Chapter 132: A Tool for Matrimonial Alliance

After Zhou Jinfan brought over the disinfectant, Xie Qingtang nodded at him and limped toward her clinic. She did not want her grandfather to see her injured and worry, so she intended to treat the wound before heading to the backyard.

Gu Xiujin, standing behind her, watched as she limped forward. His brows knit together in a knot, and he strode over, picking her up into his arms.

Startled by the sudden lift, Xie Qingtang was about to struggle when she heard Gu Xiujin say, "I simply saw that you were walking too slowly. I'm just carrying you to the clinic; don't overthink it."

"You're the one overthinking it; I certainly am not." For some reason, hearing him say that made Xie Qingtang’s cheeks flush with a rosy glow. Zhou Jinfan, walking nearby, saw this and covered his mouth to hide a smile.

Upon reaching the clinic, Gu Xiujin set Xie Qingtang down on a chair. Xie Qingtang then quite naturally handed the bottle of disinfectant in her hand to him.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gu Xiujin asked with a slight frown. Xie Qingtang paused for a moment before saying, "Aren't you supposed to help me apply the medicine?"

As soon as the words left her lips, Gu Xiujin’s expression twitched for a long moment. He then turned and walked away with cold indifference, leaving behind a chilly remark: "You are the doctor, I am not."

This left Xie Qingtang speechless for quite a while. She had simply assumed that, according to common logic, Gu Xiujin should be the one helping her; it was clear she had overthought it again.

"Boss, have you been watching too many idol dramas lately? It’s all my fault for recommending so many to you." Standing nearby, Zhou Jinfan could no longer contain his laughter. He laughed out loud, teasing Xie Qingtang, who was left incredibly embarrassed by the rejection.

Xie Qingtang silently retracted her hand. She said nothing and didn't smile, just stared expressionlessly at Zhou Jinfan, who was rocking back and forth with laughter.

Noticing her gaze, Zhou Jinfan finally stifled his laughter, covered his mouth, and said, "Boss, I was wrong. Just treat me like a passing breeze and ignore me. But do you need someone to help you with the medicine? I’ve had special training, so why don't I do it for you?"

"No need," Xie Qingtang said through gritted teeth, feeling rather dejected. Zhou Jinfan wasn't entirely wrong; she had indeed been watching too many idol dramas lately and had mistakenly cast herself as the heroine. Now that she thought about it, the influence of these dramas was terrifyingly strong to have affected her like this.

As she applied the medicine, she muttered to herself, "It seems I should watch fewer of those brainless romance dramas from now on, or I’ll be laughed to death by Gu Xiujin."

After applying the medicine, Xie Qingtang felt the pain in her foot ease slightly. She had Zhou Jinfan fetch her slippers from the backyard, and seeing that there was nothing unusual once she put them on, she let out a slow sigh of relief.

When she arrived in the backyard, Gu Xiujin was talking with Grandfather Xie. Xie Qingtang acted as if nothing had happened and greeted him, "Grandfather, I'm back. Why are you still up so late?"

"Tangtang, I was worried about you attending the banquet tonight, so I didn't rest and was waiting for your return," Grandfather Xie said mildly.

Xie Qingtang felt a sudden pang of guilt. Her grandfather’s health was so poor, yet she had let him wait for her. She crouched down, took his hand, and said, "Grandfather, I’ve grown up. I’m not the little girl you used to know anymore. I have the ability to protect myself; you don't need to worry about me so much in the future."

"Silly child, no matter how much you grow, you will always be that little girl in my eyes. I think you already know something, don't you? Otherwise, when Mr. Dong picked you up for the banquet today, he should have brought you straight back home, rather than Xiujin picking you up halfway," Grandfather Xie said, his eyes narrowing with a look of insight.

Xie Qingtang’s expression shifted. She glanced at Gu Xiujin, feeling a bit annoyed—why did this man tell her grandfather everything?

"You don't need to hide it from me. I’ve already guessed what happened. I believe you understand the motive behind Dong Weiyi’s actions now." Grandfather Xie had previously asked Gu Xiujin to investigate why Dong Weiyi was getting close to Xie Qingtang, so by connecting the events, he had roughly figured it out.

Xie Qingtang paused for a moment. She finally understood the saying that "ginger gets spicier with age." She stopped hiding it, nodded, and said, "I truly didn't expect that even though I’ve tried so hard to draw a line with Shao Siming, he still treats me as a tool for marriage and uses me as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the Dong family. It is utterly shameless."

Hearing this, Grandfather Xie sighed, stroked her long hair affectionately, and continued, "Shao Siming is exactly that kind of person. He will use everything within his reach to further his own interests. Even if you break away from him, he won't let you go."

"Don't worry, Grandfather. Now that I know about the deal between Shao Siming and Dong Weiyi, I will absolutely not be a pawn for them to manipulate," Xie Qingtang declared firmly, holding her grandfather’s hand to reassure him.

These words settled Grandfather Xie’s heart by half, but he still turned his gaze to Gu Xiujin and pleaded, "Xiujin, I leave Tangtang in your care. This child is thin-skinned and unwilling to ask others for help, but Shao Siming’s power in Su City is not to be underestimated. With Tangtang’s current abilities, I’m afraid she cannot contend with him. If anything happens, I need your help."

Seeing that her grandfather didn't trust her and was actually asking Gu Xiujin for help, Xie Qingtang curled her lip. Just as she was about to say something, Gu Xiujin spoke up.

"Grandfather Xie, please rest assured. For so many years, I was blinded by Shao Siming and never looked after your family’s affairs. If your grandfather were still alive, he would surely have beaten me with his cane for letting the Xie family fall into such a state. If there is any way I can help, I certainly will."

Unexpectedly, Gu Xiujin, who had been so socially oblivious just moments ago, did not contradict Grandfather Xie but instead promised to help Xie Qingtang.

Having received Gu Xiujin’s assurance, Xie Qingtang saw her grandfather’s complexion improve visibly. A touch of melancholy settled in her heart; it seemed that in her grandfather's eyes, she was still not capable enough.