SGEIRS -Chapter 109 He Has No Right

The next morning.

Gu Jingxi arrived at the office of the Court of Justice to take his shift. His colleague and close friend, Qi Yunwen, saw him and stuck close like a shadow, eyes burning as he looked at him, several times opening his mouth as if to speak, then stopping.

Gu Jingxi sat at the case desk, reviewing the documents submitted from various regions. The Minister of Justice had his own private office space, but Qi Yunwen brought the files he wanted to read and went through them alongside him.

However, Gu Jingxi completely ignored him, focused solely on the documents. Occasionally, when his mind wandered, he caught Qi Yunwen’s gaze and felt an odd sensation, a shiver crawling over him. Eventually, Qi Yunwen’s intense stare made his scalp tingle, and Gu Jingxi, losing focus, put down the file in his hand and asked in a deep voice, “Qi Mobai, do you have an eye problem?”

Qi Yunwen shook his head reflexively. “N-no… why would you ask that?”

Frowning, Gu Jingxi met his burning gaze and felt a chill of disgust. He snapped, “Then why are you staring at me like that? I’m not your wife.”

Qi Yunwen shook his head again. “No, I just wanted to see if anything seemed off with you compared to usual.”

Gu Jingxi asked again, “And did you notice anything wrong?”

“Nothing different from usual,” Qi Yunwen said, slowly averting his gaze. A moment later, he glanced at him again and whispered, “But judging by your irritability… it seems like you’re… dissatisfied.”

Gu Jingxi snorted coldly, disdain in his voice. “If you were stared at by a man with deep affection for an hour straight, you’d probably be even more irritable than me.”

“I was looking at you with deep affection?” Qi Yunwen pointed at him.

As he spoke, Qi Yunwen shivered, feeling both disgusted and frustrated. “Gu Yaoling, what kind of eyes are those? Which part of me looking at you is supposed to be ‘deep affection’? Don’t spread rumors like that. I have a wife and child; I have no interest in men.”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him with a hint of disdain in his voice. “If you’re not interested in me, then don’t look at me that way. Otherwise, I might think you’ve developed feelings for me. I have to admit, being eyed by your good brother… is pretty gross.”

Qi Yunwen was speechless. “……”

Which normal man develops feelings for another man?

After a moment, Qi Yunwen hesitated and asked, “Yaoling, um… your body… is it fully recovered?” Then, trying not to betray his curiosity, he studied his friend’s expression, careful not to be rude. After all, this question was extremely difficult for a man to ask.

Gu Jingxi’s expression shifted, and in a calm voice, he countered, “So, you stuck to me for an hour just to ask this?”

Qi Yunwen nodded. “Otherwise?”

He paused, then added thoughtfully, “Judging by how eager you were yesterday to do something with your younger sister-in-law, your body should be fine now, right?”

Gu Jingxi gave him a measured look, unreadable.

Qi Yunwen, unsure of his friend’s reaction, quickly explained: “Yaoling, don’t misunderstand me. I mean no other intent. If you’re healthy, I’m genuinely happy for you. If not, don’t give up—follow the doctor’s advice.”

He let out a helpless sigh and said earnestly, “Your son’s outrageous actions are known throughout the capital. I heard he got into trouble again and you’ve put him under house arrest. With him being so unreliable, he’ll never be fit to inherit the title. You might as well try yourself—have another one. If you and sister-in-law don’t, you could adopt one instead. She’s still young; if you adopt a two- or three-year-old, she can raise him properly from childhood, and they’ll surely form a good bond.”

Gu Jingxi paused briefly, then replied, “Mobai, I know my limits.”

Qi Yunwen opened his mouth, then swallowed the words. He glanced at his friend, feeling regretful.

Gu Jingxi said lightly, “New cases from various regions have come in. Let’s look at them first.”

Qi Yunwen nodded, recognizing the hint, and didn’t continue the topic. They returned to work in earnest.

Before they knew it, it was noon.

Qi Yunwen’s wife sent over lunch.

Not only Qi Yunwen’s wife, but some other married officials would occasionally receive lunch from their wives at noon, except for those whose relationships weren’t very good.

After all, the kitchen at the Court of Justice had only ordinary cooks. The food was passable but nothing special. Home-cooked meals were always better. Even if the ingredients weren’t luxurious, wives put care into preparing simple dishes perfectly.

Wives who worried about their husbands eating poorly would occasionally send lunch—not only to improve the meals but also to maintain and strengthen the marital bond.

Qi Yunwen spoke briefly with his wife and then carried the food box inside. Thinking about his unfortunate friend likely heading to the cafeteria, he quickened his steps, aiming to reach him before the friend did.

Hearing the door open, Gu Jingxi looked up to see Qi Yunwen at the entrance. Glancing at the food box in his hands, he tidied the documents on his desk.

Qi Yunwen, seeing his familiar, practiced movements, couldn’t help but laugh: “Gu Yaoling, do you know what you look like right now?”

Gu Jingxi glanced at him.

Qi Yunwen continued, “Exactly like a child waiting to be fed.”

Gu Jingxi: “……”

Because he stuttered, he didn’t retort. Though he didn’t value food much, if there was a better option, he would choose it. Cafeteria food was mediocre; he wouldn’t begrudge himself a good meal just to appear indifferent.

Qi Yunwen opened the box, revealing a generous spread: three meat dishes, one vegetable, and a soup.

Qi Yunwen’s wife had anticipated that her husband would be eating with a friend, so she prepared extra, with two sets of utensils and enough soup for two.

While eating, Qi Yunwen suddenly asked, “Yaoling, your relationship with younger sister-in-law should be okay, right?”

Gu Jingxi paused, recalling his interactions with the young lady. They had been harmonious; everything was handled reasonably. He replied, “It’s fine. Why do you ask?”

Qi Yunwen nodded and asked again, “Then why has she never sent you lunch?”

Gu Jingxi froze.

Qi Yunwen glanced at him, continuing: “I’ve been married over ten years, and my wife still keeps the habit of sending me lunch occasionally. Take someone like Official Liu, married this year—his wife sends him meals every day. Newlyweds in love are enviable. That made him the most envied man in the Court of Justice, and other officials didn’t want to be outdone, so their wives started sending meals more often too.”

Gu Jingxi asked, “And then?”

Qi Yunwen rolled his eyes. “Then, when I came to see you, someone asked me if your relationship with younger sister-in-law isn’t good. They asked if, because you were forced into marriage, you harbor resentment, and that’s why she doesn’t dare send you lunch.”

Gu Jingxi: “?”

He had no reason to be resentful.

He had no right to be resentful. If anyone should feel that way, it would be the young lady—for having suffered so much on her wedding day because of his grown, unfilial son.