Chapter 767 - 763: Complicated
Gu Jiaojiao poured Fang Ziyin a glass of water and said with a smile.
"I’m having a few friends over for a barbecue today, so you should stay and have some."
Fang Ziyin thanked her softly. Facing Gu Jiaojiao, the anger she’d shown Jiang Baishu vanished, and her voice became much softer.
She sipped the sweet drink, and just as she was about to ask a question, Jiang Baishu, who Gu Jiaojiao had sent to pick vegetables, rushed in.
His suspicious gaze fell directly on Fang Ziyin.
Gu Jiaojiao was surprised for a moment. She then glanced at the vegetables in the basket, which were a complete mess. It was obvious he’d just grabbed a few handfuls before running over.
She gave Jiang Baishu a suspicious look, but he averted his gaze.
Gu Jiaojiao decided not to press him and took the basket.
"You two stay here and talk. I’m going to go prep the vegetables."
With that, she leaned closer to Jiang Baishu and whispered, "Don’t be mean to the girl."
’As a woman of experience, how could she not see the girl’s intentions?’
’She came all this way to find Jiang Baishu. Even if he doesn’t like her, he shouldn’t embarrass her. He just needs to make things clear. From the looks of her, Fang Ziyin seems to have an honest face and a steady gaze; she’s not the type to be a clingy, manipulative girl.’
Jiang Baishu gave an awkward grunt of agreement. He knew Gu Jiaojiao had misunderstood and wanted to explain.
But Gu Jiaojiao had already left with the basket.
The basket contained a few eggplants, a bundle of chives, a head of cauliflower, a few potatoes, and some shiitake mushrooms.
Gu Jiaojiao prepped the vegetables, then took a look at the meat. Even though it was only pork, her culinary skills were on full display. There were not only stuffed peppers, but also meatballs, slices of pork belly, and marinated pork skewers with mutton fat mixed in.
The cured bacon was a simpler affair. In addition, there were small Chinese sausages. These were also made at the end of the year and had been thoroughly air-dried, making them perfect for either hot pot or grilling.
Still, there wasn’t a lot of pork, so she grabbed her basket to go buy some dried tofu and tofu skins from an old woman in the village.
「In the courtyard.」
Jiang Baishu’s expression was cold, and he remained firm about her leaving.
Fang Ziyin’s hand clutching the glass was strikingly pale.
After a moment’s thought, she couldn’t help but ask.
"Is it because of her?"
Fang Ziyin couldn’t stop herself from fidgeting with the glass, her heart in her throat.
Jiang Baishu was about to ask what she meant when he saw Gu Jiaojiao emerge from the kitchen. He shot to his feet almost instantly. "What’s wrong?"
Seeing the anxious look on Jiang Baishu’s face, the color instantly drained from Fang Ziyin’s lips.
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t think much of it. ’He’s been acting this way ever since he came back and found out I’d helped Sweet Girl and Xiao Yang, always looking for a way to repay me.’
She sighed resignedly. "You just stay here with your friend. I’m going to buy some tofu. Everything in the kitchen is prepped, so you can help me set up the grill in the yard."
These were simple tasks for Jiang Baishu.
Jiang Baishu readily agreed. Gu Jiaojiao picked up her basket to leave, but then she paused. She turned to Fang Ziyin and said with a smile, "Ziyin, it’s okay if I call you that, right?"
Fang Ziyin shook her head. Gu Jiaojiao then casually added, "Why don’t you come with me to buy the tofu?"
Her words startled Jiang Baishu so much that he almost dropped the stone in his hand. Luckily, he quickly composed himself and looked up at Gu Jiaojiao. "How about I go with you instead?"
Normally, Jiang Baishu would never have said something like that, but right now he was terrified that Fang Ziyin would tell Gu Jiaojiao about his past. In a moment of panic, the words just tumbled out of his mouth.
Gu Jiaojiao was speechless.
"That’s not necessary."
"Ziyin, let’s go."
Fang Ziyin suddenly felt a surge of triumph.
She hurried to catch up, not forgetting to shoot a look back at Jiang Baishu.
Jiang Baishu pressed his lips together, a look of worry in his eyes.