouldn't go!

A flash of surprise crossed Gu Zhaojing’s eyes again, and then, he let out a rare, light laugh. "Fine. As it happens, I haven't agreed to him either."

Xia Huajiao looked at him in surprise. His previous smiles had all been very subtle, but this one was clear. It made his handsome face look softer, more beautiful, more dazzling, and more eye-catching.

He reached out his hand. "Where is the television remote? I want to watch the news."

Xia Huajiao’s almond-shaped eyes widened in astonishment. "You want to watch the news at my place?"

Gu Zhaojing looked around the room as if it were only natural. "This is my house!"

Uh... that was a fair point!

For some reason, Xia Huajiao suddenly felt a bit happy. She steadied herself, quickly retrieved the remotes for the TV and the set-top box from under the coffee table, handed them to him, and stood up. "I'll go make you some tea. Is chrysanthemum tea okay?"

"Thank you!"

By the time Xia Huajiao returned with two steaming cups of chrysanthemum tea, the television was still playing commercials. After Gu Zhaojing thanked her and placed his cup on the coffee table, she asked curiously, "Earlier at the 4S dealership, I heard you say you were going back to school. Are you a teacher? What do you teach?"

The corners of Gu Zhaojing’s mouth curled slightly. "Take a guess!"

Huh? This handsome man was becoming more and more fond of teasing her! But she found she quite enjoyed this atmosphere.

Xia Huajiao’s eyes darted as she tentatively asked, "You wouldn't happen to teach vocal music, would you?"

A glimmer of light flashed in Gu Zhaojing’s eyes as he looked at her, showing a faint smile. "Why did you guess that?"

"You are very sensitive to sound," Xia Huajiao said with certainty. "I think I’m quite sensitive to sound myself, but I still couldn't be sure you were the landlord. You were able to guess it was me while we were still at the phone shop. You’re amazing!"

The smile in Gu Zhaojing’s eyes deepened. "You guessed right. I’ll keep the reward for now."

Xia Huajiao’s eyes lit up. "There’s a reward? What kind of reward?" Her gaze had previously held a hint of provocation, but at this moment, she had dropped all her defenses. Her eyes were joyful and clear, sparkling like stars in the night sky.

Gu Zhaojing met her gaze for a moment, appearing slightly dazed, before shifting his eyes toward the TV. Soon, a gentle smile appeared on his handsome lips, and his voice sounded exceptionally light and sincere: "I can't give it to you yet, but I promise I will before you move out."

"Okay!" Xia Huajiao was truly happy now. She was getting a reward from a top-tier heartthrob! Given everything he had shown so far, the reward should be quite something.

Just then, she received a message from Jiang Heming: "Beauty, do you have time this weekend? If the weather is nice, how about we go horseback riding? In a little while, it’ll be too hot for outdoor activities."

Ah? Thinking of the intense enthusiasm Jiang Heming had shown in the afternoon, and looking at Gu Zhaojing—who shifted between being cold and gentle—Xia Huajiao felt a bit conflicted again. She had just used the topic of the rental to probe the handsome landlord, but his answer... had been a bit ambiguous.

Xia Huajiao arched her eyebrows. Looking at Gu Zhaojing, who was watching TV, she thought for a moment and decided to ask frankly, "Six-One-One is asking me to go horseback riding again this weekend. Does he invite every girl he meets out this frequently?"

Gu Zhaojing shifted his gaze from the TV screen to her face, a strange look in his eyes. "Do you care?"

Xia Huajiao laughed. "Just curious. His screen name is so unique, and I'm not illiterate."

The strange look in Gu Zhaojing’s eyes faded. He looked at her steadily. "When you were livestreaming about getting your car this afternoon, I was giving a lecture, so I missed it."

Xia Huajiao was stunned. Was he... explaining himself to her?

Gu Zhaojing continued, "Later, Heming said he went early on purpose to help you pick out your license plate. He does have many female friends and has dated a few, but he has always been a gentleman toward women and generally parts on good terms."

"If you have no interest in him, you can turn him down, or you can first ask if others are going. The environment there is quite nice. If it’s a group outing, I suggest you go; think of it as making friends and clearing your head."

Xia Huajiao blinked her large eyes in confusion. "Aren't you going?"

Gu Zhaojing tilted his head slightly and said with great seriousness, "As of now, he hasn't contacted me!"

Xia Huajiao paused, then laughed. She replied to Jiang Heming on her phone: "If it's just the two of us, forget it. If it’s a group, let me know once the time is confirmed."

She looked at Gu Zhaojing again. "I told him to invite a few more people; he should understand my stance."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Gu Zhaojing’s phone rang. He glanced at it, turned the TV volume down to a whisper, and held the screen toward her. "It’s Heming!"

He answered, put it on speaker, and said in a short, forceful tone, "What is it?"

Jiang Heming’s voice came through: "I invited Yuehua Jiaobai for the weekend, and she actually asked me to get a few more people—she doesn't want to go alone with me! Zhaojing, I’ve been hit hard!"

"I rushed over this afternoon to help her pick a license plate. I thought our relationship had taken a big step forward, but she still won't go out alone with me!"

Xia Huajiao was stunned, her fair face flushing instantly. Gu Zhaojing looked at her strangely before asking the phone, "Stop acting. When have you ever been hit hard by a girl?"

Jiang Heming sounded very aggrieved. "As long as you’re around, I get hit hard!"

Xia Huajiao covered her mouth, wanting to laugh. Gu Zhaojing looked at her again, a rare gentleness in his eyes, and continued to the phone, "But I’m not there."

"I still want to ask her out!" Jiang Heming pleaded pitifully. "She’s willing to add me as a friend, so she definitely doesn't mind being friends with me! Why don't you come too? I’ll invite Tao Ge as well. You two can help me out—I really want to pursue her."

Xia Huajiao’s smile froze. This... she shouldn't be listening to the rest of this man's complaints. She stood up to leave.

But suddenly, her wrist was firmly gripped by a large, warm hand. Xia Huajiao turned back in shock, looking at Gu Zhaojing, who had reached out from the sofa to catch her.