Gu Nian suddenly proclaimed, "Nanxing, my words will always be true. I will always be by your side. When you turn around, I will be there because you are the person who I love the most in this world."
I was flabbergasted. What is going on? Why the sudden confession?
Gu Nian's smiling gaze moved behind me. I turned around and saw Jing Tian loom over me. Fuck, it's a trap! I glared furiously at Gu Nian. Why is he purposely making my life so hard?!
As expected, Jing Tian's face was dark. I quickly reached out to grab his arm. "Why are you here? Didn't you need to accompany the Old Master?" Jing Tian touched my chin. "Because I was worried about you." He looked at Gu Nian.
Gu Nian smiled, "Nanxing, don't be mad. I really mean what I said."
"You really mean to dig a hole for me to fall into," I replied bitterly.
"Master Liu's determination sure is touching." Jing Tian said bluntly.
Gu Nian nodded. "Yes, and I hope one day I will be able to move Nanxing. Master Qi, when the day comes that you feel like surrendering, please notify me because I will swoop Nanxing away at any time."
Jing Tian practically squeezed the words out of his teeth. "That day will never come, so Master Liu, you don't need to wait anymore."
Gu Nian didn't mind. "Life is unpredictable. Master Qi, never say never. After all, you are not only Master Qi of the Ardent Flame Alliance. You are also Master Qi of the Jing Family."
Jing Tian said coldly, "You don't need to worry about me. Every one of us is juggling double identity. In fact, the situation at the Gu Family is even more complicated than the Jing Family."
Gu Nian smiled. "I am insignificant in the Gu Family, but Master Qi can't say the same."
I was about to suffocate from the tension in the air. I tugged on the corner of Jing Tian's shirt. Jing Tian lowered his eyes to look at me. "Come, I'll bring you to go see my father."
Gu Nian's lips curled up. "Master Qi, good luck."
Jing Tian pulled me away and left.
I turned to Mai Qi. Mai Qi made me an okay sign.
Old Master Qi was chatting joyfully with Master Gu Er and a few others. Ye Qian and Jing Ning stood by their sides. Nan Feng was not around. Clearly, he had been eliminated. No wonder Nanyang was so exasperated. She would have no help from her maiden family. Her life in the Jing Family would be so hard.
Once Jing Tian and I showed up, everyone stopped talking.
Only Old Master Jing was still smiling. "Eh? Little Nanxing? I was wondering why I didn't see you. I thought you didn't come."
I hastily bowed. "Hello, Elder Jing!"
Old Master Jing nodded, gesturing for me to go to his side. "It's been more than a year since we last met. You have become more beautiful!" He glanced at Jing Ning and then lowered his voice to ask me. "How... are you feeling?"
My heart trembled. It turns out Old Master Jing still took me as Jing Ning's fiance. He still expected me to marry Jing Ning. A bad omen rose within me.
I smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Jing. I'm doing well. It's just that I am quite lonely because Jing Ni isn't around."
Old Master Jing smiled. "You're still like a child. In any case, your sister is older than you, so it's natural for her to get married first." Old Master Jing was finding excuses for Jing Ning and the Jing Family. It was because I was too childish that Jing Ning had chosen Nanyang over me. But my chance with Jing Ning would come. My hands gripped into fists.
Jing Ning cut in. "Grandpa, you haven't heard? I am not good enough for Nanxing. She has fallen for my 7th uncle instead."
Master Gu Er and the rest looked at us with an indiscernible smile. Old Master Jing didn't seem to hear Jing Ning, and he continued to smile at me.
Before Jing Ning could say anything, Jing Tian said, "Nanxing is my fiance."
I turned back to look at him. With a calm demeanor, he pulled me towards him. I was startled and tripped. I fell into his arms.
Old Master Jing's face shifted immediately.