Fierce Love: Bringing Wife Home
Chapter 374 - 153: Asking for Votes at the Beginning of the Month

Chapter 374: Chapter 153: Asking for Votes at the Beginning of the Month

The banquet was teeming with people, with the Eight Divisions’ generals and all the competing members of the Liuli Country team gathered together.

Of course, unlike those deceitful grand banquets, this one was simple, enjoyable, and much more relaxed.

Everyone raised their glasses to celebrate, feasting and drinking merrily in celebration of their victory.

For them, a ten-day holiday was the greatest reward. Many had not been home for a long time while serving in the military.

In the end, the trophy naturally couldn’t be taken back to Department Z by Gu Xiaoxi; instead, Jing Mingcheng took it, placing it in the office hall—it was not a personal honor, but a national one.

When the banquet ended, Jing Mingcheng turned to Gu Xiaoxi and Quan Shaoqing with a smile and said, "Let’s go home together!"

Quan Shaoqing laughed indifferently, "Sure!"

Afterward, he took Gu Xiaoxi in Jing Mingcheng’s car, and they headed to their residence in the large villa.

Jing Mingcheng, looking at Gu Xiaoxi’s profile, always felt her chin and nose looked familiar, but he just couldn’t recall where he had seen them before.

"Miss Gu, have we met before?" Jing Mingcheng asked, staring at her from a seat away.

Gu Xiaoxi looked up at the uncle opposite her, whose features were not deep-set but instead had a certain affability. His neatly combed, jet-black hair made him look mature and composed, with an extraordinary bearing. Even in his forties, he still was the ageless heartthrob of the nation.

"I’ve seen you, but you definitely haven’t seen me," Gu Xiaoxi said with a sweet smile. The moonlight outside the window shone on her profile, her rosy lips and perfectly lined chin made Jing Mingcheng feel all the more that this girl looked familiar.

"I always feel like I’ve seen you somewhere, having a very intimate feeling. Perhaps I am mistaken," Jing Mingcheng sighed, thought for a long while, and finally gave up trying to remember.

"There are all sorts of people in the world. It’s normal to have a similar nose and mouth!" Gu Xiaoxi said with a laugh.

Seeing Jing Mingcheng keep staring at Gu Xiaoxi, Quan Shaoqing looked up teasingly and said, "Your Excellency should stop looking. This is your first time meeting her. It’s normal for people to look alike. I even think she resembles a member of your family, Jing Yuan. Let’s hope she’s not your secret love child, huh?"

Jing Mingcheng laughed heartily, "I wish I had such a love child."

After the laughter, he didn’t say much else but talked with Quan Shaoqing about military matters.

Gu Xiaoxi, unconcerned, leaned back in the seat, gazing out the window.

At eight in the evening, the sky was already dark, but the streets were still bustling.

Gu Xiaoxi thought that during the ten-day holiday, she could spend two days playing in the Imperial Capital and really relax.

The upcoming special forces selection would likely be another arduous journey.

*

The car stopped at the entrance of the Fragrant Hill Villa. The driver parked in front of Quan Shaoqing’s house, and Jing Mingcheng, generously sending Quan Shaoqing home, looked at the two getting off the car and laughed, "Shaoqing, there’s a family dinner tomorrow evening. Bring your mother and Xiao Xi along for a meal. Now that you have a wife, you should also introduce her to everyone. Our two families are so close; don’t you agree?"

"That’s of course no problem; I just hope it won’t be an intrusion," Quan Shaoqing replied with a polite smile.

"How could it be? I’m sincerely inviting you!" Jing Mingcheng then turned to Gu Xiaoxi with a genuine smile and said, "Even Jing Yuan praises Miss Gu as an exceptional girl. Seeing you today, you truly are extraordinary. Congratulations on marrying such a wonderful wife."

"No need for congratulations, just keep your son Jing Haoran away from my wife," Quan Shaoqing said seriously.

Jing Mingcheng laughed loudly, then didn’t forget to speak up for his son, "Admiring beauty is natural. Why be so petty? Good women are bound to be liked by many."

Quan Shaoqing pulled Gu Xiaoxi into his arms, turned around imperiously, and waved his hand at Jing Mingcheng, "Sorry, but she’s already mine. Having one person liking her is enough."

Jing Mingcheng watched their retreating figures embracing, a smile playing on his lips, then he told the driver, "Let’s go back!"

Jing Mingcheng’s secretary, particularly puzzled, looked at the president and asked, "Why are you suddenly so kind to a woman? What is special about her?"

Most crucially, he had observed Gu Xiaoxi all evening and felt that besides being beautiful, she didn’t have any other merits.

Even though she won first place in the international competition, in the end, she was still just a soldier, and even with the rank of colonel, so what? There were many colonels in the Eight Divisions.

Upon hearing this, Jing Mingcheng’s face darkened, and he glared at his secretary with a chilly tone, "Report to the logistics department tomorrow!"—meaning he was transferring him out.

The secretary was shocked, looking at Jing Mingcheng in confusion and quickly tried to explain, "Your Excellency President, did I do something wrong?"

Just then, the car stopped in front of Jing Mingcheng’s house. He opened the door and got out, ignoring the secretary’s aggrieved appearance.

If someone couldn’t even understand the implications of his actions, then what use was there in nurturing such a secretary?

He certainly was curious about Gu Xiaoxi. It was no surprise that Song Xu accepted her, but if Quan Gui also acknowledged her, then it meant that this girl was definitely not as simple as she appeared on the surface.

The economy of the nation could not do without merchants, and as long as he held a position of power, he devoted himself entirely to the wellbeing of the country.

Quan Gui was getting old, naturally someone had to inherit his wealth. With the younger daughter being of no great distinction, indulging in trivial pleasures and refusing to change despite repeated admonishments, and with the older son deceased, only Shaoqing remained. Therefore, the criteria for choosing a daughter-in-law would definitely consider her capabilities.

A person recognized by Quan Gui would naturally not be ordinary.

In establishing friendships, one should offer help when it is most needed, not just when things are already going well.

It was necessary to establish a close relationship with Gu Xiaoxi before she truly came into her own, so that her worth would be truly evident when she became influential.

In this world, it’s not about who is outsmarting whom, but who can see further into the future.

One must lay the road ahead, not wait until the car reaches the end of the road to start building it–by then, it’s already too late.

"Dad!" Jing Yuan greeted politely, seated on the sofa sipping tea as the man entered.

Jing Mingcheng glanced around the house, and not seeing Jing Rui, asked curiously, "Where is your aunt?"

"She’s gone to City A," Jing Yuan responded after thoughtful consideration and quickly moved to Jing Mingcheng’s side, frowning deeply, "Is aunt looking for someone? And, what kind of relationship does she have with that tycoon? She actually followed him to City A."

Jing Yuan had always been aware that the Jing Family was at odds with the Fu Family, though the reason was something his father had always kept from him. Now, with his aunt actively following them, wasn’t it strange?

Jing Mingcheng took a look at Jing Yuan and sighed, "It’s an old grudge from the past generation; better left unmentioned. Let’s talk about something more pressing instead."

Jing Yuan nodded, "Go ahead, I’m listening."

"There is a family banquet tomorrow, and I have invited Shaoqing and Miss Gu. You are all young; it would be best if you could befriend Miss Gu. I hope you can become friends," Jing Mingcheng said bluntly.

Jing Yuan’s handsome features lit up with a radiant smile, "Certainly! I’m quite interested in her as well."

"I didn’t ask you to compete with Shaoqing for a wife. Keep your interest within bounds. It’s enough to be friends," Jing Mingcheng reminded him.

Jing Yuan had a face full of black lines upon hearing this; his father was even more thoughtful than he was.

Gu Xiaoxi and Shaoqing returned to a happy Song Xu, who had prepared many delicious dishes for them in advance. Despite having had a full meal at the evening banquet, Gu Xiaoxi ended up eating a lot more under her mother-in-law’s enthusiastic hospitality.

By bedtime, she felt uncomfortably full.

Therefore, Shaoqing took her for a stroll in the garden.

Their garden was connected to Jing Yuan’s, with only an iron fence separating them, allowing a clear view of the garden on the other side.

They happened to see Jing Yuan sitting in the little pavilion at the center of the garden drinking tea; next to the pavilion, there was a small swing made of flower vines. Bathed in moonlight and listening to the elegant piano music, he seemed particularly leisurely.

Gu Xiaoxi and Shaoqing exchanged a glance and without hesitation climbed over the wall, taking a seat beside Jing Yuan.

"Pour the tea!" Shaoqing took a cup and imperiously directed Jing Yuan.

Jing Yuan’s mouth twitched, "I say, you two robbers. It’s one thing to climb over my wall, but another entirely to order me around as if I were your servant."

Shaoqing, unabashed, retorted, "You are the host, and I am the guest. It’s only right for the host to take care of the guests."

Jing Yuan was speechless. Well, what could he say with such friends?

Therefore, he poured tea very gentlemanly for his esteemed guests.

"Why wasn’t Jing Haoran seen today?" Gu Xiaoxi, sitting on the small swing near the pavilion, asked curiously, especially since he was absent from the evening event.

"He went with our aunt to City A!" Jing Yuan explained.

Shaoqing raised an eyebrow and looked up at Jing Yuan, puzzled, "You have an aunt? How come I never heard about her?"

Jing Yuan elegantly took out a cigarette and lit it, his gaze deep as he smiled at Shaoqing, "You haven’t heard, but I only found out recently myself. Not only do I have an aunt, but she is also someone with quite a background."

Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi were intrigued by his mysterious demeanor and both looked over, asking, "What kind of background?"

"International Alliance! Apparently, she left home fifteen years ago and has been holding an important position in the International Alliance ever since. As for what she does exactly, that’s a secret, a secret even I’m not privy to," Jing Yuan said with a smile, not hiding a hint of pride in his voice.

Shaoqing’s expression became more serious; the International Alliance was indeed no small matter. Those who could get in were all top-notch professionals and talents.

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