Chapter 27: Sisters Reunite

  Gu Qingxia wanted to say a few more words, but Qingjin had already impatiently spoken up: "Sister Xia, do you have anything else to say? If not, then I'll be going in!" Although it was a questioning sentence, she didn't stop and continued walking forward.

  Gu Qingxia was taken aback by Gu Qingjin's words and actions, which were so different from his usual self. When she came to her senses, all she saw was Gu Qingjin's retreating figure. She stomped her foot in frustration at Gu Qingjin's back, wondering when he had become so good at hiding his true feelings. Had he seen through her intentions? No, that was impossible. Wait a minute, hadn't Gu Qingjin been like this the last time they were at their grandmother's place? Had Gu Qingjin really changed?

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  The door curtain was lifted, and when Gu Qingjin walked into the inner room, the first thing she saw was her grandmother Shen Shi sitting at the top with a smile on her face. Next to her sat her mother Gu Shi in a bright red peony embroidered dress. On the other side was a middle-aged woman approaching thirty wearing a lake blue blouse, with a strand of neatly combed hair adorned with a gold and jade hairpin. Her body exuded an air of dignity that calmed people's hearts. Gu Qingjin knew that this must be her third aunt Su Shi.

  Shen saw Qingjin coming in and smiled happily: "Qinger, come quickly, Grandma will introduce you to a new sister. This is your Third Uncle's daughter, your Fourth Sister Gu Qingyao. From now on, you sisters have someone to play with."

  Qing Jin walked to Shen's side as she was told, but instead of looking at Gu Qing Yao, she pretended to be sentimental and opened her mouth: "Ah——Grandma has a new sister and forgot about me! Seeing Grandma being so affectionate with her own sister, it's as if she's afraid I'll bully the new sister. It's really 'only seeing the smile of the newcomer and not hearing the cry of the old one'!"

  "You little monkey, you're the only one who's being naughty, is this because you're jealous of your fourth sister? Your grandmother used to not spoil you, you heartless little thing." Shen Shi heard Qing Jin's words and laughed as she scolded her, looking at Qing Jin's intentionally pitiful appearance.

  Upon hearing Shen's words, Gu Qingjin was about to respond when a soft and sweet voice came from beside her: "Second sister, I am fourth sister Gu Qingyao. YAO won't compete with second sister for grandmother's favor, so second sister doesn't need to worry."

  Although he had just heard the voice outside and had expected to meet Gu Qingyao after entering, when he really heard the clear and sweet voice coming from beside him, Qingjin's body still couldn't help but stiffen for a moment, but quickly returned to normal before anyone else noticed.

  Qing Jin shifted her gaze to the girl she had been deliberately ignoring since entering the house, looking at the unfamiliar girl in front of her. At this time, Gu Qing Yao did not have the gentle and elegant appearance that would later be described as "water-like eyes and mountain-like eyebrows", nor was she the dignified and composed Sixth Princess who would be revered as a role model.

  At this time, the girl-like Gu Qingyao was still a bit plump, wearing a pink dress, a small and delicate little thing, with a slightly chubby face that was tender and lovely, and even her skin was tender. At this moment, she smiled, and when she smiled, there were two dimples on her cheeks, as if she could smile into people's hearts.

  What a sweet and lovely, kind and harmless little girl, with those beautiful eyes looking at you, full of innocence and transparency, making you can't help but like her, wanting to treat her well with all your heart. Qing Jin thought of being enthusiastic and friendly when meeting Guo Qing Yao's most beautiful eyes, but in the end, she only smiled politely and said faintly: "Fourth sister is good!"

  Although he thought of being friendly with Gu Qingyao and maintaining a peaceful surface, when he saw those clean and transparent eyes, Gu Qingyu wanted to be enthusiastic and friendly but couldn't.

  A scene appeared involuntarily before her eyes, a restless man, the child on the sickbed, those beautiful eyes looked at her with guilt, and he said something she had been struggling to say but couldn't bring herself to say - the prescription. The man's extremely cold glance made her feel like she was falling into an ice cellar.

  The scene shifted, and the woman lay weakly on the couch. Those beautiful eyes, filled with misty clarity, told her that she was heartless, even scolding her for being so cold-blooded and unfeeling. A few simple words easily pushed her to the brink of despair, making her lose something precious that she hadn't even had time to realize she had.

  Thinking of this, Gu Qingjin made an effort to press down the surging undercurrents in her soul. She could not care about Long Han anymore and had already stopped loving him, but... Her hand clenched tightly into a fist inside her sleeve, she calmly turned her head and continued chatting with Shen Shi.

  Next to her, Qingyao smiled sweetly and saw that this beautiful second sister only greeted herself faintly and didn't bother with her again. Her beautiful eyes immediately sparkled with starlight, she didn't understand why this pretty sister didn't like her, feeling a little wronged in her heart.

  Gu Qingjin didn't think about Gu Qingyao's grievances and injuries, but instead talked to Shen Shi about some trivial daily matters.

  Her eyes, however, secretly took note of Gu Qingyao beside her. After seeing her own cold demeanor, Gu Qingyao's sweet smile was withdrawn, and her slightly hurt little face made her feel a pang of guilt.

  Qing Jin didn't pay attention to her, continuing to chat with Shen Shi. What was strange was that Shen Shi also didn't know what kind of mood she was in, letting Qing Yu be cold and distant towards her. She thought that Shen Shi would be unhappy with this attitude, but on the contrary, Shen Shi listened to her talk about these everyday trivial matters with great enthusiasm. Looking at Shen Shi's expression, Qing Jin continued to chat with Shen Shi without changing her tone, while quickly thinking in her mind about Shen Shi's intentions.

  Suddenly, a light bulb flashed in her mind, and Qingjin immediately understood what Shen meant by cooperating with her. It was nothing more than wanting to test Gu Qingyao, feeling that she had somehow helped Gu Qingyao achieve something. However, if she were to treat Gu Qingyao like she did in her past life, warmly chatting with her after seeing her, Gu Qingjin really couldn't do it.

  Thinking of Shen's meaning, Gu Qingjin again spoke to Shen while diverting a thread of attention to Gu Qingyao. Seeing Gu Qingyao's cold demeanor after being hurt, although she didn't continue to sparkle, she stood quietly on the side, seriously listening to their conversation. Gu Qingjin couldn't help but secretly admire her.

  At this time, an ordinary little girl would have cried out in grievance, but looking at Gu Qingyao's calm demeanor despite her injuries, Su really did a good job educating her.

  On the other side, Su Shi and Qing Jin's mother were chatting with each other, but they also spared a thought for their daughter Gu Qing Yao. Seeing Old Madam and Eldest Sister's daughter Gu Qing Jin happily chatting away, her own daughter Gu Qing Yao standing alone on the side, enviously watching, Su Shi felt some heartache.

  She knew that her mother-in-law was testing her daughter, but seeing her usually spoiled daughter being ignored by her mother-in-law and Gu Qingjin, she suddenly felt a little dissatisfied with her mother-in-law and the girl who was talking to her. She felt annoyed at her sister-in-law who kept nagging nonstop in front of her, and looking at her daughter's understanding and quiet demeanor, she couldn't help but want to go over and comfort her...