He gained fame as a young man, devoted himself to medical studies, and then returned from the world's top academic institutions with a medical doctorate at the mere age of 20. However, his heart was wholly invested in his medical research, so he was extremely indifferent to matters of affection.
When Gu Qiaoqiao's grandfather forced a marriage upon him by calling in a favor, he thought, "Well, if I'm to marry, then so be it. Everyone must marry eventually. With a wife, perhaps those women will back off."
But he hadn't anticipated that the woman he married would be the real trouble.
Qin Yize's expression was unreadable as he cast a fleeting glance at the busy figure before turning to leave.
After he had gone, Gu Qiaoqiao let out a big sigh of relief.
The gaze that followed her had been inquisitive, and she could feel it.
She'd get used to it.
This rebirth given to her by the Heavenly God wasn't meant for her to repeat the mistakes of her past life.
Gu Qiaoqiao picked up the washed radish. It was a beauty-heart radish.
Her hands felt a bit itchy.
She had a talent for carving.
Perhaps it was the carving skills inherited in her blood from her grandfather, she had a particular gift for it.
Gu Qiaoqiao stretched out her hand, which at that moment, was fair and delicate, her nails gleaming with a rounded, light pink luster.
She flexed her fingers a few times but then gave up the idea.
Right now, cooking was more important.
Suddenly, a noise came from the door followed by an angry shout, "Gu Qiaoqiao, what are you doing?"
It was Qin Xiaoyu's voice.
Gu Qiaoqiao frowned but still turned around, smiling slightly, "Grandma..."
"Qiaoqiao, what are you..." Grandma Qin eyed Gu Qiaoqiao suspiciously in the kitchen, her hand still holding a fruit knife. It seemed she had realized something, and the old lady's face changed drastically as she began to breathe rapidly, "Qiaoqiao, put down the knife quickly."
"You wicked woman, what else do you want to do? Will you ever stop? You're really too annoying," Qin Xiaoyu glared at Gu Qiaoqiao with hatred.
Gu Qiaoqiao curved her lips upward, "Auntie Qin is unwell, so I'm cooking today."
"My mom is unwell because of you," Qin Xiaoyu shot daggers at Gu Qiaoqiao with her eyes, spewing anger, "You country bumpkin, what do you know about cooking? Get out of here now, and don't ruin the groceries my mom bought."
Country bumpkin?
Heh, a familiar term indeed.
In her previous life, Qin Xiaoyu thought Gu Qiaoqiao hailed from a small place and looked down upon her entirely. She also believed Gu Qiaoqiao was unworthy of her elder brother, so she often ridiculed her with cold sarcasm.
Qin Xiaoyu was the Qin family's youngest daughter, not very old, just sixteen this year. And since some of her remarks were what the rest of the family wished to express, they let her be.
In her past life, Gu Qiaoqiao did not understand and, finding Qin Xiaoyu cute, attempted to draw close to her. She reached out to take her hand but was met with a slap, repulsion written all over her face as she said, "Stay away from me. Don't pass your lice on to me."
At that time, Gu Qiaoqiao, not quick-witted with words and aware of the Qin family's disdainful looks, felt exceedingly embarrassed and wished she could vanish into thin air.
Fortunately, Grandma Qin, while also doting on her granddaughter, took her hand and said with a kind smile, "Such a clean and neat young girl, Xiao Yu, don't talk nonsense..."
But from then on, Gu Qiaoqiao truly dared not approach her.
She made Gu Qiaoqiao feel, lowly as dust!
Perhaps her complexion was too somber, not like usual; she wasn't bowing her head to cry or running into a room and refusing to come out.
The afternoon sun filtered through the kitchen windows, casting several strands across her face, which only seemed to make her eyes resemble the boundless deep sea all the more—looking at them was chilling to the heart.
Qin Xiaoyu felt somewhat scared, unconsciously gripping the handles of her wheelchair tighter, but then she suddenly thought how ridiculous it was to be afraid of a country bumpkin, a hillbilly like her.
Yet Grandma Qin saw the dishes in the kitchen, neatly arranged, plate by plate, looking like the backkitchen of a grand hotel.
"Xiao Yu…" Grandma Qin grabbed Qin Xiaoyu, who was about to charge into the kitchen, and on this precious New Year's occasion when they had finally found some peace, she didn't want any more trouble. She scolded softly, saying, "You can't cook; you don't even know how to wash vegetables. What are you going in there for?"
"But she can? She can't even wash dishes properly," Qin Xiaoyu complained bitterly.
Not only was this woman ugly but also petty and uneducated, meek and compliant, yet she had married her brother, who was like a Heavenly God in her eyes, making Qin Xiaoyu feel utterly insulted.
Gu Qiaoqiao collected her thoughts and looked at the sixteen-year-old girl in front of her. She herself actually disliked her very much—for being so critical on the back of her young age. In her past life, she had been far from an excellent person, and her first time in the big city had left her feeling inferior; this girl only added insult to injury!
The hand that Gu Qiaoqiao held the knife with tightened, and her cool gaze shifted away from that young face.
In her previous life, she was stabbed by her own brother, forced to have her right kidney removed, and it seemed like she lay in bed for several years, naturally missing out on college.
Gu Qiaoqiao sighed inwardly; one wrong marriage had ruined two families. There was no denying that in her last life, the heavens had played a joke on her.
Fortunately, everything had started over.
She spoke softly, "Grandma, I often watched my mom cook, and though I've never really done it myself, I do know the basics. Let me give it a try."
"Alright, you try," said Grandma Qin. She knew what this child could be capable of just by looking at the arranged dishes and basket.
It was getting late, and if they didn't start cooking now, they might not celebrate the New Year at all.
Even though Grandma Qin was educated, it didn't mean she valued the New Year's Eve—the most important day of the year—any less.
"Grandma…" Qin Xiaoyu stamped her feet, unwilling to let it go.
"Enough, stop it. Push Grandma to the living room; I have to talk to your brother," Grandma Qin said. She usually spoiled her granddaughter, but not today.
"Grandma, just a moment," Gu Qiaoqiao called out to her, clutching the fruit knife in her hand. "Give me one minute."
After speaking, Gu Qiaoqiao picked up a radish. With a crisp chop, she cut it in half and flexed her fingers, then started peeling it with swift strokes.
"Qiaoqiao, what are you…" Grandma Qin watched, astonished.
"Grandma, don't worry, it will be ready in no time."
Gu Qiaoqiao peeled the radish into a spinning top shape. Her small hand moved like a magician's, spinning around the bottom, the left hand holding the radish while the right hand's knife whirled rapidly over it.
It was so fast it dazzled the onlookers.
Even Qin Xiaoyu was gaping in surprise.
After a minute, a blooming rose appeared in Gu Qiaoqiao's palm.
Its petals quivered as if they had just been picked.
Gu Qiaoqiao looked at it with satisfaction.
She had just noticed that her fingers were even more nimble than in her previous life.
She turned and picked up a long bamboo skewer, then stuck the radish rose onto it and extended her hand to present it to the already dumbfounded Grandma Qin, smiling with her eyes curving, "Grandma, here's a rose for you. I wish you long life, and may you grow younger and younger."
"For me?" Grandma Qin asked in surprise.
She had not expected this child to possess such a skill.