books44 Chapter 169 Qualifying Match (3)
Chapter 169 Qualifying Match (3)
Because of her constant switching between fasting and binge eating, Qiu Niang inevitably gained weight.
Gu Shijiu naturally wouldn't control her; the Chen family was wealthy, so how much could she possibly eat?
A few months later, Qiu Niang looked very different.
She used to walk with a graceful, swaying gait, like a willow branch fluttering in the breeze.
Now, the posture is still the same, but paired with his increasingly obese figure, it's a bit... comical.
Gu Shijiu didn't care whether the girls in her family were fat or thin, beautiful or ugly, but Qiu Niang found it hard to accept.
She dieted even more strictly, and then couldn't control herself. Every time she lost less than ten pounds, she would start binge eating.
Gu Shijiu used his limited modern knowledge to remind her.
"The weight you start to lose is mostly water weight; you haven't actually started to lose fat yet. If you suddenly binge eat at this point, you're very likely to gain even more weight."
Qiu Niang was even more desperate.
Gu Shijiu told her that she needed to exercise more to lose weight, but Qiu Niang was unwilling to go out because of what had happened before.
This creates a vicious cycle.
Just when Gu Shijiu was having a great time, Chen Wangxi, the second young master of the Chen family, returned.
The viewers in the live stream almost forgot about him.
"Who is this person?"
"That youngest son, the one who broke off the engagement."
"Oh, where did he go?"
"I don't know, the camera is only on the contestant's storyline, so we can't see what the youngest son is doing."
"This looks a bit strange."
Not only the audience, but also Gu Shijiu and the Chen family found it very strange.
When Chen Wangxi returned this time, his clothes were quite neat, and he even looked better.
Even Qiu Niang was startled when she saw him.
Unexpectedly, in just two or three years, Chen Wangxi has grown into such a handsome young man.
As soon as Chen Wangxi returned, he knelt down and bowed to Gu Shijiu, saying, "Mother, your unfilial son Chen Wangxi has returned."
Gu Shijiu quickly pulled him up, having finally managed to stop the family members from kneeling every day.
Chen Wangxi's manners were impeccable, but Qiu Niang felt a shiver run down her spine; the way he moved seemed rather strange...
Especially that involuntary orchid finger gesture, it was like a thorn piercing Qiu Niang's heart.
And the alluring look in his eyes gave Chen Wangxi a charm that transcended gender, making all the men and women present blush and their hearts race.
Qiu Niang dared not think about what had happened to Chen Wangxi.
Chen Wangxi didn't recognize Qiu Niang either.
It wasn't until Gu Shijiu pulled the woman out that he realized the woman with the oily face and obese figure was Qiu Niang.
He thought she was a new maid they had hired.
Perhaps it was Chen Wangxi's shock that triggered Qiu Niang, for she ran away crying.
Gu Shijiu felt a little regretful; she had wanted to see the two of them holding hands and looking at each other with tears in their eyes.
As a result, not only did he not see her, Chen Wangxi didn't even take a single step towards Qiu Niang.
Chen Wangxi didn't chase after Qiu Niang until she ran back to her room crying.
Standing at the door, he spent a long time mentally preparing himself before daring to go inside.
There was absolutely no fragrance of young girls inside; instead, it was filled with the smell of food.
In the past, Qiu Niang's breath was as fragrant as orchids, and she never ate meat. Now, it's considered good if she doesn't smell of garlic.
Chen Wangxi couldn't understand how such a lovely girl had ended up like this.
However, after reflecting on his own experience, he realized that it wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
People always change.
Qiu Niang looked at Chen Wangxi with tears in her eyes: "Second Young Master, you left so casually, but you have no idea how hard I've suffered these past two years."
After pent-up emotions burst forth, she began to recount her hardships, naturally accompanied by a great deal of personal feeling.
She went on and on about how the mistress and the eldest daughter-in-law forced her to do embroidery, and how the servants at home mistreated her;
She described how heartbroken she was after her two brothers disappeared, how awful her uncle's family was, and how she almost couldn't come back, etc.
They've come to find someone to take charge.
In the past, if Chen Wangxi had been met with that gentle gaze, he would have immediately started causing trouble for others without thinking twice.
But now——
Chen Wangxi looked at the oil on Qiu Niang's face and, out of consideration for their past relationship, offered a few words of comfort.
Most importantly, the main issue with Qiu Niang is that she's no longer living a life of luxury like before.
Chen Wangxi found it hard to empathize. If these things were considered big deal, then what about what he had gone through?
His pain was not only incomprehensible to anyone, but he dared not even let anyone know.
Compared to the torment Chen Wangxi suffered at Zuiyan Pavilion and the hardships he endured on his way home, Qiu Niang was living a life of luxury.
Just by looking at the furnishings in the room and her figure, you can tell that Qiu Niang is not as miserable as she claims.
To be honest, if it weren't for Qiu Niang, he would never have been able to leave home and live the life of a proper young master.
Right now, his poor older brother is nowhere to be found, so how could Qiu Niang have the nerve to complain about those inexplicable things?
Even if she was almost sold, didn't she still ask for it back herself?
The Chen family even sent people to rescue her.
Chen Wangxi felt increasingly unbalanced as he thought about it: "Alright, stop talking!"
Qiu Niang was startled, and the rest of her words were stuck in her throat: "You yelled at me? You actually yelled at me?"
I feel so wronged and sad. Even my usually lively and enthusiastic second child has become so cold and unsympathetic.
So, I was just lying to her all along.
After all, they had been friends for over a decade, and Chen Wangxi felt somewhat guilty after losing his temper.
"My elder brother is still nowhere to be found, Qiu Niang. Would you be willing to marry me? Let's live a good life together from now on."
Only he knows his own affairs, and Chen Wangxi was afraid that his past would be brought up again and he would not be able to find a wife.
Adding to those unspeakable difficulties, Qiu Niang, a girl completely controlled by the Chen family, was his best choice.
Qiu Niang shook her head with tears in her eyes: "I was almost sold to a local gentry, my reputation was ruined, and now I'm like this, I'm not good enough for you."
People outside are saying she married three times and is a promiscuous woman.
In the past, Chen Wangxi would have shaken her arm to stop her from belittling herself and saying things like Qiu Niang was the most wonderful girl in the world.
But Chen Wangxi wasn't in the mood right now.
If Qiu Niang is considered disgraceful, then what about him? Wouldn't he be even more despicable?
Chen Wangxi broke down. Instead of comforting Qiu Niang, he spoke in a somewhat unfriendly tone: "If that's the case, then why are you still staying in my house?"
In the past, when my older brother and I weren't home, my mother didn't feel comfortable kicking you out. But if I bring it up, do you think she'll kick you out?
Qiu Niang was utterly shocked; she never expected Chen Wangxi to say such a thing.
It seems that this experience has not only changed him, but also the Chen brothers.
Qiu Niang dared not do what she used to do, and could only swallow her anger and agree with tears in her eyes.
Chen Wangxi got angry when he saw her unwilling look.
He's no longer a blank slate; he's seen this kind of feigned indifference before at the Drunken Beauty Pavilion.
Some customers just like this vibe.
Thinking about this, Chen Wangxi felt a little nauseous.