The Reconciliation Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – Lunch

Yu Xi was also flabbergasted and didn’t know why Gu He invited Jiang Jingbai over as a guest. However, thinking about it, Jiang Jingbai used to participate in an interest group back in school and Gu He also happened to be in the group. Maybe they had a good relationship then?

The group consisted of all of the school’s elite students. At the time, Yu Xi’s grades were naturally not qualified enough to enter the group, so she could only wait impatiently for Jiang Jingbai to come back from their meetings every day. Once in a while, she would come across Gu He and would even treat him to some snacks or drinks in hopes that he would help take care of her Jiang Jingbai.

Although she didn’t know if he actually did help take care of Jiang Jingbai for her, what she did know was that Hu Xiaojing, who usually followed her to wait for them, and Gu He started to take a liking towards each other little by little during that period.

After that, another couple emerged in the high school.

Yu Xi looked towards Jiang Jingbai. Looks like Gu He probably did take pretty good care of her back when they were at school.

After all, Jiang Jingbai isn’t a person that likes to join in on the fun usually, so unless it was for a true friend, she wouldn’t have visited him right after coming back to the country.

But of course, this was only Yu Xi’s speculations. She didn’t ask Jiang Jingbai about it when they were in the car because she didn’t have any reasons to meddle in other’s personal matters. Yu Xi’s calmness accentuated the other two’s hecticness in comparison, especially Han Yisi’s, who cursed at Jiang Jingbai just a few moments ago.

Han Yisi slowly stood up from the sofa. Surprised, she asked, “Why are you here?”

The tone of her voice was elevated.

Following her, Hu Xiaojing also stood up. She pulled on Han Yisi’s arm and showed an awkward yet courteous smile, “What a coincidence, I didn’t expect you to be the friend Gu He was talking about.”

Jiang Jingbai nodded slightly. Before she could say anything, a man’s voice could be heard from behind them, “Hey, you’re all here.”

“Why aren’t you two going in?”

“Go in, go in. Sit wherever you’ll like.”

Yu Xi tilted her head to the side and saw Gu He and another guy standing behind him.

She recognized the other guy- it was their class monitor. In the past, when he used to pursue Jiang Jingbai, he imitated the behavior of the male leads in dramas by writing her a poem and giving it to her in front of everyone to show his love for her. However, in the end, Jiang Jingbai used two words ‘not interested’ to turn him back.

Even now, there would still be a few people using this matter to make fun of him in the group chat.

Thinking about it, the person that mentioned seeing Jiang Jingbai in the group chat and even suggested holding a class reunion and inviting her seemed to be him as well.

How great, they don’t need to hold the class reunion anymore now that he took an alternate route to get close to Jiang Jingbai by the way of Gu He.

Truly, the friendships that can be used are not wasted at all.

Seeing him, Yu Xi was reminded of something a classmate wrote in the group chat.

Have you not given up yet?

Of course, it’s not like Lu Xiaowei didn’t give up before. In fact, he started to date right after graduating from high school and now the number of girlfriends he’s had before can’t even be counted by ten fingers. However, he still couldn’t forget about Jiang Jingbai.

Otherwise, why would people still speak of Bai Yueguang and Zhu Shazhi¹.

Although he’s never met a Zhu Shazhi before, there was a Bai Yueguang right in front of him.

Especially, after they met again at the airport again, the appearance of this Bai Yueguang completely woke him up again. If Jiang Jingbai is a flower, then previously she was only a budding one where you could only peep out an outline from the outside. But now, she’s completely bloomed, effortlessly noble and attractive at the same time, making it hard for people to shift their eyes away from her.

Lu Xiaowei stared at Jiang Jingbai for a few seconds before smiling, “Jingbai, last time I wrote in the group chat that you were back but they didn’t believe me, them thinking that you’re still abroad.”

“How did you think of coming back to China to develop your career?”

Jiang Jingbai looked towards the talking Lu Xiaowei and spoke up indifferently, “I just wanted to come back.”

Her tone was still ever so cold and did not give the person who asked the question any chance to say anything in response. Lu Xiaowei restrained himself from saying anything when a sound of laughter suddenly sounded from the living room.

It was only when Gu He felt everyone’s gaze look towards him, did he remember his identity as the host. He called out, “Sit, sit, sit, everyone please sit.”

“You guys sit down first. I’ll go make food.”

Before he could finish his words, he was pulled by Hu Xiaojing into the kitchen.

Gu He’s ear was pinched up, “What’s wrong with you? Why is Jiang Jingbai here? And why did you say she’s a good friend? When did you have such a good relationship with her?”

Hu Xiaojing’s face was filled with an expression seemingly saying if you don’t give me a good explanation, don’t you even think about leaving this place. When she saw Jiang Jingbai, she was already pretty angry, but when she realized this girl was invited over by her own guy, she was even angrier. However, because they were in front of outsiders, she wasn’t able to ask anything, but now that she’s pulled him into the kitchen, she started to put on the pressure to make things clear.  

Gu He was stupefied, “Wifey, is there something wrong?”

“I remember that your relationship with Jingbai was pretty good in the past?”

Hu Xiaojing opened her mouth, stunned and silent.

In fact, only a few people knew that Jiang Jingbai and Yu Xi dated. During high school, she and Han Yisi both hid it from the others, afraid that someone would disclose it to the teachers if they knew. Back then, their classmates were naïve and no one even considered that the two might be dating, so even after she got together with Gu He, neither of them mentioned it.

Afterwards when Yu Xi and Jiang Jingbai broke up, they sealed their lips and stopped mentioning Jiang Jingbai’s name in order to take care of her feelings. Now, the moment she hears Jiang Jingbai’s name, Hu Xiaojing would feel disgusted and couldn’t help but want to curse out loud. However, if she started cursing about her in front of Gu He, he’ll definitely understand what happened so she could only resist her desire to curse her out and pretend that nothing happened in front of him.

Later, Yu Xi entered the entertainment industry.

Gossips henceforth became an even more terrifying existence for her, especially since her past involved a previous relationship which was even with a girl, so she and Han Yisi could only very tactfully let this matter rot inside their stomachs.

However, no one could even imagine it.

Jiang Jingbai actually had the audacity to come back.

And it was even her husband who “brought her back”. Angrily, Hu Xiaojing glared at him and put her hands on her hips, “Tell me!”

“Tell me when did you two have such a good relationship? Didn’t she just come back to China? And yet you’re already inviting her over to our house? What is it? You two usually contacting each other secretly?”

Stunned by her tigress-like tone, Gu He could only helplessly smile, “Wifey, when did I secretly contact her?”

“Didn’t I tell you that I met a familiar person two days back? It was Jingbai.”

Hu Xiaojing thought about it. Two days ago, he went and participated in a wine reception. When he came back, he said he met a very familiar person- one of their old classmates- and even invited them to go to their house for lunch if they had time. At the time, she didn’t think much of it and just casually agreed, but how would’ve she known that it was going to be Jiang Jingbai?

Gu He didn’t know what Hu Xiaojing was fussing about so while scratching his head, he asked, “Wifey, what’s wrong with Jingbai?”

Hu Xiaojing took a deep breath and turned towards him, replying very fiercely, “There’s nothing wrong with her.”

“I just don’t want her to eat our family’s rice!”

Gu He, “……”

The two people in the kitchen murmured between themselves for a very long time and didn’t come out. The other four people in the living room stared at each other. Han Yisi pulled on Yu Xi’s hand to have her sit next to her, guarding her from Jiang Jingbai like she was guarding her from a thief. The girl she was staring at sat on the couch, posture relaxed, yet expression still ever so cold.

In the living room, Lu Xiaowei was probably the only one who didn’t notice the unusual atmosphere and was even trying to persistently pry information from his goddess the whole time.  

“Jingbai, are you planning to stay now that you’re back? You’re not going back, right?”

Jiang Jingbai shot a glance over at him and pursed her lips up, “Nothing’s determined yet.”  

Lu Xiaowei replied boisterously, “Why are you still thinking of leaving? Let me tell you, the development in China is pretty good right now. Oh right, I forgot to ask you last time, where are you working now that you’re back?”

Jiang Jingbai’s voice was slightly deep, her tone somewhat indifferent, “Jinou Media.”

“Jinou? An entertainment company? What department are you in?”

Jiang Jingbai lowered her eyes, “The president’s office.”

Lu Xiaowei nodded, “Are you the secretary? A secretary position is pretty good, it’s administration, not that much things to do, and the work is pretty effortless. You don’t know, I’m being forced by my dad to manage the family company and every day is so busy that I really want to give up and quit.”

Jiang Jingbai was silent and didn’t say anything in return.

Yu Xi sighed lightly and her arm was immediately pinched by Han Yisi. Feeling the pain, she turned around and murmured, “Don’t do that, it hurts.”

Her tone was very soft and was somewhat coquettish.

Jiang Jingbai’s gaze couldn’t help but wander over to take a look, but before she could Gu He walked out of the kitchen.

“Come, come, eat some fruits. Don’t just sit there.”

“And Xiaowei, three beautiful ladies are sitting right next to you and yet you’re not even helping me keep them entertained.”

Gu He placed the plate of fruits down and reached for a deck of cards from the tv cabinet, “How about playing cards.”

“Xiaowei, play cards with them. Lunch will still take another hour.”

After Lu Xiaowei took the cards, he asked Jiang Jingbai, “Do you know how to play?”

Jiang Jingbai raised her head and glanced over at Yu Xi, “I know a bit.”

Yu Xi didn’t say anything. Han Yisi stood up, “I’m not playing.”

“I’m not in the mood for it.”

Gu He hurriedly said, “What’s the matter, how are you still feeling unhappy while visiting my daughter?”

One could tell that he was trying very hard to lighten everyone’s mood up. Yu Xi didn’t want to smear his face, and on top of it, she was there to eat his family’s food after all, so she knew they shouldn’t maintain a dejected face the whole time. She pulled on Han Yisi’s arm, “Let’s play. What game?”

Han Yisi was forced to sit back down. As Lu Xiaowei was shuffling the cards, he asked, “What do you want to play, Jingbai?”

Jiang Jingbai was stunned for the first time in a long time, “I’m okay with anything.”

It was only then did Lu Xiaowei finally place his gaze upon Yu Xi and Han Yisi, “What about you two beauties?”

Han Yisi didn’t say anything. Yu Xi smiled, “We’re okay with anything as well.”

Watching how they still haven’t made a decision yet, Gu He said, “How about Guandan²?”

“Four people are just enough for it.”

Lu Xiaowei spoke up first, “Okay, what about you guys?”

The other three naturally had no problems, so Lu Xiaowei started to shuffle the cards.  

Jiang Jingbai was actually not that good at playing cards. After she went abroad, she was always too busy studying, and then after she graduated, she was always too busy working, so there was never ever free time for leisure. Every day, she would have to rush about places so the concept of playing cards was only left behind from her high school years.

And it was Yu Xi who taught her.

Back then, they would go on dates every weekend. But of course, there would always be days where occasionally the weather was so bad that Yu Xi would call up Han Yisi and Hu Xiaojing and the four people would play games or cards amongst themselves.

Her card-playing skills were learned then.

With this many years passing, she has long grown unfamiliar with playing cards. Fortunately, she’s smart enough that within a few rounds, she has already grasped the rules of the card game.  

The first few rounds were taken by Lu Xiaowei, who’s either very lucky or very experienced with playing card games as a veteran in the field. After a few rounds, Jiang Jingbai started to rise in the rankings and would even win a few rounds too. In the end, only Yu Xi haven’t really opened up in the playing field.

Han Yisi laughed bitterly, feeling as if she’s poisonous. Not only is Yu Xi unable to win, she’s even dragging her down with her as well.

Yu Xi glared at her furiously, “I don’t believe I won’t be able to win today! If I can’t win, I’ll take on your last name!”

Han Yisi was beaming with joy, “Then you’ll definitely leave here as a Han today.”

Hence, the next round started.

First, they changed the cards. Jiang Jingbai won the last round while she took the last place so she had to give her card to Jiang Jingbai. With difficulty, Yu Xi pulled out the largest card from the pile of cards. Grinding her teeth, she placed it on the table and exchanged it with the card Jiang Jingbai picked out.

She was the losing party, so she had to give out the first play.

“A straight.”

Lu Xiaowei was all smiles, “I was waiting for that, here’s an ever bigger one!”

Yu Xi pinched her cards and placed her hopes on the Han Yisi that was sitting on her opposite side, hoping that she had cards that could suppress Lu Xiaowei’s card so he wouldn’t be able to slip away again. Han Yisi shrugged, “Don’t want it.”

Lu Xiaowei was elated and ready to continue putting out another hand, but without even batting an eye, Jiang Jingbai started to talk, “I also have a straight.”

While talking, she placed out a few cards. Lu Xiaowei’s complexion immediately changed, “We’re partners, why are you still placing out cards?”

Jiang Jingbai looked up, her expression cold, “I can’t?”

Han Yisi replied, “You can, of course you can, everything’s odk³!”

“Continue, continue.”

Jiang Jingbai placed out a small card and Yu Xi followed behind afterwards satisfactorily. In the end, all of her cards were dealt with very completely, leaving only a four.  

She only had one card left.

Lu Xiaowei still had two.

Jiang Jingbai still had six cards left in her hand, so she obviously needed to place a double in order for her partner to win. Lu Xiaowei’s face was filled with an ambition to win. Double jokers grasped in his hands, no matter what type of doubles Jiang Jingbai placed out, he would be able to follow through and win.

Right as he was happily about to flip over his cards, Jiang Jingbai placed out a three.

A three???

Not able to believe what he’s seeing, Lu Xiaowei rubbed his eyes. It really was a three.

Before he even said anything, Yu Xi laughed out loud, “I have a four! I’m done with my cards!”

Her smile was if she just won the whole world and Jiang Jingbai’s mouth couldn’t help but quirk up in response. Rejecting the reality, Lu Xiaowei frowned, “Don’t you have a double?”

Jiang Jingbai fixated a stare towards him and shook her head, “I don’t.”  

Being stared by her like this, all of his grievances were gone. Before he could even say anything, Gu He came out from the kitchen, “Let’s eat.”

Everyone got up and walked towards the dining room. Yu Xi was the last one. Thinking about it, she turned around to flip about the unrevealed cards Jiang Jingbai placed on top of the table.

There really weren’t any doubles.

However, there was another three.   

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Author’s Note:

Jiang Jingbai: How could you just casually take on someone else’s last name?

Yu Xi: What does that have to do with you?

Jiang Jingbai: Of course it has everything to do with me, you have to take on my last name in the future.

Yu Xi: …..

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1 白月光 or Bai Yueguang represents a woman who is perfect in our hearts and symbolizes our best imagination of a lover although reality might differ, while 朱砂痣 or Zhu Shazhi represents a mark that is left in our hearts after experiencing an unforgettable love.

2 Guandan is a poker game using 2 decks of cards. It has 4 players with 2 in each group and each person has 26 cards in their hands. The basic rules are help yourself and your partner to finish playing all of your cards before your opponents. After every round the levels are raised based on the winners and every time the levels are raised, the weakest card is the strongest one and the second weakest becomes the weakest. I’ve only played once but it was pretty fun, so ya’ll should check it out.

3 ODK is another way of saying ok, but more gentle and joking.

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