The next day, A City Airport.
Gong Xiaoqiao arrived just in time, as Qin Yao and Gu Xiaorou had just disembarked from the airplane.
She was dressed in black, quietly concealing herself in a corner.
Gu Hangshen, the elders of the Gu Family and Qin Family, Leng Tou, Leng Jing, Shen Letian, Sheng Yu, Tang Yu… Almost all of the friends and relatives close to Gu Xiaorou and Qin Yao were present.
Banners reading "Welcome home our Xiaorou and Qin Yao" were raised in the crowd.
Reporters had come sniffing around, and Gu Hangshen seemed somewhat displeased, but he held back his irritation, "Thank you all for your concern for the Gu Corporation. I will arrange a press conference to answer all your questions regarding my sister's health and the engagement party in a few days. Now is our private time, and I hope you do not disturb our family reunion."
The reporters, not daring to go against Gu Hangshen's wishes, expressed their congratulations and gradually dispersed.
Gu Xiaorou stepped off the plane in a pink chiffon dress, her long, straight, black hair draped over her shoulders, her smile sweet. The man behind her carefully wrapped her in a warm coat he had prepared earlier.
That person, naturally, was Qin Yao.
Qin Yao wore a coffee-colored coat over a white shirt, a simple outfit that gave off an aura of nonchalant elegance and a comfortable vibe, as if he were carved from warm jade.
He stood quietly in the bustling crowd, appearing so ethereal as if he might ascend to immortality in the next moment.
Qin Yao's appearance was indeed splendid; however, it was his temperament that drew more attention when one was with him, causing you to overlook his looks.
"Brother…" Gu Xiaorou quickened her steps and walked forward.
Gu Hangshen opened his arms from afar, enfolding her in them, his smile one that Gong Xiaoqiao had never seen before: indulgent, relieved, grateful, joyful… and genuine.
"Welcome home!"
"Brother, I've missed you so much!"
"This child, coming back and hugging her brother first, not even caring for mom and dad?"
"Dad, Mom! I've missed you both!"
"Silly girl, you've suffered these years abroad! Don't go to such distant places again now that you're back!"
…
Gong Xiaoqiao was holding a newspaper, sitting quietly on a bench only ten steps away from them.
Shen Letian and the others were standing on her side, merely five steps away.
Shen Letian tilted his head slightly, "Xiaoqiao still doesn't know, does she?"
Leng Tou pushed up his glasses, "How could the boss let her know."
Sheng Yu nodded, "A few days ago, the boss had me get several concert tickets of Xiaoqiao's favorite male singer for the day of Xiaorou and Qin Yao's engagement party. Obviously, the boss is planning to keep it a secret until the end."
Shen Letian sighed, "It's not a long-term solution to keep it a secret like this. She'll find out one day."
Leng Tou looked in the direction of Qin Yao and Gu Xiaorou, "At least we can't let anything go wrong with the engagement party."
"Being so wary of her seems a bit too much," Sheng Yu said, his expression tinged with guilt.
"Leng Jing, what's wrong with you? You haven't said a word since you got here, are you in a bad mood?" Tang Yu, unconcerned with what others were doing, was focused solely on his beloved Leng Jing.
Leng Jing's brows were tightly furrowed, "It's none of your business."
At that moment, Gu Xiaorou walked over to Leng Jing with a happy face and took her hand, "Leng Jing! You've come! I'm so glad you're here to pick me up."
Leng Jing immediately caught the warning looks from Leng Tou and Gu Hangshen, so she glanced at her and responded coolly, "Hm, welcome back."
"Thank you!" Gu Xiaorou looked around, then asked hesitantly, "Where's Xiaoqiao? I haven't seen her…"
Behind her, Qin Yao's indifferent expression seemed to crack with tension for a moment.