Chapter 8

Although it was a cowshed, it was sturdily constructed of stone and brick and much better built than many of the houses belonging to the Qing River Brigade.

The Gu family lived next to the cowshed, separated from the shed by only one wall. The hay was kept on the other side of the wall, and the animals lived next to the hay.

The animals were some distance away from the Gu family and the hay was placed in the intervening space. This was not because the Gu family would be cleaner or suffer from fewer smells by staying a little further, but because the room containing the hay was better than the Gu family’s room.

The best place was given to the cows. The hay was for the cows, because they had to be well fed.

As for the Gu family, at that time, everyone wished they could move the whole family into the cowshed to live with the cows.

Gu Qingyao’s heart bled as she recalled the past.

Mo Beihan’s heart ached when he saw her red eyes. He thought that his Yao Yao had suffered so much from last night’s incident that she burst into tears upon reaching home!

“Yao Yao…”

Gu Qingyao only snapped out of her trance when he called her name. She quickly reined in her emotions, but did not have time to say anything before she hurried into the courtyard.

In the courtyard, her grandma, Wen Ruyu, was washing the clothes. She was startled to see Gu Qingyao return. “Yao Yao? Why are you back? And so quickly? Where are your grandfather and your father?”

Grandma was old and her hair was almost completely white. Her face bore the mark of the passing years.

Gu Qingyao almost burst into tears when she saw her grandma.

Her grandma had already spent her life worrying over the events she had encountered in her previous life. She had worried about Gu Qingyao’s future, even up to her death, and said that Gu Qingyao caused her the most concern.

She and Mo Beihan had both been good children and they had clearly liked each other. But they had been manipulated by others, and suffered terribly.

Gu Qingyao tried her best to keep her emotions in check. She was already reborn, and many things in this life had changed. She must not allow her grandma to suspect anything.

“Grandma, Brother Beihan had to return to attend to some urgent matters, so he gave me a ride back.”

“Father and Grandfather were called out to see a patient in the middle of the night. Mother brought Elder Sister out while it was still dark, and I was afraid to stay there by myself. Fortunately, I ran into Brother Beihan and came back with him. I left a message with the neighbors. When Father gets back, he will know that I left with Brother Beihan and won’t worry.”

When Wen Ruyu heard that Zhang Xiaohui had brought Gu Ruoqing away before daybreak and left Gu Qingyao there alone, she frowned. However, she did not comment but said to Gu Qingyao, “Alright then, it’s good that you’re back. Where’s Beihan?”

At that moment, Mo Beihan was entering the house to get some things. He placed the ribs and fish in the basin. Wen Ruyu did not see it but said a few words to Mo Beihan before continuing to wash her clothes.

Mo Beihan helped Gu Qingyao to bring what little luggage she had into the house, then followed Gu Qingyao into her own room.

“Yao Yao…”

Gu Qingyao looked at him. His face was filled with worry and heartache, but when he looked at her, his eyes were filled with tenderness.

When she recalled all the ways in which this man had been good to her in her previous life, Gu Qingyao suddenly laughed. “Brother Beihan, should I repay you for saving me?”

Mo Beihan was shocked and somewhat confused by Gu Qingyao.

Shouldn’t Yao Yao be frightened and terrified right now? Although she had changed a lot in this life, she had been as frightened as usual last night.

But Mo Beihan did not know that the young girl before him was no longer an innocent young maiden of fifteen. So many things had happened in her past life. Gu Qingyao had experienced much in her past decades of life.

Gu Qingyao felt that she had been a failure in her previous life, unable to emerge from the shadows of her youth. The more she refused to emerge, the more people mocked her for her past.

The truth was that if she had been stronger, she would have been a winner in the game of life, even in her previous life.

Bai Youran had been the beloved daughter of a rich and powerful family, but she had not hesitated to drug Mo Beihan in order to get him. Although this man’s heart belonged to her, she had delayed and wasted her life.

She was killed in a car crash in her previous life, but at the last second, Mo Beihan’s promise to marry her in her next life had struck her deeply. Having experienced life and death, she could now think clearly.

Mo Beihan, I will definitely marry you in this lifetime!

When she saw that Mo Beihan did not speak, Gu Qingyao reached out and tugged at his sleeve. “What’s the matter? Don’t you want me to repay you?”

The girl was standing in front of him, tugging his sleeve. Her large, liquid eyes glowed as they gazed at him.

She was stunningly beautiful. Her skin was especially pale and her eyes were lively. She had a pretty little nose and a pointed chin. Her soft pink lips were like peaches and absolutely alluring!

As Mo Beihan looked at her, his throat felt warm and his mouth became parched. But what shocked him was Yao Yao’s present attitude towards him. Was he… mistaken?