After Going Viral on a Dating Show, I'm Pampered by All

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Sang Qiao: A good horse does not eat the grass behind it, neither do I

“She had been waiting for her mother from the moment she began to babble as a baby, then she was abandoned by her mother. Her father treated her extremely well because of her excellent grades, but then abandoned her when he found out she was weak. Even her beloved grandmother left her when she was at an age when she couldn’t understand why, and then there was us… She has been abandoned so many times in her life, she won’t hold onto hope for anyone anymore.”

Sang Siyang’s eyes suddenly reddened, and he could only regret growing up too slowly to protect her sooner, or to have his own opinions earlier.

Everyone was forcing Qiaoqiao to grow up.

“But, it was a misunderstanding,” Sang Nanfeng opened his mouth but couldn’t utter a word to refute.

“But it did happen, and the hurt she experienced is real. You also can’t abandon Jiaojiao; when it’s time to choose between the two, maybe Second Brother and Third Brother will still be troubled.”

Sang Siyang gave a bitter smile; he didn’t hate Sang Jiao, but he no longer saw her as a sister in his heart.

Sang Nanfeng had nothing to say, because it was indeed true.

He eventually didn’t ask, “Let’s go out anyway, even if it’s just the two of us, we need to put on a good front for her.”

“Okay,” Sang Siyang nodded, leading the way.

They thought the situation would be dismal, but instead, they found the Si Family and a crowded gathering in the temporary reception room on the first floor, making them feel superfluous.

“Qiaoqiao seems to not need us anymore…” Sang Nanfeng felt even worse inside.

Sang Siyang chose silence.

Their mood was low, while the reception room was bursting with joyful conversation.

The Si Family and Grandma Su were chatting merrily, and even Su Nuanying’s parents had returned.

〜

Sang Qiao, tired of the noisy inside, casually sat on the swing in the backyard to rest. She had no intention of humoring the guests and it seemed no one dared to find fault with her.

She was so engrossed in looking at the artist profiles for the company that she didn’t notice when Si Chenli arrived.

It wasn’t until a figure suddenly sat down on the swing next to her.

She turned her head and collided with the man’s deep, unfathomable eyes, “Why are you here?”

“Birthday gift,” Si Chenli put a small box in the space between them.

“I don’t accept gifts,” Sang Qiao said without moving to take it. It was true, she hadn’t opened any of the gifts from those who attended today and had even registered them, planning to return them all later.

“Sang Qiao, it doesn’t have to be a birthday gift; just open it and see,” the man chuckled softly, his voice low and magnetic. In the dead of night, only a sliver of moonlight allowed her to see his face.

Si Chenli’s eyes held a gentleness, different from his usual cold demeanor. Had he ever called her by her name before? She couldn’t remember.

But tonight, the name Sang Qiao had a different feeling coming from his mouth.

Sang Qiao looked at the small box and suddenly felt her heartbeat speed up a bit more than usual.

She pushed the box towards him, “I don’t want it.”

“Guessed what it is? Once you wear it, you won’t be able to run away,” Si Chenli’s lips held a faint smile, his tone slightly mischievous and light.

“I don’t know,” Sang Qiao decisively shook her head. Even if she had guessed right, she couldn’t say it, there was still the third installment to shoot, and now wasn’t the time to make things clear.

If it were before, she could have just walked away, but now, she didn’t want to…

“No matter, you’ll know once you open it,” Si Chenli’s large hand placed the box in hers, seeming to go for the opening.

Sang Qiao suddenly stood up, shaking her head and stepping back, “I’m not opening it.”

“It looks like you’ve already guessed it, Qiaoqiao is really smart.” Si Chenli picked up the box that had fallen to the ground, his voice still pleasant, even reaching out to ruffle her hair.

Ever since Qiaoqiao’s last probing, he had guessed that she’d realized it on her own.

Probably wondering how to absolve herself of any connection.

Sang Qiao’s eyes widened in shock: “…!”

Especially since he was so close, a gentle embrace would bring them together.

“Let me put it on for you.” Si Chenli chuckled softly, his defined large hand slowly opening the box.

Sang Qiao’s mind was racing, but she couldn’t think of a word to describe the current situation. Her heart was beating fast, “Don’t…”

Before she could complete her words, she saw the box being opened. Inside was a pair of earrings, delicate and small, shimmering faintly in the moonlight.

Sang Qiao was stunned for a moment, while the man gently took out the earrings and started putting them on for her. She had ear piercings but found it troublesome, so she never wore any.

Probably because the contents of the box exceeded her expectations, she couldn’t come back to her senses until the earrings were properly in place.

Sang Qiao touched the tiny exquisite earrings on her earlobes and unconsciously looked up at him. It seemed as if she was asking with her clear, contrasting eyes if he did that on purpose just now.

“Happy birthday,” the man said, looking down at her with a smile curling on his thin lips.

“Thank you.” Having been through quite a scare just now, Sang Qiao had no intention of refusing the gift, deciding she would just return the favor with a gift on his birthday.

Looking up at him, she found that sometimes she really couldn’t read him, but she could feel something different. Si Chenli just now had clearly done it on purpose, to let her misunderstand deliberately.

“You…”

“Let’s go back,” the man pursed his lips, not planning to tell her anything more at this time.

“Okay.” Sang Qiao seemed to decide not to pursue the matter any further and nodded, walking toward the villa.

Only after there was a considerable distance between them, she suddenly stopped, turned her head back to look at him, “Good horses don’t eat the grass behind them, and neither do I.”

With that, she decisively turned around and walked away swiftly, as if afraid he would follow her.

Si Chenli stood still, eventually letting out a chuckle. Is that so? Then don’t be a good horse.

In the living room

After Sang Qiao returned, she was surrounded by a bunch of people, greeting her with pleasantries. She frowned, about to politely but forcefully send them away.

Brother Sang and Sang Siyang quickly stepped forward to disperse the crowd for her, “Ladies and gentlemen, please help yourselves. Our family has some private matters to discuss.”

“Of course, of course, I won’t delay your family time. Miss Sang, happy birthday.”

“Happy birthday, Miss Sang Qiao!”

“Thank you.” Sang Qiao responded indifferently and managed to slip away successfully from the crowd.

Nanfeng and Siyang followed closely behind her, with Siyang sheepishly speaking first: “Qiaoqiao, remember the music box you liked that could dance? I had one custom-made for you, do you like it?”

“Also, Second Brother has prepared a gift for you as well. He will definitely make it before the end of today. Don’t overthink it. Right now, he just temporarily can’t get away.”

The latter part about Second Brother was also his message, which Siyang had initially not planned to convey.

But Second Brother was truly pitiable. Jiaojiao was still in critical condition and he couldn’t leave her side, plus he himself hadn’t slept all night, utterly exhausted.

When Second Brother asked him in a teary voice to put in a good word for him, he just couldn’t harden his heart.